Hurricane Isabel update

The US Department of Homeland Security has issued the following statement:

“FEMA issued Operations Order 2003-e09 #1, effective September 15, in advance of the predicted landfall of Hurricane Isabel. Undersecretary Brown's intent is that FEMA will be prepared to rapidly and effectively execute response operations in support of state and local jurisdictions, as directed by the President, in the event of necessary consequence management actions. In addition, since this event represents a significant multi-regional response preparedness effort, all preparedness efforts should be completed and pre-positioned assets should be in place not later than 1200 hours EDT on Wednesday, September 17, 2003.

Key points of the Order include:
* A Level III EST will be established on Monday, Sep 15.
* On Tuesday, Sep 16, the EST will expand to Level II.
* The National Emergency Response Team (ERT-N Blue) Management Team (8 personnel) will report to Region III at 8:00 a.m., Tuesday, Sep 16.
* The HLT, already deployed to the Hurricane Center, will expand to 24/7 operations on Tuesday.
* FEMA Regions I, II, and III are to staff their ROCs at a minimum Level III effective 7:00 a.m. Monday.
* There will be a video-teleconference call to include representatives of each ESF, on Monday at 12:30 p.m. All States that Isabel is expected to impact have been invited to participate.
* Starting Tuesday, video-teleconference calls will be conducted at 12:30 p.m. EDT and 6:30 p.m. EDTdaily. (FEMA HQ)

FEMA Logistics is continuing to monitor and coordinate with the Regions. Stock levels are adequate to meet immediate requirements. Five "Advanced IRR Deployment (AID) Packages" are available and three are being prepostioned. An AID package consists of 10 trailers with cots, blankets, emergency meals, portable toilets, plastic sheeting, bottled water and generators.”

The current five day forecast is as follows:

•Date: 16th September 2003 • Region: N.America •Type: Article •Topic: DR general
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