WASHINGTON   –  U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) today reacted to news that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would reduce access to a critical flood aid program which helps communities with clean-up, debris removal, and pumping efforts to remove water.  Under the new rule, local governments in areas which are eligible for Corps of Engineers and U.S. Department of Agriculture flood relief programs will not be able to petition FEMA for this kind of emergency assistance.

“This policy change is not only sudden and insensitive to the challenges faced by communities as they recover from floods, but it takes a recovery tool away from folks in the immediate aftermath of a flood emergency,” Emerson said.

Emerson cited severe weather events that have hit many flood-prone Missouri counties in the last year as reason why FEMA should not preclude any communities from applying to the emergency program.

“In the Eighth District, our levee districts are our front lines on flood prevention and response.  They operate on our local tax base, and the benefit of the FEMA program is that the federal government provides relief from the immense expenses of cleaning up after a severe flood event.  Without this program, the burden falls directly on us, which is why I am very opposed to this change in Administration policy” said Emerson

FEMA says its program will still be available to individuals if public health and safety are at risk.