Blumenthal calls for nation to help

BRIDGEPORT » U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal on Monday was in the city’s South End, which was flooded out during tropical storm Sandy five years ago, to urge Washington to send “whatever it takes” to help the people of Houston recover from catastrophic flooding.

“We cannot make the Gulf Coast wait as the nation made Connecticut wait,” he said, referring to the delays and excessive paperwork experienced in getting help after Sandy in 2012 and Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. “When relief is delayed, it’s damaging to recovery efforts.”

Blumenthal was standing on the corner of Iranistan and South avenues, a spot that was under water during the Sandy storm surge. “The Congress has a job to do — we cannot tolerate a delay in giving the people of Houston help at this moment of humanitarian crisis to fellow Americans.”

He said the damage and flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey offers an opportunity for Americans to come together to help those in need.

“We face an historic opportunity to come together — we are all linked together,” Blumenthal said. “It could be a turning point, and I’m going to try to make it a turning point. All of our interests coincide here.”

The senator was joined by Mayor Joseph Ganim, City Councilwoman Denese Taylor-Moye and Director of Emergency Management Scott Appleby.

Taylor-Moye said the people of Houston will need help that goes beyond wallboard and lumber.

“We’ve been through a lot, but not of the magnitude of what we’re seeing in Houston,” she said. “They’re going to need more than just help with construction — their lives are shattered and they’ve lost everything. They’re going to need counseling and all forms of social services.”

Ganim agreed. “Hurricanes can wreak havoc in unsuspecting ways,” he said.

Rainfall from the storm is projected to surpass 4 feet in some areas of Texas. Although down graded to a tropical storm, Harvey is expected to linger for several days, bringing more heavy rain to the already flood-inundated Houston area.

Blumenthal said he hoped Washington would not only come together to help the Gulf Coast of Texas, but also work together to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure.

“The images of their plight is heart-wrenching,” the senator said. “We need to come together not only to help Houston, but to commit to improved infrastructure on a national basis — to rebuild our highways, bridges and airports.”