Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Chairman of this important Committee, will hold this hearing at my request to look into the lack of a federal response to the two terrible tornadoes that devastated Desha County, Arkansas, on February 24, 2007. 

These tornadoes destroyed or heavily damaged more than 150 homes; caused up to 800 people to be out of work because more than 25 businesses were destroyed or heavily damaged; required the Governor to send in the National Guard to enforce security and for clean up purposes; and forced the town to be without electrical power for six days.  In this small town of Dumas, with a population of more than 5,000, this level of damage and destruction is overwhelming. 

Over the past 11 days since these two tornadoes wrecked the communities of Dumas and Back Gate, FEMA has done nothing and President Bush still has not declared the county a federal disaster area.  Currently, there are 8,420 brand new, manufactured homes in Hope that could be going to help those families in need of temporary housing as the put their lives back together. This is a symbol of what is wrong with FEMA and why so many people have lost confidence in their government.

In a March 7, 2007, article from the Stephens Media Washington, DC Bureau, FEMA spokesman John Philbin was quoted referring to Desha County saying, “the damages or need for federal assistance are not readily apparent.”  In addition, according to CNN, FEMA claims that Arkansas’s budget surplus is a factor in determining if federal aid will be provided.  The job of FEMA is not means testing, but helping those in need. Their job is to act as a first responder to help Americans who are in need after a disaster.  These statements by FEMA are inexcusable I am looking forward to this important hearing to hold them accountable for their statements and their lack of actions.