"WASHINGTON - U.S. President Joe Biden will travel to California on Thursday to tour areas hit hard by a series of deadly "atmospheric river" storms that inflicted widespread flooding, felled trees and brought mudslides to a state long gripped by extreme drought.

Biden, traveling with the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Deanne Criswell, was due to begin his visit in Santa Clara County, then venture by helicopter to other storm-stricken locations south of San Francisco.

The White House said Biden, who on Saturday authorized federal disaster assistance for three hard-hit counties in northern and central California, would be joined by Governor Gavin Newsom and other elected officials."

Jeff Mason and Steve Gorman report for Reuters January 19, 2023. [2]