04.06.11

Hoeven Again Presses White House, FEMA for Presidential Disaster Declaration

Calls for Assurance of Federal Emergency Assistance

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John Hoeven today again pressed the White House and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate for a prompt Presidential Disaster Declaration to assure residents that federal aid will be on site when it is needed.

 

“As the Red River approaches flood stage, it is critical that we have all the necessary federal resources in place to work with local and state responders,” Hoeven said. “I made that point clear in a call to the White House this morning, and also with Administrator Fugate earlier this week. We are already in the early stages of a possible flood event, and we need to do all we can to reassure the community that help is on the way.”

 

Hoeven met yesterday with Fugate to press for a Presidential Disaster Declaration and to coordinate efforts to change FEMA rules prohibiting the construction of levees on agency bought-out properties. The Senators office followed up with calls to FEMA headquarters and FEMA Region VIII in Denver to expedite the process of a Presidential Disaster Declaration.