| NEWS
FROM
SENATOR TIM JOHNSON,
SENATOR JOHN THUNE, and
REPRESENTATIVE STEPHANIE HERSETH SANDLIN
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Contact:
Julianne Fisher, 202-224-1638
Kyle Downey, 202-228-5939
Russ Levsen, 202-226-4449
SD
Delegation Supports Governor’s Request and
Asks White House for Emergency Declaration
Washington,
DC –
With Governor Rounds' preliminary damage assessment from the recent
flood now completed in conjunction with FEMA, U.S. Senators Tim Johnson
(D-SD) and John Thune (R-SD) and U.S. Representative Stephanie Herseth
Sandlin (D-SD) today called upon President George W. Bush to declare
a large portion of South Dakota a major disaster area and asked the
President to instruct federal agencies to expedite the delivery of all
forms of federal disaster assistance.
“This is the next
hurdle to cross in the effort to get assistance to South Dakotans after
the devastating flooding earlier this month. Last week, I encouraged
the USDA to release rural development funds through the 504 housing
program to help homeowners facing water damage. I’ve stayed in constant
touch with staff on this and hope the President moves quickly to deliver
this necessary aid,” said U.S. Senator Tim Johnson.
“I applaud the Governor's
effort to request federal assistance on behalf of the South Dakotans
recently affected by the severe flooding. I have seen the damage first-hand
and spoken to many individuals and families who will need help in rebuilding
their lives. Together with the delegation, I will do everything I can
at the federal level to make sure this assistance is approved and delivered
in a timely manner,” said U.S. Senator John Thune.
"This request
for federal assistance is a necessary and appropriate response to the
substantial damage caused by severe storms across Eastern South Dakota.
I toured the damage in Aberdeen and rural Brown County recently, and
it is clear that a very large number of families, farms and businesses
will be in great need in coming months. Last week, during a meeting
at the White House, I raised this issue specifically with the President's
top advisors, and I am hopeful the Administration will respond favorably
and quickly to this request," said Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth
Sandlin.
Full Letter to the
President follows:
May 15, 2007
The Honorable
George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White
House
1600 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW
Washington,
D.C. 20500
Dear President
Bush:
As members of
the South Dakota congressional delegation, we write to express our
full support of Governor M. Michael Rounds’ request for a presidential
disaster declaration for our state. This declaration would greatly
assist South Dakota’s recovery from the severe weather that hit our
state during the weekend of May 4 and 5.
The damage from
this storm is evident in numerous communities in the eastern portion
of our state. Damages were especially severe in twelve counties including
Aurora, Beadle, Brown, Clark, Davison, Hanson, Hutchinson, Jerauld,
Miner, Sanborn, Spink, and Yankton. Many of these counties experienced
record-setting quantities of rainfall and subsequent flooding, as
well as tornadoes and other high winds. The storm caused significant
damage to dams, electricity infrastructure, individual homes, cropland,
and numerous other facilities across the region. In sum, the economic
and emotional toll of this damage will undoubtedly be enormous.
As Governor Rounds’
disaster declaration request indicates, state and local officials
responded to the storm using resources immediately available to them.
These emergency operations activities reduced the storm’s impact and
accelerated the state’s recovery from that impact. Nevertheless, the
preliminary damage assessment completed by the state in cooperation
with Federal Emergency Management Agency officials makes clear that
the scale of the storm’s impact exceeds the state’s response capacity
and therefore justifies federal assistance as specified in the Robert
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
In light of these
considerations, we respectfully request that you declare a major disaster
for relevant areas of our state and that you instruct federal agencies
to expedite the delivery of all forms of federal disaster assistance
for which South Dakota is eligible based upon that declaration. We
are pleased to offer any assistance that you may require in fulfilling
this request.
Thank you very
much for your consideration of this important matter. Please do not
hesitate to contact any of us if we can provide you with additional
information.
Sincerely,
Tim Johnson
U.S. Senate
John Thune
U.S. Senate
Stephanie Herseth
Sandlin
U.S. House of Representatives
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