WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley has asked the President to grant the request made by Governor Terry Branstad for a declaration of a major disaster in response to ongoing flooding of the Missouri River.
In a
letter of request sent this morning to President Barack Obama, Grassley said, “The Governor determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments to handle effectively and federal assistance is needed.”
Grassley visited Council Bluffs, Glenwood, Hamburg and Sidney on Friday to meet with local residents and community leaders about the Missouri River flooding. Next Wednesday morning, Grassley will meet in Washington with a Brigadier General for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, John McMahon, who is the Division Commander for the Northwest Division which covers western Iowa. Grassley also will attend a meeting that day with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, W. Craig Fugate.
Here is the text of Grassley’s letter to the President:
June 19, 2011
The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
I respectfully ask that you grant the request made by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad for a declaration of a major disaster for the State of Iowa as a result of flooding along the Missouri River and its tributaries beginning on May 25, 2011 and continuing. This flooding has forced hundreds of evacuations and significantly impacted the levee system on the Missouri River Basin. The six Iowa counties which have been severely impacted are Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Pottawattamie, and Woodbury.
The Governor determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments to handle effectively and federal assistance is needed.
Thank you for your prompt consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Grassley
United States Senator
