Help Flows To Areas Hardest Hit By Hurricane Charley
Release Date: August 14, 2004
Release Number: HQ-04-117
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to mobilize federal resources in response to communities impacted by Hurricane Charley.
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and FEMA Director Michael Brown toured Charlotte, DeSoto and Hardee counties today, those hardest hit by the storm.
"The damage and personal loss is stunning, and FEMA is working around the clock to assist those residents who have suffered from Hurricane Charley," said Brown. "The destruction is daunting, but FEMA has dealt with disasters on this scale before. Recovery is long and difficult, but FEMA will be there to help every step along the way."
President Bush declared a federal disaster in Florida on Friday as Charley made landfall, and federal disaster assistance will be made available to individuals and businesses in Charlotte, Lee, Manatee and Sarasota counties. All Florida counties will be eligible for federal disaster assistance to help restore public property and facilities. In addition, Florida has requested catastrophic housing assistance for 10,000 households.
To date, 228 shelters have been opened and are serving about 50,000 people. There are also 55 special needs shelters opened. Six hospitals have been damaged or destroyed. More than one million people are without power. Eighty percent of the buildings in Charlotte County have been damaged. All mobile homes have been destroyed. Communications have been spotty.
FEMA is encouraging migrant workers and undocumented individuals in the region not to hesitate to come forward for ice, food, water, housing and medical assistance.
In addition to holding regular briefings with the National Hurricane Center and emergency management officials in Florida and other affected states, FEMA reported the following current activities, as of 1 p.m. today, as part of the ongoing federal response:
- Six Urban Search and Rescue teams have been deployed and should begin arriving shortly. The teams are from Florida (two teams), Maryland, Colorado, Tennessee and California.
- Eight Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) are deployed to support medical facilities and hospitals not fully operational. Two teams have arrived in Port Charlotte and one at Punta Gorda, and all are hard at work.
- Six additional DMAT teams are on alert, assembling teams and loading equipment in case they are needed. The DMAT teams comprise doctors, nurses and medical technicians trained to handle trauma, pediatrics, surgery and mental health problems. DMATS bring truckloads of medical equipment and supplies with them.
- FEMA's Mobile Emergency Response Services communications units are available to provide telephone, radio and video links in support of response and recovery efforts.
- Twenty semi-trailers containing cots and blankets, emergency meals, portable toilets, personal wash kits, sleeping bags, 6-8 person tents, plastic sheeting and roofing, bottled water and mid-range generators have been deployed to a central hub in Lakeland, Fl. FEMA also has deployed large sea containers with building materials for immediate home repairs. In addition, 40 semi-trailers were airlifted today from Dobbins Air Force Base in Georgia and expected to arrive in Lakeland this evening.
- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, at FEMA's request, is coordinating the deployment of ten truckloads of water and seven truckloads of ice to the Tampa area and has deployed sandbag teams and portable flood control levees to central and northern Florida.
- FEMA also is working with Florida's Office of Emergency Management to identify utility companies outside the affected area to provide mutual aid to Florida power companies in their efforts to restore power.
Aircraft from Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement flew over the storm's path early today to collect images for damage assessment. The remotely sensed data allowed FEMA to better target areas needing immediate disaster assistance.
Beyond Florida, FEMA is coordinating with Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and states northward that will be affected by Charley's heavy rainfall. Because of already saturated ground in many areas and a wide swath of the East Coast that may receive seven inches of rain from Charley, large-scale flooding is possible.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Saturday, 14-Aug-2004 18:04:27