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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from GovernorSTATE 4P FLORIDA flirt i f f rx2rxr r pi BUSH GOVERNOR The Honorable George W. Bush The President The White House Washington, D.C. Through THE CAt'rroL TALLAttAS.9EH, MAIUDA 325994001 October 23, 2005 Ms. Mary Lynn Miller Acting Regional Director FEMA Region TV Dear Mr. President: Under the provisions of Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Public Law 93.288, as amended by Public Law 100-707, as implemented by 44 CFR § 206.36, I request that you declare an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Florida as a result of the direct effects of the statewide impacts of Hurricane Wilma. Our response to this event began on October 19, 2005, and is continuing. Hurricane Wilma has produced, and is expected to produce significant damages associated with coastal storm surges, high winds, torrential rainfalls, and inland flooding. I request 100 percent direct federal assistance for the life of the disaster; the Public Assistance Program, Categories A- B, initially at 1 00% for a consecutive 72 hour window to be determined by each declared county for Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Miami -Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, St. Lucie, and Sarasota counties, I am asking for Individual Assistance for those counties expecting to receive hurricane Rime winds, including: Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Miami -Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie counties, I am asking for the full complement of Individual Assistance Programs to include the Individuals and Households Program, Disaster Unemployment"Assistance, Crisis Counseling,. Disaster Legal Services, and the Small Business Administrationt entire Di 5 ate Loansster oFand off. Lastly, I am asking for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Wilma is a dangerous tropical system that is predicted to make landfall in the State of Florida as a Category 2, or possibly a Category 3 hurricane on October 24, 2005, Currently, Hurricane Wilma is located approximately 275 miles southwest of Key West. Hurricane warnings are posted on the west coast from The Honorable George W. Bush October 23, 2005 Page 2 Longboat Key (Sarasota County) southward, and hurricane warnings are also posted from Titusville (Brevard County) southward along the east coast. Hurricane warnings are also in effect for Lake Okeechobee. Tropical storm warnings and watches are also now posted along the rest of the east coast and the peninsular west coast. Flood watches have also been posted for most of the peninsula. The current forecast has landfall occurring just south of Marco Island (Collier County). If this were to verify, the 9-14 feet of surge would be focused on the mainland Monroe County coast. My deviation from this track. to the north would bring these surge values into the populated Iocales of Collier County. Equally, if Wilm.a's eventual track deviates to the south, surge in the lower Keys are expected to be between 5-8 feet. The track and those counties expected to receive hurricane and tropical stormwinds can be found in Attachment' 1. In response to the situation, I have taken appropriate action under State law and directed the execution of the State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan by Executive Order 05- 219 (Attachment 2) in accordance with Section 501 (a) of the Stafford Act. The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is currently at a Level 1 activation. FEMA has deployed an ERT-A to the SEOC, and together with the State Emergency Response Team (SERT), have unified under the incident command system to become "Wilma Command". The projected path of Hurricane Wilma will take it over the same area impacted by Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jett= in 2004, and Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina and Rita in 2005. Although partially recovered from these devastating events, the impact of yet another hurricane over the same area will exacerbate the overall recovery for these communities and their residents. The HALUS model hag estimated that Wilma will cause damages to over 89,000 homes, and generate 3.8 million tons of debris in its path. (Attachment 3) According to Florida's hurricane evacuation studies, the expected area of impact has a vulnerable population of 2.6 million, which lnclude.s coastal residents in low-lying areas; those living in sub -standard housing; and, those who reside in mobile homes. The expected area of impact has a significant elderly population, many of whom have special needs, and require special handling during evacuations and sheltering. Monroe County has ordered'the evacuation of all tourists, residents, and has closed the state parks, courts and schools. The non -ambulatory patients in the Lower Florida Keys Medical Center have been medivaced using the North Carolina air assets under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. Most of the counties expected to receive hurricane force winds have ordered evacuations of their vulnerable populations. (Attachment 4) The Florida Department of Transportation has staged over 100 "Road Rangers", which are vehicles that have the capability to assist stranded motorist on evacuation routes. In anticipation of the impacts of Hurricane Wilma on Florida, the SERT has identified resources and has three Logistical Staging Areas readied at Homestead AFB, Lakeland, and in West Palm Beach. Food, water and ice have been staged and are ready for immediate deployment to the impacted area. A mobilization center has been opened at White Springs, The Honorable George W. Bush October 23, 2005 Page 3 Florida. Over 8,000 tarps have been identified and are being made ready for immediate use. Seven base camps are in ready reserve, and local Points of Distribution (PODO) have been identified and sourced to manage the distribution of commodities and supplies. The Florida Urban Search and Rescue Command and Coordination Team has been activated, along with four Task Forces, with an additional four put on standby. ESF-8, Health and Medical, has staged seven regional emergency response advisors, two Disaster Medical Assistance Teams, and put an additional six on alert. The Florida National Guard has called 430 soldiers and airmen onto state active duty in support of SERT activities, and has made available a host of response assets. ESF- 1.6, Law Enforcement, has identified an additional 1,600 personnel and put them on standby for deployment into the impacted area. Already, shelters arc beginning to receive evacuees from the impacted areas. Eight shelters are currently open hosting 1,305 evacuees, and an additional 132 shelters are on standby. By virtue of Executive Order 05-219, I have designated all state, regional and local governmental facilities, including all public elementary and secondary schools, all community colleges, and all• state universities, for use as shelters to ensure the proper reception and care of all expected evacuees. Two special needs shelters have been opened, and currently are hosting 114 patients and caregivers. Three hospitals and 11 intermediate care facilities in South and Southwest Florida have been evacuated, The American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and a host of other voluntary agencies have begun to stage resources in order to service the victims of Hurricane Wilma. • Pursuant to 44 CFR § 206.35, r have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments, and that supplementary Federal assistance is necessary to save lives, protect property, public health, and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a disaster. 1 certify that for this emergency, the State and local government will assume all applicable non -Federal share of costs required by the Stafford Act. In accordance with 44 CFR § 206.208, the State of Florida agrees that it will, with respect to direct Federal assistance: 1) Provide without cost to the Uaited States all lands, easement, and rights -of --ways necessary to accomplish the approved work. 2) Hold and save the United States free from damages due to requested work, and shall indemnify the Federal Government against any claims arising from such work; 3) Provide reimbursement to FEMA for the non -Federal share of the cost of such work in accordance with the provisions of the FEMA-State Agreement; and 5� The Honorable (}eorge W. Bush October 23, 2005 Page 4 4) Assist the performing Federal agency in all support and local jurisdictional matters. In addition, I anticipate the need for debris removal, which will pose an immediate threat to lives, public health, and safety. Pursuant to Sections 502 and 407 of the Stafford Act, 42 U. S. C. 5192 & 5173, the State agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the United States of America for any claims arising from the removal of debris or wreckage for this disaster. The State agrees that debris removal from public and private property will not occur until the landowner signs an unconditional authorized for the. removal of debris. I further hereby certify that State and local obligations and expenditures for this disaster will comply with all applicable cost sharing requirements. I have designated W. Craig Fugate, Director, Department of Community Affairs, Division of Emergency Management, as the State Coordinating Officer for this request. He will work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency on damage assessments and is authorized to provide any further information, assurances, requests or justification on my behalf. Your prompt consideration of my request is most appreciated. Sincerely, eb Bush JD/wcf Attachments (4)