Now federal officials on the administrations response to Hurricane Ian. This is about half an hour. Good afternoon, everyone. Im the associate administrator for the office of response and recovery at fema. Thank you for joining us here today. And for your continued attention to florida as well as South Carolina and all the people impacted by Hurricane Ian. I also want to thank the dedicated leaders standing up with me here today. The partnerships across the federal family enable our Effective Response to this disaster and ensures floridians and south carolinians get the help they need during these unimaginably difficult times. Our hearts are with floridians as they endeavor on this long and difficult recovery. And our resolve has never been stronger. Together we will rebuild from this tragedy and we will be there until the work is done. This morning administrator chriswell traveled to florida to meet with Governor Desantis to survey the damage and assess what other assistance may be necessary to support the needs of individuals as they recover. I would also like to echo administrator chriswells thanks for Governor Desantis and florida director of Emergency Management, kevin guthrie, for their leadership during this difficult time. Before i provide informational update and an operational posture here at fema id like to kick it over to the National Weather service for director ken grahams update. Appreciate that introduction and that update. The latest information, ken graham. I appreciate the relationship with fema. The coast guard. The corps. National guard. Its just, in these disasters, we do come together as a family and we get these things done. Unfortunately we come together too often in recent years. Wanted to give you the latest information on Hurricane Ian. I got the latest just a minute ago. A brand new update. Still 85 miles per hour. Right on the coast. Really getting pretty close to the coast of South Carolina. It was moving north of 14, now at 15 miles per hour. Its continuing to get a little faster. So that will continue as we work our way inland. Its really important to realize its not just that center point. It really is its been a large storm for most of its lifetime. Hurricane force winds extend out 70 miles. And the latest i saw, Tropical Storm force winds, about 275 miles out from the center. Its big. So its not just the folks right around the center. Theres quite a few communities that see some of these strong winds. Did want to say, theres still river flooding back in florida and some of that, its important that water doesnt drain very fast. So some of those rivers could stay at flood stage and several locations, actually, record flood, could be that way for days, even more than a week. So just something to think about with time. Were not over yet. Were very close to the South Carolina coast. The impact, winds, rain bands have already started. Theres already been some tornado warnings issued. Thats usually on the right front quadrant is where you get 90 of your tornadoes thats as far away as hatteras. Thats as far away as communities in North Carolina. So well away from that center. Its really important to think about that. Surge, water is 90 of your fatalities in these trorp cal systems, comes from water. Thats why we spend so much time talking about the dangers of water. A little river inlet, storm surge. Potential storm surge in some of those communities along the coast, four to seven feet in those areas. Thats just not on the beach, that sneaks up reufb, that sneaks up canals, that can get inland as well. So really listen to those local officials and just be really careful in these situations. Look how far it goes away from the center. Just an important point that we got to make. Little river inlet to cape fear, three to five feet of storm surge potential. Cape fear to North Carolina, two to four feet. When i say those numbers, thats inuntkaeugs. Thats above ground. Thats water up your pant leg. I say it almost every one of these media events, im 65, 66. So when im talking seven feet of storm surge, you can see it right here. Thats a foot above my head. Its really important to think of it that way. Rain, inland rain, not just along the coast but inland rain, four to six inches in some areas. Some places could get 12 inches of rain from whats left of ian as we move inland. Charleston, charlotte, wilmington, roanoke, hatteras. Any one of these areas could see significant rain. Theres terrain here too. So its not just ponding water. Theres terrain. In the mountains you can get flash flooding. So even inland, in some of these mountain communities, you can see that fast flowing water and it could be incredibly dangerous. So, and the last reminder, those are the direct impacts. Just a strong reminder, biggest reminder i can give here, its dangerous after the storm too. So for communities walking, be careful getting outside. Power lines are down. Theres debris. So dangerous to be on the roads. Dont drive your car where water covers the road. Half of fatalities inland from the flooding, half of those come from driving automobiles into the water. Half of them come from cars. You got to stay out of the water. The last one is generators have become readily available in these communities. I just cant urge this strong enough. Be careful with the generators. When the powers out, know how to use a generator. Right . Dont keep them in the house. Dont put a generator in the house. Dont put it by an open window. Dont put it in your garage. Its got to be well away from your house. Its