STORM AID REQUEST REMAINS AT FEMA.Byline: Lisa Friedman Washington Bureau Federal disaster officials evaluating Southern California's request for mudslide and rainstorm assistance changed their story Thursday, saying they have not yet passed on their recommendation to the White House. Federal Emergency Management Agency The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the federal agency responsible for coordinating emergency planning, preparedness, risk reduction, response, and recovery. The agency works closely with state and local governments by funding emergency programs and providing technical spokeswoman Cindy Taylor Cindy Taylor (born April 18, 1977 in Asunción, Paraguay) is a fashion model and television hostess. Born in Paraguay to a Paraguayan mother, her father was a United States citizen, having relocated the family to Clarksburg, West Virginia immediately after Taylor was born. said the agency does not yet know when it will tell President George W. Bush whether Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , Ventura and surrounding counties suffered enough during last month's deadly storms to deserve aid. Initially, a FEMA FEMA, n.pr See Federal Emergency Management Agency. official in California said the recommendation had already been sent and the agency was awaiting a decision by President Bush. ``The request for federal assistance is still undergoing the required evaluation at FEMA,'' Taylor said Thursday. Asked when the agency's advice is expected to go to the Oval Office, she said, ``I don't have a time frame.'' Los Angeles County officials and members of the California congressional delegation said they are frustrated by the wait. ``It seems, of course, to be moving very slowly,'' said Donald Wolfe, acting director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (LACDPW) is responsible for the construction and operation of Los Angeles County's roads, building safety, sewerage, and flood control. . ``Our concern is, the longer time goes by, the less interest everybody has.'' Added Rep. Adam Schiff
Adam B. Schiff (born June 20 1960) is an American politician. He first served in the California State Senate. , D-Pasadena, ``The recent rainstorms that so badly devastated dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. California meet all the criteria for federal disaster relief. The governor has requested it, we are still waiting for it, and the time for the president to act is now.'' California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger asked President Bush on Jan. 25 to declare the eight-county Southern California region a federal disaster area and green-light more than $176 million in aid. Federal procedure requires that FEMA make a recommendation to Bush, only after which the president can make a decision. Taylor on Wednesday said FEMA has no prescribed schedule for evaluating disasters. ``It varies,'' she said. Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks said in his experience FEMA is taking ``longer than usual'' to make a recommendation to the White House. ``The administration has been very helpful to Florida, and I hope they will be as generous with California,'' he said. Lisa Friedman, (202) 662-8731 lisa.friedman(at)langnews.com |
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