Gregg Calls on Chertoff to Immediately Approve NH Disaster Declaration

GREGG CALLS ON CHERTOFF TO IMMEDIATELY APPROVE NH DISASTER DECLARATION

In a telephone call to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff today, U.S. Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) urged Secretary Chertoff to immediately approve New Hampshire's request for a Major Disaster Declaration. Senator Gregg noted the recent widespread damage around the state caused by recent heavy rain over the period of a week as well as the 16 day delay before FEMA granted the declaration after the floods of October 2005, and. Senator Gregg is Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA.

"This afternoon I spoke to Secretary Chertoff about the severity of the flooding in New Hampshire and the need for federal assistance and told him that it is critical for the Department of Homeland Security and the White House to immediately grant the disaster declaration for New Hampshire. People in cities and towns all across our state are struggling to recover from the recent flooding, and they need assistance now to make repairs to their homes and businesses. I will continue to stay in close communication with federal officials to ensure that New Hampshire gets the help it needs as communities dry out and assess the damage left by the storms."

Governor Lynch submitted the Major Disaster Declaration request to the President and FEMA yesterday. The request is for Individual Assistance, including the Individual and Household Program, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Crisis Counseling and Small Business Administration Program assistance. The request has been made for the following counties: Belknap, Carroll, Hillsborough, Merrimack and Rockingham, and more can be added as further assessments are completed.

http://gregg.senate.gov/press/2006/May/0523_disaster_declaration.htm