EPA Approves Third Hurricane-Related Fuel Waiver for Texas

As the result of the disruption in the supply of fuel caused by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, EPA is exercising its authority under the Clean Air Act to temporarily waive certain special diesel fuel requirements that apply only in the state of Texas. Read more

Hurricane Ike: Spill Notification

As business and industry officials return to their facilities in the wake of Hurricane Ike, the EPA reminds them to report spills to the National Response Center. The Center is integral to these facilities' long-established procedures in response to natural disasters like hurricanes. The Center serves as the sole point of contact for reporting all oil, chemical, radiological, and biological releases in the United States. Read more

CDC Responds to Hurricane 2008 Season

CDC is working with state and local governments, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other federal agencies to help communities recover from Hurricane Ike, which made landfall this past weekend. Read more

HUD Announces Disaster Assistance in the Wake of Hurricane Ike

HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to dozens of counties and parishes in Texas and Louisiana following Hurricane Ike. This assistance will support homeowners and low-income renters and includes foreclosure relief for families whose homes are insured through HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Read more

Transitional Housing Assistance Available For Texas Evacuees With Inaccessible Or Unlivable Homes

FEMA, at the request of the State of Texas, will activate its transitional sheltering initiative to allow eligible Ike evacuees from Texas, who cannot return to their homes, to stay in hotels or motels until it is safe for them go home. Read more

Kearsarge Delivers More Relief Supplies to Haiti

The amphibious ship USS Kearsarge delivered an estimated 114 metric tons of disaster relief supplies Sept. 12 as it continued its logistical support to remote communities in Haiti affected by recent tropical storms and Hurricane Ike. Read More.

CBP Continues Hurricane Ike Response in the Houston Area

U.S Customs and Border Protection continues its response to the aftermath of Hurricane Ike by conducting damage assessment missions and recovery efforts as part of the federal government’s support to the Texas Task Force. Read More.

Coast Guard Continues Response to Hurricane Ike

KATY, Texas - The Coast Guard rescued 95 people yesterday as part of post-Hurricane Ike operatikons. In addition, 103 were brought to safety on Friday afternoon by helicopter crews from The Coast Guard, Texas Air National Guard, Texas Task 1, and the California Air National Guard before the hurricane hit.

The Coast Guard is continuing its responses to Hurricane Ike on Sunday. Assessment teams, which were staged inland at the Coast Guard Continuity of Operation (COOP) facility in Katy, have deployed to the field. They will conduct waterway assessments on small boats to identify areas of concern in the ports and in the ship channel. In addition, the teams will assess aids to navigation to identify any repositioning of buoys. Read more.

After Ike: Federal Support For Essential Missions Continues

The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is coordinating the joint efforts of federal, tribal, state and local partners as they work to help those hurt or put at risk by the passage of Hurricane Ike. President George W. Bush declared major disasters in Texas and Louisiana, making available federal funds to assist individuals and communities in their recovery. Read More.

U.S. Northern Command continues response to Hurricane Ike’s aftermath

U.S. Northern Command is coordinating Department of Defense support to FEMA, state and local response following Hurricane Ike’s landfall in Texas. Read More

Special Boat Operators ready to respond to Hurricane Ike relief efforts

Nearly 50 Naval Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) from Special Boat Team 22 and the Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School (NAVSCIATTS) are standing by with eight Patrol Boats Light (PBL) at England Air Force Base to assist as called upon to perform search and rescue or clean-up operations. Read More

Air Cav. sends relief in response of Hurricane Ike aftermath

Pilots and crew chiefs loaded up two CH-47F Chinook helicopters with food, water and supplies in an effort to lessen the strain caused by Hurricane Ike. Read More

Texas Guardsmen Focus on Rescue Missions in Ike’s Wake

Search and rescue missions began immediately in areas of Texas left in Hurricane Ike's trail and continue to be the main focus of relief efforts, a Texas National Guard spokesperson told American Forces Press Service today by phone. Read More.

President to Tour Hurricane Ike 's Devastation in Texas

President Bush announced that he would be heading to Texas Tuesday to see the first-hand damages left by Hurricane Ike. Read More.

CDC Responds to Hurricane 2008 Season

CDC is working with state and local governments, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other federal agencies to help communities recover from Hurricane Ike, which made landfall this past weekend. Read More.

