After Gustav: Federal Resources Focus On Health & Safety
Residents Need To Wait For The "All Clear"
Release Date: September 2, 2008
Release Number: HQ-08-180
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Though Gustav has been downgraded to a Tropical Storm, it continues to impact communities as it moves inland. The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is working with numerous federal agencies and voluntary organizations to support state and local authorities as they all focus on life-saving and safety-related activities. Federal resources supporting search & rescue and recovery efforts are moving into communities as the storm passes to supplement resources already on the ground in the most impacted areas.
Federal officials understand people will be anxious to return home following the storm, but are asking everyone to be patient and to wait for the "all clear" from state and local officials. Federal activities are aimed at minimizing losses and helping those affected get back on their feet. Recovery will take time, but federal resources will support the rebuilding effort.
Federal, state and local governments are working to ensure the safe return of all federally-evacuated individuals. State and local governments have begun assessing affected areas to determine if critical infrastructure is in place to support re-entry. Localities will ensure power and utilities are working, road obstructions are limited, and emergency services are restored. Once state and local officials are assured that these areas are safe and habitable, they will begin authorizing re-entry in an organized fashion. Residents evacuated by the federal government will be returned to their areas by the same modes of transportation in which they were evacuated (bus, rail, or plane).
An interagency team of federal, state and local officials also continue to monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Hanna and to review preparations and plans to ensure Southeastern communities are as prepared as Gulf Coast communities were last week.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- FEMA's emergency teams and resources are deployed and configured for a coordinated response in support of state and local efforts. FEMA pre-staged life-saving and life-sustaining commodities such as water, meals, and tarps in various strategic locations to be made available to residents of affected areas. Additional commodities are now being moved into the Gulf Coast region as the storm passes.
- FEMA has activated the National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System and the National Emergency Child Locator Center to help family members, who may have become separated as a result of the storm, find one another. Individuals and families may register on the internet at www.FEMA.gov or call toll: 1-800-588-9822.
- FEMA has partnered with the Aidmatrix Foundation to launch a web-based portal that allows companies or individuals to offer their support online to leading organizations in humanitarian relief. This portal is designed to make it easier to offer financial support, product donations, or to donate your skills and time to nonprofit organizations active in disaster relief. To make a financial or other type of contribution to the voluntary organization of your choice, visit http://www.aidmatrixnetwork.org.
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
- USCG’s top priority remains search and rescue operations and the protection and safety of life at sea, both for mariners and residents of the Gulf coast, as well as for Coast Guard members. To meet potential needs, USCG has put additional ships, fixed and rotary wing aircraft, medical teams, disaster assistance response teams and other personnel on call.
- USCG Maritime Environmental Response assessment teams are currently surveying, identifying and documenting any potential discharges/releases in the ports of Mobile, Pascagoula and Gulfport. The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port and all Sector NOLA critical infrastructures were surveyed by air and no significant concerns were reported.
- USCG is also conducting port assessment operations. USCG forces have been deployed to conduct response, recovery and clean up operations. USCG’s mission is to open the ports as soon as possible with minimum effect on commerce.
- USCG is working with local, state and federal agencies to plan for coordinated severe weather response operations, including search and rescue support, waterway and facility assessments, restoration of aids to navigation, responding to hazardous materials spills, transport of victims and providing airborne logistics support.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- CBP launched a convoy of 33 officers and agents this morning from Houston to support search and rescue efforts based out of Louisiana State University in New Orleans, La.
- CBP launched its Predator B unmanned aircraft to conduct a post-assessment of the New Orleans levees and launched its P-3 Orion (a High Endurance Tracker fixed-wing aircraft) to conduct a needs assessment by providing live streaming video to federal, state and local officials.
- CBP is posting daily reports to the trade community about the status of seaports on www.CBP.gov.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
- TSA deployed more than 530 individuals from nearly 40 airports across the country to assist with Hurricane Gustav evacuations. The contingent included 332 Transportation Security Officers in addition to Federal Air Marshals and management personnel. The deployment allowed New Orleans-based TSA staff to focus on preparing their families and homes for the storm.
- More than 32,000 people were screened and then evacuated by air over a 48-hour period with the average wait time less than 5 minutes for screening.
- TSA stands ready with a plan in place to reconstitute the New Orleans workforce once the airport reopens, with both local officers and members of the forward team standing by for deployment.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- USDA provided more than 3,500 pounds of USDA commodities including cheese, canned fruits and vegetables, and meats to The Salvation Army for meals for evacuees in two shelters.
