Federal Support to States Facing Continued Flooding
Floodwaters Continue to Rise in Some Areas - Recovery Begins Where Waters Receding
Release Date: June 19, 2008
Release Number: HQ-08-113
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and numerous federal agencies continue to work with tribal, state and local governments, private sector partners and affected residents as floods continue to devastate communities in the Midwest and begin to recede in others. President George W. Bush, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff, FEMA Administrator David Paulison and other senior federal officials visited flooded sites in Iowa today to view the damage first-hand.
Flooding continues across the region and FEMA's focus remains on disaster operations and life preserving activities. When floodwaters recede, the federal focus will shift to supporting the safe return of residents to their homes, the reestablishment of critical infrastructure, the removal of debris and hazardous materials, and a review of housing available to meet temporary housing needs.
Recent support provided and actions taken as of June 19, 2008:
- Joint Federal Activities: FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and the Defense Logistics Agency have worked together to provide:
- 3,582,000 liters of water.
- In addition to federal providers, FEMA is reaching out directly to the private sector and Wal-Mart delivered 550,620 liters of water through their local distribution networks.
- 191,808 meals ready-to-eat (MRE's).
- 12.8 million sand-bags bags enough to reach from Washington, DC to San Francisco if laid side-by-side.
- 146 generators.
- 2,500 tarps.
- 4,032 rolls of plastic sheeting which would measure more than 50 miles long if laid end-to-end.
- 30 Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (MDRCs).
- 3,582,000 liters of water.
- Federal and State Joint Housing Task Forces:
- A National Housing Task Force has been established to support state needs and field operations. Participants include: the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the American Red Cross (ARC), USACE, the Corporation for National and Community Service, GSA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), DHS, and FEMA.
- In Iowa, a state-led Joint Housing Task Force was established yesterday, June 18 with FEMA's support.
- In Indiana, the Director of Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority is heading up a Joint Housing Task Force in coordination with FEMA, SBA, HUD, USDA and the U.S. Veterans Administration.
- In Wisconsin, a state-led Joint Housing Task Force is scheduled to meet on June 22. Wisconsin has a housing component as part of its existing long-term recovery unit. FEMA will work with the task force to identify housing assistance gaps.
- A National Housing Task Force has been established to support state needs and field operations. Participants include: the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the American Red Cross (ARC), USACE, the Corporation for National and Community Service, GSA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), DHS, and FEMA.
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Based on discussions with the affected states, FEMA is anticipating needs and is working to determine in advance, how to fill those needs if or when they arrive.
- FEMA is developing specific contingency plans for necessary support should one ore more of the key levees in the region be breached or overtopped.
- FEMA is pre-staging water, generators, sandbags and pumps in anticipation of downstream flooding.
- Where waters have already receded, FEMA disaster assistance staff are providing resources to individuals seeking financial assistance:
- 32,214 registrations for assistance have been received for Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin.
- The average answer wait time to reach a customer service agent is 11 seconds.
- More than $33.96 million in assistance has been provided to individuals, including $11 million provided in the past 24 hours.
- FEMA has deployed 651 housing inspectors to the region, including 300 to Iowa, 160 to Indiana and 197 to Wisconsin.
- 8,544 inspections have been completed; 26,354 inspections have been assigned.
- FEMA's Mitigation Directorate has expanded its hotline operations for those seeking to file claims under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
- NFIP has received more than 3,000+ claims to date most from Iowa residents.
- The Mitigation Directorate is contacting communities not participating in the NFIP to explain how to enroll, so that they can avoid certain limitations to disaster assistance.
- FEMA is working with the states to plan for the long-term recovery.
- In Iowa, FEMA met today with city planners and contractors to begin discussion on redevelopment plans.
- In Indiana, FEMA is working with state and local officials to gather information that can identify potentially significant Long Term Community Recovery issues.
- Based on discussions with the affected states, FEMA is anticipating needs and is working to determine in advance, how to fill those needs if or when they arrive.
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
- SBA stands ready to meet the long-term recovery needs of individuals and businesses in Iowa, Wisconsin and Indiana, and additional Midwest states if they are declared federal disaster areas in the aftermath of the severe storms and flooding.
