Berry Urges White House To Act Quickly to Help Victims of Last
Week’s Storms
WASHINGTON, DC – United States Representative Marion Berry (D-AR) today sent a letter to the White House urging them to act quickly to assist the residents of Cross, Fulton and Woodruff counties who had property damaged in the violent string of thunderstorms and tornadoes that struck central Arkansas last week and declare the area a federal disaster area. An initial, joint review completed yesterday by county, state and federal officials indicated that the damage in those areas was extensive enough to qualify for federal disaster assistance. “The financial impact of the damage suffered in these communities is staggering. I urge the Bush Administration to direct FEMA and the other appropriate federal agencies to act quickly to offer assistance to the residents of Cross, Fulton and Woodruff, whose lives have been turned upside-down by last week’s storms,” Berry said. Initial assessments indicate that 130 homes in these three counties were damaged by the storms, as were the Patterson City Hall and Fire Station. On Monday, Berry saw firsthand the storm damage in Woodruff County when he toured the area with County Judge Burle Simmons and met with residents whose property had sustained significant damage. In his letter, Berry noted the financial struggles of many local governments in Arkansas and requested federal assistance in helping local governments meet those needs. “As you are probably aware, I represent a very rural area where incidences of this magnitude and severity are beyond the capabilities of the local governments. Total expenditures by the State are already expected to exceed $750,000. It is without doubt that all available resources are being exhausted on the state and local level to address this situation. However, federal assistance will be needed to help these communities to recover,” Berry wrote. The full text of Berry’s letter is attached below. President George W. Bush The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Bush: I am writing to request a Presidential declaration of major disaster for Woodruff, Fulton, and Cross Counties in Arkansas. Currently, the State of Arkansas and local communities are beginning the process of recovering from multiple tornadoes that touched down in Arkansas between Saturday, May 4 through Wednesday, May 7. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, I ask that the State of Arkansas receive designation for the damage assessed in Woodruff, Fulton, and Cross Counties. Initial assessments have found that roughly 130 homes were affected in these three counties. More than thirty homes sustained major damage, and many of those were completely destroyed. In Patterson, Arkansas, the City Hall was severely damaged and the Fire Department building was completely destroyed. As you are probably aware, I represent a very rural area where incidences of this magnitude and severity are beyond the capabilities of the local governments. Total expenditures by the State are already expected to exceed $750,000. It is without doubt that all available resources are being exhausted on the state and local level to address this situation. However, federal assistance will be needed to help these communities to recover. Mr. President, I respectfully request your swift consideration and subsequent approval of this request. If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at (202) 225-4076.
Sincerely, MARION BERRY Member of Congress -- 30 -- |
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