In the Aftermath of Hurricane Isaac, the Support of Volunteers is Key

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster actively involved in disaster response

WASHINGTON – In the wake of Hurricane Isaac, voluntary agencies continue to be a vital member of the disaster response and recovery team, working alongside state and local emergency responders to help to address immediate needs of survivors. The public can play an important role with the emergency management team, volunteering their time, money, and energy to help disaster survivors and their families. There are ways individuals can support the ongoing response and recovery efforts, whether they live in one of the affected areas or across the country.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is advising people who want to help survivors affected by Hurricane Isaac to do so through affiliation with the voluntary organizations that are active in the ongoing disaster operations. 

“When disasters occur, local and national voluntary agencies are often among some of the first responders on the ground to help survivors with the support and resources that they need,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.  “In Isaac, we’ve already seen field kitchens opening in the hardest hit neighborhoods with thousands of meals being served; dozens of shelters available for temporary housing relief; and teams on the ground to assist with debris removal and temporary roofs.”

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD)  serves as the primary point of contact for voluntary organization coordination in FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center, supporting Emergency Support Function 6 (Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Housing, and Human Services).  National VOAD continues to work with a network of more than 50 national agencies and 55 state and territorial VOADs providing countless volunteers and services to support response and recovery efforts. 

National VOAD members including voluntary, non-profit and faith-based organizations are working closely with the state and communities to assist with providing mobile feeding in areas where there are power outages, assist with debris removal and, as needed, to support with temporary roofing for disaster survivors. 

Examples of ongoing work include:

  • The American Red Cross has opened shelters in several Gulf Coast states and has been mobilizing trained disaster workers across the region.  Sunday night about 660 people stayed in 18 Red Cross or community shelters in Louisiana and Mississippi and thousands of Red Cross disaster workers are lending a hand. Almost 200 emergency response vehicles are traveling through affected neighborhoods, distributing hot meals and relief supplies. More than 193,000 meals and snacks have already been served.
  • With a large response effort spanning multiple states, the Red Cross is working closely with government agencies and community organizations to coordinate this multi-state relief response. Partners like AmeriCorps, Islamic Relief USA, NAACP and the National Baptist Convention USA are assisting to provide help and comfort. In addition, a number of companies such as Spectrum Brands, Walgreens, Coca-Cola, Home Depot and Vision Services, have contributed items such as insect repellent, bottled water and snacks.
  • Salvation Army teams in Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana have distributed over 34,419 meals, 41,977 drinks, 26,275 snacks, 364 comfort kits, operated 25 mobile feeding units, 1 fixed feeding kitchen, provided emotional and spiritual care to 890 individuals, and have put in 7,377 hours of service.
  • Habitat for Humanity International reported local Habitats are checking on homes and conducting assessments in their communities and is engaged in dialog with Louisiana and Mississippi VOAD and local governments on clean-up efforts.
  • NECHAMA, a Jewish non-profit social service organization, has partnered with All Hands Volunteers along the coast to coordinate spontaneous unaffiliated volunteers to assist with debris removal and muck-outs.
  • United Way is standing up Volunteer Reception Centers to intake the unaffiliated volunteers from other states and tie them in with established organizations performing response and recovery operations.
  • Team Rubicon, an organization which unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with emergency responders, has provided teams of volunteers to assist local authorities with road openings, debris removal, and logistics coordination.
  • Islamic Circle of North America had opened Masjid shelters and hosts located in Baton Rouge, LA; Lafayette, LA; Jackson, MS; and Beaumont, TX; with a total population of over 60 individuals. These shelters provided gender-segregated sleeping space, catered food to meet the dietary needs, congregational prayer space, and common knowledge of practicing Muslims, and vouchers for local hotel accommodations.

Louisiana

  • Louisiana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (LA VOAD) continues to work with the mass feeding team to support the delivery of hot meals to Point of Distribution Sites (PODS). Operation Blessing, Southern Baptist Men, Convoy of Hope and many others are supporting the State’s effort.
  • As of September 1, 2012 Adventist Community Services mobile unit has served 1198 of clothing kits (which include socks, underwear, pants, and t-shirts), care kits, and blankets at the Jewella Shelter in Shreveport, LA.

Mississippi

  • Mississippi Southern Baptists (MSB) has two field kitchens supporting mobile feeding along the coast and has served in excess of 4,500 meals and snacks. Feeding is expected to continue through the end of this week. MSB also is assisting residents with chain saw and debris removal teams and is also assisting with a temporary roofing team applying plastic sheeting. Living Word Baptist Church has been assisting with muck outs and debris removal.
  • Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and Camp Victor are providing volunteer housing for groups coming in to assist in response and recovery activities.

The activities of the voluntary agencies are far reaching and anyone interested in providing assistance to Isaac survivors may visit the National VOAD website at www.nvoad.org to learn more.   Individuals’ support during this time goes a far way to helping these communities recover, and according to the National VOAD, there are several ways to help disaster survivors.  They include:

  • Donation of Cash – A financial contribution to a recognized disaster relief organization is the most effective donation to make. When the public supports these voluntary organizations with financial contributions, it helps ensure a steady flow of important services to the people in need after a disaster.
  • Volunteering – Volunteer with a recognized organization involved in disaster response and recovery. While newly recruited volunteers may not complete training in time to assist with the Isaac response, they will be prepared to help with the next disaster event. 
  • Donation of Goods – Before taking action, confirm what is needed and donate in-kind goods that are specifically requested or needed by recognized organizations.  Receiving and managing unsolicited donated goods often redirects voluntary agencies’ valuable resources away from the services required to meet the needs of disaster survivors. 

 

In addition, the Louisiana Service Commission has established a web portal at www.volunteerlouisiana.gov to help with coordinating donations and volunteers.  The Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service has established a web portal at www.mcvs.org for volunteer opportunities and donation information. Cash is the preferred method of donation in order to ensure that disaster survivors get the services and supplies they need quickly.

