American Rivers and 131 Partners Send Letter to Congress Urging Expeditious Passage of Emergency Disaster Relief Funding

For Immediate Release

November 21, 2024

Contact
Hawk Hammer, National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org

Washington D.C., – American Rivers and a group of 131 local, state and national partners have submitted a letter to Congressional leaders asking them to urgently pass emergency disaster relief funding for communities impacted by Hurricane Helene and Milton and support key federal programs that aim to improve public safety, reduce flooding, and restore rivers.

“River communities impacted by Hurricane Helene and Milton need our help now. Congress must ensure recovery funding is reliable, accessible, and flexible to meet the challenges ahead as we rebuild with resilience in mind,” said Erin McCombs, Southeast Conservation Director with American Rivers. “These areas need immediate resources to clear harmful storm pollution from streams and funding to assess and remove defunct or damaged dams as these communities work to recover. Every day these resources are delayed comes at a cost.”

These major storms caused failure or damage to dozens of dams within the region, making funding to assess their condition important to remove unneeded and unwanted dams and repair other structures to ensure the safety of communities when the next storm comes.

The letter included the support of businesses, community associations, public health professionals, agricultural conservation districts, farm workers, anglers, and environmental justice groups.

Additional Funding Requests and Recommendations from the Letter include:

• $100 million for Army Corps’ Environmental Infrastructure Program to assess dams;
• $35 million for EPA’s 319 program to support the implementation of greywater systems;
• $42 million to AmeriCorps to support regional stream debris removal teams;
• $35 million for Forest Services’ Dam Engineering and Management Program to support the assessment and removal of dams within their boundaries;
• $50 million for the National Fish Passage Program to facilitate fish migration;
• $24 million for the National Dam Safety Program’s State Assistance Program to provide states financial assistance to strengthen dam safety.

Recommended Policy Solutions to Prepare for Future Storms

• Congress should address the White House administration request to forgive all or some of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) debt to ensure policyholders and disaster survivors receive the assistance necessary after a flood.
• Congress needs to reauthorize FEMA’s National Dam Safety Program and eliminate barriers that often prevent communities from accessing assistance.
• Congress should require FEMA and HUD to better integrate programs for affordable housing with healthy floodplain management to meet the housing needs of families and communities who need to relocate to safer ground.

About American Rivers  

American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. Healthy rivers provide people and nature with clean, abundant water and natural habitat. For 50 years, American Rivers staff, supporters, and partners have shared a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers. For more information, please visit www.AmericanRivers.org