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Discussions with Isaac Survivors: Reliving the Storm & Looking to Recovery

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Roland Phillips, a leader of the French and Indian community called Grand Bayou in Plaquemines Parish, LA, had ridden out five hurricanes, including Katrina. So he decided to stay put for Hurricane Isaac, which hit land on Aug. 29, 2012. “I’ll never stay through a storm again,” Phillips told me. “It was the worst I ever experienced. It stayed on top of us for two days and two nights; it just ate us up.”

volunteers cover a roof with blue tarp
CAPTION: LaPlace, La., Sep. 13, 2012 -- Volunteers from Samaritan’s Purse International Relief install blue tarp to keep rain from a home damaged by Hurricane Isaac.

Hurricane Isaac may not have had the most powerful winds the Gulf Coast has ever known, but it moved so slowly through such a wide swath of communities over many states, including the northeast, that its force, for some, was more frightening than Hurricane Katrina.

No matter: faith-based and other voluntary groups responded during the storm and will be there for months, and perhaps years helping survivors recover. Volunteers staffed emergency shelters, served thousands of meals, delivered fresh water, chain-sawed fallen trees, “mudded out” homes and church sanctuaries, installed blue plastic tarps on torn roofs, fielded phone calls and provided emotional and spiritual care. In the future, they will rebuild homes and houses of worship and provide case management services that connect survivors to government and other benefits.

volunteers survey damaged home
CAPTION: Plaquemines Parish, La., Sep. 13, 2012 -- Volunteers from the Mennonite Disaster Service survey the work in progress at a home damaged by Hurricane Isaac.

The Rev. Michael Giles, pastor of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Braithwaite, LA, knows about hurricanes. As president of Christian Ministers Missionary Baptist Association, he has been active in rebuilding homes destroyed by Katrina. With Hurricane Isaac, Rev. Giles moved from being a volunteer to being a survivor. His home and church were flooded by the storm. When I asked him about the faith-based volunteers he was working alongside to mud out his church, he said, “I’ve got one word to describe them: awesome.” He continued: “They never stop working. They work hard. They never complain.”

Eight-foot Water Line

Steven Bledsoe is the chair of the Committee for Plaquemines Rebuilding. This long-term recovery group started soon after Katrina. Like Rev. Giles, Bledsoe is not only a leader of volunteer and community groups helping the area recover from Katrina; he too is a survivor of Hurricane Isaac. “I had two feet of water in my home with Katrina. That’s why I got involved in long-term recovery.” He then showed me the eight-foot water line inside his home’s first floor left by flood waters from Hurricane Isaac. Faith-based volunteers from another group worked around us as we stood where his living room had been. They were tearing down molding sheetrock and shoveling muddy debris into wheelbarrows. “The volunteers?” he said. “I can’t say enough about them. They don’t say a lot about it, but I know their faith encourages them to volunteer.”

volunteer moves debris
CAPTION: Plaquemines Parish, La., Sep. 12, 2012 -- A volunteer from the Mennonite Disaster Service hauls debris from a home damaged by Hurricane Isaac.

A gas station and convenience store located on the east bank of Plaquemines Parish near the Belle Chase Ferry landing had become a gathering place for survivors and volunteers. Yet a third faith-based group had set up a mobile feeding station in the store’s parking lot, as the store was closed due to flooding. It was lunch time and people were lined up for meals to be served. Survivors I met included Braithwaite fire chief Urban Treuil (who also owned the gas station and store) and Gregory Meyer, an ice-truck delivery man. Both men and their families had long months of recovery ahead of them. Meyer’s home, which was raised on stilts to prevent its flooding, had been built in 1721. Six generations of his family had lived there. Now it was drying out from 10 feet of floodwaters. I asked him what he was going to do. “I’m coming home, man. My family and I are going to come home. But we’re feeling alone. Don’t forget us.”

I promised him that we wouldn’t, that his story would be told. And I am confident, with the amazing commitment of thousands of volunteers yet to come to the area, he and the other survivors of Hurricane Isaac throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, numerous other states, will see another and better day.

A subway to nowhere teaches first response training

Author:

Shannon Arledge

At FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness, there is now a new venue where first responders can receive invaluable, hands-on training: a subway. The subway features four full size cars complete with lighting, smoke, seating, video capability, and even realistic commercial signage that is common in subways.

subway train at center for domestic preparedness

CAPTION: The CDP created a rail system that uses four cars. One car features a tunnel collapse scene, while another is damaged by an improvised explosive device. The subway system requires a response by emergency personnel to triage and extricate survivors, and mitigate the scene from hazardous chemicals or biological materials.

