PROVIDENCE, RI – With Winter Storm Juno approaching and threatening to blast New England with high winds and a significant amount of snow, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline are urging President Obama to make federal assistance available to Rhode Island, if requested, to support emergency operations and recovery due to the blizzard conditions.
The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for the entire state of Rhode Island and is forecasting two or more feet of snow across Southern New England with wind gusts in some areas that could reach, or exceed, hurricane force.
In an effort to help local Rhode Island communities and the state prepare for and respond to a potential blizzard, the state’s Congressional delegation today sent a letter urging President Obama to issue a major disaster declaration for Rhode Island, should the state require one, and to expedite any and all emergency assistance.
The full text of the letter follows (PDF attached):
January 26, 2015
The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
As you know, a major winter storm (Winter Storm Juno) is bearing down on Rhode Island and several other states in the Northeast. This storm has the makings of an historic event, with accumulations of more than 30 inches of snow possible in some areas of New England.
Given the severity of this storm and how quickly it has developed, states and local agencies may need additional resources in order to effectively respond. With that in mind, we urge you to act quickly, as you have in the past, to approve any request for an emergency or a disaster declaration that is made by the State of Rhode Island.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Senator Jack Reed
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
Congressman James Langevin
Congressman David Cicilline
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