Disaster relief

May 12, 2008 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Christine Gregoire is urging Washingtonians to open their hearts and wallets to help in the aftermath of an earthquake Monday that killed and injured thousands of people in the Chinese province of Sichuan.

“Time and time again, Washingtonians have responded to those in need, whether they live in Lewis County or another country,” Gregoire said. “I urge folks to consider whether they are able to give and to do so with an international relief agency they trust so that their contributions bring the greatest value to those who are truly hurting.”    » read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 11, 2008 -- The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is working closely with states impacted from the recent severe storms and tornadoes as they assess damages. DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff has spoken with the governors of Oklahoma and Missouri, and both he and FEMA Administrator David Paulison are expected to travel to impacted areas on Tuesday, May 13. State and local resources currently are addressing the most immediate needs as federal resources support their efforts.    » read more »

India, ASEAN Also Need to Push Generals to Accept International Help

New York, May 10, 2008 – China, India, Thailand and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should work to convince Burma’s government to lift restrictions on international assistance so aid can reach survivors of Cyclone Nargis, Human Rights Watch said today.

Residents work with cleanup in aftermath of Cyclone Nargis: Photo by Mohd Nor Azmil Abdul Rahman (CC)    » read more »

WASHINGTON -- May 11, 2008 — Today, a commercial airplane carrying the first shipment of American Red Cross relief supplies touched down in Yangon, Myanmar, to assist survivors of cyclone Nargis. This newly arrived shipment includes an initial supply of 8,000 insecticide-treated mosquito nets to help prevent the spread of malaria.

Aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, Burma: Photo by Mohd Nor Azmil Abdul Rahman (CC)    » read more »

May 11, 2008 -- Oklahoma City - Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry made the following remarks today after surveying tornado-ravaged sections of Picher, Oklahoma. At least six deaths and more than 150 injuries occurred as the result of a tornado that swept through the Ottawa County town Saturday, May 10.

Oklahoma tornado damage: Photo by Matthew Minnix (CC)

The Governor toured Picher with state Department of Emergency Management director Albert Ashwood, Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment Miles Tolbert, state Department of Public Safety Commissioner Kevin Ward and state Adjutant General Harry M. Wyatt III.    » read more »

05/07/2008 -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen has requested a federal designation of agricultural disaster for Giles, Lawrence and Warren counties due to April 11 tornadoes that caused extensive farm damages.

A designation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture would allow farmers in these counties who suffered damages to apply for low-interest emergency loans to help them manage losses and recover during the growing season. Bredesen made the request in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer.    » read more »

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command will exercise their response abilities to a variety of events during an intensive eight-day national level exercise in May. National Level Exercise 2-08 will run May 1-8 and will exercise national capabilities to prepare and respond to multiple incidents including both natural disasters and terrorist incidents.

C-130H aircraft: Photo by Tech. Sgt. Joe Zuccaro

The exercise will include hurricane preparedness and response and Defense Support to Civil Authorities coordination in response to a weapon of mass destruction terrorist attack.    » read more »

Guard validates emergency plans with disaster response exercise

CAMP BEAUREGARD, La. - The Louisiana National Guard finished months of preparation with a joint Disaster Response Exercise April 2-6 in New Orleans.

The training brought together nearly 600 participants from the National Guard, Coast Guard, local, state and federal agencies to complete an exercise that simulated a category two hurricane hitting the greater New Orleans metropolitan area.

Soldiers help an injured role player during a Disaster Response Exercise: Soldiers were given different missions simultaneously to test the Louisiana National Guard’s ability to respond to an emergency. US Army photo by Thomas Benoit    » read more »

April 18, 2008 -- JACKSON, Mississippi – Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour said today he will appeal the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s denial of his request for federal disaster assistance in the wake of destructive tornadoes that struck the City of Jackson and Hinds County on April 4, 2008.

Tornado damage: Devastation following a 2002 tornado in Columbus, Mississippi. Photo by Anita Westervelt / FEMA    » read more »

WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Airmen from McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., recently provided satellite imagery to assist state and federal agencies in relief efforts following flooding in Missouri and Arkansas.

Members of the 169th Communications Flight at McEntire Joint National Guard Base collected imagery using Eagle Vision, a mobile commercial imagery direct downlink system, to use in damage assessment and reconstruction in the two states.    » read more »

Federal Disaster Funds Requested in Wake of Severe Flooding

April 9, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) today asked President Bush to declare fifteen southern Illinois counties federal disaster areas after severe flooding hit the area late last month.

Road closed after winter flooding, Illinois: Photo by tlindenbaum (CC)    » read more »

April 9, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY -- Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today announced President Bush has approved his request for Disaster Declarations for Public Assistance for 47 Missouri Counties as a result of the March flooding.

“The damage assessment teams identified over $28.5 million in damaged public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and critical facilities,” Gov. Blunt said.

A Coast Guard member assisting with Missouri flood relief: Photo by Coast Guard News (CC)    » read more »

April 8, 2008 -- BATON ROUGE – Today, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to request assistance for those farmers in the Morganza Spillway whose crops have been affected by recent rising water levels. The letter is included below:

Morganza Louisiana sandbag: National Guard heavy equipment fills large sandbags to prevent Mississippi River floodwaters from flooding cropland near Morganza. Photo courtesy Louisiana Dept. of Agriculture.

Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer
U.S. Department of Agriculture
14th & Independence Ave, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250

Dear Secretary Schafer:    » read more »

April 04, 2008 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide financial relief to Kenosha, Lafayette, Racine, and Waukesha Counties to help supplement emergency response efforts to the February 5-6 winter storm that produced record snowfalls.

Snowplows at work near Beloit, Wisconsin: Photo by OldOnliner (CC)    » read more »

April 4, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today built upon Faith-Based Missouri, by highlighting the Faith-Based Missouri Disaster Relief Initiative as an avenue to increase cooperation between state government and faith and community-based groups in providing services to Missouri families during times of emergency.

Stormy weather: Photo by Chris (CC)    » read more »