Rep. Sewell Calls on President Trump to Approve Major Disaster Declaration Following Hurricane Isaias

Washington D.C. — Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) joined fellow members of the Alabama Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to President Trump supporting Governor Ivey’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for certain Alabama counties to unlock additional federal resources to aid in recovery from Hurricane Isaias. “For the past two weeks, Alabamians have joined together to assist their neighbors with supplies and donations,” said Rep. Sewell. “Our emergency managers, first responders, and volunteers are doing all they can with the resources available, but the widespread damage created by Hurricane Isaias cannot be reasonably managed without additional federal support.” “I agree with Governor Ivey that a Major Disaster Declaration is essential to provide the federal assistance necessary to support our hardest hit communities,” continued Sewell. “I am calling on the president to approve this request as soon as possible. The people of Alabama are resilient, and together we will rebuild our communities stronger than ever.” The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act), 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5207 § 401 states in part that: "All requests for a declaration by the president that a major disaster exists shall be made by the governor of the affected state." Once the PDA is complete and the state, tribal nation, or territorial government determines that the damage exceeds their resources, the governor or tribal chief executive may submit a declaration request to the president through their FEMA regional office. The president can declare a major disaster for any natural event, including any hurricane, tornado, storm, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, or drought, or, regardless of cause, fire, flood, or explosion, that the president determines has caused damage of such severity that it is beyond the combined capabilities of state and local governments to respond. A Major Disaster Declaration provides a wide range of federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure, including funds for both emergency and permanent work. Governor Kay Ivey submitted the request for a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Alabama as a result of Hurricane Isaias Friday evening. The governor specifically requested individual assistance for Conecuh, Escambia, and Monroe Counties and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians; public assistance, including direct federal assistance, for Baldwin, Barbour, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lowndes, Marengo, Monroe, Perry, Pike, Sumter, Washington, and Wilcox Counties; and hazard mitigation statewide. Read the full letter here . ###