Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Healthy Volunteers for an outpatient research study needed. October 16, 2018


Brain & Cognition Research Study
Researchers are enrolling healthy volunteers for an outpatient research study to learn more about how the brain works.

Research participation may include cognitive tasks, personality tests, brain imaging and/or magnetoencephalography (MEG).  Participants may choose which research tasks they would like to participate in, which determines the number of visits (1-12) to the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD.

The study is enrolling eligible participants, between the ages of 18 and 65, who are in good physical health, and at least a high school education. There is no cost to participate and compensation is provided.

For more information:
NIH Clinical Center Office of Patient Recruitment
1-866-444-1132
PRPL@cc.nih.gov
TTY for the deaf or hard of hearing: 1-866-411-1010
https://go.usa.gov/xnjnV
NIH Study 93-M-0170


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Questions?
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FEMA Private Sector Advisory. October 16, 2018. Response Efforts Continue

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Office of External Affairs,
Private Sector Engagement

Private Sector Advisory

Response Efforts Continue for Hurricane Michael Survivors

October 16, 2018
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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If you have any questions, please contact FEMA’s Office of External Affairs Private Sector Engagement team at FEMA-IGA@fema.dhs.gov.

Please help support FEMA’s mission of “Helping people before, during and after disasters.”

Download the FEMA App to locate and get directions to open shelters across the state, and receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five different locations anywhere in the United States. Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Brock Long's activities at https://twitter.com/fema_brock. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

The 2018-2022 Strategic Plan creates a shared vision for the field of emergency management and sets an ambitious, yet achievable, path forward to unify and further professionalize emergency management across the country. We invite all of our stakeholders and partners to also adopt these priorities and join us in building a stronger Agency and a more prepared and resilient Nation.

Subscribe to receive the External Affairs Bulletin and Private Sector Advisories.

Saturday, October 13, 2018

Public Safety. Survivors Urged to Listen to Local Officials and Only Return Home When Safe October 13, 2018

FEMA LogoU.S. Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency
FEMA Office of External Affairs,
Private Sector Engagement
FEMA-IGA@fema.dhs.gov


Private Sector Advisory

Survivors Urged to Listen to Local Officials and Only Return Home When Safe

October 13, 2018

 Safety Messages for the Public

  • Stay safe and follow local guidance. Do not return home until you are told it is safe. Be aware of blocked roads and possible structural, electrical or gas-leak hazards. Shut off power natural gas and propane tanks if you know how.
  • Monitor the weather. Avoid strenuous cleanup work during the warmest part of the day, use insect repellent, and stay away from wild or stay animals. Check with utility companies to find out when electricity and gas services may be restored.
  • Ensure food and water are safe. Water can be contaminated or unsafe. Be prepared to boil water to drink, cook or clean with after a hurricane.
  • File an insurance claim. Photograph/video damages before you start cleaning up. Contact your insurance company for assistance.
  • Send money, not stuff. Cash can be used immediately in response to a crisis. A financial contribution to a recognized disaster relief organization is the most effective donation to make.
  •  
FEMA Operational Items:

FEMA deployed Incident Management Assistance Teams to Atlanta and the State Emergency Operation Centers in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia with other teams still deployed to North Carolina and South Carolina. The teams will help coordinate federal response assistance requests.

Four Disaster Support Assistance (DSA) Teams have deployed to provide support to Florida shelters, and six DSA-trained FEMA Corps teams have mobilized to the affected area.

