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Charlotte NC

Alma Adams Responds to Trump Administration Amendment to FEMA Major Disaster Declaration

May 1, 2020

Trump Administration amended North Carolina’s major disaster declaration yesterday afternoon.

WashingtonCongresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) responded to the Trump Administration's decision to amend the major disaster order for North Carolina to include Individual Assistance limited to the Crisis Counseling Program. FEMA can also approve Individual Assistance through other vital programs which would help North Carolinians weather this pandemic, including Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA):

"FEMA's decision to approve Crisis Counseling is a good first step. May is Mental Health Month, and counseling services – especially those that support mental health and wellbeing – are always an important part of disaster response," said Congresswoman Adams. "However, North Carolinians are still suffering and will continue to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic for a long time. President Trump should amend the major disaster order to give our state all of the tools we need, including 100% reimbursement for federal programs, Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP), and disaster unemployment assistance (DUA) for North Carolina."

Yesterday's amendment to the major disaster order makes the Crisis Counseling Program the only FEMA Individual Assistance Program for the State of North Carolina.

In the evening on March 25, 2020, President Donald J. Trump granted a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of North Carolina triggering the release of federal funds to help people and communities recover from COVID-19 impacts that occurred January 20, 2020 and beyond. Earlier that day, Rep. Adamsled two bipartisan letters from North Carolina Senators, Congressmen, State Senators and Representatives, Mayors, and municipal leaders supporting Governor Roy Cooper's request that a major disaster be declared in North Carolina.

Congresswoman Alma Adams has represented North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte) since 2014 and has served on the House Committee on Agriculture since 2015, where she serves as Vice Chair of the committee. Additionally, she has served on the Education & Labor Committee since 2015 and as Chair of the Workplace Protections Subcommittee since 2019. She has served on the Financial Services Committee since 2019.