For Immediate Release
DHS Press Office
Contact: 202-282-8010
WASHINGTON—Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today reached out to the governors of Maine, Ohio and West Virginia, the mayors of Atlantic City, N.J., Ocean City, Md. and Dover and Rehoboth, Del., and over 115 congressional offices to make sure state and local teams have the support they need as they respond to and begin to recover from Hurricane Sandy. The U.S. Coast Guard also provided over flights for the New York and Massachusetts congressional delegations to survey the effects of Hurricane Sandy.
“At the direction of President Obama, DHS and FEMA remain in constant contact with state and local emergency management partners to provide resources and support as communities continue to respond to this storm,” said Secretary Napolitano. “Response and recovery efforts will be an ongoing operation, and we’re continuing to support the needs of these communities and help them recover and rebuild, in the immediate days ahead and over the long term.”
Earlier today, the President held a call with governors and mayors from affected states and areas to express his concern for residents who have been and continue to be impacted by Sandy, as well as to hear directly from the governors and mayors on their ongoing response efforts. On the call, the President began by thanking the officials for their leadership in the face of this severe storm, and praised the heroism of the emergency response teams leading the efforts. The President made clear that he has directed his team, through Secretary Napolitano and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, to continue to lean forward and provide all available resources to support ongoing response and recovery efforts.
More information about what to do before, during and after a disaster can also be found visiting www.ready.gov and www.listo.gov. The FEMA mobile site (http://m.fema.gov), smartphone app (www.fema.gov/smartphone-app), and text messages (www.fema.gov/text-messages) also provide regular updates. Sharing information using social media tools is also a good way for residents to stay informed. Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.
For more information, visit www.ready.gov.
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