Supplies Handed Out To Texans In Hard Hit Areas
Release Date: September 28, 2005
Release Number: 1606-007
» More Information on Texas Hurricane Rita
AUSTIN, Texas -- At 27 different locations in hurricane-affected areas, evacuees and residents’ cars are being loaded up with water, food and ice by Texas Forest Service personnel, Texas National Guard troops, local police officers and volunteers from the community, according to officials from the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Texas Governor’s Division of Emergency Management.
“Our priority is getting critical supplies to areas without power and services,” said Scott Wells, federal coordinating officer, FEMA. “These points of distribution are being setup like a drive-through service, so people can drive up, we hand off what they need and then they’re on their way.”
Rapid needs assessment teams have been in the disaster-affected areas to identify critical needs such as commodities distribution. Trucks loaded with food, water and ice are then staged in hard hit communities at locations identified by the teams and that can handle several trailers and volumes of automobile traffic. Each car is provided with two or three bags of ice, one case of water and meals.
Individuals are encouraged to visit the kitchens serving meals in the affected areas operated by the Salvation Army, American Red Cross and Texas Baptist Ministry. Community outreach teams, local officials and volunteers are helping get the word out to residents about the distribution locations and voluntary kitchens.
“We’re combining federal and state resources, working closely with the National Guard, local law enforcement and great people volunteering to get these supplies into people’s hands,” said Frank Cantu, state coordinating officer. “But people also should bear in mind the advice of local officials about when evacuees may return to their home community.”
Because of the necessity to move supplies to where they are needed, these distribution points will be moving to new areas when needed, as identified by the rapid needs assessment teams working with state and local officials. As of Wednesday, Sept. 28, cities that currently have points of distribution for supplies include: Anahuac, Buna, Center, Cleveland, Coldspring, Colmesnell, Dayton, Deweyville, Fairmont, Groveton, Hemphill, Jasper, Kirbyville, Kountze, Liberty, Livingston, Lufkin, Milan, Nacogdoches, Newton, Onalaska, Orange, Pineland, Port Arthur, San Augustine and Woodville.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Thursday, 29-Sep-2005 07:38:45