Massive Homeland Security Response Ready to Meet Hurricane Victim Needs as Secretary Ridge Visits Impacted Areas

Release Date: 09/20/03 00:00:00

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 20, 2003

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, through its Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Coast Guard and other emergency response elements, is coordinating the massive Federal response to millions of citizens throughout the mid-Atlantic region impacted by Hurricane Isabel.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said that a full range of response and recovery assets have been deployed to the disaster areas. Several thousand emergency responders are providing life-saving missions as recovery begins.

President Bush has signed disaster declarations for North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia that authorize a full range of disaster assistance to disaster victims as well as public assistance for infrastructure damages.

Secretary Ridge and Under Secretary Brown are viewing storm-damaged areas today in North Carolina and Virginia. They are getting a first-hand look at the damage left by Hurricane Isabel and meeting with North Carolina Governor Mike Easley and Virginia Governor Mark Warner as well as members of Congress from the affected areas to discuss and coordinate federal, state and local response efforts.

FEMA damage assessments teams are still working with state response and recovery teams in North Carolina and Virginia assessing damages and identifying immediate critical needs. Teams will be moving into Maryland and the District of Columbia later today to begin assessing damages in those two federally declared areas.

Medical Management Support Teams from FEMA are on the ground in North Carolina and Virginia with MASH-type Disaster Medical Assistance Teams and Veterinary Medical Teams supporting state and local emergency needs. More medical teams are on standby for deployment to Maryland and the District of Columbia if needed by local authorities. Hundreds of tons of emergency disaster supplies are stocked in mobilization centers in the disaster areas for immediate distribution to victims. Supplies include water, emergency meals, tents cots, blankets, portable toilets, generators, plastic sheeting and roofing materials.

FEMA Director Michael Brown urged caution when evacuees are returning to storm damaged residences. "Follow the advice of local authorities as they work to restore services and stay alert. While the immediate danger is past, there are downed power lines, high water and other dangers that still threaten public safety," he said.

The U. S. Coast Guard continues to fly missions in support of recovery efforts using fixed-wing patrol aircraft and helicopters, locating citizens in distress and assessing the damages in the multi-state and coastal areas. The Coast Guard is conducting post-hurricane recovery in the hurricane impacted areas to include Aids to Navigation verification, port and waterway damage assessments and port restrictions and detect and respond to pollution incidents.

Homeland Security officials continue to monitor 15 sector-specific Information Sharing and Analysis Centers, including the most vulnerable critical infrastructures such as electricity, telecommunications, water and transportation. Officials are supporting efforts by the private sector to resume critical power and water services in all the impacted areas. All airports are open and Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) inspectors are coordinating with domestic and foreign air carriers to re-position the last of the aircraft and resume normal air traffic operations.

In coordination with FEMA, Health and Human Services emergency response teams are in North Carolina and Virginia to assist state and local governments with evaluating the status and accessibility of hospitals and checking water and sanitation quality. Other teams are ready to move to Maryland and the District of Columbia if needed.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has moved more than 200,000 gallons of water and hundreds of tons of ice to the affected areas. The Department of Defense opened four of its military bases for use as mobilization and staging sites for the emergency response teams and supplies.

As part of the Federal Emergency Response Plan, the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service is supplying food to disaster relief organizations such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army for mass feeding or household distribution. Disaster organizations request food assistance through state agencies that run USDA's nutrition assistance programs.

The Red Cross reports that more than 15,000 disaster victims were housed in 144 shelters on Friday night. About 2,200 volunteers are helping victims of Hurricane Isabel throughout North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. Two Red Cross 10,000 meals-a-day kitchens are in place and have served more than 100,000 meals in North Carolina and Virginia. The Red Cross encourages those who still need help to call 1-866-GET INFO for shelter locations, preparedness tips and ways in which they can volunteer to help those in need.

This page was last reviewed/modified on 09/20/03 00:00:00.