Letter to Hon. Deanne Criswell, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency - Tillis Applauds Disaster Declaration for Western North Carolina

Letter

Dear Administrator Criswell,
We write in support of Governor Roy Cooper's request for a Major Disaster Declaration
under Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act for the impacts of the
remnants of Tropical Storm Fred occurring in western North Carolina from August 17-
18, 2021. We fully support the Governor's request for Public Assistance (PA) for
Avery, Buncombe, Haywood, Madison, Transylvania, Yancey, and Watauga Counties,
Individual Assistance (IA) for Buncombe, Haywood and Transylvania counties, and
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program access statewide.
Heavy rains began impacting southwestern North Carolina on August 15, 2021 and over
a 24-hour period some areas of western North Carolina experienced 15+ inches, causing
local rivers, particularly the East Fork Pigeon River, to crest above historic records.
Numerous roads and bridges were destroyed, hundreds of homes were damaged, and
most tragically, five individuals were lost as a result of the storm's impact. Damage
throughout North Carolina's western counties is pronounced and still being fully
determined, but the effects for many of our constituents will be significant and require
the assistance of the federal government.
We thank you for FEMA's efforts in recent months as our state continues to recover
from the COVID-19 pandemic and we look forward to working collaboratively with
FEMA, state agencies, and county officials as we begin to rebuild from this most recent
storm.

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