The Biden administration declares $770 payments for California wildfire affected residents.

The federal government will give one-time payments of $770 to individuals affected by the ongoing California wildfires to cover necessary expenses such as baby formula, prescriptions, clothing, and food.

On Thursday evening, Biden announced that nearly 6,000 people had been approved for payments through the program in Southern California, resulting in a total of $5.1 million already distributed.

Biden stated from the Oval Office that we are not delaying assistance for fire victims until the fires are extinguished, but rather providing aid immediately.

On Jan. 8, the president approved California's disaster declaration, allowing federal funding to be used for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans for uninsured property losses, and other programs to aid individuals and businesses in recovering from the wildfires. The president also promised that the federal government would cover 100% of the cost of California's disaster response for six months.

During the Monday evening briefing, Biden urged Congress to increase funding for the wildfire and its victims.

"Biden stated during a meeting with Harris and emergency officials that getting Los Angeles back to its previous state would require billions of dollars and Congress's financial assistance."

During the Monday briefing, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell stated that 33,000 individuals affected by the California fires have requested federal aid. She added that the figure is expected to increase and they anticipate it to continue rising in the near future.

During the Monday Oval Office briefing, Criswell stated that approximately 700 to 800 individuals were currently housed in eight emergency shelters due to the wildfire. He added that many people had also found shelter with family and friends or in hotel rooms. Criswell noted that, through the federal government's disaster declaration, those staying in hotels could be reimbursed for their expenses.

The Department of Defense and National Guard, in addition to FEMA, have also deployed federal resources to combat the fires that have resulted in at least 24 fatalities.