FEMA Administrator Fugate Surveys Tennessee Recovery Efforts

 

NASHVILLE - Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate returned  to Tennessee this week to survey the ongoing recovery efforts from severe flooding the state experienced in May and hear directly from state and local officials, volunteer organizations and residents trying to rebuild. The trip marked Fugate's third visit to Tennessee since the flooding occurred.

 

"While the road to a full recovery will be long, what's happening on the ground in Tennessee is a reminder of what can be accomplished when our nation's full emergency management team - state and local officials, the entire federal family supporting them, the private sector, and faith-based organizations - comes together," said Fugate. "Whether its neighbors helping neighbors repair the damage of flooded homes or volunteers helping clean up debris, these communities have made enormous progress recovering from one of the largest disasters we've seen. FEMA will continue to do our part by supporting state and local efforts."

 

On Monday, Fugate met with officials in Millington, including Shelby County Mayor Joe Ford, Millington Mayor Richard Hodges, and the assistant director of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, Charlie Bryant. Later that day, Fugate and Bryant traveled to Dyersburg to meet with Dyer County Mayor Richard Hill and Dyersburg Mayor John Holden.

 

Today, Fugate joined state and local officials at a meeting with volunteer agencies in Nashville. Volunteer organizations, along with faith-based groups, non-profits, and athletic teams have played a key role in the recovery and rebuilding efforts.

 

Throughout his visit, Fugate also urged individuals whose homes or businesses were damaged by the floods to apply for disaster assistance. The current deadline to apply is July 6, 2010. Eligible individuals can apply online at www.disasterassistance.gov.

 

At the request of President Obama and Secretary Napolitano, Fugate has made two previous trips to Tennessee to ensure state and local officials had the support they needed to respond and recover.  In the immediate week after the flooding began, Fugate visited both Millington and Dyersburg.  Deputy Administrator Rich Serino also visited the state in May. 

 

A number of other Administration officials have traveled to Tennessee since the floods, including Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, and Small Business Administration Administrator Karen Mills.

 

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