CALIFORNIA Gov. Gavin Newsom requested a presidential emergency declaration Saturday for U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance in the communities affected by the 6.4 and 7.1 magnitude earthquakes Thursday and Friday in the southern part of the state.

In his letter to President Donald Trump, Newsom wrote that the earthquakes that struck near Ridgecrest, California, “caused significant damage to critical infrastructure, including roadways, gas lines, and water lines, resulted in numerous structure fires, and necessitated the evacuation of residents.”

In a news conference Saturday, Ridgewood officials reported that there have been no recorded deaths or serious injuries as a result of the earthquakes. But they said major structural damages occurred, along with fires and thefts in the Ridgewood community.

Newsom also wrote that critical roadways, including State Route 178, “a main transportation corridor in the region,” remains closed due to landslides. He added that the earthquakes affected more than 5,000 structures, including the Ridgecrest Regional Hospital.

The hospital had to triage patients in the parking lot after the second earthquake, with nurses operating on a backup generator, Newsom said. A shelter was also established for affected residents.

“I am requesting Direct Federal Assistance, including mass care supplies, emergency power supplies, generators, evacuation support as necessary, engineering support as necessary, and any other support deemed necessary for the impacted communities,” Newsom wrote.

Officials expressed relief Saturday that damage and injuries weren’t worse after the largest earthquake the region has seen in nearly 20 years, while voicing concerns about the possibility of major aftershocks in the days and even months to come.

(SD-Agencies)