Rogers on the Severe Flooding in Eastern Kentucky

Press Release

U.S. Congressman Harold "Hal" Rogers (KY-05) released the following statement today regarding the severe flooding in Eastern Kentucky:

"First off, my heart and my prayers go out to those in our community who are grappling with the tremendous loss of a home and overwhelmed by this tragedy. Absolutely nothing can replace the pictures, family heirlooms, and memories that have been washed away by this storm. I want to assure you that I'm doing everything possible to bring the federal government to the table to try and lessen the blow this has had on our people and I will remain vigilant.

"I spoke with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano this morning to ensure that we will receive any resources Governor Beshear requests from FEMA as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Providing immediate assistance to the region is critical and I'll be doing everything on my end to make sure federal authorities are engaged and emergency relief efforts are utilized with haste. In addition, I have been in continual contact with the Corps of Engineers to understand what can be done to expedite our ongoing flood mitigation efforts in the towns affected. Tomorrow I will be surveying the damage with the Governor so that we can better assess the needs of all the residents who have been affected by these horrendous storms.

"We have roads to repair, homes to rebuild, businesses to refurbish, and most importantly, growing communities to restore. Like we've done before, we need to band together, even as our arms are tired, to overcome this. I want to thank the hundreds of first responders and guardsmen who have put themselves in harms way and are assessing the damages so we can get the flow of federal dollars going quickly. Finally, I encourage those of you who are on dry land to count your blessings while offering a helping hand to those in our community reeling from this flood."

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