Janet Napolitano says housing number one problem in Hurricane Sandy recovery
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today traveled to Staten Island, N.Y. to meet with state and local officials and view ongoing response and recovery efforts to Hurricane Sandy. Secretary Napolitano reiterated the ongoing support from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the rest of the federal family for communities in impacted states, as response efforts continue.
DHS/NyxoLyno Cangemi
“Across New York and all the impacted states, one of our top priorities continues to be providing access to shelter for residents whose homes were severely damaged or destroyed by the storm,” said Secretary Napolitano. “Together, we have made progress, but we know the road ahead will be long and recovery will take time. Our commitment is to be here for the duration – to work with impacted communities throughout the region and ensure they emerge even stronger.”
In New York, Secretary Napolitano toured the Mt. Manresa Jesuit House Disaster Recovery Center and shelter, and the Father Capodanno DRC, and met with state and local officials to discuss coordination among federal, state and local partners on recovery efforts throughout the region.
These locations will continue to open in the hardest hit areas to provide information to survivors.
Later, Secretary Napolitano toured the U.S.TS Kennedy and met with the DHS Surge Force. In response to Hurricane Sandy, Secretary Napolitano activated the DHS Surge Force, the Department’s force of more than 3,000 employees who have volunteered to be sent to disaster areas to assist in response and recovery efforts.
Secretary Napolitano also met with the FEMA Corps members to thank them for their ongoing work to help communities respond to and recover from Hurricane Sandy. FEMA Corps is an innovative partnership between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to enhance disaster response and recovery capacity while expanding career opportunities for young people.
For more information, visit www.fema.gov.
