Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano,left, Salvation Army Major George Hood,center, and FEMA Director Craig Fugate,right, at a press conference at FEMA headquarters,Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, in Washington. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)
Updated: Monday, 29 Aug 2011, 2:56 PM EDT
Published : Monday, 29 Aug 2011, 11:50 AM EDT
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The federal government has frozen future aid to tornado-ravaged Joplin and other disaster sites as it focuses on immediate help for victims of Hurricane Irene.
Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman Bob Josephson said Monday the agency focuses on immediate needs when its Disaster Relief Fund runs low.
He says individual aid to victims of the tornado that killed 160 people and damaged about 7,500 homes in Joplin will continue for things such as temporary housing. But help with long-term rebuilding projects is on hold.
Josephson says it'll be up to Congress to restore full funding to disaster areas including parts of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee.
Missouri Sens. Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt say they are working to ensure that full funding is restored for Joplin.
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