FEMA Activates Regional Operations Center To Monitor Tropical Storm Erika
Release Date: August 15, 2003
Release Number: R6-03-78
Denton, TX -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Region 6 headquarters activated its operations center this morning to monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Erika, currently tracking westward in the Gulf of Mexico toward Brownsville, Texas.
The center serves as the main coordination point between all federal agencies with disaster responsibilities and state and local governments affected by a disaster. It will remain open until the threat of the storm has passed.
"FEMA is well prepared to support the state of Texas and communities threatened by Tropical Storm Erika," said Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. "We urge residents in the storm area to take precautions and heed the warnings of local officials."
Essential federal agency staff has been activated and others are on standby. FEMA liaison officers are on duty in the State of Texas emergency operations centers, the management cell of the interagency response team will arrive in Austin today, and a rapid needs assessment team is moving to South Texas.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's mission within DHS is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and to effectively manage the federal response and recovery efforts for any national incident. To help meet this mission, FEMA oversees the National Flood Insurance Program, the U.S. Fire Administration and Citizen Corps.
Last Modified: Friday, 15-Aug-2003 15:08:03