FEMA has the authority to order martial law and open up FEMA camps for dissident Americans.

FEMA has the authority to order martial law and open up FEMA camps for dissident Americans.

Reprinted by permission from the Border fire report.

Every tyrannical crackdown throughout the world has began with a false flag followed by mass incarceration. FEMA - The Secret Government, the most powerful federal agency in the UNITED STATES not only is it the most dangerously powerful entity in the United States and was not created by Congress but it was not even created under Constitutional law by the Congress. It was a product of a Presidential Executive Order. All other federal agencies are subject to congressional oversight.

 FEMA, which stands for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Originally conceived in the Richard Nixon Administration, it was continued by all following presidents since.

Some people have referred to it as the "secret government" of the United States. In fact FEMA will not let the media in to check it out much less the public. Any and all visitors that do manage to obtain entrance are escorted by FEMA officials. And shown only what FEMA wants them to see. Most FEMA employees have no idea what’s going on. Employees are kept in the dark and are unaware of the clandestine and covert operations. At FEMA installions the employees are not allowed to even see parts of the properties. There are signs that read things like “Restricted Area” Caution do not go past this point” signs of this nature are placed throughout the property. Highly guarded there are special metal security doors at many sensitive areas. Even though all FEMA employees have to pass a security background check.

No body at FEMA is elected by the people. FEMA even has a quasi-secret budget reported in the billions of dollars. Many investigators believe FEMA has more power than the President of the United States or the Congress. FEMA has the power to suspend laws, move entire populations, arrest and detain citizens without a warrant and hold them without trial, it can seize property, water, food supplies, transportation systems, fuel, and can suspend the U.S. Constitution.

Behind the Constantine razor wire at FEMA installations around the country as examples are the Highly guarded MT Weather and the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Aniston Alabama. Or suspicious facilities northeast of Tucson  Ariz or remote locations in Alaska. Many others are located on military basis around America. The question remains why? Why do they have the need to keep everybody out? Why do they look like well guarded concentration camps and federal prisons?

FEMA employees have internal infighting among themselves. A motto of FEMA is Cover your ass and stay in your lane. FEMA wants to run the show and have created some of the nations most complicated turf wars among other federal, state, county and local agencies have ever seen.

FEMA had one original concept when it was created, to assure the survivability of the United States government in the event of a nuclear attack on this nation. FEMA was created in a series of Executive Orders. A Presidential Executive Order, whether Constitutional or not, becomes law simply by its publication in the Federal Registry. Congress is by-passed completely. Executive Order Number 12148 created the Federal Emergency Management Agency to interface with the Department of Defense for civil defense planning and funding. An "emergency czar" was also appointed.   It was also provided with the task of being a federal coordinating body during times of disasters including urban riots, terrorist attacks,  refugee situations,  and emergency planning for nuclear, toxic, chemical and biological incidents, earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, volcanoes, hurricanes, mudslides, debris flows and other manmade and natural disasters. FEMA has awesome powers, and has even been given control of the Military, State police, State Defense Forces, and the National Guard. Along with wild land fires, and even home heating emergencies.

FEMA's enormous powers can be triggered easily. In any form of domestic or foreign problem, perceived and not always actual, emergency powers can be enacted. The President of the United States now has broader powers to declare martial law, which activates FEMA's extraordinary powers. Martial law can be declared during time of increased tension overseas, economic problems within the United States, such as a depression, civil unrest, such as demonstrations or scenes like the Los Angeles riots, and in a drug crisis. These Presidential powers have increased with NDAA law that is meant to protect Americans from terrorist.

That increases the power to suspend citizens do process, the rights guaranteed under the Constitution and to seize property of those suspected of being associated in anyway with suspected terrorist or drug dealers. Gives FEMA dominion over individuals who participate in a public protest or demonstration. Under emergency plans already in existence, the power exists to suspend the Constitution and turn over the reigns of government to FEMA and appointing military commanders to run state and local governments. FEMA has the right now to order the detention of anyone whom the government alleges there is reasonable ground to believe...will engage in, or probably conspire with others to engage in acts of terrorism, espionage, sabotage or drug dealing. The plan also authorizes the establishment of concentration camps for detaining the accused, with no trial.

