(NewsNation) — President Joe Biden and senior officials will meet Monday night to discuss the ongoing federal response to the Los Angeles County wildfires as Biden’s White House tenure begins to draw to a close.
Biden has vowed the federal government will cover 100% of the disaster response costs for the next six months connected to the fires, which have claimed at least 24 lives. Biden will put together a briefing detailing the administration’s response based on information about the disaster that has been provided to the White House, officials said.
Californians contend with looting, price gouging, insurance issues
Officials will also work to determine what is left for the federal government to address on the fires before Biden leaves office next week. The briefing will determine how the White House and administration officials can better assist state and local officials in California.
The White House has not yet confirmed who will be part of the briefing but has said Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will convene the group.
The meeting could also include Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Deanne Criswell, who said in various media interviews she did not feel that officials on the ground in California were unprepared to deal with the fires. Instead, she said 100 mph winds and dry conditions contributed to the inevitability of the damage being caused by the fires.
In terms of the federal response, the Department of Defense has provided infrared imaging technology to assist firefighters in battling the deadly fires. Additionally, at least 1,800 National Guard troops have been deployed to the region to assist with the wildfires.
