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Federal, State, and Local Partners Work Together to Support Response Efforts to Harvey

August 28, 2017

EDINBURG, TX—FEMA, through its Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) in Denton, Texas, the National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) in Washington, D.C., and our liaisons to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, is responding to Tropical Storm Harvey in Texas and Louisiana.

The top priority of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and our federal partners as we work together to support authorities in the state of Texas is protecting the life and safety of those in impacted areas. This is a long duration storm, the recovery will be challenging, and the help of the whole community is required.

"I would like to extend my utmost appreciation to our federal, state, and local partners for their professionalism and dedication," Congressman Vicente Gonzalez said. "It is vital that we all continue working together to rebuild South Texas and assist those affected by Harvey."

The storm is expected to continue to batter south Texas with little movement, sending more residents from their homes seeking shelter. It will be a long time before many survivors of the storm will be able to return home – and what they come back to may be uninhabitable.

All those in the areas affected by Tropical Storm Harvey should continue to follow the instructions of state, local, and tribal officials, including instructions to shelter in place or evacuate. Do not return to evacuated areas until told it is safe to do so.

This is still a dangerous storm; residents and visitors in areas potentially affected by the severe weather should continue to monitor local radio or TV stations for updated emergency information. When it is safe to do so, check on your neighbors who may require assistance, such as infants, children, older adults, people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. Individual community members are the first line of response following a storm.

If you evacuated and have not yet returned to your home, call your insurance company. To file a flood insurance claim under the National Flood Insurance Program, contact your insurance agent immediately. You can also call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) – select option 2 – to learn more about your policy, and be directed to the appropriate claims resource.

While immediate lifesaving and life sustaining operations are the priority for FEMA and our partners, residents and business owners in designated counties who sustained disaster related damage due to Tropical Storm Harvey, and are able to do so, can apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

You may wait to register for FEMA assistance until you know whether your home is damaged. You have 60 days after a declaration to register for FEMA disaster assistance.

Registering online is the quickest way to register for FEMA assistance since the event will last several days and the full scope of damages may not be evident until the storm has passed. If you do not have access to the internet you may register by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). If you use 711 relay or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362 directly. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

FEMA does not provide food assistance, including food lost due to power outages. Voluntary organizations in the disaster area may be able to help with your food needs. If you have a food-related need, dial 2-1-1 for a referral to an organization that can assist.

Family and friends of those in the affected areas are urged to check social network sites like Facebook or Twitter for information about your loved ones, or use the American Red Cross's Safe and Well program, to let family members know they are safe, or looking for loved ones.

To report a missing child, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-866-908-9570. Anyone who finds an unaccompanied child who may have been separated from their parents or caregivers should contact the local police, or enter basic information and/or a photo into the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's Unaccompanied Minors Registry or call 1-866-908-9570.

Search and Rescue

  • Federal, state, and local search and rescue teams are operating 24/7 to reach those stranded in flooded areas. Integrated search and rescue operations by federal, state, and local teams are engaged and aligning the right skills with the search and rescue needs as they are identified.
  • FEMA has more than 1100 Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) personnel working to save lives in south Texas. National US&R teams are located across the United States, trained and equipped to handle structural collapses and swift water rescues.
  • Surge of boat resources are available for the state from National US&R teams, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of the Interior (DOI), and United States Coast Guard (USCG). USCG is using shallow-draft vessels to provide search and rescue assistance in flooded areas, while Coast Guard aircrews conduct damage assessment overflights and search and rescue patrols.
  • As of yesterday, the federal government has confirmed rescues of more than 2,000 multi-person cases in the Houston-Galveston area.
  • Only call 911 if you have a life-threatening emergency.
  • If 911 is unavailable and you are in need of immediate rescue, you can call the USCG at the following numbers:
    • 281-464-4851
    • 281-464-4852
    • 281-464-4853
    • 281-464-4854
    • 281-464-4855

The Situation

  • Shelters are open across the affected and surrounding areas. Download the FEMA mobile app (available in English and Spanish) for registration information, directions to open shelters, a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, disaster survival tips, and weather alerts from the National Weather Service. The app also enables users to receive push notifications reminding them to take important steps to prepare their homes and families for disasters.
  • According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Harvey has moved just offshore off the middle Texas coast will retain strength through late Monday into Tuesday. Tropical Storm Harvey is expected to produce additional rain accumulations of 15 to 25 inches through the end of the week over the upper Texas coast into southwestern Louisiana. Isolated maximum storm totals may reach 50 inches over the upper Texas coast, including the Houston/Galveston metropolitan area. These rains are currently producing catastrophic and life-threatening flooding, and flash flood emergencies are in effect for portions of southeastern Texas. The storm is also expected to produce total new rain accumulations of 5 to 15 inches farther south into the middle Texas coast, west toward the Hill Country, and farther east toward the south-central Louisiana.

In addition, a few tornadoes are possible today and tonight from the upper Texas coast across parts of southwestern and south-central Louisiana.

  • The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Flash Flood Watch for the following Texas counties: Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Jackson, Harris, Houston, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Walker, Waller, Washington and Wharton.
  • A Flash Flood Watch is issued when conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation and represents a severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage. The NWS cautions against any attempt to travel in these areas.
  • As of 5 a.m. EDT, the NWS has the following active warning:
    • A tropical storm warning for Mesquite Bay to High Island

Declarations

  • On August 28, 2017, President Trump declared an emergency for parishes of Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, and Vermillion parishes in the State of Louisiana, at the request of Governor Bel Edwards. FEMA is authorized to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the designated areas. Specifically, FEMA is authorized to provide emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent federal funding.
  • Direct Federal Assistance is when a State or Tribe lacks a capability to perform or contract for debris removal, emergency protective measures, emergency communications, or emergency public transportation they may request that the work be accomplished directly by a federal agency.
  • On August 27, 2017, President Trump added 12 Texas counties to the six counties whose residents were already eligible to receive federal funds to help them and their communities recover from Tropical Storm Harvey. Aransas, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Liberty, Matagorda, Victoria, and Wharton were added to Bee, Goliad, Kleberg, Nueces, San Patricio, and Refugio counties.
  • Federal funding is also available to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, in the same 18 counties listed above, and hazard mitigation statewide.

