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Hurricane Ike: What the Government Is Doing

Hurricane Ike made landfall in Texas early September 13, 2008. It has weakened to a tropical depression. President Bush issued major disaster declarations for Texas and Louisiana. Search and rescue operations continue despite flooding and debris. Power outages are widespread.

The federal government, coordinated by FEMA, is responsible for meeting requests from the state—before, during and after the disaster. This includes

  • providing logistical support for search and rescue,
  • providing food, water and ice,
  • establishing disaster centers and processing federal disaster claims, and
  • participating in short- and long-term public works projects, such as debris removal and infrastructure rebuilding.

Federal agencies have taken the following steps:

FEMA

  • FEMA's pre-positioned staff and assets across the Gulf Coast region are supporting search and rescue operations and other life-saving and life-preserving activities. 527 Search and Rescue personnel and 120 vehicles are operating in Texas and 860 personnel and 80 vehicles in Louisiana (these numbers represent combined federal and state assets.)
  • FEMA has commodities and emergency resources across Texas and Louisiana including millions of meals and bottles of water, tens of thousands of blankets and cots, and dozens of generators. Contracts have been activated to supplement existing resources without shifting resources from other disaster operations. FEMA is also working with the private sector and voluntary agencies to enhance their abilities to provide resources and support to communities before and after a storm.
  • FEMA has personnel prepared to support operations in Oklahoma, Arkansas and other states as the storm continues to move north.
  • FEMA has pre-positioned staff and assets across Texas and in neighboring states to ensure their availability for any preparations or response activities. Response teamsare in place, to include anticipated commodities and logistical support.
  • FEMA has stationed Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMATs) in Austin and San Antonio, Texas. IMAT teams provide essential situational awareness and are the initial federal coordinators on the ground.
  • Urban Search and Rescue Teams are pre-deployed across Texas and in neighboring states where they can quickly assist any rescue operations in the immediate aftermath of a storm.
  • FEMA has commodities and emergency resources across Texas including meals, water, blankets, cots, generators and diesel fuel. Contracts have been activated to supplement existing resources without shifting resources from other disaster operations. FEMA is also working with the private sector and voluntary agencies to enhance their abilities to provide resources and support to communities before and after a storm. 
  • FEMA has pre-staged life-saving and life-sustaining commodities around Texas such as meals ready-to-eat, drinking water, cots, blankets and tarps in various strategic locations to be made available to residents of affected areas.
  • FEMA has identified and designated specific staff and assets to ensure their availability for any preparations or response activities.  FEMA liaisons are on-site in each of the state Emergency Operation Centers along the Gulf Coast.
  • FEMA has deployed Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMATs) in Austin, Tex., Jackson, Miss., Atlanta, Ga. and Tallahassee, Fla.  IMAT teams provide essential situational awareness and are the initial federal coordinators on the ground.
  • Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Teams are pre-deployed to Houston, Tex., Lafayette, La., Meridian, Miss., Montgomery, Ala., and Jacksonville, Fla. in order to assist in rescue operations in the immediate aftermath of a storm.
  • FEMA maintains supplies of commodities and emergency resources placed strategically around the country.  Contracts are in place to replenish supplies without shifting resources from other disaster operations.
  • FEMA has identified and designated specific staff and assets to ensure their availability for any preparations or response activities.  FEMA liaisons are on-site in each of the state Emergency Operation Centers along the Gulf Coast.
  • FEMA has deployed Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMATs) in Austin, Tex., Jackson, Miss., Atlanta, Ga. and Tallahassee, Fla.  IMAT teams provide essential situational awareness and are the initial federal coordinators on the ground.
  • Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Teams are pre-deployed to Houston, Tex., Lafayette, La., Meridian, Miss., Montgomery, Ala., and Jacksonville, Fla. in order to assist in rescue operations in the immediate aftermath of a storm.
  • FEMA maintains supplies of commodities and emergency resources placed strategically around the country.  Contracts are in place to replenish supplies without shifting resources from other disaster operations.

Coast Guard

  • USCG's top priorities are search and rescue operations and the protection and safety of life at sea, both for mariners and residents of the Texas coast.  USCG has put additional ships, fixed and rotary wing aircraft, medical teams, disaster assistance response teams and other personnel on call to ensure a rapid response to Ike.  24 rotary wing aircraft and 9 fixed wing aircraft are available for these operations.
  • USCG is also working with other local, state and federal agencies to plan for coordinated severe weather response operations, including search and rescue support, waterway and facility assessments, restoration of aids to navigation, responding to hazardous materials spills, transport of victims and providing airborne logistics support.
  • USCG will conduct port assessment operations post storm. USCG forces will be deployed to conduct response, recovery and clean up operations immediately upon the storm passing.  USCG's mission is to open the ports as soon as possible with minimum effect on commerce.
  • USCG continues to conduct port assessment operations and forces have been deployed to conduct response, recovery and clean up operations, and are working with port and industry partners. USCG's mission is to open the ports as soon as possible with minimum effect on commerce.
  • USCG has 17 helicopters in Texas and 10 helicopters within reach to support search and rescue operations as needed. USCG also has 10 fixed-wing aircraft to support over-flight and transportation missions.
  • USCG forces have been pre-deployed to conduct response, recovery and clean up operations.
  • USCG has 17 helicopters in Texas and 10 helicopters within reach of Texas to support search and rescue operations as needed. USCG also 10 fixed-wing aircraft to support over-flight and transportation missions
  • USCG has put ships, fixed and rotary wing aircraft, medical teams, disaster assistance response teams and other personnel on call. USCG is urging the maritime community and boating public to track Hurricane Ike's progress and take early action to protect themselves and their vessels.
  • USCG forces have been deployed to conduct response, recovery and clean up operations, and are working with port and industry partners. 
  • The Coast Guard is urging the maritime community and boating public to track Hurricane Ike and take early action to protect themselves and their vessels.  Extremely high seas, heavy rains and damaging winds that accompany tropical storms and hurricanes present serious dangers to mariners. Rescue and assistance by the Coast Guard and other agencies may be severely degraded or unavailable immediately before, during and after a devastating storm.

