PROVIDENCE, RI – As Rhode Island prepares for the possible impact of Hurricane Sandy, the state’s Congressional delegation wants to help speed up emergency assistance from the federal government. U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline sent a letter to President Obama urging expedited approval of any forthcoming request for additional federal assistance as well as possible requests for emergency or disaster declarations for the state. The full text of the letter follows:
October 26, 2012
The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We are grateful for the assistance that you have provided to Rhode Island during major disasters over the last four years. This includes the floods of 2010 and Hurricane Irene in 2011.
Again, our state is threatened by a major storm – Hurricane Sandy. While the precise path of the storm is not certain, it is likely that Rhode Island will feel its effects. The State of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency, the Rhode Island National Guard, and local first responders have taken steps to prepare for the storm, and we appreciate FEMA’s initiative to preposition assets to assist states that are likely to be impacted. To the extent that additional federal resources are needed in Rhode Island, we urge you to expedite the approval of any emergency or disaster request submitted by the governor.
Thank you for your attention to this request.
Jack Reed Sheldon Whitehouse
United States Senator United States Senator
James R. Langevin David N. Cicilline
Member of Congress Member of Congress
