FEMA-DR-4339-PR | Congressional Advisory | October 20, 2017

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sent this bulletin at 10/20/2017 05:02 PM EDT

fema

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency
                           DR-4339-PR Congressional Affairs

 

 

FEMA DR-4339-PR Congressional Affairs Advisory

By the Numbers

Number of Federal Employees
FEMA: 1,661
Department of Defense: 14,971
Surge Capacity Force: 277

Individual and Households Program
Maria - Total registrations: 640,000; Total IHP: $87 million
Irma - Total registrations: 10,533; Total IHP: $1.1 million

The Small Business Administration (SBA)
Applications Received: 1,072
Dollars Approved: $1.2 million

Generators

Generators Installed: 134
Number of Generators Assessments Completed: 408
Generator Installations in Progress: 30

 

Tarps Distributed: more than 42,000

Blue Roof Mission

Rights of Entry Signed: 4,245

Blue Roofs Installed: 439

 

Potable Water: 3.6 million gallons

Bottled Water: more than 10 million liters

Meals:

More than 600,000 meals delivered on average per day. 

Approximately 10.5 million meals total.

Public Assistance
Maria - Total Dollars Approved (Cat A-B): More than $336.2 million
Irma – Total Dollars Approved (Cat A-B): More than $12.2 million

 

Major accomplishments and Work in Progress:

One of the longest sustained disaster air operation missions in U.S. disaster relief history with more than 700 air drops to provide commodities to isolated communities.

One of the largest federal military medical response missions in U.S. history.

Seventy-four volunteer organizations came together to provide relief.

The largest temporary power mission in history for the 249th Engineer Battalion ever on U.S soil.

Puerto Rico will likely have one of the largest housing missions in recent FEMA history, with housing projections three times that of Houston following Hurricane Harvey.

The fourth largest cargo plane in the world was used to transport critical generators.

The amount of debris from Hurricane Maria could fill Yankee Stadium seven times.

Medical Stability

Nearly 2,000 medical staff are supporting Puerto Rico’s medical mission, making this one of the largest medical missions in recent history.

More than 6,100 people cared for by medical responders from federal medical community.

750 pharmacies in Puerto Rico are participating in the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program. 

Eleven hospitals, medical shelters and clinics are augmented by federal medical teams. 

One baby born and more than 100 people treated onboard USNS Comfort.

100% of hospitals have some form of communication available to remain connected. 

Power Restoration

Largest temporary power mission for the 249th Engineer Battalion ever on U.S soil.

More generators installed in Puerto Rico than in Florida (Hurricane Irma) and Texas (Hurricane Harvey) combined. 

More than 400 generator assessments complete and 134 generators installed.

USACE initial order for supplies includes 50,000 poles and 6,500 miles of cable for power transmission and power distribution. 

Shelters

Puerto Rico will likely have one of the largest housing missions in recent FEMA history, with housing projections three times that of Houston following Hurricane Harvey.

More than 640,000 people registered for assistance, and more than $87 million has been provided to help with disaster-related costs. 

More than 42,000 tarps distributed, and more than 439 blue roofs installed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Water

65% of Puerto Rico has access to drinking water (based on Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority clientele).

More than 3.6 million gallons of bulk water distributed across strategically located points on the Island, and more than 10 million liters of bottle water distributed. 

Debris

The U.S. Army Corps estimates 6.2 million cubic yards of debris to be removed, enough to fill seven Yankee stadiums.  To date, more than 10,000 cubic yards of debris has been removed.

Maria Update

 

Puerto Rico, Federal Government, and Voluntary Agencies Unite to Address Health and Medical Needs

The Government of Puerto Rico, the Federal Government, and voluntary organizations are combining efforts to ensure life sustaining relief and medical care is available to survivors of Hurricane Maria.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has more than 500 personnel from the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) and U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) deployed to Puerto Rico. These medical personnel are providing care in 13 locations throughout Puerto Rico, delivering care to survivors where hospital facilities are overwhelmed or unavailable. HHS medical teams provide emergency care tailored to the specific needs of each location, ranging from primary and acute care to triage, resuscitation and stabilization. They also can prepare patients for evacuation, if needed. Each team may include physicians, nurses, medical technicians, and ancillary support personnel. 

These personnel also are providing basic medical care in federal medical stations set up in existing facilities as medical shelters for patients and their families.

The Department of Defense (DOD) and the United States Coast Guard are leveraging land, air, and seaborne assets to provide rescue operations, delivery of medical supplies and transport of patients located in isolated communities in need of specialized care.  

When critical care patients need levels of care beyond what is available at a local hospital or clinic, the hospital or clinic contacts the medical coordinating centers (MCCs). The MCCs may request that DOD evacuate the patient to another medical institution that can provide the appropriate level of care. The patient could be transferred to another hospital capable of providing medical care, the Army support hospital in Humacao, the Air Force Expeditionary Medical Support field hospital in Aguadilla, or the ship USNS Comfort.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) coordinated with FEMA, HHS, and volunteer organizations to deploy mobile medical centers, pharmaceuticals, counseling units, and 196 volunteers to address the health needs of the nation’s veterans in Puerto Rico.

In addition, the HHS Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are utilizing epidemiological testing equipment and treatment options to help protect survivors from the spread of harmful health threats, communicable diseases, and from hazardous environmental conditions.

Multiple voluntary organizations such as the American Red Cross and AmeriCares have teamed up with Puerto Rico’s Departmento de Salud, Centro Medico, and HHS to provide a continuous flow of medical supplies and patient care support.

Survivor access to medical care and health services remains paramount.

 

If you have any questions, please contact FEMA’s Congressional Affairs Division at (202) 646-4500.

 

To subscribe to future DR-4339-PR Congressional advisories, please e-mail FEMA-Congressional-Affairs@fema.dhs.gov.

For updates from Puerto Rico on the operational status of hospitals, food and water distribution centers, gas stations, dialysis centers, supermarkets, and other information (available in English and Spanish), please visit: www.status.pr.

Additional information for Puerto Rico is available at the following locations:

 Additional information regarding Hurricane Maria is available in English and Spanish at:

 

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