The Obama Administration’s denial of Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s request for an Emergency Declaration in the wake of the June 12 terrorist attack is “unthinkable,” the state’s top elected official said Monday.
“It is incredibly disappointing that the Obama Administration denied our request for an Emergency Declaration,” Scott said in a Monday media release. “Last week, a terrorist killed 49 people, and wounded many others, which was the deadliest shooting in U.S. history. It is unthinkable that President Obama does not define this as an emergency.”
Scott’s administration had requested $5 million in federal funds under the Stafford Act to help with emergency response efforts, law enforcement response, emergency medical care, social services and counseling services for the victims. The 1988 Stafford Act is designed to provide assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency following a major disaster or emergency.
While FEMA denied the $5 million request, “the federal government, however, will allocate $253,000 to help pay for overtime for first responders,” the release noted.
In a denial letter to Scott dated June 20, W. Craig Fugate, FEMA’s administrator, said the state failed to demonstrate “how the emergency response associated with this situation is beyond the capability of the State and affected local governments.”