POSTED 7:20 p.m. ET
PROVIDENCE -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency has again denied
Governor Carcieri's request for disaster relief in the wake of a deadly
nightclub fire in West Warwick.
"This event, though tragic in nature, is not beyond the combined
capabilities of the state and affected local communities, given the
resources that have been made available from federal, state, local and
voluntary entities," wrote Michael Brown, an agency undersecretary, in a
letter dated today.
Carcieri last month appealed the agency's first denial directly to
President Bush. He outlined more than $1 million in direct state and
local expenses related to the Feb. 20 fire at The Station. The blaze
claimed 99 lives and injured nearly 200.
In the March 25 appeal, Carcieri said, "I have determined that this
incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is
beyond the capabilities of the state and the affected local
communities." He cited long-term costs for uninsured medical expenses,
lost incomes and mental health care for victims he said could exceed
$100 million.
Carcieri spokesman Jeff Neal said the governor "is very disappointed in
the FEMA decision, but not completely surprised. The governor believed
Rhode Island had a very strong case to make, but ... this particular
situation does not fall into the types of categories that are delineated
by the letter of the statute."
Brown's three-paragraph letter noted that the state has already received
help from federal sources for survivor and disability benefits, low
interest loans, costs related to the investigation and mental health aid.
The state so far has received at least $500,000 in direct federal aid.
The governor also expects hospitals to obtain significant federal help
to cover costs for uncompensated care provided to fire victims.
Neal said it's too soon to say if Carcieri will turn to the General
Assembly to approve spending to cover some of the unpaid bills from the
fire.
