Your Public Radio Station
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Perry Criticizes Federal Response to Hurricane Ike

Houston, TX – Texas Gov. Rick Perry has called federal efforts to help Texas recover from September's Hurricane Ike ``underwhelming'' and ``irritating.''

Perry, who made the comments in Houston, is creating the Governor's Commission for Disaster Recovery and Renewal.

The private and public officials will oversee coastal rebuilding and develop recommendations for responding to future storms. Perry wants a final report by June 30.

The governor also wants the Federal Emergency Management Agency to cover -all- costs of removing Ike debris, not the current 75 percent.

FEMA spokeswoman Debbie Wing says the agency is working hard, hand in hand with our state and local partners.

Wing says FEMA previously approved three requests from Texas to pay 100 percent of cleanup costs, during the first 44 days after Ike.

She says a fourth request has been received by FEMA and the agency is processing it.