Disaster relief

Apr 3, 2008 -- LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe, after consulting with Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) Director David Maxwell and Arkansas State Health Officer Dr. Paul Halverson, has decided that Arkansas will accept FEMA mobile homes for use by Arkansas storm victims as temporary housing.

FEMA trailers in Louisiana: Photo by Joshua Miller (CC)

Arkansas is accepting only those mobile homes that have been tested by FEMA and registered formaldehyde levels at or below 40 parts per billion (ppb).    » read more »

April 1, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today announced 16 additional counties will now be able to receive Federal Disaster Assistance, which will help individual citizens and businesses recover from the March flooding.

“I appreciate the quick response to our request for this assistance,” Gov. Blunt said. “Many homes were damaged or destroyed in these devastating floods. Now, Missouri families and Missouri businesses can register for this financial assistance to recover their personal and business losses.”    » read more »

March 19, 2008 -- The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Missouri and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding beginning on March 17, 2008, and continuing.    » read more »

March 19, 2008 -- The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of Wisconsin and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local response efforts in the area struck by record snow and near record snow during the period of February 5-6, 2008.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to the State and eligible local governments in the counties of Dane, Dodge, Green, Jefferson, Milwaukee, Rock, Walworth, and Washington.

Assistance is available to State and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures that were undertaken to save lives and protect public health, safety and property over a continuous 48-hour period during or proximate to the incident period.    » read more »

March 19, 2008 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle announced today that federal disaster funds have been made available for eight Wisconsin counties to supplement emergency response efforts to a major winter storm that hit the state in early February.

The eligible counties named in the snow emergency declaration are Dane, Dodge, Green, Jefferson, Milwaukee, Rock, Walworth, and Washington Counties. The declaration covers jurisdictions that were blanketed with record and near-record snowfall February 5-6, 2008.    » read more »

March 15, 2008 -- The President yesterday declared an emergency exists in the State of Texas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local response efforts in the area struck by wildfires beginning on March 14, 2008, and continuing.    » read more »

March 13, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) today applauded the decision by President Bush to declare seven Illinois counties - Boone, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lake, McHenry, Stephenson and Winnebago - federal snow emergency areas. Last month, Representatives Melissa Bean (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Don Manzullo (R-IL) joined Durbin and Obama in sending a letter to President Bush in support of Governor Blagojevich's request for assistance.    » read more »

March 13, 2008 -- The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of Illinois and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local response efforts in the area struck by record snow and near record snow during the period of February 5-6, 2008.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to the State and eligible local governments in the counties of Boone, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lake, McHenry, Stephenson, and Winnebago.    » read more »

February 26, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) were joined by members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation today in requesting that President Bush declare eight Illinois counties - Boone, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lake, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago - federal snow emergency areas. Members signing on to today's letter include Representatives Melissa Bean (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Don Manzullo (R-IL).    » read more »

02/08/2008 -- The federal government today authorized a major disaster declaration for five Tennessee counties. Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen asked President Bush yesterday to declare 21 counties federal disaster areas following Tuesday’s storms. In addition to the action today making federal funding available to individuals in Hardin, Macon, Madison, Shelby and Sumner Counties, declarations for additional Tennessee counties is expected as preliminary damage assessments for those counties are submitted.    » read more »

Fund announced in November will now provide up to $20,000 per claimant for lost wages

February 7, 2008 -- Saint Paul – Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced today that the amount available in near-term relief for victims of the I-35W bridge collapse is increasing from $10,000 to $20,000 per claimant. The increase is based on the amount of funds available after initial claims were processed.    » read more »

February 7, 2008 -- The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Tennessee and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of February 5-6, 2008.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Hardin, Macon, Madison, Shelby, and Sumner.    » read more »

February 7, 2008 -- The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Arkansas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on February 5, 2008, and continuing.    » read more »

February 07, 2008 -- Oklahoma City -- Federal officials have formally denied Oklahoma’s appeal for individual assistance in the December ice storm, according to the Oklahoma governor’s office.

Governor Brad Henry called the decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency disappointing and frustrating.    » read more »

ARLINGTON, Va. (02/06/2008) - More than 160 National Guardmembers turned out Wednesday to support tornado recovery missions in three of the states hit by a violent string of twisters Tuesday night, Feb. 5.

The National Guard Bureau reported that Guardmembers were called out to perform search and rescue missions, provide security at traffic control points, and to support civilian authorities in other ways in Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee.    » read more »