Get Serious, Be Prepared: Federal Focus On Hanna
Ike and Josephine On The Horizon
Release Date: September 4, 2008
Release Number: HQ-08-185
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is coordinating plans and preparatory activities of numerous federal agencies in close communication with state, tribal and local officials as Tropical Storm Hanna threatens to impact along most of the Atlantic Coast.
Individual and community preparedness are the responsibility of everyone. As residents and businesses along the Southeastern Atlantic coast continue to monitor the path of Tropical Storm Hanna, it is extremely important to listen to guidance and direction from their state and local authorities. Residents should closely follow news and weather reports and be aware of evacuation and sheltering orders in their communities. Individuals, families and businesses should prepare an emergency supply kits and implement family emergency plans. Emergency preparedness information is available online at www.ready.gov.
FEMA and its federal partners are in close communications with states along Hanna's potential path in order to review plans, pre-station assets and personnel, and respond to any request for assistance. FEMA supports states using "Gap Analysis" - a tool that determines in advance of storms where there are "gaps," or state needs, that federal assistance can fill. In addition, federal and state agencies have developed pre-scripted mission assignments and other contingency plans to help improve response and recovery efforts.
Snapshot of Federal Activities:
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- FEMA has identified and designated specific staff and assets to insure their availability for any preparations or response activities.
- FEMA is pre-deploying personnel, commodities and other assets not essential for the response in the Gulf Coast to strategic locations along the East Coast.
- FEMA is leading an interagency team to coordinate preparations and planning activities with federal, state and local governments and to ensure that communities on the Atlantic Coast are as prepared for Hanna as the Gulf Coast was for Gustav.
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
- USCG is working with its operational commanders from Florida to Virginia to prepare for Hanna - while also keeping a weather eye toward Ike and Josephine - and is preparing, planning and pre-positioning some of the very same crews used for Gustav.
Transportations Security Administration (TSA)
- TSA is prepared to support the East Coast airports in the event evacuations are needed.
- More than 220 Transportation Security Officers from across the country are on alert to deploy.
- Airports in the possible affected area have adequate emergency supplies: portable generators, water, food, and SAT phones, etc.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- 30 CBP Law Enforcement Personnel have pre-deployed to Atlanta. The deployment facility in Columbia, SC has been established and already has some vehicles, equipment and supplies in place.
- Air and Marine flew an Unmanned Aircraft to the East Coast to perform pre-storm assessments along the Florida, Georgia and South Carolina coasts.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- As landfall becomes imminent, USCIS will contact community organizations and the media to inform them that USCIS will automatically reschedule all appointments in offices that close. USCIS is advising customers to take all necessary actions to protect their documents and inform them that if they are evacuated, or a USCIS office is closed, they can temporarily make an appointment in another USCIS office.
National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD)
The National Communications System (NCS)
- NCS coordinates national security and emergency preparedness communications response and recovery efforts for federal, state and local leaders, emergency responders and leaders of critical infrastructure during emergencies.
- The Shared Resources High Frequency Radio Network is on standby. NCS anticipates activating network 12 hours prior to landfall.
- NCS is consulting with industry representative and the FCC for its decision to activate the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS).
Infrastructure Protection (IP)
- IP has deployed a Protective Security Advisor to Atlanta to augment support for monitoring the progress of Tropical Storm Hanna, and to begin assessing potential critical infrastructure impacts and coordinating any necessary response efforts.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- The National Hurricane Center is monitoring Tropical Storms Hanna, Ike and Josephine, issuing watches and warnings as needed.
- NOAA aircraft are flying missions into Tropical Storm Hanna providing data on the storm for research and operational forecasts. NOAA's geostationary and polar orbiting satellites are also providing valuable data to hurricane forecasters.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
- SBA is preparing for hurricane Hanna with disaster reservists ready to staff up the customer service center and the processing and disbursement centers.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- EPA is working with the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida in anticipation of Hanna making landfall later this week.
U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
U.S. National Guard Bureau (NGB)
- NGB in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina are actively coordinating to deploy up to nearly 39,000 Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen should Tropical Storm Hanna escalate.
- NGB is prepositioning several multi-function force packages of trained people and equipment that will be used for transportation, distribution of supplies, ground evacuation, swift water rescue and security of impacted areas
- Pending a voluntary evacuation order by the governors, NGB is trained and equipped to assist their neighbors to evacuate to a safer location.
- NGB provides essential lifesaving services, to include search and rescue, shelter, food, water, transport, medical support and recovery equipment.
U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM)
- USNORTHCOM is closely monitoring the progress of Tropical Storm Hanna and Hurricane Ike and continues to anticipate what support federal or state partners may request in advance of landfall.
- USNORTHCOM provides unique DOD capabilities for disaster response operations in support of FEMA, working closely with federal, state, local and National Guard Bureau officials
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
- Looking to the future, USACE is preparing for Hanna, Ike and Josephine, as well as on other tropical disturbances in the Atlantic.
- USACE is re-positioning teams and assets out of Mississippi and Alabama to prepare for Hanna.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
- The Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina State and County Emergency Boards, chaired by the USDA Farm Service Agency, are on stand-by to assist with the response and quickly assess agricultural needs.
- USDA is assessing animal shelters to ensure that conditions are suitable for animal welfare and monitoring local animal control officials' animal husbandry practices at evacuation locations, pickup points, and shelter locations.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- HHS has provided liaison officers to North Carolina and is preparing to deploy additional officers in the region as needed or requested.
- HHS is leaning forward to determine what Florida might request in the event of a large storm in south Florida. HHS intends to preposition assets in North Florida (inland). HHS continues to maintain an Incidence Response Coordination Team in Tallahassee.
- DHS has activated all U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corp Officers for the purpose of hurricane support.
U.S. Department of State (State)
- State has issue a travel warning for The Bahamas.
- State has established a Hurricane Monitoring Group to coordinate U.S. support for Caribbean nations struck by the current string of storms in the Atlantic.
National Aeronautical and Space Administration
- Awaiting the landfall of Tropical Storm Hanna, NASA's Kennedy Space Center has still not set a date for the roll out the Space Shuttle Atlantis to its launch pad.
The American Red Cross (ARC)
- The Red Cross is preparing to help residents in the path of Hanna. Human and material resources are positioned to provide food, shelter and emotional support to those who may need assistance.
- Information on Red Cross activities and guidance in preparation for Hanna can be found at http://redcross.org/hurricanehanna.
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, 04-Sep-2008 18:40:06