MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ASSAULT OF HURRICANE RELIEF WORKERS BASED ON RACE

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty to Racially-Motivated Assault on Hurricane Relief Workers

Josh Jambon, 52, a resident of Grand Isle, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today in front of U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan to two counts of federal civil rights violations, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Samuels for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Allen Polite Jr. for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

In connection with his plea, Jambon admitted that he assaulted two female African-American Hurricane Isaac relief workers because of their race and because of their employment status.  On Sept. 18, 2012, in Grand Isle, Jambon approached a work crew tasked with cleaning up debris from Hurricane Isaac.  During an interaction with the work crew, Jambon used racial slurs against two female African-American crew members, M.R. and N.S.  Jambon then approached N.S. and hit her in the face, because of her race and because of her employment with the work crew, then proceeded to assault M.R. in the same manner.  When Jambon saw a third crew member, B.W., filming the incident on her cell phone, Jambon initiated a physical struggle with B.W. in an attempt to take her cell phone so that he could delete the video.

“Hate-fueled violence has no place in a civilized society,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Samuels for the Civil Rights Division.  “The Justice Department is committed to using all the tools in our law enforcement arsenal to prosecute acts motivated by racial bias.”

“By holding Mr. Jambon accountable for his racially-motivated criminal conduct, our office once again demonstrates its commitment to protecting the civil rights of all residents in Southeast Louisiana,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth Allen Polite Jr. for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

For each count, Jambon faces a statutory maximum penalty of one year in prison, up to one year of supervised release, a $100,000 fine and a $25 special assessment.

The case is being investigated by special agents of the FBI.

FEMA AWARDES CLOSE TO $3.3 MILLION TO LOUISIANA DPS FOR HURRICANE ISAAC EMERGENCY MEASURES

FROM: U.S. FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

FEMA Obligates Nearly $3.3 Million to Louisiana Department of Public Safety for Hurricane Isaac Emergency Measures
January 24, 2013

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Public Safety will receive a nearly $3.3 million federal grant to reimburse the costs it incurred to provide measures to save lives and property before, during and after Hurricane Isaac, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said Thursday.

"When disasters strike, the men and women of the Department of Public Safety are on the front lines to help protect Louisiana and its residents," said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar of FEMA. "This grant helps reimburse the department for its efforts to protect the health, safety and property of Louisianians during Hurricane Isaac."

Between Aug. 26 and Sept. 10, Hurricane Isaac produced high winds, rain and flooding throughout the state. The department and its divisions provided emergency protective measures necessary to eliminate and reduce immediate threats to life, public health and safety, and public and private property. The FEMA Public Assistance grant, totaling $3,277,030, helps reimburse the department for the costs of equipment, personnel and supplies used during the Hurricane Isaac response and recovery effort.

The newly obligated funds are a portion of the $189 million in total Public Assistance recovery dollars approved for the state since the Aug. 29, 2012, disaster declaration.

Once FEMA reimburses the state of Louisiana it is the state’s responsibility to manage the funds, which includes making disbursements to local jurisdictions and organizations that incurred costs.

THREE MONTHS AFTER HURRICANE ISAAC

Venice, La., Nov. 1, 2012 -- One of the teams assigned to collect Orphan Containers in air boats heads back to the collection site after retrieving one of the biggest containers found in the Louisiana Marshland after Hurricane Isaac. Photo by Daniel Llargues-FEMA

 
FROM: FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

BATON ROUGE, La. – Nearly three months ago, Hurricane Isaac swamped Louisiana with torrential rains, high winds and storm surge. Since then, local, state, federal and voluntary agencies, plus the private sector, have worked hand in hand with survivors to help them recover from the storm’s destruction.

Hundreds of millions of dollars in state and federal assistance have jump-started the recovery efforts of individual survivors, their families and their communities in the 55 parishes designated for Individual Assistance and/or Public Assistance. And more help will arrive with the rollout of recovery programs designed to help Louisianians over the long haul.

"Louisianians have made tremendous progress in their journey toward recovery from Hurricane Isaac," said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "The efforts of the survivors themselves, combined with those of the whole recovery community, have made all the difference in Louisiana."

Even before Hurricane Isaac made its first landfall on Aug. 28 before wobbling back out to sea, then hitting the coast again, emergency workers at all levels of government, law enforcement and voluntary agencies mobilized to prepare for the storm’s onslaught. On Aug. 27, President Obama issued an emergency disaster declaration authorizing FEMA to provide assistance for emergency protective measures to alleviate the hurricane’s impact on life and property. The major disaster declaration came just two days later.