Coast Guard Post-Ike Houston Overflight

An HU-25 Falcon ATC Moblie post Hurricane Ike overflight of Houston and surrounding area. Download video at USCG.MIL.

President Declares Major Disaster For Louisiana

Federal disaster aid has been made available for the state of Louisiana to help people and communities recover from the area affected by Hurricane Ike beginning on September 11, 2008, and continuing. Read more

Federal Aid Programs For Louisiana Disaster Recovery

Key federal disaster aid programs can be made available as needed and warranted under President Bush's major disaster declaration issued for Louisiana. Read more

Evacuees Cautioned Not to Re-Enter Damage Areas Prematurely

Emergency management officials are appealing to residents of Texas and Louisiana who evacuated in advance of Hurricane Ike's landfall to stay put. Read more

Federal Aid Programs For Texas Disaster Recovery

Key federal disaster aid programs can be made available as needed and warranted under President Bush's major disaster declaration issued for Texas. Read more

CBP Poised to Support Ike Rescue and Recovery Operations

U.S Customs and Border Protection is poised to conduct life-saving and damage assessment missions as part of the federal government’s support to Texas’ Hurricane Ike response and recovery operations. Read more

President Bush Discusses Hurricane Ike

President Bush discusses the federal response to Hurricane Ike. Read more

CBP Supports Hurricane Ike Relief Efforts

CBP air interdiction agents prepare the unmanned aircraft for flights over the Texas Gulf Coast to survey damaged caused by Hurricane Ike. Get hi-res photo.

Remarks by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Other Federal Officials on Hurricane Ike

Secretary Chertoff, FEMA Administrator Paulison, Rear Admiral Castillo, the Assistant Commandant of the Coast Guard for Respons, and Kevin Colton of the Department of Energy describe the effects of Hurricane Ike, which have been felt as far away as eastern Louisiana and Mississippi and down the Texas coast. Read more

HHS Secretary Declares Public Health Emergency for Louisiana Following Hurricane Ike’s Landfall

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today declared a public health emergency to ensure that individuals, including those enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in Louisiana, continue to receive their health care items and services. The declaration follows one made on Thursday to cover Texas.

“Louisiana has felt the impact of Hurricane Gustav and now Hurricane Ike in quick succession. Today’s actions will help our beneficiaries and providers, as well as some of the area’s most vulnerable patients, in communities where hospitals and other health care delivery systems are affected,” said Secretary Leavitt. “These steps will allow beneficiaries to continue to receive their health care services.” Read more.

President Declares Major Disaster For Texas

The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for the state of Texas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State, local and tribal recovery efforts in the area struck by Hurricane Ike beginning on September 7, 2008, and continuing. Read More

23rd Wing deploys rescue forces for Hurricane Ike response

As Hurricane Ike approached the Texas coast, the 23rd Wing began moving units on Sept. 11 to pre-stage for rapid rescue relief operations. The 23rd Wing is the only active-duty combat search and rescue wing in the Air Force. Units from the wing's two rescue groups, the 347th Rescue Group here and the 563rd RQG co-located at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., and Nellis AFB, Nev., were responsible for more than 1,700 saves during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. Read More

Rescue personnel fly first flights from Randolph

Three HH-60 Pave Hawks and aircrews belonging to the 331st Air Expeditionary Group took off from here earlier the afternoon of Sept. 13 carrying search and rescue personnel to the Galveston, Texas, area in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Read More

U.S. Northern Command provides additional support in wake of Hurricane Ike

U.S. Northern Command is coordinating Department of Defense support to FEMA, state and local response in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike’s landfall in Texas. Read More

Task Force Ike rolls out for hurricane support

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, Task Force Ike is sending personnel and supplies from Kelly Air Force Base to aid in disaster relief throughout the hurricane-affected areas along the Texas coast. Read More

Forces ready to respond to aftermath of Hurricane Ike

As Hurricane Ike made landfall in southeast Texas, U.S. Army Northern Command moved their operating headquarters from the base known as the “Home of Army Medicine” to Camp Mabry, just outside of Austin. Read More

Religious Support Teams providing hope after Ike

For the first time, military chaplains and the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster are collaborating their efforts to provide cohesive spiritual response to those affected by the next hurricane. Read More

National Guard Patrols Grand Isle Waters

In an effort to prevent looting of area residents’ property and local businesses, Louisiana National Guardsmen began patrolling the waters along the north shore of Grand Isle, La. Read More.