 Safety and Security
FEMA US&R
  • To date, FEMA US&R teams completed 40 evacuations, 24 assists, 3,447 shelter in place checks, 33 animal assists, and 3,789 structural assessments.
 U.S. Department of Defense
  • U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) has provided personnel and equipment from the U.S. Department of Defense to assist in response efforts.
  • DoD has moved personnel and cargo in the affected areas, is providing rotary wing aircraft, swift water boats and rescue personnel.
  • DoD has assets have been mobilized for assignment; 32 rotary wing assets, 6 fixed wing, 17 swift water vessels, and up to 160 high-water-vehicles.
  • NOAA law enforcement has provided a quick response team to the Atlanta, Georgia staging area to support force protection and site security for Urban Search and Rescue Mission. 
National Guard Bureau
  • The National Guard has 2,448 Guardsmen on State Active Duty for immediate response with an additional 1,500 Guardsmen expected to mobilize in the next 24 hours from Florida and Georgia. Florida has an additional 2,500 National Guard members standing by in reserve. Additionally, there are approximately 22,240 additional Guardsmen from Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina conducting regularly scheduled training this weekend and would be immediately available for tasking if required. 
  • National Guard support equipment capabilities include 15 Florida rotary wing aircraft for immediate response (CH-47/UH-60/HH-60/UH-72) with 16 more available from supporting states. Additionally, there are 27 ANG fixed and rotary wing aircraft (C-17/C-130/KC-135/HH-60) available for mission tasking with more than 670 high wheel vehicles available in Florida with an additional 2,268 located in surrounding states.
  • Florida has resourced more than 50 missions that include search & rescue, liaison, engineer, route clearance and POD support for 30 locations as well as 12 shelter support missions.
  • There are 11 open Florida EMAC requests from more than five supporting states that include one Multipurpose Battalion (400 assigned personnel), seven CH-47 rotary wing aircraft, and 11 UH-60 rotary wing aircraft.
  1. S. Coast Guard
  • USCG has completed 488 rescues/assistance missions and one animal rescue.
  • USCG has pre-staged nine-fixed and 24 rotary wing assets for post-storm SAR efforts; three shallow water rescue teams (11 boats) en route to Panama City; two teams (six boats) en route to Tallahassee; 17 cutters remain positioned to assist with post-storm SAR efforts and the reconstitution of ports.

Food, Water, Sheltering
  • Florida has released U.S. Department of Agriculture foods in 35 affected counties for use at shelters, canteens and mobile kitchens.
  • The American Red Cross plans to distribute emergency supplies to a maximum of 9,000 households beginning October 17
  • The Salvation Army mobilized 48 mobile feeding units with a combined service capacity of 72,000 daily meals. Additionally, the Salvation Army is supporting various shelters throughout the impacted area.
  • Salvation Army has mobilized 21 mobile feeding units (canteens) in Georgia with the capacity to serve 30,000 meals per day.
  • Florida Baptist has four kitchens activated with total capacity of 170,000 meals per day and six additional kitchens on standby in Tallahassee.
  • In Florida, 18 mobile feeding units (canteens) on standby and nine additional mobile units are set to arrive on Friday, providing a combined total meal capacity of 40,500 per day.
  • Operation Barbeque Relief is staging field kitchens in Tampa and Tallahassee with a total meal capacity of 30,000 meals per day for these two field kitchens.
  • Southern Baptist Disaster Relief has 12 additional kitchens in nearby states that can provide up to 176,000 meals per day.
  • More than 2,800 evacuees spent the night in 27 shelters in Florida.
  • In Alabama, 56 people stayed in three shelters overnight.
  • Georgia has three shelters open, and Georgia State Parks and Atlanta Motor Speedway facilities may become available for evacuees. Overnight, 148 people stayed in Georgia shelters.
  • USDA launched a disaster assistance website Farmers.gov that walks producers through five questions to help them identify personalized results of which USDA disaster assistance programs can help them recover after a natural disaster.
  • USACE deployed two temporary roofing subject matter experts to assess the need for temporary roofing mission.
  • At the state’s request, FEMA has released more than 700,000 meals and more than 1.7 million liters of water to Florida to supplement local resources.

Health and Medical
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) reports that six Disaster Assistance Medical Teams (DMATs) are engaged across Walton Beach, Panama City and Tallahassee.
  • HHS reports 308 ground ambulances and 125 para-transit members to support patient movement, and five ambulance strike teams arrived in Florida to assist with patient transport.
  • Five mobile medical strike teams are engaged across Florida in medical missions like US&R operations, supporting damaged critical facilities, and in shelters.
  • In Georgia, HHS currently has 60 ambulances staged and reports 7 hospitals and 20 nursing homes on generator power.
  • The HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration made the Disaster Distress Helpline available to assist residents in the impacted area in coping with the stress caused by Michael. 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).
  
