Napolitano Calls Governors Affected by Tornadoes

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano

"Our Thoughts and Prayers are With Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones..." 

WASHINGTON—Today Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano called Alabama Governor Robert Bentley, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, Ohio Governor John Kasich, and Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam to offer the condolences and support of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following the storms that affected much of the Midwest and Southern states this week.

DHS and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have been in contact with affected states throughout the week and are continuing to closely monitor conditions following severe storms.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost loved ones and with the communities affected by the recent storms,” said Secretary Napolitano.

“The Department’s priority is to work with the impacted states to identify and address their needs, and we will continue to remain in close contact with the states as they respond to and recover from these storms.”

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through regional offices in Kansas City, Mo., Chicago, Ill. and Atlanta, Ga., is in close contact with state emergency officials in states that are being affected by severe weather, including tornadoes.

FEMA's National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C., and its Regional Response Coordination Center in Chicago, Ill. are fully activated to support state requests for assistance.

FEMA's regional administrators have been in touch with state emergency management officials for Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee.  

At all times, FEMA maintains commodities, including millions of liters of water, millions of meals and hundreds of thousands of blankets, strategically located at distribution centers throughout the United States and its territories.

To support the affected states, FEMA has coordinated with the Department of Defense to establish a national Incident Support Base in Kentucky to stage commodities in strategic locations close to the impacted areas, if needed and requested by the state.

More than 98,000 meals and 146,000 liters of water are en route to the Incident Support Base.

Many local governments and voluntary agencies, such as the American Red Cross and Salvation Army, are providing shelter to disaster survivors who have been displaced from the storms.

Visit www.fema.gov/donations for more information on how you can help, .

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In Memoriam....Private First Class Theodore B. Rushing

Governor Cuomo Directs Flags to Half-Staff

Governor Andrew Cuomo has directed that flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff on Wednesday, November 16 in honor of a Fort Drum soldier who died in Afghanistan on November 11, Veterans Day.

Private First Class Theodore B. Rushing died in Kandahar province of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron of the 71st Cavalry Regiment of the 10th Mountain Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, based at Fort Drum. Private First Class Rushing was from Longwood, Florida.

"On behalf of all New Yorkers, I send my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fellow soldiers of Private First Class Rushing," Governor Cuomo said.

"This Fort Drum soldier, who lost his life on Veterans Day, made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. We will honor his service and his dedication to our nation."

From The G-Man would like to take this opportunity to honor Private First Class Theodore B. Rushing, his love of country and his service with the following video tribute. May he rest in peace.

Video uploaded to YouTube by moderatepopulist

In Memoriam....Staff Sergeant Ari R. Cullers

Governor Cuomo Directs Flags to Half-Staff

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has directed that flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff on Tuesday, November 8 in honor of a Fort Drum soldier who died in Afghanistan on October 30.

Staff Sergeant Ari R. Cullers died in Kandahar province of injuries suffered when an insurgent rocket-propelled grenade exploded near him.

He was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion of the 10th Mountain Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, based at Fort Drum. Staff Sergeant Cullers was from New London, Connecticut.

"I join with all New Yorkers in extending our deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and fellow soldiers of Staff Sergeant Cullers," Governor Cuomo said.

"We will mourn the loss of this Fort Drum soldier and we will honor his service to our country."

From The G-Man would like to take this opportunity to honor Staff Sergeant Ari R. Cullers, his love of country and his service with the following video tribute.

Video uploaded to YouTube by moderatepopulist

In Memoriam......Private First Class John Francis Kihm

Governor Cuomo Directs Flags to Half-Staff

Governor Andrew Cuomo has directed that flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff on Tuesday, April 26 in honor of a Fort Drum soldier who died in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan on April 19.

Private First Class John Francis Kihm of Philadelphia, PA was assigned to 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment of the 10th Mountain Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team.

"I, along with all New Yorkers, extend the deepest sympathies to Private 1st Class Kihm's family, friends, and fellow soldiers, whom we join in honoring his service and mourning his loss," Governor Cuomo said.

Cuomo has directed the flags on all state buildings to be lowered to half-staff in honor of and tribute to New York State service members who are killed in action or die in a combat zone.

From The G-Man would like to take this opportunity to honor Private First Class John Francis Kihm, his love of country and his service with the following video tribute.

Video uploaded to YouTube by moderatepopulist