(Baton Rouge) — President Donald Trump has approved Gov. John Bel Edwards’ request for federal assistance related to Hurricane Sally. Gov. Edwards submitted the pre-landfall emergency declaration to the President and the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Sunday.
“I want to thank the President for his quick action on my request for federal assistance related to Hurricane Sally,” said Gov. Edwards. “Though the track has shifted, Southeast Louisiana could still see impacts from Sally, which is now forecast to make landfall potentially as a Category 3, east of Louisiana. We are prepared to respond to whatever threats Hurricane Sally poses to the state.”
FEMA is authorized to provide Public Assistance Category B (emergency protective measures), including direct Federal assistance for Acadia, Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana parishes.
FEMA is also authorized to provide Public Assistance Category B emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance for the parishes of Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, Caldwell, Cameron, Catahoula, Claiborne, Concordia, De Soto, East Carroll, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, La Salle, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, Tensas, Union, Vernon, Webster, West Carroll, and Winn.
OTHER: Additional designations may be made later if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further evaluation.
The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness will continue working with FEMA to ensure that reimbursement of other emergency costs will be approved as well as costs for other regions of the state should they be needed for this event.
Gov. Edwards requested direct federal assistance for work and services to save lives and protect property. Examples of DFA include:
• United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) – sandbags, self-contained pumps, damage assessment teams, power generation, technical assistance, mapping, GIS support.
• United States Coast Guard – air transportation assets, technical assistance, search and rescue operations.
• Civil Air Patrol – air assets.
• United States Fish and Wildlife Service – wildlife management assistance within the Atchafalaya basin and technical assistance.
• United States Department of Agriculture – crop damage assessment, livestock assistance, technical assistance, water management, and inundation mapping.
Note: Assistance involving other agencies may become necessary. This assistance is requested statewide.
Members of the public should monitor the news for weather updates and follow guidance from local officials about storm issues in the coming days. The Governor’s office will also share updates about severe weather and COVID-19 through its texting system. People may opt-in by texting LAGOV to 67283 and sign up for phone calls by going to Smart911.
Find more tips on weather and preparedness on GOHSEP’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. Listen to conversations on all aspects of emergency management by downloading GOHSEP’s The Get A Game Plan Podcast. You can receive emergency alerts on most smartphones and tablets by downloading the new Alert FM App. It is free for basic service. The Get A Game Plan App is another resource available to help you and your family prepare for any type of emergency. You can download the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide and find other information at www.getagameplan.org.