Napa Earthquake Declared Major Disaster by Obama

President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in California because of last month’s Napa Valley earthquake, releasing emergency federal funding for the state. The White House announced the move in a statement Thursday nine days after Gov. Jerry Brown sent a letter to Obama requesting the declaration. Brown declared a state of emergency for California shortly after the magnitude-6.0 earthquake on Aug. 24. The White House didn’t say how much money may be available, but a preliminary assessment by the governor’s office found $87 million in earthquake costs that could be eligible for federal reimbursement.