Just as the federal government works closely with 50 plus National VOAD members, as well as many other voluntary, community, and faith-based organizations, each state also has its own organizes State Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.  For information on VOADs in affected states, please visit the following:  Alabama; Florida; Mississippi; Louisiana.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

 

(NOTE: this on-line version of the press release reflects an updated quote from Administrator Fugate.)

Original link:  

In the Aftermath of Hurricane Isaac, the Support of Volunteers is Key

FEMA and Federal Partners Continue to Support Life Saving and Life Sustaining Efforts

WASHINGTON – At the direction of President Barack Obama, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to coordinate the federal government’s efforts to support state, local, tribal, private sector, and faith-based and non-profit partners, as the Gulf Coast states continue response and recovery efforts in the wake of Isaac.

Earlier today, the President held a call with a number of Parish Presidents, Mayors, and County Leaders from Louisiana and Mississippi let them know that they and their communities were in his thoughts and prayers and make clear that he had directed FEMA to continue to make all resources available. The President plans to visit Louisiana on Monday to meet with local officials and view ongoing response and recovery efforts to Hurricane Isaac, and Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Janet Napolitano will travel to Mississippi and Louisiana on Sunday, Sept. 2.

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate was on the ground in Louisiana and met with U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu and Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser today to discuss FEMA’s efforts to support response and recovery in Louisiana following Hurricane Isaac.  Administrator Fugate then traveled to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to meet with Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Director Robert Latham and other state and local officials and see firsthand the impact and the response efforts.

“I have witnessed outstanding response efforts being undertaken by state and local emergency managers and first responders. The leadership demonstrated during the Hurricane Isaac response can be attributed to the years of training, planning, and commitment to preparedness by the whole community,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.  “There are still many areas where the threat of flooding continues and I urge individuals to continue to monitor conditions and follow the direction of local officials.”

As Isaac continues inland and rivers continue to rise in some areas, FEMA urges individuals in affected areas, and areas expected to be affected, to monitor their NOAA Weather Radios and their local news for severe weather updates and warnings throughout the Labor Day weekend. Always follow the instructions of state, local, and tribal officials, especially urgent evacuations orders and flash flood warnings.

Joint federal, state and local disaster assessments are underway in Florida and are scheduled to begin, safety permitting, in Louisiana and Mississippi.  Plans are being made for assessments in other areas, as they become accessible. These assessments identify the damages in impacted counties to help the governor determine if additional federal support will be requested.

In support of Louisiana, FEMA recently transferred more than 500,000 liters of water, 390,000 meals, 50,000 blankets, 30,000 cots and 3,500 tarps to the State of Louisiana for the state to distribute to individuals at Points of Distribution (POD) sites. The state, in coordination with local governments, identifies the location of these PODs which are currently operating across a number of parishes.  Individuals should contact their local emergency management for more information.

On Wednesday, President Obama signed major disaster declarations for the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, making federal aid available to supplement state and local response efforts for emergency protective measures and debris removal in the areas affected by Hurricane Isaac beginning on August 26, 2012.  These declarations build upon emergency declarations issued for both states earlier this week.  Statewide hazard mitigation is available to all counties and tribal governments in Mississippi, and to all parishes and tribal governments in Louisiana. 

Today, FEMA announced an amendment to the major disaster declaration for the State of Louisiana to include the Individual Assistance Program.  Federal funding is available to affected individuals in Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. John the Baptist, and St. Tammany parishes.  Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover and uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners households recover from the effects of the disaster.

Individuals and business owners households who sustained losses in the designated parishes can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at http://www.disasterassistance.gov, or by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov. If you do not have access to the internet, you can call 1-800-621-FEMA(3362).  Survivors 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, starting tomorrow, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has been closely working with the states of Louisiana and Mississippi.  Teams are on the ground providing technical assistance, such as hydraulic modeling and finding available portable pumps, to reduce flooding along the Tangipahoa River and in Plaquemines Parish in Louisiana.  USACE also deployed emergency power teams to Mississippi and Louisiana, and commodities, debris and temporary roofing teams are deployed to Louisiana.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) has two Disaster Medical Assistance Teams, an Incident Response Coordination Team, and equipment on scene in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.  The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is providing personnel and liaisons to support staffing of the Federal Medical Stations (FMSs). Two FMS caches have arrived in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

A 24/7 Disaster Distress Helpline was activated by the HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as a resource to people seeking crisis counseling after experiencing a natural or manmade disaster or tragedy.  The residents of the Gulf States can call 1-800-985-5990 for assistance.

Incident Management Assistance Teams are in state emergency operations centers in Mississippi and Louisiana as well as supporting state and local needs in Plaquemines Parish, La.  Mobile Emergency Response Teams also are deployed to Louisiana and Mississippi to support state emergency communications requirements including voice, video and information services.

While Isaac has been downgraded to a tropical depression, it still poses an ongoing threat for some areas.  According to NOAA’s National Weather Service, a flood risk continues for low-lying areas in communities in northern Louisiana, northern Mississippi, and the states of Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana during the next five days.  Flash flood watches and warnings are currently in effect for portions of Arkansas and northern Louisiana. The National Weather Service is the official source for weather information.

As the storm continues to move further inland, FEMA’s regional offices in Denton, Texas, Chicago, Ill., and Kansas City, Mo. are monitoring Tropical Depression Isaac, and remain in close coordination with potentially affected states.  An Incident Management Assistance Team and a Mobile Emergency Response Support Team from a previous disaster are on the ground in Ohio and can support response efforts for the approaching storm, if needed.

