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Department of Homeland Security Prepares for Hurricane Ivan

Release Date: 09/16/04 00:00:00

Hurricane Ivan Tracking Map

Hurricane Ivan Tracking Map

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact 202-282-8010
September 16, 2004

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security prepared for Hurricane Ivan’s landfall that is affecting multiple states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.  Homeland Security is currently coordinating federal response operations and readiness activities with state and local agencies through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is providing immediate assistance to any community in need after the hurricane makes landfall.  

Over the past several weeks, Homeland Security has provided rapid assistance to Florida and other states’ residents and businesses during the recovery from Hurricanes Charley and Frances.  Homeland Security remains fully committed to continuing these recovery activities and providing assistance to those states and local governments who may need federal support following Hurricane Ivan.

The following activities are taking place to prepare for Hurricane Ivan:

  • Homeland Security officials are fully coordinating preparations and are in constant communication with our federal partners, governors, and other state and local officials in possible affected states.

  • Currently, more than 5,000 FEMA personnel are in Florida and additional emergency response personnel have been deployed from the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Defense.  FEMA’s Hurricane Liaison Team remains activated at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, to assist with advisories, information coordination and emergency evacuation activities.  FEMA personnel continue to work with the victims of Hurricanes Charley and Frances while others have been repositioned to respond to state requests for assistance as a result of Hurricane Ivan.

  • FEMA is positioned to send emergency management personnel, supplies and equipment to those areas impacted most to ensure a rapid and effective response as soon as Hurricane Ivan passes.  Critical commodities such as ice, water, meals and tarps are staged and ready for immediate delivery to residents in affected areas.  The Army Corps of Engineers is standing by with 100 refrigerator trucks of ice and 500 trucks of water to meet immediate needs as part of the Hurricane Ivan response.

  • Two Urban Search and Rescue Teams are deployed in Florida with four additional teams en route to Alabama and Mississippi for immediate deployment if needed.  Mobile Emergency Response Service communication units are also available to provide telephone, radio and video links in support of response and recovery efforts.

  • Four Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMAT) and Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams have been activated or deployed to sites in Florida, Georgia and Mississippi to support medical facilities and hospitals that are not fully operational following Hurricane Ivan.  An additional seven teams have been placed on alert, assembling teams and loading equipment in case they are needed.  The DMATs include doctors, nurses and medical technicians trained to handle trauma, pediatrics, surgery and mental health concerns.  DMATs also bring truckloads of medical equipment and supplies with them.

  • Preparations are being made for Disaster Field Offices and Disaster Recovery Centers to be established in the hardest hit areas within 72 hours after a federal declaration.  This will allow impacted residents to receive disaster assistance as soon as possible.

  • The U.S. Coast Guard has pre-positioned helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to support response activities, closed all ports from New Orleans to the Florida panhandle and has established a temporary safety zone extending the entire width of the lower Mississippi River from mile marker 88 to 106 to help protect people and vessels from the potential safety hazards associated with Hurricane Ivan.  The U.S. Coast Guard is also broadcasting hurricane advisories and warnings to mariners along the hurricane’s projected path and coordinating area harbor safety committees to prepare ports and minimize potential damage. Following the storm, the Coast Guard will assist with post-hurricane response and recovery operations to aid navigation assessment and repair, marine pollution response, search and rescue operations, and support to other agencies and humanitarian aid.

  • Aircraft from Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement will help transport FEMA officials to and from sites and will fly over the storm's path following landfall to collect high-resolution images for damage assessment. The remotely sensed data will allow FEMA to better target areas needing immediate disaster damage assessment.

  • The Department's Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection unit is assessing the vulnerabilities and potential impact to critical infrastructure located in the storm's projected path.  Based upon these assessments, Homeland Security will be prepared to work with private sector partners and state and local government officials during the recovery phase.

  • Homeland Security is working with the American Red Cross and other volunteer agencies to ensure sheltering and critical needs are met immediately.

  • Citizen Corps Councils and national Citizen Corps affiliate organizations mobilized more than 2,000 volunteers and representatives from 45 states to provide disaster support in Florida communities affected by Hurricanes Charley and Frances. In addition, Citizen Corps Councils and volunteer members already established within Florida are supporting state coordinated disaster relief efforts and preparing for response to Hurricane Ivan.  Citizen Corps will also be recruiting an additional 500 people nationwide to support disaster recovery efforts following Hurricane Ivan.

  • FEMA is working to provide multiple trailers full of generators at the request of Gulf Coast and inland states that will be used to provide power to critical facilities affected by the hurricane.

  • All the National Processing Service Centers (NPSCs) are fully staffed and ready to register and process disaster assistance applications immediately, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Homeland Security encourages citizens living in the areas of projected impact to heed all warnings and follow instructions of local authorities, especially those concerning evacuation warnings.  Residents should also take precautions immediately by reviewing emergency communications plans, stocking water and non-perishable food to last` for a minimum of 72 hours, storing additional ice in the freezer, and checking batteries in a battery-powered radio so that instructions provided by local emergency management officials may be heard and followed. Additional information about emergency preparedness can be found at Ready.gov or FEMA.gov.

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This page was last reviewed/modified on 09/16/04 00:00:00.