Disaster recovery

June 16, 2008 -- Chicago - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan today urged residents affected by the severe flooding throughout Illinois to protect themselves from home repair con artists who are eager to exploit natural disasters for personal profit.

“Flood and storm victims now are faced with the daunting task of rebuilding and repairing their homes and businesses,” Attorney General Madigan said. “It’s important that they remain vigilant as they prepare to recover and keep an eye out for repair fraud that inevitably follows storms and natural disasters.”    » read more »

Governor activates 100 additional Air National Guard troops, directs state agency directors to allow employees who are disaster relief volunteers to participate in flood efforts

June 16, 2008 -- SPRINGFIELD – With river levels expected to reach record or near-record levels at several locations along the Mississippi River this week, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today said he has directed emergency management officials to increase state personnel and assets to help communities protect homes, local water supply systems, bridges, roads and other critical infrastructure.

Flooding in Urbana, Illinois, May 2008: Photo by Joe Futrelle (CC)    » read more »

09 June 2008 -- U.N. helicopters are delivering aid to Burma's Irrawaddy Delta Monday for the first time, bringing supplies to people struggling to survive since Cyclone Nargis devastated the region May 3.

A World Food Program spokesman said boats have been delivering some aid to villages cut off by flooding, but helicopters are much more efficient.

Cyclone Nargis damage, Burma: Photo by Ground Report (CC)

He said the U.N. is sending four more helicopters to Burma this week, bringing the total to 10.    » read more »

May 27, 2008 -- President Bush signs a Major Declaration for the state of Iowa (Butler County) for Individual Assistance, emergency protective measures, limited to Direct Federal Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation statewide within hours after receiving the Governor’s request for an expedited declaration. FEMA continues to monitor the severe storms and tornadoes across the nation and work with federal, state and local partners to identify needs and resources needed to respond to respond to them.

Region 7/Iowa:

* FEMA Liaison deployed to State EOC.
* Mobile Disaster Recovery Center (MDRC) deploying to Parkersburg, IA from Joplin, MO to provide a command and control platform for FEMA responders.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 27, 2008 -- The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for Iowa to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on May 25, 2008, and continuing.

FEMA Administrator David Paulison said the assistance was authorized under a major disaster declaration issued for the state by President Bush. The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Butler County.    » read more »

May 27, 2008 -- Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Bush's major disaster declaration issued for Iowa.

Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:

* Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)    » read more »

5/13/2008 -- Raleigh - RALEIGH – North Carolina Governor Mike Easley today met with local emergency response officials and conducted an aerial tour of tornado damage in Bertie County that occurred Sunday evening. Today he also sent teams of Small Business Administration officials to Bertie County to determine if the county is eligible for an SBA disaster declaration. If the county is eligible, uninsured residents whose homes were destroyed or received major damage would be eligible for low interest loans to use for home repair.    » read more »

ARLINGTON, Va. (05/12/2008) - National Guard members in four states were called out by their governors to assist civil authorities May 12 after tornados crossed the Southwest May 10 and flooding on the Delaware coast left communities in need of emergency assistance.

Arkansas Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Lucas Jennings discusses tornado response missions in Arkansas: Arkansas National Guard photo

Since May 7, the National Weather Service has confirmed at least 42 tornados in the southern Plains and the southeastern and middle Atlantic regions of the nation with the strongest tornado recorded May 10 as an F-4. It developed from a super cell storm that tracked through three states.    » read more »

12 May 2008 -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he is frustrated by the Burmese government's handling of the humanitarian crisis in the cyclone-devastated country. He is urging the military government to increase access for international relief efforts, warning that further delays could set the country back years.

Mr. Ban expressed his frustration with the pace of relief efforts in Burma, also known as Myanmar.

"Today is the 11th day since Typhoon Nargis hit Myanmar," he said. "I want to register my deep concern and immense frustration at the unacceptably slow response to this grave humanitarian crisis."    » read more »

5/12/2008 -- Raleigh - North Carolina Governor Mike Easley this morning dispatched damage assessment teams comprised of state and local officials to Jones and Bertie counties to begin the process of assessing damage from the storm that swept through the area Sunday. The Jones team also will assess the damage in Onslow County.

“The evaluations of the damage assessment teams are important to the recovery of communities that have suffered damage and to help people start to get their lives back to normal,” Easley said. “I remind everyone to be cautious and not put themselves or others at risk by avoiding downed power lines, flooded roads, rain-swollen waterways and other areas of potential danger.”    » read more »

May 12, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY – As Southwest Missourians begin to recover from the powerful storms that ripped through their communities over the weekend, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt encourages residents to be wary of scammers seeking to profit from mother nature’s destruction.

“Unfortunately, scammers see disasters as prime opportunities to take advantage of those most in need of help,” Gov. Blunt said. “I urge Missourians to take caution and research any home repair company that shows up at their doorstep as they work through the insurance claims process. Missourians can avoid scam artists by working with reputable, local businesses rather than fly-by-night companies.”    » read more »

May 12, 2008 -- ATLANTA – Today Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in seven additional counties affected by tornadoes that struck on Sunday. The seven counties are Clayton, Crawford, Emanuel, Glynn, Jenkins, McIntosh, and Twiggs. The announcement follows an emergency declaration released on Sunday declaring six Georgia counties in a state of emergency: Bibb, Carroll, Douglas, Jefferson, Johnson and Laurens.

“We are working together to ensure response efforts reach all Georgians affected by these storms,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “Joint local, state and federal assessment teams will continue to determine the full scope of the damage to businesses, state facilities and residences.”    » read more »

May 12, 2008 -- LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe today declared Arkansas and Phillips Counties state disaster areas due to the damage caused by tornadoes and thunderstorms on Saturday, May 10. The declarations are the latest in a long season of severe weather.

Tornado devastation in Arkansas: Photo by Debra (CC)

Beebe declared 11 counties disaster areas after the May 2 tornadoes, 60 counties after the floods and tornadoes of March and April and 13 counties following the record-setting tornado outbreak of February 5.    » read more »

5/9/2008 -- Raleigh - North Carolina Governor Mike Easley today dispatched damage assessment teams comprised of state and local officials to Guilford, Forsyth, and Davie counties to begin the process of assessing damage from the storm that swept through the area late Thursday and earlier today.

“Sending these damage assessment teams is a vital step in the recovery process, and one that will help get life back to normal,” Easley said. “I ask people to take caution so as not to put themselves or others at risk by avoiding downed power lines, flooded roads and rain-swollen waterways.”    » read more »

May 11, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY - Since yesterday evening Missouri Governor Matt Blunt has been in contact with state emergency management officials regarding tornadoes that inflicted severe damage and took the lives of many of our fellow citizens in southwest Missouri.

Tornado damage: Photo by William Redman (CC)

The state emergency operations plan is activated to allow state agencies to assist with the local emergency response efforts. The hardest hit areas include Barry, Jasper and Newton Counties.    » read more »