Transportation Security Administration

  • TSA has deployed more than 370 Transportation Security Officers to Houston-area airports who are prepared to re-establish airport operations once the hurricane passes
  • TSA deployed more than 400 additional personnel, including Transportation Security Officers and Federal Air Marshalls, to facilities across Texas to assist with planned evacuations.
  • TSA deployed personnel, including Federal Air Marshalls, to facilities in Texas to assist with planned evacuations.
  • TSA deployed 110 officers to New Orleans to facilitate any needed evacuations. 
  • Hundreds of additional officers are standing by for deployment to other airports in Louisiana and Texas to support any evacuations.

Customs and Border Protection

  • CBP has 300 personnel in Texas and 140 in Louisiana to support law enforcement missions.
  • CBP has 18 aircraft prepositioned to conduct post storm assessment when the storm clears.
  • CBP will not conduct immigration enforcement operations associated with evacuations. All residents should respond to local and state evacuation orders.
  • CBP's Air and Marine assets are flying pre–storm assessments in Florida in preparation for Hurricane Ike.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

  • USCIS is contacting community organizations and the media to inform them that USCIS will reschedule all appointments in offices that close. USCIS is advising customers to take all necessary actions to protect their documents and inform them that if they are evacuated, or a USCIS office is closed, they can temporarily make an appointment in another USCIS office.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

  • ICE is relocating detainees in facilities that may be impacted by the storm.
  • ICE has more than 1,000 personnel ready to support general law enforcement missions
  • ICE has more than 1,000 personnel ready to deploy in response to the impact of Hurricane Ike.
  • DHS' top priorities in any emergency are life–saving and life–sustaining activities, preventing the loss of property to the extent possible, and assisting with a speedy recovery of the affected region.
  • All residents should respond to local and state evacuation orders. ICE will not conduct immigration enforcement operations associated with evacuations.

The National Communications System (NCS)

  • NCS coordinates national security and emergency preparedness communications response and recovery efforts for federal, state and local leaders, emergency responders and leaders of critical infrastructure during emergencies.
  • The NCS activated the Disaster Information Reporting System which collects communications data on wire line and wireless communications networks, broadcast transmitter systems, cable systems and public safety answering points during emergencies which provide NCS with a sense of the impact to the communications infrastructure.
  • NCS activated the Shared Resources High Frequency Radio Network which augments FEMA's National Emergency Communications Network and the National Public Health Radio Network maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • NCS has activated the Disaster Information Reporting System.  NCS is also activating the Shared Resources High Frequency Radio Network today to augment FEMA’s National Emergency Communications Network and the National Public Health Radio Network maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • NCS is coordinating with Texas state officials to finalize storm preparations to move communications teams and assets.  This includes identifying potential staging areas for telecommunications industry personnel and coordinating access by telecommunications workers into affected areas.
  • NCS personnel are actively reaching out to the states on Ike's potential path to confirm access procedures for restoration teams, and are adjusting critical communications infrastructure analysis.
  • The Shared Resources High Frequency Radio Network is scheduled to be activated 12 hours prior to landfall and the Disaster Information Reporting System 24 hours prior to landfall.
  • NCS personnel are actively reaching out to the states on Ike's projected path to confirm access procedures for restoration teams, and are adjusting critical communications infrastructure analysis for the Gulf Coast States.
  • NCS is actively monitoring Hurricane Ike and its projected path in an effort to evaluate staffing and equipment resource requirements.
  • Shared Resources (SHARES) High Frequency Radio Network is on standby.
  • NCS is coordinating with the Federal Communications Commission on activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) for Hurricane Ike.

Infrastructure Protection (IP)

  • IP and the Sector Specific Agencies have been working with the private Sector Coordinating Council to identify all impacted nationally significant infrastructure--currently focusing on electric power grids; oil, gas, and petrochemical facilities; pipelines and rail transportation; HAZMAT releases; and water and wastewater plants. 
  • 14 IP Protective Security Advisors have deployed to Texas (10) and Louisiana (4) to support the assessment of impacts to critical infrastructure, and to coordinate the prioritization of restoration efforts.
  • IP is continuing to generate up-to-the-minute critical infrastructure impact assessments and computer modeling data.  Products include water treatment facilities advisory, petroleum pipeline impacts and interdependencies; asset prioritization lists; affected hospitals, nursing homes, fire and police stations list.  These assessments are being provided to private sector owners and operators, state and local response officials, and other relevant federal departments and agencies.
  • The National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center has generated critical infrastructure impact assessments and computer modeling data that has been shared with private sector owners and operators, state and local response officials, and relevant Federal departments and agencies.
  • IP is focused on key elements of the region's infrastructure including power grids and generators; ports, oil, gas and petrochemical facilities; and water and wastewater plants.
  • Ten IP Protective Security Advisors have deployed to Texas to coordinate and support preparedness and response efforts and to beginning to identify critical infrastructures in the storm's projected path, and assessing any potential impacts.
  • Eighteen IP Protective Security Advisors have deployed to Texas to coordinate and support preparedness and response efforts and to beginning to identify critical infrastructures in the storm's projected path, and assessing any potential impacts.
  • Eight IP Protective Security Advisors have deployed to Texas to coordinate and support preparedness and response efforts and to beginning to identify critical infrastructures in the storm's projected path, and assessing any potential impacts.
  • IP's National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center will begin pre-landfall impact modeling as appropriate.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

