June 29, 2006
The Honorable George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
During this week’s storm system that battered the Mid-Atlantic region, torrential downpours caused extensive flooding and damage to communities throughout Maryland, and claimed at least four lives. The National Hydrometeorological Prediction Center estimated that some of these communities received record levels of rain. Homes and public facilities have been damaged, businesses have been seriously impacted, farmers have experienced extensive crop and livestock losses, and critical roads, bridges and dams have been significantly impaired. County officials have ordered more than 2,200 people to evacuate their homes due to flooding.
State emergency officials are currently in the process of assessing the damage to these communities, and are working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to determine their eligibility for a Federal disaster declaration. In the meantime, we urge you to immediately send representatives and release funding from the various Federal agencies that have programs that do not require such a declaration in order to help address the damage incurred by these recent storms, remove debris, and prevent future damage to these vulnerable communities. These include, but are not limited to, the Department of Agriculture, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Small Business Administration.
We hope that you will give this request prompt and favorable attention, so that we may provide immediate assistance to these communities. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
The Honorable George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
During this week’s storm system that battered the Mid-Atlantic region, torrential downpours caused extensive flooding and damage to communities throughout Maryland, and claimed at least four lives. The National Hydrometeorological Prediction Center estimated that some of these communities received record levels of rain. Homes and public facilities have been damaged, businesses have been seriously impacted, farmers have experienced extensive crop and livestock losses, and critical roads, bridges and dams have been significantly impaired. County officials have ordered more than 2,200 people to evacuate their homes due to flooding.
State emergency officials are currently in the process of assessing the damage to these communities, and are working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to determine their eligibility for a Federal disaster declaration. In the meantime, we urge you to immediately send representatives and release funding from the various Federal agencies that have programs that do not require such a declaration in order to help address the damage incurred by these recent storms, remove debris, and prevent future damage to these vulnerable communities. These include, but are not limited to, the Department of Agriculture, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Small Business Administration.
We hope that you will give this request prompt and favorable attention, so that we may provide immediate assistance to these communities. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.