California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared that the recent Los Angeles-area wildfires will be one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history.
Newsom made this statement on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Saturday.
The governor’s remarks came after firefighters reported that some fire hydrants ran dry during the initial hours of battling the flames, which spread rapidly across greater Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Newsom questioned whether the water shortage was due to overwhelming demand, pipe issues, electricity problems, or a combination of these factors.
He also wondered if the loss of over 7,000 structures, each with leaking pipes, contributed to the water pressure loss.
Newsom’s comments were met with criticism from President-elect Donald Trump, who blamed Newsom and President Joe Biden for the lack of water in fire hydrants. Trump claimed that Newsom prioritized protecting the delta smelt, a fish species, over the needs of Californians.
Newsom countered that Trump’s claims were “inexcusable” and “inaccurate,” and spoke about the president-elect’s lack of understanding of California’s water policy.
The governor also expressed his gratitude to President Biden for issuing a major disaster declaration, which allowed federal funds to flow into the state.
Newsom praised Biden saying, “I’m blessed on behalf of 40 million Americans that happen to live in California that Joe Biden is president of the United States and did what he did immediately”.
Newsom outlined his plans for rebuilding the city, with a focus on reimagining Los Angeles ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.
He announced the organization of a “Marshall Plan” to ensure everyone’s inclusion in the recovery efforts, not just those living on the coast.
NBC/NGG