National Guard Sandbags Levee, Protects Highway

On the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America, soldiers and airmen of the Louisiana National Guard assisted Plaquemines Parish by sandbagging a levee that protects Highway 23, the main artery for entering and exiting Plaquemines Parish, as a precaution against Hurricane Ike’s storm surge. Read More.

Joint Task Force 129 Airmen Rescue Civilians Stranded in Galveston

California Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing rescued eight people yesterday in Galveston, Texas. The air guardsmen deployed to Kelly Field in San Antonio for Hurricane Ike search and rescue support operations. Read More.

Hurricane Ike Rescues Underway in Texas and Louisiana

Federal and State response forces have begun what Texas Governor Rick Perry is calling the largest search and rescue ever in his state today as more than 100,000 residents are estimated to have ignored Hurricane Ike evacuation warnings. Read More.

National Guard Helps Evacuate Three Households in Louisiana

Members of three different Hackberry, La., households stayed in their homes through the fierce winds and flooding of Hurricane Ike, believing they wouldn’t suffer any worse than they did during Hurricane Rita in September 2005. However, the water rose three to four feet in their homes, compared to one foot three years ago. Read More.

Kentucky Air Guard Troops Deploy to Coastal Texas

About 25 pararescuemen, combat controllers and support troops from the Kentucky Air Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron began deploying to coastal Texas to conduct rescue operations for victims of Hurricane Ike. Read More.

Religious Support Teams Provide Hope After Ike

For the first time, military chaplains and the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster are collaborating their efforts to provide cohesive spiritual response to those affected by the next hurricane. Read More.

Louisiana Guardsmen Answer the Call as Hurricane Ike Slams the Coast

As Hurricane Ike slammed ashore, the National Guard was already at work evacuating stranded citizens from their homes and other locations across Southwest Louisiana. Read More.

CBP Poised to Support Ike Rescue and Recovery Operations

U.S Customs and Border Protection is poised to conduct life-saving and damage assessment missions as part of the federal government’s support to Texas’ Hurricane Ike response and recovery operations. Read More.

Hurricane Ike Evacuations

As a precautionary measure for Hurricane Ike making landfall on the Texas Gulf Coast, the Houston Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) relocated detainees from local facilities that may be impacted by the storm. Read more

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Braces for Hurricane Ike

U.S Customs and Border Protection has taken steps to brace for Hurricane Ike’s landfall and is urging all coastal community residents to heed evacuation orders and seek safe shelter, regardless of their immigration status. Read more

EPA Approves Hurricane-Related Fuel Waivers for Virginia and Ohio

As the result of the disruption in the supply of fuel caused by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, EPA is exercising its authority under the Clean Air Act to temporarily waive certain gasoline requirements in the states of Ohio and Virginia. Read more

EPA Releases Vietnamese PSAs to Aid Hurricane Ike Response

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released four public service announcements (PSAs) to help the area’s Vietnamese-speaking community prepare for the effects of Hurricane Ike. Read more

Tax Relief in Disaster Situations

The IRS is providing taxpayers affected by Hurricane Ike with seven extra days to file individual estimated taxes and corporate taxes due Monday, Sept. 15. The agency is continuing to monitor the impact of Hurricane Ike along the Gulf Coast. Tax relief is now available to victims of Hurricane Gustav in Louisiana. Certain filing and payment deadlines have been postponed until Jan. 5, 2009. Read more

President Bush Visits Oklahoma, Discusses Volunteers, Hurricane Ike

President Bush discusses volunteers and Hurricane Ike during his visit to Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Read more

OPM Extends Use of Toll-Free Hotline (1-800-307-8298) to Assist Federal Employees and Retirees Impacted by Hurricane Ike

U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Michael W. Hager announced OPM would be 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. Read more

Hurricane Ike Public Health Actions

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt declared a public health emergency for Louisiana on Saturday, September 13. Read more

Joint ops plan driving hurricane mobility response

As Hurricane Ike marches across the Gulf of Mexico, military and civilian disaster response forces continue to coordinate requests for mobility support outlined in a new joint operations plan that removes hurdles previously impeding response to natural disasters. Read more

Coast Guard Hurricane Ike southeastern Texas Overflight

In this video by the U.S. Coast Guard, an Air Station Houston HH-65C rescue helicopter crew conducts an overflight of the southeastern Texas coastline scanning for residents needing assistance and documenting flood waters, Sept. 12, 2008.

