WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) is pleased to announce the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded $5,233,303.27 to the City of Cleveland to repair damaged shoreline barriers at Burke Lakefront Airport caused by Hurricane Sandy.  This award will fund 75 percent of the estimated project cost to repair 3300 feet of stone revetment along the shoreline of Lake Erie which protects the airport runway at Burke Lakefront Airport.

“The 2012 Superstorm known as Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc beyond the Eastern Seaboard and reached Northeast Ohio as well, with  heavy rain, wind gusts of nearly 70 miles per hour and waves on Lake Erie reaching 15 to 18 feet. I’m pleased that FEMA recognizes the financial burden this extraordinary storm inflicted on communities in my district, including Cleveland, and will allocate resources to safely maintain operations at Burke Lakefront Airport,” said Congresswoman Fudge.

FEMA, the federal agency tasked with responding to major natural disasters, falls within the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  Congresswoman Fudge also expressed her concern that FEMA’s ability to carry out its work and respond to future emergencies will be jeopardized if the House fails to present a clean bill to fund DHS and avoid a shutdown of the Department by the February 28^th deadline.

“A DHS shutdown would cripple FEMA’s preparations for future disasters by leading to the furlough of 22 percent of its personnel. This is just one of the irresponsible and costly consequences that looms due to the failure of House Republicans to bring a clean bill to the floor for a vote,” added Congresswoman Fudge.

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