Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson ‘Stunned’ By FEMA’s Denial Of Disaster Declaration For Tornado Damage

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – FEMA on Wednesday denied the state’s appeal for a major disaster declaration for the damage caused by the October 20-21, 2019 storms that struck North Texas, including the EF-3 tornado that tore through North Dallas.

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson sent letters last week to Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz to bring their attention to the impasse with FEMA.

Mayor Johnson issued the following statement about the denial:

“I am stunned by FEMA’s decision and extremely disappointed that our request for assistance became a bureaucratic game at the federal level — one that leaves Dallas taxpayers on the hook for tens of millions of dollars in damage while we are still contending with a pandemic. The EF-3 tornado that struck North Dallas on October 20, 2019, was clearly a major disaster. Anyone who saw the wreckage the morning of October 21 could attest to that.

“I am grateful to our Congressional delegation, including Senators Cornyn and Cruz, for their advocacy on our behalf. I have already spoken to Senator Cornyn, who told me he is not ready to give up on finding relief for our city. We are going to continue to fight for fairness for Dallas taxpayers.”

Here is the letter from FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor to Gov. Greg Abbott: