Federal Agencies Respond To Hurricane Frances -- And Continue To Address The Needs Of Hurricane Charley Victims
Release Date: September 6, 2004
Release Number: HQ-04-165
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Frances
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) and its partner federal agencies, the U.S. Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers and Health and Human Services, are quickly moving medical assistance and other disaster relief teams, supplies and equipment into Florida as Hurricane Frances continued its path through the state.
President Bush on Saturday ordered the federal government to provide all necessary resources and assets to aid those victimized by the second hurricane to strike in less than a month. The 18 declared counties are eligible for a range of individual assistance programs. All of Florida’s 67 counties and affected local governments also are eligible to apply for federal funds to pay for debris removal and emergency services related to the storm, including requested emergency work undertaken by the federal government, for the first 72 hours following the declaration. The President signed a disaster declaration for Florida on August 13 in the wake of Hurricane Charley.
“Our priority remains life saving, life sustaining needs; however, residents can now contact FEMA to apply for disaster assistance. It is important for people to know that we have been anticipating the needs of Floridians who were hit twice - first by Charley and then Frances,” said Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response. “The federal family and our state and local partners will deliver assistance wherever needed as fast and efficiently as possible.”
FEMA’s toll free registration line, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), is operating on a continuous basis, 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice. The TTY number for speech- and hearing-impaired individuals is 1-800-462-7585. Requests for assistance have been heavy, with 18,742 applications received as of 4 p.m. today.
FEMA continues to with state officials to respond to critical needs as they become apparent. FEMA’s National Emergency Operations Center, Emergency Support Team in Washington, D.C. and Region Four Regional Operations Center in Atlanta, Ga. are operating around the clock, directing the movement of assets and responding to state requests for assistance.
FEMA Advanced Emergency Response Team is at the Florida State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee to facilitate state requests for assistance.
Anticipating a large need for temporary and long-term housing brought about by the destructive forces of Hurricanes Charley and Frances, FEMA is completing a Combined Housing strategy that will assist disaster victims whose homes were severely damaged or destroyed. The plans start with initial sheltering and progress to temporary housing and permanent housing. The strategy will offer disaster victims a range of housing options and work to get families into the best available housing for their individual circumstances. To accomplish this, FEMA is teaming with partners in federal, state and local government; the private sector; and faith-based and non-profit organizations. Federal officials emphasize that the process of sheltering and providing adequate housing for large numbers disaster victims is complex and will take time.
Additional response operations include:
- More than 1.2 million gallons of water are in Florida now, and another 100 trailers of water are on their way to Florida. Additionally, 14.6 million pounds of ice are in state, while another 6 million pounds are en route. Currently 16,900 Meals Ready to Eat are on hand, another 1.1 million are on the way and enough baby formula and food to nourish 7,730 infants is en route.
- Twenty truckloads of plastic roof sheeting are in Florida and another 10,000 rolls are headed for the hurricane area.
- Some 350 mid-range generators were on hand in Florida and another 536 are on order for medical device support.
- New Mexico Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) 5 has arrived and set up operations at Martin Memorial Hospital in Stuart, Florida. Five Disaster Medical Assistance Teams, a Veterinary Medical Assistance team, and cadre of 500 nurses for special needs shelters, along with medical supplies and equipment, are on the ground in Florida and serving disaster victims. Additional medical response teams are standing by and on alert for deployment as needed.
- The 18 Florida counties eligible for individual assistance are Brevard, Broward, Citrus, Glades, Hernando, Highlands, Indian River, Lake, Martin, Miami-Dade, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Polk, St. Lucie and Sumter.
- A total of 472 shelters remain open in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina housing 92,715 evacuees. In all states, most of the shelter residents are Floridians fleeing the storm.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA’s continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 07-Sep-2004 12:33:00