Below is a timeline of some of the key activities and events that have occurred since Tropical Depression Isaac first threatened Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on its path to the Gulf of Mexico:

 

 

Friday, August 31, 2012

  • Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano joined FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate on a video-teleconference call today to discuss the latest developments with the National Weather Service, partner agencies and regional representatives to assess their needs and readiness.  The conference had the participation of emergency management leadership from the affected states including Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.
  • FEMA Federal Coordinating Officers remain on the ground in Mississippi and Louisiana, working closely with state and local officials to provide the full resources of the federal government to support response efforts to protect lives and property.
  • FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration participated in joint federal, state and local preliminary damage assessments are on the ground in Palm Beach and Indian River counties in Florida.  These assessments identify the damages in impacted counties to help the governor determine if additional federal support will be requested.
  • FEMA transferred to the state of Louisiana more than 500,000 liters of water, 390,000 meals, 50,000 blankets, 30,000 cots and 3,500 tarps for distribution.  The Louisiana National Guard opened Points of Distribution (POD) sites, to provide food, water, and supplies to those affected by Isaac.  These locations are determined by the state and local governments.
  • National Tribal Assistance Coordination Group (TAC-G) hosted a conference call with to discuss Isaac’s impact, receive updates from Tribes, share initial reports from TAC-G partners regarding Isaac and future planning. The coordination group counts with the participation of Department of Interior/Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Indian Health Service, Department of Homeland Security, National Congress for American Indians and United Southern and Eastern Tribes. 
  • U.S. Postal Service offices were open and mail delivery returned today to New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and surrounding postal facilities where Isaac’s torrential rains, severe winds and flooding had forced offices to close.  Today’s mail consisted of Social Security checks, medicine and mail that could not be delivered on Tuesday.  Posts Offices are open and mail delivery has resumed throughout Mississippi.  Customers with questions or concerns about their mail should call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777). 
  • The U.S. Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, River Pilot Associations and port authorities surveyed the Mississippi River and surrounding waterways in an aggressive effort to identify navigational hazards.  Although the Mississippi River was heavily impacted by the storm, the navigational channel is in good condition. The Coast Guard is working with the maritime industry to respond to a number of ship groundings and barge standings’ along the riverbank caused by the river surge and high winds of the storm.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) continues to support the states of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana Emergency Operation Centers and FEMA Regions IV and VI Regional Response Coordination Centers.  USACE is operating the Greater New Orleans District Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS) and has begun opening up major structures as the storm surge slowly subsides. Major structures will continue to be opened until all required openings are completed.  In Mississippi, USACE is assisting Mississippi state officials with a controlled release at the non-federal dam on the Tangipahoa Lake in Percy Quin State Park in order to relieve pressure on the dam. The Vicksburg District Corps of Engineers created inundation mapping and provided the pumps to assist in relieving pressure on the dam.
  • More than 4,100 National Guard forces in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and Louisiana are on State Active Duty prepared to respond to Isaac.
  • FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration staff joined state and local officials on joint preliminary damage assessments (PDA) in Florida.  These assessments identify the damages in impacted counties and to help the governor determine if additional federal support will be requested. 
  • FEMA’s regional offices in Denton, Texas, Chicago, Ill., and Kansas City, Mo. continue to monitor Tropical Depression Isaac, and remain in close coordination with potentially affected states.  Regional Incident Management Assistance teams and other staff are on standby.  There is also an Incident Management Assistance Team and Mobile Emergency Response Support team, on the ground in Ohio, from a previous disaster that can support response operations from storm, if needed.
  • U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has agreed to lend 1 million barrels of sweet crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve’s (SPR) Bayou Choctaw site in Louisiana to Marathon Petroleum Company to address the short term impact on the company’s refining capacity caused by Hurricane Isaac.  The loan will be provided under short-term contractual agreements and Marathon Petroleum Company will return an equal amount of similar quality oil to the Reserve within three months, plus premium barrels, which is similar to interest.
  • The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (ASPCA) is working with the Louisiana State Animal Response Team to plan and complete animal rescues. As part of this effort, ASPCA is deploying responders to conduct door-to-door rescue of animals in flooded or abandoned homes, assisting a Louisiana animal shelter facing flooding, and supplying boats and other equipment for critical water rescue missions. More information is available at. www.aspca.org

 

Thursday, August 30, 2012

  • Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano joined FEMA Deputy Administrator Rich Serino on a video-teleconference call to discuss the latest developments with the National Weather Service, partner agencies and regional representatives to assess their needs and readiness.  The conference had the participation of emergency management leadership from the affected states including Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. 
  • FEMA Federal Coordinating Officers remain on the ground in Mississippi and Louisiana, working closely with state and local officials to provide the full resources of the federal government to support response efforts to protect lives and property.
  • A National Incident Management Assistance Team deployed to support state efforts in Plaquemines Parish.  This is the second IMAT team on the ground in Louisiana.
  • FEMA deployed teams to join the U.S. Small Business Administration, and state and local preliminary damage assessments (PDA) scheduled to begin tomorrow in Palm Beach County, Florida. These assessments identify the damages in impacted counties and to help the governor determine if additional federal support will be requested. 
  • FEMA’s regional offices in Denton, Texas, Chicago, Ill., and Kansas City, Mo. continue to monitor Tropical Depression Isaac, and remain in close coordination with potentially affected states.  Regional Incident Management Assistance teams from Regions V and VII, and other staff are on standby.  There is also an Incident Management Assistance Team and Mobile Emergency Response Support team, on the ground in Ohio, from a previous disaster that can support response operations from storm, if needed.
  • Texas Task Force 1, a federal urban search and rescue task force with the National Urban Search and Rescue System, and an Incident Support Team remain in Louisiana.
  • The U.S. Coast Guard is rapidly assessing impacts to the maritime transportation system impacts in order to restore flow of commerce through the ports and the Mississippi river.  Seven helicopters and one fixed wing maritime patrol aircraft are conducting search and rescue operations, port assessments and off shore patrols in the Gulf of Mexico.  USCG was responding to a variety of stranded persons in all of the parishes affected by the storm.  17 people and 2 pets have been rescued.  The Captain of the Port of New Orleans has worked closely with the port authorities, the pilots and industry to safely clear a variety of grounded vessels and barges in the confines of the Mississippi river ensuring rapid recovery to the flow of commerce. 
  • FEMA, in coordination with U.S. Northern Command pre-staged in Fort Rucker, AL four UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from Fort Campbell, KY and two SH-60 Seahawk helicopters from Norfolk Naval Air Station, VA, to assist in search and rescue efforts.  A Search and Rescue planner has also been activated and deployed to the Baton Rouge Emergency Operations Center.  There are four Emergency Planners Liaison Officers deployed to the National Response Coordination Center in support of FEMA and Fort Polk, LA has been designated as a Federal Team Staging Area.  The command activated Region VI Defense Coordinating Officer (DCO), and Defense Coordinating Element (DCE) to Baton Rouge, LA, to validate, plan and coordinate potential DOD support of FEMA’s hurricane response operations and to facilitate DOD’s support of potential life-saving and response operations.
  • U.S. Northern Command deployed their Southwest Navy Regional Mass Communications team to the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in New Orleans, LA.
  • The Department of Energy (DOE) is the designated Federal Sector-Specific agency directing Emergency Support Function12 (ESF-12) activities for the Energy Sector under the National Response Framework. DOE and local area utility companies are gathering a workforce of more than 12,000 electricity workers from over 24 states to assess the situation and begin energy restoration efforts once the storm passes.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) continues to support the states of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana Emergency Operation Centers and FEMA Regions IV and VI Regional Response Coordination Centers to organize response efforts, deployed Emergency Power Teams to Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. USACE’s commodities, debris, and temporary roofing teams are in Louisiana and others are placed on alert status to support Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi.  USACE teams are working with the State of Louisiana and Plaquemines Parish to assist in the flood fight of locally owned levees experiencing overtopping from Isaac.  Teams on the ground are providing technical assistance, such as hydraulic modeling and finding available portable pumps, to reduce flooding.
  • More than 4,100 National Guard forces in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and Louisiana are on State Active Duty prepared to respond to Hurricane Isaac.
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) deployed two Federal Medical Stations to Baton Rouge and New Orleans, La., to serve as medical special needs shelters for residents. To provide medical care for sheltering residents, HHS deployed five commissioned corps officers from the U.S. Public Health Service and two 50-person Disaster Medical Assistance Teams from the National Disaster Medical System. HHS also is providing additional staff and a cache of medical supplies to assist the evacuating patients in Louisiana and there are more than 100 ambulances and more than 300 paratransit seats in Baton Rouge to move patients.

