Federal Emergency Management Agency
Emergency Support Team - FEMA Headquarters
Emergency Information and Coordination Center
Hurricane Fran SITUATION REPORT #1P
Reporting Period: 7 AM EDT, September 4, 1996 to 7 AM EDT September 5, 1996
1. BACKGROUND:
The National Weather Service advises that a large and dangerous hurricane continues to move toward the U.S.
southeast coast. As of 0500 EDT September 5, Hurricane FRAN was located 260 miles southeast of Charleston,
South Carolina, and was moving toward the northwest at 12 m.p.h. The hurricane has maximum sustained winds of
115 m.p.h., making it a Category 3 storm, with further strengthening possible over the next 24 hours. Hurricane-force
winds extend out 145 miles from the center, and tropical storm-force winds extend out 290 miles from the center. At this
time Hurricane FRAN is about as large as Hurricane HUGO and has the potential to become just as strong.
2. CURRENT SITUATION:
FEMA Headquarters: The Emergency Support Team (EST) began Level One operations (full staffing) as of 7:00 a.m.,
September 4, 1996. Director Witt had a conference call with the State Emergency Management Directors from Florida,
Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina on Wednesday afternoon. He also spoke with Governors Miller (Georgia),
Beasley (South Carolina) and Hunt (North Carolina) to update them on the Federal Government's preparedness actions.
In addition Director Witt had phone conferences with each of the Congressional delegations from the three States. Finally,
FEMA liaisons were dispatched to the State emergency operations centers in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North
Carolina.
Regional Activity: The Atlanta Regional Operations Center (ROC) became operational at Level 1 at 7:00 a.m.
EDT September 4 and began operating around the clock. Effective at 7:00 a.m. EDT September 5 the ROC will go
to Level 3 activation. Regional ESFs #1 through #12 will support ROC operations 24-hours per day until further notice.
The Emergency Response Team - Advance Element (ERT-A) is in position at the Georgia EOC. Regional Emergency
Support Functions #2, #3, #5, #6, #7, #8, #10, #12 and the designated 1st US Army DCO/DCE will provide
representation for the ERT-A at the Georgia EOC beginning at 10:00 a.m. EDT on September 5.
The Emergency Response Team - Advance Element (ERT-A) is in position at the South Carolina EOC. An Advance
Element of ERT-N-Red (ERT-N-Red-A) will be on site at the State EOC September 5. Regional ESFs #1 through #12
and the designated 1st US Army DCO/DCE will report no later than 1:00 p.m. EDT, September 5 to the South
Carolina EOC.
The Region IV ROC will provide Mission Assignment Activation Letters and taskings to Federal agency
representatives at the ROC and mail originals to agency offices. Two National Field Assessment Teams (FAsT)
have been activated, and the East Team members will arrive in Columbia, South Carolina, on September 5. ,
4. WEATHER FORECAST
The latest forecast track information from the National Hurricane Center brings the eye of the storm on land
between Charleston, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina, Thursday night. A storm surge of 12 to
16 feet is possible near and to the northeast of where the center makes landfall.
A hurricane warning now extends north of Cape Lookout, North Carolina, to the Virginia border, including
Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds. This replaces the hurricane watch that was in effect for most of this
area. Hurricane warnings are now in effect from Brunswick, Georgia, north to Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds.
A hurricane watch is in effect from north of the North Carolina-Virginia border to Chincoteague,
Virginia, including the Greater Hampton Roads Area.
There will be the possibility of isolated tornadoes over northeast North Carolina and eastern Virginia from
Thursday evening into Friday as the first bands of precipitation arrive from FRAN. Rainfall amounts will
depend on the exact track of the storm, but the potential exists for 1 to 3 inches of rain and locally
higher amounts. A flash flood watch has already been issued for northeast North Carolina and may be needed
for portions of eastern Virginia.
5. SEVERITY OF IMPACT
A. Jurisdictions Affected
1) Florida: No evacuations have occurred.
2) Georgia: Voluntary evacuations are taking place in coastal counties. Chatham County officials ordered
evacuation of the coastal islands, manufactured homes and low-lying areas.
3) South Carolina: Governor David Beasley issued an evacuation order at 2:40 p.m. EDT September 4 for those
parts of Georgetown and Horry Counties east of US 17 and for all barrier islands, beachfront properties,
low-lying areas and all property bordering waterways in Jasper, Beaufort, Colleton and Charleston Counties.
4) North Carolina: Voluntary evacuation is underway for beach communities in the Cape Fear region. Bald Head
Island residents have been ordered to evacuate.
6. STATUS OF STATES
On September 4 Georgia Governor Zell Miller declared a state of emergency in Camden, Glynn, McIntosh, Liberty,
Bryan, Chatham, Charlton, Brnatley, Wayne, Long and Effiingham Counties.
South Carolina Governor David Beasley declared a
statewide emergency on September 4.
7. STATUS OF FEDERAL OPERATIONS
FEMA liaisons are at the State emergency operations centers in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North
Carolina. In addition, FEMA staff from Regions IV, VI and VIII have been identified to fill positions on four
Advance Elements of the Emergency Response Team should the storm affect more than one State.
The FEMA Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) detachment in Thomasville, Georgia, deployed five Field
Assessment Team support vehicles last evening, September 4, to Warner-Robbins Air Force Base near Macon,
Georgia. These teams will meet the ERT-N advance team in Columbia, South Carolina, on Thursday. Thomasville
MERS will also deploy two support vehicle convoys Thursday to Warner-Robbins AFB. In addition, other MERS
detachments in Maynard, Massachusetts; Denton, Texas; and Denver, Colorado are on alert.
