Remarks by Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer for FEMA Justo Hernandez at the Orlando Disaster Field Office "Hurricane Charley Recovery and Hurricane Francis Briefing"
Release Date: September 1, 2004
Release Number: HQ-04-147
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie
Orlando
September 1, 2004
(Remarks as Prepared)
Thank you. Good Morning. I’m Justo Hernandez, Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer for the Hurricane Charley Response here in Central Florida.
This is the daily FEMA/State of Florida Hurricane Charley “recovery news briefing” satellite-fed to newsrooms across the country. I will be joined by Frank Koutink, Deputy State Coordinating Officer from Florida’s State Emergency Response Team and Michael Lampton from the Small Business Administration.
Following today’s comments and a response update, we will take questions from reporters here in the studio and on the conference bridge. If you are watching the downlink and would like to participate, call 800-320-4330, enter PIN 484-585 # at the prompt that’s 800-320-4330 and enter 484-585 # at the prompt.
We continue to assess priorities as Hurricane Frances approaches for a possible Florida landfall and we are planning accordingly.
FEMA and the state of Florida remain committed to Hurricane Charley victims as we prepare for Hurricane Frances.
Be assured, the number of people needed for the Charley recovery will remain here as long as it takes.
The Red Cross is re-locating assets with the approach of Frances so reporters, call the Red Cross media desk in Arlington, VA for updates 571-226-8032.
With Frances on the way, the Hurricane Charley debris on the ground poses great concern. Today’s message is FEMA and the State of Florida encourage the removal of debris from public and private property.
Hurricane preparedness includes removing or tying down anything that could become a missile in hurricane-force winds. Here in the Charley-impacted areas that includes Charley debris. Remove it as much as time will permit. Relocate it. Be safe from past debris For the next storm.
REGISTRATIONS
4,973 people registered for assistance Tuesday total 176,022. FEMA and the State of Florida say ”Call and register we can’t help you if we don’t know you need help.”
Call 800-621-FEMA (3362) TTY 800-462-7585 for the speech and hearing impaired.
HOUSING
$52.4 million approved for housing assistance.
$34 million to disaster victims for other needs.
$86.4 million total assistance up nearly $3 million from yesterday.
52,899 checks have be sent
18,591 households approved for rental assistance up 500 from yesterday
300 temporary housing units are occupied with 679 are ready for occupancy.
Families needing rental units continue to be referred to the more than 4,000 rentals on the HUD list of rentals.
4,668 roofing repairs have been completed by The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and hundreds more roofing repairs have been completed by the 79 voluntary agencies supporting the Hurricane Charley recovery.
63,365 inspections have been completed since the first applicant called
20 days ago. Here in the Hurricane Charley response, we have completed more inspections in less time than in any previous disaster.
Remember ”Our experienced inspectors work disaster after disaster. They know what to look for when they enter a damaged residence”.
They have state-of-the-art, hand-held computer technology. They are giving Floridians the most accurate fastest possible turn-around from registration to inspection to check receipt.”
POWER RESTORATION
Power outages still remain but outages are mostly due to loss of the power infrastructure in the hardest hit counties.
DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS
31,041 visits have been logged in to the FEMA/STATE Disaster Recovery Centers 1,500 visitors yesterday.
We now have 20 DRCs open, but the State of Florida has scheduled DRC closings and re-locations as part of Frances preparedness. We want to assure DRC staff or the mobile DRC vehicles are not burdens for local emergency managers and will be ready as soon as possible after Frances landfall.
INSURANCE
Reporters remind your readers, viewers and listeners to resolve their insurance claims as soon as possible not necessarily before they contact FEMA.
FEMA operators know how insurance can impact disaster assistance.
Federal disaster assistance is for un-insured and under-insured loses. Part of that federal assistance package could be a Small Business Administration loan. Here’s the SBA’s Michael Lampton.
Reminder disaster applications are still being taken at our four teleregistration centers 24/7. Call to register for assistance update your application or get more information call 800- 621-FEMA (3362) TTY for speech and hearing impaired 800-462-7585.
Now we are ready to take your questions.
Thanks to all reporters who were here in the studio and to those who called in on the conference bridge. We have another briefing/update scheduled for tomorrow at 11:00 Eastern. A media advisory will be sent late today with tomorrow’s details.
And now the briefing will be repeated in Spanish.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 01-Sep-2004 13:06:30