Federal Agencies Actively Engaged in Response and Recovery Operations throughout the Southeast United States

FEMA Urges Residents Affected by Flooding in North Carolina to Register for Assistance
 

WASHINGTON – As life-threatening flooding throughout the eastern Carolinas continues, Federal agencies remain active in supporting a wide array of response and recovery efforts throughout the Southeast United States.

On October 10, President Obama signed a major disaster declaration for North Carolina, allowing residents in declared areas of the state to register for FEMA assistance that may include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of Hurricane Matthew. Federal funding is also available to state and eligible tribal and local governments and certain private non-profit organizations for debris removal and emergency protective measures for declared areas.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in North Carolina can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT seven days a week until further notice. 

At the President’s direction, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is leading the federal government’s response efforts to provide assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. There are more than 1,500 FEMA personnel on the ground supporting response and recovery efforts including Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams; and seven Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMATs). There are three Urban Search & Rescue teams working in North Carolina actively conducting rescues and another team on standby in South Carolina.

Today, President Obama signed a major disaster declaration for the state of South Carolina. This is in addition to the major declarations issued for Florida and Georgia making federal funding available to state and eligible tribal and local governments and certain private non-profit organizations for debris removal and emergency protective measures for declared areas. Damage assessments are underway and additional designations and forms of assistance may be added at a later date.

Additionally, FEMA is transporting pre-positioned commodities to affected areas as requests are submitted. More than 6.9 million meals; 4.3 million liters of water; 89,000 blankets; and 522 generators were made available for state, tribal and local officials to distribute to individuals. Thus far, states have received the following commodities:

• Florida: More than 4.4 million meals; 1.2 million liters of water; 17,200 blankets; 128 Generators;
• Georgia: More than 875,000 meals, 930,000 liters of water; 245 Generators;
• North Carolina: More than 1.4 million meals; 1.95 million liters of water; 49,000  blankets; 148 Generators; and,
• South Carolina: More than 267,000 meals; 400,000 liters of water; 4,400 blankets.

Survivors in affected areas who have flood insurance through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and whose property suffered flood damage are encouraged to contact their local insurance agency or company to file a flood insurance claim. When calling, they should have their policy number and a telephone number/email address where they can be reached. Policyholders affected by Hurricane Matthew are also now eligible for advanced payments under their flood insurance policy. 

Policyholders with additional questions about filing a claim or about their NFIP policy can call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 and press option “2.”  For a TTY line, call 800-462-7585. The line is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT Monday to Friday.

Ongoing Federal Response and Recovery Efforts:

The National Guard continues to support states impacted by Hurricane Matthew. During the next 24 hours, the total number of Guardsmen is decreasing from approximately 8,000 to 6,000; however the number of activations in North Carolina will increase as flooding concerns continue.

The American Red Cross continues providing shelter throughout the affected areas. Nearly 4,800 people stayed in 90 Red Cross and community shelters. Although sheltering numbers are decreasing in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, shelter numbers increased overnight for North Carolina as additional flooding occurs. The American Red Cross has more than 3,000 trained disaster workers on the ground in addition to 155 pre-positioned response vehicles and more than 100 trailer loads filled water, ready-to-eat meals, shelter and kitchen supplies, cleaning supplies and comfort kits, insect repellant, gloves, masks, shovels, rakes, coolers and more. As conditions permit, Red Cross response vehicles will begin circulating through the hardest hit areas to begin delivering food and relief supplies. For Hurricane Matthew shelter locations, visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-768-8048.  The American Red Cross still has an urgent need for blood and platelet donations as Hurricane Matthew has forced the cancellation of many blood drives. Residents who are in an unaffected area, are encouraged to give blood or platelets, to help patients in the affected areas with great need. Go to redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced recovery assistance in the form of low-interest disaster loans are now available to North Carolina survivors and businesses affected by Hurricane Matthew. SBA’s Field Operations Center staff also joined FEMA, state and local officials today to assist conducting Preliminary Damage Assessments in both Florida and South Carolina.

