WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, and Representatives G.K. Butterfield, George Holding, Walter Jones, David Price, Virginia Foxx, Mark Walker, David Rouzer, Richard Hudson, Robert Pittenger, Patrick McHenry, Mark Meadows, Alma Adams, and Ted Budd wrote to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)  Administrator Brock Long to support North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper’s request that the President declare a major disaster for the State of North Carolina, under Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act, as a result of severe weather that effected Guilford and Rockingham counties on April 15, 2018.

In part, the letter reads: 

“Since the storms, state, county, and FEMA officials have undertaken preliminary damage assessments (PDA) for Individual Assistance (IA). The findings underscore the devastation that was brought upon these communities by the EF2 tornado. In Guilford County, the PDA found that 36 homes or businesses were destroyed, 180 homes suffered major damage, 289 homes incurred minor damage, and 316 properties were affected Further, three elementary schools in Guilford County will remain closed for the remainder of the school year due to damage inflicted on the buildings. In Rockingham County, the PDA found five homes or businesses destroyed, seven with major damages, 21 with minor damages, and 19 properties affected.”

“…To that end, we urge the President to approve this request for a major disaster declaration, consistent with the intended purposes of FEMA and the federal Stafford Act, in order to provide Individual Assistance as soon as possible to assist the citizens of these two counties. “

The full letter can be found here.

###