FEMA Actions

  • Urban Search & Rescue task forces with the National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) System, deployed to Texas to support the state and tribes as needed and requested. Each of these teams has swift water rescue capabilities.
    • Five Type 1 Task Forces conducting operations in south Texas
    • Eight Type 3 Task Forces conducting operations in south Texas
    • One Incident Support Team in College Station
    • Six Hazardous Equipment Push Packages teams in San Antonio, Texas to provide support for handling hazardous materials.
  • FEMA established Incident Support Bases (ISB) near Seguin, Texas and Camp Beauregard, Louisiana to pre-position supplies including water, meals, blankets and other resources closer to potentially affected areas, should they be needed and requested by the state. State, local, and tribal officials are responsible for distributing supplies to the community.
    • As of this evening, the following are at the ISBs and staging areas in Texas and Louisiana and are available to the state if needed:
      • More than 2,000,000 liters of water,
      • More than 1,750,000 meals
      • More than 23,000 tarps,
      • and 90 generators for critical infrastructure requiring emergency power, such as hospitals
  • FEMA activated the National Emergency Medical Services contract for 100 ambulances and 15 air ambulances for advanced and basic life support and are staged in San Antonio, Texas.
  • Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) personnel and equipment are on the ground in Texas and Louisiana to support the states with secure and non-secure voice, video and information services for emergency response communications needs. The following teams and assets are on the ground in Texas, with additional teams deploying:
    • 65 MERS personnel
    • 10 mobile communication office vehicles in support of US&R, IMAT, ISB, and survivor assistance.
  • FEMA Incident Management Assistance Teams are in place at the Texas and Louisiana state emergency operations centers in Austin, Texas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to support requests for federal assistance. Additional teams continue to deploy as the response continues.
  • FEMA's National Business Emergency Operations Center is activated to facilitate coordination between government and private sector organizations as the community responds to Tropical Storm Harvey.
  • The National Flood Insurance Program has General Adjusters situated in Texas and Louisiana to support initial damage assessments and assist with positioning adjuster resources following the event.
  • More than 2,000 FEMA employees are deployed in support of Tropical Storm Harvey response.

Federal Family Actions

As of 4 a.m. EDT today, more than 8,500 federal staff are deployed in support of Tropical Storm Harvey response.

  • On August 26, 2017 the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price declared a public health emergency in Texas in response to Tropical Storm Harvey to provide greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs. HHS also has more than 500 medical professionals deployed from the National Disaster Medical System and U.S. Public Health Service, and an additional 1,000 professionals on alert to provide medical care.
  • The American Red Cross (ARC) has mobilized a massive relief effort to provide shelter, food and comfort. Nearly 2,000 people have taken refuge in 34 Red Cross and community shelters. Nearly 1,500 Red Cross volunteers from across the country are on the ground now or in route to support shelter operations.
  • The United States Geological Survey Texas Water Science Center deployed storm surge sensors in as many as 20 locations between the San Luis Pass and Corpus Christi.
  • The Civil Air Patrol is providing aircraft, vehicles, and personnel to accomplish aerial/ground imaging, damage assessments, and transportation of personnel and light cargo.
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting flood-fighting activities such as stockpiling and issuing flood-fighting materials (sandbags and materials/fabrics that keep soil in place) to local government entities in an effort to mitigate the effects of flooding in the affected areas.

Safety

  • Remember, follow instructions from state, local, and tribal officials. If told to shelter in place or evacuate, do so immediately. Do not return to evacuated areas until told it is safe to do so.
  • If you are in a high-rise building and need to shelter in place, go to first- or second -floor hallways or interior rooms. You want to stay on floors above floodwater or storm surge.
  • There are historic levels of flooding being caused by this storm. Driving through a flooded area can be extremely hazardous, and almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. When in your vehicle, look out for flooding in low-lying areas, at bridges, and at highway dips. As little as six inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
  • If you encounter floodwaters, remember: Turn around, don't drown.
  • Storm surge is often the greatest threat to life and property from a tropical storm. It poses a significant threat for drowning and can occur before, during, or after the center of a storm passes through an area. Storm surge can sometimes cut off evacuation routes, so do not delay leaving if an evacuation is ordered for your area.
  • This storm has already spawned several tornadoes. If you are under a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately in the center of a small interior room (closet, interior hallway) on the lowest level of a sturdy building. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside.
  • Get to know the terms that are used to identify severe weather and discuss with your family what to do if a watch or warning is issued.

For a tropical storm:

  • A Tropical Storm Watch is issued when tropical cyclone containing winds of at least 39 mph or higher poses a possible threat, generally within 48 hours.
  • A Tropical Storm Warning is issued when sustained winds of 39 mph or higher associated with a tropical cyclone are expected in 36 hours or less.

For inland flooding:

  • A Flash Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flash flooding.
  • A Flash Flood Warning is issued when flash flooding is imminent or occurring.
  • A Flash Flood Emergency is issued when severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage from a flash flood is imminent or ongoing.

If you have any questions, please contact FEMA's Intergovernmental Affairs Division at (202) 646-3444 or at FEMA-IGA@fema.dhs.gov.