Val Demings leads congressional journey to supervise FEMA post-hurricane support in Puerto Rico – Florida Politics

After main a name for full protection of post-hurricane aid prices, Democratic U.S. Rep. Val Demings is spearheading a visit to Puerto Rico, the place she and different members of Congress will oversee Federal Emergency Administration Company efforts.

Demings’ Workplace introduced the journey Friday, at some point after Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi invited Demings to “see first-hand the devastating affect” of Hurricane Fiona, which tore through the island Monday.

Within the days since, Demings has known as on President Joe Biden to name for a significant catastrophe declaration, which he did Thursday, and for FEMA to provoke a 100% cost-share of emergency aid — a transfer others in Congress have requested as well.

“The well being and security of the American folks is my No. 1 precedence,” Demings stated in an announcement. “It’s important that we hear instantly from Puerto Rican communities and first responders on the bottom in order that we will consider Puerto Rico’s wants and FEMA’s response. We all know this storm is yet one more blow on high of the continuing restoration from Hurricane Maria — a restoration that has taken far too lengthy.

“We can not repeat the errors of the previous. The folks of Puerto Rico deserve the perfect that we will ship, and I will probably be anticipating to see an especially excessive stage of professionalism, consideration, urgency, and efficient motion from FEMA and different companions on the bottom. We should make households and communities entire. 5 years since Hurricane Maria, I’m dedicated to make it possible for Puerto Rico has the whole lot they should rebuild.”

Eight persons are confirmed to have died because of Hurricane Fiona, which brough 85-mile-per-hour winds, heavy rainfall and flooding to the island as a Class 1 hurricane. An estimated 928,000 households remain without power.

The storm is now headed towards Bermuda and has strengthened to a Class 4, which Hurricane Maria was when it struck Puerto Rico on Sept. 20, 2017, killing shut to three,000, displacing greater than 200,000 extra and leaving residents without power for nearly a year.

Demings oversees FEMA work as Chair of the Home Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Restoration in partnership with Democratic U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, Chair of the Home Homeland Safety Committee.

Becoming a member of her on the journey are Homeland Safety Committee members Nanette Baragán of California, Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas and Ritchie Torres of New York.

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