After Ike: Federal Resources Support Response, Recovery
Release Date: September 18, 2008
Release Number: HQ-08-223
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is coordinating the joint efforts of federal, tribal, state and local partners as immediate response activities begin to reach completion and recovery efforts begin across the Gulf Coast.
Residents from the declared disaster areas in Texas and Louisiana should register for federal assistance - including disaster housing assistance - by calling 1-800-621-FEMA or logging on to www.fema.gov. Registrations will remain open in the weeks to come to allow all those who need to register the time they need to apply for help. Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers are opening across the region and additional offices will soon open to provide expanded service. To date, 317,791 households have applied for assistance.
Federal agencies are working together with state and local partners to provide eligible disaster-affected individuals and families with a safe, secure and sanitary place to live until it is safe for them to go home. FEMA, at the request of the State of Texas, has activated its transitional sheltering initiative to allow eligible Ike evacuees from Texas, who cannot return to their homes, to stay for a time in hotels or motels. FEMA will pay for the lodging directly. A listing of participating hotels is available online at http://www.FEMAEvacHotels.com. To ensure reimbursement, evacuees must first apply for federal assistance. To date, 9,179 households have applied for this assistance.
Immediate recovery efforts do remain underway in coastal communities where debris removal and search and rescue operations continue. Shelters across the region are providing for the immediate needs of evacuees from these communities. Residents will be anxious to return home, but should be patient and wait for local officials to indicate it is safe to do so. Everyone is reminded that power, water, food, sewage and medical assistance may be limited in the aftermath of a storm; evacuees should wait to return until essential services are restored.
Anyone can help with the relief and recovery efforts. Companies and individuals can offer their support through the Aidmatrix Foundation's online portal, which is designed to make it as easy as possible to offer financial support or product donations, or to donate skills and time to nonprofit organizations active in disaster relief. To make a contribution or to volunteer, visit www.aidmatrixnetwork.org. You can also support the efforts through other charities, such as the American Red Cross at www.RedCross.org.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- FEMA is supporting Texas and Louisiana with millions of meals, millions of bottles of water; millions of pounds of ice; hundreds of generators; hundreds of thousands of blankets and cots; twenty five thousand rolls of plastic sheeting and eighteen thousand tarps.
- FEMA has active contracts to supplement existing resources without shifting resources from other disaster operations. FEMA is also working with the private sector and voluntary agencies to enhance their abilities to provide resources and support to communities.
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
- USCG's top priorities are search and rescue operations and the protection and safety of life at sea, both for mariners and residents of the Texas coast. USCG has nine fixed-wing and 25 rotary-wing air assets onsite, and five cutters are supporting these efforts.
- USCG has aircraft conducting search and rescue, port assessments, infrastructure damage assessments and prepared to respond to any oil spill/hazardous material pollution incidents.
- USCG is working to restore navigational and port operations. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is open from the Houston and Galveston area westward to Corpus Christi. The ports of New Orleans, Lake Charles, Morgan City, Neches River, Sabine-Neches Waterway, Galveston, Corpus Cristi and Mobile are open with restrictions. The ports of Orange, Port Arthur/Beaumont, Houston, Texas City and Freeport are open with a 16-foot draft restriction. Port Lavaca/Point comfort is open.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- There are 395 CBP Agents, Officers, and technical support personnel deployed to Texas to conduct support operations and support any mission assignments.
- While all Border Patrol facilities are operational, some Field Operations Port facilities and Air & Marine facilities remain closed. Travelers and businesses should check www.CBP.gov to check the latest updates on which facilities are open and closed.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
- Approximately 250 Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) continue to work with their federal partners to staff the Points of Distribution system that is providing aid in the Houston area.
- TSA has more than 480 personnel including TSOs, Federal Security Directors, Federal Air Marshals and support personnel providing operational support at both Houston Hobby and George Bush Intercontinental Airports. An additional 104 personnel are en route to expand capabilities.
- Beaumont Airport is scheduled to resume operations tomorrow.
National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD)
The National Communications System (NCS)
- NCS is coordinating national security and emergency preparedness communications response and recovery efforts for federal, state and local leaders, emergency responders and leaders of critical infrastructure.
- NCS is coordinating with the telecommunications industry to facilitate the restoration of service in the region.
- NCS is assisting emergency response personnel by providing guaranteed capabilities through the Government Emergency Telecommunications Service.
- NCS received seven Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) provisioning requests to facilitate the restoration and provisioning of critical communications circuits.
Infrastructure Protection (IP)
- IP and the Sector Specific Agencies are working with the private Sector Coordinating Councils and State and local officials to assess damage to critical infrastructure -currently focusing on electric power grids; oil, gas, and petrochemical facilities; pipelines and rail transportation; waterways, roads, and ports, and chemical facilities.
