She points to the recent flooding in Western Maryland.
Representative April McClain Delaney (D-6th Md)
Washington DC (KM) Full funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency is the call coming from 6th District Representative April McClain Delaney.
Speaking recently on the floor of the House of Representatives, McClain Delaney pointed to the flooding in Allegany County in Western Maryland. She told her fellow lawmakers that the high water inundated the fire hall and public library in Westernport. Students and staff had to be evacuated from Westernport and George’s Creek Elementary Schools. “This flooding only underscores how important it is to fully fund FEMA, and make sure that FEMA continues to help those who are most struck by disaster,” she said.
And she said the situation is getting worse. “Severe weather events are hurting communities across this country at rates we’ve never seen before,” said McClain Delaney.
She said Western Maryland will need federal assistance for a full recovery.
Recently, some members of the House of Representatives proposed a bill to overhaul FEMA. The provisions include making FEMA an independent agency, reporting directly to the President as a cabinet level agency. Persons without a fixed address, such as the homeless, would be able to access disaster housing assistance. The legislation would also lengthen the time FEMA can assist disaster-impacted households, and create a unified disaster assistance application for all federal disaster programs.
By Kevin McManus