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Release Date: 09/22/03 00:00:00
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 22, 2003
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's response to Hurricane Isabel's millions of victims moves ahead at full speed with requests for ice and water topping the lists of emergency managers in the hurricane-ravaged states of North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia.
The Department's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is coordinating the massive federal response to the destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Isabel and meeting the immediate critical needs of millions of victims. FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have moved more than 520 thousand pounds of ice to North Carolina, Virginia and the District of Columbia with another 1.5 million pounds of ice scheduled for delivery today. Virginia's emergency managers have requested and will receive later today another 420,000 gallons of water for that state's hurricane victims.
In the days before Isabel made landfall, FEMA pre-positioned hundreds of tons of emergency disaster supplies in mobilization centers in the disaster areas. Supplies such as tents cots, blankets, portable toilets, generators, plastic sheeting and roofing materials are now moving to disaster areas as needed.
The U.S. Coast Guard, also part of Homeland Security, is supporting FEMA and state and local agencies with aircraft, boats and personnel flying missions in support of recovery efforts. Vessels and aircraft are assessing aids to navigation, damages to ports and waterways and detecting and responding to any pollution incidents.
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge accompanied President Bush today to Virginia to view the hurricane damage, response and recovery efforts and to conduct a video conference with governors and emergency managers from the most severely impacted states and the District of Columbia. The President and Secretary will use today's visit to meet with and thank hundreds of emergency workers and volunteers who have responded to assist Isabel's victims.
President Bush Saturday signed a federal disaster declaration for Delaware, which joins declarations for North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia as areas eligible to receive a full range of federal disaster assistance. Federal aid to victims can include temporary housing for disaster victims forced from their homes, grants and low interest loans for repairs, unemployment assistance and crisis counseling. State governments and local jurisdictions may also qualify for public assistance to cover public building and infrastructure damages.
Under Secretary of Emergency Preparedness and Response Michael Brown urged caution when evacuees return 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 still downed power lines and other dangers that threaten public safety," he said.
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.
In coordination with FEMA, Health and Human Services emergency response teams are in the damaged areas to assist state and local governments with evaluating the status and accessibility of hospitals and checking water and sanitation quality.
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.
This page was last reviewed/modified on 09/22/03 00:00:00.