 

More information about the full federal response and activities is available at yesterday’s blog post recap.

 

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

 

 

Credit:

FEMA and Federal Partners Continue to Support Life Saving and Life Sustaining Efforts

FEMA and Federal Partners Continue to Mobilize Resources

WASHINGTON – At the direction of President Barack Obama, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to coordinate the federal government’s response and recovery efforts.  Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano visited the National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C. where she participated in a video teleconference with the states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, and federal agencies actively involved in response and recovery efforts underway.  FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate is on the ground in Louisiana and met with Governor Bobby Jindal and flew over areas of the Tangipahoa River. 

Last night, President Obama signed major disaster declarations for the states of Louisiana and Mississippi making federal aid available to supplement state and local response efforts for emergency protective measures and debris removal in the areas affected by Hurricane Isaac beginning on August 26, 2012.  These declarations build up on emergency declarations issued for both states earlier this week.  Statewide hazard mitigation is available to all counties and tribal government in Mississippi, and to all parishes and tribal governments in Louisiana.

“Whether a community is beginning the clean-up process, or still feeling the effects of Isaac, residents still need to be alert to the dangers that remain,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.  “This is still a powerful storm and there are a number of areas both along the coast and inland that can be affected by strong winds, storm surge and inland flooding and tornadoes.  Residents should follow the direction of local officials and continue to monitor NOAA weather radio and local news reports for the latest storm conditions.”

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) remains actively engaged in flood fighting efforts.  USACE teams also have been closely working with the states of Louisiana and Mississippi.  Teams are on the ground providing technical assistance, such as hydraulic modeling and finding available portable pumps, to reduce flooding along the Tangipahoa River and in Plaquemines Parish in Louisiana.  USACE also deployed emergency power teams to Mississippi and Louisiana, and commodities, debris, and temporary roofing teams have deployed to Louisiana.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) deployed two Federal Medical Stations, one to Baton Rouge, La., and the other to New Orleans, La. to serve as medical special needs shelters for residents. HHS has deployed five Public Health Officials from the U.S. Public Health Service and two 50-person Disaster Medical Assistance Teams from the National Disaster Medical System to aid in medical care for sheltering residents. HHS also is providing additional staff and a cache of medical supplies to assist the evacuating patients in Louisiana and there are more than 100 ambulances and more than 300 paratransit seats in Baton Rouge to move patients.

A 24 hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week Disaster Distress Helpline was activated by the HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as a resource that responds to people seeking crisis counseling after experiencing a natural or manmade disaster or tragedy.  The residents of the Gulf States can call 1-800-985-5990 for assistance.

Incident Management Assistance Teams are in state emergency operations centers in Mississippi and Louisiana as well as supporting state and local needs in Plaquemines Parish, La.  Mobile Emergency Response Teams also are deployed to Louisiana, Mississippi to support state emergency communications requirements including voice, video, and information services. Texas Task Force 1, an urban search and rescue team, is deployed to Louisiana and available as needed or requested.  FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration, tomorrow, will be joining state and local officials in Florida to begin preliminary damage assessments in the hardest hit county.

As the storm continues to move further inland, FEMA’s regional offices in Denton, Texas, Chicago, Ill., and Kansas City, Mo. are monitoring Tropical Depression Isaac, and remain in close coordination with potentially affected states. Yesterday, FEMA Region VI Regional Administrator Tony Robinson spoke with Arkansas Emergency Management Director David Maxwell, and FEMA Region VII Regional Administrator Beth Freeman spoke with Andrea Stillar, the Deputy Director of Missouri Department of Public Safety.  Today, FEMA Region V Regional Administrator Andrew Velasquez III spoke with state emergency management directors from Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.  Regional Incident Management Assistance teams from Regions V and VII, and other staff are on standby, should they be needed.  An Incident Management Assistance Team and a Mobile Emergency Response Support Team, from a previous disaster, are on the ground in Ohio and can support response efforts for the approaching storm, if needed.