REX 84 was so highly guarded that special metal security doors were placed on the fifth floor of the FEMA building in Washington, D.C. Even long-standing employees of the Civil Defense of the Federal Executive Department possessing the highest possible security clearances were not being allowed through the newly installed metal security doors. Only personnel wearing a special red Christian cross or crucifix lapel pin were allowed into the premises. Which at the time U.S. Attorney General William French Smith opposed vehemently. The plan called for the suspension of the Constitution, turning control of the government over to FEMA, appointment of military commanders to run state and local governments and the declaration of Martial Law. The Presidential Executive Orders to support such a plan were already in place. The plan also advocated the rounding up and transfer to "assembly centers or relocation camps" of millions of African Americans, Mexicans and others in the event of massive rioting or disorder, not unlike the rounding up of the Jews in Nazi Germany in the 1930s.

FEMA during “Desert Storm” and the invasion of Iraq, FEMA began to draft new legislation to increase its already formidable powers. One of the elements incorporated into the plan was to set up operations within any state or locality without the prior permission of local or state authorities. Such prior permission has always been required in the past. Much of the mechanism being set into place was in anticipation of the economic collapse of the Western World. The war with Iraq may have been conceived as a ploy to boost the bankrupt economy, but it only pushed the West into deeper recession.

The Miami Herald published reports on FEMA's new goals. The goal was to suspend the Constitution in the event of a national crisis, such as nuclear war, violent and widespread internal dissent, or national opposition to a U.S. military invasion abroad. National Security Directive Number 52 refers to the "Use of National Guard Troops to Quell Disturbances."

The crux of the problem is that FEMA has the power to turn the United States into a police state in time of a real crisis or a manufactured crisis. The crisis, as the government now sees it, is civil unrest. For generations, the government was concerned with nuclear war, but the violent and disruptive demonstrations that surrounded the Vietnam War era prompted President Nixon to change the direction of emergency powers from war time to times of domestic unrest. Diana Raynolds, program director of the Edward R. Murrow Center, summed up the dangers of FEMA today and the public reaction to Martial Law in a drug crisis: "It was James Madison's worst nightmare that a righteous faction would someday be strong enough to sweep away the Constitutional restraints designed by the framers to prevent the tyranny of centralized power, excessive privilege, an arbitrary governmental authority over the individual. These restraints, the balancing and checking of powers among branches and layers of government, and the civil guarantees, would be the first casualties in a drug-induced national security state with Reagan's Civil Emergency Preparedness unleashed. Nevertheless, there would be those who would welcome NSC (National Security Council) into the drug fray, believing that increasing state police powers to emergency levels is the only way left to fight American's enemy within. In the short run, a national security state would probably be a relief to those whose personal security and quality of life has been diminished by drugs or drug related crime. And, as the general public watches the progression of institutional chaos and social decay, they too may be willing to pay the ultimate price, one drug free America for over 200 years of democracy."

The first targets in any FEMA emergency would be Hispanics and Blacks, the FEMA orders call for them to be rounded up and detained. Tax protesters, demonstrators against government military intervention outside U.S. borders, and people who maintain weapons in their homes are also targets. Operation Trojan Horse is a program designed to learn the identity of potential opponents to martial law. The program lures potential protesters into public forums, conducted by a "hero" of the people who advocates survival training. The list of names gathered at such meetings and rallies are computerized and then targeted in case of an emergency.

The scenarios established to trigger FEMA into action are generally found in the society today, economic collapse, civil unrest, drug problems, terrorist attacks, and protests against American intervention in a foreign country. All these premises exist, it could only be a matter of time in which one of these triggers the entire emergency necessary to bring FEMA into action, and then it may be too late, because under the FEMA plan, there is no contingency by which Constitutional power is restored.

From a practical perspective, it is state, local, and private organizations and resources that are on the scene and available to immediately assist in emergencies. State and local governments employ 1.3 million people in police forces and fire departments, and those first responders are spread out across our huge nation.⁷² State governors have wideranging responsibilities during disasters, and they typically have access to special powers, such as being able to order evacuations. As for the private sector, the 9/11 Commission report noted that “because 85 percent of our nation’s critical infrastructure is controlled not by governments but by the private sector, private-sector civilians are likely to be the first responders in any future catastrophes.”⁷³

Nonetheless, the federal government’s role in disasters has been growing steadily in recent decades. This is a troubling development. Excessive federal intervention threatens to undermine and crowd out more efficient state, local, and private disaster response efforts. Also, federal interventions usually come with top-down rules that stifle innovation and reduce the efficiency of state and local government services.  

