Petrelis Files

Aug. 23: Landrieu Slaps Bush re: Cindy Storm Delay



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
08/23/05

President Bush Responds to Sen. Landrieu's Letter; Declares Disaster Area for Coastal Parishes

WASHINGTON -- Just hours after receiving a letter from U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., urging him to expedite the decision, President George W. Bush tonight declared five coastal Louisiana parishes as federal disaster areas following Tropical Storm Cindy. The declaration paves the way for much-needed disaster assistance to reach storm victims in Jefferson, Lafourche, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and St. Charles parishes, where Cindy caused significant property damage and flooding.

"This disaster disrupted the everyday lives of thousands of South Louisiana residents, and I am pleased that they will now finally have the chance to rebuild their communities" Sen. Landrieu said. "While it is unfortunate that this declaration was unusually delayed, I am grateful for the release of these funds and the rebuilding and healing that they enable."

The declaration makes affected parish residents eligible for the Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant programs administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Governor Blanco, D-La., requested the declaration in a letter to President Bush last month, which Sen. Landrieu supported in her own letter to the President on July 29.

But after being told by FEMA that the July request was still "under review," with no anticipated timeline for a final determination, Sen. Landrieu today sent the President a second letter urging expedited action. She cited an apparent "lack of attention being given to this matter," and noted that federal disaster declarations had been issued within a week following four other recent storms: Tropical Storms Isidore and Allison, and Hurricanes Lili and Ivan.

Four hours after receiving Sen. Landrieu's faxed letter, the agency announced the declaration in an unusual after-business-hours e-mail to Louisiana congressional aides.

A copy of Sen. Landrieu's full letter is attached.


-


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
08/23/05

Sen. Landrieu Urges President to Expedite Disaster Declaration for Coastal Parishes
Expresses concern regarding month-long delay in assistance for victims of Tropical Storm Cindy.
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today urged President George W. Bush to expedite the declaration of five coastal Louisiana parishes as federal disaster areas following Tropical Storm Cindy. Governor Kathleen Blanco, D-La., requested the declaration last month after the July 5 storm caused significant property damage and flooding in Jefferson, Lafourche, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and St. Charles parishes.

"This natural disaster has disrupted everyday life for thousands of residents of South Louisiana," Sen. Landrieu wrote. "These residents deserve the chance to rebuild their communities and to do so in a timely fashion."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has told Sen. Landrieu that the July request is "under review," but that the agency could not provide any timeline for when a final determination would be made. In her letter today to the President, however, Sen. Landrieu noted that federal disaster declarations had been issued within a week following four other recent storms: Tropical Storms Isidore and Allison, and Hurricanes Lili and Ivan.

"My concern is that there appears to be a lack of attention being given to this matter compared to the quick responses which you have given to Louisiana's requests in previous disaster situations," she wrote.