FYI
Web addresses, info re US Virgin Is. (Lisa's territory) are toward the
bottom.

-----Original Message-----
From: Emergency Information Media Affairs <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Saturday, September 26, 1998 8:57 PM
Subject: Hurricane Georges Saturday Update


>Washington September 26, 1998, -- Following are selected highlights of
>current federal response activities related to Hurricane Georges.
>
>National Hurricane Center
>
>As of 11:00 a.m. EDT today, Hurricane Georges was about 385 miles
>southeast of New Orleans, 26.1 N latitude, 85.6 W longitude. Maximum
>sustained winds are 105 mph, with higher gusts. Georges continues moving
>to the west-northwest with a forward speed of 12 mph. Hurricane force
>winds extend outward up to 125 miles from the center. Tropical storm force
>winds extend outward up to 175 miles.
>
>The National Weather Service has issued a hurricane warning for the Gulf
>Coast from Morgan City, La. to Panama City, Fla. A tropical storm warning
>and hurricane watch are in effect from Panama City to St. Mark, Fla. and
>from Morgan City to Intracoastal City, La.
>
>Based on the current track, Georges will begin to impact the Gulf Coast on
>Sunday early afternoon as a Category III hurricane with maximum sustained
>winds of 115 mph.
>
>Federal Response
>
>The President signed an Emergency Declaration for Florida on September 25
>approving direct federal funding for the first 72 hours of this disaster.
>The Emergency Declaration authorizes 100 percent federal funding for
>emergency protective measures, and 75 percent federal funding for debris
>removal. Florida counties included in this Emergency Declaration are
>Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Dade, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Hernando,
>Hillsbourough, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Monroe, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas,
>and Sarasota.
>
>FEMA has alerted members of the National Emergency Response Team and they
>are standing by awaiting possible deployment. The team is organized under
>the Federal Response Plan and is an interagency response for major
>disasters.
>
>Advance Emergency Response Teams have assembled and are enroute
>Mississippi and Alabama. FEMA state liaisons have been also been sent to
>these states.
>
>Four joint State/Federal Preliminary Damage Assessment Teams are going
>into south Florida today.
>
>FEMA's Headquarters Emergency Support Team, and the Regional Operations
>Center in Atlanta are operating 24 hours/day.
>
>The Mobile Emergency Response Support Team from FEMA's Thomasville, Ga.
>Facility was dispatched to Mississippi today.
>
>The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has procured 1.25 million sandbags for
>flood fighting operations.
>
>The U.S. Public Health Service, a part of the Department of Health and
>Human Services, has assigned the Disaster Medical Assistance Team from
>Kentucky to Key West, Fla. today. Disaster Medical Assistance Teams from
>North Carolina and Georgia are heading for Jacksonville Naval Air Station
>and will standby there for assignment. Teams from Massachusetts, Texas,
>New Mexico, Michigan, and Arkansas are being pre-positioned at Maxwell Air
>Force Base, Ala.
>
>The U.S. Department of Agriculture has authorized the release of their
>food stores for use in shelters and at mass feeding sites.
>
>Puerto Rico Recovery
>
>Puerto Rican officials and FEMA staff are establishing a Disaster Field
>Office to coordinate recovery operations in San Juan.
>
>The Puerto Rico Department of Education reports no major damage to school
>buildings and their vehicles are operational. The Governor plans to reopen
>all schools, except those being used as shelters, on Monday, September 28.
>
>The American Red Cross reports that this morning, 347 government-operated
>shelters are open with a population of 19,553.
>
>The Port of San Juan is open for daylight operations only.
>
>Federal Aviation Administration staff are working on the Caribbean
>Airspace Radar System. The passenger terminal at the Isla Grand Airport
>was destroyed by the hurricane.
>
>Utility company officials estimate 50 percent of the power to be restored
>over the weekend and should be fully restored in most urban areas by next
>week. Fifty generators have been sent to Puerto Rico. Transportation
>officials have made arrangements for flat-bed trucks to deliver the
>generators across the island. At least 50 percent of the island's power
>poles were destroyed in the storm. Approximately 100,000 of 1.3 million
>urban area customers have had power restored
>
>Water service is out to 75 percent of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct & Sewer
>Authority's customers.
>
>Agriculture officials report significant losses. Early reports indicate:
>Coffee - 75 percent
>Plantain - 95 percent
>Chickens - 65 percent
>Ornamental plants- 25 percent
>
>U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have provided personnel and
>generators to one hospital, two disaster staging areas and the
>Mobilization Center at Roosevelt Roads. They are also procuring 12
>refrigerated trailers to store ice and perishables on Puerto Rico.
>
>USACE has also been assigned to provide one million pounds of ice to the
>island. Two U.S. Air Force C5 transports moved 160,000 pounds of ice
>yesterday from Charleston Air Force Base. Flights will continue to deliver
>ice until the mission is completed. In addition, plans call for one
>million pounds to be delivered by barge every other day starting early
>this coming week.
>
>USACE received 238,000 gallons of potable water yesterday. An additional
>one million gallons has been ordered. Barges leave Elizabeth, N.J. today
>carrying 900,000 gallons of potable water. Aircraft will deliver 100,000
>gallons per day for the next four days.
>
>A U.S. Navy Construction Battalion is clearing debris and roads on Culebra
>and Vieques. The battalion is also providing communications support.
>
>Environmental Protection Agency officials are monitoring all drinking
>water, waste water treatment plants, and storage facilities for oil,
>chemicals and hazardous waste.
>
>U.S. Department of Agriculture staff are deploying to Puerto Rico today to
>evaluate food needs. Although most grocery stores are open, food
>distribution may be necessary in some areas. The Puerto Rico Department of
>Education has made 13 warehouses available, if necessary. There are
>approximately 2.4 million pounds of food in Puerto Rican warehouses that
>are already packaged for household distribution.
>
>General Services Administration (GSA) has sent technical support staff to
>the island. They will help coordinate GSA disaster operations. Yesterday,
>GSA received shipments that included 10,000 blankets and 3,000 cots. They
>have also deployed a mobile command post and additional support
>transportation.
>
>U. S. Virgin Islands Recovery
>
>Power has been restored to 65 percent of the residents of St. Croix. On
>St. Thomas, 80-90 percent of the power has been restored and 90 percent of
>St. John now has power.
>
>Telephone service has been restored.
>
>Availability of potable water is not an issue for the U.S. Virgin Islands.
>As a precaution, Environmental Protection Agency officials are testing the
>water on St. Croix.
>
>The ports in St. Croix and St. Thomas are open for daylight operations
>only. The Water Island pier was destroyed in the hurricane.
>
>Local officials have lifted the curfews on St. John and St. Thomas. The
>8:00 p.m. curfew remains in place on St. Croix.
>
>Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
>Office of Emergency Information & Media Affairs --- Washington, D.C.
>
>Information Available 24 hours a day . . .
> ... on the World Wide Web:  http://www.fema.gov
> ... FEMA is also co-sponsor of Storm98: http://www.storm98.com
> ... via fax-on-demand: phone in the U.S.A. (202) 646-FEMA (646-3362)
> ... via digital audio for broadcasters & print: contact [log in to unmask]
>  and listen to the FEMA Radio Network on the FEMA Website using RealAudio
>