WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today applauded the federal disaster declaration for Pennsylvania to help communities recover from Tropical Storm Lee.
“This declaration will help citizens and municipalities who have endured great hardship begin to recover,” said Senator Casey. “I have personally visited the devastation across affected portions of the state and I will not lose sight of the need for assistance to recover from this historic flooding.”
Senator Casey urged President Obama to quickly approve Pennsylvania’s request for federal assistance in a letter yesterday and continues to coordinate with local and state officials in Pennsylvania.
The full text of Senator Casey’s letter is below:
Dear Mr. President:
Governor Tom Corbett has formally requested a major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a result of Tropical Storm Lee. I am writing to strongly urge that you expedite this request and approve it without delay.
The Governor has specifically requested “Individual Assistance” for Adams, Bradford, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Union, Wyoming, and York Counties, and “Hazard Mitigation” for all 67 counties in the Commonwealth. I personally have visited the devastation in Luzerne and Dauphin Counties, among others, and agree that federal resources will be absolutely essential to helping these communities recovery.
Tropical Storm Lee has resulted in the deaths of 13 Pennsylvanians and is the worst flooding in the region since Hurricane Agnes in 1972. In fact, the devastation wrought by Lee was worse than that suffered during Agnes in some areas of Pennsylvania. Time is of the essence and we must move quickly to ensure that the affected communities receive immediate relief and long-term assistance to begin rebuilding.
Pennsylvanians along the Susquehanna River and its tributaries have experienced considerable hardship due to this major disaster. Given the severity of the damage inflicted on these communities by the floods, I respectfully ask that you move quickly to expedite the positive consideration of the Commonwealth’s major disaster declaration request. Thank you in advance for your attention to this critical matter.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
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