Florida Congressional Reps Want FEMA to Declare Tampa Bay a Disaster Area

Four members of the Florida congressional delegation--Republican U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis, David Jolly and Dennis Ross and Democrat U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor--wrote Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate on Monday, asking for FEMA to declare Tampa Bay a disaster area after recent flooding. 

“During the past few weeks, the Tampa Bay area and surrounding communities have experienced disastrous flooding that has destroyed numerous homes and roads,” said Ross. “This record rainfall has also created serious health concerns in our neighborhoods with overflowing raw sewage and insect and algae infestations.
 
“The lack of emergency response to this flooding is extremely worrisome and unacceptable, which is why Representatives David Jolly,  Kathy Castor, Gus Bilirakis and I have asked FEMA to immediately take action,” Ross added. “I also recently introduced the Flood Insurance Market Parity and Modernization Act and the Disaster Savings Accounts Act in order to help Floridians and Americans all across the country better prepare for and protect their families from catastrophic floods. Families have lost everything, and they desperately need our help.”