The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently awarded nearly $492 million to the State of California to support recovery efforts from the 2018 Camp, Hill and Woolsey Wildfires devastating communities in Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. This was part of nearly $1.5 billion awarded to support seven states in their recovery from major disasters that occurred last year, including Hurricane Michael, Hurricane Florence and flooding, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes in Hawaii.

These funds are provided through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program and will address seriously damaged housing, businesses and infrastructure in hard-hit areas of these states. The CDBG-DR Program requires grantees to develop thoughtful recovery plans informed by local residents. Learn more about CDBG-DR and the State’s role in long-term disaster recovery.

“Last year’s disasters left damaged homes, businesses and infrastructure in their wake,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “These recovery dollars will help the hardest-hit communities in these states and allow for residents to put their lives back together again.”

“Wildfires in California are becoming deadlier, more widespread and more frequent,” said HUD Regional Administrator Christopher Patterson. “Through these targeted investments, HUD deepens its commitment to assisting communities recover and rebuild following some of the worst calamities in California’s history.”

On October 5, 2018, Public Law 115-254 was passed, providing $1.68 billion in CDBG-DR funding for “disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, and economic revitalization in the most impacted and distressed areas resulting from a major disaster declared in 2018.” In addition to the funds being allocated today, HUD will allocate an additional $205 million later in the year following a comprehensive analysis of the recovery needs in American Samoa and the Northern Marianas.