September 14, 2005 -- EM Update

EM Update is the best way to communicate best practices and to get a heads up on issues that might affect you. Articles include case studies, cost/resource-saving local programs, examples of partnerships and regional cooperation and recognition of emergency managers who receive awards and honors in the field. Please don't hesitate to contact the editor whenever you have a project that might benefit localities or want to highlight an important issue concerning Virginia's emergency response community. Contact Jolie Brendlinger at (804) 897-6510 or by e-mail at pio@vdem.virginia.gov.


September 14 , 2005
Virginia prepares for Hurricane Ophelia Relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina continue This is a special edition of Update due to response efforts for hurricanes Katrina and Ophelia. Governor Mark R. Warner declared a state of emergency in Virginia on Sept. 12 to prepare for Hurricane Ophelia. VDEM has fully-augmented staffing at the Virginia Emergency Operations Center, where the status is Hurricane Readiness Condition 1. Virginia's State Police and departments of Transportation, Forestry, Conservation and Recreation, and Health as well as other members of the Virginia Emergency Response Team stand ready to respond. In addition, more than 100 Virginia National Guardsmen have been activated and deployed. VDEM is also involved in Virginia's response to the Gulf Coast by coordinating nearly 70 Emergency Management Assistance Contract requests and sending personnel, equipment and supplies to help those in the affected areas. The governor had previously declared a limited state of emergency on Aug. 31 to facilitate state relief efforts in response to the Katrina disaster on the Gulf Coast. Several Virginia state agencies have participated in the Katrina relief effort. Virginia's National Guard, Department of Forestry, State Police, Department of Health, and Department of Social Services have sent or are ready to send more than 800 personnel to the Gulf Coast. In addition, the Virginia Department of Social Services has established an Evacuee Reception Center/ Disaster Recovery Center at Ft. Pickett, which can shelter about 1,000 evacuees near Blackstone, Va. The center at Ft. Pickett is designed to serve evacuees' health, Medicaid, Social Security, unemployment and housing needs in addition to FEMA assistance. FEMA has suspended transportation of Hurricane Katrina evacuees directly from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, though Ft. Pickett stands ready to assist evacuees that FEMA sends to Virginia through other states. Additional shelter is available at the Virginia United Methodist Assembly Center in Blackstone. The president granted Gov. Warner's request for a federal disaster declaration, which will assist the state's relief efforts. FEMA is reporting at least 12,000 registered evacuees in Virginia. The Virginia chapters of the American Red Cross have more than 2,000 open cases, assisting nearly 5,000 evacuees, mostly located in the Hampton Roads, Fredericksburg and Richmond areas. VDEM has opened the Virginia Public Inquiry Center to field questions from concerned citizens about Katrina relief efforts and Ophelia preparation. The toll-free VPIC is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1-866-880-4288 until further notice. To date, the VPIC has answered more than 700 calls. More information can be found on VDEM's Web site, www.vaemergency.com.
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EM Update is the best way to communicate best practices and to get a heads up on issues that might affect you. Articles include case studies, cost/resource-saving local programs, examples of partnerships and regional cooperation and recognition of emergency managers who receive awards and honors in the field. Please don't hesitate to contact the editor whenever you have a project that might benefit localities or want to highlight an important issue concerning Virginia's emergency response community. Contact Jolie Brendlinger at (804) 897-6510 or by e-mail at pio@vdem.virginia.gov.
Produced by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management 10501 Trade Court, Richmond, Virginia 23236