  • Images from NOAA Damage Assessment flights posted.
  • NOAA’s National Hurricane Center is monitoring Hurricane Ike, issuing watches and warnings as needed.  NOAA’s National Weather Service forecast offices in Texas are supporting federal operations in the region as well as state and local emergency managers.
  • NOAA’s aircraft continue round- the-clock operations in support of hurricane research, reconnaissance and surveillance missions into Hurricane Ike.
  • NOAA post-landfall response teams (hazardous materials scientific support, coast survey) are staged and ready for deployment.
  • NOAA's National Hurricane Center is monitoring Hurricane Ike as it continues inland.  Weather forecast offices in the affected areas are monitoring Ike's impact and issuing watches and warnings as needed.
  • NOAA aircraft are staged in Mobile, Ala. and San Antonio, Texas for damage assessment flights.
  • NOAA navigation response crews will be conducting surveys in Sabine Pass, Galveston Harbor, and Houston as well as Pascagoula, Miss.
  • NOAA post-landfall response teams (hazardous materials scientific support, coast survey) are staged and ready for deployment.
  • NOAA's National Hurricane Center is monitoring Hurricane Ike, issuing watches and warnings as needed. NOAA's National Weather Service forecast offices in Texas are supporting federal operations in the region as well as state and local emergency managers.
  • NOAA's aircraft continue round- the-clock operations in support of hurricane research, reconnaissance and surveillance missions into Hurricane Ike.
  • NOAA's National Hurricane Center is issuing watches and warnings as needed.
  • NOAA aircraft are conducting flights into Hurricane Ike. A NOAA aircraft is pre-staged to conduct any damage assessment flights needed.
  • NOAA's National Hurricane Center is issuing watches and warnings as needed.
  • NOAA's WP-3D and G-IV aircraft are conducting flights into Hurricane Ike. A NOAA aircraft is staged in Mobile, Ala. to conduct any damage assessment flights needed.

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)

  • DOT has plans and pre-positioned equipment in place to accelerate the ability to reopen roads, airports, rail lines and public transit systems following the storm.
  • DOT is facilitating evacuations in coordination with the Texas Department of Transportation, including the opening of shoulder lanes on evacuation routes.
  • DOT has plans and pre-positioned equipment in place to accelerate thee ability to reopen roads, airports, rail lines and public transit systems following the storm.
  • DOT has plans and pre-positioned equipment in place to facilitate debris removal and other actions which will accelerate their ability to reopen roads following the storm.
  • DOT's Federal Aviation Administration deployed Field Maintenance Party teams, Disaster Assessment Teams, Immediate Restoration Teams, and a Communications Support Team to Texas to assist with the quick restoration of airport capabilities in the wake of the storm.
  • DOT is working with the rail industry as they place personnel and equipment in staging areas to help them reenter, assess and clear tracks as needed.
  • DOT is planning and pre-positioning equipment to facilitate debris removal and other actions which will accelerate their ability to reopen roads following the storm.
  • DOT's Federal Aviation Administration is deploying personnel to airports along the Gulf Coast and placed those facilities on alert in anticipation of any needed evacuations.
  • DOT is working with the rail industry as they take precautions and plan to cease operations during the storm.
  • DOT is coordinating with the Texas Department of Transportation (T-DOT) in support of evacuation plans.
  • DOT's Federal Highway Administration is supporting T-DOT as it conducts safety inspections of buses designated to support any evacuation.
  • DOT's Federal Aviation Administration is deploying personnel to airports along the Gulf Coast and placed those facilities on alert in anticipation of any needed evacuations.
  • DOT activated an Evacuation Liaison Team to support evacuations in Florida.

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

  • DOE is coordinating with electric utilities and cooperatives who are staging thousands of workers to assist in restoration. Assessments are expected to begin this afternoon. Restoration likely will be impacted by flooding from storm surge.
  • The South Texas and Comanche Peak nuclear power plants in Texas did not shut down and are not expected to be affected by the storm.
  • DOE remains in close contact with Gulf Coast utilities as they monitor the path of Hurricane Ike and make advance preparations.
  • As of noon today, 95.9% of Gulf crude oil production and 73.0% of Gulf natural gas production was shut-in. Sixty-three percent of the Gulf’s manned platforms have been evacuated and 66.9 percent of rigs operating in the region have been removed.  Eight refineries are reported to be shutting down.  The Strategic Petroleum Reserve sites at Bryan Mound, TX, Big Hill, TX, and West Hackberry, LA have been shut down.
  • DOE remains in close contact with Gulf Coast utilities as they monitor the path of Hurricane Ike and make advance preparations.
  • As Hurricane Ike approaches the Gulf of Mexico, many natural gas producers, pipeline and processing plant operators are taking advanced precaution to shut-in and shut down operations
  • Sixty-three percent of the Gulf's manned platforms have been evacuated and 66.9 percent of rigs operating in the region have been removed. Eight refineries are reported to be shutting down in anticipation of Hurricane Ike.
  • Personnel have been evacuated from 167 production platforms and from 44 rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Natural Gas producers, pipeline and processing plant operators are closely monitoring Hurricane Ike and some facilities are taking advanced precaution to shut-in and shut down operations. Four natural gas pipelines have shut-in their systems in preparation for Hurricane Ike.
  • Personnel have been evacuated from 200 production platforms (27.9%) and 15 rigs (12.4%) in the Gulf of Mexico.
  • DOE is coordinating responders deployed along the Gulf Coast in preparation for Hurricane Ike.
  • DOE is working with government agencies and industry partners to address potential cascading effects from Ike and to identify mitigation actions that maybe taken.
  • DOE is working to encourage cost-effective, durable, and energy-efficient building reconstruction in areas struck by natural disasters, including the Gulf Coast region, which continues to recover from the effects of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. The Building Technologies Program offers information and resources for state and local officials, builders, and consumers. More at Disaster Recovery and Building Reconstruction