Although weaker than Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Isaac moved inland much more slowly, causing devastating flooding, some of it in areas largely unscathed by the 2005 storm. Along with the seasoned storm veterans of the coastal parishes and New Orleans, survivors unaccustomed to major storms found themselves needing help.

For many, assistance came almost immediately. Just a week after the Aug. 29 disaster declaration for Hurricane Isaac in Louisiana, more than $10 million in state and federal disaster assistance had already headed to survivors. Within 16 days, that total had soared to $100 million.

Today, disaster assistance has topped $365 million. This includes more than $116 million in grants from FEMA’s Individual Assistance (IA) program, more than $135 million in low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and more than $113 million in reimbursements to the state and local governments from FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program. Separately, the FEMA-administered National Flood Insurance Program has paid more than $370 million on claims from policyholders in Louisiana.

Beyond the funds disbursed to individuals, families, businesses and communities, federal programs have helped survivors stay temporarily in hotels when their homes were unlivable; funded crisis counseling for Louisianians suffering from the emotional effects of the storm and its aftermath; helped connect survivors to other agencies’ assistance programs to ensure that they would get the help they needed; and reimbursed municipalities for emergency protective measures taken to preserve lives and property, restoring hurricane-damaged infrastructure and removing debris from parish rights-of-way and private property.

Within hours of the Aug. 29 declaration, the first Community Relations specialists began their work of providing crucial recovery information to storm survivors. Over the following weeks, hundreds of Community Relations specialists visited parishes designated for Individual Assistance, answering survivors’ questions in neighborhoods, at Disaster Recovery Centers, and at points of distribution and shelters.

Forty recovery centers served survivors throughout Louisiana, and two centers remain open in hard-hit parishes so residents can meet face to face with specialists who can help them register and answer their questions about state and federal assistance. Mitigation and National Flood Insurance Program specialists joined the staff at the centers, greatly expanding the information available to survivors.

Mitigation outreach specialists also met with more than 24,500 Louisianians in several settings, including the disaster recovery centers, home improvement stores, fairs and festivals, providing advice and tips on rebuilding stronger homes. Two strike teams in Jefferson, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes visited residents, some accessible only by boat, to offer advice and mold cleanup kits.

As Louisianians continue to recover from Hurricane Isaac, they may have some needs that go beyond the scope of assistance the state or FEMA can provide. That’s when community-based long-term recovery groups can help.

With support and guidance from FEMA and the state, long-term recovery groups are already working in 15 hard-hit parishes. Formed from a network of nonprofit and voluntary agencies and faith- and community-based organizations, these recovery groups are working with survivors to determine their longer-term needs and connect them to assistance.

Staff and volunteers from some groups have helped clear debris at damaged homes, while others are recruiting volunteers and staff. Some groups have programs to help survivors pay utility bills or obtain necessities such as clothing and furniture.

On a community scale, the state of Louisiana, along with FEMA, has activated the new National Disaster Recovery Framework for the first time. Like initial response efforts, extended recovery requires a united effort beginning at the local level, plus the private sector and individuals — the whole community — and the framework aims to help make that happen.

Already, framework coordinators have held the first public meetings in two parishes to identify local recovery priorities, with more public sessions expected in the coming weeks, said Wayne Rickard, who was appointed the federal disaster recovery coordinator for Louisiana’s Hurricane Isaac recovery effort. After this stage, agencies at the state and federal levels will pool their resources and information to help communities and parishes find alternative pathways to secure technical assistance and funding.

Meanwhile, our Public Assistance mission continues to gain momentum and meet the challenges in Louisiana’s hard-hit coastal parishes. We are coordinating with our state and local partners, and reaching out to the federal family as well as FEMA Headquarters and Region VI leadership to find viable solutions to the more complex issues that stand in the way of full community recovery.

Because we extended the Individual Assistance registration deadline, Hurricane Isaac survivors have until Nov. 29 to register with FEMA for potential assistance. Louisianians can register for assistance or check the status of their cases online at www.disasterassistance.gov, via smartphone at m.fema.gov, or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. FEMA phone lines operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week; multilingual operators are available.

