Steady Stream Of Emergency Supplies And Services Continues
Release Date: September 12, 2004
Release Number: 1539-096
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Frances
ORLANDO, Fla. -- In partnership with the State of Florida, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to transport much-needed emergency supplies and services to more than 90 distribution sites throughout Florida for the victims of Hurricanes Charley and Frances.
These supplies, including water, ice and meals, are being delivered from FEMA’s emergency warehouse in Atlanta, Ga. to three staging areas in Florida, located in Jacksonville, Lakeland and Homestead. From there, state and local officials determine locations for distribution sites in the affected areas. To find out the most convenient location for such supplies, contact your county emergency operations center.
State Coordinating Officer Craig Fugate said, “It’s important for victims to know that we are working around the clock to make sure their needs are met.”
“We continue to oversee a massive logistical support system to ensure that supplies and services reach victims of both Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Charley,” added William Carwile, FEMA’s coordinating officer.
So far, 1.8 million gallons of water and 13.1 million pounds of ice have been shipped for distribution to victims of Hurricanes Charley and Hurricane Frances, and more than 200 generators have been installed for use by public utilities and institutions, including water treatment plants and hospitals.
Three FEMA Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) are activated and assisting local communities with special medical needs. The 35-member teams are helping support hospitals and special needs shelters with medical care. More than 25 DMATs nationwide have been placed on alert to support future medical requests from the state.
For victims with damaged roofs, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to provide tarp covering and installation services. To date, more than 86,000 tarps have been delivered. For more information on getting tarp roof repairs, call 1-888-Roofblu.
The State Emergency Response Team (SERT) is a collaboration of Florida’s emergency management agencies led by the state coordinating officer. SERT’s mission is to ensure that Florida is prepared to respond to emergencies, recover from them, and mitigate their impact. Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org for the latest information on the hurricane relief effort.
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: Monday, 13-Sep-2004 11:01:35