U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
U.S. National Guard Bureau (NGB)

  • NGB has sent a large multi-agency convoy that includes hundreds of people and vehicles to reinforce the hurricane relief efforts in southeast Texas.
  • More than 3,000 National Guard Citizen-Soldiers and -Airman from 20 states are conducting search and rescue missions, damage assessments, and setting up points of distribution in support of Hurricane Ike response efforts.
  • Nine National Guard C-130 cargo aircraft from three states evacuated almost 500 special-needs patients from Corpus Christi and Galveston, Texas.
  • More than 1,000 high-water vehicles are prepositioned and ready to support Hurricane Ike operations.
  • The Texas National Guard conducted air medical evacuations for nearly 500 patients from Corpus Christi and Galveston.
  • The Texas National Guard, along with DOD and other agencies, is conducting air sweeps of the Texas coast to prepare for Hurricane Ike.
  • NGB is staging provisions, prepositioning people and equipment, and coordinating with federal, state and local governments.
  • The Texas National Guard has activated more than 2,000 Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen to provide support for evacuation, search and rescue, and shelter operations.
  • The Texas National Guard's Standing Joint Interagency Task Force is prepositioned in San Antonio with 900 people and 500 'high-water' vehicles.
  • Texas has authorized up to 7,500 Texas National Guard Citizen-Soldiers and - Airmen to provide support for evacuation preparations, search and rescue operations, and shelter operations
  • The Texas National Guard has hundreds of ‘high-water' vehicles and generators available to support search and rescue operations and provide electricity to critical infrastructure.
  •  More than 13,500 National Guard members actively supporting recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast region, NGB is poised to send nearly 40,000 additional troops to support civilian authorities and maintain order.
  • NGB units are coordinating efforts to send people and equipment to assist civil authorities and first responders in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
  • The Texas and Louisiana National Guard are staging provisions, prepositioning people and equipment, and coordinating with federal, state and local governments.
  • The Texas National Guard is prepared for search and rescue missions.
  • NGB units are coordinating efforts to send people and equipment to assist civil authorities and first responders in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
  • Florida National Guard Special Forces reconnaissance teams are staging in Key West and southern Florida to conduct immediate post storm damage assessments.
  • A North Carolina National Guard C-130 cargo aircraft and crew is supporting evacuation operations in the Florida keys.
  • Nearly 400,000 National Guard Citizen–Soldiers and –Airmen, to include nearly 110,000 in the Gulf Coast region, stand ready to provide live saving support should Hurricane Ike make landfall.
  • NGB units are coordinating efforts to send people and equipment to assist civil authorities and first responders in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
  • NGB is sending specialized Joint Enabling Teams to Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to provide critical expertise and support.

U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM)

  • Military search and rescue personnel and equipment are prepared to assist civil authorities in saving lives and preventing human suffering.  Search and rescue is conducted as a fully integrated, interagency operation that includes federal, state, tribal and local governments, private sector, non-governmental organizations, and international partners.
  • In total, the combined (DOD, USCG, National Guard) SAR efforts has nearly 100 helicopter search and rescue assets and four C-130s standing by to assist.
  • USNORTHCOM provides DOD capabilities for search and rescue for disaster response operations in support of FEMA and the State of Texas, working closely with federal, local and National Guard Bureau officials.
  • USNORTHCOM coordinates unique capabilities to assist federal and state officials that include such things as mobile communications, DOD installations for forward deployment of commodities and equipment, high-water vehicles, flat-bottom boats, and other forces to assist in life saving and sustaining efforts.
  • USNORTHCOM, working with U.S. Transportation Command, provided aeromedical evacuation of medical patients from Beaumont Airport, Beaumont, Texas to Easterwood Airport, College Station, Texas and Kelly Annex in San Antonio, Texas.
  • USNORTHCOM is supporting medical and special needs evacuations from coastal Texas locations.
  • USNORTHCOM has deployed units to Corpus Christi and Brownsville, Texas to support medical evacuations.
  • USNORTHCOM has identified additional units able to provide a wide range of additional support including helicopter support, medical evacuation, high-water vehicles, mobile communication packages, bridging and engineering support, medical assistance, search and rescue, and Incident Awareness and Assessment airborne platforms that provide after-landfall water level and surge assessments.
  • USNORTHCOM designated two military installations (Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and Ft. Polk, La.) as base support installations. In addition, five Department of Defense utility helicopters were deployed to Del Valle, Texas, near Austin to support search and rescue operations.
  • USNORTHCOM has deployed units to Corpus Christi and Brownsville, Texas to support medical evacuations.
  • USNORTHCOM has identified additional units able to provide a wide range of additional support including helicopter support, medical evacuation, high-water vehicles, mobile communication packages, bridging and engineering support, medical assistance, search and rescue, and Incident Awareness and Assessment airborne platforms that provide after-landfall water level and surge assessments.
  • USNORTHCOM has identified units in advance of landfall to assist FEMA and the states with a variety of assistance including helicopter support, medical evacuation, high-water vehicles, mobile communications packages, bridging and engineering support, medical assistance; search and rescue, and Incident Awareness and Assessment airborne platforms that provide after-landfall water level and surge assessments.
  • DOD is prepared to deploy an Operational Command Post for Hurricane Ike in order to coordinate land activity of active duty forces that may be deployed in support of the Primary Agency's post-landfall operations.
  • DOD is prepared to provide one Air Component Coordination Element to assist with command and control of search and rescue air space coordination.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

