California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation providing more than $2.5 billion in disaster relief. The funding will immediately help bolster ongoing emergency response efforts as well as jumpstart recovery efforts, according to the governor’s office.

The special session legislation – ABx1-4 by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) and SBx1-3 by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) – provides funding to expedite firestorm response and recovery efforts, streamline rebuilding efforts and help rebuild fire-damaged school facilities. The funding is allocated as follows:

• $2.5 billion to expedite initial firestorm response and recovery efforts. This includes support for: emergency protective measures, evacuations, sheltering for survivors, debris removal and cleanup, post-fire hazard assessments, traffic control and other necessary emergency response activities.
• $4 million to help expedite rebuilding. The Department of Housing and Community Development will allocate this funding to impacted local governments to provide additional planning review and building inspection resources for the purpose of expediting building approvals.
• $1 million to rebuild fire-damaged school facilities. The funding will provide technical assistance to impacted local educational agencies (Los Angeles Unified School District, Pasadena Unified School District, impacted charter schools).

“Thanks to our partners in the legislature, we’re providing over $2.5 billion in immediate relief – expediting initial firestorm response and recovery efforts,” Newsom said. “We’re also directing millions of dollars to help local governments speed up building approvals, so folks can rebuild their homes faster.”