FEMA Coordinates Federal Response To Hurricane Dolly
Release Date: July 23, 2008
Release Number: HQ-08-143
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is coordinating operational and support activities by numerous federal agencies in response to the landfall of Hurricane Dolly in Texas.
FEMA and its federal partners are working closely with state and local governments as well as with the private sector to support those areas impacted by wind, rain and floods caused by the storm.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- FEMA has resources pre-staged and response teams deployed to Texas.
- FEMA has activated the National Response Coordination Center in Washington and the Region Response Coordination Center in Denton, Texas. Two state liaison officers have been deployed to the Texas State Emergency Operations Center.
- An Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) has been deployed to Austin to support the state with coordination of federal assets.
- An IMAT is composed of 15 professionals, specially trained and designated to be the first federal responders on the ground and to coordinate federal activities and provide initial situational awareness.
- FEMA Logistics has deployed to San Antonio and Ft. Sam Houston:
- 5 Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (MDRC),
- 1 Urban Search & Rescue cache,
- 1 50-Pack of generators,
- 1 Logistics Support Vehicle,
- 2 trucks of tarps, and
- 2 trucks of blue roof materials/plastic sheeting.
- In addition, FEMA Logistics has on-hand in Ft. Worth, TX:
- 613,800 liters of water,
- 776,988 meals (MRE's),
- 232,004 tarps,
- 240,731 blankets,
- 62,509 cots, and
- 235 generators.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- DHS' Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) has 3,500 personnel in the region. Trained personnel and equipment are available to support search and rescue efforts and CBP aircraft are standing by to support operations.
- In anticipation of Hurricane Dolly's landfall, DHS' Ready Campaign reached out to local media across southern Texas to provide information on personal preparedness and basic activities that individuals can undertake to protect themselves and their families. Outreach continues in communities still in the path of the storm and facing potential flooding.
International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC)
- In coordination with the U.S. Department of State, the IBWC has primary responsibility for levies along the U.S.-Mexican border.
- IBWC staff have reviewed the levies and found no seepage.
- A review of the levy system and expected rainfall are all within design specifications and no over-topping is expected.
- Staff remain on duty 24/7 conducting additional evaluations and reviews.
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
- 29 Search & Rescue capable helicopters and crew have been pre-positioned and an Incident Management Team is standing by.
- USCG provided transportation to the region for FEMA's IMAT Team.
National Guard Bureau
- The Governor of Texas has called for up to 1,200 Texas National Guard members to support any response efforts.
- To date, 540 personnel are on the ground and 100 additional members are en route.
- The Texas National Guard has six UH-60 Black Hawks and one 0H-58 Kiowa crews on standby for possible search and rescue missions.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
- USACE is working closely with state and local emergency managers as well as federal agencies to advise and assist communities with professional engineering expertise and support.
- 39 USACE personnel had been pre-positioned to support FEMA with federal missions.
- Soldiers with USACE's 249th Engineering Battalion have been deployed to the region and are prepared to provide emergency electrical power to critical public infrastructure if needed.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- HHS has contacted critical care facilities in the region to ensure hospitals, nursing homes and others have the necessary supplies and generators to support themselves for up to 72 hours.
- All necessary medical evacuations were completed prior to the storm's landfall.
- HHS has caches of health care materials available in Texas to support any additional needs.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are coordinating with federal and state officials on the most likely health issues to arise during a Hurricane and subsequent flooding.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- National Weather Service continues to track Hurricane Dolly and will issue watches and warnings to the affected areas.
- National Ocean Service Navigation Response Team has been dispatched to the Brownsville, Texas area to conduct hydrographic surveys to locate any potential seaport waterway obstructions in the aftermath of Hurricane Dolly.
- National Ocean Service Office of Response and Restoration is prepared to provide on site scientific support should any hazardous material or oil spill incidents occur.
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
- DOE has 3 individuals staffing the RRCC in Denton, TX and 2 individuals staffing the NRCC to provide assistance related to energy systems and supplies.
U.S. Department of Interior (DOI)
- DOI's Minerals Management Service (MMS) reports 395 million cubic feet per day of the Gulf's natural gas production has been shut-in, equivalent to 5.1 percent of production. MMS reports 60,621 barrels per day of the Gulf's crude production has been shut-in, equivalent to 4.7 percent of the Gulf's crude production. A total of 49 production platforms, or about 6.8 percent of the Gulf's 717 manned platforms, have been evacuated. Personnel from six rigs, approximately 4.9 percent of those operating in the region, have been removed.
U.S. Department of Defense (DoD): Northern Command
- DoD deployed to San Antonio a Defense Coordinating Officer and Defense Coordinating Element to coordinate any requests for assistance.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- USDA has distributed guidance on food safety during power outages and flooding.
The American Red Cross (ARC)
- The ARC has deployed to Texas:
- 250 personnel,
- 29 emergency response vehicles,
- 48,000 blankets,
- 22,000 cots,
- 45,000 heater meals,
- 48,000 comfort kits
- ARC is working with its partners in the non-profit and faith based communities to provide additional support.
- The Southern Baptist community has 13 kitchens available for deployment, capable of providing 187,000 meals per day.
- The Baptist Men's community has an additional 2 to 4 kitchens available, capable of providing up to 60,000 meals per day.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 23-Jul-2008 16:55:13