Going to the People

October 28, 2004 - As part of the disaster recovery process, FEMA will work with affected states to set up disaster recovery centers, where disaster victims can meet face-to-face with recovery workers and get questions answered. Sometimes, there are no available sites for such a center. Find out how FEMA handled that in Pennsylvania.    more

U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Announces $10.4 Million to Aid Pennsylvania Workers Affected by Recent Hurricane-Related Floods

October 26, 2004 U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced a National Emergency Grant of $10.4 million to assist workers in Pennsylvania who lost their jobs due to recent hurricane-related flooding. “The President and I want to do everything we can to help Pennsylvania workers affected by recent hurricane-related flooding get back on their feet,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “This $10.4 million grant will create nearly 700 jobs for unemployed workers to aid with disaster clean-up and help restore and rebuild the communities in Pennsylvania that have been impacted by these storms.”    more

Machine-Readable Passport Procedures for Visa Waiver Travelers Announced by the Department of Homeland Security

October 22, 2004 Beginning October 26, 2004, officers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Bureau of Customs and Border Protection will begin enforcing requirements that travelers applying for admission under the Visa Waiver Program must be in possession of a machine-readable passport. Following procedures announced today, if, after October 26, 2004, a Visa Waiver Program national presents him or herself for admission to the United States without a machine-readable passport or non-immigrant visa, a Customs and Border Protection officer is permitted to grant a one-time exemption to admit the traveler to the United States. The traveler will be issued a letter explaining the U.S. entry requirements and his or her passport will be annotated that a one-time exemption has been granted.   more

U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Citizen Corps and Operation HOPE Announce Emergency Financial First Aid Kit

October 21, 2004 As part of National Preparedness Month, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Citizen Corps and Operation HOPE, Inc. (OHI) signed an official affiliate partnership on September 27, 2004, to promote financial and economic education for disaster planning and recovery through the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK). The EFFAK provides guidance on simple steps everyone should take to identify and organize key financial records to help maintain financial stability in the event of an emergency. Operation HOPE's HOPE Coalition America also provides free financial counseling and casework services to people affected by natural disasters and national emergencies, helping more than 1,000 Americans in 125 cities in 35 states to date.   more
 • Operation Hope
 • The Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (PDF File)

Volunteers Play Vital Role in Recovery

October 19, 2004 When Tropical Depressions Frances and Ivan blew through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, each left behind flooding and damage-some of which was so extensive, residents were left with no food to eat and no place to sleep. Local volunteer agencies answered the call.   more

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