WASHINGTON -- FEMA is leaning forward with our federal, state, local, tribal and territorial partners to mobilize teams and supplies to support a state managed, locally executed response to impacts from storms along the Gulf Coast and the wildfires out West.
Hurricane Sally
While Sally is now forecast to make landfall as a hurricane, the storm track and intensity can change rapidly. Anyone in the forecasted path of the storm should complete final preparations as soon as possible, monitor their local news for updates and directions provided by their local officials and heed local evacuation orders.
President Trump approved emergency declarations today for both Louisiana and Mississippi to provide federal assistance and coordinate all disaster relief efforts.
Teams supporting recovery efforts from Hurricane Laura are being augmented by additional personnel to provide immediate support following landfall if requested. FEMA deployed Incident Management Assistance Teams to emergency operations centers in Louisiana and Mississippi, and a liaison officer to Alabama, to assist with coordinating response activities throughout the region.
Western Wildfires
President Trump, Acting Secretary Chad Wolf and FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor traveled to the West Coast today to visit communities devastated by the wildfires. There are over 100 large fires throughout the Western U.S. that have burned over 5 million acres. This includes 32 active fires in Oregon and 30 in California.
Emergency responders on the West Coast are focused on life saving and life safety measures in the areas impacted by wildfires. Public safety is the No. 1 priority: residents in at-risk areas should follow local officials’ instructions and be ready to take action.
FEMA has personnel, commodities and teams continue to support the impacted areas. The President approved a major disaster for California on Aug. 22. and an emergency declaration for Oregon on Sept. 10 for the 12 active wildfires impacting the state.
Additionally, six Fire Management Assistance Grants have been approved in California, one approved in Colorado, 16 approved in Oregon and four have been approved in Washington.
FEMA Administrator Briefs President Trump on Wildfire Response
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor (far left) briefs President Donald J. Trump on FEMA’s ongoing efforts to wildfires in the West.
Rescue Teams Partner with Local Authorities in Oregon Wildfire Response
JACKSON, Ore. -- FEMA Search and Rescue teams from Nevada and Utah scour through debris under the direction of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.
FEMA Sets Up Staging Area in Tacoma
TACOMA, Wash. – A staging area for commodities and generators is set up at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Teams Assembled Communications for Wildfire Response
TACOMA, Wash. -- FEMA technicians assemble communications equipment for wildfire response coordination on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Teams Complete COVID-19 Safety Measures for Responding
PEARL, Miss. -- A FEMA Region 4 Incident Management team member receives a facial temperature scan before entering the emergency operations center. The scanning is part of COVID-19 protections for those entering the facility.
FEMA Team Arrives at Mississippi Emergency Operations Center
PEARL, Miss. -- FEMA Region 4 Incident Management Assistance Team members enter the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency in preparation for potential hurricane impacts to the state.