Trump administration OKs Jerry Brown's disaster requests

Federal emergency officials approved Gov. Jerry Brown’s requests to pay for winter storm damages and to support California’s unfolding response to the emergency at the distressed Oroville Dam, the White House announced Tuesday

“I want to thank FEMA for moving quickly to approve our requests,” Brown said, a day after expressing optimism that the Trump administration would come to his state’s assistance. “This federal aid will get money and resources where it’s needed most.”

Brown had indicated there were increasingly positive signs that the Republican president might agree to financial assistance for the storm-ravaged state even with the lingering animosity between the president and a state he called “out of control.” The White House said in a statement that the president’s action authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security to coordinate all disaster relief efforts.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said earlier Tuesday that Trump was keeping a “close eye” on the crisis at California’s Oroville dam. Nearly 200,000 people were initially evacuated out of fear of a catastrophic flood following damage to the emergency spillway at the dam. They have been allowed to return.

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