HHS Provides Prescription Drug and Durable Medical Equipment Assistance for Uninsured Texas Victims of Hurricane Ike

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced up to $2 million in individual assistance for victims of Hurricane Ike from affected counties in Texas, through a new Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) administrated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Read More

NRC Monitoring Approach of Hurricane Ike

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has activated its Incident Response Center in Arlington, Texas, and is monitoring the approach of Hurricane Ike, expected to make landfall on the Texas coast tomorrow morning. Read More.

Photo: Press Briefing at FEMA HQ

Washington, DC, September 12, 2008 -- DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff at the microphone at the FEMA Press Briefing Room reporting on federal preparations in anticipation of Hurricane Ike. From l-r - Joe Becker, senior vice president of disaster services for the American Red Cross, David Paulison FEMA Administrator (Mr. Chertoff), Rear Admiral Brian Salerno of the U.S. Coast Guard and Admiral Craig Vanderwagen of Health and Human Services. FEMA/Bill Koplitz Get hi-res photo.

Hurricane Ike: Maps Showing Potential Coastal Change Available Online

New maps that help forecast possible impacts and damages to coastal communities from Hurricane Ike can be accessed online. Read More.

Coast Guard airlifts people from Bolivar Peninsula

The Coast Guard began airlifting residents from their homes this morning at Bolivar Penninsula, Texas to High Island, Texas after the wind and rain from Hurricane Ike became too much for the residents to withstand early Friday, Sept. 12, 2008. Read More

Hunters Track Ike as Storm Moves Toward Texas

Barreling toward the Texas coast, Hurricane Ike is gaining strength as millions of residents in the storm’s forecast path evacuate in expectation of an overnight landfall tonight. Read More.

High-Water Vehicles Highlight Guard's Response Arsenal

In war, they're called combat vehicles. But when Mother Nature strikes and people are stranded by flood waters, those big trucks with their big tires and high ground clearance get a different name. Read More.

Defense Department Readies Help as Ike Approaches Landfall

With Hurricane Ike forecast to make landfall tonight or early tomorrow on the Texas coast, the Defense Department already is assisting civilian agencies. Read More.

SouthCom Sends Team to Haiti, Kearsarge Delivers Tons of Aid

An eight-member team from U.S. Southern Command, with headquarters in Miami, will arrive in Haiti today to support ongoing U.S. relief efforts in the country. Read More.

U.S. Northern Command assists with Hurricane Ike efforts

U.S. Northern Command is coordinating Department of Defense’s support to FEMA, state and local response in anticipation of Hurricane Ike and preparing for its landfall in the United States. Read More

Guard Members Gear Up for Hurricane Ike

Although Hurricane Ike is expected to lose power after hitting Texas tonight, National Guardsmen in four other states are preparing for the worst when it becomes a tropical storm later this weekend. Read More.

Contingency Response Wing supports Hurricane Ike evacuation efforts

Nearly 50 members of the Air Force's 615th Contingency Response Wing located here are currently in Texas providing support for impending Hurricane Ike. Read More

Weather forecasts protect Air Force, Americans

With Hurricane Ike taking aim at the east coast of Texas and its path still unpredictable, forecasters with the 601st AOC CONR Weather Support Team continue working around the clock to answer the No. 1 question on people’s minds: Where will it strike? Read More

Texas Guard Leader Vows All-Out Effort for Hurricane Ike

Texas National Guard personnel began rescuing residents stranded by rising waters Friday afternoon, and the Lone Star State's National Guard commander vowed to resume relief missions as soon as Hurricane Ike vents its anticipated fury on the Houston region sometime Saturday. Read More.

