Everyone. Im joined this morning by e. M. A. Director brian hastings, Major General sherrill gordon of the National Guard, and secretary taylor of the Alabama Law Enforcement agency. Were here to give an update on Hurricane Sally to the people of alabama. Were here to let the people of alabama know that every resource thats available to the state will be available for the people of alabama during their recovery. We also are here to assure you that we will be working with you as together we start rebuilding our homes, our businesses and our communities in the upcoming days, weeks and months. I know yesterday was very hard for a lot of folks in the cities and counties along the coast and throughout many other communities in our state. 16 years ago to the day, when hurricane ivan hit our state, Hurricane Sally provided an unwanted sequel. Citizens awoke to extensive damage and destructive property. Loss of power and infrastructure and, sadly, even the loss of life. It would be much worse. Its been mighty bad. And i state our state is reeling just as our people are hurting. First, for those who have been directly affected by this storm, your friends and neighbors around the state are thinking of you and praying for you. And we stand ready to support you in every way possible to help you get back on your feet. Im eager to visit some of the hardest hit areas and assess the damage firsthand and i will do it as soon as its safe to do so and have people on the ground. But in many ways were still in the phase of rescue and recovery, and i do not want to impede progress. Because of the rain and floods that continued into yesterday afternoon, we still have many roads and bridges that are impossible impassable. Ive been in frequent communication with our friends at Alabama Power company and power south, and they hope to get their crews out today. And let me assure you, they already had an army of people on the ground ready to do just that. But wednesdays weather made it almost impossible for people with the Power Company and power south to do anything except provide power for hospitals and Water Systems and the like. We know there are hundreds of people that want their power restored and trees removed, of the major roadways and life return to normal as soon as possible. And i look forward to seeing myself firsthand the progress these professionals are making as soon as weather conditions permit. Yall, i know its uncomfortable and down right scary to be sitting in the darkness of your home without any lights. But please be patient. These linemen will be working at warp speed to try to get your power restored. And for goodness sake, if power lines are down in your yard, do not attempt to fix that yourself. And if youre not familiar with using a chainsaw, then leave hat to someone who is. Folks, on tuesday i stated that with any Tropical Weather system, the only thing you can predict is change from hour to hour. That certainly proved true with Hurricane Sally. While most storms seem to downgrade upon landfall, Hurricane Sally upgraded to a category 2 when the eye went over gulf shores and fort morgan. Many locals have said that this has perhaps torm the biggest impact of any storm weve ever seen. And keep in mind this area of the state remembers all too well the impact of ivan in 2004 and frederick in 1979. Hurricane sali kept moving throughout the state into the river region. Early yesterday morning, i was on the phone with local commissioners to check in and offer additional assistance and perhaps connect folks on the ground for one another. I have been in touch with the bile legislative and ngressman byrne and martha roby. And i want to express our expression and gratitude to President Trump and his administration for their timely attention to approving our prelandful declaration. They have been engaged in every step of the way with us. While the weather experts have been offer some things, they were correct about one thing. Sali was a recordbreaking rain and flooding event. E waters will reseed and im extremely proud of the First Responders, linemen and National Guard, troopers, local police and sheriffs deputies and countless others. Like this dy strikes, they are out there to help you. Faithbased groups and so many others were leading the way to help provide hope and help. One final word of caution. As our First Responders are overwhelmed by the magnitude of hurricane sali, let me urge you use 911 if you are facing a lifethreatening circumstance. We must prioritize our critical needs and refrain on getting on our roads unless you have to and then if you do, use all caution. As the director will tell you, if you are driving, do not drive through standing water. There may be debris and electrical lines under that water and do not drive through flowing water. The best thing for people right now is to remain at home until we have adequate time to clean up debris along the roads. Patience will truly be a virtue, my friends. So please be patience. The director will make brief remarks. And cheryl will follow and Harold Taylor will give an pdate. Thank you, governor for your support and the support of our alabama team of state, local and volunteer partners as we connect our citizens and identify needs and respond with capabilities in their time of need. Additionally, i want to thank fema and federal partners because they have been vetted to help connect with our citizens. As of this morning, we have one confirmed death and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends to those who have lost loved ones and we hope that we dont have anymore deaths. Sali