Energy (Power and Fuel)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) District Emergency Operations Centers have been activated in Alabama, Florida and Georgia.
  • USACE has deployed a Temporary Power Planning and Response Team (PRT) and members from the 249th Engineer Battalion are prepared to assess and install generators as requested by the state; 55 generators are onsite with an additional 30 generators en route.
  
U.S. Department of Energy
  • The Department of Energy (DOE) has activated its Energy Response Organization; DOE responders deployed to the Regional Response Coordination Center, the Florida and Georgia State Emergency Operations Centers. Additional DOE responders are on standby to deploy to other states as needed.
  • DOE is holding daily calls with the energy industry to ensure unity of effort. Industry has activated its mutual assistance network, and crews from at least 19 states have mobilized to begin restoring power as soon as it is safe to do so.
  • Currently, DOE reports hundreds of thousands of customers are without power across Florida, Alabama and Georgia
  • DOE is closely monitoring the availability of fuel across the Southeast. Overall, supplies of gasoline in the region are at or above the five-year range.

Private Sector Energy Partners
  • Electric utility fleets are moving from the following states to regions in western Florida to pre-stage resources to support power restoration efforts: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois, Louisiana and Pennsylvania.

 Communications
  • Nine FEMA Mobile Emergency Response Support units are supporting secure and non-secure voice, video and information services to support emergency response communications needs throughout areas impacted by Michael.


Transportation
  • U.S. Department of Transportation created an interactive web mapping application to provide real-time situational awareness of transportation infrastructure and road closures in the affected area.
  • Federal and State DOTs are assessing transportation infrastructure impacted by Hurricane Michael. Road maintenance crews throughout the affected regions are partnering with utility, medical and search and rescue teams to clear critical access routes.

Hazardous Waste
  • The Environmental Protection Agency identified priority oil and chemical facilities and sites that might require assessment. 

Federal, State, Tribal and Local Efforts
  • Sixteen different states are sending support through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. More than 26 missions are active in both Florida and Georgia with more than 430 people deployed to assist.
  • NOAA has collected aerial images of the Florida panhandle and are available on www.NOAA.gov.
  • NOAA issued Storm Quicklooks for Michael, which provided near real-time information about water levels and winds. NOAA will be validating storm surge observations from this historic event.
Declaration Background Information:
Major Disaster Declarations
  • On Oct. 11, President Trump declared a Major Disaster for the state of Florida as a result of Hurricane Michael. This declaration makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Bay, Franklin, Gulf, Taylor and Wakulla counties. Federal funding is also available to the state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work damaged by Hurricane Michael in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor and Wakulla counties. This is in addition to the Oct. 9 emergency declaration for 35 counties.
  • Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can visit disasterassistance.gov to check eligibility for federal, state, local, and voluntary organizations in their community that best meet their specific needs.
  • Survivors without internet access can check their eligibility for disaster assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362 (Multilingual operators are available press 2 for Spanish). 
  • Disaster assistance applicants who use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service, call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.  
Emergency Disaster Declarations
  • President Trump declared an emergency declaration Oct. 12 for Alabama which provides funding to supplement state, tribal and local response efforts ahead of Hurricane Michael.
  • President Trump declared an emergency declaration on Oct. 10 for 107 counties in Georgia to supplement state and local response efforts ahead of Hurricane Michael.
    • Specifically, FEMA is authorized to provide assistance for debris removal and emergency protective measures (Categories A and B), including direct federal assistance under the Public Assistance program, in Baker, Bleckley, Burke, Calhoun, Colquitt, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Emanuel, Grady, Houston, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, Lee, Macon, Miller, Mitchell, Pulaski, Seminole, Sumter, Terrell, Thomas, Treutlen, Turner, Wilcox and Worth counties.  Assistance will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.
    • In addition, assistance for emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct federal assistance under the Public Assistance program, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding in Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baldwin, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Chattahoochee, Clarke, Clay, Clinch, Coffee, Columbia, Cook, Crawford, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Evans, Glascock, Glynn, Greene, Hancock, Irwin, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jones, Lamar, Lanier, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, Marion, McDuffie, McIntosh, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Muscogee, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Peach, Pierce, Putnam, Quitman, Randolph, Richmond, Schley, Screven, Stewart, Talbot, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Taylor, Telfair, Tift, Toombs, Twiggs, Upson, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler, Wilkes and Wilkinson counties. 
  • President Trump declared an emergency declaration on Oct. 9 for 35 Florida counties to supplement state and local response efforts ahead of Hurricane Michael.
    • Specifically, FEMA is authorized to provide assistance for debris removal and emergency protective measures (Categories A and B), including direct federal assistance under the Public Assistance program, in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, and Wakulla counties.  Assistance will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.
    • In addition, assistance for emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct federal assistance under the Public Assistance program, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding in Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Gilchrist, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Lafayette, Levy, Manatee, Okaloosa, Pasco, Pinellas, Santa Rosa, Union, Walton, and Washington counties. 

