REPROACH

Perry: Obama MIA on Texas Wildfires

"I know our letter [for aid] didn't get lost in the mail."

As President Obama heads to Alabama in the wake of a tornado storm system that has left over 300 people dead, Texas Governor Rick Perry slammed the White House for not responding to his request on April 16 for a declaration of emergency as wildfires began to rage across the state, destroying two million acres of forests. "You have to ask, 'Why are you taking care of Alabama and other states?' I know our letter didn't get lost in the mail," said the Republican governor who has been known to criticize the government in the past. Two firefighters have died while fighting the blazes, and 900 buildings have burned down. A federal disaster declaration could reimburse Texas 75 percent of the cost of their emergency response. The Texas Forest Service and local governments have spent more than $60 million since September 1 on wildfire reparations, said forest service spokeswoman Linda Moon. Federal aid has been ordered to Alabama, where the president has declared a state of emergency.