FEMA ADMINISTRATOR JOINS SHELBY IN AL

WASHINGTON, DC, Thursday, April 28, 2011 – In immediate response to deadly tornadoes that struck various regions of Alabama, U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) last night requested that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator W. Craig Fugate accompany him to the state today to assess the damage and expedite emergency response and recovery efforts.  Sen. Shelby and Administrator Fugate are now in Alabama, and will visit various affected areas throughout the state during the day.  Shelby issued the following statement:

“My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this terrible disaster.  I extend my deepest condolences to those who have lost friends and family as a result of the tornadoes.  I am pleased that Administrator Fugate agreed to accompany me to Alabama immediately to survey the damage and spearhead the response.  I will continue to do everything in my power to see that the resources of the federal government are leveraged and coordinated to meet our state’s needs.”

Immediately upon arrival in Alabama, Shelby, Fugate and Governor Robert Bentley are scheduled to travel to Tuscaloosa and other affected areas by helicopter to survey the storm damage from the air. They are tentatively scheduled to hold a media availability in Tuscaloosa at approximately 3:00 p.m. CST (specific location TBD).  Updates to Sen. Shelby’s schedule will follow as necessary in subsequent emails and will be posted on Sen. Shelby’s Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/RichardShelby) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/SenShelbyPress) pages.