-->
Search the ArchivesNavigationContact InformationThe Citizen Newspapers For Advertising Information Email us your news! For technical difficulties |
Georgia's Response to Hurricane KatrinaFri, 09/02/2005 - 4:16pm
By: Cal Beverly
Georgias Response to Hurricane Katrina Governor Sonny Perdue has mobilized the Georgia National Guard and several state agencies, led by OHS-GEMA, to help provide disaster relief assistance to the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and the evacuees from those states. The Governor has taken steps to ensure gas supply to all Georgians and to prohibit price gouging on motor fuel. He has asked President Bush for federal assistance to help with incoming evacuees. In response to the tornadoes that impacted Peach and Carroll County, the Governor has asked for and SBA disaster declaration that will provide for small business loans to those affected. Executive orders signed: Actions with regard to Georgia's gas supply: Georgia Provides Assistance to Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama · A State Operations Center (SOC) is active and staffed with representatives from the Office of Homeland Security-Georgia Emergency Management Agency (OHS-GEMA), Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Division of Public Health, Georgia Department of Human Resources, and Georgia Department of Defense. Federal representatives to the SOC have included FEMA and First Army. · OHS-GEMA is assisting on location and in the SOC with evacuation of patients from New Orleans area hospitals. OHS-GEMA continues to assist with the coordination of receipt of displaced individuals. · The Georgia Army and Air National Guard will be providing an estimated 1500 soldiers and airmen for relief operations. Relief missions will include security, engineering, medical, airlift and support operations. The first Georgia National Guard assets sent to the affected area left on Wednesday (8/31) when three CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters left for Louisiana and Mississippi. Additionally, Georgia Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and UH-1 Huey helicopters are also currently positioned in the affected areas. The first Georgia units are expected to be in place on Saturday. · An Emergency Operations Center coordinated by the Department of Human Resources (DHR) is open and operating in Cobb County. · The Georgia Forestry Commission currently has 18 personnel deployed throughout Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas to assist with clean-up and debris removal. · The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is sending 20 agents to assist the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Georgias Response to Incoming Evacuees · Flights are coming into Dobbins with evacuees every couple of hours. We expect this to continue. · Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), together with the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Georgia state agencies and leaders of our faith-based community are coordinating efforts to assist in supporting shelters across the state. · We expect that many of these evacuees will soon call Georgia home. Following emergency assistance, our state agencies, led by GEMA, are organizing an effort to help refugees quickly transition from shelters to life in our communities. This includes enrolling children in our schools, providing access to ongoing health care, connection to long-term housing opportunities, job placement and other needs. Disaster Relief for Georgia Counties with Tornado Damage |