During training, emergency responders will have the opportunity to enter one car breached by falling concrete and threatened by simulated electrical hazards, and given the task of properly triaging survivors and transporting them to the appropriate medical personnel. They will also be required to find the source of any contamination that may be present and mitigate that threat so law enforcement, rescue, and emergency medical services can assist survivors.

damaged subway car for training

CAPTION: A subway car displays results from a simulated tunnel collapse that will require the triage and extrication of survivors. The subway system gives training personnel the option to also include lighting malfunctions, smoke, and realistic sounds depicting the chaos expected in an actual event.

CAPTION: Smoke fills the room in a railcar during a simulated subway accident at the CDP. The CDP created a subway system, complete with full size railcars, lighting, seating, and even the commercial signage common on subways.

Here’s what Chuck Medley, CDP branch chief for training management, had to say:

We created the subway system based on the actual size of passenger transportation systems found in the United States. It provides us an opportunity to present hazards that responders may encounter when responding to a mass casualty incident associated with public transportation systems. In addition to the tunnel collapse and explosion, we can also simulate potential chemical and biological threats.

The CDP develops training based on potential threats, and the threat to our cities’ public transportation systems is real. This venue, while simulating a subway, also replicates the complexity of response to other public transportation modes including busses, trains, and even street cars. This training will increase the edge for emergency responders to successfully respond.

For first responders, practicing in simulated environments like those at the CDP can mean a faster, more efficient response to a real-world event. If you’re an emergency response provider, emergency manager, or healthcare professional, check out cdp.dhs.gov for training courses that can lead to on-the-ground results if an emergency should strike. If you’ve attended CDP training in the past, share your experience and leave a comment below.

National Advisory Council Welcomes New Members

Author:

Craig Fugate

Today, we are welcoming nine new members and reappointing one member to the FEMA National Advisory Council (NAC). Mandated by Congress in the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, the mission of the NAC is to ensure effective and ongoing coordination of federal preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation for natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. The NAC is comprised of state, tribal and local governments, private sector, and non-governmental partners who advise and provide me recommendations on a variety of aspects within emergency management.

In the past few years, I have worked with council members to further emergency management’s approach to support citizens and first responders, focusing on topics such as integrating access and functional needs as part of our base planning efforts, considering the unique needs of children in disaster response operations, and engaging the whole community in the development and implementation of Presidential Policy Directive – 8 (PPD 8) deliverables. These new members highlight our continued desire to have a council that represents a cross section of all members of the emergency management team.

Jim Featherstone, General Manager, Emergency Management Department, City of Los Angeles, has been reappointed as the Chairperson and Teresa Scott, Director of Public Works, City of Gainesville, Florida is the new Vice Chair for the NAC.

I’d like to welcome our new members and I look forward to working with them during their tenure with the NAC.

Ms. Anne Kronenberg, Executive Director, San Francisco Department of Emergency Management
Dr. Sarita Chung, Director and Attending Physician, Disaster Preparedness Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston
Senator Joseph Bolkcom, Assistant Majority Leader, State Senator, Iowa State Senate
Mr. Ken Miyagishima, Mayor, City of Las Cruces, New Mexico
Mr. Thomas Powers, Vice President, Corporate Security and Safety, Iron Mountain
Mr. Robert Maloney, Director of Office of Emergency Management, Baltimore City, Maryland
Mr. Joseph Nimmich, Director, Maritime Surveillance and Security, Raytheon Homeland Security
Lieutenant General Guy Swan, Vice President of Education and Executive Director, Institute of Land Warfare at the Association of the US Army
Mr. Pat Earl Santos, Deputy Director, Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP), Louisiana

Additional information on the NAC, including a list of current members, can be found at www.fema.gov/national-advisory-council.

Being Prepared for the New School Year

Author:

Flat Stanley and Flat Stella

Although we’ve only been working at FEMA for a few months now, we have learned how important it is to be prepared, no matter where you are. And with the new school year underway, we’ve been learning some important things to help keep kids and parents safer. Things like:

Washington, D.C., Sep. 20, 2012 -- Photo of Flat Stanley with his emergency contact card.

Complete an emergency contact card for each child in your family. Put the cards in their backpacks or book bags.

Washington, D.C., Sep. 20, 2012 -- Flat Stella Practicing the Evacuation Plan for FEMA HQ.

