Letter to Barack Obama, President of the United States - Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act

Letter

Dear Mr. President:

We are writing in support of North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue's request for a major Disaster Declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The request is in response to the devastating damage and destruction from tornadoes, high winds, flooding, and severe storms in North Carolina on April 16, 2011. The storm impacted Bertie, Bladen, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Johnston, Lee, Onslow, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson, Wake and Wilson counties. There is a possibility that other counties may need to be added later.

Multiple tornadoes tore through several medium and large metropolitan areas in addition to rural parts of North Carolina. Tragically, 22 North Carolinians were killed and over 100 more sustained serious injuries. More than 1,000 homes and businesses were destroyed or damaged, which will cost millions of dollars to rebuild and repair.

Moreover, the Disaster Declaration should include Individual Assistance to Households and Families to ensure that taxpayers impacted by the devastating storms receive filling and payment relief from the IRS while they put their lives back together.

In addition, many of the counties affected by the tornadoes experienced severe flooding last year during Tropical Storm Nicole, and a decade ago during Hurricane Floyd. Consequently, North Carolina desperately needs federal assistance to repair and rebuild the damage recover from the storms.

We respectfully request that you swiftly make the necessary declaration so the affected counties and regions of North Carolina can quickly and fully recover from this devastating storm system. Thank you in advance for your prompt consideration of this critical request.

Sincerely,

Senator Richard Burr
Senator Kay R. Hagan
Representative David Price
Representative Walter Jones
Representative Sue Myrick
Representative Mike McIntyre
Representative Brad Miller
Representative G.K. Butterfield
Representative Larry Kissell
Representative Renee Ellmers
Representative Patrick McHenry