Katrina: America starts to count the cost of a nightmare Much of the affected region remains inundated by flood waters and substantial wind damage appears to have occurred. FEMA is still conducting its initial damage assessment; but the unfolding scenario is severe enough for President Bush to cut short his vacation to to help oversee Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts. The America Red Cross has started disaster recovery and relief efforts, stating that this will be the largest mobilization of resources in its history for a single natural disaster. Disaster recovery providers have also been busy. SunGard has reported that it is currently handling 109 alerts and 16 disaster declarations and 25 clients invoked MessageOne’s e-mail and emergency notification disaster recovery services. For the latest CNN news updates visit http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/08/31/katrina/index.html UPDATED 7.00 GMT 31ST AUGUST: * Emergency management officials are appealing to residents of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama who evacuated in advance of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall to stay put. Read FEMA news release * FEMA technical teams available to offer assistance to businesses and individuals Home Depot Lowe’s Home Depot Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., until further notice Written material will be available on building Safe Rooms, minimizing damage to mobile homes, elevating homes, preventing mold and mildew, protecting against wind, buying flood insurance for financial protection, and many other topics * The Department of Homeland Security has issued the following update on disaster response and recovery activities: FEMA FEMA deployed 23 Disaster Medical Assistance Teams from all across the U.S. to staging areas in Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, and Louisiana and is now moving them into impacted areas. Seven Urban Search and Rescue task forces and two Incident Support Teams have been deployed and prepositioned in Shreveport, La., and Jackson, Miss., including teams from Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Three more Urban Search and Rescue teams are in the process of deployment. FEMA is moving supplies and equipment into the hardest hit areas as quickly as possible, especially water, ice, meals, medical supplies, generators, tents, and tarps. U.S. Coast Guard More than 40 Coast Guard aircraft from units along the entire eastern seaboard, with more than 30 small boats, patrol boats, and cutters are positioned in staging areas around the impact areas, from Jacksonville, Fla., to Houston, now conducting post-hurricane search, rescue and humanitarian aid operations, waterway impact assessments and waterway reconstitution operations. Department of Transportation The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) dispatched more than 390 trucks that are beginning to deliver millions of meals ready to eat, millions of liters of water, tarps, millions of pounds of ice, mobile homes, generators, containers of disaster supplies, and forklifts to flood damaged areas. DOT has helicopters and a plane assisting delivery of essential supplies. National Guard The National Guard of the four most heavily impacted states are providing support to civil authorities as well as generator, medical and shelter with approximately 7,500 troops on State Active Duty. The National Guard is augmenting civilian law enforcement capacity; not acting in lieu of it. Department of Agriculture The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) State Emergency Boards are coordinating agricultural-related responses at the county, state, and national levels in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and elsewhere. USDA is also coordinating damage assessments to area crops, livestock, and other agriculture-related operations. Farmers are encouraged to contact their local USDA Service Center for additional information on assistance available. Department of Health and Human Services The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has sent 38 U.S. Public Health Service Officers to Jackson, Miss., for deployment. In addition, HHS has 217 U.S. Public Health Service Officers on standby for deployment to support medical response in Louisiana, Mississippi, and other Gulf states. Department of Defense The United State Northern Command (NORTHCOM) continues to assist FEMA after disaster declarations were issued for Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi following the devastation caused in parts of each state by Hurricane Katrina. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is contacting major power companies to the areas affected to provide safety briefings to employees at power restoration staging areas in affected communities. OSHA is also releasing public service announcements to inform workers about hazards related to restoration and cleanup. American Red Cross The American Red Cross is providing a safe haven for nearly 4,000 evacuees in more than 230 Red Cross shelters, from the panhandle of Florida, across Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, and Texas. The Red Cross is launching the largest mobilization of resources for a single natural disaster involving thousands of trained disaster relief workers, tons of supplies, and support. . You can help the victims of this disaster by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund . Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org THIS NEWS PIECE WILL BE UPDATED AS MORE INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE. REFRESH YOUR BROWSER TO ENSURE YOU ARE READING THE LASTEST CONTENT
•Date: 30th and 31st August 2005 • Region: US • Type:
Article •Topic: DR general |