NATIONAL GUARD SERVING VALIANTLY DURING HURRICANE ISAAC DISASTER

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Soldiers prepare to depart the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Aug. 28, 2012, to support potential emergency operations arising from Hurricane Isaac. The soldiers are assigned to the Louisiana National Guard's 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Tarell J. Bilbo
　

National Guardsmen Serving 'Admirably' During Isaac
By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 2012 - As Tropical Depression Isaac bounds northward into the Mississippi River valley, National Guardsmen continue to provide critical support to local emergency officials and citizens throughout the Gulf states, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said in a briefing here today.

"Even through the storm has moved up from the Gulf, there's still work to be done," Little said. "There are still more than 3,600 National Guard personnel on duty in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama."

Little said Louisiana-Mississippi National Guardsmen are "serving admirably during the storm," and have already rescued or evacuated more than 3,400 citizens during ongoing search and rescue operations.

In addition to delivering pallets of generators, water and supplies to key facilities throughout the state, guardsmen have also set up distribution sites to provide meals, ready-to-eat, water and ice, Little said.

Military aircraft evacuated from Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., Duke Field, Fla., Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., have returned to base or are in the process of returning to base, Little added.

TIPS ON FOOD SAFETY AND NATURAL DISASTERS LIKE HURRICANE ISAAC

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUTURE

USDA Offers Food Safety Preparation Tips as Tropical Storm Isaac Nears Florida

WASHINGTON, August 24, 2012—As Floridians ready their homes for Tropical Storm Isaac's potential blast, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) urges them to make food safety a part of their preparation efforts. Power outages and flooding that often result from weather emergencies compromise the safety of stored food, and planning ahead can minimize the risk of foodborne illness.

"Storing perishable food at proper temperatures is crucial to food safety but can become difficult if you lose electricity for your refrigerator and freezer," USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elisabeth Hagen said. "For those living in Tropical Storm Isaac's projected path, we recommend stocking up on canned food, bottled water, batteries, and dry ice."


Steps to follow to prepare for a possible weather emergency:
Keep an appliance thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer to help determine if food is safe during power outages. The refrigerator temperature should be 40° F or lower and the freezer should be 0° F or lower.
Store food on shelves that will be safely out of the way of contaminated water in case of flooding.
Group food together in the freezer — this helps the food stay cold longer.
Freeze refrigerated items such as leftovers, milk and fresh meat and poultry that you may not need immediately — this helps keep them at a safe temperature longer.
Have coolers on hand to keep refrigerator food cold if the power will be out for more than 4 hours.
Purchase or make ice and store in the freezer for use in the refrigerator or in a cooler. Freeze gel packs ahead of time for use in coolers.
Plan ahead and know where dry ice and block ice can be purchased.

Steps to follow if the power goes out:
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
A refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if you keep the door closed.
A full freezer will keep its temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if half-full).
If the power is out for an extended period of time, buy dry or block ice to keep the refrigerator as cold as possible. Fifty pounds of dry ice should keep a fully-stocked 18-cubic-feet freezer cold for two days.
Steps to follow after a weather emergency:
Check the temperature in the refrigerator and freezer. If the thermometer reads 40° F or below, the food is safe.
If no thermometer was used in the freezer, check each package. If food still contains ice crystals or is at 40° F or below when checked with a food thermometer, it may be safely refrozen.
Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers and deli items) that have been kept in a refrigerator or freezer above 40° F for two hours or more.
Discard any food that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance that it has come into contact with flood water. Containers that are not waterproof include those with screw-caps, snap lids, pull tops, and crimped caps. Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers.
Thoroughly wash all metal pans, ceramic dishes and utensils that came in contact with flood water with hot soapy water and sanitize by boiling them in clean water or by immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water.
Undamaged, commercially prepared foods in all-metal cans and retort pouches (for example, flexible, shelf-stable juice or seafood pouches) can be saved. Follow the Steps to Salvage All-Metal Cans and Retort Pouches in the publication "Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency" at: www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/
Keeping_Food_Safe_During_an_Emergency/index.asp
Use bottled water that has not been exposed to flood waters. If bottled water is not available, tap water can be boiled for safety.
Never taste food to determine its safety!
When in Doubt, throw it out!
An FSIS Public Service Announcement (PSA) illustrating practical food safety recommendations for handling and consuming foods stored in refrigerators and freezers during and after a power outage is available in 30- and 60-second versions at www.fsis.usda.gov/news/Food_Safety_PSA. News organizations and power companies can obtain hard copy (Beta and DVD) versions of the PSA by contacting FSIS' Food Safety Education Staff at (301) 344-4757.

