Homeland Security Teams Respond to Isabel Victims Throughout Mid-Atlantic Region

Release Date: 09/19/03 00:00:00

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 19, 2003

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is coordinating the Federal government response in the aftermath of Hurricane Isabel's destruction throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said that the Department's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Coast Guard, "have deployed a full range of response and recovery assets to those states severely impacted by the storm. Several thousand emergency responders have as their primary objective to save lives and property."

President Bush has signed disaster declarations for North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland that authorize a full range of disaster assistance to disaster victims as well as public assistance for infrastructure damages. Secretary Ridge and FEMA Director Michael Brown are maintaining close contact with governors in the states affected by Isabel.

FEMA damage assessment teams joined state response and recovery teams in North Carolina and Virginia as soon as the storm passed and began to assess damages and identify immediate critical needs.

Medical and communication teams have been deployed by FEMA to a number of locations to support state and local emergency needs. More that 70 semi-trailers loaded with water and emergency meals, tents cots, blankets, portable toilets, generators, plastic sheeting and roofing materials are at pre-designated mobilization centers and ready for distribution to emergency management officials in the hardest hit areas.

FEMA director Michael Brown urged evacuees to be cautious about returning home and to closely follow the advice of local authorities as they work to restore services. "Please stay alert when returning to your home or when venturing out in your neighborhood after a hurricane," Brown said. "While the immediate danger is past, there are downed power lines, high water and other dangers that still threaten public safety."

The U. S. Coast Guard began flying search patrols along the track of the hurricane with C-130 patrol aircraft and helicopters, locating citizens in distress and assessing the damages in the multi-state and coastal areas. Coast Guard Helicopters are equipped to hoist people stranded on rooftops, cars, or in other distress situations.

Coast Guard planes are conducting post-hurricane recovery to include Aids to Navigation verification, port and waterway damage assessments and port restrictions and detect and respond to pollution incidents.

Homeland Security officials are continuing to monitor 15 sector-specific Information Sharing and Analysis Centers which include the most vulnerable critical infrastructures such as electricity, telecommunications, water and transportation. Officials are supporting efforts by the private sector to resume critical power and water services in impacted areas. Transportation and Security Administration inspectors are coordinating with the airlines to re-position aircraft and to establish shutdown and startup times for operations into and out of affected airports.

In coordination with FEMA, Health and Human Services emergency response teams have been deployed to Raleigh, North Carolina and Richmond, Virginia to assist state and local governments with evaluating the status and accessibility of hospitals and checking water and sanitation quality. The teams were on the ground days before Isabel made landfall and working with local officials.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has moved more than 200,000 gallons of water and hundreds of tons of ice to the affected areas. The Department of Defense opened four of its military bases for use as mobilization and staging sites for the emergency response teams and supplies.

The American Red Cross has more that 6,000 volunteers helping victims of Hurricane Isabel. Wednesday night 36,000 residents stayed in 352 Red Cross shelters throughout the 11affected states and the District of Columbia. Two Red Cross-10,000 meals-a-day kitchens are in place and have served more than 75,000 meals. The Red Cross encourages those who still need help to call 1-866-GET INFO for shelter locations, preparedness tips and ways in which they can volunteer to help those in need.

This page was last reviewed/modified on 09/19/03 00:00:00.