- IP is continuing to generate up-to-the-minute critical infrastructure impact assessments and computer modeling data; and to garner and share aerial imagery. Products include Key Petroleum Refinery Operations Status Report, Critical Infrastructure Post-Event Flood Status Report, and detailed imagery of key chemical and refining facilities in the affected areas. These are being provided to private sector owners and operators, state and local response officials, and other relevant federal departments and agencies.
- IP is continuing to conduct daily outreach calls with representative of all critical infrastructure sectors to share information and process specific requests related to restoration and recovery.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- HHS personnel are working with local, state, tribal and federal partners on post-storm requirements of recovery, including public health assessments, mass fatality coordination for disinterred remains, hospital decompression and the re-entry of patients and residents. Included in public health assessments are post-storm medical and health care facility assessments, control of vector-spread diseases (such as through mosquitoes) and surveillance of infectious diseases, food safety, potable water and waste water safety, and blood availability.
- Approximately 1,000 HHS medical personnel are supporting local public health and medical needs, including almost 400 Public Health Service Commissioned Corps medical personnel, as well as Disaster Medical Assistance Teams, 3-member Strike Teams, a Disaster Mortuary Assistance Team, and environmental and public health teams from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- In the area of Disaster Mortuary Assistance, HHS is prepared to assist in identifying victims and tracking, properly storing, transporting and interring remains. HHS has a Disaster Mortuary Assistance Team and mobile mortuary facilities staged in Dallas to assist as needed. Working with both the states of Texas and Louisiana, HHS DMORT is planning to locate a Disaster Portable Morgue Unit team in Lake Charles, La. that will provide mortuary services for disinterred remains to both states if needed.
- HHS Patient Advocacy Teams are in Texas assisting families and evacuated patients with their safe return back to their home communities.
- The three HHS Federal Medical Stations currently operational in San Antonio, Texas are at 55 percent capacity. A fourth Federal Medical Station set up in Winn, Texas, is being staffed by state personnel. Two Federal Medical Stations with a total capacity of 500 beds remain on stand-by in Dallas.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- CDC is working with the National Safety Council to distribute information about carbon monoxide poisoning prevention to 430 insurance industry members for use by their agents and claims adjustors. The information includes links to printable materials which we are encouraging these partners to distribute to their employees, constituents, communities, and others.
- CDC's message focuses on safety and health: avoid carbon monoxide poisoning; drink clean, safe water and eat safe, uncontaminated food; find ways to relieve the stress of being away from home.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- NOAA aircraft are completing their damage assessment missions - imagery will be available online at http://ngs.woc.noaa.gov/ike/.
- NOAA navigation response crews have completed the waterway surveys in the affected areas.
U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
- U.S. National Guard Bureau (NGB):
- The Texas National Guard has rescued more than 3,500 people equipped with more than 1,000 high-water vehicles and 50 aircraft.
- Louisiana National Guard members have cleared more than 20,800 cubic yards of debris from over 4,800 miles of roads.
- The Louisiana National Guard is manning more than 40 Points of Distribution throughout the state and has distributed more than 607,000 meals, 2.2 million gallons of water, and 150,000 pounds of ice.
- U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM):
- In support of FEMA and the State of Texas, military personnel and equipment are assisting civil authorities in saving lives, preventing human suffering and assisting in the regions recovery.
- The U.S. Navy ship, USS Nassau, off the coast of Galveston, Texas, to assist citizens affected by Hurricane Ike and first responders already working on the scene. Personnel plan to conduct humanitarian assistance, debris clearance, emergency medical support, and transportation of supplies.
- DOD is providing mosquito spraying in Louisiana. The spraying operations are closely coordinated with FEMA, the Centers for Disease Control and the Louisiana State Health Department and used to prevent illness. The Air Force Reserve's 910th Airlift Wing based out of Youngstown, Ohio, conducts the spray missions aboard C-130H aircraft, which are equipped with the Modular Aerial Spray System (MASS).
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
- DOJ's Disaster Fraud Hotline continues to operate. Members of the public can report fraud, waste, abuse or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations through the Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, the Disaster Fraud Fax at 225-334-4707 or the Disaster Fraud e-mail at disaster@leo.gov. Individuals can also report criminal activity to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or www.fbi.gov.
The American Red Cross (ARC)
- ARC continues to support feeding and sheltering efforts with more than 4,400 workers on the ground in Texas, Louisiana and other states helping those in affected areas. A total of 20 fixed feeding sites are open, providing hot meals through 126 Red Cross mobile feeding trucks distributing food, water, toiletries and comfort kits in communities where residents have returned home.
- ARC mental health professionals from across the country are providing emotional support, psycho-educational information, crisis intervention and referral services for those affected.
- Additional information on ARC activities, service delivery and guidance can be found on our Online Newsroom: http://hurricaneike.wordpress.com/
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
- Nearly 200 VA personnel continue to care for 135 patients and 35 family members at the Federal Medical Station in San Antonio.
