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USA 2011 HURRICANE NEWS & RESOURCES
Hurricane Irene: Overview of Federal Preparations & Response (05 Sept 2011)
Economic Analysis of Hurricane Irene (29 Aug 2011)
EMAC Mutual Aid Provides Critical Support in Response to Hurricane Irene (29 Aug 2011) Prior to Hurricane Irene’s arrival along the East Coast, the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) was already in full operational status, coordinating pre-disaster requests for assistance to New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Delaware, Connecticut and the National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) at FEMA Headquarters. Since last Thursday, more than 200 personnel have been deployed to assist with a variety of emergency response needs, including ambulance strike teams, logistics support, donations management, communications, mass care assistance and swift water rescue teams.
Personnel have been deployed from Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington and West Virginia. Although Hurricane Irene has passed, response and recovery efforts are ongoing and states will continue coordination and assistance of resources under EMAC in support of the affected states for as long as assistance is needed.
About EMAC
Established in 1996, EMAC was ratified by Congress and signed into law (Public Law 104-321). It is the first national disaster-relief compact to be ratified by Congress since the Civil Defense Compact of 1950. All members must pass state legislation approving their participation in EMAC. The compact is administered by the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA).
For more information on EMAC, please contact Angela Copple, EMAC Program Director, at (859)244-8217 or via email at acopple@csg.org. Or visit the EMAC website at www.emacweb.org.
EMAC Advisory Group: Self-Deployments to States Impacted by Hurricane Irene (29 Aug 2011) According to an update from the EMAC Advisory Group, the states under impact of Hurricane Irene are reporting self deployments from a number of the disciplines.
The following broadcast was sent to all EMAC Member States. Please email Angela Copple, EMAC Program Director, with any questions.
- As a reminder, self deployments into the states impacted by Hurricane Irene are not protected by the Compact. Only official missions that have proper EMAC documentation are covered by the protections of the law.
- Self deployments are moving at their own risk into the impacted area and will not be reimbursed by the impacted states.
- States are encouraged to reach out to their Resource Providers to inform them of the risks of self deployments.
Hurricane Irene Updates & Resources (26 Aug 2011)
Hurricane Irene: Veterinary Emergency Management Focus (24 Aug 2011) From Humanitarian Resources Institute:
Hurricane Irene: How the Private Sector Can Stay Informed (26 Aug 2011) FEMA’s Office of External Affairs has offered to add appropriate contacts to a distribution list to exchange information on Hurricane Irene (and other disasters when FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center is activated). If you are interested, e-mail FEMA’s Private Sector Representative Bill Shealy at FEMA-NRCC-Private-Sector@dhs.gov. Also, the following resources have been received from FEMA:
Hurricane Irene: Overview of Federal Family's Preparations and Response (24 Aug 2011) No. HQ-11-135. The administration, coordinated through FEMA, is committed to bringing all of the resources of the federal family to bear to support the territories that have already been affected by Hurricane Irene and the states that are preparing for potential severe weather later this week. FEMA, through our regional offices in Boston, MA, Philadelphia, PA, New York City, NY, Atlanta, GA, and our Caribbean Area Office in Puerto Rico, have been in close contact and coordination with the territories that have been affected, and states that may be impacted. On Monday, President Obama declared an emergency for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, making available federal resources to support response efforts. In advance of Irene moving through the territories, FEMA deployed teams to both Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to coordinate directly with local officials on the ground. At the direction of President Obama and DHS Secretary Napolitano, FEMA continues to work with our federal, state, territorial, tribal, and local partners, as well as voluntary organizations, the private sector, and others to aggressively prepare for Hurricane Irene. The following timeline provides an overview of these and other federal activities, to date, to support these territories, states, families and communities.
Wednesday, August 24
• Fort Bragg, North Carolina has been designated as an Incident Support Base to support federal operations to respond to Hurricane Irene. The Incident Support Base allows FEMA and federal partners to proactively stage commodities closer to areas potentially affected by severe weather, allowing us to quickly move needed supplies throughout affected states, should they be needed and requested.
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has started deploying members of the 249th Engineering Battalion (Prime Power) to Puerto Rico to assist with restoring power to the island.
• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Hurricane Center is monitoring Hurricane Irene and flying jet surveillance missions to provide updated forecasts.
