Alabama delegation urges Trump to approve Isaias disaster declaration
A major disaster declaration would unlock FEMA aid for 23 counties where lawmakers said storm damage overwhelmed state and local resources.
Alabama’s entire congressional delegation urged President Donald Trump to support Governor Kay Ivey’s request for a major disaster declaration for counties hit by Hurricane Isaias.
In a letter led by U.S. Senator Katie Britt, R-Alabama, and sent Friday, the delegation urged Trump to approve the declaration. The designation, authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Assistance Act, would allow federal agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to provide broader aid to areas affected by the storm.
“We write in strong support of Governor Kay Ivey’s request for a major disaster declaration for the State of Alabama following Hurricane Isaias, and we respectfully urge you to approve it without delay,” the delegation wrote.
Lawmakers thanked Trump for his “swift approval” of an emergency declaration for Alabama ahead of the storm’s landfall.
“That early action made a real difference for our people, and your continued partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency remains critical as our communities begin to rebuild,” the delegation wrote.
Ivey requested a major disaster declaration Friday for 23 Alabama counties: Baldwin, Barbour, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lowndes, Marengo, Monroe, Perry, Pike, Sumter, Washington and Wilcox.
The joint letter accompanied a separate letter sent to Trump the same day by U.S. Representative Shomari Figures, D-Alabama, who serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Agriculture Committee.
“Alabamians have met this storm the way they always do, by showing up for one another. We are deeply grateful to our first responders, law enforcement officers, linemen, emergency management officials, volunteers, and churches who have worked around the clock to support our communities,” the delegation wrote in the joint letter.
“Even so, the Governor and local officials have determined that the scale of this damage exceeds what state and local governments can address on their own,” the delegation added. “A swift evaluation and approval of Governor Ivey’s request for a federal major disaster declaration is essential to helping these families and communities get back on their feet.”
U.S. Representative Terri Sewell, D-Alabama, said in a statement Monday that the declaration could ease the strain on local emergency responders and volunteers working on recovery efforts.
“For the past two weeks, Alabamians have joined together to assist their neighbors with supplies and donations,” Sewell said. “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,” Sewell added. “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.”
As of Monday night, Trump had not responded to the delegation’s request.
