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WASHINGTON – As the
response to Hurricane Michael continues, local and state responders,
federal teams and voluntary agencies continue providing assistance to help
survivors begin their recovery.
“Disaster response works best
when it is locally executed, state managed and federally supported,” said
FEMA Administrator Brock Long. “FEMA is coordinating round-the-clock
efforts by thousands of trained responders. Whether it is FEMA personnel,
voluntary organizations or members of the military, there are a lot of
people working to help survivors.”
Since Michael’s landfall,
search and rescue teams from FEMA, the U.S. Coast Guard, National Guard and
others, working alongside state responders and volunteers, have completed
152 evacuations, 4,194 rescues/assists, 21,568 shelter in place checks, and
2,100 animal assists. More than 27,000 structural assessments were
completed in Florida.
FEMA Disaster Survivor
Assistance teams are in Florida helping survivors register for
assistance. More than 36,000 individuals in Florida contacted FEMA for
help and information, including for disaster assistance and referrals to
federal, state and voluntary agency sources of disaster assistance.
Sixteen different states are
sending support through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. More
than 35 missions are active in Florida; there are three missions active in
Georgia. Nearly 500 people deployed to assist missions in both states.
Additionally, more than 30,000
utility workers from several states are assisting with power restoration
missions throughout the impacted areas.
Distribution sites are
providing meals, water and other items in areas where stores are not open,
or where supplies are limited. For locations:
- Florida
residents should visit FloridaDisaster.org.
- Georgia
residents should visit Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland
Security Agency's website.
Residents in the impacted areas
should:
- Keep yourself and your
family safe. Return home only if
you are told it is safe by local officials. As you clear debris
please look carefully around the debris for any visible
cables. If you see any cables, wait for professional help. Power
cables can kill easily.
- Be strong. Focus on your
specific needs and take care of one another. Shelters are providing
information, charging stations, and connection to assistance from
federal, state, and voluntary agencies. They also have communications
support, so you can contact loved ones and let them know you’re safe.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for
help.
Register for assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov
if you have damages not covered by insurance. Contact the Disaster
Distress Helpline by texting TalkWithUs to 66746 or call
1-800-985-5990 (for Spanish, press 2 or text Hablanos to 66746) to
speak with a trained crisis counselor.
- Get started on your
recovery.
Photograph/video damages, and then begin cleaning up. Contact your
insurance company to
file a claim.
Other federal, private sector
and voluntary organizations response actions include:
U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services
- The
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Disaster Distress
Helpline is available to assist survivors in coping with the stress.
To connect with a trained crisis counselor, call 1-800-985-5990 or
text TalkWithUs to 66746 (for Spanish, press 2 or text Hablanos to
66746).
- Eight
Health
and Human Services Disaster Medical Assistance Teams are caring
for patients at four emergency departments in Florida. The teams
treated 500 emergency patients and are also providing medical care at
one shelter.
U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers
- The
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are implementing the Operation Blue Roof
program today and will be starting right of entry collection in Bay
County.
- The
Corps is engaged in 14 response programs including providing
temporary emergency power in Florida, offering technical assistance on
debris removal, route clearance and temporary roofing and assessing
critical public facilities and infrastructure.
- The
temporary power team has installed two generators in Florida, with
three installations in progress. Three generators have been installed
in Georgia, with three more installations in progress.
U.S. Department of
Agriculture
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency
- EPA
engineers are assisting local officials as they assess drinking water
and wastewater facilities in communities affected by Hurricane
Michael. An EPA mobile lab is providing support to restore Bay
County’s drinking water operations.
U.S. Department of Labor
- National
Dislocated Worker Grant funding is available to help Florida
assess its workforce needs due to significant job losses caused by
Hurricane Michael. This funding assists the state and local
governments to expand service capacity of dislocated worker training
and employment programs.
Internal Revenue Service
- The
IRS granted an extension
of the Oct. 15 and other filing deadlines to people who were
affected by Hurricane Michael. Survivors in parts of Florida and
elsewhere have until Feb. 28, 2019, to file certain individual and
business tax returns and make certain tax payments.
Whole Community Response
Efforts: Government agencies are just one part of the team.
Partnerships with faith-based, voluntary and non-governmental agencies, and
the private sector help support survivors who need assistance:
- The
Salvation Army mobilized 70 mobile feeding units with a combined
service capacity of 105,000 daily meals. Since the response to
Hurricane Michael began, the Salvation Army has served more than
59,000 meals and provided emotional and spiritual support to 2,839
survivors.
- Operation
Barbeque Relief has field kitchens in Florida with a total meal
capacity of 30,000 meals per day.
- In
Florida, Southern
Baptist Disaster Relief opened a disaster kitchen which can
produce up to 20,000 meals per day. Three more kitchens with an
additional 40,000 meals per day capacity are expected to open today.
- In
Georgia, Southern Baptists Disaster Relief is opening one kitchen
today with a capacity of 15,000 meals per day.
- Airbnb
homes have opened to host displaced survivors for free, 214 available
in Georgia and Florida including 63 in the Panhandle area.
- Comcast
is offering free access to 8,000 XFINITY
WiFi hotspots in Tallahassee and the Panhandle. The service is available
to customers and non-customers.
- Verizon
has two, free charging stations in Albany,
Ga. Verizon’s Big Red Command Trailer has multiple workstations and
satellite connectivity and is supporting the Bay County Emergency
Operations Center.
- Voluntary
technology professionals at Information
Technology Disaster Resource Center are providing free
communications support for Albany, Ga.
- Datto
is working with the Red Cross to provide internet in Florida shelters.
- Uber
is offering free rides, worth up to $25 each, to and
from shelters.
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