Find out how often they have students practice what to do in the event of severe weather or a fire.

Washington, D.C., Sep. 20, 2012 -- Flat Stanley learns when it is appropriate to dial 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency.

Teach your children how and when to call 9-1-1 or your local emergency medical services number for help.

Washington, D.C., Sep. 20, 2012 -- Flat Stella learns about the importance of having a safety plan in place no matter where you are.

Ask your child's school for a copy of their emergency plan for you to keep at home or work.

And finally, parents should be sure to check with their children’s day care or school about what emergency plans they have. That way both parents and kids know what to expect during and after an emergency.

We hope everyone has a wonderful and safe school year! In case you missed any of our other adventures, check out our blog posts!

One Step Closer to Tribal Stafford Act Amendment

Author:

Craig Fugate

Last month I emphasized my support for amending the Stafford Act to allow federally recognized tribal governments to make a request directly to the President for a federal emergency or major disaster declaration. Today, the House of Representatives passed the 2012 FEMA Reauthorization Act, including Section 210, which includes such an amendment to the Stafford Act, and affirms the sovereignty of tribal governments. If Congress passes and the President signs such legislation into law, my office will act promptly in the development of appropriate regulations and policies for implementation.

We’re one step closer to getting this change into law -- and it has been Tribal leadership and organizations, representing more than 300 tribes, who have engaged members of the House and Senate to act on this issue. In fact, dozens of tribal leaders are on Capitol Hill today for “Tribal Unity Impact Week” to discuss their priorities with Members of Congress, including this change to the Stafford Act.

FEMA has strong, long-standing relationships with tribal governments and they are essential members of the emergency management team. The U.S. Government has a unique nation-to-nation relationship with federally recognized tribal governments and amending the Stafford Act to recognize this sovereign relationship will only strengthen the way that FEMA supports tribal communities before, after and during disasters. The House’s action today is an important step forward for this legislation which would strengthen our nation's emergency management team.

Volunteer highlight: Helping to rebuild after Hurricane Isaac

Author:

Lars Anderson

For the past several days, our team has been hard at work on the ground in Gulfport, MS, continuing assessments and doing field work to repair damage to homes in the area.

CAPTION: All Hands Volunteers work to repair a roof damaged from Hurricane Isaac. (Photo courtesy of All Hands Volunteers)

The national media attention about the Hurricane Isaac recovery has dwindled, yet some of the toughest work remains ahead in the areas impacted by the storm. Over the past few weeks, we’ve highlighted the work of some of the non-profit and voluntary agencies pitching in to help the affected survivors and communities – organizations you may have heard of, like the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and the Humane Society.

The efforts of volunteer groups, large and small, as well as established and up-and-coming, have continued in full force across the Gulf Coast region since Isaac made landfall. One of those partners, All Hands Volunteers, continues to make an impact in the affected areas by organizing groups of volunteers to tackle a variety of projects. As part of the National Voluntary Organizations After Disasters (National VOAD), they are committed to being actively involved in emergency response and recovery efforts for disasters across the country. Jeremey Horan, Director of Operations of All Hands Volunteers, was kind enough to offer his perspective of Hurricane Isaac and share All Hands Network’s model for rapid response.

Here is Jeremey’s story:

On August 28, Hurricane Isaac, which had already raged its way across Haiti and the Florida Keys, made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana. For days, its torrential rains drenched southern Mississippi and caused local flooding conditions that displaced families and destroyed properties.

As part of All Hands Volunteers’ rapid response model, we were on the ground in Vicksburg, MS the day the storm struck. Since it was confirmed that the three counties surrounding Biloxi were being heavily affected, we swiftly moved south to launch an assessment of the storm’s impact to determine how voluntary resources could be utilized to help those affected.

In many ways, we felt a bit of déjà vu, because it had been exactly seven years earlier that David Campbell, our executive director, formed Hands On USA to respond to the same area after Hurricane Katrina. Our name has changed, but our mission has not — we want to provide immediate, effective and sustainable support to communities in need by harnessing the energy and commitment of dedicated volunteers.

We also want to empower communities to swiftly and competently manage the chaos that typically surrounds a disaster event — especially as it relates to the pairing of community needs with volunteers to meet them.

As a member of National VOAD, we attended Southern Mississippi VOAD meetings in Biloxi and were quickly apprised of the known needs and helped to shape situational awareness based on our assessment findings. In collaboration with the VOAD, we were able to effectively vet pockets of unmet homeowner need and begin to clarify the scope of Isaac’s impact in communities along the MS Gulf Coast.