If you have any questions, please contact FEMA’s Office of External Affairs, Private Sector Engagement team, at FEMA-IGA@fema.dhs.gov or 202-646-2600. 

FEMA Private Sector Advisory: Survivors Urged to Remain Vigilant, Federal Support to Impacted States Continues. October 2018

FEMA Logo
Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Office of External Affairs,
Private Sector Engagement Team
Telephone 202-646-2600



Private Sector Advisory

Survivors Urged to Remain Vigilant, Federal Support to Impacted States Continues

“I’m asking anyone out there who wants to help, to go to NVOAD.org. That’s where you can find ways to donate money or time and it helps benefit those who need it the most.” – FEMA Administrator Brock Long

October 12, 2018

Safety Messages for the Public

  • Stay alert.  Follow guidance from local officials, and do not return home until you are told it is safe.
  • Expect disruptions.  Be prepared for power and phone service outages, roads blocked by flood and/or debris, water and sewer outages.
  • Be careful during clean-up.  Wear protective clothing like waterproof boots and gloves, wash your hands often, and work in teams.
  • Start the recovery process.  If you have insurance, and it’s safe to return home, call your insurance company to file a claim.  Take photos and videos of all damages before you start cleaning up.
  • Cash is best.  A financial contribution to a recognized disaster relief organization is the most effective donation to make.

FEMA Operations Support

FEMA deployed Incident Management Assistance Teams to Atlanta and the State Emergency Operation Centers in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia with other teams still deployed to North Carolina and South Carolina.  The teams will help coordinate federal response assistance requests.  Federal search and rescue teams, ambulance strike teams, Disaster Medical Assistance Teams and other teams are all prepositioned to help response efforts. 

Commodities remain staged at Incident Support Bases in Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina to support any anticipated commodity requirements.

Four Disaster Support Assistance (DSA) Teams are deploying today to provide support to Florida shelters, and six DSA-trained FEMA Corps teams are mobilizing to the affected area.

Safety and Security Support

FEMA US&R
FEMA Urban Search & Rescue teams completed 27 evacuations, 5 assists, 654 shelter in place checks, 10 animal assists, and 1,042 structural assessments.

U.S. Department of Defense
U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) is leaning forward and actively posturing U.S. Department of Defense.  In response to potential flooding, DoD is preparing ground transportation/high-water capable vehicles to move personnel and cargo in the affected areas, is preparing to provide rotary wing aircraft, swift water boats and rescue personnel in support of flooding in the affected areas.   DoD has assets staged and ready for assignment; 32 rotary wing assets, 6 fixed wing, 17 swift water vessels, and up to 160 high-water-vehicles.

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
NOAA law enforcement is providing a quick response team to the Atlanta, Georgia staging area to support force protection and site security for Urban Search and Rescue Mission.

National Guard Bureau
As of Tuesday afternoon, the National Guard has 2,448 Guardsmen on State Active Duty for immediate response with an additional 1,500 Guardsmen expected to mobilize in the next 24 hours from Florida and Georgia.  Florida has an additional 2,500 National Guard members standing by in reserve.  Additionally, there are approximately 22,240 additional Guardsmen from Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina conducting regularly scheduled training this weekend and would be immediately available for tasking if required.