 

Below is a timeline of some of the key activities and events that have occurred since Tropical Depression Isaac first threatened Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on its path to the Gulf of Mexico:

 

Thursday, August 30, 2012

  • Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano joined FEMA Deputy Administrator Rich Serino on a video-teleconference call to discuss the latest developments with the National Weather Service, partner agencies and regional representatives to assess their needs and readiness.  The conference had the participation of emergency management leadership from the affected states including Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.
  • A National Incident Management Assistance Team deployed to support state efforts in Plaquemines Parish.  This is the second IMAT team on the ground in Louisiana.
  • FEMA deployed teams to join the U.S. Small Business Administration, and state and local preliminary damage assessments (PDA) scheduled to begin tomorrow in Palm Beach County, Florida. These assessments identify the damages in impacted counties and to help the governor determine if additional federal support will be requested. 
  • FEMA’s regional offices in Denton, Texas, Chicago, Ill., and Kansas City, Mo. continue to monitor Tropical Depression Isaac, and remain in close coordination with potentially affected states.  Regional Incident Management Assistance teams from Regions V and VII, and other staff are on standby.  There is also an Incident Management Assistance Team and Mobile Emergency Response Support team, on the ground in Ohio, from a previous disaster that can support response operations from storm, if needed.
  • Texas Task Force 1, a federal urban search and rescue task force with the National Urban Search and Rescue System, and an Incident Support Team remain in Louisiana.
  • The U.S. Coast Guard is rapidly assessing impacts to the maritime transportation system impacts in order to restore flow of commerce through the ports and the Mississippi river.  Seven helicopters and one fixed wing maritime patrol aircraft are conducting search and rescue operations, port assessments and off shore patrols in the Gulf of Mexico.  USCG was responding to a variety of stranded persons in all of the parishes affected by the storm.  17 people and 2 pets have been rescued.  The Captain of the Port of New Orleans has worked closely with the port authorities, the pilots and industry to safely clear a variety of grounded vessels and barges in the confines of the Mississippi river ensuring rapid recovery to the flow of commerce. 
  • FEMA, in coordination with U.S. Northern Command pre-staged in Fort Rucker, AL four UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from Fort Campbell, KY and two SH-60 Seahawk helicopters from Norfolk Naval Air Station, VA, to assist in search and rescue efforts.  A Search and Rescue planner has also been activated and deployed to the Baton Rouge Emergency Operations Center.  There are four Emergency Planners Liaison Officers deployed to the National Response Coordination Center in support of FEMA and Fort Polk, LA has been designated as a Federal Team Staging Area.  The command activated Region VI Defense Coordinating Officer (DCO), and Defense Coordinating Element (DCE) to Baton Rouge, LA, to validate, plan and coordinate potential DOD support of FEMA’s hurricane response operations and to facilitate DOD’s support of potential life-saving and response operations.
  • U.S. Northern Command deployed their Southwest Navy Regional Mass Communications team to the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in New Orleans, LA.
  • The Department of Energy (DOE) is the designated Federal Sector-Specific agency directing Emergency Support Function12 (ESF-12) activities for the Energy Sector under the National Response Framework. DOE and local area utility companies are gathering a workforce of more than 12,000 electricity workers from over 24 states to assess the situation and begin energy restoration efforts once the storm passes.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) continues to support the states of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana Emergency Operation Centers and FEMA Regions IV and VI Regional Response Coordination Centers to organize response efforts, deployed Emergency Power Teams to Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. USACE’s commodities, debris, and temporary roofing teams are in Louisiana and others are placed on alert status to support Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi.  USACE teams are working with the State of Louisiana and Plaquemines Parish to assist in the flood fight of locally owned levees experiencing overtopping from Isaac.  Teams on the ground are providing technical assistance, such as hydraulic modeling and finding available portable pumps, to reduce flooding.
  • More than 4,100 National Guard forces in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and Louisiana are on State Active Duty prepared to respond to Hurricane Isaac.
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) deployed two Federal Medical Stations to Baton Rouge and New Orleans, La., to serve as medical special needs shelters for residents. To provide medical care for sheltering residents, HHS deployed five commissioned corps officers from the U.S. Public Health Service and two 50-person Disaster Medical Assistance Teams from the National Disaster Medical System. HHS also is providing additional staff and a cache of medical supplies to assist the evacuating patients in Louisiana and there are more than 100 ambulances and more than 300 paratransit seats in Baton Rouge to move patients.

 

