Recovery Activities Shift Into High Gear For Victims Of Hurricane Charley
Release Date: August 15, 2004
Release Number: HQ-04-121
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is on the ground in areas in Florida most heavily damaged by Hurricane Charley and recovery activities are well underway. Supplies are flowing into the area as quickly as the difficult transportation situation allows.
"We are working around the clock to make sure we will respond appropriately, effectively and efficiently," said FEMA Director Michael D. Brown, who toured the area Sunday morning, Aug. 15, with President Bush. "We will work our way across the state to reach every individual that needs help and work to get immediate relief to them," Brown said.
President Bush added more 21 counties to the disaster declaration on Saturday, bringing to 25 the number of counties whose residents and business owners will be eligible for federal assistance. As of 3 p.m. Saturday, FEMA had received 1582 applications for assistance.
A priority is moving supplies and equipment into the hardest hit areas, especially water, ice and meals. FEMA has delivered seven truckloads of ice and seven of water to the state, and more is on the way from Georgia. Blocked roads and bridges are slowing down delivery to storm victims, although many supplies are moving, including cots, food, blankets, tents, baby food and building supplies.
Other FEMA activities underway are:
- A FEMA Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT), from St. Petersburg, FL is already at work at St. Joseph's Hospital in Port Charlotte in tents and in a portion of the emergency room of the hospital. The Miami DMAT is at the Charlotte Regional Hospital in Punta Gorda, operating entirely out of tents. DMATs from Pensacola and Orlando are in transit to the Lakeland Regional Airport staging area with personnel and equipment. The team from Jacksonville will be proceeding to the DeSoto County Emergency Operations Center in Arcadia and a team from Mobile, AL is heading to Ocala.
- The two Urban Search and Rescue teams (from Miami and from Dade County) that have been working in Punta Gorda, the area with the heaviest damage, are expected to finish their work today. A team from Tennessee is on its way, but others that were initially going to come (from California, Colorado and Maryland) have been demobilized.
- FEMA is working with the state of Florida and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Planning Resource Team to survey the existing stock of available housing resources in response to the state's request for 10,000 housing units. Pre-placement interviews of those needing housing are underway. Two hundred FEMA contract housing inspectors are on location to assess damage, a number that will increase to 450 in the next several days.
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: Sunday, 15-Aug-2004 16:34:22