FEMA is in multiple states following Helene, dealing with search and rescues after historic flooding. Leiloni Stainsby explains how they are assisting with such a major disaster.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00FEMA is the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They are helping in recovering in multiple states
00:06following Helene. Elani Stansby is the FEMA National Response Coordination Center in Washington,
00:12D.C. Thanks so much for joining us. And we know North Carolina is dealing with historic flooding.
00:18So what's FEMA's response there? And is the search and rescue still continuing?
00:24Absolutely. Thanks for having me today. And I will say, first and foremost, that our hearts
00:28go out to everybody impacted by this storm. As you said, it really has been a catastrophic
00:34situation on the ground in every state that's been impacted. And so if I could, for just a
00:41moment, I'd like to first and foremost start off by saying for anybody impacted by the storm that
00:46needs assistance, especially in Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina, we would urge them
00:53to register for disaster assistance with FEMA by calling 800-621-3362. Using our app or going
01:00to a disasterassistance.gov. Down on the ground in North Carolina, we also have over 1,200 urban
01:08search and rescue team members who are out there working with the state, going community by
01:13community to make sure that we understand who needs help, that we are there to make sure that
01:21those who need to be rescued are rescued, and that people who need assistance get assistance
01:27as soon as possible. Our administrator is on the ground today in North Carolina working with the
01:32governor to make sure that we fully understand the needs on the ground and that we are there
01:38to bring the entire force of the federal government to bear in order to help these people in their
01:44time of great need. And what will FEMA's response priority be in the next several days? You have a
01:53large area where a lot of people need help. Absolutely. And you know, really first and
01:59foremost, life safety and stabilizing the situation on the ground is our number one
02:05priority in each of these affected communities. That means conducting those search and rescue
02:11operations to make sure that people are safe. That means bringing in power as quickly as possible,
02:18clearing the roadways to make sure that those power companies can get in and do their jobs to
02:24start to bring the power back online, and also to make sure that food and water are flowing into
02:32those affected communities. We pre-staged resources in advance of the storm to make sure that as soon
02:40as the storm passed, we were able to get in and food and water are available for people and that
02:46we make sure that we're also focusing in on communications. We've been bringing in communication
02:51systems to help municipalities to make sure that since there is no power and the communication
02:56systems are down, we start to bring those up so that we can make sure that everybody who needs
03:01help can get it. And Elani, about 30 seconds left, if you could just repeat the way that people
03:05can now register and get the help they need, and then we'll close out the show. Absolutely. If you
03:10could go to 1-800-621-3362 and register for FEMA assistance, you can go to
03:18disasterassistance.gov or to FEMA's website. And if you need additional assistance, there's always
03:23the Red Cross. You can call 1-800-733-2767 to get any support that you need. Elani Staines B. Depart,
03:32Deputy Associate Administrator of FEMA. We appreciate all of the information and
03:36AccuWeather. Early returns right after this break. Thank you.