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

  • President Obama signed a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Mississippi making federal aid available to supplement state and local response efforts for emergency protective measures and debris removal in the area affected by Hurricane Isaac beginning on August 26, 2012.
  • President Obama signed a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Louisiana making federal aid available to supplement state and local response efforts for emergency protective measures and debris removal in the area affected by Hurricane Isaac beginning on August 26, 2012
  • President Obama, joined by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate and National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Rick Knabb, convened a call with Alabama Governor Robert Bentley, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.
  • Secretary Napolitano also called Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon to talk with them about preparations ahead of the arrival of Isaac and to offer any support they might need.
  • FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate was on the ground in Louisiana, where he visited the state emergency operations center in Baton Rouge, met with Governor Bobby Jindal and Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser.  
  • FEMA Deputy Administrator Rich Serino held a video-teleconference call to discuss the latest developments with the National Weather Service, partner agencies and regional representatives to assess their needs and readiness.  The conference had the participation of emergency management leadership from potentially affected states including Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
  • The Department of Energy (DOE), is the designated Federal Sector-Specific agency directing Emergency Support Function12 (ESF-12) activities for the Energy Sector under the National Response Framework. DOE has teams of responders specializing in energy infrastructure and coordinating with deployed personnel, other Department offices, and Federal and State and local agencies in responding to the emergency. 
  • FEMA, in coordination with U.S. Northern Command deployed four UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from Fort Campbell, KY and two SH-60 Seahawk helicopters from Norfolk Naval Air Station, VA, to assist in search and rescue efforts.  A Search and Rescue planner has also been activated and deployed to the Baton Rouge Emergency Operations Center.  There are four Emergency Planners Liaison Officers deployed to the National Response Coordination Center in support of FEMA and Fort Polk, LA has been designated as a Federal Team Staging Area.  The command has activated Region VI Defense Coordinating Officer (DCO), and Defense Coordinating Element (DCE) to Baton Rouge, LA, to validate, plan and coordinate potential DOD support of FEMA’s hurricane response operations and to facilitate DOD’s support of potential life-saving and response operations.
  • The U.S. Coast Guard will resume initial response activities aimed solely at saving or protecting lives, to include evacuating people from the affected area, as soon as weather permits, and will continue to monitor conditions at all impacted ports.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) continued to support the states of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana Emergency Operation Centers and FEMA Regions IV and VI Regional Response Coordination Centers to organize response efforts, has deployed Emergency Power Teams to Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. USACE’s commodities, debris, and temporary roofing teams have deployed to Louisiana and others have been placed on alert status to support Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi.  USACE teams also have been closely working with the State of Louisiana and Plaquemines Parish to assist in the flood fight of locally owned levees experiencing overtopping from Isaac.  Teams on the ground are providing technical assistance, such as hydraulic modeling and finding available portable pumps, to reduce flooding. 
  • The American Red Cross (ARC) has provided shelter to more than 5,200 residents Tuesday night at about 80 shelters in six states from Florida to Texas as Hurricane Isaac made landfall along the Gulf Coast. Also, ARC deployed about 2,700 trained Red Cross disaster workers across the Gulf to run shelters, serve meals and distribute relief items. The Red Cross pre-positioned 311,000 ready-to-eat meals, kitchen support trailers and truck loads of relief supplies with clean up and personal hygiene items, cots, blankets, coolers, shovels, tarps and gloves. In addition, the Southern Baptist Convention had mobile kitchens capable of producing thousands of meals a day staged across the Gulf Coast alongside the Red Cross. Just outside the storm area, 187 emergency response vehicles were ready to move into affected communities as soon as weather conditions allow.  Local shelter locations are available at http://www.redcross.org/find-help/shelter
  • Mississippi National Guard responded to Hurricane Isaac with approximately 1,500 members from across the state including military police and others with civil support abilities that would enable them to assist local authorities in recovery and relief efforts.  Guard members scouted potential sites for the distribution of food and water and established communications with the various local authorities.  Louisiana National Guard pre-staged approximately 680 troops and assets across the New Orleans metropolitan area in order to better protect the community and its citizens as Hurricane Isaac churns toward the Gulf coast.  In order to quickly respond to possible high-water evacuation or search and rescue missions, Soldiers from the 769th Engineer Battalion, 225th Engineer Brigade, staged Humvees hitched with boats at Jackson Barracks.
  • USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) urged livestock producers affected by natural disasters such as Hurricane Isaac to keep thorough records of their livestock and feed losses, including additional expenses for such things as feed purchases because of lost supplies.
  • FEMA’s Congressional Affairs Division hosted a Congressional Briefing via conference call in conjunction with NOAA’s National Weather Service for the Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi Congressional delegations, Congressional Asian, Black and Hispanic Caucuses and our Authorizers and Appropriators.  The purpose of the call is to provide an update on the latest track of Hurricane Isaac and FEMA’s current posture and preparations going forward.
  • FEMA’s Private Sector Representative in the National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) in Washington, D.C. continues to engage National Business Emergency Operations Center (NBEOC) members requesting store open/closed status from impacted areas.  Additionally, the NBEOC will host a call at 2:30 PM EST.

More information about the full federal response and activities is available at yesterday’s blog post recap.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
 

 

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FEMA and Federal Partners Continue to Mobilize Resources

Sept. 4 Deadline Nears for Tropical Storm Debby Survivors to Register for Assistance

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Tropical Storm Debby survivors have only days left to register for federal disaster assistance.

Applications must be received by Tuesday, Sept. 4, to be considered for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Survivors who had storm-related damage to their home, vehicle, personal property, business or its inventory between June 23 and July 26 can register for assistance.

Federal disaster assistance helps eligible applicants with temporary housing, uninsured personal property losses and medical, dental and funeral expenses caused by the disaster, along with other disaster-related expenses and serious needs.

Anyone who has not registered with FEMA for disaster aid, has questions about their application or needs more information about recovery programs should call FEMA’s toll-free helpline at

800-621-FEMA (3362). People who are deaf or hard of hearing can call (TTY) 800-462-7585. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and assistance is available in many languages. Online registration is available at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or through a smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

Survivors must register with FEMA to be considered for federal disaster assistance even if they have contacted the state, their local emergency management agency, the American Red Cross or other charitable organizations.

Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA are also available to help with residential and business losses not covered by insurance. Survivors and businesses may obtain information on SBA disaster loan applications by calling 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people who are deaf or hard of hearing) or online at www.SBA.gov. They may also apply for disaster loans at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applications are due Sept. 4.

Sign up for Tropical Storm Debby recovery updates via email by going to www.fema.gov/Disaster/4068  and clicking the subscription link. It’s a simple process that only requires a valid email address. During signup, subscribers can choose to receive updates immediately, daily or weekly.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or www.floridadisaster.org. On Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/FloridaSERT. To receive Twitter updates: www.twitter.com/FLSERT or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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Sept. 4 Deadline Nears for Tropical Storm Debby Survivors to Register for Assistance

Sept. 4 Deadline Approaching for Businesses to Apply for Tropical Storm Debby Assistance

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Businesses in counties affected by Tropical Storm Debby can benefit from federal disaster assistance, but the deadline for registration is nearing.

Businesses of all sizes, as well as nonprofit organizations, need to apply for disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration by Sept. 4.  These low-interest loans are intended to cover uninsured or under-insured losses.

Disaster loans are available for businesses that have had business assets damaged by Tropical Storm Debby. Damaged real estate, equipment and inventory are eligible for repair or replacement with SBA disaster loans. Businesses may apply for up to $2 million in loans with interest rates as low as 4 percent.

