Costa Calls Attention to Dangerous Flooding in Merced
MERCED, CA – Today, Rep. Jim Costa (CA-16) sent a letter to Governor Jerry Brown regarding the dangerous flood conditions in Merced County. Late on Thursday night, a levee along the Merced River failed because of the high volume of water releases from Lake McClure.
"First let me thank you for including Merced County in your initial request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for January 3rd-12th. However, Merced County's citizens need your help again," wrote Rep. Costa. "I want to call your attention to the current flood conditions in Merced County. As storms continue to hit the California Central Valley, state and county emergency officials are working hard to handle the amount of water flowing along the Merced and San Joaquin Rivers. We need you to request additional federal assistance to help deal with flooding as a result of rising water levels."
Full text of the letter follows:
February 17, 2017
The Honorable Jerry Brown
Governor of California
State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, California 95814
Dear Governor Brown:
First let me thank you for including Merced County in your initial request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for January 3rd-12th. However, Merced County's citizens need your help again. I want to call your attention to the current flood conditions in Merced County. As storms continue to hit the California Central Valley, state and county emergency officials are working hard to handle the amount of water flowing along the Merced and San Joaquin Rivers. We need you to request additional federal assistance to help deal with flooding as a result of rising water levels.
Just last week, I joined officials in Merced County, for a helicopter tour of the flooding and saw first-hand just how severe the flooding is, and anticipate because of the coming storms, for things to get much worse. I can attest to the substantial and widespread nature of the devastation caused by the storms that you indicated to President Trump in your letter of request for a disaster declaration. Causing further and serious issues, just recently the Merced River crested a private ditch gate near Snelling, CA flooding Merced River Road because of the high volume of water releases from Lake McClure.
My staff has been working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and we have been told you have the flexibility to add more locations and time periods to the Presidential disaster declaration request. Therefore, I am respectfully asking that the recent flood events in Merced County be included in your request for a Presidential disaster declaration.
Thank you for your attention to this severe situation affecting the residents of Merced County.
Sincerely,
JIM COSTA
Member of Congress