National Guard support equipment capabilities include 15 Florida rotary wing aircraft for immediate response (CH-47/UH-60/HH-60/UH-72) with 16 more available from supporting states.  Additionally, there are 27 ANG fixed and rotary wing aircraft (C-17/C-130/KC-135/HH-60) available for mission tasking with more than 670 high wheel vehicles available in Florida with an additional 2,268 located in surrounding states.

Florida is sourcing more than 50 missions that include search & rescue, liaison, engineer, route clearance and POD support for 30 locations as well as 12 shelter support missions.  There are 11 open Florida EMAC requests from more than five supporting states that include one Multipurpose Battalion (400 assigned personnel), seven CH-47 rotary wing aircraft, and 11 UH-60 rotary wing aircraft.

  1. S. Coast Guard
USCG has completed 129 rescues/assistance missions and one animal rescue.  USCG has pre-staged nine-fixed and 24 rotary wing assets for post-storm SAR efforts; three shallow water rescue teams (11 boats) en route to Panama City; two teams (six boats) en route to Tallahassee; 17 cutters remain positioned to assist with post-storm SAR efforts and the reconstitution of ports.

Food, Water, Sheltering Status

Florida has released U.S. Department of Agriculture foods in 35 affected counties for use at shelters, canteens and mobile kitchens.

The Salvation Army mobilized 48 mobile feeding units with a combined service capacity of 72,000 daily meals.  Additionally, the Salvation Army is supporting various shelters throughout the impacted area.  Salvation Army has mobilized 21 mobile feeding units (canteens) in Georgia with the capacity to serve 30,000 meals per day.

Florida Baptist has four kitchens activated with total capacity of 170,000 meals per day and six additional kitchens on standby in Tallahassee.  In Florida, 18 mobile feeding units (canteens) on standby and nine additional mobile units are set to arrive on Friday, providing a combined total meal capacity of 40,500 per day.  Operation Barbeque Relief is staging field kitchens in Tampa and Tallahassee with a total meal capacity of 30,000 meals per day for these two field kitchens.  Southern Baptist Disaster Relief has 12 additional kitchens in nearby states that can provide up to 176,000 meals per day.

More than 3,500 evacuees spent the night in 33 shelters in Florida.  In Alabama, 42 people stayed in three shelters overnight.  Georgia has four shelters open, and Georgia State Parks and Atlanta Motor Speedway facilities may become available for evacuees.  Overnight, 53 people stayed in Georgia shelters.

USDA launched a disaster assistance website Farmers.gov that walks producers through five questions to help them identify personalized results of which USDA disaster assistance programs can help them recover after a natural disaster.

USACE deployed two temporary roofing subject matter experts to assess the need for temporary roofing mission

Health and Medical Support

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) reports that six Disaster Assistance Medical Teams (DMATs) are engaged or enroute across Walton Beach, Panama City and Tallahassee.   HHS reports 308 ground ambulances and 125 para-transit members to support patient movement, and five ambulance strike teams arrived in Florida to assist with patient transport.   In Georgia, HHS currently has 60 ambulances staged and report 20 hospitals and 15 nursing homes on generator power.

The HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration made the Disaster Distress Helpline available to assist residents in the impacted area in coping with the stress caused by Michael.  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).

Power and Fuel Support

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) District Emergency Operations Centers have been activated in Alabama, Florida and Georgia.  USACE has deployed a Temporary Power Planning and Response Team (PRT) and members from the 249th Engineer Battalion are prepared to assess and install generators as requested by the state; 55 generators are onsite with an additional 30 generators en route.

U.S. Department of Energy
The Department of Energy (DOE) has activated its Energy Response Organization; DOE responders deployed to the Regional Response Coordination Center, the Florida and Georgia State Emergency Operations Centers. Additional DOE responders are on standby to deploy to other states as needed.  DOE is holding daily calls with the energy industry to ensure unity of effort. Industry has activated its mutual assistance network, and crews from at least 19 states have mobilized to begin restoring power as soon as it is safe to do so.

Currently, DOE reports hundreds of thousands of customers are without power across Florida, Alabama and Georgia

DOE is closely monitoring the availability of fuel across the Southeast.  Overall, supplies of gasoline in the region are at or above the five-year range.

Private Sector Energy Partners
Electric utility fleets are moving from the following states to regions in western Florida to pre-stage resources to support power restoration efforts: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois, Louisiana and Pennsylvania.

