President Announces Emergency Declaration For Florida
Release Date: August 21, 2008
Release Number: HQ-08-167
» More Information on Florida Tropical Storm Fay
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The President today announced an emergency declaration for the state of Florida and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Tropical Storm Fay beginning on August 18, 2008, and continuing.
The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in all counties of the state.
Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.
FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison named Thomas P. Davies the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.
FEMA coordinates the federal response. Federal assets already deployed to Florida and available for immediate assistance if requested by the state include:
FEMA:
- FEMA National Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces, Mobile Emergency Response System Detachments, and the National Incident Management Assistance Team East.
- FEMA logistics commodities:
- 746,000 meals (35 trailers);
- 9,600 tarps;
- 616 rolls (20x100) of plastic sheeting.
- Fourteen Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers are standing by for deployment if needed.
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG):
- USCG Incident Management Team.
- 12 Rotary Aircraft and 5 Fixed Wing Aircraft.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE):
- USACE Planning and Prime Power Teams.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):
- 8 HHS Disaster Medical Assistance Teams.
- 5 caches of emergency medical supplies.
The U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Transportation Security Administration, and the National Infrastructure Coordination Center all report a heightened state of alert and are ready to provide additional support as needed.
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: Thursday, 21-Aug-2008 19:34:30