  • More than 800 USACE personnel are engaged currently in hurricane emergency response.
  • USACE is poised to work with local, state and federal agencies to assess impacts to infrastructure from Hurricane Ike and begin restoring essential public services and facilities.
  • USACE has pre-positioned key personnel and equipment so that it can perform debris removal, commodities procurement and delivery, temporary emergency power, temporary housing, temporary roofing, infrastructure assessment, and support to urban search and rescue missions.
  • USACE is working with FEMA to conduct power assessments and pre-position generators for critical public facilities, such as hospitals, shelters, and water treatment facilities. 
  • USACE is monitoring all USACE-operated reservoirs, dams and facilities along the projected storm path of Hurricane Ike to respond to potential high water events resulting from Ike's rainfall, and is prepared to operate those assets as needed to provide regional flood damage reduction.
  • More than 700 Corps of Engineer employees are engaged currently in hurricane emergency response.
  • USACE has pre-positioned key personnel and equipment so that it can perform debris removal, commodities procurement and delivery, temporary emergency power, temporary housing, temporary roofing, infrastructure assessment, and support to urban search and rescue missions.
  • USACE is working with FEMA to conduct power assessments and pre-position generators for critical public facilities. 
  • USACE has pre-positioned key personnel and equipment so that it can perform debris removal, commodities procurement and delivery, temporary emergency power, temporary housing, temporary roofing, infrastructure assessment, and support to urban search and rescue missions.
  • USACE has 400,000 sandbags on-hand in the Galveston area as well as a Deployable Tactical Operations Center, Rapid Response Vehicles and other key commodities staged in San Antonio and Austin.
  • Of note, the pre-positioned teams ready to support a Temporary Power mission represent the largest concentration of assets for such a mission in the history of the USACE.
  • The Corps has over 40 specially trained response teams trained and equipped with field guides, mobile response equipment, and prepositioned contracts. USACE can support debris removal, commodities procurement and delivery, temporary emergency power, temporary housing, temporary roofing, infrastructure assessment, and support to urban search and rescue missions.
  • USACE has over 40 specially trained response teams to support National Response Framework missions.  These teams are trained and equipped with field guides, mobile response equipment, and prepositioned contracts.
  • USACE stands ready to perform debris removal, commodities procurement and delivery, temporary emergency power, temporary housing, temporary roofing, infrastructure assessment, and support to urban search and rescue missions.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

  • HHS declared Public Health Emergencies in Texas and Louisiana to ensure that individuals, including those enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) continue to receive their health care items and services.  The action gives HHS' Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs for its Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP beneficiaries.
  • HHS is beginning its post storm medical and health care facility assessment and is prepared to support medical evacuation of health care facilities as needed and support medical assistance to the Urban Search and Rescue teams.
  • HHS has a total of 18 Disaster Medical Assistance Teams already in Texas and Louisiana and is managing 4 Federal Medical Stations (FMS) in Texas with a 1,182 bed capacity.
  • HHS will support the re-entry of evacuated patients back to their communities when it is safe to re-locate them. HHS has a 20-person patient advocacy team on the ground to support and coordinate the services for re-entry.
  • HHS declared a public health emergency to ensure that individuals in Texas, including those enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) continue to receive their health care items and services.  The action gives HHS’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs for its Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP beneficiaries.
  • HHS is preparing and planning for post-storm medical support including the pre-positioning of HHS strike teams with the Urban Search and Rescue teams.
  • HHS supported the evacuation of 700 Special Needs homebound patients from Beaumont to College Station, Texas.
  • HHS is continuing to maintain and support operations with personnel, medical materiel and five 250-bed Federal Medical Stations (FMS) located in College Station and San Antonio.  These FMS are operational and are currently providing medical care for patients. 
  • HHS has activated the National Disaster Medical System, a federally coordinated operation that can assist state and local officials in dealing with major disasters.
  • Working closely with DOD and VA, Disaster Medical Assistance Teams are helping evacuate an estimated 200 patients by air and many more on the ground from Texas health care facilities on Wednesday and Thursday. These patients are being moved to locations within Texas, but away from the storm's path. Additional locations have been prepared to receive patients in Oklahoma and Arkansas if needed outside of the State.
  • Nearly 6,000 health and medical personnel have been staged and stand ready to assist.
  • Additional Disaster Medical Assistance Teams and Medical Assistance Strike Teams are stationed in Texas. Medical and pharmacy caches are in place to support medical needs. Five 250-bed Federal Medical Stations and seven mobile, stand-alone emergency room facilities that support local hospitals with any surge in visits are also already on the ground in Texas.
  • HHS is supporting state and federal efforts to assess and plan for the evacuation of patients and nursing home residents in the path of the storm.
  • Medical and pharmacy caches are in place to support medical needs of impacted communities in states across the Gulf Coast. Some personnel and medical materiel are being re-positioned to Texas in response to the storm's track.
  • Five Disaster Medical Assistance Teams are pre-deployed to Texas with an additional 14 teams available across the Gulf Coast region.
  • Five Federal Medical Stations, 250-bed facilities that can provide care for evacuated patients from hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities, are pre-positioned in Texas.
  • Nearly 6,000 U.S. Public Health Service commissioned officers are activated ready to deploy to states that need assistance in preparing for Hurricane Ike. More than 500 of Public Health Service officers are currently staging or pre-positioned in Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.
  • HHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is providing public messaging state and local partners pre-landfall focusing on protecting individual health and safety when authorities tell the public to evacuate from the path of a hurricane.
  • HHS is working with Texas agencies and nonprofit organizations to determine the conditions of hospitals and nursing homes in recently affected areas. As with Hurricane Gustav, HHS is ensuring that hospitals and long-term care facilities have appropriate backup generators, generator fuel, supplies, equipment, as well as staffing needs to maintain operations.
  • HHS disaster medical assistance teams and public health service teams are staffing 3 Federal Medical Stations (FMS) in Texas and have free-standing, self-contained Disaster Medical Assistance Teams on alert. During Gustav preparations eight DMATs and three FMSs were activated in Texas.
  • HHS is supporting state and federal efforts to assess and plan for the evacuation of patients and nursing home residents in the path of the storm.
  • Medical and pharmacy caches are in place to support medical needs of impacted communities in states across the Gulf Coast.
  • HHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is providing information across the region to educate residents on how to protect health and safety when authorities tell them to evacuate from the path of a hurricane.
  • All U.S. Public Health Service commissioned officers are on alert, ready to deploy to states that need assistance in preparing for Hurricane Ike, responding to and recovering from these devastating storms. More than 500 of Public Health Service officers are currently staging or pre-positioned in Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.
  • Four Federal Medical Stations (FMS), which provide care for evacuated patients from hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities, remain in place in Louisiana and are prepared to receive patients who have been or will be evacuated from other locations.
  • More than 1,400 National Disaster Medical System personnel along with medical assets have been deployed and staged in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Alabama and Louisiana in preparation for Hurricane Ike, and additional personnel have been activated and stand ready for deployment.
  • More than 500 Uniformed Public Health Service officers have been deployed to Georgia and Louisiana through the Office of Force Readiness and Deployment.
  • The Administration on Aging has deployed staff to work with the State of Florida. 
  • Medical and pharmacy caches are in place to support medical needs of impacted communities.
  • HHS is working with the Florida Department of Health to have a Disaster Medical Assistance Team inserted by helicopter for the area of the Florida keys to assist with the reentry of evacuated patients following landfall of Hurricane Ike.
  • HHS is prepared to support Florida as it evacuates special needs patients to a special needs shelter set up in Miami at Florida International University.
  • Approximately 250 National Disaster Medical System personnel along with medical assets have been deployed and staged in Florida and Georgia in preparation for Hurricane Ike. Additional personnel have been activated and stand ready for deployment.
  • Medical and pharmacy caches are in place to support medical needs of impacted communities.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

