WASHINGTON,
D.C. – Senator Lisa Murkowski today pushed Federal Emergency Management Agency
Administrator Craig Fugate for an assurance that Alaska is protected equally to
the communities in the Lower 48. “Communities like Crooked Creek and Red Devil
do not get news coverage like Joplin, Missouri or the Mississippi River
communities affected by natural disasters,” said Murkowski. “But I’m asking for
an assurance on their behalf, because they worry our disaster response request
is at the bottom of the priority list.”
Administrator
Fugate’s response? “We don’t go where the cameras go. We go where the
Governor’s ask us to go.”
On
June 1st, Governor Sean Parnell asked FEMA to formally declare areas
of Interior Alaska as a disaster area due to floods – an effort supported by
Senators Murkowski and Begich in a letter to FEMA yesterday encouraging the
disaster designation.
Later
in the hearing, Senator Murkowski followed up with Fugate, on the topic of
high-profile American communities being aided by regional partners.
“Alaska doesn’t have regional partners. Our geography puts us away from other
states, oftentimes 48 hours away from help or aid. Is FEMA working with
Alaska, given our remote location?”
Administrator
Fugate pointed out that not only would the Department of Defense need to
contribute more resources to Alaska than in other states, but that FEMA is
investigating the role that Alaska’s international neighbors could play in dire
circumstances.
Senator
Murkowski’s office will be meeting with the FEMA Northwest Director for more
detailed answers to Alaska’s concerns in the future.
For
video of Sen. Murkowski’s exchange with Administrator Fugate, click here.
Attached
is the letter from Sens. Murkowski and Begich to FEMA.
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