WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer today said USDA's many agencies have deployed personnel and resources to federal, state and local authorities in preparation of landfall for Hanna as either tropical storm or hurricane, as well as the approach of Hurricane Ike."Our prayers and concerns remain with all who have suffered from Hurricane Gustav and for those in the paths of the oncoming storms," said Schafer. "As the winds and rains of Hanna approach, USDA has readied food, emergency housing and other resources for the Atlantic Coast. Even as we prepare for Hanna and track the movement of Ike, USDA continues our Gulf Coast commitment to the immediate and long-term needs of communities that were hurt by Hurricane Gustav."
In Louisiana and Texas, USDA Forest Service incident management teams are working within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with response and recovery efforts from Hurricane Gustav. USDA also has staged incident management teams in Atlanta, Ga. to deploy nearby once Hanna makes landfall. USDA Forest Service emergency response managers and planners at work with FEMA officials in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia are coordinating response efforts to Hanna this weekend and the potential impacts from Hurricane Ike next week.
Along the Gulf coast, USDA commodities are being made available to shelters in affected States as well as those hosting evacuees. Meanwhile, USDA's Food and Nutrition Service has pre-positioned food supplies and is ready to respond with additional commodities based on assessment of states along the East Coast.
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