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The first tropical storm of the 2006 Atlantic Hurricane season is heading for Florida. Under current forecasts there is only a small probability that Alberto will develop into a hurricane. The main business continuity problems associated with the storm are likely to be related to flood damage rather than extreme winds.
FEMA has issued the following statement (published verbatim):
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is ready and supporting state officials as they prepare for the first named storm of the 2006 hurricane season. FEMA continues to closely monitor Tropical Storm Alberto with the Hurricane Liaison Team at National Hurricane Center, and it is coordinating with state and local officials as they make decisions for their communities on evacuations and response activities. FEMA preparations include:
* Engaging with governors and state emergency managers, over the weekend, in the anticipated impact states to begin federal and state coordination.
* Working with partners at the National Hurricane Center to forecast the storm’s landfall
* Mobilizing 96 trucks with food, water and ice in the Gulf States region.
* Activating FEMA’s Region 4 Thomasville Regional Response Coordination Center to Level 3, matching the operating hours of the Emergency Operations Center in Florida.
* Embedding a FEMA liaison with the Florida Emergency Management team at the Emergency Operations Center to assist with coordination efforts as needed.
* Readying the Logistics Response Center at FEMA HQ, operational 24 hours a day, to execute any logistics support operations that may be required.
* Preparing FEMA’s Transition Recovery Office in Florida with personnel that can be mobilized should assistance be requested.
* Testing FEMA’s mobile registration capabilities, with volunteers, at a Florida shelter.
As a compliment to FEMA’s work, the U.S. Coast Guard District 7 aircraft have conducted two pre-storm sorties. The Coast Guard is broadcasting weather warnings to mariners at sea and advising boaters to stay away from waters off the coast. Preparations are also underway to bring air stations to optimal readiness for operations and plans are being reviewed to move aircraft further inland, out of any potential path for the storm.
The progress of Alberto can be tracked at:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at1+shtml/084540.shtml?3day
•Date: 13th June 2006• Region: N.America • Type: Article •Topic: DR general
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