Federal Preparations, Response To Tropical Storm Hanna
Preparations Also Underway For Hurricane Ike, Tropical Storm Josephine
Release Date: September 5, 2008
Release Number: HQ-08-186
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is coordinating plans and preparatory activities, as well as the initial response, of numerous federal agencies in close communication with state, tribal and local officials as Tropical Storm Hanna is expected to bring heavy rain and high winds to most of the Atlantic Coast. Hurricane Ike, expected to hit Florida next week as a strong hurricane, poses additional challenges. As we face the heart of the annual Hurricane Season, everyone has a role to play. Remember: Get Serious. Be Prepared.
Individual and community preparedness is the responsibility of everyone. As residents and businesses along the Southeastern Atlantic coast continue to monitor the path of Tropical Storm Hanna, it is extremely important to listen to guidance and direction from their state and local authorities. Residents should closely follow news and weather reports and be aware of evacuation and sheltering orders in their communities. Individuals, families and businesses should prepare emergency supply kits and implement family emergency plans. Emergency preparedness information is available online at www.ready.gov. An ounce of prevention today can be worth a pound of cure tomorrow, and everyone should also look ahead to the challenges posed to coastal communities by Hurricane Ike and Tropical Storm Josephine.
FEMA and its federal partners are in close communications with states along Hanna's potential path in order to review plans, pre-station assets and personnel, and respond to any request for assistance. FEMA supports states using "Gap Analysis" - a tool that determines in advance of storms where there are "gaps," or state needs, that federal assistance can fill. In addition, federal and state agencies have developed pre-scripted mission assignments and other contingency plans to help improve response and recovery efforts
Snapshot of Federal Activities:
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- FEMA has identified and designated specific staff and assets to insure their availability for any preparations or response activities.
- FEMA is pre-deploying personnel, commodities and other assets not essential for the response in the Gulf Coast to strategic locations along the East Coast.
- FEMA is leading an interagency team to coordinate preparations and planning activities with federal, state and local governments and to ensure that communities on the Atlantic Coast are as prepared for Hanna, Ike and Josephine as the Gulf Coast was for Gustav.
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
- USCG is now working with our operational commanders from Florida to Virginia to prepare for and respond to Tropical Storm Hanna, while also keeping a weather eye toward Ike and Josephine, and are preparing, planning and pre-positioning some of the very same crews used for Gustav.
Transportations Security Administration (TSA)
- TSA is prepared to support the federalized East Coast airports in the event evacuations are needed and has staff across the country are on alert to deploy.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- Thirty CBP Law Enforcement Personnel have pre-deployed to Atlanta, Ga. And Columbia, S.C.
- Air and Marine flew an Unmanned Aircraft to the East Coast to perform pre-storm assessments along the Florida, Georgia and South Carolina coasts.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- As landfall becomes imminent, USCIS will contact community organizations and the media to inform them that USCIS will automatically 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.
National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD)
The National Communications System (NCS)
- NCS personnel are actively reaching out to the states on Hanna's projected path to confirm access procedures for restoration teams, and are adjusting critical communications infrastructure analysis for the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
- The Shared Resources High Frequency Radio Network is on standby. NCS anticipates activating network four hours prior to landfall.
- NCS is consulting with industry representative and the FCC for its decision to activate the Disaster Information Reporting System.
Infrastructure Protection (IP) - IP has deployed 13 Protective Security Advisors (PSAs) to southeastern states to augment support for monitoring the progress of Tropical Storm Hanna, and to begin assessing potential critical infrastructure impacts and coordinating any necessary response efforts.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- The National Hurricane Center is monitoring Tropical Storm Hanna, Hurricane Ike and Tropical Storm Josephine, issuing watches and warnings as needed.
- NOAA aircraft are flying missions into Tropical Storm Hanna providing data on the storm for research and operational forecasts. NOAA's geostationary and polar orbiting satellites are also providing valuable data to hurricane forecasters.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
- SBA is preparing for Tropical Storm Hanna and future storms with disaster reservists ready to staff up the customer service center and the processing and disbursement centers.
- The SBA's Disaster Customer Service Center 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 ready to respond to phone calls inquiring about disaster recovery assistance after Tropical Storm Hanna 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.
U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
U.S. National Guard Bureau (NGB)
- NGB has up to nearly 40,000 Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen available in the region.
- Nearly 200 South Carolina National Guard members are providing support to local authorities, communications, liaison support and aerial damage assessment
- Four North Carolina swift-water rescue teams are trained and equipped to respond quickly to save lives and evacuate citizens if necessary
- The Florida National Guard is preparing for Hurricane Ike by using their full-time force to ensure plans, equipment and personnel are in place for an immediate response
- NGB is prepositioning several multi-function force packages of trained people and equipment that will be used for transportation, distribution of supplies, ground evacuation, swift water rescue and security of impacted areas
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
- The Corps has over 40 specially trained response teams trained and equipped with field guides, mobile response equipment, and pre-positioned 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.
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
- All transit agencies in the storm's projected path are making preparations and moving equipment to high ground.
- DOT is working with the Ports of Savannah and Brunswick, which are open and on alert for approaching storm.
- Airport operators at Myrtle Beach SC and Wilmington NC have reported that no closures are planned and airlines have not yet reported any cancellations. Cancellations may occur as tropical storm force winds reach the area.
- Though large evacuations are unlikely, DOT is working with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the North Carolina Office of Emergency Management, and the North Carolina Highway Patrol as they review the steps necessary to reverse I-40 should it become necessary.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Public Service Announcements (PSAs) are running in Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia about preventing food-borne illness due to power outages.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- HHS emergency managers are monitoring the progress of Tropical Storm Hanna. To date there has been limited requests for federal assets. We have provided liaison officers to North Carolina and Philadelphia and pre-positioned personnel and supplies.
- HHS is leaning forward in preparing for Hurricane Ike by propositioning response assets.
- HHS has deployed Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) Caches and personnel to Florida., Alabama and Georgia.
- Federal Medical Stations (FMS) have been forward deployed to meet the medical needs of the potentially impacted communities.
- HHS has deployed liaisons to Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, Florida and Georgia.
National Aeronautical and Space Administration
- NASA's Kennedy Space Center has not set a date for the roll out the Space Shuttle Atlantis to its launch pad.
U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)
- DOI's US Geological Survey scientists are installing storm-surge sensors to prepare for Hurricane Ike. These temporary devices are installed just hours before an impending storm and provide additional monitoring data in critical areas needed for effective forecasting and emergency response.
U.S. Department of State (State)
- The State Department's regional finance and consular operations in Charleston, South Carolina is closed but expected to resume operations as normal on Monday, after the worst effects of Hanna have passed.
Department of Labor (DOL)
- DOL has income support and employment resources for workers whose jobs may be impacted -- temporally or permanently -- by the hurricane.
- Workers who are temporarily or permanently unemployed as a result of storm impact can contact the 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.
The American Red Cross (ARC)
- ARC is preparing to help residents in the path of Tropical Storm Hanna. Human and material resources are positioned to provide food, shelter and emotional support to those who may need assistance.
- ARC is moving large amounts of material and human recourses to South Florida in preparation for Hurricane Ike.
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. For more information on FEMA activities visit www.FEMA.gov and for more information on personal preparedness see www.Ready.gov.
Last Modified: Friday, 05-Sep-2008 17:42:31