As a result, All Hands Volunteers is working to address the needs created by Isaac, working with volunteers who have pre--registered through virtual volunteer reception centers, getting homeowners to the next step in their recovery through direct service work. Because of the leadership provided by VOAD, we were able to access information before flood waters receded and to begin the process of aiding a community in its recovery.

All Hands Volunteers’ assessment team and volunteers have been on the ground, helping Mississippi communities in need. Now we’re packing up to head to Louisiana to assess several communities that are requesting help.
(Photo courtesy of All Hands Volunteers)

Editor’s note: FEMA is providing the following examples for your reference. FEMA does not endorse any non-government organizations, companies or applications. The views expressed above do not necessarily represent the official views of the United States, the Department of Homeland Security, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Learn more about organizations that are part of National VOAD at www.nvoad.org.

For more on FEMA’s role in the ongoing Isaac recovery, visit the disaster pages for Louisiana and Mississippi.

What We're Watching: 9/14/12

Author:

Lars Anderson

At the end of each week, we post a "What We’re Watching" blog as we look ahead to the weekend and recap events from the week. We encourage you to share it with your friends and family, and have a safe weekend.

Weather outlook
As summer starts to fade into fall in some areas of the country, we continue to closely watch the tropics. As you know, we are currently at the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, and the season continues until November 30. Currently, tropical storm Nadine is swirling in the Atlantic ocean and poses no threat to the U.S. or its territories. Keep up with the latest tropical forecast from the National Hurricane Center at www.hurricanes.gov or on your phone at http://hurricanes.gov/mobile.

And if you live in a coastal or inland area that could be affected by hurricanes or tropical storms, now's the time to prepare - visit www.Ready.gov/hurricanes or m.fema.gov on your phone to learn how.

Isaac recovery continues

LaPlace, La., Sep. 11, 2012 – A FEMA Mitigation specialist talks to a Hurricane Isaac survivor in a Disaster Recovery Center. FEMA Mitigation specialists are assisting homeowners by providing them with information they need to rebuild their damaged property.

We continue to work closely with our state, local, and tribal partners as we assist those affected by Hurricane Isaac in Mississippi and Louisiana. Thousands have applied for disaster assistance so far, and Disaster Recovery Centers set up in the affected area continue to provide recovery information to disaster survivors. Earlier this week, we posted some stats about how Isaac survivors are applying for disaster assistance - I encourage you to check it out. The disaster pages for Louisiana and Mississippi have the latest information on FEMA's role in the recovery.

The excitement of graduation

fema corps graduation
Vicksburg, Miss., Sep. 13, 2012 -- Induction Ceremony for the inaugural class of FEMA Corps members. FEMA Corps members assist with disaster preparedness, response, and recovery activities, providing support in areas ranging from working directly with disaster survivors to supporting disaster recovering centers to sharing valuable disaster preparedness and mitigation information with the public.

Lastly, all of us at FEMA are excited about the first class of FEMA Corps graduates that were newly minted earlier this week. FEMA Corps is a program that combines the expertise of FEMA and AmeriCorps to equip groups of young people to deploy into areas affected by disasters and assist the community with recovery. The new members, who range in age from 18-24 years old, will contribute to a dedicated, trained, and reliable disaster workforce by working full-time for ten months on federal disaster response and recovery efforts.

FEMA Deputy Administrator Rich Serino spoke to the class of 231 graduates yesterday, and he blogged about his perspective on the FEMA Corps program as well.

Have a great weekend!

Update on Reservist Hiring Process

Author:

Bob Fenton

More than 7,000 welcome packets were mailed this week to our Disaster Assistance Employees who successfully applied to become members of our new Reservist Program. These packets contained each reservist’s appointment letter assigning their position and cadre; and a “Conditions of Employment” form that must be signed and returned by Sept. 23, 2012.

During the transition of our disaster workforce this summer, we implemented a three-level review process for all applicants. The process consisted of a preliminary review of applications to determine basic qualifications; applicants were then reviewed by recommendation panels with in-depth knowledge of the FQS job requirements by cadre; and final selection decisions by the selection panel. This Phase 1 hiring process for the Reservist Program ensured that all DAEs who applied to the Reservist Program were offered a position within the limitations of force structure.

Each new member of the Reservist Program will be certified as either a “trainee” or a “qualified” employee within the cadre they are assigned. This was done to ensure that during future disaster deployments, a trainee can always be paired with more qualified employees so that adequate training and experience can be gained. This of course benefits the employee, as well as the disaster survivors and impacted communities as they begin their recovery process.