The U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance teams are deployed to Haiti, Jamaica and the Bahamas and are working with local authorities to coordinate relief efforts. Updates on the status operations throughout the Caribbean are available on travel.state.gov and on individual Embassy websites.  U.S. citizens traveling and residing abroad are encouraged to enroll their travel plans on the agency’s website using the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), and to read the “Country Specific” information also found on the site.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) deployed more than 500 AmeriCorps members, including FEMA Corps, to areas affected by Hurricane Matthew. These deployments include 59 teams of FEMA Corps members – 471 AmeriCorps members in total – that have been pre-staged to support FEMA’s response to affected states. An additional 90 AmeriCorps members are supporting shelter and emergency operations in Florida and South Carolina. CNCS is coordinating with local partners in each state, including governor-appointed state service commissions and voluntary organizations, to support state emergency operations and volunteer response efforts. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages producers with crops insured under the Federal crop insurance program to immediately contact their local crop insurance agent to report any damage to insured crops after the storm. For assistance with Rural Development financed housing, business or community assistance information, and to get help from the Natural Resources Conservation Service for debris removal, click here. Additional disaster resource information as well as food safety, livestock and pet guidance is available at www.usda.gov. USDA Foods’ inventories have been requested from all potentially impacted state agencies, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) staff is prepared to respond to any state requests for disaster SNAP and/or other SNAP-related needs. Additional information about USDA’s disaster assistance resources is available here.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) deployed more than 100 personnel in response to Hurricane Matthew. USACE is supporting temporary power restoration, coast engineering-damage assessments, emergency operation center activations and dam inspections. USACE military leadership remain engaged at state emergency operations centers in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The Temporary Emergency Power support for North Carolina includes members of the 249th Engineer Battalion and Power Planning and Readiness Teams who manage and install generators. Personnel supporting power missions in Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia have been released. Coastal Engineers continue damage assessments in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. The dam inspections are occurring on 83 privately-owned dams in South Carolina. Debris and temporary roofing subject matter experts continue performing ground assessments along impacted state coastal areas. USACE is also participating in port surveys in coordination with the Coast Guard. USACE has deployed our Public Health and Safety Officer to FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) who is working on Zika virus related issues connected with the recession of flood waters in support of the Department of Health and Human Services. Seven of USACE’s emergency operations centers remain activated in the affected areas.

U.S. Northern Command continues to support seven Incident Support Bases and Federal Staging Areas in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia to support federal and state resources needed for response. Additionally, Defense Coordinating Officers and Defense Coordinating Elements remain in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, along with a Defense Coordinating Officer in Virginia. Dual-status commanders are designated in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

A 46-member Disaster Medical Assistance Team from the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) continues to provide medical support to a hospital in Brevard County, Florida, assisting with a surge in demand for emergency department services. Approximately 570 personnel from the National Disaster Medical System, U.S. Public Health Service, and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response remain activated and another 350 are on alert ready to assist in other communities as needed, particularly as rivers crest after the storm. HHS agencies continue to promote public health messaging and tips on staying healthy after the storm at www.phe.gov/hurricanematthew and www.cdc.gov.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued an official memo to impacted states regarding immigration enforcement activities.  The message notifies the public that there will be no immigration enforcement initiatives associated with evacuations or sheltering related to Hurricane Matthew, including the use of checkpoints for immigration enforcement purposes in impacted areas during an evacuation.  The message has been translated in Spanish, Haitian Creole, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. Additionally, CRCL and FEMA ODIC holding daily calls of the Interagency Coordinating Council on Individuals with Disabilities (ICC) to share information and resources with interagency partners on any issues impacting individuals with disabilities in the affected states.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services encourages those whose application, petition or immigration status may be impacted by Hurricane Matthew to call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283 (TDD for the deaf and hard of hearing: 800-767-1833) to learn how to request certain types of relief. For more information, click here.

