Speaks with Governors Bentley, Jindal, Bryant and Mayor Landrieu
This afternoon, President Obama was briefed by
FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate and National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Rick
Knabb on the preparations underway for Tropical Storm Isaac, which the National
Hurricane Center has projected could become a Category One hurricane later
today.
During the briefing, Administrator Fugate
provided the President with an update on the resources FEMA has prepositioned
along the Gulf Coast to support state and local officials as they prepare and
begin to respond.
Working with DOD, FEMA has set up Incident Support Bases in
Jacksonville, FL and Montgomery, AL to proactively stage supplies closer to
areas potentially affected by the severe weather.
Additionally, FEMA has deployed response teams
to Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi to support state and local
officials and to work to make sure there are no unmet needs.
The President directed Administrator Fugate to
ensure that FEMA was prepared regardless of the ultimate strength and impact of
the storm.
Following the briefing, the President convened a
call with Alabama Governor Robert Bentley, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal,
Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.
On the call, the President asked Dr. Knabb and
Administrator Fugate to provide the Governors and Mayor an update on the
storm’s track as well as on the resources FEMA has to support their teams.
The President made clear that he has directed
Administrator Fugate to make sure the Governors have the resources they need as
the storm approaches, and asked each Governor to identify additional needs if
they arise.
The President also informed Governor Jindal that
he had approved the Governor’s request for an Emergency Declaration for
Louisiana ahead of Tropical Storm Isaac.
The declaration builds on resources already
deployed by FEMA and makes Federal funding available for certain emergency
activities undertaken by the state to prepare for and respond to the storm.
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