Submitted By

General Michael (Mick) Webster

United States Civil Defense Assoc.(www.uscda.us

Sources: FEMA, State and city employees,

Major contributor FreeAmerica and Harry V. Martin, 

·         FEMA concentration camps? The militia good times are rollin' again by Dave Neiwert

·         FEMA Camps Edward L Winston

https://www.infowars.com/exclusive-government-activating-fema-camps-across-

FEMA unprepared and lacks pre strategic planning

FEMA unprepared and lacks pre strategic planning

 By Michael Webster, Syndicated Investigative Reporter. 1200 A.M. Sept 29, 2017 PDT

Hurricane Maria is President Trumps Katrina. The President relies on Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for all disasters in the United States, which includes every state and territory.

Hurricane Maria was an extraordinary act of nature that spawned one of the worst human tragedies in America. It was one of the most destructive natural disasters in American history, laying waste to Puerto Rico and the American Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. Puerto Rico is the largest of American territories. It is an Island 100 miles long and 35 miles wide, and an area the size of the United Kingdom, with an American population of 3.5 million people. In the American Virgin Islands, the storm surge obliterated coastal communities and left thousands destitute. Puerto Rico and the islands were overwhelmed by 175 miles per hour winds and waist high flooding in many areas. The storm knocked out all power and communications on the islands.

As a result all told, many American citizens lost their lives, over 3 million people suffered without basic essentials like fresh potable water, food, fuel, and shelter.

FEMA has become so muscle bond and powerful it can’t seem to get out of its own way in times of large or mega disasters.

Can you imagine with no water, toilets don’t flush and they back up quickly and American citizens had to go out doors in the elements to relieve themselves for weeks and in most cases without any toilet paper?

 FEMA Chief Brock Long Says “Puerto Rico Relief 'Most Logistically Challenging Event' U.S. Has Ever Seen”.

FEMA had known for more than a week that Maria was likely to hit Puerto Rico and the American Virgin Islands where there were nearly 4 million people and property at dangerous and live threatening risk.

Much of the suffering is continuing and is expected to in the days, weeks, months and yes even years after Maria has passed. This did not happen in a vacuum; instead, the blame lays squarely with FEMA – the failure of FEMA to plan, prepare for and respond aggressively to the storm. These failures were not just conspicuous; they were pervasive. Among the many factors that contributed to these failures, long-term warnings went unheeded and FEMA officials neglected their duties to prepare for a forewarned catastrophe; FEMA officials took insufficient actions or made poor decisions in the days immediately before and after landfall; The systems on which Puerto Rico and the American Virgin Islands relied on to support their emergency response efforts failed, and FEMA Administer Brock Long failed to provide effective leadership. These individual failures, moreover, occurred against a backdrop of failure, over time, to develop the capacity for a coordinated, national response to a truly catastrophic event, whether caused by nature or man-made. The results were tragic loss of life and human suffering on a massive scale, and an undermining of confidence in our governments’ ability to plan, prepare for and respond to national catastrophes.

Effective response to mass emergencies is a critical role for FEMA and every level of government. It is a role that requires an unusual level of planning, coordination and dispatch among governments’ diverse agencies.

FEMA leadership either knew or should have known the disaster was near at hand and FEMA should have ordered the evacuation of the islands peoples most at risk.

The Government has the authority to request or if necessary commandeer cruise ships and passenger airliners. FEMA should have used that authority and evacuated the islands immediately. Having the ships bring in emergency supplies and pickup passengers to Evac. The same is true with the airlines. Bring in emergency supplies and bring out American citizens to safety.

As soon as the storm passed FEMA should have had a contingency arrangement with the military to have them ready to immediately parachute in the 101st and the 82 airborne with medics, Emergency Medical Technicians and paramedics. With FEMA coordinating massive strategic airdrops of water, food and medical supplies throughout the Islands. FEMA should have immediately dispatched hospital ships, freighters, and oil and gas tankers. FEMA must ahead of time included trucks, trailers with drivers as emergency supplies arrived in the islands ports. Heavy equipment, bull dozers, frontend loaders, etc. to clear highways and roads throughout the islands so emergency supplies can reach those that need it most.  FEMA’s heavy equipment operators should be available at a moments notice to respond to disasters. Communication lines of contact through pre- establishing HAM radio stations throughout America including all U.S. territories will provide pertinent and life saving communications when normal communications are down or unavailable.

