Placerville Faces Delays in Wildfire Mitigation Funding Amid FEMA Backlog
Placerville, California, is experiencing significant delays in receiving disaster funding from FEMA, impacting wildfire mitigation efforts. The community, characterized by dense brush and older wooden homes, is at high risk for wildfires. Local officials have been preparing to enroll over 500 homes in a program to enhance fire resistance, funded by FEMA. However, under the Trump administration, the project has been stalled for over a year due to a backlog in FEMA approvals. The agency owes communities nearly $10 billion, delaying crucial infrastructure repairs and wildfire prevention projects. The backlog coincides with a policy requiring additional review of grants over $100,000, which was recently revoked but has not yet resulted in the release of funds. 
