State Preparing Support for Hurricane Relief
State Preparing Support for Hurricane Relief
Leaders throughout state government have been making plans to provide resources that can be sent to assist the relief effort caused by the destruction of Hurricane Katrina," said Gov. Mike Rounds. "South Dakota is a member of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). As such, we are expected to respond in case of national emergencies such as this."
EMAC is a national mutual-aid and partnership agreement that allows state-to-state assistance during governor or federally declared state emergencies. EMAC provides a responsive and straightforward system for emergency managers in affected areas to call on unaffected states to send personnel and equipment to help in disaster relief.
Currently, the following resources have been identified to support the disaster relief effort:
· Personnel and equipment from the South Dakota Air and Army National Guard.
· Three South Dakota-based Wildland Fire Suppression hand crews have been placed on alert status for deployment. One crew is a South Dakota asset, and two crews are federal assets. Their job assignment will be debris removal.
· Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is contacting members of South Dakota Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) for possible deployment. The SD Office of Emergency Management has communicated with county emergency managers, requesting a list of CERT members who are able to deploy.
· The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is working to develop a roster of Public Health and Health Protection personnel from each state who are able and willing to deploy.
For those citizens personally interested in assisting the relief effort, at this time, it is recommended that individuals not go on their own to Louisiana, Alabama, or Mississippi. However, any individual wanting to help can become affiliated with an established disaster response organization, such as the American Red Cross, local Community Emergency Response Team, or denominational disaster response team. Individuals can also donate to the American Red Cross by contacting their local Red Cross chapter or visiting www.redcross.org and click on DONATE NOW.
http://www.state.sd.us/governor/