The mayor of Puerto Rico’s capital city San Juan issued a plea for urgent help as she expressed frustration with the speed at which rescuers were being sent to work on the hurricane-ravaged U.S. territory. “This is a big S.O.S for anybody out there,” Carmen Yulin Cruz told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow on Tuesday night, “a plea for this help, which is right here, to get moving.” Cruz said many rescuers on the ground had been left without marching orders and said she was aware of instances where medics had waited for two days before being briefed.“ The red tape needs to be ripped off as if it were a band aid,” she said, “there are boots on the ground…but those boots need to start walking.”

Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Elaine Duke said Wednesday that search and rescue efforts were complete, and that the focus is now on distributing supplies, including food, water and gasoline. DHS has asked the Defense Logistics Agency to help the National Guard troops on the ground there. AT&T is on island to work on restoring cell service, she said. The electrical grid is more of a challenge, Duke said, adding that it's "virtually gone."

Meanwhile Puerto Ricans rushed to get basic necessities to the island’s most vulnerable populations, in what Cruz called a "terrifying humanitarian crisis."

In San Juan where only a few FEMA officials have been spotted and they were only standing around and didn’t seem to be doing anything to help. In the capital, a group of about 50 volunteers has been mobilizing in residences for the elderly, finding people in buildings that lacked food, running water, access to their medicines and were dealing with no electricity in stifling heat. “Some of these folks were bedridden, some were dehydrated because they have not been able to get any water or food for a number of days,” Armando Valdés Prieto, a lawyer and volunteer, told NBC News by phone of one building he visited. “Some of them didn’t even remember when they’d last eaten.”

In buildings with no power, diabetic patients were unable to refrigerate their insulin. Elevators were also no longer working in some of the residences, leaving many with limited mobility unable to leave their apartments, for help. They all said that they had not heard anything from FEMA.

Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, this country went through one of the most sweeping reorganizations of federal government in history. While driven primarily by concerns of terrorism, the reorganization was designed to strengthen our nation’s ability to address the consequences of both natural and manmade disasters. In at least two major tests, this reorganized system failed. Katrina and Maria reveal that much remains to be done. FEMA either knew or should have known the dangers and should have taken preemptive appropriate life saving action.

Why FEMA wasn’t better prepared? The 15000 Fema employees all know the vulnerabilities of the elderly, the infirmed, and the disabled during and after disasters. FEMA should have made sure that all hospitals, nursing homes and other elderly care facilities should have been evacuated during the week or so before the storm hit. FEMA’S director Brock Long has a lengthy back ground in emergency preparedness, and should have known what was immediately needed, especially when it comes to helpless and older folks. Emergency managers around the country wonder why Fema wasn’t more aggressive in evacuating or at least insisting that their first responders evacuate venerable and helpless elderly. In the aftermath of the storm the survivors confronted a multitude of known and unknown hazards in the storm's wake as best they could with limited resources.

Many cities, county and state officials say FEMA should have more strategically placed emergency supplies throughout the America’s. These should be fully stocked warehouses that can withstand storms, earthquakes and other mega storms, with all necessary emergency supplies. The building can than be used as a safe emergency shelter when needed. Every state, county and city in America should have these types of emergency facilities throughout their jurisdictions.

According to some FEMA employees who all wish to remain anonymous fearing reprisals or retaliations said, “What most people don’t know is that FEMA is not a 1^st responder agency. FEMA trains and finances through grants to municipalities, counties and state first responders that can be called on to response to disasters in all parts of the nation. FEMA is charged with coordinating these efforts. In doing so FEMA personal are mainly paper pushers and fill out FEMA’s many forms. Many FEMA employees say there is so much paper work that they can not do their jobs. FEMA’s unofficial motto is “Cover your ass and stay in your own lane”.

As reported by congress in the past FEMA’s response to some major disasters has been slow, disorganized, and profligate. The agency’s actions have sometimes been harmful, such as when it has blocked the relief efforts of other organizations. FEMA’s dismal response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 dramatized the agency’s bureaucratic dysfunction. FEMA’s grants for disaster preparedness are known for wastefulness. As for the NFIP, its insurance subsidies are spurring development in flood-prone areas, which in turn is increasing the damage caused by floods. The NFIP also encourages an expansion of federal regulatory control over local land-use planning. Federalism is supposed to undergird America’s system of handling disasters, particularly natural disasters. State, local, and private organizations should play the dominant role. Looking at American history, many disasters have generated large outpourings of aid by volunteers, individuals, businesses, and charitable groups.

