FEMAS Diversity Outreach Program A Success
Release Date: December 7, 2004
Release Number: 1539-303
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- Florida residents from diverse groups, such as Haitian, Hispanic, Vietnamese and others, who due to their cultural backgrounds or citizenship status would otherwise not have benefited from available disaster assistance, received needed help.
The Diversity Outreach Program, created by the State of Florida and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is proactively seeking and registering affected families and individuals to provide assistance for damages caused by the four major hurricanes that devastated the state this hurricane season.
The outreach program coordinated the opening of more than 29 mobile centers, which distributed commodities through local faith- and community-based organizations, such as churches, community centers and others. These commodities, including food, water, ice, tarps and other necessities, were targeted to communities that normally would not have benefited from food stamps or unemployment assistance.
More than 79 voluntary agencies joined with the state and FEMA to provide commodities, warehouse space and volunteers. “We salute the efforts of the voluntary agencies that have partnered with us,” said Waldemar Serrano, Florida’s Diversity Outreach coordinator appointed by the office of Governor Jeb Bush.
The success of this program is based on the more than 10,000 families or individuals registered for federal and state disaster assistance.
“Families who would not have received assistance otherwise are getting their most basic needs met,” said Justo Hernández, deputy federal coordinating officer for Diversity Outreach. “We are glad we could collaborate with such supportive partners to help all people affected by these devastating hurricanes.”
Overall, more than 75,500 families and individuals have benefited from this program’s services to date, either directly or by referral to faith- and community-based organizations. Many of those helped were undocumented immigrants with children born in the United States, or families that have another relative or household member who is eligible for assistance.
The FEMA disaster-aid processing centers that help people when they call the registration line, (1-800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the hearing- or speech-impaired) can provide assistance to English- or Spanish-speaking disaster victims. Translators are also available to applicants who speak other languages. The phone lines are available 6 a.m. to midnight (EST), seven days a week, until further notice.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA’s continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 07-Dec-2004 20:07:46