  • Veterans with urgent care needs who were evacuated from the path of the storm may contact any VA facility by dialing 1-800-507-4571. This phone number may also be used by families and friends looking for information about loved ones who were patients at effected VA facilities.
  • VA staged fuel, water, food, medications, and supplies, and has essential staff to be on-hand to meet the health care needs of veterans in the area.
  • VA is staging fuel, water, food, medications, and supplies, and making arrangements for essential staff to be on-hand to meet the health care needs of veterans in the area.
  • Veterans who receive monthly compensation for disabilities, education, pension or other benefits will continue to receive regularly scheduled payments.  VA is identifying those veterans in the affected areas that receive their checks by mail and has plans to issue convenience checks if mail delivery will be interrupted for an extended period of time.

U.S. Department of Treasury

  • Treasury worked with the U.S. Social Security Administration and the U.S. Postal Service and delivered approximately 40,150 checks in advance of the storm.
  • Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control is approving new licenses and amending existing licenses for the increased transfer of funds for hurricane relief on the island of Cuba. This will enhance the ability of U.S. citizens to contribute to Cuban hurricane relief through licensed providers.
  • Treasury is working with the U.S. Social Security Administration and the U.S. Postal Service to provide early payment delivery for SSA Cycle payments dated  September 10th.
  • Checks will be delivered early to specified ZIP Codes in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana, including New Orleans (a total of approximately 40,150 checks).
  • Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control has begun to approve new licenses and amend existing licenses for the increased transfer of funds for hurricane relief on the island of Cuba. This will enhance the ability of U.S. citizens to contribute to Cuban hurricane relief through licensed providers.
  • Treasury is working with the U.S. Social Security Administration and the U.S. Postal Service to provide early payment delivery for SSA Cycle payments dated Wednesday, September 10th.
  • Checks will be delivered early to specified ZIP Codes in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana, including New Orleans (a total of approximately 40,150 checks).

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

  • EPA issued fuel waivers for gasoline sold or distributed in Ohio and Virginia, who join Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas in their ability to use "winter fuel."
  • EPA reconnaissance teams are pre-staged across Texas including EPA's specialty ASPECT aircraft, helicopter reconnaissance team, a Texas Strike Team, and a communication/satellite team.
  • EPA issued fuel waivers for gasoline sold or distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas to allow the early use of "winter fuel." throughout this region.
  • EPA distributed information in English and Spanish on drinking water, water wells, generator safety and precautions in returning home.
  • EPA reconnaissance teams are pre-staged across Texas including EPA’s specialty ASPECT aircraft, helicopter reconnaissance team, a Texas Strike Team, and a communication/satellite team.
  • EPA has staff deployed across the region to prepare for any hazardous material spills, establish plans with state and local officials, and to educate residents on the danger such spills can pose.
  • EPA has staff on-site in the region and EPA's Office of Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs has initiated information sharing with its Texas Gulf Coast network and Kickapoo Tribe.
  • EPA has deployed staff to the Florida Emergency Operations Center and to FEMA's National Response Coordination Center in Washington, DC as well as its Regional Response Coordination Center in Denton, Tex. 
  • Additional pre-deployment plans are in place for Ike. 