The Congressional Executive summery went on to further state “however, growing federal intervention is undermining the role of private institutions and the states in handling disasters. Policymakers should reverse course and begin cutting FEMA. Ultimately, the agency should be closed down by ending aid programs for disaster preparedness and relief and privatizing flood insurance”.

After the less than stellar performance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during the hurricane Sandy natural disaster, Americans may well wonder if any federal agency can be counted on to successfully accomplish its designated mission efficiently. Redundancy, and mismanagement (e.g. the Government Services Administration), have appreciable inefficiencies, and also suffer from funding issues. Citizens can legitimately question the federal government's ability to successfully accomplish even simple tasks on time and on budget.

FEMA, however, was a department enacted with a high purpose: to address the twin concerns of civil defense and disaster mitigation. Specifically, its two core missions are, (1) to improve the federal government's ability to survive a foreign attack (e.g. a nuclear war), and (2) to assist state and local authorities in responding to natural disasters. From its inception FEMA has been a study in evolution of purpose, organization, usage, and politicization. FEMA has often attracted negative attention during natural disasters, attention that triggered in-depth investigations, initiated mission adjustments, caused revisions in organizational structure, and improvements in strategies and tactics. Each change has further exacerbated FEMA's disaster resolution problems. The changes have also increased its politicization, its use of patronage as a reward, and the distribution of "pork barrel" funds to cronies of the sitting presidents.

FEMA was created in March of 1979 by executive order under President Jimmy Carter to bring together a complicated array of overlapping jurisdictions in three governmental agencies: Commerce, Housing, and Urban Development, along with the executive branch. In theory, the objective was to rationalize organizational structure and streamline decision making to enhance implementation of the two core missions. Prior to FEMA's formation, natural disasters were dealt with in a one-off manner with legislation enacted to deal with each individual crisis up and until roughly 1930.

In 1932 President Herbert Hoover started the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC). The RFC was initially designed to lend money to banks to energize economic activity and to distribute federal funds (often in the form of outright grants) in the wake of disasters. From this tiny beginning the RFC grew and matured into the agency now known as FEMA.

Yet major natural disasters, beginning with hurricane Andrew in 1992, the South Florida hurricanes of 2004, and hurricane Katrina in 2005, exposed material deficiencies in FEMA's response capabilities. In fairness, a number of the criticisms cited were a function of a misinterpretation of FEMA's charter and mission. FEMA's core mission was to "assist local and state agencies" in responding to natural disasters, not to function as the primary or secondary responder. Nevertheless, FEMA clearly was not structured to deal with mega disasters and an in-depth review after Katrina in 2005 exposed appreciable shortcomings, shortcomings that had already been revealed in at least three assessments subsequent to hurricane Andrew in 1992. These deficiencies included:

Lack of fast-reaction forces which could be quickly added to the trained personnel already on staff in each of FEMA's 11 preparedness districts (Regions) throughout the country that respond to area disasters.

No workable budget. FEMA's budget allocates 60% of the available funds to each state equally, not on a risk basis, therefore leaving a funding amount too small to deal with a specific major problem in any jurisdiction.

 No ability or technology to communicate within and/or outside the area of destruction during and immediately after an incident.

Lack of clear, predetermined lines of communication between local and state governments and the specific individuals representing each of the responding entities.

No ability and necessary equipment/supplies to preposition in advance of a pending disaster... water, generators, fuel, food, blankets, temporary shelter etc... And, if you will, a super group deployable at ground zero of the disaster area to enhance the district team's supply capabilities.

No clear standards for interacting with the victims of a tragedy and a tested methodology for setting realistic expectations regarding future actions and interactions.

During 2003, FEMA was incorporated into the newly created Department of Homeland Security (DHS), therefore losing its independence and adding complexity. Its organizational structure became so complicated that only a Ph.D in structural engineering could understand the lines of authority. Additionally, FEMA never received the funding necessary to prepare for catastrophic disasters and meet its daunting responsibilities.