Videos about food safety during power outages are available in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language on FSIS' YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/USDAFoodSafety. Podcasts regarding food safety during severe weather, power outages, and flooding are available English and Spanish on FSIS' website at www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
Food_Safety_at_Home_Podcasts.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at www.AskKaren.gov or m.AskKaren.gov on your smartphone. Mobile Ask Karen can also be downloaded from the Android and iTunes app store. Consumers can email, chat with a live representative, or call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline directly from the app. To use these features on the app, simply choose "Contact Us" from the menu. The live chat option and the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline, 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854), are available in English and Spanish from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

ISAAC AND THE HURRICANE HUNTERS

Photo Credit:  NASA
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

'Hurricane Hunters' Track Isaac as Southcom, Northcom Prepare
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23, 2012 - With Tropical Storm Isaac bearing down on the Dominican Republic and Haiti and threatening to strengthen over the eastern Caribbean, the "Hurricane Hunters" from the Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron are in the air, relaying critical data to National Weather Service forecasters in Miami.

Meanwhile, staffs at both the U.S. Southern and Northern Commands are monitoring the storm closely and ensuring they are ready to provide support to civilian authorities, including the U.S. Agency for International Development and Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Three six-person crews from the 53rd WRS and their maintainers and support staff deployed to St. Croix from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., last weekend, Air Force Lt. Col. Jon Talbot, the squadron's chief meteorologist, told American Forces Press Service. Operating out of the international airport there, they began flying their specially equipped C-130J Hercules aircraft through the storm Aug. 21.

On a typical mission that can run up to 12 hours, the aircrews crisscross the storm in what the teams call an "alpha pattern," he explained. Sophisticated onboard instruments and small canisters dropped by parachute to the ocean's surface collect accurate measurements of the storm's location and intensity.

That information is fed continuously to the National Hurricane Center via an onboard satellite link. In addition, the aircraft sends automated messages every 10 minutes, relaying barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, and other measurements.

"The reason this data is critical is because, with satellites, you can track where storms are and get a general picture, but you can't peer into the storm and physically measure what is happening at the ocean's surface," Talbot said. "That is the important piece of information you need to know when it comes to providing warnings to the public. The emergency management community needs to know what is going on near the surface of the ocean, because those are the winds that are going to come ashore."

With about six missions already under their belts during the past three days, Talbot said, the pace will pick up considerably as Isaac moves west toward the United States. "Currently, we are doing about three missions a day, but that will go up to four or five when the storm comes within 300 miles of the U.S. coastline," he said.

The Hurricane Hunters expect to move west along with the storm, redeploying to Keesler Air Force Base to resume those missions beginning this weekend. In the event that the crews have to evacuate Keesler, Talbot said, they already have alternate operating sites lined up. "We track these things pretty closely, because if we end up having to jump from here, we still have to continue flying and providing that data while we are evacuating our own resources," he said. "It becomes a big, tangled web, but it always works out pretty well."

As a precaution, aircraft and ships are being moved out of the storm's possible path and other assets are being secured, according to Southcom spokesman Army Lt. Col. Darryl Wright. Planning teams are busy running rehearsal meetings and preparing to verify personnel and resource requests, if USAID issues them, he said.

Wright emphasized that military support, if provided, would be part of a coordinated U.S. response led by civilian authorities. "We conduct close coordination and planning and provide DOD support to relief efforts upon request," he said. "Through this close coordination, we ensure that we respond with the most efficient means available to the U.S. government."

In terms of disaster response, Wright said efficiency is typically more important than speed in reducing suffering and saving lives.

Northcom, too, is in a monitoring mode. But with the storm expected to intensify late this weekend when it hits the Atlantic and the Florida Straits, the command deployed a defense coordinating officer and element to Puerto Rico on Aug. 20 to support FEMA, John Cornelio, Northcom's media operations chief, told American Forces Press Service.

The element of about 20 people is assessing the situation and standing ready to provide assistance, if requested. "We have learned the value of being forward enough to cut down on the response time, if required," Cornelio said.

With Isaac's path still anyone's guess, officials say it's too soon to know whether it will hit Tampa, site of next week's Republican National Convention. Northcom has a team deployed there to support the Secret Service during the convention, Cornelio reported.