FEMA's Thomasville Operations Unit Activated To Monitor Winter Storms
Release Date: January 27, 2000
Release Number: HQ-00-Thomas
» 2000 Region IV News Releases
ATLANTA, Ga. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has activated its Federal Regional Center Emergency Response Operations Cell (ERC) in Thomasville to monitor events of the Blizzard of 2000 for any disaster needs that might arise as a result of the severe winter storms plaguing the southeastern part of the country.
"If we are asked to respond to any emergency, we'll have a good idea of what will be needed because we're monitoring all of the storms right now," FEMA Region 4 Director John B. Copenhaver said. The unit assesses the likelihood of disaster needs-from food to generators, enabling FEMA's disaster response to be triggered swiftly if needed.
Weather experts predict that by this weekend, at least seven of the eight states that comprise FEMA's Region 4 will have seen from fair to heavy amounts of snow or ice. Only Florida is likely to escape the full wrath of the winter storm sweeping in from the west. Other states in the region are Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
This week, North Carolina was hardest hit with more than 25 inches of snow that will compound the already saturated areas of the state still recovering from Hurricane Floyd.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 18-Nov-2003 17:03:26