Friday: Gov Newsom & 6 Govs to join Pres Biden & VP Harris at WH meeting on Western Wildfires
https://www.bakersfield.com/ap/news/gavin-newsom-to-join-president-biden-in-second-white-house-meeting-on-western-wildfires/article_5656240f-727f-5ea9-a474-ce94de46daef.html
Gavin Newsom to join President Biden in second White House meeting on Western wildfires
Isabella Bloom The Sacramento Bee (TNS) Jul 29, 2021 Updated 2 hrs ago
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with Gov. Gavin Newsom and six other governors on Friday to discuss efforts to prevent 2021 wildfires, according to White House officials.
Snip
The bipartisan infrastructure deal Biden negotiated with U.S. senators includes new funding to help communities for natural disasters, setting aside a $50 billion investment in climate change and cybersecurity. The funding will also go toward drought and flood prevention and infrastructure resiliency against extreme weather conditions.
The Biden administration also plans to establish two new working groups as part of the
National Climate Task Force's efforts to confront wildfire and extreme heat incidents.
The Wildfire Resilience Interagency Working Group, co-chaired by Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, will manage long-term wildfire resilience strategies
Health and Human Services
Secretary Xavier Becerra, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator Dr. Richard Spinrad and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan will co-chair the Extreme Heat Interagency Working Group.
It's being asked to employ health, scientific and environmental resources to address extreme heat conditions in vulnerable communities
The Drought Interagency Working Group, established in April, also focuses on drought resiliency in hard-hit communities.
The EPA has also recently updated its AirNow mobile app to provide the public with information on air quality and fire updates.
The app's fire and smoke map is also available online.