just a dangerous situation. A lot of these hurricanes have seen more fatalities after the fact, especially with the generators, than we do from other fatalities. I appreciate everybody being here for the latest update on the hurricane. Thank you, ken, for that important update on the weather and also those critical safety tips. As weve just heard, Hurricane Ian still presents an extreme threat to everyone in its path. Were already seeing the impacts of the storm in South Carolina as i speak. And in georgia as well. Now is the time for the residents impacted to execute their hurricane plan. Closely monitor local media for forecast updates and also follow the directions made by local officials. That advice we give from the National Weather service and the Hurricane Center is what drives local officials alerts, please follow them. Theyll keep you safe. All the hazards weve seen in florida kim pact those further can impact those further up the coast, just as ken mentioned. Strong wind, storm surge, flash flooding, fortunately the president approved governor macmasters request for an Emergency Declaration for South Carolina last night. This declaration authorized fema to provide emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance. We urge the residents of South Carolina and everyone in the path of this storm to remain vigilant. For florida, as we continue to monitor the situation in South Carolina, and the overall path of the storm, state and federal search andres cue operations remain and rescue operations remain under way in florida. Femas search and rescue teams are an effort by air, land and sea in coordination with our federal partners, as well as state and local officials. As part of this effort, floridas that about 5,000 National Guard members, as well as another 2,000 members from other states for mutual aid to help with search and rescue operations and other emergency protective measures. Ill let our coast guard colleagues provide an update in a later brief. Homeland security secretary mayorkas also activated the d. H. S. Search capacity force yesterday. This is comprised of 7500 members from other federal agencies who can augment our staffing patterns to help us address the response and recovery needs following storms. This will significantly enhance our efforts in florida, as well as up the eastern seaboard as the storm continues to move. Nearly 3,000 federal responders are working in florida and across the southeast right now, including more than 1600 fema staff that are deployed to support this mission in florida. Im immensely grateful to the more than 850 Emergency Management personnel from other states that have answered the call to help serve storm survivors and communities that need their help through mutual aid. Finally, id like to add that our center for faithbased and neighborhood partnerships is coordinating closely with National Nongovernmental Organizations such as the National Urban league, aarp, the Methodist Episcopal Church and National Voluntary organizations active in disasters to ensure fema and our federal partners have the best on the ground information from communities impacted. Thanks to president bidens swift approval of floridas major disaster declaration, fema assistance is now available to help impact individuals across designated counties. To help jumpstart the recovery. The declaration also enables us to deliver assistance to meet the needs of our survivors. Today im happy to share that four additional counties have been added to the major disaster declaration for assistance and as we continue to survey damage, we expect that number to grow. I want to once again urge impacted individuals to register for assistance in those declared counties. We can do this by visiting disasterassistance. Gov using fema app, or dialing 1800621fema. Thats 18006213362. To start your registration process, to get the assistance and the services that you need. Tribes of florida are all eligible for emergency protective measures as well. Including search and rescue efforts. Before i turn it over to my partners, on the stage, i want to remind everyone that this storm is not over yet. As ken graham has said. And just because the skies are clear does not mean its safe. Water can be electrified, there can be other hazards in there. Please stay safe and continue to listen to local officials. Whether its South Carolina, florida, georgia, puerto rico, alaska, well be there to support those impacted by disasters. We have the resources, we have the resolve and we remain ready to lean forward to continue to help those in florida and elsewhere to jumpstart their recovery. Thank you and with that ill turn it over to daniel who will provide our Spanish Language update. Daniel thank you so much. [speaking foreign language] [speaking foreign language] [speaking foreign language] [speaking foreign language] good afternoon. Coast guard responders continue around the clock operations with a primary purpose of saving lives. That humanitarian organization, thats what were doing on the ground in florida as we speak. Were doing this from the air, on the ground and also from the sea. And since the storm made landfall yesterday, weve saved 117 lives. Together with pets of the members that weve saved. Those operations are going to continue for as long as it takes to rescue everyone. This operation is happening with unity of effort in synckization and organization with all the requisite federal, state and local authorities. For example, the National Guard, fema and then local responders that