The U.S. Coast Guard continues working with the U.S. Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), local port authorities, and other partners to reopen the Georgia ports of Savannah and Brunswick. The teams are surveying channel depths to ensure safe navigation for commercial vessels. The Coast Guard also continues to assist in search and rescue efforts and remains poised to assist in future rescue efforts from those affected by Hurricane Matthew to ensure the safety of individuals that may be in distress from this storm. Additional information for Haiti operations and ongoing support for the Brunswick and Savannah, Georgia ports is being updated online.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) continues working with energy partners in affected areas as power restoration continues. Requirements for restoration vary state-by-state and with local jurisdictions, which may cause delays for some communities and neighborhoods.  As power is being restored to communities affected by Hurricane Matthew, it is important to note that structural inspections are required before any damaged homes can start receiving power. DOE is providing daily situational updates on power outages and restoration throughout the affected area.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) deployed housing assessment teams in each affected state.  The teams are compiling damage data on all of HUD’s Multifamily and Public Housing apartments.

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s United States Geological Survey (USGS) is now focusing on historic inland flooding in North Carolina. Personnel from 40 crews continue to collect the surge sensors and gages that identify high water marks in the affected states.  USGS has additional crews making flood measurements and repairing stream gages damaged by river flooding.  The overall storm totals were 393 sensors at 290 locations, making the Matthew deployment the largest in USGS history.  Sensor recovery operations in GA and SC may be completed by early Wednesday.  Sensor recovery in NC is underway and may be completed late Wednesday. Crews there are actively responding to the period-of-record riverine flooding that in some cases rivals or exceed Hurricane Floyd peaks. Some areas are devastated with access problems and no food or gas nearby. Safety is the top priority. Information on all sensors and gages is available online.

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Park Service reports that 10 Atlantic coast national park units in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina remain closed in the wake of Hurricane Matthew as the NPS continues to determine the extent of damage caused by the storm’s wind and water. The NPS deployed its Eastern Incident Management Team to Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve to coordinate and oversee the assessment and recovery operations at all of the affected parks. NPS deployed more than 130 personnel for Hurricane Matthew response.

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that 19 wildlife refuges and two fish hatcheries remain closed until it is safe for staff to return.

The U.S. Department of Justice deployed 77 federal law enforcement personnel in the affected states, with an additional 50 personnel on stand-by for assignment, if necessary.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continues to conduct oil and hazardous material field assessments. In Florida, EPA completed more than 100 field assessments, reporting no hazardous materials. Additionally, EPA is working with affected states to incorporate debris assignments.

The Federal Aviation Administration posted and is updating information on temporary flight restrictions for unmanned aircrafts and other aircraft operations.

The Federal Communications Commission continues monitoring the status of communications networks, and coordinating with providers and government partners on communications status and restoration throughout the affected areas.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration divisions in the southern region continue working with contact permitting agencies & commercial motor vehicle law enforcement agencies in their states to assist with necessary emergency waivers and permits.

To report a missing child, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-866-908-9570. Anyone who finds an unaccompanied child who may have been separated from their parents or caregivers because of the hurricane, can enter basic information and/or a photo into the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s Unaccompanied Minors Registry or call 1-866-908-9570.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration deployed about a dozen personnel from division offices to assist with the storm response.  Bridge and road inspectors will make damage assessments in affected areas are beginning.

The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Internal Revenue Service announced today that North Carolina storm victims will have until March 15, 2017, to file certain individual and business tax returns and make certain tax payments, with similar relief expected soon for Hurricane Matthew victims in other states. For more information, go to Tax Relief in Disaster Situations on www.IRS.gov.

Up-to-date information about U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities is available.

FEMA advises anyone in the impacted areas looking to help or assist with response and recovery efforts can get involved by contacting their American Red Cross chapter or their local Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) chapter to connect to many organizations working on the ground that are in need of volunteers. To get in touch with the local VOAD in the affected areas, visit:

• https://flvoad.communityos.org   
• https://gavoad.communityos.org
• https://scvoad.communityos.org
• https://ncvoad.communityos.org
• https://vavoad.communityos.org

For additional information, imagery, graphics and b-roll from FEMA, click here.

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