OPERATION HAITI RELIEF – RECOVERY DAY 15

OPERATION HAITI RELIEF – RECOVERY DAY 15

Florida-based disaster response teams continue to assist in the international response and recovery efforts of last week’s 7.0 earthquake in Haiti. Today is day 15 of emergency operations both on the island nation and the Sunshine State.

Response efforts by the state of Florida to date include:

On January 15, Governor Charlie Crist issued an Executive Order (#10-06) in response to the earthquake. The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) remains operational at a Level 2 or partial activation.

The State Emergency Response Team has established a Flight Following Cell at the State EOC to track incoming flights from Haiti to Florida. To date 660 flights with 15,411 passengers have returned to Florida airports.

Florida’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) has provided services to 6,015 individuals coming from Haiti to the United States since January 13.

The Florida Department of Health reports that 436 persons have been received at Florida hospitals, 361 have been received in South Florida and 75 have been received in Sanford.

Volunteer Florida is currently coordinating and assisting 41 community and faith-based organizations that are on the ground or providing services in support of the survivors in Haiti. Over 1,000 volunteers from the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities of Florida, Compassion Alliance, The Eagles Way Foundation, Florida Association of Food Banks, Florida Interfaith Networking In Disaster and Lutheran Services Florida have logged nearly 26,000 hours during the two week relief operation.

11 Florida National Guard and 10 Agency for Workforce Innovation Creole translators are on scene at Sanford International Airport to aid repatriates. 10 Florida National Guardsmen are providing additional support services for incoming flights to the Orlando/Sanford International Airport from Haiti.


For more information on the Florida Division of Emergency Management and to GET A PLAN!, please visit: www.FloridaDisaster.org. All students, teachers and parents can find educational information and free downloadable materials at: www.KidsGetAPlan.com. And for the latest situation and flash reports go to: www.YouTube.com/FloridaSERT.