WASHINGTON - At the direction of President Obama, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to coordinate federal emergency response efforts and bring all available resources to bear to support state and local efforts. Today, officials are warning residents in states along the East Coast in hurricane-impacted areas about the deadly dangers that continue as Hurricane Sandy moves inland and will remain after the storm passes.

Last night, the President declared major disasters for New York and New Jersey, making disaster assistance available to those in the heaviest hit areas affected by the storm. Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties within New York and New Jersey can begin applying for assistance by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired.

Federal, state, tribal and local partners continue to work around the clock, focusing on life saving activities such as rescue operations, assessing damage and restoring electric power. The U.S. Coast Guard and nine federal urban search and rescue task forces have been staged along the East Coast and are deploying into affected areas as needed, and requested by impacted states. An additional six federal urban search and rescue task forces have been placed on alert for potential activation if required. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also has personnel deployed in support of state response efforts, including two 50-person Disaster Medical Assistance Teams providing triage and basic care in shelters in New Jersey. Additional medical teams are on alert. HHS also has personnel supporting 350 ambulances in New York. These medical providers will help ensure the shelter can meet the needs of residents seeking refuge there.

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Before recessing in September, Congress passed appropriations legislation reimbursing the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Department of the Interior (DOI) $400 million to cover cost overruns that each agency had incurred fighting wildland fires this year. 

 

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Name: Rob Van Wormer
Rank: Battalion Chief
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Status: Career
Years of Service: 24
Date of Incident: 10/27/2012
Time of Incident: 1900hrs
Date of Death: 10/27/2012

Fire Department: Cal Fire Santa Clara Unit
Address: 15670 Monterey Street, Morgan Hill, CA 95037 (USNG: 10S FG 2099 07912)
Fire Department Chief: Steve Woodill

Incident Description: Chief Van Wormer passed away from a cause still to be determined while on a work assignment in a neighboring jurisdiction.

Funeral Arrangements: Pending

Tribute is being paid to Battalion Chief Rob Van Wormer at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

 

 _____________________

Name: Don Felton
Rank: Fire Chief
Age: 71
Gender: Male
Status: Career
Years of Service: 5
Date of Incident: 10/27/2012
Time of Incident: 1115hrs
Date of Death: 10/27/2012

Fire Department: Southern Park County Fire Protection District
Address: PO Box 11, Guffey, CO 80820-0011

Fire Department Chief: (Acting) Major Larry LePage and former district Fire Chief Gene Stanley

Incident Description: Fire Chief Felton died of an apparent heart attack while at work in his fire department office.

Incident Location: 1745 County Road 102, Guffey, CO 80820 (USNG: 13S DC 5478 8967)

Funeral Arrangements: Thursday, November 1, 2012 at 4 p.m. The memorial will be held at Station No. 1, 1745 Park County Road 102 in Guffey.

Tribute is being paid to at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/ 

_____________________ 

Name: Russell Neary
Rank: Lieutenant
Age: 55
Gender: Male
Status: Volunteer
Years of Service: 13
Date of Incident: 10/29/2012
Time of Incident: 2030hrs
Date of Death: 10/29/2012

Fire Department: Easton Volunteer Fire Company No. 1
Address: 1 Center RD, Easton, CT 06612-1640
Fire Department Chief: James Girardi

Incident Description: Lieutenant Neary responded with his fire company to a structure fire alarm. While returning to the station, firefighters were removing part of a tree blown into the roadway by Hurricane Sandy when several other trees suddenly fell striking and killing Neary.

Incident Location: Near Judd Road (USNG: 18T XL 42 75)

Funeral Arrangements: Pending

Tribute is being paid to Lieutenant Russell Neary at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/ 

To date, 65 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2012. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online @http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm