Tornadoes

May 28, 2008 -- ATLANTA - Today Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue asked President Bush for a major disaster declaration to assist residents and local governments in Cherokee County with emergency response measures and aid for losses resulting from the severe weather and tornadoes that occurred on Tuesday, May 20, 2008.

“This is the third tornado event this spring that has disrupted the lives of our citizens and devastated one of our communities,” said Governor Perdue. “I am hopeful that our federal partners will recognize the extent of this damage and will render the appropriate assistance to help the residents of Cherokee County recover in the aftermath of this severe weather.”    » read more »

May 28, 2008 -- The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Mississippi and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and tornadoes on April 4, 2008.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in Hinds County.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.    » read more »

May 27, 2008 -- President Bush signs a Major Declaration for the state of Iowa (Butler County) for Individual Assistance, emergency protective measures, limited to Direct Federal Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation statewide within hours after receiving the Governor’s request for an expedited declaration. FEMA continues to monitor the severe storms and tornadoes across the nation and work with federal, state and local partners to identify needs and resources needed to respond to respond to them.

Region 7/Iowa:

* FEMA Liaison deployed to State EOC.
* Mobile Disaster Recovery Center (MDRC) deploying to Parkersburg, IA from Joplin, MO to provide a command and control platform for FEMA responders.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 27, 2008 -- The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for Iowa to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on May 25, 2008, and continuing.

FEMA Administrator David Paulison said the assistance was authorized under a major disaster declaration issued for the state by President Bush. The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Butler County.    » read more »

May 27, 2008 -- Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Bush's major disaster declaration issued for Iowa.

Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:

* Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)    » read more »

May 26, 2008 -- George W. Bush today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Colorado and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and tornadoes on May 22, 2008.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in Larimer and Weld Counties.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.    » read more »

May 23, 2008 -- Oklahoma City — Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry announced this evening that federal authorities have approved his request for federal disaster assistance to individuals and businesses in Craig, Latimer and Pittsburg counties impacted by the May 10 tornadoes.

The approval for individual assistance in the three counties comes only hours after the Governor made the request. The designation ensures federal assistance for housing repairs or temporary housing, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loans for individuals and businesses to repair or replace damaged property, disaster unemployment assistance, and grants for serious needs and necessary disaster expenses not met by other programs.    » read more »

Assistance Will Help Missourians Impacted by May 10 Tornadoes

May 23, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today announced President Bush approved a request for Individual Assistance for Barry, Jasper and Newton Counties impacted by the May 10, 2008 tornadoes. FEMA has not made a decision on the governor’s request for Public Assistance for that same disaster.

Missouri lightning strike: Photo by Mohan R (CC)    » read more »

Residents May Call FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA to Apply for Assistance

May 23, 2008 -- ATLANTA – Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced that President George W. Bush approved a Federal Disaster Declaration today for the 14 counties that Governor Perdue requested aid for following the tornadoes and severe thunderstorms that hit Georgia on May 11-12.

"I am grateful to President Bush and FEMA Director Paulison for their quick action in offering assistance," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "This Federal Disaster Declaration will broaden our capability to recover from these devastating storms."

This means that individual assistance is now available to disaster victims in 10 counties: Bibb, Carroll, Douglas, Emanuel, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, McIntosh, and Twiggs.    » read more »

May 24, 2008 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter tonight signed a request for federal disaster assistance for individuals, agricultural producers and businesses that sustained damage and suffered losses from Thursday's northern Colorado tornadoes.

The request was forwarded to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for review and will then be forwarded to President Bush.    » read more »

May 22, 2008 -- EXECUTIVE ORDER
Declaring a Disaster Emergency Due to Severe Tornadoes in Northern Colorado

Pursuant to the authority vested in the Governor of the State of Colorado and, in particular, pursuant to relevant portions of the Colorado Disaster Emergency Act of 1992, C.R.S. § 24-32-2100, et seq., I, Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor of the State of Colorado, hereby issue this Executive Order declaring a state of disaster emergency due to severe tornadoes in northern Colorado.

Angry skies in Colorado: Photo by jef(f) (CC)

1. Background and Purpose    » read more »

May 20, 2008 -- The President (George W. Bush) today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Arkansas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes beginning on May 2, 2008, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Benton, Cleburne, Conway, Crittenden, Grant, Lonoke, Mississippi, Pulaski, Saline, and Van Buren.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.    » read more »

May 20, 2008 -- The President (George W. Bush) today declared a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and ordered Federal aid to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, mudslides, and landslides during the period of April 3-4, 2008.

Federal funding is available to Commonwealth and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, mudslides, and landslides in the counties of Anderson, Crittenden, Fleming, Fulton, Hancock, Hopkins, Lewis, Livingston, McLean, Nicholas, Ohio, Spencer, and Woodford.    » read more »

May 14, 2008 -- Oklahoma City — The White House today approved Oklahoma’s request for federal disaster assistance in the Ottawa County tornado, according to Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry.

“We got the word from the White House late this afternoon,” said the governor. “We appreciate the quick response from Pres. Bush and his team. The people of Picher and the other affected communities need all the help they can get, and this is a critical first step.

“We will continue to work with our federal partners to obtain all possible assistance, including expedited aid in the Picher buyout process.”

An EF-4 tornado struck several Ottawa County communities Saturday evening, destroying more than 100 homes and causing several fatalities in the town of Picher alone.    » read more »

Meets With Local Emergency Response Officials And Tours Tornado Damage In Onslow County

5/14/2008 -- Raleigh - North Carolina Governor Mike Easley today sent a letter to the Small Business Administration (SBA) requesting a disaster declaration for residents in Bertie County who suffered damage from the tornado that hit on Sunday. The declaration makes residents and business owners in Bertie County eligible for low-interest loans to assist with repairs. Easley also met today with local emergency response officials and conducted an aerial tour of tornado damage in Onslow County.    » read more »