are responding in the air and on the ground. Weve all seen the images that have come from the devastated areas. Weve all heard the stories coming out of that. And coast guard men and women who are operating in florida are doing so with great sympathy and great fellowship with those who have lost their businesses, may have lost their homes, and even may have lost loved ones. The coast guard also has the top priority to reestablish and reconstitute the Maritime Transportation system. So in the days leading up to storm landfall, the coast guard together with port authorities and the private sector, secured all the ports on the west coast of florida and in the northeast portion of florida to be secure as the storm passed through. Now that the storm has passed, were working as we speak with the army corps of engineers and noaa to do a rapid survey and assessment of those port areas so we can resume and reconstitute Maritime Transportation thats so incredibly crucial to trade and making sure that supplies make it into florida. So were focusing primarily on the port of tampa, st. Pete and the port of manatee in florida. So as youve heard, this spbtd over yet. This continues isnt over yet. This continues to be a very dangerous storm as it makes lands fall in South Carolina, women pacts to North Carolina, georgia with impacts to North Carolina, georgia and inland. Just as the coast guard did to prepare for landfall in florida, weve worked the past couple of days leading up to storm landfall in those new areas to make sure that ports are secured and that coast guard aircraft, boats and cutters moved out of harms way and that we stage ready to respond once the storm passed and it was safe to do so. So were poised again to do search andres cue and rescue operations together with federal, state and local partners in those areas as necessary. Once we can do rapid assessment. It goes without saying, but it bears remain peteing, that but it bears repeating, that we encourage everyone in these newly impacted areas to heed the advice of their Emergency Response authorities for evacuation, safe haven and for preparedness. So they can help manage their own safety and save their own lives in advance of this storm as it moves through. Thank you very much and looking forward to your questions. Dawn thank you so much. Im the assistant secretary for preparedness and response at h. H. S. As part of this whole of government response that youre seeing up here, h. H. S. Is administration for strategic preparedness and response has deployed teams of medical responders and supplies to the region in support of our state and local partners. By the end of today, we will have more than 318 person el deployment personnel deployed and available to respond in coordination with fema and the impacted states. This includes personnel from the National Disaster medical system or ndms, along with regional emergency coordinators, Incident Management Teams and logistical staff. Our teams are deployed in georgia and in miami, allowing us to be positioned to support any emerging medical needs in florida and along the east coast as ian makes its second landfall in South Carolina. These ndms teams include physicians, nurses, paramedics and pharmacists who can assist hospitals with the triage and treatment of patients. They can provide medical support for people found by urban search and rescue. They provide medical and Public Health support to those relocated to emergency shelters. Including to shelters serving special needs populations. And they can provide pharmaceutical support and resupply from Ambulance Strike teams. These teams are coming equipped with 52 tractor trailers, holding approximately 520,000 pounds of medical supplies and equipment that can head right into the areas with the most need so they dont have to worry about securing equipment or supplies on their way in. Beginning tomorrow one of these teams will deploy to sarasota Memorial Hospital in venice, florida, to provide hospital decompression support. And on september 26, secretary becerra declared a Public Health emergency for florida in response to the hurricane. We also activated h. H. S. Empower program which is a partnership between asper and the sent rts for medicare and Medicaid Services to identify Medicare Beneficiaries who rely on electricitydependent Durable Medical Equipment and Certain HealthCare Services such as dialysis, oxygen tanks or home health, to help anticipate, plan for and respond to the needs of these atrisk citizens in the impacted areas. We continue to work in close collaboration with fema and our other partners and we are committed to helping respond to the Health Related impacts of the storm. We will provide all the support we can to help these communities in need. So if you are a hospital or health care system, longterm care facility assisted living facility and you need help, please let us know. Weve got teams on the ground ready to assist. Thanks so much. Thank you. Major general. U. S. Army corps of engineers. Major general graham Major General butch graham from the United States army corps of engineers. The army corps is well postured to support fema both in puerto rico, florida, and South Carolina. We are certainly standing ready to provide public works and engineering support and also to coordinate long term infrastructure recovery, simply put, we are leaning forward. Eustace has more than 50 specially trained Response Teams supported by preawarded emergency contracts that allow us to perform that wide range of public works and