Prior to the founding of DHS, FEMA had begun to morph into a highly politicized entity, since it retained the ability to grant large sums of funding (read pork) to state and local governments (and cronies), and its staffing was largely by appointment at both the federal and district levels. Funding to states and local entities followed the number of disaster declarations cited by the administration in power. During the George H.W. Bush years an average of 43.5 declarations per year were made. Under Bill Clinton the number grew to 89.5 per year, then to 129.6 per year under George W. Bush and finally to an incredible 153.0 per year (thru 2011) under Barack Obama. In addition, from March 2009 to October 2011, FEMA employment grew from 4,400 to 7,470, an increase of 70%. (The Obama record is astonishing since within this time-frame no terrorist attacks occurred, no Category 2 or higher hurricanes happened, and no earthquake with a force of 6.0 or more on the Richter scale struck. FEMA during the same period seems to have been utilized as a tool or mechanism to build reelection support.)

After the founding of DHS and its detailed reviews of FEMA, after the Katrina FEMA collapse and many more reviews and adjustments, after Irene, a $20 billion disaster, and further investigations, FEMA has shown little or no improvement in dealing with the Sandy recovery. Events suggest that two conclusions can be drawn: first, the inadequacies described above and identified pre-Katrina remain embedded in the organization, and second, that the agency has become a corrupt, pork-barrel delivery vehicle for the administration in power. Like so many other federal agencies and departments, FEMA remains incapable of satisfying its core missions. Americans have every right to be cynical, but also have an obligation to demand the elimination of agencies and/or departments that can no longer perform as designed and promised. A possible solution would be a return to one-off funding of each disaster by Congress as they occur or alternately FEMA should ask the President to pre-declare disasters where possible.

Sources:   Congress of the United States of America, REPORT OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS Read more: www.lagunajournal.com http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/11/another_federal_disaster.html#ixzz4shnuu0WN 
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FEMA Knew the Dangers to Older Citizens during Major Disasters At least six people have died as a result.

 By Michael Webster, Syndicated Investigative Reporter. 1200 Noon Sept 13, 2017 PDT

Why Fema wasn’t better prepared? The 15000 Fema employees all know the vulnerabilities of the elderly during and after disasters. FEMA should have made sure that all nursing homes and other elderly care facilities were evacuated during the week or so before the storm hit. FEMA’S director Brock Long has a lengthy back ground in emergency preparedness, especially when it comes to helpless older folks. Emergency managers around the country wonder why Fema wasn’t more aggressive in evacuating or at least insisting that their first responders evacuate venerable and helpless elderly. All Six patients at a sweltering Hollywood nursing home died in Hurricane Irma's aftermath, authorities said Wednesday, as people confronted a multitude of known hazards in the storm's wake.

FEMA trains and finances first responders across the country the very people who should know. Fema either knew or should have known the dangers and should have taken appropriate life saving action.

Hollywood Police Chief Tom Sanchez said investigators believe the deaths at the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills were heat-related, and added: "The building has been sealed off and we are conducting a criminal investigation." He did not elaborate.

Three patients were found dead at the nursing home early Wednesday, and three more died at the hospital after a total of more than 100 were evacuated, many of them on stretchers or in wheelchairs, authorities said.

The air conditioning was out, but Sanchez said it remained under investigation whether power was entirely cut. He didn't answer questions regarding whether a generator was running inside the place.

Also in the Miami area, a Coral Gables apartment building was evacuated after authorities determined a lack of power made it unsafe for elderly tenants, while officers arrived at the huge Century Village retirement community in Pembroke Pines to help people on upper floors without access to working elevators. More than half the community of 15,000 residents lacked power.

In addition, at least five people died and more than a dozen were treated after breathing carbon monoxide fumes from generators in the Orlando, Miami and Daytona Beach areas.

Not counting the nursing home deaths and the more expected at least 13 people in Florida have died under in Irma-related circumstances, many of them well after the storm had passed. Many fear there will be more elderly fatalities discovered and others thank God that the Hurricane was not larger. Next time it maybe and many more elderly may parish.

IRMA VOLUNTEERS

The elderly are now the most endangered, there maybe hundreds and perhaps thousands who are stranded in their condo’s and other homes throughout Florida. Most have no transportation and no way to get out before the storm. NOW is the time to do your best to get them out. At least get them to shelters. After IRMA passes it will become a huge search and rescue undertaking. Remember you must keep yourself safe. If, your not safe you will not be able to help others. The elderly adults are less mobile and far less likely to be able to evacuate on their own.  Their eating habits may be more finicky and, for health reasons, restricted.  The need for life-sustaining prescription medications and medical devices increases with age, and perhaps most difficult of all, the sense of fear may result in profound depression as the familiar and comforting world around them has changed. Elderly adults many have out lived there families, friends and relatives. They are truly on their own. They are the people who need our help the most.

