Help Flows To Florida Disaster Area; FEMA Expands Teleregistration Hours To Expedite Assistance To Victims
Release Date: August 19, 2004
Release Number: HQ-04-133
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In less than a week after Hurricane Charley devastated western and central Florida, the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State of Florida continue to address the most serious and life-threatening issues. FEMA and the state continue to assess damage, coordinate relief efforts, and obtain and deliver sorely needed resources such as food, water and shelter.
“A storm of this magnitude requires enormous efforts on the part of local, state and federal responders, but more importantly, it is a tremendous strain on the people whose lives are turned upside down,” said Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response. “Workers from the local, state and federal governments, as well as volunteers from around the country, are toiling around the clock to provide aid and will continue until the job is done.”
FEMA officials announced Thursday morning that the teleregistration line will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until further notice. Individuals who suffered losses from Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley must call the toll-free FEMA line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) to apply for federal assistance. The TTY number for speech- and hearing-impaired individuals is 1-800-462-7585.
Telephones are available at the six Disaster Recovery Centers for those with no access to a phone. Call volume remains high, and FEMA officials ask callers to please be patient and persistent if they get a busy signal or are put on hold.
As of 7 a.m. today, the FEMA registration line processed 60,851 applications. The agency approved disaster aid checks totaling over $10 million – including $6.3 million for housing assistance and $3.8 million for other disaster-related needs.
More than 11,000 power crews are working around the clock repairing lines and restoring service. Even though their efforts have been hampered by lightning and thunderstorms, power has been restored to more than 1.4 million of the 1.7 million customers who lost power due to Hurricane Charley. Although cell phone service remains out in several highly populated areas, the number of customers without phone service has dropped to 80,000 throughout central and
Southwestern Florida. All post offices, except for the facilities on Sanibel and Captiva, are open.
FEMA has asked the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers to design, develop and oversee construction of mobile home and /or travel trailer group sites to serve the short-term needs of those displaced by the storms. A search is also underway for two large buildings in Lee and Charlotte Counties for transitional housing centers for up to 2,000 individuals until the mobile home sites are ready.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has granted $169 million in emergency loans to farmers and ranchers. Preliminary estimates indicate that up to 80 percent of the grapefruit crop and 50 percent of the oranges could be lost as a result of the storm.
FEMA has coordinated with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control to conduct epidemiological studies and provide education on post-hurricane precautions. The Food and Drug Administration is monitoring food commodity firms for potentially adulterated foods and food safety. The Administration on Aging is working with the state on mental health grants for issues relating to the elderly and their care providers.
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: Friday, 20-Aug-2004 08:25:02