Gov. Edwards Requests Federal Disaster Declaration

BATON ROUGE, La., Feb. 10 -- Gov. John Bel Edwards, D-La., issued the following news:

Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting a federal disaster declaration for certain parishes in South Louisiana. Gov. Edwards is requesting the declaration include individual assistance for Orleans, Ascension, Livingston and St. James Parishes and public assistance for Orleans, Ascension, Livingston, Jefferson and St. James Parishes. The requests are based on preliminary data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) damage assessment teams who have been on the ground in Louisiana since Tuesday.

"These storms caused another setback for our citizens, but given the amount of devastation they are facing, their resources are limited and the federal government's assistance is needed to help them rebuild," said Gov. Edwards. "Fortunately, there was no loss of life, but the lives of hundreds of families and individuals have been turned upside down because of these tornadoes. Homes and businesses were either severely damaged or destroyed. FEMA teams are on the ground assessing the damage, and I am thankful that they are approaching this disaster with great urgency."

At least six tornadoes struck much of south Louisiana on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. Gov. Edwards declared a state of emergency following the severe storm system. According to the U.S. National Weather Service New Orleans, tornadic activity brought strong winds that caused severe damage, multiple injuries and left thousands without power.

Click here to read the governor's letter: http://gov.louisiana.gov/action.cfm?md=communication&task=addMessageClickThru&msgid=759&uid=gTk%7BnSj%2Ch%7D&encoded=1&redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fgov%2Elouisiana%2Egov%2Fassets%2Fdocs%2FLetters%2FGov%2DLetter%2DTrump%2DDisaster%2DRequest%2D2017%2D02%2D10%2DTornados%2Epdf