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

  • SBA put on stand-by 3,500 Disaster Reservists to prepare to staff up SBA's Disaster Customer Service Center, the Disaster Loan Processing and Disbursement Center, and the Field Inspection Teams.
  • GSA's Office of Emergency Response and Recovery is coordinating escort for any trucks with critical shipments.
  • Contracting and Acquisitions Officers are standing by to facilitate and expedited any required acquisitions.
  • SBA put on stand-by 3,500 Disaster Reservists to prepare to staff up SBA's Disaster Customer Service Center, the Disaster Loan Processing and Disbursement Center, and the Field Inspection Teams.
  • The SBA's Disaster Customer Service Center in Buffalo, NY is taking phone calls weekends from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT, and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday.  The center is also staffed up and is ready to respond to phone calls inquiring about disaster recovery assistance after Hurricane Ike makes landfall.   That phone number is 1-800-659-2955 and 1-800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired.  Customer service representatives can also be contacted by e-mail at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
  • SBA is reaching out to homeowners, renters and businesses to encourage them to review their insurance policies to make sure they understand what is and isn't covered.
  • If a homeowner, renter or business owner has an SBA disaster loan from a previous disaster event, and is having difficulty making their loan payments because of a more recent hurricane's impact, they should contact SBA's Disaster Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 to discuss their situation. The SBA may be able to defer their payments. SBA works with each borrower on a case by case basis. 
  • SBA is reminding business owners to have an emergency plan in place that includes:
    • Make backups of important business, financial and property records, and store that information offsite, in fireproof storage units. 
    • Eliminate costly power outages, businesses should invest in a backup generate to maintain full operation of critical functions such as refrigeration, lighting, security systems and computers.
    • Photograph or videotape the inside of your facility to document what inventory, furniture, equipment and other items.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

  • USDA is providing 3,500 cases of infant formula and baby food to shelters in Texas.
  • USDA is using public service announcements and working with local government to educate residents about how to keep food safe during power outages and how to prevent food borne illness once families return to their homes.
  • Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.
  • Information on food safety during power outages is available 24 hours a day with SignFSIS video-casts in American Sign Language featuring text-captioning at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/SignFSIS/index.asp.

U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)

  • GSA's Office of Emergency Response and Recovery is coordinating escort for any trucks with critical shipments. 
  • Contracting and Acquisitions Officers are standing by to facilitate and expedite any required acquisitions.
  • Complete List of Closed Federal Facilities (9/12/08)
  • GSA has taken emergency steps to facilitate travel, lodging and fuel purchases in certain counties and other affected areas in the state of Texas threatened by Hurricane Ike.
  • GSA is coordinating Logistics and Resource Support for all federal activities and is providing critical resources to effected areas.

American Red Cross (ARC)

  • ARC is supporting federal search and rescue efforts by maintaining shelters in safe locations.  ARC tends to the emergency needs of people once they've been rescued through the thousands of relief workers on the ground with food, shelter, counseling and other critical services.
  • ARC has 155 shelters open with a population of more than 20,000 individuals. ARC has more than one million ready-to-eat meals; and once the storm passes, kitchens will be activated to serve up to 500,000 meals per day.
  • More than 120 ARC Emergency Response Vehicles are on the ground and will begin delivering food, water and bulk supplies when it is safe to do so.
  • ARC relief workers have mobilized to Texas and remain on-hand in Louisiana, where supplies are in place and preparations are being made to help provide relief.  ARC continues to work with partners such as the NAAP, National Baptist Convention, Catholic Charities and more to coordinate human and material assets along the affected area.
  • In Texas, ARC has more than one million shelf stable meals in place along with more than 2,000 staff and more than 100 Emergency Response Vehicles.  Systems are in place to support as many as 30 field kitchens and to provide more than 500,000 meals per day.
  • In Louisiana , ARC has more than 2,200 staff already supporting 13 shelters and providing more than 74,000 meals per day.
  • ARC is also planning and pre-staging personnel and materials in Oklahoma and Arkansas as the storm could move quickly and impact residents in those states.
  • ARC relief workers have mobilized to Texas, where supplies are in place and preparations are being made to help provide relief. ARC continues to work with partners such as the NAAP, National Baptist Convention, Catholic Charities and more to coordinate human and material assets along the affected area.
  • ARC has more than 300,000 shelf stable meals in place along with more than 2,000 staff and more than 100 Emergency Response Vehicles.
  • ARC is providing information to potential evacuees, stressing that residents should bring prescription and emergency medication, extra clothing, toiletries, important documents, special items for children or older adults and other comfort items such as extra pillows or blankets when evacuating. ARC provides as many of these items as possible, but evacuation shelters are meant to be shorter-term locations.
  • ARC workers have already mobilized to Texas, where supplies are in place and preparations are being made to help provide relief once Ike makes landfall.
  • ARC welcomes all evacuees to established shelters, where relief workers provide a safe place to stay, food, water, comfort, basic health services and more.
  • ARC continues to move supplies to staging points in the region, including toiletries, clean-up kits, cots, blankets.
  • Evacuees are encouraged to call a friend or family member before leaving home to communicate their plan and to ask that contact to register them on "Safe & Well," located at www.RedCross.org, to help keep family updated on their well-being once they have left.
  • ARC continues to prepare for Ike's landfall in the gulf coast, ensuring supplies such as toiletries, clean-up kits, cots, blankets and more will be available to those in need.
  • Should residents need to evacuate, they are encourage to call a friend or family member before leaving home to communicate their plan.  Evacuees should ask that individual to register them on "Safe & Well," located at www.RedCross.org, to help keep family updated on their well-being once they have left.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 