The below information was received from DHS FEMA at 10:50 am today.  We will share additional information as it becomes available.

Hurricane Irma - ESS Status September 8

Emergency Services

• Emergency response could be impacted by blocked and flooded roads.  Loss of 911 call centers may result in difficulty reaching emergency services. Emergency Alert Systems may be impacted, likely causing delay in response and recovery efforts.  Fire/Rescue and EMS members in the storm surge area may be limited in the service they are able to provide due to damage and the large number of volunteer departments in rural areas where responders may be storm affected as citizens.
• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has more than 200 officers standing by for the first wave of response based on potential storm impacts. Thirty teams with supporting resources such as trucks, coastal and river patrol boats, an ATV and two shallow draft boats are preparing for evacuation support, search and rescue missions, or any additional needs.
• FWC is also coordinating with partners in states such as Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri, Tennessee, Louisiana and Arkansas in case additional officers or resources are needed.
• The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is assisting with fuel escorts in impacted areas. FDLE established 18 emergency response teams for deployment to impacted areas and those teams will begin deploying tomorrow to pre-staging locations. Each FDLE region is operating its Regional Law Enforcement Coordination Team in advance of the storm to assist local law enforcement with any needs.
• The entire Florida Highway Patrol, approximately 1,700 troopers, is on 12-hour shifts, with the primary mission to assist emergency preparedness and response, including escorting fuel trucks.
• A total of 330 FHP troopers are currently on standby for deployments. A 33-member team is currently in route to the Fort Myers area for quick response efforts once storm track and potential impacts are determined. Additionally, equipment such as high water recovery vehicles has been prepared for quick deployment to assist with recovery and road clearance efforts.

Communications

• Loss of wireless coverage due to disruption of electric power service and tower and antenna damage from high winds is anticipated. Backup generator power could be insufficient if the facility was not designed to withstand an extended power disruption. Degradation of wired communications due to electric power service disruption could occur. Flooding could damage facilities and assets that have not been hardened.
• Florida Public Radio Emergency Network (FPREN) has been sharing vital information about Hurricane Irma through their broadcast network, social media and station websites. FPREN is also reporting important news and information through the Florida Storms app and social media pages.
• The state is monitoring the State Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS), which is fully operational.

Evacuations

• 9/7 - Florida’s Governor issued voluntary evacuations of the cities (South Bay, Lake Harbor, Pahokee, Moore Haven, Clewiston, Belle Glade, and Canal Point) surrounding the southern half of Lake Okeechobee from Lake Port to Canal Point in Hendry, Palm Beach and Glades counties. Mandatory evacuations for these jurisdictions will be effective 9/8.
• Brevard County: mandatory evacuations for Zone A, Merritt Island, barrier islands, and some low-lying mainland areas along Indian River Lagoon beginning Friday
• Broward County: voluntary evacuations mobile homes and low-lying areas; mandatory East of Federal Highway including barrier islands beginning Thursday
• Collier County: mandatory evacuations for Goodland, Everglades City, Chokoloskee, all mobile homes beginning on Friday
• Flagler County: mandatory evacuations for nursing homes, all varieties of assisted living facilities, and community residential group homes within coastal and Intracoastal areas and voluntary for zones A, B, C, F beginning on Thursday; mandatory for Zones A,B,C,F, and substandard housing beginning on Saturday
• Hendry County: voluntary evacuations for low-lying areas, non-slab-built homes, mobile home and RVs beginning on Thursday
• Lee County: mandatory evacuations for barrier islands – Bonita Beach, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, Captiva, and Pine Island beginning on Friday AM
• Manatee County: voluntary evacuations for Zone A
• Martin County: voluntary evacuations for mandatory for barrier islands, manufactured homes, and low-lying areas beginning Saturday
• Miami-Dade County: mandatory evacuations for all of Zone A, all of Zone B, and portions of Zone C. Miami Dade residents can find their zones by clicking HERE.
• Monroe County: mandatory evacuations for visitors and residents. A dedicated transportation hotline is available specifically for individuals in the Keys at 305-517-2480
• Palm Beach County: mandatory evacuations for Zone A and B, voluntary for Zone C
• Pinellas County: mandatory evacuations all mobile home and Zone A
• St. Lucie County: voluntary evacuations
• School buses are available for transportation needs in Monroe, Miami-Dade and Broward counties. At this time, Monroe has accepted 10 buses to help with evacuations, Miami-Dade Counties are using these services to help evacuate those with special needs and Broward has buses on stand-by.
• Additional evacuations are expected throughout the state.

