Press Release - September 20, 2005
| For Immediate Release
September 20, 2005
Printable Copy (pdf)
|
Contact: Lynn Hollinger
(814) 532-4902 |
NDIC Employees Volunteer to Assist in Hurricane Katrina Relief
Effort
Johnstown, PA - Twenty-three employees of the National Drug Intelligence
Center (NDIC) based in Johnstown have volunteered to assist in the
Federal Government's Hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has selected fifteen
volunteers to date to participate in the program.
The employees volunteered to assist FEMA in the relief efforts
after receiving notification that the Government is accepting volunteers
from various Federal agencies to assist with the response to the
storm. Volunteers will deploy for a minimum of 30 days to work with
FEMA in the affected regions. The volunteers are mobilizing at a
site in Orlando, Florida prior to reporting to disaster Joint Field
Offices in the locales affected by the hurricane. FEMA will select
the assignment sites where the volunteers will work.
The NDIC volunteers will assist in relief efforts in various
ways. The volunteers will collect and disseminate information and
make referrals for appropriate assistance, identify potential issues
within the community, convey information about disaster operations
to government officials and perform outreach with community leaders
on available federal assistance. Volunteers with special skills,
for example, a nurse or EMT could provide medical assistance, someone
with a commercial driver's license could drive a truck, and other
volunteers may distribute supplies such as water, pillows and blankets.
One NDIC volunteer with 10 years law enforcement experience who
is also a volunteer fire fighter and certified EMT indicated that
she is very excited to be able to help the people affected by the
hurricane. She said it was her calling to serve the public as a
federal employee and to help those in need receive the resources
they deserve. The volunteer said that she is very proud to be part
of the team chosen from NDIC and wishes to thank NDIC for allowing
employees the opportunity to participate in the volunteer effort
to aid the victims.
Another employee, who grew up in Louisiana, volunteered because
he felt it was the right thing to do. He pointed out that many people
are helping out in various ways. He indicated that neighbors are
helping neighbors out by taking people into their homes if they
can. Anyone who can help should do so, he said. The employee's family
members evacuated from Louisiana and Mississippi prior to the hurricane
and are part of the group of people who are still coping with changes
to their lives in the aftermath of the storm.
A third NDIC volunteer stated that given our history in Johnstown,
we have a special sympathy for flood victims. He said he looks forward
to assisting any way he can.
NDIC Director, Mr. Michael F. Walther, personally thanked the
employees for volunteering to participate in the relief efforts.
"I want to extend my personal thanks to the employees who have volunteered
and have been selected by FEMA to participate in the hurricane relief
efforts. As a native of New Orleans, with friends and family who
still live and work in the area, I am especially grateful for their
courage and willingness to make this sacrifice," Mr. Walther said.
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