Businesses suffering substantial economic loss, but no physical property damage may be eligible for an economic injury disaster loan of up to $2 million to meet necessary financial obligations – expenses a business would have paid if the disaster had not occurred.

An electronic loan application may be completed online via SBA’s website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Business owners can contact the SBA for information by calling 800-659-2955 or going to www.sba.gov. Survivors who are deaf or hard of hearing and use a TTY can call 800-877-8339.

Applicants can sign up for Tropical Storm Debby recovery updates via email by going to www.fema.gov/disaster/4068 and clicking the subscription link. It’s a simple process that only requires a valid email address. During signup, subscribers can choose to receive updates immediately, daily or weekly.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or www.floridadisaster.org. On Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/FloridaSERT. To receive Twitter updates: www.twitter.com/FLSERT or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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Sept. 4 Deadline Approaching for Businesses to Apply for Tropical Storm Debby Assistance

Tropical Storm Debby Survivors Have a Week to Register for Federal Disaster Assistance

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Tropical Storm Debby survivors have a week remaining to register for federal disaster assistance.

Applications must be received by Tuesday, Sept. 4, to be considered for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Survivors who had storm-related damage to their home, vehicle, personal property, business or its inventory between June 23 and July 26 can register for assistance.

Federal disaster assistance helps eligible applicants with temporary housing, uninsured personal property losses and medical, dental and funeral expenses caused by the disaster, along with other disaster-related expenses and serious needs.

Anyone who has not registered with FEMA for disaster aid, has questions about their application or needs more information about recovery programs should call FEMA’s toll-free helpline at

800-621-FEMA (3362). People who are deaf or hard of hearing can call (TTY) 800-462-7585. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and assistance is available in many languages. Online registration is available at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or through a smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

Survivors must register with FEMA to be considered for federal disaster assistance even if they have contacted the state, their local emergency management agency, the American Red Cross or other charitable organizations.

Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA are also available to help with residential and business losses not covered by insurance. Survivors and businesses may obtain information on SBA disaster loan applications by calling 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people who are deaf or hard of hearing) or online at www.SBA.gov. They may also apply for disaster loans at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applications are due Sept. 4.

Sign up for Tropical Storm Debby recovery updates via email by going to www.fema.gov/Disaster/4068  and clicking the subscription link. It’s a simple process that only requires a valid email address. During signup, subscribers can choose to receive updates immediately, daily or weekly.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or www.floridadisaster.org. On Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/FloridaSERT. To receive Twitter updates: www.twitter.com/FLSERT or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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Tropical Storm Debby Survivors Have a Week to Register for Federal Disaster Assistance

As Tropical Storm Nears Florida, FEMA Urges Florida and Gulf Coast Residents to Monitor Conditions and Follow the Direction of Local Officials

FEMA and Federal Partners Continue to Monitor Tropical Storm Isaac

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its federal partners, through the FEMA Regional Headquarters in Atlanta, Ga., and Denton, Texas, continue to monitor Tropical Storm Isaac and remain in close coordination with local officials and emergency management partners in Florida, and other southeastern and Gulf Coast states.  Earlier today, President Obama was briefed by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate and National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Rick Knabb on the projected track and timing of the storm as well as steps being taken by the Administration to support potentially impacted states.  Tropical storm conditions are already being experienced along the Florida Keys and the Florida East Coast.   

According to NOAA’s National Weather Service advisory at 2:00 p.m., a Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Florida Keys including the Dry Tortugas, the west coast of Florida from Bonita Beach southward to Ocean Reef and the Florida Bay.  A Hurricane Watch is in effect for east of Morgan City, Louisiana to Indian Pass Florida including Metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.  A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Florida east coast from Sebastian Inlet southward to Ocean Reef; the Florida west coast and the Florida Panhandle from north of Bonita Beach, FL to Indian Pass, FL including Tampa Bay; and Lake Okeechobee. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the Florida east coast north of Sebastian Inlet to Flagler Beach.  Hurricane conditions are possible in the Hurricane Watch area along the North Coast on Tuesday, with tropical storm conditions possible by Monday night.

“As Tropical Storm Isaac continues towards Florida and the Gulf States, local residents need to monitor storm conditions and follow the direction of local officials,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “FEMA and its federal partners remain in close coordination with states and tribal governments across the Southeast as Tropical Storm Isaac continues to move toward Florida and the Gulf States.   Teams have been deployed to Florida and states along the Gulf Coast to provide support as needed, and additional teams have been placed on alert.”

FEMA has deployed an Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) to Florida and a liaison is on site at the Florida emergency operations center. A Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) team is also being deployed to support the state with secure and non-secure voice, video, and information services, operations, and logistics support to state response operations, and with any potential requests for assistance.  An IMAT team is already on the ground in Louisiana and today, at the request of the states, FEMA is deploying IMAT teams as well as liaisons to the Alabama and Mississippi emergency operations center in advance of the storm. Other teams have been identified and will be deployed as needed and requested to southern and Gulf Coast states.  At all times, FEMA maintains commodities including millions of liters of water, millions of meals and hundreds of thousands of blankets, strategically located at distribution centers throughout the United States and its territories, to support states if needed and requested.  FEMA has distribution centers in Atlanta, Ga. and Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, and in coordination with U.S. Northern Command, has prepositioned supplies closer to potentially affected areas in Jacksonville, Fla. and Montgomery, Ala.  More than 436,000 meals, 1.1 million liters of water, 2,000 cots, 4,600 blankets and other supplies are on the ground in Jacksonville and supplies will be arriving in Montgomery, Ala. today.