Federal Communications Support

Four FEMA Mobile Emergency Response Support units are supporting secure and non-secure voice, video and information services to support emergency response communications needs throughout areas impacted by Michael.

The Federal Communications Commission is prepared to provide emergency assistance to communications providers and has created a dedicated webpage for information about Hurricane Michael, including tips for communicating during an emergency. 

Transportation

U.S. Department of Transportation created an interactive web mapping application to provide real-time situational awareness of the storm path and its impact on user-selected transportation infrastructure.

Hazardous Waste

The Environmental Protection Agency identified priority oil and chemical facilities and sites that might require assessment after landfall. 

Emergency Management Compacts

Nine different states are sending support through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.  More than 15 missions are active in both Florida and Georgia with more than 330 people deployed to assist.

Declaration Background Information

Major Disaster Declarations
  • On Oct. 11, President Trump declared a Major Disaster for the state of Florida as a result of Hurricane Michael.  This declaration makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Bay, Franklin, Gulf, Taylor and Wakulla counties.  Federal funding is also available to the state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work damaged by Hurricane Michael in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor and Wakulla counties.  This is in addition to the Oct. 9 emergency declaration for 35 counties.
    • Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can visit disasterassistance.gov to check eligibility for federal, state, local, and voluntary organizations in their community that best meet their specific needs.
    • Survivors without internet access can check their eligibility for disaster assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362 (Multilingual operators are available press 2 for Spanish). 
    • Disaster assistance applicants who use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service, call 1-800-621-3362.  The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. 
    •  
Emergency Disaster Declarations
  • President Trump declared an emergency declaration on Oct. 10 for 107 counties in Georgia to supplement state and local response efforts ahead of Hurricane Michael.
    • Specifically, FEMA is authorized to provide assistance for debris removal and emergency protective measures (Categories A and B), including direct federal assistance under the Public Assistance program, in Baker, Bleckley, Burke, Calhoun, Colquitt, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Emanuel, Grady, Houston, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, Lee, Macon, Miller, Mitchell, Pulaski, Seminole, Sumter, Terrell, Thomas, Treutlen, Turner, Wilcox and Worth counties.  Assistance will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.
    • In addition, assistance for emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct federal assistance under the Public Assistance program, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding in Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baldwin, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Chattahoochee, Clarke, Clay, Clinch, Coffee, Columbia, Cook, Crawford, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Evans, Glascock, Glynn, Greene, Hancock, Irwin, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jones, Lamar, Lanier, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, Marion, McDuffie, McIntosh, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Muscogee, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Peach, Pierce, Putnam, Quitman, Randolph, Richmond, Schley, Screven, Stewart, Talbot, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Taylor, Telfair, Tift, Toombs, Twiggs, Upson, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler, Wilkes and Wilkinson counties. 
  • Ala. Gov. Kay Ivey requested an emergency declaration for 17 counties and one tribe to supplement state and local response efforts as a result of Hurricane Michael.  The request is pending.
  • President Trump declared an emergency declaration on Oct. 9 for 35 Florida counties to supplement state and local response efforts ahead of Hurricane Michael.
    • Specifically, FEMA is authorized to provide assistance for debris removal and emergency protective measures (Categories A and B), including direct federal assistance under the Public Assistance program, in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, and Wakulla counties.  Assistance will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.
o   In addition, assistance for emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct federal assistance under the Public Assistance program, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding in Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Gilchrist, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Lafayette, Levy, Manatee, Okaloosa, Pasco, Pinellas, Santa Rosa, Union, Walton, and Washington counties. 

Additional Resources

NOAA began collecting aerial images of the Florida panhandle on Oct. 11.  Once the aerial images are processed, they will be available on www.NOAA.gov.  NOAA is issuing Storm Quicklooks for Michael, providing near real-time information about water levels and winds. NOAA will be validating storm surge observations from this historic event.

For more information on Hurricane Michael, please visit www.fema.gov/hurricane-michael.  

If you have any questions, please contact the FEMA’s Office of External Affairs Private Sector Engagement Team at 202-646-2600 or FEMA-IGA@fema.dhs.gov.

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