NSBNEWS.net photo by Henry Frederick. Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas speaks to Central Florida media outlets at the Port Orange City Hall after touring flooded areas of New Smyrna Beach and Port Orange this morning. She was on her way to Lake Mary to meeting with FEMA officials at noon.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A Congresswoman Susanne Kosmas passed through the Greenbriar Apartments on Roberts Street off State Road 44 in a police escort this morning to get a first-hand view of the massive flooding from five days of rainfall, an elderly woman stod huddled in front of her door, a semi-circle of sandbags stacked knee-high in front of her.
"The primary concern is safety of the people," said Kosmas, the first-term Democrat and New Smyrna Beach resident, whose 24th Congressional district represents parts of four Central Florida counties.
The situation was even more bleak on stretches of Atlantic Avenue on the beachside, where Kosmas saw city employees working pumps to try and quell waters from further damaging homes.
"We're all in this together and the people are working hard," said Kosmas, a 35-year New Smyrna Beach resident, who added after seeing city workers and even residents working side by side: "Their's is a community that is close-knit."
After a tour of the hardest hit areas of New Smyrna Beach with excorts by police sergants Michael Brouillette and Eugene Griffith, along with New Smyrna Beach Mayor Sally Mackay, Vice Mayor Jack Grasty and County Councilman Jack Hayman, Kosmas moved on to Port Orange City Hall for brief interviews with media outlets.
After a tour of that city, she planned to meet at noon with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Craig Fugate, who are visiting the region to tour the FEMA Long Term Recovery Office in Lake Mary.
"My job now is to ensure whatever resources are needed we can provide for the people that need it," Kosmas said in a brief cell phone interview while en route to Lake Mary.