• The National Guard Bureau has personnel on the ground in Puerto Rico providing support for clearing roads and debris, transporting equipment, communications, urban search and rescue efforts, and public safety and security needs.
• U.S. NORTHCOM has deployed staff to Puerto Rico to help provide support and coordinate response efforts.
• U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Coast Guard is currently conducting port and air assessments in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to help re-open ports as soon as possible.
• The American Red Cross is sending volunteers to North Carolina and South Carolina, and moving feeding trucks and communications equipment to east coast states. Local chapters are also getting ready for sheltering efforts.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing recommendations for residents in states that might be affected by Hurricane Irene to minimize the potential for foodborne illnesses in the event of power outages, flooding, and other problems that could be associated with the storm. Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at www.AskKaren.gov. "Ask Karen" live chat services are available Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
• FEMA Deputy Administrator Rich Serino and National Hurricane Center Director Bill Read hold a conference call with congressional stakeholders to discuss response operations, the latest storm developments and preparations.
Tuesday, August 23
• As part of the coordination call led by President Obama on the Virginia earthquake, Department of Homeland Secretary Napolitano and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate also briefed the President on ongoing activities in response to Hurricane Irene, including FEMA's support for municipal response activities in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, as well as FEMA's coordination of preparation efforts with the governors of potentially impacted states.
• FEMA National Incident Management Assistance Teams have been deployed to staging areas in Georgia and Pennsylvania, in anticipation of further deployment to potential impact areas along the east coast of the U.S.
• FEMA, and its federal partners, conduct a video-teleconference with the governors of the states and territories that already have, or could be impacted by the severe weather.
• FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, and National Hurricane Center Director Bill Read hold a conference call with Congressional stakeholders to discuss response operations, the latest storm developments and preparations.
Monday, August 22
• FEMA, through its regional office in New York, and its Caribbean Area Office in Puerto Rico, remains in constant contact and coordination with the governors and emergency management teams from the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Puerto Rico, as they continue response efforts and begin to assess damages from the storm.
• FEMA, through its regional office in Atlanta, GA, is in contact with emergency management officials along the east coast and other states that could be impacted by Irene later in the week, to identify any needs and potential shortfalls.
• As part of this ongoing coordination, FEMA's leadership conducts daily calls with its regional offices, the governors of the states and territories that already have or could be impacted.
• FEMA proactively deploys its National Incident Management Assistance Team to North Carolina in anticipation of any potential severe weather along the east coast of the U.S.
• U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan personnel conduct port assessments and aids to navigation verification in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to reopen the ports as soon as possible.
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s high-altitude research aircraft fly surveillance missions to assess the storm's track.
• FEMA's Regional Response Coordination Center in New York activates to ensure that coordination of federal resources can be expedited and mobilized, should there be a request for federal assistance.
• FEMA activates its National Response Coordination Center to 24-hour operations, to ensure federal coordination and resources are available to support the Regional Response Coordination Center and to monitor current storm conditions.
• President Obama signs an Emergency Declaration for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico making available federal support to protect lives and property and to remove debris for all 78 municipalities in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Sunday, August 21
• FEMA's regional office in New York and its Caribbean Area Office in Puerto Rico continue their constant contact and coordination with the U.S. Virgin Islands Territory Emergency Management Agency and the Puerto Rico Emergency Management Agency.
• Both the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico activate their emergency operations centers.
• FEMA embeds staff, called liaison officers, in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico emergency operations centers work directly with territory and local officials.
• FEMA encourages residents in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to closely monitor weather conditions and listen to the direction of local and territory officials.
• At all times, FEMA maintains commodities, including millions of liters of water, millions of meals and hundreds of thousands of blankets, strategically located at distribution centers throughout the United States and its territories. In Puerto Rico, for example, FEMA has more than 200,000 liters of water, more than 400,000 meals, and more than 1,400 cots and blankets, that could be used, if needed, to help with response and recovery efforts.
Saturday, August 20
• FEMA proactively deploys Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMATs) to the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, to coordinate with territory and local officials to identify needs and shortfalls impacting potential disaster response and recovery.
Friday, August 19
• FEMA begins closely monitoring the large tropical wave that eventually strengthens into Hurricane Irene.