Joint ops plan driving hurricane mobility response

As Hurricane Ike marches across the Gulf of Mexico, military and civilian disaster response forces continue to coordinate requests for mobility support outlined in a new joint operations plan that removes hurdles previously impeding response to natural disasters. Read More

Hurlburt to Assist with Freighter Rescue

The 1st Special Operations Wing here launched two CV-22 Ospreys, an MC-130P Combat Shadow and an MH-53 Pave Low helicopter today to prepare for a possible rescue of 22 people aboard the Cyprus-flagged freighter Antalina adrift in the Gulf of Mexico south of Louisiana caught in Hurricane Ike. Read More

ACCE team leaves for Hurricane Ike support

Only days after the team returned from Louisiana following Hurricane Gustav, the Air Forces Northern Air Component Coordination Element left here Sept. 10 for San Antonio as Texas braced for Hurricane Ike. Read More

NRC Monitoring Approach of Hurricane Ike

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has activated its Incident Response Center in Arlington, Texas, and is monitoring the approach of Hurricane Ike, expected to make landfall on the Texas coast tomorrow morning.
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Focus On Safety: Federal Assets Support States Facing Ike

The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is working with its federal, state and local partners to keep people safe before, during and after Hurricane Ike makes landfall in Texas. President George W. Bush has issued pre-landfall disaster declarations in Texas and Louisiana that enables federal aid to supplement and support any of the immediate response efforts. Ike could also bring heavy winds and rain to Oklahoma, Arkansas and other states as it moves north over the weekend. Read More

Residents Urged to Bring Personal Supplies to Evacuation Shelters

The state of Texas and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urge residents traveling inland ahead of Hurricane Ike to arrive prepared if they are seeking refuge in an evacuation shelter. Read More

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Braces for Hurricane Ike

U.S Customs and Border Protection has taken steps to brace for Hurricane Ike’s landfall and is urging all coastal community residents to heed evacuation orders and seek safe shelter, regardless of their immigration status. Read More.

CBP Announces Mass Migration Plans for Hurricane Ike

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is currently maintaining normal border security operations at and between our ports of entry in the potential impacted area of the border. Read more

GSA Bulletins Ease FTR Provisions for Ike

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) on Wednesday, September 10, 2008, took 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. Read more

Victoria, TX - Postal Service prepares for Ike

The U.S. Postal Service is preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Ike by advising customers that normal service operations in the path of the storm may be affected in the event of unsafe conditions such as high winds, flooding, or impassable roads. Read More

Corpus Christi, TX - Postal Service prepares for Ike

The U.S. Postal Service is preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Ike by advising customers that normal service operations in the path of the storm may be affected in the event of unsafe conditions such as high winds, flooding, or impassable roads. Read More

Birmingham, AL - Dauphin Island, AL Post Office Temporarily Closed

Alabama District Officials closed the Dauphin Island Post Office at 8:45 a.m. for the remainder of the day. Due to the impending storm surge of Hurricane Ike, water is washing over the causeway leading from the mainland to the only bridge that provides vehicular access to the Island. High tide is predicted for 10:00 a.m., which will further increase water levels. Authorities are in the process of closing down the causeway and have advised everyone to vacate the Island unless they are a resident or have plans to spend the night. Read More

CDC Offers Checklist for People in Path of Upcoming Hurricanes

Checklists of what to do before a storm, if you plan to shelter-in-place, and after the storm pointers. Read More

Coast Guard sets port conditions for Morgan City, La.

As a result of the recent track change of Hurricane Ike, the Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) in Morgan City has set Port Condition X-Ray for all waters west of Houma, La., within the Morgan City COTP zone in preparation for Hurricane Ike, as of 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008. Read More

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) on Wednesday, September 10, 2008, took 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. Read More.

Hurricane Ike Impact Felt In Space

Hurricane Ike has delayed the scheduled Friday arrival of a Russian Progress cargo ship at the International Space Station 220 miles above Earth. Read More.

Hurricane Ike Nearing Landfall: Act Now!

