Washington, February 22 – US President Donald Trump has approved an emergency declaration for Washington, D.C., as the collapse and spill of a sewage line continued to pollute the Potomac River.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced in a press release that federal disaster assistance is available to the District of Columbia to supplement response efforts due to emergency conditions resulting from the sewage line collapse since January 19, according to Xinhua news agency.
"The President's action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population and to provide appropriate assistance to save lives, protect property, public health and safety, and lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe," FEMA said, adding that this assistance is for the District of Columbia and the area where the district has responsibilities in the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Under the president's authorization, FEMA can mobilize personnel, equipment, and other resources to assist with response operations. The assistance includes emergency protective measures under the agency's Public Assistance program, with the federal government covering 75 per cent of eligible costs.
Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser reiterated on Friday that the Potomac sewage spill has not impacted the drinking water supply.
On January 19, a section of the Potomac Interceptor, a major sewage pipeline operated by DC Water, collapsed, releasing over 200 million gallons of wastewater into the Potomac River. Bowser declared on February 18 that the month-long Potomac River sewage spill is a local public emergency to request federal support.
