West Virginia Waiting on Federal OK to Provide Direct Assistance to Haiti

Press Release

Since word came last Wednesday of the earthquake's devastation in Port Au Prince, Haiti, Gov. Joe Manchin and state emergency management officials have been offering West Virginia's support to assist in rescue and recovery efforts.

Manchin said that as soon as he became aware of the disaster, he asked the state emergency management director, Jimmy Gianato, to find out how West Virginia could assist. The West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management immediately contacted FEMA and offered National Guard support, as well as mine rescue teams, search and rescue capability and heavy equipment operators.

"We've never experienced anything as destructive as this earthquake -- it's leveled much of Haiti's capital," Manchin said. "I know we have expertise they could use and West Virginians have an overwhelming desire to help in any way we can."

Gianato said right now that recovery efforts in Haiti are primarily a federal mission and the federal government is coordinating U.S. assistance there. State officials are in contact with FEMA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and have let those agencies know that we are prepared to assist.

"FEMA continues to gather information and is keeping us updated," Gianato said. "They believe this is going to be a long process and rotation of assistance crews will be needed. At this point, they are not requesting our state's assistance and all missions are being coordinated by USAID and the State Department."

Thus far, at least 160 West Virginia National Guard personnel have been involved in federal Haiti assistance efforts, primarily processing cargo at the Martinsburg Air National Guard base. Two West Virginia Air National Guard C-130s departed Charleston on Jan. 18 to transport pallets of emergency items, as well.

West Virginia is a member of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact and teams at FEMA headquarters are monitoring requests for assistance that can be provided through EMAC member states. EMAC is a congressionally ratified organization that coordinates interstate mutual aid during emergencies.

For now, the governor says West Virginians can continue to offer donations that will be used in the earthquake recovery efforts. He thanked all West Virginians for their willingness to help the Haitians in need.

"In times of natural disaster, West Virginians treat all those across the world as neighbors. While a single incident may not be of the magnitude of this earthquake, we've suffered through our own natural disasters and we know that helping hand provides hope that it will be OK."

Donations can be made online through the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org, or through the Center for International Disaster Information at www.cidi.org. Additional information can also be found at the United States Agency for International Development web site, www.usaid.gov, as well as the White House web site, www.whitehouse.gov/HaitiEarthquake.

Manchin and the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security continue to review other ways that West Virginians may be able to assist in crisis recovery.

Those who may be seeking information about family members in Haiti should call 1-800-407-4747.

Source