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April 20, 2011 - 9:47 AM

NC Delegation Supports NC Governor’s Request for Expedited Disaster Assistance

Delegation today sent letters to President Obama and Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack urging immediate federal assistance for storm victims.

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U.S. Senators Richard Burr and Kay R. Hagan and Representatives Walter Jones, Sue Myrick, Mike McIntyre, David Price, Brad Miller, G.K. Butterfield, Patrick McHenry, Larry Kissell and Renee Ellmers today sent letters asking the Administration to support federal disaster assistance requests made by Governor Perdue in the wake of Saturday's devastating storms. The letters to President Obama and Department of Agriculture Secretary Vilsack can be found here and here.

Governor Perdue requested that the President declare an expedited major disaster for 18 counties in North Carolina that were impacted by the tornadoes, high winds, flooding and severe storms that hit North Carolina on Saturday, April 16. If approved, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would provide low-interest loans or grants to assist with recovery efforts, including home and business repairs.

"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," wrote the NC Delegation.

In addition, the delegation sent a letter to Secretary Vilsack urging him to declare an expedited Secretarial disaster designation in the same 18 counties so that North Carolina producers can receive USDA assistance, including emergency low-interest loans for farmers who were impacted by the storms.

"As farmers were beginning to plant their crops, 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 people sustained serious injuries. More than 1,000 homes, farms and businesses were destroyed or damaged, which will cost millions of dollars to repair and rebuild," wrote the delegation.

"It is critical that North Carolina producers in the affected counties receive immediate assistance from USDA so that they can quickly and fully recover from this devastating storm.  We stand ready to help in any way that we can."

The 18 counties are: Bertie, Bladen, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Johnston, Lee, Onslow, Pitt, Roberson, Sampson, Wake and Wilson. In addition to these counties, additional counties may need to be added to the declaration as the Farm Service Agency (FSA) continues to assess production and physical losses suffered by producers.

The delegation also requested that families affected by this storm be given additional time to complete their federal income tax returns.

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

The Honorable Thomas Vilsack
Secretary of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave. SW, Room 200-A
Washington, DC 20250 

Dear Secretary Vilsack: We are writing in support of Governor Beverly Perdue’s request for an expedited Secretarial major disaster designation for counties in the State of North Carolina affected by the tornadoes, high winds, flooding, and severe storms on April 16, 2011. This designation will provide critical disaster assistance resources such as low-interest FSA emergency loans to eligible producers. 

Additional counties may need to be added to the declaration as the Farm Service Agency (FSA) continues to assess production and physical losses suffered by producers. 

As many farmers were beginning to plant their crops, multiple tornadoes tore through North Carolina. Tragically, 22 North Carolinians were killed and over 100 more people sustained serious injuries. More than 1,000 homes, farms and businesses were destroyed or damaged, which will cost millions of dollars to repair and rebuild. Many producers have lost equipment barns, silos and other agriculture buildings that are vital to their operations. 

A large amount of debris has spread across the area, which will make it hard for farmers to access their fields to harvest or plant their crops on time.  The harvest of the wheat crop, which is in its final growth stages, may be impacted by the debris in the fields and will require extra labor to remove. The heavy amount of rainfall is likely to delay the upcoming corn and cotton planting. 

It is critical that North Carolina producers in the affected counties receive immediate assistance from USDA so that they can quickly and fully recover from this devastating storm.  We stand ready to help in any way that we can. Thank you in advance for your prompt consideration of this request. 

Sincerely, 

Senator Richard Burr                                    Senator Kay Hagan

Representative David Price                            Representative Walter Jones

Representative Mike McIntyre                       Representative Brad Miller

Representative G.K. Butterfield                      Representative Renee Ellmers


 

The President

The White House

Washington, DC 20500

 

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. 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 filing and payment relief from the IRS while they put there 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 and 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 Hagan

Representative David Price                            Representative Walter Jones

Representative Mike McIntyre                       Representative Brad Miller

Representative G.K. Butterfield                      Representative Renee Ellmers

 





April 2011 Press Releases