CT DELEGATION BACKS DISASTER REQUEST
Sends Letter to President SupportingGovernor Malloy
WASHINGTON – As Hurricane Sandy churnsnorthward, the Connecticut Congressional delegation wrote to President ObamaSunday in support of Governor Dannel P. Malloy's request for an emergencydeclaration for the entire state of Connecticut.
"Thestorm's devastation is expected to be major and potentially catastrophic," thedelegation wrote in its letter. "To fill gaps in the State and local resources,federal assistance is necessary to save lives, protect property, public healthand safety, and to lessen the threat posed by this very dangerous storm."
The full text of the letter follows:
October 28, 2012
The Honorable Barack Obama
The President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Obama:
We are writing today to strongly support Connecticut's request for an emergencydeclaration as it prepares for Hurricane Sandy, a very large and dangeroushybrid storm whose devastating effects are expected to be felt as early astomorrow. Forecasts indicate that the State will suffer from significantstorm surge in the range of 6 to 11 feet with an additional 6 to 10 foot wavesabove the surge. This will be in addition to high winds andrainfall. The storm's devastation is expected to be major and potentiallycatastrophic.
In response to the oncoming storm, Governor Malloy directed theactivation of the State Emergency Plan, activated the State EmergencyOperations Center, and declared a state of civil preparedness emergency. Evacuations are being ordered that will affect approximately 223,000individuals along the Connecticut shoreline, with over 140,000 individuals fromGreenwich to East Haven. In addition, Governor Malloy activated theState's pre-executed disaster removal and monitoring contracts, and Stateagencies have been aggressively engaged in wide ranging storm preparednessactivities such as preparing the volunteer Urban Search and Rescue Team,preparing to evacuate 19 nursing homes along the coast, staging assets, andactivating emergency operations centers.
A storm with this degree of catastrophic potential is, as certified by GovernorMalloy, of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond thecapabilities of the State and local governments. To fill gaps in theState and local resources, federal assistance is necessary to save lives,protect property, public health and safety, and to lessen the threat posed bythis very dangerous storm.
TheState of Connecticut is still recovering from three major disasters that hitConnecticut just last year. This storm will only further compound thedifficult situation that the State and its cities and towns face. Wetherefore strongly support the Governor's request for federal assistance andseek your expeditious consideration and approval of this urgent request onbehalf of the people ofConnecticut.
Sincerely,
Joseph I. Lieberman, United StatesSenator
Richard Blumenthal, United States Senator
John B. Larson, Member of Congress
Rosa DeLauro, Member of Congress
Christopher S. Murphy, Member ofCongress
Joe Courtney, Member of Congress
Jim Himes, Member of Congress