https://www.siliconvalley.com/2023/01/11/when-could-storm-ravaged-bay-area-residents-and-businesses-see-federal-aid/ > President Joe Biden declared an emergency for much of the greater Bay Area this week, putting federal agencies on standby to help with response efforts amid a deluge of severe winter storms battering the region. > Outside of extreme catastrophes, such as 2005’s Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, direct federal financial aid for residents and businesses facing damage or displacement can only be unlocked after local, state and federal agencies complete an assessment of the wreckage. That process could take weeks, if not longer.