Volunteers Prove Invaluable to Floridians Recovery 

Release Date: February 17, 2007
Release Number: 1679-015

» More Information on Florida Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
» More Information on Florida Severe Storms and Tornadoes

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Volunteers have made enormous contributions to disaster response and recovery efforts after recent Florida tornadoes sliced through four counties. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Florida 's State Emergency Response Team (SERT) urge Floridians to continue responding to the affected areas.

"We are here to assist the state... This is not something that one entity can do alone," FEMA Director David Paulison said. "If we work together, we can get through this disaster, that's what the new FEMA is all about."

Close cooperation among federal and state disaster specialists, individuals and nonprofit organizations is critical to successful disaster relief and recovery efforts. FEMA works closely with many of these wide-ranging citizen efforts by identifying relevant federal assistance programs, coordinating volunteer organizations, seeking special needs populations, and managing donations.

"This has to be a partnership, because ultimately the communities are entitled to take responsibility and empower themselves." said Paulison.

The hard work of volunteers goes hand in hand with FEMA's and SERT's mission to help the affected victims on the road to recovery. At a recent Volunteer Recognition Event at Lady Lake Mobile Home Park, Governor Charlie Crist and other elected officials thanked the volunteers for serving our impacted communities, and encouraged people to continue their support of the disaster relief organizations that have been actively assisting those communities.

Crist expanded the Florida Disaster Recovery Fund, formerly known as the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund founded in 2004. The fund, managed by the Volunteer Florida Foundation, works with non-profit organizations in affected communities.

"Regardless of whether tragedy strikes in the form of a hurricane, tornado or other disaster, it is crucial for neighbors to help neighbors," said Crist. "Just as they have in the past, Floridian's will help those in need."

Highlights - Volunteer Activities

The following are highlights of how some volunteers jumped at the chance to help their fellow Floridians in response to the devastation of neighboring communities:

Crist applauded government leaders and neighbors for working swiftly together.

"It is infectious to see the kind of support that has come to Central Florida, providing meals, helping with cleanup, doing all kinds of things to make sure that this area gets back to normalcy as quickly as possible," Crist said during a news conference in Lady Lake .

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA works closely with state and local emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other first responders. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, economic status or retaliation. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, you should call FEMA toll-free at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or contact your State Office of Equal rights. If suspicious of any abuse of FEMA programs, please contact the fraud hotline at 1-800-323-8603.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 20-Feb-2007 08:17:48