- Evacuated veterans with urgent care needs may contact any VA facility across the country by dialing 1-800-507-4571. This telephone number may also be used by families and friends requiring information about patients from those VA facilities affected the hurricane. Veterans may call with questions such as where to access health care, how to receive their prescription drugs, or any other concerns they may have about their care.
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
- DOL has income support and employment resources for workers whose jobs may be impacted, temporally or permanently, by the hurricane.
- Workers who are temporarily or permanently unemployed as a result of the Hurricane can contact the DOL's national toll-free hotline, 1-866-4-USA-DOL, or 1-866-487-2365 to connect with state and local officials in their states that can help them apply for income support and employment benefits.
- DOL's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) provided sponsors of retirement, health and other benefit plans a way to update their contact information following the disruption of operations due to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. This information will allow employees, plan participants and their families, as well as the many support organizations that assist victims of the hurricanes, to reach plan administrators with questions and information related to their benefits.
- DOL's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sent safety and health experts into storm damaged areas. OSHA personnel are monitoring cleanup and recovery operations involving oil and chemical facility startup, downed electrical lines, utility restoration, tree trimming and debris left behind by floodwaters and high winds. They are advising employers on how to minimize safety and health risks to their employees on the job and make certain that worksite hazards they encountered were promptly corrected.
U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury)
- Treasury's Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is extending an initial seven-day postponement of tax filing and payment deadlines for Ike victims originally announced Sept. 12. Taxpayers in Louisiana and Texas who were adversely affected by Hurricane Ike qualify for tax relief from the IRS, including the postponement of tax filing and payment deadlines until Jan. 5, 2009.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- EPA has temporarily waived certain federal clean gasoline requirements for parts of Kentucky and Texas. These waivers will allow greater flexibility for the fuel distribution system to support an adequate supply.
- EPA's Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology (ASPECT) chemical sampling airplane has completed reconnaissance of Texas facilities and will begin flights over southwestern Louisiana today. The airborne sampling plane is one of four EPA teams conducting reconnaissance of hurricane impacted areas.
- An EPA mobile laboratory has arrived in Scott, La., to assist drinking water teams in reviewing public water systems and private wells.
- The public should report oil spills and hazardous substance releases to the EPA's National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
- DOE estimates indicate more than 2.4 million customers without power in the states where the largest outages due to Ike in Texas and Louisiana occurred, with outages as far away as New York and Arkansas. Power is restored to nearly all customers in Illinois, Missouri, and West Virginia. Largest outages remain in Texas where 1,637,268 (15%) customers are without power.
- In the past 24 hours power has been restored to approximately 549,000 customers across all states affected by Ike.
- Twelve refineries in Texas and Louisiana remain shut down due to Hurricane Ike. These refineries located in Lake Charles/Port Arthur and Houston/Texas City, and have a total operable capacity of 3.0 million barrels per day.
U.S. Department of Interior (DOI)
- DOI's Minerals Management Service reported today that offshore operators are accelerating their return to production platforms and rigs and restoring oil and natural gas production from the Gulf. 326 production platforms, about 45.5 % of the 717 manned platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, remain evacuated and 19, about 15.7 % of the 121 rigs currently operating in the Gulf, are still evacuated. About 77.6 % of the natural gas production and 93 % of the oil production in the Gulf remains shut-in.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.
- USDA reminds all farmers and ranchers to contact their crop insurance agent or insurance company with any questions or concerns about their policy or the steps needed to file a loss claim. Questions or concerns should be directed to the Oklahoma City Regional Office at (405) 879-2700 for crops or livestock located in Texas; the Jackson Regional Office (601) 965-4771 for crops or livestock located in Louisiana and Alabama; or USDA's Washington, DC office at (202) 690-2803.
U.S. Postal Service (USPS)
- If customers have permanently relocated or will be at a temporary location for an extended time, the Postal Service will forward your mail to the new address if you submit a change of address form. Customers may file a Change of Address (COA) on line at USPS.com, at the nearest Post Office or by calling 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777). COA cards will be made available to all shelters.
- USPS is rapidly finalizing a temporary location near Galveston Island, most likely in Texas City or La Marque. This temporary facility will be ready to provide mail to Galveston residents by Thursday, September 25th. USPS will announce the location and the date that customers can start picking up mail there once the location is finalized. USPS has made special arrangements to Galveston residents only to pick up their mail on Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 19, 20, 22 and 23 respectively, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at a window set aside for this purpose at the North Houston Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) located at 4600 Aldine Bender Road east of JFK Blvd.
U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
- GSA has a seven-person Realty Strike Team in the region to facilitate leases for Disaster Recovery Centers.
- A list of Federal Building closures can be found at www.GSA.gov.
U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
- OPM is reaching out to all agencies that have employees in the counties affected by Hurricane Ike to ensure that all employees are accounted for.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror. For more information on FEMA activities visit www.FEMA.gov and for more information on personal preparedness see www.Ready.gov.
Last Modified: Thursday, 18-Sep-2008 18:00:44