Written by Deanna McLaughlin
Clarksville City Council – Ward 2
Clarksville, TN – Clarksville Citizens, you may have read recently that the costs to customers of Clarksville Gas and Water are going up to cover the debt that was taken out to rebuild the Waste Water Treatment Plant after the 2010 Flood.
To Date, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has denied the City of Clarksville’s claims for assistance in funding the rebuild.
The City of Clarksville is working with attorney’s to appeal this. We need the Citizens of Clarksville to assist us in getting our voice heard in Washington D.C. Below is a sample letter that you can use to contact our Washington D.C. delegation to seek their assistance. Please reach out to them ASAP.
Thanks in advance for your help! I have also attached an editable version of the letter.
Deanna McLaughlin
Clarksville City Council – Ward 2
Senator Lamar Alexander
United States Senate
455 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Senator Bob Corker
United States Senate
Dirksen Senate Office Building, SD-185
Washington, D.C. 20510
Congressman Marsha Blackburn
United States House of Representatives
217 Cannon Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
City of Clarksville FEMA Claims
Dear Sen. Alexander, Sen. Corker and Rep. Blackburn:
I am writing to request assistance on behalf of the City of Clarksville with its claims to FEMA for damage caused by the 2010 Flood in Middle Tennessee. I understand that FEMA has denied over $40 million of Clarksville’s claims for disaster relief, and now refuses to consider Clarksville’s appeal of this decision even though it is required by law to do so.
Significant work is needed to repair the infrastructure in Clarksville that was damaged in the Flood, including the City’s wastewater treatment plant. These repairs need to be completed as soon as possible to protect human health and safety and to ensure that the City is in compliance with environmental regulations and permits. If Clarksville does not receive disaster relief funds from FEMA, the costs of these repairs will have a significant and immediate impact on all of our citizens.
Further delays by FEMA are unfair and unacceptable. The federal government seems to have made it a priority to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy and other natural disasters, while the victims of the flooding in Middle Tennessee have been left behind and continue to suffer. The citizens of Clarksville desperately need assistance with this matter, and I hope that you can help to correct FEMA’s erroneous decision and inaction. The purpose of FEMA funding is to provide relief from disasters. Clarksville greatly needs relief from the damage caused by the Flood.
Sincerely,
Citizen of Clarksville, Tennessee
