August 30, 2017, as of 9 a.m. Eastern
· Residents of Texas and Louisiana are still not out of harm’s way. Do not attempt to return home until local officials say it is safe to do so. Continue to monitor the weather and follow the direction of state, tribal and local officials.
· First responders, federal teams and voluntary agencies are working tirelessly to help those in need through search and rescue, staffing emergency shelters, providing meals and offering comfort.
· 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.
· Registering online, at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, 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 are unable to access the internet, you can also call at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
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 1,100 Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) personnel working to save lives in south Texas. FEMA US&R teams have conducted rescues for more than 2,500 survivors.
· United States Coast Guard (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. USCG has rescued more than 4,200 survivors. Additional surge boat resources are deployed to Texas from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Department of the Interior (DOI).
· Only call 911 if you have a life threatening emergency.
· The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is asking that drone operators -- both hobbyists and commercial operators-- remain clear of search-and rescue efforts. Drones pose a potential danger to low-flying helicopters and their crews and can hinder the efforts of those who are trying to save lives. Operators should check their Notices to Airmen because the FAA issue Temporary Flight Restrictions at any time as conditions change.
The Situation
· More than 140 state, local, and community 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.
· FEMA is responding to Tropical Storm Harvey in Texas and Louisiana 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.
· According to the National Weather Service (NWS), Tropical Storm Harvey made landfall just west of Cameron, Louisiana this morning. Additional rainfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches are expected to the north and east of Houston from far east Texas into southwestern Louisiana.
· As of 5 a.m. EDT, the NWS has the following active warnings and watches:
o Tropical Storm Warning from east of High Island, Texas to Grand Isle, Louisiana
o Storm Surge Watch for East of High Island, Texas to west of Holly Beach, Louisiana
o Storm Surge Warning for Holly Beach to Morgan City, Louisiana
o Flash Flood Warning for northwestern Cameron Parish to southwestern Calcasieu Parish
Declarations
Louisiana
· On August 28, 2017, President Trump declared an emergency for 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 emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, 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 under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent federal funding. Direct Federal Assistance may be included in a state or tribal request when they lack a capability to perform or contract for debris removal, emergency protective measures, emergency communications, or emergency public transportation.
Texas
· On August 27, 2017, President Trump amended the earlier Tropical Storm Harvey major disaster declaration to add 12 counties.
o Individual Assistance: Aransas, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Liberty, Matagorda, Victoria, and Wharton.
o Public Assistance: Aransas, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Liberty, Matagorda, Victoria, and Wharton
o Emergency Protective Measures: Bexar
· On August 25, 2017, President Trump at the request of Governor Abbott declared a major disaster declaration for the state of Texas as a result of Hurricane Harvey, beginning on August 23, 2017. This declaration makes federal assistance available to affected individuals and households. Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for state, tribal, and local government and certain private nonprofit organizations for debris removal and emergency protective measures
o Individual Assistance: Bee, Goliad, Kleberg, Nueces, Refugio, and San Patricio
o Public Assistance: Bee, Goliad, Kleberg, Nueces, Refugio, and San Patricio
· Hazard mitigation is available statewide in Texas.
Road to Recovery
· 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.
· The National Flood Insurance Program is authorizing advance payments of NFIP claims to expedite recovery.
o If you have NFIP flood insurance and suffered damage during the recent floods related to Hurricane Harvey, you may be eligible to receive up to $5,000 for building and contents damages prior to the adjuster’s inspection with an advance payment request agreement signed by you.
o If you have photos and receipts which validate your out-of-pocket expense, you may receive an advance payment up to $10,000.
o If the flood insurance adjuster has inspected your loss, you have significant damage, and a copy of your contractor’s estimate, you may receive a larger advance payment based on the estimated covered loss.
· 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.
· As of this morning, more than 63,000 individuals and households have been approved for FEMA assistance.
· Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) has been approved in Texas for eligible disaster survivors who have a continuing need for shelter because they are unable to return to their homes for an extended period of time. To be eligible for TSA, you must be registered for FEMA disaster assistance.
· This initiative is intended to provide short-term lodging for eligible disaster survivors whose communities are either uninhabitable or inaccessible due to disaster-related damage. FEMA will contact you if you are eligible for the program. A listing of available properties under this program can be found at www.femaevachotels.com.
· Expedited rental assistance has been approved in Texas for eligible disaster survivors. Due to the size of the disaster, FEMA is using coastal depth and riverine flooding data to identify damaged homes, so survivors can get funds quickly and begin making decisions regarding their temporary housing solutions.
