July 22, 2010  

WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Cooper (TN-05) testified today at a Senate hearing regarding the Army Corps of Engineers performance during the flood.  Cooper continued to be critical of the Corps’ actions and expressed his concerns in today’s testimony.

“The Corps also admits, they were so unprepared that they did not even have a Standard Operating Procedure for 24/7 staffing, although TVA does it routinely. The Corps had not read its Weather Service emails, determined who were essential personnel, or even established a telephone tree.  I know Boy Scout troops that are better prepared than this.”

Cooper’s full statement is attached.