Cohen Tours Memphis Flood Damage With Commerce, HUD Secretaries

MEMPHIS, TENN. – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) today joined with U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan in touring recent flood damage in Memphis. Also in attendance were Memphis Mayor A.C. Wharton, Millington Mayor Richard Hodges, Shelby County Mayor Joe Ford and Shelby County Emergency Operations Center Director Bob Nation.

“Memphis is hurting and needs help recovering from the recent storm and flooding,” said Congressman Cohen. “This visit from Secretaries Locke and Donovan is proof positive the federal government is here and doing everything in its power to help our families and neighborhoods.”

On Saturday May 1, Congressman Cohen contacted the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to determine when and how the federal government could step in to help Shelby County. He joined with Congressmen Jim Cooper, Lincoln Davis and Marsha Blackburn in issuing a letter to urge Governor Phil Bredesen to request a Preliminary Damage Assessment – a first step that must take place before asking for a Presidential Disaster Declaration. Once the Governor requested federal help on Tuesday May 4, Congressman Cohen joined the Congressmen and Senators from Tennessee to ask President Obama to approve the request for disaster relief as quickly as possible, which was granted on Wednesday May 5.

Congressman Cohen vowed to push for more federal assistance for the 9th District and urged Memphis families to learn more about how FEMA can help them by calling 800.621.FEMA or visiting www.fema.gov.