· Critical Needs Assistance (CNA) has been approved for eligible survivors in the state of Texas. CNA is intended for individuals and households who, as a result of the disaster, have immediate or critical needs because they are displaced from their primary home. Immediate or critical needs include. CNA is a one-time, limited payment per household for eligible applicants who register for FEMA assistance.
· Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits are available to those whose jobs were affected by Tropical Storm Harvey in Texas, specifically those who live or work in the counties included in the major disaster declaration. This may include people not normally eligible for unemployment benefits, such as self-employed persons and farm-workers.
· The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSA) has activated its Disaster Distress helpline. This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 via telephone (1-800-985-5990) and SMS (text ‘TalkWithUs’ to 66746) to survivors who are experiencing emotional distress.
· The compassion of the American people is already evident in their response to the destruction the storm has caused. People can help by visiting nvoad.org to donate or volunteer with the voluntary or charitable organization of their choice, many of which are already in south Texas and Louisiana supporting survivors, even as the rain and wind continue.
On Children
· 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, If your missing child has a disability or access and functional need, please indicate that when talking with the NCMEC. If you have found an unaccompanied child, please indicate this information in the appropriate field in the Unaccompanied Minors Registry.
· This is a difficult time for those who have had to evacuate their homes as well as for those who have been able to return and see the damages to their homes.
· It is important not to overlook how this storm affects the children who live in these areas and who have lost their pets, favorite toys, or other cherished treasures. They may not fully understand what is going on.
· To help children recover or cope with the situation, here are some helpful tips to make them feel safe again:
o Limit TV Time: Intense media coverage of disasters can frighten young children and disturb teenagers as well.
o Keep To A Routine: Help your children feel as if they still have a sense of structure, which can make them feel more at ease or provide a sense of familiarity. When schools and child care open again, help them to return to normal activities including going back to class, sports and play groups.
o Make Time for Them: Help kids to understand that they are safe and secure by talking, playing and doing other family activities with them. To help younger children feel safe and calm, read a favorite book or have a relaxing family game or activity.
An example of current actions
· Urban Search & Rescue task forces with the National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) System, are on the ground in the Houston/Galveston area in Texas to support the state and tribes as needed and requested. Additional teams are on alert.
· Each of these teams has swift water rescue capabilities.
o Six Type 1 Task Forces conducting operations in Houston and the surrounding areas
o Eight Type 3 Task Forces conducting operations in Houston and the surrounding areas
o 14 Swiftwater Mission Ready Packages
o One Incident Support Team in College Station
· FEMA established Incident Support Bases (ISB) near Seguin, Texas, Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana to ensure supplies including water, meals, blankets and other resources are closer to affected areas and are available for distribution to state, tribal, and local officials. State, local, and tribal officials are responsible for distributing supplies to the community.
o As of this morning, the following commodities have been provided to the state of Texas at its request:
§ More than 306,000 meals
§ More than 687,000 liters of water
o More than 4.6 million meals, 5.1 million liters of water, and thousands of cots and blankets remain available at ISBs for transfer to the states of Texas and Louisiana should they be needed and requested. Additional commodities are in route to the ISBs.
· 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:
o 22 Mobile Emergency Response Support teams
o 25 mobile communication office vehicles in support of US&R, IMAT, ISB, and survivor assistance.
· FEMA Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMATs) are in place in Houston and 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 3,200 FEMA employees are working in support of Tropical Storm Harvey response.
Federal Family Actions
· More than 12,400 federal staff are deployed in support of Tropical Storm Harvey response.
· 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. USACE is conducting releases from the Addicks and Barker Dams in Houston, TX to most effectively manage risk. Releasing smaller amounts of water from the dams, now, decreases the amount of water that will eventually flow through emergency spillways around the dams.
· 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 Red Cross has launched a massive response to this devastating storm and needs financial donations to be able to provide immediate disaster relief. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster. More than 80 tractor-trailer loads of cots, blankets, ready-to-eat meals, comfort kits, kitchen supplies and cleaning supplies are now on the ground in Texas.
· The United States Geological Survey (USGS) Texas Water Science Center deployed storm surge sensors in as many as 20 locations between the San Luis Pass and Corpus Christi. USGS is providing advance support, real-time field measurements, and daily reporting of water heights via deployed storm-tide sensors to help public officials assess storm damage, discern between wind and flood damage, and improve computer models used to forecast future floods.
· The Civil Air Patrol is providing aircraft, vehicles, and personnel to accomplish aerial/ground imaging, damage assessments, and transportation of personnel and light cargo.
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.
· 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:
o 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.
o 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:
o A Flash Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flash flooding.
o A Flash Flood Warning is issued when flash flooding is imminent or occurring.
o A Flash Flood Emergency is issued when severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage from a flash flood is imminent or ongoing.