Mikulski Calls for Immediate Action on Individual Assistance for Maryland at Appropriations Hearing Examining Impact of Super-Storm Sandy

FEMA Director Craig Fugate Commits to Working with Governor O’Malley on Appeal for Individual Disaster Assistance and Vows to Support People of Lower Shore

December 5, 2012

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, today called upon Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate to take immediate action to assist communities on the Eastern Shore working to recover and rebuild from the devastation of Super-Storm Sandy. Senators Mikulski and Ben Cardin (also D-Md.) participated at a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security entitled "Hurricane Sandy: Response and Recovery – Progress and Challenges."  

"I think at this time as we go into the holiday season of Hanukah and Christmas and the Season of Light, there isn't a lot of light in a lot of our communities. We've got one really sad day today. Maryland woke up in the Lower Shore to this headline: 'U.S. Denies Aid to Maryland Storm Victims,'" Senator Mikulski said. "Somerset County is a little county, surrounded by three sides of water: the Chesapeake Bay, a creek, and also the Atlantic Ocean. The people love to come down from National Geographic to take pictures about how quaint, lovely, and charming we are. They want to hear the songs. Well right now we're singing the blues, and we're singing them loud, and we're singing them clear, and we're singing them here."  

Senator Mikulski led the Maryland delegation in urging President Obama to support a Pre-Disaster Declaration, Disaster Declaration and Individual Assistance for Maryland counties impacted by Super-Storm Sandy. The delegation also urged the President to approve Governor O'Malley's updated request for Individual Assistance. This critical aid provides housing assistance and disaster related support for families and individuals coping with the immediate aftermath of the storm. Their letter is available here.  

Senator Mikulski's full opening remarks to Secretary Donovan and Administrator Fugate, as delivered, follow:  

 

"I think at this time as we go into the holiday season of Hanukah and Christmas and the Season of Light, there isn't a lot of light in a lot of our communities. But we coastal Senators, and those who'd like to be coastal Senators, really, really appreciate this hearing.  

"It's a sad day in Maryland. And Senator Cardin will be speaking as well on this. We're also her speaking for the efforts of Governor O'Malley and the people of Maryland. We've got one really sad day today. Maryland woke up in the Lower Shore to this headline: 'U.S. Denies Aid to Maryland Storm Victims.' This is the face of the picture of Maryland during the storm. I won't show you the picture of the face of the Lower Shore this morning.  

"[Chairwoman Landrieu], you've been down on the Shore; you are a frequent and most welcome visitor. You know that shore, you know the people, you know how hardworking they are, you know how patriotic they are, and you know the demographics. When you talk about people whose incomes either depend on commercial fishing or on agriculture; they are rich in pride, patriotism, and individualism but they are often very cash poor. And that's what's happened to us. We in Maryland have some of the most prosperous counties in America, but we also have some of the most poor. And that's who got hit by this storm.  

"Somerset County is a little county, surrounded by three sides of water: the Chesapeake Bay, a creek, and also the Atlantic Ocean. The people love to come down from National Geographic to take pictures about how quaint, lovely, and charming we are. They want to hear the songs. Well right now we're singing the blues, and we're singing them loud, and we're singing them clear, and we're singing them here.  

"We have all kinds of criteria, we love criteria, but I will tell you the Eastern Shore doesn't like regulations. And what they're worried about is that the very country that they serve, the very taxes that they pay, the very country where they send their sons and daughters to fight, they're the 2 percent, not the top 2 percent, they're the 2 percent that go to war and fight for America. Now they want Cardin and Mikulski to fight for them, and they want this country to look at their rules and regs and to see how we can get them help over this very troubled time. So I will go into the data and statistics when Mr. Fugate comes, the President said he would cut through red tape, we want him to do it and we want to work with you to do a supplemental that would also include Maryland."