President Obama stopped off in Arizona today and met at the airport with Governor Jan Brewer. She made it a point to meet with him to see what is happening with the request she made a month ago to get the Yarnell Hill fire declared a Federal Disaster. This is the fire that killed the Granite Mountain hotshots crew. Why is Arizona still having to wait for the President to declare it a disaster area? FEMA reacted by July 1 cutting funds lose. President Obama is aware of the tragedy, on July 1 he issued this statement - Yesterday, nineteen firefighters were killed in the line of duty while fighting a wildfire outside Yarnell, Arizona. They were heroes – highly-skilled professionals who, like so many across our country do every day, selflessly put themselves in harm’s way to protect the lives and property of fellow citizens they would never meet. In recent days, hundreds of firefighters have battled extremely dangerous blazes across Arizona and the Southwest. The federal government is already assisting, and we will remain in close contact with state and local officials to provide the support they need. But today, Michelle and I join all Americans in sending our thoughts and prayers to the families of these brave firefighters and all whose lives have been upended by this terrible tragedy.” No Governor should have to remind a President about a disaster as such. Here is what Governor Brewer is trying to accomplish - By Yvonne Wingett Sanchez The Republic | azcentral Tue Jul 9, 2013 11:16 AM Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is asking President Barack Obama to declare a disaster for the Yarnell Hill Fire to free up money to help residents and businesses. The fire claimed the lives of 19 firefighters from the Granite Mountain Hotshots crew. They will be honored at an 11 a.m. memorial service in Prescott Valley. Brewer sent a letter to Obama to formally request a federal Major Disaster Declaration, she announced in a statement to the media. In that statement, she said a damage assessment concluded that 109 homes were destroyed, two homes were significantly damaged and 21 homes had minor damage. She requested the president to couple the disaster declaration with access for residents to an assistance program, which would allow residents to apply for housing assistance funds and “necessary expenses and serious needs” not covered by insurance. “The Yarnell Hill Fire has taken so much from the people of Yavapai County and the state of Arizona,” Brewer said in the statement. “We can never bring back the lives lost to this devastating fire, but a federal Major Disaster Declaration is one way we can help the citizens of Yarnell and Peeples Valley begin to pick up the pieces and put their communities back together.” She stated that federal disaster designations are assessed based on “summary estimates” of local damages. She said the request, if approved, would bring long-term federal recovery programs that are meant to help survivors and businesses recover uninsured losses. A White House spokesman did not immediately respond to The Arizona Republic’s request for comment. Brewer is also seeking a Physical Disaster Declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration, which would allow eligible residents to apply for loans totaling $200,000 to repair or replace damaged real estate. Renters would be eligible for up to a $40,000 loan to replace destroyed personal property, Brewer’s statement said. Brewer is not requesting aid for local businesses at this time.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Aug 2013 01:41:30 +0000
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