Orlando emergecy declaration denied by federal government
TALLAHASSEE (FOX 13) - The federal government rejected Governor Rick Scott’s request for an Emergency Declaration under the Stafford Act following last week’s terror attack at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando.
Governor Scott had wanted the Obama administration to provide $5 million in federal funds to help with emergency response efforts, law enforcement response, emergency medical care, counseling services and other social services to assist victims.
The federal government, however, will allocate $253,000 to help pay for overtime for first responders.
Governor Rick Scott said, “It is incredibly disappointing that the Obama Administration denied our request for an Emergency Declaration. Last week, a terrorist killed 49 people, and wounded many others, which was the deadliest shooting in U.S. history. It is unthinkable that President Obama does not define this as an emergency. We are committing every state resource possible to help the victims and the community heal and we expect the same from the federal government.”
Click here to read the federal governments response letter.