Super Typhoon Pongsona: One Month Summary Of Federal Response And Recovery
Release Date: January 7, 2003
Release Number: 1446-23
» More Information on Guam Super Typhoon Pongsona
Dededo, Guam -- In the month since Super Typhoon Pongsona spent its fury for hours over Guam on December 8, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal agencies (OFAs) have responded to the needs of individuals, businesses and public entities with unprecedented speed. Super Typhoon Pongsona has been rated as the most powerful, damaging, and therefore most costly typhoon in the history of Guam.
On December 8, President George W. Bush declared the storm's effects on Guam a federal disaster. Within hours emergency personnel started arriving on special flights bringing their expertise and equipment to help the people of Guam.
RESPONSE ACTIVITIES
- To date 99 missions to provide technical assistance, operational support or direct federal assistance have been completed with federal aid provided totaling more than $51.6 million in response operations.
- Of this amount $32.8 million is cost shared with the territory (federal/local) at the rate of 75 /25 percent.
- The last of 22 special flights, some military, some commercial charters, some special cargo on regularly scheduled commercial flights, arrived on December 26. They brought over 3.5 million pounds of commodities and equipment for life sustaining needs:
- Tarps and tents
- Blankets, cots, and camping pads
- 5 gallon containers for water
- 20 and 30 quart coolers
- disposable diapers
- cooking kits
With the power and water systems out, generators and water became priority missions.
- To date more than 146 generators, ranging in size from 5.5 kW to 750 kW have been installed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
- The largest generator (750 kW), which sits on an 18-wheeler-chasis, was installed at one of the critical waste water pumping stations.
- In coordination with GovGuam and FEMA, generators have been installed at police and fire stations, schools and shelters, hospitals, and for senior citizens or others who have special needs.
Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) were deployed from Ohio and California along with an Air Force Medical team from Yokoto AFB in Japan. More than 400 injuries were reported as well as extensive damage to Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) and other medical facilities.
- Two DMAT clinics were set up at the Micronesa Mall and Agat.
- The Air Force team set up a 25-bed field hospital in the parking lot at GMH providing emergency care and outpatient support.
- Over the six days these teams were in operation they treated more than 2,000 patients for everything from rashes to broken bones.
- Ten specialty nurses and five respiratory therapists were assigned to GMH
- 13 cancer patients were flown to Maui to continue treatment interrupted by Super Typhoon Pongsona.
RECOVERY OPERATIONS
Individual and Household Program (IHP) The recovery is now underway with the 1-800 teleregistration line available for anyone suffering damage to apply for disaster assistance. To date more than 18,000 applications have been received with more than $35 million in federal assistance approved.
- Three Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) opened on December 26.
- Already more than 10,500 applicants have visited the DRCs to follow up on their applications and meet with other federal or territory representatives.
- A local multilingual Helpline is now available to assist applicants in following up on the status of their applications. Applicants whose first language is Chamorro, Chuukese, or Tagalog are encouraged to use this Helpline number, 633-9820. Effective Thursday, January 9, Helpline hours will be 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
- The regular FEMA Helpline number is 1-800-621-3362 and is available 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
- Nearly 5,000 calls have been made to both Helplines with operators taking between 350 and 450 calls a day.
Public Assistance also has been expanded to include roads and bridges, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utilities, recreation facilities, and certain private non-profit (PNP) organizations. Briefings have been held to assist these applicants in processing their applications.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued its first low-interest disaster loan checks on December 27. To date SBA has approved more than $6 million in disaster loans.
FEMA has coordinated the operations of many federal agencies and departments for the response and recovery of Super Typhoon Pongsona. Among these are: Department of Defense (U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, USACE), Department of Transportation (U.S. Coast Guard), Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forestry Service, SBA, and Public Health Service. More than 500 federal personnel are presently assigned to the disaster including 199 FEMA employees.
Individuals and businesses with damage from the typhoon are reminded that they have until February 17 to call the toll-free teleregistration number 1-800-621-3362 to file an application. People with speech- or hearing- impairments can call TTY 1-800-462-7585.
Last Modified: Thursday, 23-Jan-2003 15:57:56