HATCH SUPPORTS GOVERNOR’S REQUEST FOR NATIONAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE

Washington, D. C. – Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) wrote to President Obama today expressing his support for Governor Herbert’s request to designate the southern Utah areas affected by heavy rains and flooding from last month’s storms as national disaster areas.  This would impact both Washington and Kane Counties and their efforts to clean-up and restore needs and infrastructure.

Senator Hatch visited some of the areas impacted by the storms just last weekend and saw up close some of the destruction that took place.  In addition, the Senator was in touch with the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) during the initial flooding in December and expressed interest in the agency’s involvement in disaster relief; and made contact again last week after Governor Herbert’s request for disaster designation. 

“Utah’s storms created significant damage to areas in both Washington and Kane Counties, and I am hopeful that Utah will receive the disaster designation to trigger federal assistance to aid in our clean-up efforts,” stated Hatch.    “With this designation, FEMA will be able to assist our local communities in restoring basic needs which are vital to the health and well-being of our citizens in southern Utah.  I wrote to the President today to ensure that Utah’s needs are not overlooked.”

Senator Hatch also sent a copy of his letter to President Obama to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano whose agency oversees disaster relief for our country.