- USDA has identified 30 meat and one poultry-processing establishment in the affected area and currently is assessing the impact of the storm on those establishments.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- HHS is focused on personal and patient safety and life sustainment and assisting states with their response and recovery efforts.
- HHS is working with state agencies and nonprofit organizations to determine the conditions of hospitals and nursing homes in the affected areas. HHS will work with the states and federal partners to ensure hospitals and long-term care facilities have appropriate backup generators, generator fuel, supplies, equipment, as well as staffing needs to maintain operations.
- HHS continues to staff Federal Medical Stations (FMS) in Texas and Louisiana. In Louisiana, there is a 1115-bed capacity FMS with 615 beds available to assist healthcare facilities with basic care. HHS disaster medical assistance teams and public health service teams are also staffing 3 FMS in Texas. HHS is staffing two shelters in Texas to provide medical care for evacuees with special needs.
Department of Defense (DOD)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
- USACE will conduct aerial and on-site visual inspections of the levees and other structures around New Orleans to evaluate the system’s condition.
U.S. National Guard Bureau (NGB)
- NGB is committed to saving lives. National Guard members are busy clearing roads to allow emergency responders access to affected areas
- With more than 13,500 National Guard members actively supporting recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast region, NGB is poised to send nearly 40,000 additional troops to support civilian authorities and maintain order.
- 1,900 Louisiana National Guard Security Forces are protecting property and providing security patrols in New Orleans in support of local law enforcement.
U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM)
- USNORTHCOM designated two military installations (Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and Ft. Polk, La.) as base support installations. The installations will serve as locations where military units conduct logistical operations in support of the federal response to Hurricane Gustav.
- USNORTHCOM's Air Forces Northern has established a search and rescue unit in response to Hurricane Gustav. The unit is called the 331st Search and Rescue Air Expeditionary Group and is responsible for Hurricane Gustav search and rescue operations out of Jackson, Miss., Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base, Texas, and Pensacola, Fla.
- An additional five Department of Defense utility helicopters were deployed to Del Valle, Texas, to support search and rescue operations.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- EPA will start reconnaissance of facilities containing oil and hazardous materials and will perform field assessments today and tomorrow.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- NOAA post-landfall functions such as navigation response teams, hazardous materials incident scientific support are staged and prepared for deployment. A NOAA aircraft is flying post-damage assessment of major waterways.
Department of Justice (DOJ)
- Federal law enforcement agencies are operating command posts and have positioned appropriate response teams. Currently 400 interagency personnel are on alert and another 2,300 remain on standby. These resources consist of uniformed officers with marked vehicles, criminal investigators, and tactical teams from the following organizations: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, Customs and Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Drug Enforcement Agency, Office of Personnel Management’s Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Forest Service, Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General, and U.S. Mint Police.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF)
- ATF is managing the 2,700 federal law enforcement officers identified to respond to Hurricane Gustav as necessary.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- FBI is educating individuals to beware of e-mails claiming to seek donations for Hurricane Gustav relief efforts. FBI will be checking for fraudulent web sites and e-mails and will thoroughly investigate all complaints
- FBI assets, including regional SWAT teams, investigators, analysts, evidence response teams, hazardous material teams and others are available if requested.
U.S. Postal Service (USPS)
- USPS is monitoring the impact of Hurricane Gustav. Postal Service operations are expected to return to normal on September 2, except in the most severely affected areas. All Alabama and Mississippi Post Offices and facilities are open for business.
- Collection and delivery of mail will be normal in all areas except for those that may be restricted by public safety officials or inaccessible due to high water.
- USPS has procedures in place to help customers reestablish connection with their mail as soon as weather conditions allows. USPS is working closely with the Social Security Administration and other agencies to continue disbursing checks that have not been received. Customers are encouraged to go to the Social Security web site, www.SSA.gov and click on the Hurricane Gustav link for more information.
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
- DOT reports that all interstates have now been reopened.
- DOT’s initial damage assessments began this morning and indicate that power outages and debris on roads will be the greatest challenges. Damage assessments being conducted this afternoon will give a better idea on the nature of the flooding in the region.
- DOT anticipates that closed airports in the affected areas will be commercially operational by tomorrow and that roads along the coast will begin to reopen as soon as they are inspected and deemed safe for travel. Additionally, fuel trucks will be deployed along the return routes to re-supply gas stations; airports have not reported any fueling issues.
Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA)
- VA continues to provide quality health care and benefits to veterans affected by Hurricane Gustav’s passage through the Gulf Coast region Monday. VA is coordinating with other federal and local agencies on damage assessment activities to estimate a return to normal operations.