If an employee is deployed to a disaster area and unable to receive the welcome packet, they may contact the call center at 855-FQS-FEMA (377-3362) or send an email to FEMA-FQS-Program@fema.dhs.gov.

It is our hope that through this transition, we are better equipped to fulfill our mission to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, and recover from and mitigate all hazards.

Learning How to Register for Disaster Assistance

Author:

Flat Stanley and Flat Stella

Since Hurricane Isaac, FEMA has been busy helping survivors get the help they need. We learned that there are several places kids and their families can visit if they need help or have questions. First, we visited a Disaster Recovery Center in Louisiana.

A Disaster Recovery Center is where people can meet face to face with friendly FEMA staff. The people you meet at the center can teach people how they can get help after a disaster. So whether you are looking to learn who may be able to help fix your home or simply looking for information about how the recovery process works, we learned that a Disaster Recovery Center is a great place for people to visit. FEMA and other organizations are standing by ready to assist.

disaster recovery center

Even though we only visited one center, FEMA has set up many other Disaster Recovery Centers in both Louisiana and Mississippi. You can check out the Disaster Recovery Center Locator to find one near you!

If a survivor cannot visit a Disaster Recovery Center, we learned that there are three other ways to register for disaster assistance:

1. We visited www.disasterassistance.gov, where families can apply online:

applying online

2. We also downloaded the FEMA App, where people can apply on their smartphone:

stella and fema app

3. Finally, people can apply for assistance on the telephone by calling 1-800-621-FEMA.

disaster help line

It is not just FEMA helping disaster survivors - so many groups are working hard to provide survivors with the help they need. We hope you can help us spread the word about all the ways Hurricane Isaac survivors can apply for assistance!

Welcome to the FEMA Corps Inaugural Class

Author:

Rich Serino

Today, we welcomed 231 energetic members into the first ever FEMA Corps class. The members just finished off their first month of training with our partners at the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and are one step closer to working in the field on disaster response and recovery. They will now head to FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness to spend the next two weeks training in their FEMA position-specific roles. Once they complete both the CNCS and FEMA training, these 231 dedicated FEMA Corps members will be qualified to work in one of a variety of disaster related roles, ranging from Community Relations to Disaster Recovery Center support.

Vicksburg, Miss., Sep. 13, 2012 -- Deputy Administrator Rich Serino gives the keynote address at the Induction Ceremony for the inaugural class of FEMA Corps members. FEMA Corps members assist with disaster preparedness, response, and recovery activities, providing support in areas ranging from working directly with disaster survivors to supporting disaster recovering centers to sharing valuable disaster preparedness and mitigation information with the public.

FEMA Corps builds on the great work of AmeriCorps to establish a service cadre dedicated to disaster response and recover. To be sure, responding to disasters is nothing new for Americorps. In fact, the great work that AmeriCorps already does during disasters was the inspiration for FEMA Corps. When I visited communities all over the country that were devastated by disasters, from Joplin, MO to Bastrop, Texas, I always encountered the incredible members of AmeriCorps lending a helping hand to survivors. I was continually struck by the level of compassion, dedication, and skill these members brought to the table.

Today’s inductees are pioneers, combining the exceptional record of citizen service at AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps with FEMA’s specialized mission of supporting survivors with their recovery after a disaster. The new members, who range in age from 18-24 years old, will contribute to a dedicated, trained, and reliable disaster workforce by working full-time for ten months on federal disaster response and recovery efforts. As we announced in March, FEMA Corps sets the foundation for a new generation of emergency managers; it promotes civic engagement and offers an educational and financial opportunity for young people; and is designed to strengthen the nation’s disaster response by supplementing FEMA’s existing Reservist workforce.

I commend and thank every member of the inaugural class of FEMA Corps for their dedication to helping communities in need. Welcome to FEMA Corps!

To learn more about the new program, visit the AmeriCorps website or our FEMA Corps page.

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Discussions with Isaac Survivors: Reliving the Storm & Looking to Recovery

A subway to nowhere teaches first response training

National Advisory Council Welcomes New Members

Being Prepared for the New School Year

One Step Closer to Tribal Stafford Act Amendment

Volunteer highlight: Helping to rebuild after Hurricane Isaac

What We're Watching: 9/14/12

Update on Reservist Hiring Process

Learning How to Register for Disaster Assistance

Welcome to the FEMA Corps Inaugural Class

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