- As of June 19, 2008 the SBA has approved 41 disaster loans in Iowa for $3,732,200.
- 40 of those were disaster loans made to homeowners and renters, and one small business was approved for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan for $5,000.
- SBA stands ready to meet the long-term recovery needs of individuals and businesses in Iowa, Wisconsin and Indiana, and additional Midwest states if they are declared federal disaster areas in the aftermath of the severe storms and flooding.
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
- USACE is a key component of the federal team delivering commodities needed in the region such as sandbags and water.
- USACE is monitoring the 32 overtopped levees in the region and supporting efforts to repair levees and protect existing levees from additional damage.
- Of particular note, technical experts and support personnel are on the ground in Quincy, Ill., East St. Louis, Ill. and St. Louis, Mo. to monitor and support those major levees along the Mississippi River.
- USACE is working to repair damage to dams and locks along the rivers that are essential for river navigation.
- Locks & Dams 13 and 14 are now repaired and reopened.
- U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
- The USCG is developing a schedule and preparing the resources needed to replace or repair navigation aids along the river that are damaged or destroyed by floodwaters and/or debris.
- The American Red Cross (ARC)
- ARC has 3,498 personnel on the ground in the region to support disaster victims and response and recovery workers.
- Last night, June 18, 2008, the ARC managed 25 shelters across the region that provided emergency housing for 553 evacuees.
- To date, ARC has provided 9,644 overnight stays.
- ARC is providing food and materials to those recovering from the floods.
- To date, ARC has served 250,253 snacks, provided 15,010 clean up kits and 8,984 comfort kits.
- ARC is also helping provide for the physical and metal well being of those impacted by the floods, facilitating 5,408 health service contacts and 7,551 mental health contacts.
- The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
- The Employee Benefits Security Administration will delay report filing deadlines for businesses in the states that are impacted by floods.
- DOL announced a $17,127,000 National Emergency Grant (NEG) to create approximately 600 temporary jobs for eligible dislocated workers in Iowa to assist in the cleanup and recovery resulting from damage caused by recent flooding and tornadoes.
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- EPA is coordinating with affected states in anticipation of hazardous materials and debris recovery. In particular, the EPA is inspecting the 47 sites within the flood zone that are on its National Priority List: the list of national priorities among the known releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants throughout the United States and its territories. EPA is also evaluating the possible impact to Superfund sites in the flood-affected states.
- In Wisconsin, EPA continues to oversee response to the Oshkosh train derailment and 1,200 gallon diesel spill.
- In Iowa, EPA is working with state and local partners to assess the scope of hazardous material recovery needs. In coordination with the state, floodwater samples will be collected today from several Iowa towns along five flood-impacted rivers, and lab analysis will be conducted from these samples. In Cedar Rapids, EPA is exploring options for hazmat collection sites as well as logistics for handling and delivering materials to these sites.
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
- The IRS will waive certain limitations for the low-income housing tax credit in Indiana and Iowa so that owners of facilities in these states can provide housing to victims of recent storms and flooding.
- The IRS will continue to monitor closely the housing situation in other states affected by the recent flooding and is prepared to act quickly as circumstances warrant.
- Because of the widespread devastation to housing caused by storms and flooding, the IRS will temporarily suspend certain limitations for qualified low-income housing projects located anywhere in the states of Indiana and Iowa. Today's action will expand the availability of housing for disaster victims and their families.
- Formal notices detailing this relief will be issued shortly.
- The U.S. National Guard
- The National Guard has nearly 5,680 personnel supporting evacuations, flood fighting efforts, and other support functions in the region.
- 3,575 Iowa National Guard members are providing various security and recovery missions related to record flooding.
- 1,184 Illinois National Guard members are conducting sandbagging and aerial support missions in multiple counties.
- 691 Missouri National Guard members are performing sandbagging, levee monitoring and evacuation missions to prepare for an impending flood.
- 230 Wisconsin National Guard members are providing transportation, communication, sandbagging and power generation support.
- The National Guard has nearly 5,680 personnel supporting evacuations, flood fighting efforts, and other support functions in the region.
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: Friday, 20-Jun-2008 08:42:10