Plans are under way for a 35-member National Emergency Response Team (ERT-N) to deploy to the South Carolina
Emergency Operations Center in Columbia early Thursday morning.
The FEMA National Hurricane Center Liaison Team is in the National Hurrricane Center in Miami, Florida and
will provide FEMA Headquarters with continuous storm updates.
Two FEMA Field Assessment Teams (FAsT) have been activated. FAsT East is en route to Columbia, South
Carolina, and will arrive about noon Thursday, September
FEMA is identifying and preparing to ship numerous Initial Response Resources (IRR) to support hurricane
response efforts. These resources include tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, tents, cots, sleeping bags, blankets,
emergency portable generators, flashlights and portable radios.
A. Information and Planning Section
(ESF #5) began operations on Wednesday, September 5, and prepared a late-afternoon briefing. It has been preparing
daily situation reports, population maps of the affected areas and predicted hurricane tracks.
1) Defense Coordinating Element
The Department of Defense Liaison indicated that three mobilization points have been identified depending on where the
hurricane hits. If FRAN makes landfall south of Charleston, South Carolina, the Base Support Installation (BSI) will be
Fort Stewart, near Savannah, Georgia. If the hurricane makes landfall south of Camp Lejeune, South Carolina, the BSI will
be Fort Jackson, Columbia, South Carolina. If the storm makes landfall north of Camp Lejeune, the BSI will be Fort
Bragg, Fayetteville, North Carolina. Each base support installation requires habitability.
After landfall, but prior to a Presidential Declaration, DOD will be ready to provide support under Section
403 (C) of the Stafford Act. The DOD Director of Military Support will coordinate such support. It will
consist of air transport for various kinds of response and support teams, telecommunications systems and other
needed materiel.
2) Operations Support Branch
b. ESF #2 (Communications). Georgia Emergency Management Agency has contacted AT&T, which has sent a
representative to the EOC.
GTE Mobile NET is staging backup equipment at Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina. GTE Telephone Operations in Myrtle
Beach and Georgetown also has equipment at the closed Myrtle Beach AFB it can activate if the base becomes a Disaster
Field Office site.
The FEMA/MWEAC Communications Resource Manager has been given area points of contact for GTE and
BELLCORE.
c. ESF #7 (Resource Support).
The General Services Administration EOC became active at 7:00 a.m. EDT Wednesday and remained open until midnight.
Its counterpart ESF #7 did the same.
GSA Region IV has deployed a number of personnel to the ROC, to the ERT-A or to other units. In addition other
personnel are on stand-by.
.
GSA Region III is arranging to provide 9 drivers and tractors (rated at 80,000 lbs. gross weight) to move
preloaded refrigerated trailers filled with an assortment of IRR items from the Regional Emergency Inventory Center at
Fort Gillem, Atlanta, Georgia. In addition, Region III is arranging to provide drivers, tractors and trailers to load and move
768 rolls of plastic sheeting from Thomasville, Georgia, to Fort Gillem.
Region III staff has contacted 29 vendors in the Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina areas, and 25 of the vendors
stated that they will be moving their equipment out of the affected areas until after the storm subsides. Once damages have
been assessed, the vendors would be willing to assist. Four of the vendors are looking for drivers and trucks to handle this
request. Sheila Madison will be on duty at 6 a.m. EDT September 6 to handle this problem.
Objectives for the operations period include assisting in the deployment of the IRR to the affected States while continuing
to look for additional resources, determining the location of the Disaster Field Office (s) and mobilization points, recovering
and restoring GSA and Federal operations in the affected areas, and providing protection for all federally owned or leased
facilities.
3) Infrastructure Support Branch
Three Infrastructure Support Branch personnel will join the ROC staff in Thomasville, Georgia, on a 24-hour basis
beginning at 7:00 a.m. EDT September 5.
a. ESF #3 (Public Works & Engineering) is assigned to procure and pre-position 25,000 one-liter bottles of drinking
water at Fort Gillem, Georgia, and to provide transportation and support in loading and unloading 50 generators when
needed. Preparations for debris removal and other multi-state operations are underway. US Army Corps of Engineers
representatives are enroute to South Carolina and Georgia.
b. ESF #12 (Energy). Coordination with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is taking place.
4) Human Services Branch
a. ESF #6 (Mass Care). The American Red Cross reported that it served 266 meals in Florida even though it opened no
shelters there. In Georgia, the ARC opened 8 shelters, provided shelter for 6 persons and served no meals. In South
Carolina, the ARC opened 56 shelters, housed 559 persons and served 69 meals.
b. ESF #11 (Food). The US Department of Agriculture/Food Service has identified sources for bulk food supplies should
they become needed during the response.
5) Emergency Services Branch
b. ESF #8 (Health & Medical Services). Eleven National Disaster Medical Assistance Teams and one Disaster
Mortuary Team are on alert. In addition one 25-person Medical/Management Support Team will arrive at the Fayetteville,
North Carolina, VA Medical Center on September 5.
c. ESF #9 (Urban Search & Rescue). All task forces received three advisories, the last having been sent at 3:19
p.m. EDT September 4.
An 11-person Incident Support Team-Advance (IST-A) has been activated and sent to Columbia, South Carolina, to
meet with the ERT/N. The reason is to assess the need for and recommend additional resources.
Three Urban Search & Rescue Teams are on alert for possible deployment. They are VA-1 (Fairfax County),
VA-2 (Virginia Beach) and MD-1 (Montgomery County).
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Office of Emergency Information & Public Affairs --- Washington, D.C.
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