Recovering From Georges' Fury

As thousands of Mississippi and Alabama residents wait for Georges -- downgraded in the past two days from a hurricane to a tropical storm, and finally, a tropical depression -- to pass on its easterly course through the Gulf, many are preparing for the aftermath.

"I'll just be glad when Georges is gone totally," says James Lee Witt, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "It has been a nightmare. As soon as the weather clears, they are going to be doing damage assessments."

"We're organizing our logistics to bring in our emergency response teams from FEMA. They have been standing by," says Switzer. "Now that our winds have settled down, they will be moving in to start our recovery effort."

Switzer hopes to bring in the National Guard to clear roads, and traffic-control officials in the area hope that, by Tuesday afternoon, some of the curfews can be lifted and evacuees can return to their residences. With many traffic lights out of commission, it is still too dangerous to let cars travel on the road.

James Lee Witt

"About half of our county is without electricity. We have 1,600 power company employees from out of state are supposed to be in this morning," Switzer says.

The area received 15-20 inches of rain, and has already received up to 10 inches Tuesday.

In Mobile, Ala., the worst damage was caused by high winds, which drove waters up into the bay and caused flooding. Another 5-12 inches is forecast for the area.

"After a flood and water gets into your home and business, it just gets full of mud, it is very difficult to go into that and see that," Witt says. "You go through shock, then frustration, you get angry. Then you try to get it cleaned out.

After the rain stops, Van Hook says the main task will be to clean up the debris left behind. Several power lines and trees were downed by the storm, and at least a thousand people are without water.

Van Hook says that over the next few days, federal and state officials will work together in cleanup and recovery efforts to the areas hit by Georges.

Some federal relief and recovery efforts in regions struck by Hurricane Georges, as provided by FEMA and others:

• More than 1,200 federal personnel have been sent to Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Missisippi, and Georgia to handle the hurricane aftermath.

• FEMA's Emergency Support Team is operating around the clock in Washington, as are regional centers in Atlanta and Denton, Texas. A federal disaster field office in Baton Rouge also is available for assistance.

• The Red Cross has opened 27 shelters in Florida, housing 4,686 people; 31 shelters in Alabama, housing 4,445 people; 61 shelters in Mississippi, and 67 shelters in Louisiana, housing 8,395 people.

• The Salvation Army is continuing food service in Key West and has sent five mobile canteen vehicles to Mississippi.

• U.S. Public Health Services' Disaster Medical Assistance teams have been set up in Alabama, Florida and Louisiana.

• Mobile Emergency Response Support teams are staged in Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi.

• One county in Florida, 18 in Mississippi, six in Alabama, and 18 Louisiana parishes will receive relief as declared disaster areas. Assistance includes efforts to relieve health and safety concerns and to pay for critical emergency work that is a direct result of the hurricane, such as debris removal, search and rescue operations, temporary shelters and transportation of emergency workers. In Florida, it covers disaster housing, grants and low-cost loans to cover losses of uninsured property.

• There are 889 federal personnel in Puerto Rico and 75 in the U.S. Virgin Islands handling recovery efforts. FEMA staff is also working with Puerto Rican officials to establish a disaster field office on the island to coordinate recovery operations.

• The U.S. Naval Station at Roosevelt Roads is serving as the intermediary point for delivery of supplies to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and is housing 300 members of the relief team working there.

• The U.S. Air Force is flying missions to deliver relief supplies and personnel.