Biden adds SLO County to storm disaster declaration. Here’s how to apply for aid
President Joe Biden added San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties to his disaster declaration on Tuesday, according to a news release from U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal’s Office.
This allows SLO County residents, businesses and local governments to apply directly to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for funding to address storm damage, the news release said.
Services like debris removal and emergency protective measures will also become available, the release said.
“I am grateful to President Biden and FEMA leadership for hearing the stories that I and others have shared from the Central Coast this past week and recognizing the need for direct federal assistance to help not only our municipal repair crews, but also the individual residents and business owners that have had livelihoods wrecked by this month’s storms,” Carbajal said in the news release.
Residents can apply for FEMA aid at www.disasterassistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362, or by downloading the FEMA app in the Apple or Google store and uploading paperwork there, according to the county news release.
“We appreciate the support for our county and the assistance this will provide our residents,” SLO County Emergency Services Manager Scott Jalbert said in a news release from the county. “This is a step towards recovery for those who have lost so much.”
Businesses impacted by storms “are now eligible for emergency tax relief from late payment interest and penalties,” according to a news release from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Office.
Business owners can request an extra three months to file their tax returns without penalties if they were impacted by storm damage, the news release said.
They can request tax relief in four ways:
On the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration website
By mail to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, PO Box 942879, MIC 35, Sacramento, CA 94279
In person at a CDTFA field office
By phone at 1-800-400-7115, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., except state holidays.
Local, state and federal representatives collaborated to route more aid to SLO County following the storm.
On Jan. 12, Rep. Carbajal and Rep. Jimmy Panetta both wrote letters to Biden last week, asking him to approve California’s request for a major disaster declaration, according to the news release.
On Jan. 14, Biden did declare a major disaster for parts of California — but not San Luis Obispo County. The declaration included the counties of Merced, Sacramento and Santa Cruz.
County Supervisors Bruce Gibson and John Peschong, U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, state Sen. John Laird, California State Assemblywoman Dawn Addis then attended a briefing in Paso Robles that day, followed by a tour of storm-damaged areas of the county.
“It’s important that residents who’ve seen damage to their homes and businesses report this damage to your county,” Addis wrote in an email to The Tribune. “Each county reports the cumulative damage to the state, which helps California make its case to the federal government that recovery dollars are needed here.”
On Monday, Carbajal, Assemblymember Dawn Addis and SLO County Supervisor Bruce Gibson visited Morro Bay and Los Osos to survey the storm damage there.
“We need to make sure that all levels of government, local government, the state and the federal government (are) working together so that everybody can get the relief and the assistance that they’re entitled to,” Carbajal said on Monday.
This story was originally published January 18, 2023 at 10:22 AM.
