News Releases for August 2005
August 31, 2005
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Hoeven Expresses Sympathy For Victims Of Katrina, Calls On North Dakotans To Help
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven expressed sympathy today for all victims of Hurricane Katrina and appealed to residents of North Dakota to donate money to disaster relief organizations to assist those affected by the hurricane and other disasters that happen around the country.
“North Dakotans join with all Americans in supporting the victims of this natural disaster,” Hoeven said. “We know firsthand how important the support of people across the nation is in the recovery process.”
Volunteer organizations are working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency through the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD). These organizations provide a wide variety of services after disasters, such as clean up, childcare, housing repair, crisis counseling, sheltering and food.
Individuals can find information on where to send donations at the web site www.nvoad.org or can make a donation directly to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW or visiting the Red Cross Web site at www.redcross.org.
Hoeven said that the North Dakota Division of Homeland Security is working through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) which allows states to provide mutual aid service to each other during disaster events. According to Hoeven, Adjutant General Mike Haugen has already been in touch with EMAC about help for the Gulf Coast area including water purification, engineers and military police.
The North Dakota National Guard took part in a conference call with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau Lieutenant General Steven Blum to discuss the region’s needs. The state is preparing water purification equipment along with trained personnel for possible deployment by this weekend.
“EMAC was designed specifically for situations such as Hurricane Katrina," said Susan Reinertson, State Director of the N.D. Division of Homeland Security. "Our people are ready to provide assistance as requested through EMAC.”
In addition, a group of approximately 25 members of the North Dakota Air National Guard is providing direct assistance to families displaced by Hurricane Katrina in the suburban Houston, Texas area. This group was taking part in a scheduled deployment. They collected contributions for food and cooked a meal last night for displaced families. The hotel where they are staying is providing food for tonight's meal and the "Happy Hooligans" will take another collection to furnish a meal for Thursday evening.
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