NORTH COAST, Calif. – President Barack Obama has approved federal disaster assistance for Del Norte and Santa Cruz counties following last month’s devastating tsunami.

Earlier this month, Gov. Jerry Brown and Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) both sent letters to Obama asking him for a major disaster declaration for California because of the tsunami generated by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Japan on March 11.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is still reviewing Brown’s requests for other affected communities, which include neighboring Mendocino County.

“Last month’s tsunami caused significant damage to infrastructure up and down California’s coast,” Thompson said Monday.

He said he was pleased that the president recognized the devastation in Del Norte and Santa Cruz counties and approved a federal disaster declaration for both areas.

“However, there are still other coastal communities that need assistance,” Thompson said. “That’s why I’m urging President Obama to issue disaster declarations for all affected areas so they can continue the process of rebuilding.”

Officials have estimated that the water surge that hit the coast of California caused a total of $48 million.

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