FEMA, NOAA Mark the Begining of National Hurricane Preparedness Week (23 May 2011) The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are partnering once again to get the message out about the importance of preparedness for hurricanes and other possible disasters. FEMA is aggressively preparing for the upcoming hurricane season and has been working closely with other federal, state, local, and tribal partners, the private sector, faith-based and voluntary organizations, and most importantly, the public, to get ready.
President Obama recently designated May 22-28, 2011, as National Hurricane Preparedness Week, and called upon all Americans, especially those in hurricane prone areas as well as inland areas, to learn more about how to protect themselves against hurricanes and to work together, as a whole community, to respond to and recover from them. The Atlantic and Central Pacific Hurricane Season runs from June 1-November 30. The Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season began on May 15.
FEMA continues to work with state, local, tribal, federal and private sector partners to increase preparedness and coordinate response and recovery in the case of a hurricane or other disaster. FEMA also urges Americans to use this week as an annual reminder to assess their personal readiness to respond to emergencies. Our team can only be as prepared as the public is prepared, which is why it's important that people living in hurricane-prone areas take steps to prepare and protect their family.
"We never know where the next hurricane or disaster will strike, but what we do know is that being prepared can make a world of difference, for individuals and their larger communities," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "In hurricane prone areas as well as inland areas, we urge the entire community to prepare now. There are a number of steps individuals, families, communities, churches and businesses can take to better protect themselves against hurricanes and other disasters."
"Having a personal hurricane plan is not just for those living along the coast. Inland areas are just as vulnerable to the effects from hurricanes, including damaging winds, tornadoes, and especially, flooding," said Bill Read, director, NOAA's National Hurricane Center.
Throughout the entire hurricane season it is important to know the risk for the area in which you are in and to stay informed of the latest weather information. Having a battery-powered radio, like a NOAA Weather Radio is a critical first step. Also, everyone, including those living well inland, should be prepared by checking personal preparations such as emergency kit supplies and knowing emergency evacuation routes. More information on how we can all be prepared for this hurricane season can be found by visiting www.Ready.gov/hurricanes.
Businesses have a vital role in preparedness as well. Putting a disaster plan in motion now will improve the likelihood that your company may recover from a disaster faster.
Ready Business outlines commonsense measures business owners and managers can take to start getting ready.
For more information on how we can all be prepared for this hurricane season, visit www.Ready.gov/hurricanes.
For information about the hurricane outlooks and National Hurricane Preparedness Week, visit http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/outreach/prepared_week.shtml.
Click here to view the Presidential Proclamation on National Hurricane Preparedness Week.
The Atlantic basin is expected to see an above-normal hurricane season this year, according to the seasonal outlook issued by NOAA's Climate Prediction Center - a division of the National Weather Service.
Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the six-month season, which begins June 1, NOAA is predicting the following ranges this year:
- 12 to 18 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which:
- 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including:
- 3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher)
Each of these ranges has a 70 percent likelihood, and indicate that activity will exceed the seasonal average of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
Climate factors considered for this outlook are:
- The continuing high activity era. Since 1995, the tropical multi-decadal signal has brought ocean and atmospheric conditions conducive for development in sync, leading to more active Atlantic hurricane seasons.
- Warm Atlantic Ocean water. Sea surface temperatures where storms often develop and move across the Atlantic are up to two degrees Fahrenheit warmer-than-average.
- La Niña, which continues to weaken in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, is expected to dissipate later this month or in June, but its impacts such as reduced wind shear are expected to continue into the hurricane season.
NOAA's seasonal hurricane outlook does not predict where and when any of these storms may hit. Landfall is dictated by weather patterns in place at the time the storm approaches. For each storm, NOAA's National Hurricane Center forecasts how these weather patterns affect the storm track, intensity and landfall potential.
Hurricane impacts are not limited to the coastline; strong winds and flooding rainfall often pose a threat across inland areas along with the risk for tornadoes.
Next week, May 22-28, is national Hurricane Preparedness Week. To help prepare residents of hurricane-prone areas, NOAA is unveiling a new set of video and audio public service announcements featuring NOAA hurricane experts and the FEMA administrator that are available in both English and Spanish. These are available at http://www.hurricanes.gov/prepare.
The National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. It operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy. Visit us online at weather.gov and on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/US.National.Weather.Service.gov.
NOAA's mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Visit us online at NOAA.gov and on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/usnoaagov.
For all of NOAA's 2011 Hurricane Season Outlooks, please see the following links:
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