WASHINGTON, DC— U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today sent a letter to President Obama urging him to approve Pennsylvania’s request for both public and individual assistance in flood damaged areas of Pennsylvania.
In the letter Senator Casey wrote, “Today, I personally visited Forkston Township in Wyoming County and witnessed the devastation of Hurricane Irene. The incredible damage of the storm has profoundly impacted small communities that do not have the resources to adequately respond. I call upon the federal authorities to immediately act to fill this void.”
The Senator toured heavily affected areas of Wyoming County earlier today with Gene Dziak, Director of the Wyoming County Emergency Management Agency.
A copy of the letter is below:
September 2, 2011
The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC
Dear Mr. President:
I write to strongly encourage you to approve the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s request for a federal disaster declaration for both public and individual assistance for damage resulting from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Irene.
On August 29th you signed a disaster declaration, which included the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts. As you know, this action authorized FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts and alleviate the hardship on the local population caused by the hurricane. Through this declaration, eligible areas will be able to reimburse up to 75% of documented expenses associated with the precautionary actions taken leading up to and during the hurricane. Pennsylvania counties designated within the disaster declaration include: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Pike, Sullivan, Wayne, and Wyoming.
In the days following the hurricane, PEMA and FEMA conducted a joint preliminary disaster assessment throughout affected counties in the Commonwealth. It is my understanding that PEMA has determined that the threshold for cumulative major damage in the Commonwealth has been reached, and that additional resources should be made available to Pennsylvania. On behalf of my constituents in the areas affected by the hurricane, I strongly urge FEMA to honor this request and move expeditiously to address the needs of these communities.
Today, I personally visited Forkston Township in Wyoming County and witnessed the devastation of Hurricane Irene. The incredible damage of the storm has profoundly impacted small communities that do not have the resources to adequately respond. I call upon the federal authorities to immediately act to fill this void.
Thank you for your efforts to address the damage caused by Hurricane Irene up and down the eastern seaboard. I commend your leadership and appreciate your commitment to providing relief to those hardest hit by this storm.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
CC:Mr. William Craig Fugate, Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency
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