Concerned residents about the damage from California's wildfires confronted Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, demanding he explain what he plans to do about the disaster.
The woman reported by TMZ identified A lawyer named Rachel Darvish asked, “Governor, do you have a minute?” She explained that she lives in the area as she approached Newsom.
“That was my daughter's school, Governor. Tell me what you're going to do,” she said, with debris visible in the background.
“I'm literally talking to the president right now to specifically answer the question of what we can do for you and your daughter,” Newsom said while holding the phone.
“Can you hear me? I can't believe it, so can I listen to your call?” she replied.
She then asked if she could hear the phone call, at which point Newsom explained that he had not actually called Biden yet because of poor cell phone service in the area.
“I'm sorry. I literally tried five times,” Newsom told the woman, pointing at her phone.
“That's why I walk around,” the woman asked, and he continued. “Why isn't the president answering your calls?”
“Because it doesn't work. That's why I have to get cell phone service,” he answered.
The woman then suggested using cell phone service so she could listen to the call with Biden while holding her foot to the fire.
“Let's get it.'' “When you call the president, I want to be here,'' she said, as Newsom said “I'm really sorry.''
Newsom continued to apologize to the women and told them they were getting “resources” to rebuild, but did not provide specific details.
When asked why there was no water, Newsom did not give a clear answer. Asked if this type of tragedy would be different the next time, Newsom declined further questions, but said it would be, and claimed he was trying to contact the president, who was in a nearby vehicle. .
Newsom's office later told TMZ, “After hearing from Rachel, the governor immediately spoke with President Biden, and as a result of that call, the president agreed to cover 100% of recovery costs for the next 180 days.” “I promised,” he said. That's a game changer. ”
“This was no ordinary fire. When this fire started, firefighters were battling flames driven by hurricane-force winds of 160 miles per hour,” the fire department said. “Due to the unusual nature of this hurricane, water supplies have been depleted.” -Forced Firestorm. ”
President-elect Donald Trump continues to accuse Newsom of being unprepared and substandard in his response to the fires ravaging the state.
“One of the greatest and most beautiful places in the United States of America is burning to the ground,” President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday. “It's ashes, Gavin Newscome should resign. This is all his fault!!!”:
President Trump: “Governor Gavin Newscome should immediately go to Northern California and open water mains to divert water to a state that is dry, hungry, and burning, instead of opening water to the Pacific Ocean.'' continuation In another post.
“We need to do it now. We don't need any more excuses from our incompetent governor. It's too late!” he added.
At least 10 people have died in California wildfires. Thousands of people were evacuated and thousands of buildings were destroyed.
As of 4:45 p.m. ET, the region's two largest fires, the Palisades Fire, which is over 20,000 acres, and the Eaton Fire, which is over 13,000 acres, had an 8% damage rate. included and 3 percent, respectively.