  • CDC has deployed 16 staff members to Texas to assist state and local health departments in preparation for the landfall of Hurricane Ike.  Among those personnel are teams with supplies and equipment to support FMS operations.
  • CDC has deployed 23 staff members to Texas to assist state and local health departments in preparation for the landfall of Hurricane Ike.  Among those personnel are teams deploying supplies and equipment for FMS.
  • CDC is supporting federal medical stations in College Station and San Antonio, Texas in coordination with HHS and in coordination with state and local health departments.
  • Infection control messages are deployed with equipment and supplies and are available in multiple languages at http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/educationalmaterials.asp#hand
  • CDC responded to state requests for public recommendations related to post-hurricane flooding, animal hazards and worker protection.
  • CDC's is educating the public on health concerns and preparations before a storm strikes, including:
    • Before the storm, learn about your community's plans and prepare your family.
    • Help elderly and disabled family and neighbors to stay safe during an evacuation.
    • Help elderly and disabled family and neighbors to stay safe during a storm.
  • To learn more, call the CDC at 800-CDC-INFO.

U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)

  • DOL has income support and employment resources for workers whose jobs may be impacted - temporally or permanently - by the storm.
  • Workers who are temporarily or permanently unemployed as a result of the storm can contact DOL's national toll-free hotline, 1-866-4-USA-DOL, or 1-866-487-2365 to connect with state and local officials in their states that can help them apply for income support and employment benefits.
  • DOL has income support and employment resources for workers whose jobs may be impacted - temporally or permanently - by the hurricane.

Department of State (DOS)

  • DOS issued a Travel Warning urging U.S. citizens to carefully consider the risks of travel to Cuba at this time due to the threat posed by Hurricane Ike and to inform them that State authorized the departure of non-emergency personnel and eligible family members of the United States Interests Section in Havana, Cuba. 
  • The U.S. Government continues to work hand-in-hand with the Government of Haiti and the international community to send critical humanitarian assistance to the communities which are being tragically affected by Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike.  Our support includes provision of relief supplies, transportation and logistics to deliver relief, and ongoing damage assessments.  Our highest priority is to help deliver urgently-needed relief supplies to communities which are now cut off from overland access.
  • DOS facilities throughout coastal regions of the Southeastern US continue to monitor the progress of Hurricane Ike and are prepared to adjust operations accordingly. 

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

  • The FDIC is working cooperatively with all of the state and federal banking agencies and other organizations to determine the status of the financial institutions located in the affected areas. In an effort to provide information to those affected by the 2008 hurricanes, we are developing information and providing links to answer your questions about your banks.

National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA)

  • NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston will remain closed until the storm has passed.
  • The International Space Station Flight Control Room at Mission Control in Houston has turned over monitoring and control of the International Space Station to backup teams located near Austin, Texas and Huntsville, Ala.

U.S. Postal Service (USPS)

  • USPS liaisons are visiting shelters across the region to help residents who need to reroute their mail to a temporary address.  Postal customers can also visit www.usps.com to check on their post office's status or to make a change of address request.
  • USPS is advising customers that if roads become impassable or unsafe for travel, mail delivery services will be curtailed, and mail collection schedules from mail collection boxes could be suspended.
  • USPS is advising customers to deposit outgoing mail today or tomorrow to ensure timely processing of mail destined for delivery outside the local area.  If roads become impassable or unsafe for travel, mail delivery services may be curtailed, and mail collection schedules from mail collection boxes could be suspended.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

  • HUD has public and multifamily housing assessment teams in position and ready to deploy once Hurricane Ike passes.  The teams are responsible for determining long-term housing needs
  • HUD is using the National Housing Locator (NHLS) to heavily target support for those in the Houston area as well as the rest of Texas.  The NHLS is a searchable, web-based clearinghouse of available rental housing nation-wide. It allows HUD and its business partners, in particular state and public housing authorities, to deliver housing assistance by rapidly locating rental housing and available government-owned single family homes for sale during an emergency.
  • HUD has identified more than 250,000 units in the region available through the NHLS.
  • HUD has public and multifamily housing assessment teams in position and ready to deploy once Hurricane Ike passes.  The teams are responsible for determining long-term housing needs.
  • HUD is using the National Housing Locator (NHLS) to heavily target support for those in the Houston area as well as the rest of Texas.  The NHLS is a searchable, web-based clearinghouse of available rental housing nation-wide. It allows HUD and its business partners, in particular state and public housing authorities, to deliver housing assistance by rapidly locating rental housing and available government-owned single family homes for sale during an emergency.
  • HUD has identified over 250,000 units in the region available through the NHLS.
  • HUD is using the National Housing Locator (NHLS) to heavily target support for those in the Houston area as well as the rest of Texas. The NHLS is a searchable, web-based clearinghouse of available rental housing nation-wide. It allows HUD and its business partners, in particular state and public housing authorities, to deliver housing assistance by rapidly locating rental housing and available government-owned single family homes for sale during an emergency.
  • HUD has over 250,000 units in the region available through the NHLS.

Office of Personnel Management

  • OPM is activating its toll-free assistance hotline number (1-800-307-8298) for Federal employees and retirees residing in areas – including the southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana coasts – expected to be impacted by Hurricane Ike.
  • Federal employees with access to the Internet can receive updated and important information on benefits, flexibilities and payroll at www.opm.gov/hurricane/index.asp.

Social Security Administration

  • If you do not receive your regularly scheduled payment from Social Security as a result of a hurricane, you can go to any open Social Security office and request an immediate payment. To find the nearest open Social Security office, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
  • Hurricane page on SSA.gov: http://www.ssa.gov/hurricane/index.htm

 

This page was last reviewed/modified on September 15, 2008.