By the Numbers 005
FEMA Teams Blanket Disaster Counties
Release Date: November 11, 2008
Release Number: 1791-244
» More Information on Texas Hurricane Ike
AUSTIN, Texas -- Thousands of Texans who suffered damage or loss as a result of Hurricane Ike have turned to their local religious communities for comfort, support and assistance - and for information on how to start recovering from the disaster. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is pleased to have been invited to work in partnership with these communities to assist Texans in need.
By visiting houses of worship and faith-based organizations, FEMA Community Relations specialists have been able to meet with thousands of affected residents and distribute dozens of different fliers on the many ways FEMA can help. Additionally, by relying on the religious groups' established networks, FEMA has been able to greatly multiply its efforts to reach every person affected by this disaster.
Some quick facts on the FEMA outreach effort:
- FEMA Community Relations specialists have made more than 1,360 visits to houses of worship and faith-based organizations in the 59 days since the disaster occurred.
- Between 170 and 200 Community Relations specialists are in the disaster areas on any given day.
- FEMA has visited an average of 23 religious communities each day since the disaster.
- FEMA specialists in the field have blanketed the 34 counties designated for Individual Assistance under the federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Ike.
- At least 39 different fliers and brochures have been distributed throughout the disaster area, including many more about the opening and closing of Disaster Recovery Centers.
- FEMA bilingual and multilingual specialists in the field speak a total of 14 or more languages and dialects: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Cambodian, Laotian, Hindu, Punjab, Thai, French, Creole, American Sign Language and some African dialects.
More disaster information is available online at www.fema.gov or www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.
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.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 12-Nov-2008 08:45:59