- Veterans who receive monthly compensation for disabilities, education, pension or other benefits will continue to receive regularly scheduled payments. VA is identifying those veterans in the affected areas who receive their checks by mail and has plans to issue convenience checks if their displacement will be for an extended period of time.
U.S. Department of Treasury
- Treasury expedited check and direct deposit payments in the affected areas for certain federal benefits that are scheduled for regular delivery in the first week of the month.
- Treasury, through the Federal Reserve, has requested that financial institutions in the Gulf Coast states honor the paper checks as well as consider making Direct Deposit payments available.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
- SBA's Disaster Field Operations Center West sent 68 employees to Louisiana and Texas, and will deploy an addition 45 disaster staff as needed. SBA also plans to do local hiring.
- SBA is preparing to staff FEMA centers that may be established at evacuation sites to support the initial recovery process by answering questions about disaster loan assistance.
- SBA will participate in aerial preliminary damage assessments of Louisiana.
U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
- • OPM sent Public Service Announcements about Federal employees and annuitants to all media outlets in affected areas and in areas where shelters are being used for Hurricane Gustav. It announces a toll-free phone number 1-800-307-8298 available for those employees and/or annuitants about payment checks, Federal Employees Health Benefits, Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Benefits and other questions related to returning to work.
- OPM has been in touch with New Orleans, Houston, South Florida and Atlanta Federal Executive Boards to determine the status of Government in affected areas as well as the needs of affected Federal employees.
U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)
- DOI has deployed 30 Search & Rescue boat units from the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
- DOI’s Minerals Management Service has activated its "Continuity of Operations Plan" team to monitor activities of Gulf of Mexico offshore oil and gas operators and is working with those operators to restore oil and natural gas production as quickly as possible while preventing oil spills that can threaten the environment.
U.S. Geological Survey
- USGS is providing critical data to the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Weather Service, emergency managers, state and local agencies, and the public.
American Red Cross (ARC)
- The first priority of the American Red Cross during this disaster is to provide people with food, shelter, comfort and emotional support including:
- 342 Shelter and Evacuation Centers housing 57,879 evacuees.
- 107,500 meals and 142,769 snacks served.
- 6,379 comfort kits distributed.
- 241 Emergency Response Vehicles and 6,655 Red Cross workers supporting these efforts.The Red Cross encourages evacuees to register as "Safe and Well" at www.RedCross.org. Concerned family and friends can search the list of those who have registered themselves as "safe and well."
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- HUD’s National Housing Locator (NHL) is ready to assist the Red Cross and FEMA with helping residents find long-term, temporary housing should that become necessary. This will help state and public housing authorities and other first responders in rapidly identifying rental housing during a disaster. Updated daily, the NHL combines federal housing resources with nine commercial data providers (apartment locators and housing web sites). It will also include subsidized vacancy units. Currently, 350,000 units are available nationwide, including units 64,426 along the Gulf Coast.
- HUD is focused on foreclosure prevention and will establish a 90-day foreclosure moratorium on properties in Presidentially-declared disaster areas. Under the moratorium, lenders may not initiate new foreclosure actions nor continue the processing of foreclosures already underway. The purpose of a moratorium is to give affected families an opportunity to assess their situations and take appropriate actions to get their lives back on track. HUD recognizes that families may need time to deal with damage to their homes, temporary breaks in employment, or other types of disruptions and wants to make sure that they are supported in making arrangements and taking care of their homes and finances.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- HUD’s National Housing Locator (NHL) is ready to assist the Red Cross and FEMA with helping residents find long-term, temporary housing should that become necessary. This will help state and public housing authorities and other first responders in rapidly identifying rental housing during a disaster. Updated daily, the NHL combines federal housing resources with nine commercial data providers (apartment locators and housing web sites). It will also include subsidized vacancy units. Currently, 350,000 units are available nationwide, including units 64,426 along the Gulf Coast.
- HUD is focused on foreclosure prevention and will establish a 90-day foreclosure moratorium on properties in Presidentially-declared disaster areas. Under the moratorium, lenders may not initiate new foreclosure actions nor continue the processing of foreclosures already underway. The purpose of a moratorium is to give affected families an opportunity to assess their situations and take appropriate actions to get their lives back on track. HUD recognizes that families may need time to deal with damage to their homes, temporary breaks in employment, or other types of disruptions and wants to make sure that they are supported in making arrangements and taking care of their homes and finances.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
- FDIC has established a dedicated page on its Web site for bankers and bank customers in areas affected by Gustav: www.fdic.gov/gustav
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: Wednesday, 03-Sep-2008 09:22:30