White House issuing disaster declaration for California citrus freeze

“President George W. Bush is issuing a disaster declaration for California counties hurt by the January deep freeze that caused some $1.2 billion (€910 million) in crop losses, Sen. Barbara Boxer said. The declaration will allow farmers affected by the freeze that wiped out citrus and other crops to apply for disaster unemployment insurance, commodities and other help. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Boxer, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and congressional representatives had written to the White House repeatedly to ask for the declaration. Administration officials confirmed to Boxer on Tuesday that it was being issued. The five-night freeze was the most extensive the state had experienced since 1947, according to Boxer and Feinstein, and affected crops for 500 miles (804 kilometers) through the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, the Central Coast and Southern California.”