Transportation

• Real-time traffic information and evacuation routes are available at www.FL511.com.
• FDOT has increased the number of road rangers who are patrolling Florida’s roadways 24/7 to assist motorists.
• Around the state, FDOT has 13 Traffic Management Centers where hundreds of DOT workers are monitoring traffic cameras 24/7 to ensure traffic flows continue and evacuations proceed without interruption.
• FDOT officials are also monitoring road cameras at the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee around the clock to help keep traffic moving.
• FDOT is coordinating with Google’s emergency response team to prepare to ‘close’ roads in Google Maps in real time in the event that Hurricane Irma forces the closure of any roads in the aftermath of the storm. Google Maps are used for Uber and Waze among other directional applications.

Military Support

• 4,000 members of the Florida Army and Air National Guard have been activated to support with planning, and logistics operations. All remaining National Guard members will be reporting for duty 9/8 morning. Additional guard members will continue to be activated this week as needed.
• The Florida National Guard has coordinated with the North Carolina National Guard to utilize air assets to assist with ongoing evacuations in the Florida Keys.
• The Florida National Guard has coordinated with the New Jersey National Guard and approximately 130 soldiers and more than 50 vehicles are in route to provide transportation assets for movement of troops, supplies and equipment to aid mobilization efforts during Hurricane Irma operations.
• The Florida National Guard has coordinated with the Ohio National Guard and Pennsylvania National Guard to have teams standing by for Hurricane Irma support.
• The Florida National Guard has 1,000 high water vehicles, 13 helicopters, 17 boats and more than 700 generators on standby.
• The Florida National Guard is coordinating with the National Guard Bureau to identify approximately 30,000 troops, 4,000 trucks, 100 helicopters, and air evacuation crews that are standing by for Hurricane Irma support, if needed.
• The Florida National Guard Joint Operations Center at Camp Blanding has activated to Level 1 to facilitate Hurricane Irma mission command and coordination efforts.

State Emergency Operations Center

• The State Emergency Operations Center has been activated to level one, which is a full-scale, 24-hours-a-day activation.
• A Storm Surge Watch has been issued for the east coast of Florida north of Jupiter Inlet to Sebastian Inlet and for the west coast of Florida north of Bonita Beach to Venice. A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life- threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.
• A Storm Surge Warning has been issued from Jupiter Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Bonita Beach, as well as for the Florida Keys. A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations.
• A Hurricane Watch has been issued for the east coast of Florida north of Jupiter Inlet to Sebastian Inlet and for the west coast of Florida north of Bonita Beach to Anna Maria Island. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.
• A Hurricane Warning has been issued from Jupiter Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Bonita Beach, as well as for the Florida Keys, Lake Okeechobee, and Florida Bay. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.
• The Florida Emergency Information Line has been activated and is available 24/7 for families and victors at 1-800-342-3557.
• Floridians can text FLPREPARES to 888777 in order to receive text alerts from FDEM.
• Follow @FLSert or @FLGovScott on Twitter for live updates on Hurricane Irma.
• Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org to find information on shelters, road closures, and evacuation routes.
• Miami-Dade - A Hurricane Warning has been issued for Miami-Dade County as of 11 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7. Hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. The Emergency Operations Center is activated at Level 1. The Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department has suspended inmate visitation at all facilities effective Friday, Sept. 8, until further notice.
• Monroe County - The Lower Keys Medical Center is evacuating its patients tonight in a North Carolina National Guard C-130. The patients will be taken by Monroe County Fire Rescue and Key West Fire Rescue to Naval Air Station Key West’s Boca Chica Airfield and transported to Gadsden Regional Medical Center in Alabama. Monroe County’s two other hospitals, Mariners Hospital in Tavernier and Fishermen’s Hospital in Marathon, will be making decisions on when to close this afternoon.
• Palm Beach County - The EOC is at Level I.

General Michael(Mick) Webster,

United States Civil defense Assoc. (USCDA)HQ

Web site www.uscda.us

Email mvwsr@aol.com

Ph. (949)697-5676