Mike Pence: “across Indiana, Hoosiers are picking up the pieces from a week of extraordinary weather. My own hometown of Columbus is…”

“across Indiana, Hoosiers are picking up the pieces from a week of extraordinary weather. My own hometown of Columbus is in the midst of a cleanup of the worst flooding since the Great Flood of 1913, and I come to the floor today to urge the President of the United States to take immediate action and declare an expedited major disaster area in the State of Indiana as a result of these severe storms, tornadoes and torrential downpour. Following the harsh impact of tornadoes 1 week ago today, on Saturday parts of my district experienced approximately 10 inches of rain in a matter of hours. This is more rainfall than Hoosiers typically see in 2 months during this time of year, and the results have been catastrophic. I commend the President for his action on Sunday evening speeding relief to community governments, but this government must act and act now to bring relief to Hoosier families, small businesses and family farms. We need additional declarations like those requested by Governor Mitch Daniels of the President, support from FEMA and the Department of Agriculture, and we need it now. Hoosier families and communities are hurting, and they deserve to know that help is on the way. I urge this administration and all of my colleagues to focus their attention on this urgent Midwestern need for emergency relief.”