News from the US: As Winter Storm Moves, Obama Meets with Agency Chiefs

Washington, DC
February 02 , 2011


 Williams Ekanem

WASHINGTON - As the major winter storm moves north and east, President Obama was briefed this morning on phone by DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate regarding the ongoing response to the large winter storm currently moving across the country.

Secretary Napolitano and Administrator Fugate updated the President on the track and impact of the storm, including scattered power and transportation disruptions in the Midwest and potential severe weather throughout the day across the Northeast.  They also discussed the continued efforts to support state, local and tribal officials in areas that have already been impacted or are currently in the path of the storm.   The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to coordinate with its federal partners, and state, local and tribal officials to make sure they have what they need to prepare for and respond to the storm. "When natural disasters hit, such as winter storms, the first response is at the local level - whether its emergency response workers or neighbor helping neighbor," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. 

"Throughout this storm, the heroes have been the first responders, neighbors, volunteers and many others who have been working day and night to protect the public's health and safety.  At FEMA, we're just one part of this team, and we're continuing to work closely with our state and local partners and tribal governments to make sure they have all the support they need for the duration of this storm."

Through its regional offices in Kansas City, Mo.; Denton, Texas; Chicago; Atlanta; Philadelphia; New York City and Boston, FEMA continues monitoring the severe winter weather that is currently moving north and east, and is impacting Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and the New England states.  There are scattered power outages throughout the Midwest from yesterday's storm activities, and FEMA is working with the impacted states to make sure they have the support they need as they work to restore power.
 The National Weather Service remains the source for official severe weather information, and has issued winter storm watches, warning or advisories in over 30 states, including Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Indiana.