FEMA, Federal Partners on Alert for Hurricane Ike Impact on Texas 

Release Date: September 10, 2008
Release Number: 3290-005

» More Information on Texas Hurricane Gustav

AUSTIN, Texas -- Working with the state of Texas, the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is coordinating the efforts of many federal partners as Hurricane Ike tracks towards the Gulf of Mexico.

As with Hurricane Gustav, federal resources are already in Texas to supplement local efforts. FEMA's federal partner agencies are currently maintaining multiple teams of key personnel as well as stockpiles of needed supplies and commodities so that a response in one area does not impact on the needs of another.

Already a powerful storm, Hurricane Ike is expected to gain strength in the Gulf. Current weather forecasts show a storm track that is headed toward Texas by the end of the week.

Preparation activities include:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

As with Hurricane Gustav, FEMA has pre-staged life-saving and life-sustaining commodities around Texas such as meals ready-to-eat, drinking water, cots, blankets and tarps in various strategic locations to be made available to residents of affected areas.

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
USCG has put ships, fixed and rotary wing aircraft, medical teams, disaster assistance response teams and other personnel on call. USCG is urging the maritime community and boating public to track Hurricane Ike's progress and take early action to protect themselves and their vessels.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD)
U.S. National Guard Bureau (NGB))
More than 13,500 National Guard members actively supporting recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast region, NGB is poised to send nearly 40,000 additional troops to support civilian authorities and maintain order.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
The Corps has over 40 specially trained response teams trained and equipped with field guides, mobile response equipment, and pre–positioned contracts. USACE can support debris removal, commodities procurement and delivery, temporary emergency power, temporary housing, temporary roofing, infrastructure assessment, and support to urban search and rescue missions.

U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM)
USNORTHCOM designated two military installations (Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and Ft. Polk, La.) as base support installations. In addition, five Department of Defense utility helicopters were deployed to Del Valle, Texas, near Austin to support search and rescue operations.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

HHS is working with Texas agencies and nonprofit organizations to determine the conditions of hospitals and nursing homes in recently affected areas. As with Hurricane Gustav, HHS is ensuring that hospitals and long-term care facilities have appropriate backup generators, generator fuel, supplies, equipment, as well as staffing needs to maintain operations.

HHS disaster medical assistance teams and public health service teams are staffing 3 Federal Medical Stations (FMS) in Texas and have free-standing, self-contained Disaster Medical Assistance Teams on alert. During Gustav preparations eight DMATs and three FMSs were activated in Texas.

The American Red Cross (ARC)
ARC is positioned to help shelter residents in the path of Hurricane Ike. ARC continues to mobilize material and human resources in preparation for Ike and is prepared to handle multiple relief efforts for those in need.

For more information, visit 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, 10-Sep-2008 11:51:32