WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) sent a letter to President Obama urging him to quickly approve Pennsylvania’s request today for a major disaster declaration.
“Tropical Storm Lee has resulted in the deaths of 13 Pennsylvanians and is the worst flooding in the region since Hurricane Agnes in 1972,” wrote Senator Casey. “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.”
Senator Casey has spoken to federal officials, including the White House, to make the urgent case for federal assistance to help families, business owners and farmers who have been hit hard by the floods. He has also coordinated with local and state officials on the phone and on the ground in Northeastern, Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania over the past several days.
Last week, Senator Casey urged the President to quickly approve Pennsylvania’s request for an emergency declaration to give Pennsylvania communities the resources they needed to prepare for the floods and effectively implement recovery measures. The emergency declaration was ultimately approved.
The full text of the 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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