WASHINGTON, DC- In the wake of continued flash flooding due to high water levels from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to commit to honoring requests for assistance made by Pennsylvanians impacted by the floods. Ground saturation and persistently high river water levels from the recent tropical systems have created a condition in which normal storms can cause flash flooding.
“My constituents deserve to have a clear understanding that any claims made based on this flash flooding will be fairly addressed by FEMA as part of its overall response to Tropical Storm Lee,” Senator Casey wrote in a letter to FEMA Administrator William Fugate. “My constituents have worked nonstop to recover and rebuild from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, but environmental circumstances continue to complicate recovery efforts.”
Some of the homes damaged by this week’s flash flooding were in areas that contended with water levels higher than those experienced during Tropical Storm Lee, Senator Casey wrote, noting that some communities have been hit three times in a month.
The full text of the letter is below.
Dear Administrator Fugate:
Recent storms in eastern Pennsylvania have caused flash flooding resulting in terrible property damage for scores of my constituents. This is the third time this month that many of these communities have been hit. I am writing to request that FEMA publicly state its commitment to honor the legitimate assistance requests from my constituents impacted by the recent flash flooding as part of its response to Tropical Storm Lee and Hurricane Irene.
These Pennsylvanians have suffered greatly in the wake of Irene and Lee. This week’s storms have exacerbated an already difficult situation. I understand that FEMA continues to accept applications for assistance from those impacted by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. The flash flooding that has occurred is the direct result of the damage that Irene and Lee left in their wake. Federal disaster assistance made available under the presidential disaster declarations for Lee and Irene should therefore be available to address damages caused by these flash floods.
My constituents have worked nonstop to recover and rebuild from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, but environmental circumstances continue to complicate recovery efforts. Ground saturation and persistently high river water levels caused by Tropical Storm Lee have created a condition in which normal storms can cause flash flooding. Some of the homes damaged by this week’s flash flooding were in areas that contended with water levels higher than those experienced during Tropical Storm Lee. Our roadways were also significantly damaged. Based on this dynamic, my constituents deserve to have a clear understanding that any claims made based on this flash flooding will be fairly addressed by FEMA as part of its overall response to Tropical Storm Lee.
Thank you for your leadership during these challenging times. I appreciate your responsiveness to my efforts to advocate on behalf of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and I will continue to work closely with you and your staff deployed in the storm affected areas. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
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