The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to lead the federal government’s effort to provide assistance and support to states affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, ensuring the federal family and its public and private partners continue to provide all available resources to support state, local, territorial and tribal communities in affected areas.
On Friday, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and FEMA Deputy Administrator Richard Serino traveled to Staten Island, NY to meet with state and local officials, first responders, and disaster survivors and view ongoing response and recovery efforts of the storm. Napolitano traveled to Connecticut and New York to view ongoing efforts, on Thursday.
Napolitano issued a temporary, blanket waiver of the Jones Act to immediately allow additional oil tankers coming from the Gulf of Mexico to enter Northeastern ports. This will provide more fuel to the region. The Coast Guard also has re-opened the port of New York to all tug and barge traffic carrying petroleum products. And Customs and Border Protection are working to ensure air and sea ports in the affected areas are fully staffed and ready to receive passengers and cargo as they return to operation. In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency has exercised its authority under the Clean Air Act to temporarily waive certain federal gasoline requirements for gas sold and distributed in more than a dozen states. This waiver will help ensure an adequate supply of fuels in the impacted states.
The Department of Energy is working with industry partners to ensure that the infrastructure to deliver petroleum is up and running to meet fuel demands. Normal operations have already resumed at two major refineries in Delaware and New Jersey, and pipeline companies have restored services to six pipelines servicing New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and north to Maine.
In support of an aggressive power restoration effort, the President has approved a 100 percent cost share for ten days, starting October 31, for emergency work performed by state, tribal and local governments to restore emergency power and transportation assistance required to perform this emergency work, including direct federal assistance for New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut counties designated for Public Assistance. Other forms of Category B (emergency work) public assistance remain at a 75 percent cost share.
Also, a national task force, established at the direction of the President to restore power to people as quickly possible, has been expanded to address fuel shortages. More than 16 airlift flights have been completed to transport power restoration vehicles and crews from private utility companies from California to the East Coast, and the airlifts continued today. The federal government also has provided hundreds of generators to help critical infrastructure sites and fuel stations operate until full power is restored.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) continues to aggressively support a de-watering mission at the direction of FEMA. De-watering pumps have been deployed and additional large capacity pumps are enroute. Teams are in place at critical areas around the New York City vicinity, such as the Battery Park Tunnel, as identified by local officials and pumping water operations are underway. Additional USACE teams are in ports and the waterways in both New Jersey and New York clearing debris and technical assistance personnel have been deployed to support emergency temporary power operations.
“Survivors of this storm can take the first steps toward recovery right now by registering for assistance with FEMA,” said FEMA Administrator Fugate. “Impacted residents and business owners in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey can apply for federal assistance by phone 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), via mobile devices at m.fema.gov or online atwww.DisasterAssistance.gov.”
As of last night, states, tribes, localities and the Red Cross and other organizations continue to support more than 330 shelters across 9 states supporting more than 15,000 residents. To find a shelter, people can download the Red Cross Hurricane app, visit the Red Cross web site, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), or check local media outlets.
Disaster Recovery Centers are opening in the hardest hit areas. Seven Disaster Recovery Centers are open in New York, two in New Jersey and two in Connecticut, and more continue to open. Additional disaster recovery centers are being planned. Specialists from the state, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will be on hand to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors. To find a disaster recovery center location, check out the disaster recovery center locator at FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or by mobile phone at m.fema.gov. Two Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinators have been appointed.
More than 3,200 FEMA personnel are working to support response operations, including search and rescue, situational awareness, communications and logistical support in states affected by the storm. Community relations teams are on the ground in the hardest hit areas of the Mid-Atlantic going door-to-door to inform disaster survivors about available services and resources and to gather situational awareness. More than 1,000 housing inspectors are on the ground, meeting with disaster survivors to identify damages to homes, to further expedite assistance to individuals.
The President also signed federal emergency declarations for Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia. This allows FEMA to provide resources directly to state, tribal and local government engaged in life-saving and sustaining activities.