was a devastating and historic storm and seems like people heeded the warning and im pleased people were able to get out of harms way. I want to emphasize over half the deaths in louisiana from hurricane laura were actually preventable and there were as a result of Carbon Monoxide of generators or falling off roofs or heat strokes. Please use caution and please do not create a disaster within a disaster and do not return to your homes and listen to your local authorities. And use extreme caution for contaminated water and take care of yourself and especially your neighbors. I do want to send thanks out to the United States coast guard and accomplished 24 missions and saved 18 people. And their operations have tapered off as the weather has improved and local high water and swiftwater teams of the Alabama National guard and local counties have responded to calls for assistance. I will introduce Major General gordon to talk about the great work they are doing during alabamas time of need during this disaster. We have one shelter opened in mobile with three occupants and one with five medical needs sheltering in that shelter and we have 130 general population in the shelter. That was at midnight and today it went down to 65 and people venture back out to sea if their neighborhoods are clear. Open county has a shelter with three occupants. Flooding continues to be a problem in the southern counties of alabama and we expect a lot of rivers to be in moderate or major flood stage starting at noonan continuing through the weekend. Contact the Weather Service for impacts to your area because some people will be evacuating lowliing areas. There are Many Organizations that will be helping victims recover from hurricane sali. So if you have a favorite charity, please support their work. If you dont, please consider giving to the Governors Emergency Relief Fund which will help the needs of storm. Serve delem alabama. Gov. Major germ gordon. Good morning everyone. As director hastings, the alabama guard has been on duty assisting with the disaster in our coastal area. We have five highwater evacuation teams that are situated in one county and we have rescued 35 individuals. On an asneeded basis. We have transportation assets here . The montgomery area to transport needed materials and supplies down to the affected areas. Also, if needed, we have Security Forces available from the air National Guard and the army National Guard to help in possible traffic control, securing areas and local police. As we go forward, as need to rise based on what is identified in the local areas, we will provide forces to assist our citizens down there and as always, we are in the business of helping our neighbors, because we are members of the communities in which all of us live and the guard is always ready and always there to assist the citizens of the state of alabama. I will be followed by the secretary. Thank you, general gordon. From a leading standpoint, we are assisting other state agencies and local sheriffs, p. D. s and with emergency evacuations and swiftwater rescue teams as the guard does as well. We are sg assisting with those and tarps and line trucks to get utilities back up and going. I would like to tell you one thing as the governor said, if you are wanting to travel and come up on water over the road, dont go through it. 12 inches will move a small car. You dont know if there is a power line under it. Dont go through moving or standing water. Go back home and call 911. We have the resources and the people through water rescue teams and marine patrol tos assist you. Please dial 911. The other thing is on drivers licenses offices, if you were going to those offices, mobile and other areas affected by sali, call those offices to make sure they are open, some of those dont have power and employees cant get there because of trees down in their driveway. Please call if you have an appointment if you have a driver license transaction, please call them and make sure when its going to open. If you are going down to check on your property or condo or house, make sure you have an i. D. With you because there will be troopers and Sheriffs Department and people coming in to help who dont know you. You need your i. D. And documentation and address that you do have a place down there that you are going in to check on your house, property, condo. Make sure you have that information so they can let you in and check in on your property as needed. Thank you for all that you do. If there is anything that you need, just dial 911 and someone will help you. Thats all we have. Thank you. Govr. Ivey stay at home another day or so and give our First Responders the time they need and i will remain engaged with the local leaders and the needs from your community will change from hour to hour and daytoday. Stay smart, stay safe. We remain engaged and we are with you the whole way, alabama. Thank you very much. Captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org just off the National Mall and at the base of capitol hill. Speakers include memorial designer and con doll leezea rice and president eisenhowers grandchildren. The dedication of the memorial live at 7 00 p. M. President trump will be in wisconsin this evening to talk to supporters of his Reelection Campaign beginning at 9 00 eastern at cspan. Now House Speaker nancy pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer talk about new prospects of a new relief package and senator schumer talks about Vaccine Development and the use of masks. This is about 50 minutes
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