NEWS INFORMATION FROM |
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THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED |
FOR IMMEDIATE USE |
PENNSYLVANIA TASK FORCE ONE CONTINUES WORK IN MISSISSIPPIMayor Stephen R. Reed today reported on the work of Pennsylvania Task Force One: o Teams continue their work in Hurricane Katrina-ravaged areas of Mississippi, at and near the Gulf of Mexico o Presently, they are in Gulfport, Mississippi o Yesterday, they covered 7 miles of search area o No live persons have been found; the teams, however, have found many bodies, in one instance, a 14-year old boy who had escaped the storm surge waters had reported his family missing; the family was found but all were dead; in another instance, a deceased person (s) were found under a collapsed structure, with the family dog protecting the area and initially not allowing rescue teams to approach; o The current mission appears likely to last 7 to 8 days and, given that few are being found alive in any areas, there may not be a second replacement mission o Yesterday’s work included searching a large collapsed condominium project in Long Beach, Mississippi o Throughout the devastated states, communications has been a horrendous problem; the task force has solved this for their own operations by putting up their own transmission and repeating towers o The teams continue work 24 hours per day, on 12-hour shifts In related matters: o FEMA has requested 2000 firefighters nationwide to be available for dispatch to stricken communities throughout the affected Gulf states; Harrisburg has enlisted personnel to do so; they would be assigned to civil affairs work and possibly recovery work; o If needed, there are 20 Harrisburg city police officers prepared to go to Louisiana as a self-sufficient, self-supplied unit to assist the Louisiana State Police in patrol work in affected communities, including New Orleans; o Harrisburg has been requested to identify temporary lodging for Hurricane displaced persons for a 6 to 12 month period; up to 140 could be accommodated in available housing space in buildings at the Harrisburg State Hospital; up to 1500 could be accommodated in barracks at Fort Indiantown Gap; other smaller housing units are additionally being identified in and outside the city; the roster of sites is being provided to the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Dept., which has been tasked by the President to handle the longer-term shelter for the tens of thousands of displaced victims; the Ft. Indian- town Gap barracks are not ADA compliant, which may limit their use; Reed additionally said: “This is the first test of the National Response Plan. We have very real concerns that the experience of the past 6 days shows some serious rethinking needs to occur. Some responses and mobilizations have been far too slow. Bureaucracy and inflexibility have interfered in some instances.” He said at least four federal Urban Search and Rescue task forces bound for New Orleans were told to hold-up in Dallas and are staying at a hotel there. In- field communications has been a serious problem between agencies, which has seriously slowed response and delivery of badly needed supplies of food, water and other help. The State of New Mexico attempted to send resupplies to their USAR team but were turned away and sent back to New Mexico. “We are reluctant to be critical of any agency or anyone. They are working around-the-clock to do what is needed. Their courage and dedication are unquestioned and we are faced with the worst natural disaster in our nation’s history, with catastrophic damage that is unprecedented. All this has challenged the major plans that have been put into place since 9-11 and it is clear the plans need further work. We are certain there will be critical review and we will provide input, as will many others, based on the Hurricane Katrina experience. Now, however, the focus has to be solely on rescue, supply, shelter and then recovery,” Reed said. “The speed of response and recovery is highly significant as peoples’ lives and the nation’s economy are at risk if protracted time produces avoidable delay. Already, increased energy costs are affecting every home and every business in America.” |
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