With floods impacting parts of the Sunshine State, particularly the Tampa Bay region, members of the Florida congressional delegation are urging Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate for assistance.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., wrote Furgate on Monday asking for FEMA to monitor Florida and prepare to offer help if it is needed.
“Areas of the Tampa Bay region, along with parts of Central and North Florida, have seen record amounts of rainfall during the past few weeks,” Rubio wrote Furgate. “According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather reports, these areas are likely to experience even more severe weather in the days and weeks to come.
“As your agency works with the National Weather Service, and should the governor request a formal disaster declaration to President Obama, I urge you to consider the recent, and likely future, storms as one incident for purposes of eligibility in federal assistance to the state and affected areas,” Rubio added.
Four other members of the Florida congressional delegation -- Republican U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis, David Jolly and Dennis Ross and Democrat U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor -- teamed up on Monday and also wrote Furgate, asking for FEMA to declare Tampa Bay a disaster area after the 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 after the letter was sent. “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.”
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