engineeringrelated support. In florida, right now we have 600 professionals. Thats corps of engineers, civilians, our military and our contracting partners moving generators forward to assist the state of florida to provide emergency power. Were assisting the state of florida to provide assessment of the infrastructure. Many of youve seen the pictures, media that shows whats been damaged. Were providing backstop support. Currently, were working on nine hospitals as well as helping lee county determine where its water Distribution System is currently leaking. And then finally, weve got great partnerships with our tribal partners down in florida. Weve been asked by the miccosukee tribe to assist them on a canal thats currently flooding. And weve got engineers on site and pumps leading or moving to that location. And thank you for your time here today. All right. Thank you. With that well take questions. Reporter hi there. Im nicole. Cbs news. Thank you so much for connecting this briefing. If youll indulge me, i have a question for you. Assistant administrator and vice admiral kodiak and director assistant administrator state emergency officials have announced 21 deaths as of this morning. Are there any updates to that number or indications that fatalities will increase significantly in the coming days . As well as a sense of how many remain missing. Can you speak to some of your bigger concerns moving forward as well as efforts to counter any fraud scammers who wanted to advantage . Absolutely. To the first question. The state is the source of that information. So that is the latest information at this time. As we discussed we are laser focused on life safety efforts as we continue our search and rescue operations in conjunction with the coast guard and others. Um and it as it relates to fraud, we do have controls in place that can continue to screen for signs of it while not slowing down assistance to those who need it. Reporter and vice admiral gauthier, can you speak to some of the challenges of conducting rescue missions given the level of destination decimation in some cases, you know, water that has risen beyond the roof . And you know right now, district seven is handling Recovery Efforts in puerto rico rescue efforts in florida. Admiral gauthier yeah. Thanks. So landbased urban search and rescue does present quite a challenge you have down power lines. The infrastructure is damaged, people might be trapped in homes. So the first thing that we do is just make sure that weve got really tight coordination with all the responders that are working. So in any given area, you might have coast guard operating together with National Guard forces from florida and also mobilized from outside of the area and then youll have local responders that could be working on the ground. The coast guard actually mobilized a fleet of Shallow Water boats that we have that can operate in waters that in flooded areas and streets and things like that were operating there. And so for example, um, theres a team from Miami Dade County thats mobilized from outside of the area that the coast guard is coordinating it and then what you have. So, you know, in a normal circumstance, youll have a 911 system that is fully functioning. We encourage people to continue to use the 911 system as their primary means for asking for help. But also in that type of search and rescue, we will go block by block as a Response Group to make sure that weve identified everyone. Some of these folks may not have the means of communication, knocking on doors, doing overflights to see if individuals might be on rooftops or stranded in flooded streets. Reporter if and if i can just director graham. Can you talk a little bit about your concerns as the storm travels up the east coast and you speak to what happens as the storm passes through South Carolina and beyond this weekend weekend . You know, what would you tell people, maybe in North Carolina or virginia, who might be going about their business . Director graham yeah, a couple of things. Those on the coast, you know, you just got to look at that storm surge. I mean five to seven feet of storm surge is life threatening and in some of those cases. So just really be be aware of that water. The other message i have is, you know, you look at the rainfall, these these tropical systems that you cant just think of some coastal problem that that rain and that moisture has to go somewhere. So as a result, youre gonna get heavy rainfall, those those rainfall totals and start getting five to seven inches, maybe even up to a foot of rain. And some of those mountainous areas, you could be well inland. Im talking hundreds of miles inland and stood with those heavily heavy rainfall amounts. Im very concerned about some of those tropical rains getting into the terrain areas. So thats where youre thinking about fastflowing water, quickly rising water, get that flash flooding, it just becomes incredibly dangerous. And especially if you think about, were making landfall now. Right, so a lot of that rain is gonna occur tonight and thats in the dark. So nighttime rainfall, nighttime flash flooding is incredibly dangerous. So just urging everyone to listen to local officials, if you dont have to go anywhere, please dont because its incredibly dangerous. Anyone else . Questions . All right. Thank you, guys, for your time. That will conclude todays conference. 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More than 100 justices have served on the United StatesStates Supreme Court over the past 200 years