| FEMA personnel are working on the forefront of flood affected areas |
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Deputy Administrator Richard Serino traveled to Rhode Island to tour areas affected by flooding and meet with Congressional, state and local leaders to discuss the Department's ongoing response and recovery efforts in the region.
"This type of event is not recovered from in a day or two days," said Secretary Napolitano. "We are going to have to dig in our heels, work our way out, and really bring Rhode Island back to where it was before this flood event occurred. We are committed through FEMA and through the other agencies to help get this important work done."
Following an aerial tour of the flood damage, Secretary Napolitano met with Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Congressmen Patrick Kennedy and Jim Langevin, and local officials from affected areas to discuss the recovery efforts being led by state and local first responders and reiterate the Obama administration's continued commitment to provide the necessary federal aid and resources to supplement those efforts.
Secretary Napolitano also highlighted FEMA's support state and local first responders and the citizens of Rhode Island including the vital federal funding now available to eligible individuals and families for assistance with temporary housing, home repairs and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other included costs, and the critical efforts of front-line FEMA personnel staging water and food banks, assisting state and local responders and supporting the state's Emergency Operations Center.