FEMA urges coastal residents in Florida and the Gulf Coast states to monitor NOAA Weather Radio and local news for severe weather updates and warnings, and follow instructions of state and local officials.  Tropical weather systems can bring heavy rains, flooding and flash flooding, tornadoes and high winds. According to the National Weather Service, isolated tornadoes are possible over portions of Central and Southern Florida and the Florida Keys today, and flooding is likely to occur.  Now is the time to prepare your family, home or business to lessen the impact of severe weather.  Coastal residents are urged to ensure that you and your family have an emergency plan, including your local evacuation route, where you will go if you need to evacuate or seek shelter, family contact information and important paperwork and nearby shelter information.  Also be sure to fill up your tanks with gas and get cash in case ATMs are unavailable due to power loss.  If you haven’t already, visit Ready.gov (Listo.gov para español) for additional tips on creating your family emergency plan, getting an emergency kit and taking other steps to prepare.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends coastal residents include food safety as part of their preparedness plans.  Power outages and flooding that often result from weather emergencies compromise the safety of stored food, and planning ahead can minimize the risk of food borne illness. USDA food safety tips include having a cooler on hand to keep refrigerator food cold in case of power outage, and to group food together in the freezer; this helps the food stay cold longer. Additional food safety preparedness tips can be found at USDA Food Safety Inspection Service’s website www.fsis.usda.gov.

As is always the case, local officials make decisions on issuing evacuation orders, so FEMA advises residents to remember to listen to the direction of their local officials, and to learn where evacuation routes and sheltering locations are located, in case evacuation orders are given.  

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

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As Tropical Storm Nears Florida, FEMA Urges Florida and Gulf Coast Residents to Monitor Conditions and Follow the Direction of Local Officials

FEMA Mitigation Specialists to Answer Questions in Northeast Florida Cities

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Outreach staff of the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be at a motorcycle festival in Starke, a bead and jewelry show in Jacksonville and a home improvement store in Orange Park beginning this week.

The mitigation specialists will provide information on cleaning up and rebuilding homes after Tropical Storm Debby.

FEMA specialists will be in Bradford County to answer questions at the 2012 Starke Bikefest on Friday, Aug. 24, and Saturday, Aug. 25, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Sunday, Aug. 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The festival will take place near 100 E. Call St. in Starke.

In Duval County, the specialists will be at the Intergalactic Bead and Jewelry Show on Saturday, Aug. 25, and Sunday, Aug. 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The show will be at the University Center of the University of North Florida located at 12000 Alumni Drive in Jacksonville.

Specialists will also be available in Baker County to answer questions at Lowe’s from Wednesday,

Aug. 22, to Sunday, Aug. 26, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Monday, Aug. 27, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The address is 2285 Kingsley Ave. in Orange Park.

Sign up for Tropical Storm Debby recovery updates via email by going to www.fema.gov/Disaster/4068 and clicking the subscription link. It’s a simple process that only requires a valid email address. During signup, subscribers can choose to receive updates immediately, daily or weekly.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or www.floridadisaster.org. On Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/FloridaSERT. To receive Twitter updates: www.twitter.com/FLSERT or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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FEMA Mitigation Specialists to Answer Questions in Northeast Florida Cities

Hurricane Andrew 20th Anniversary Is A Reminder To Prepare For Emergencies

ATLANTA— August 24 marks 20 years since Hurricane Andrew made landfall in South Florida, devastating Homestead, Florida City and parts of Miami.

When Andrew struck, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) coordinated across the entire federal government to deploy response assets, move personnel, equipment and supplies. FEMA provided more than $290 million in federal assistance to more than 108,000 people affected by the storm in Florida, and provided more than $746 million to help rebuild public infrastructure.  At the time, Hurricane Andrew was the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. 

 “Hurricane Andrew was a life-changing event for many people,” said FEMA Region IV Administrator Phil May. “As the Federal Coordinating Officer for the disaster, I saw the destruction first hand as FEMA worked with disaster survivors and community officials throughout the area.  We knew we had years of recovery ahead of us given the severe impact that this storm had on South Florida communities, and it was clear the government couldn’t do it alone. At FEMA we often highlight the importance of working together as a team in emergency management—storms like Andrew remind us how critical that team really is. Federal, state and local partners, the private sector, the faith-based and non-profit groups, and especially the public–everyone rolled up their sleeves and worked together to help people recover from the storm.”

“We learned a lot from Hurricane Andrew and today our team is stronger than ever,” said May. “Over the years, the emergency management community has evolved and improved the way it communicates and leverages resources to prepare for the next emergency or disaster. We’ve expanded our relationships with the private sector, our coordination with our state emergency management partners is better, and we communicate more effectively with the public.  Weather forecasting technology has also improved to give us more lead time before a storm. But the most critical members of the team are still the public. The better prepared individuals and families are, the safer our communities will be across the country.”

Hurricane Andrew’s anniversary is a reminder that now is the time to get ready for disasters and other emergencies. Next month marks the ninth annual National Preparedness Month, and this year’s slogan is “Pledge to Prepare”.  Individuals, families, and organizations in all sectors can support this effort and find resources on emergency preparedness by ‘pledging’ on the National Preparedness Coalition Online Community. The goal this year is to transform awareness into action by encouraging all Americans to take specific steps to ensure that their homes, workplaces and communities are ready for disasters and emergencies of all kinds.

“Preparedness is important not just for governments and first responders, but for the public.  I encourage everyone to pledge to prepare and visit www.Ready.gov for more information.”

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards.

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Hurricane Andrew 20th Anniversary Is A Reminder To Prepare For Emergencies

FEMA Mitigation Specialists to Answer Questions in Hernando County

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and a home improvement store are teaming up this week to provide information on cleaning up and rebuilding homes after Tropical Storm Debby.

FEMA mitigation specialists can answer questions at Home Depot in Hernando County from Wednesday, Aug. 22, to Sunday, Aug. 26, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Monday, Aug. 27, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The address is 4765 Commercial Way in Spring Hill.

Mitigation specialists offer suggestions on cleaning mold and mildew. They also provide information on flood insurance.

Sign up for Tropical Storm Debby recovery updates via email by going to www.fema.gov/Disaster/4068 and clicking the subscription link. It’s a simple process that only requires a valid email address. During signup, subscribers can choose to receive updates immediately, daily or weekly.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or www.floridadisaster.org. On Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/FloridaSERT. To receive Twitter updates: www.twitter.com/FLSERT or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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FEMA Mitigation Specialists to Answer Questions in Hernando County

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