As local, state and federal officials brace for Hurricane Ike to make landfall, the hope is that families and businesses are ready too. If someone still needs to prepare, here are some things to keep in mind. Read More

FEMA by the Numbers - Hurricane Ike 9.11.08

With Hurricane Ike threatening Texas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with its federal partners, is assisting the state by providing equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impact of the emergency. Read More

USCIS Houston Office Closes Due to Hurricane Ike

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that its Houston office at 126 Northpoint will close for business on Friday, Sept. 12 due to approaching Hurricane Ike. Read More

Texas Guard leader vows all out effort for Ike

Texas National Guard personnel began rescuing residents stranded by rising waters Friday afternoon, and the Lone Star State's National Guard commander vowed to resume relief missions as soon as Hurricane Ike vents its anticipated fury on the Houston region sometime Saturday. Read More

U.S. Northern Command conducts pre-Ike medical evacuations, continues to prepare for post-landfall search and rescue operations

U.S. Northern Command is coordinating Department of Defense support to FEMA, state and local response in anticipation of Hurricane Ike and preparing for its potential landfall in the United States. Read More

Corpus Christi, TX - Some Post Offices in 779 and 783 ZIP code areas will close due to Ike

U.S. Postal Service employees in facilities along the Texas Gulf Coast and elsewhere will be working behind the scenes, around-the-clock to secure the mail, postal facilities and equipment in advance of the potential arrival of Hurricane Ike.
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Houston, TX - Post Offices complying with Evacuation Orders

Postal employees are working to comply with all mandatory evacuation orders issued by county and local officials throughout the Houston District (ZIP Code areas 770 – 778) today, and will temporarily suspend operations within these facilities as soon as possible after evacuations are issued. Read More

HHS Provides State Assistance in Preparing for Hurricane Ike, Recovering from Hurricane Gustav

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced the continued activation of more than 1,600 agency personnel to assist Gulf states in preparing for and responding to Hurricane Ike, including support for medical evacuations which began late Wednesday night and continues today in Corpus Christi. Read More

HHS Secretary Declares Public Health Emergency for Texas

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today 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’ (CMS) greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs for its Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP beneficiaries. Secretary Leavitt acted under his authority in the Public Health Service Act. Read More

EPA Approves Hurricane-Related Fuel Waiver for Nine Southeast States

Due to the continuing effects of storms in the Gulf and the pending landfall of Hurricane Ike, EPA is exercising its authority under the Clean Air Act to temporarily waive certain federal gasoline requirements in nine southeastern states. Read More

EPA Releases Spanish PSAs to Aid Hurricane Ike Response

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released four public service announcements (PSAs) to help the area’s Spanish-speaking community prepare for the effects of Hurricane Ike. Read More

Coast Guard in Texas prepares for Hurricane Ike

Photos of how the Coast Guard in Texas is preparing for Hurricane Ike. Read More

Coast Guard Air Station Houston conducts pre-Hurricane Ike overflight of Texas coastline

In this video released by the U.S. Coast Guard, an Air Station Houston HH-65C rescue helicopter crew conducts a pre-Hurricane Ike overflight of the Freeport and Galveston, Texas coastline. Numerous ships including shrimp boats and barges can be seen taking the necessary precautions for the impending storm Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008. Read More

COTP sets Port Condition Yankee

In preparation for potential severe weather associated with Hurricane IKE, Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston will set Port Condition Yankee effective 11 a.m. local time. Read More

Federal Aid Programs for Louisiana Disaster Recovery

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Bush's emergency disaster declaration issued for Louisiana. Read More

President Announces Emergency Declaration for Louisiana

The President today announced an emergency declaration for the state of Louisiana and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Ike beginning on September 7, 2008, and continuing. Read More

Ike Strengthening: Personal And Federal Preparedness Key

The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is coordinating the preparations of its partners in federal, state, tribal and local governments as Hurricane Ike is now expected to impact Texas and Louisiana tomorrow, with the storm bringing rain and wind to additional states as it moves inland. Residents from the Gulf Coast to the Tennessee Valley are reminded to "Get Serious: Be Prepared." Read More

Evacuation Tips for You and Your Family

The state of Texas and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) advise residents that if evacuation is necessary in your area for the approaching hurricane, it is critical that you and your family respond quickly and responsibly.

Having your own evacuation plan can be a big relief and could help you avoid paying a premium for food, fuel and accommodations and taking a chance on where your family sleeps at night. Read More

Hurricanes Spawn Additional Threats

Hurricanes are not merely coastal events or wind events. Inland flooding, tornadoes, downed trees and power lines are all potential hazards that could be caused by hurricanes. Read More