ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING ORG PROTECTS ASSAULT VICTIMS DURING NATURAL DISASTERS
Operation Underground Railroad delivers supplies, shelter to human-trafficking survivors affected by hurricanes and earthquakes
Washington, D.C. - Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) is leading the effort to protect survivors of human trafficking in areas recently devastated by natural disasters. According to statistics from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, traffickers are drawn to the presence of vulnerability.
In recent months, O.U.R. secured two medical-grade tents to provide shelter in case aftercare homes were damaged or destroyed by natural disasters. Additionally the organization is providing hygiene kits, emergency food supplies, and medical care. Before Hurricane Maria struck the Caribbean, full-time volunteers from the organization performed on-site visits to aftercare homes for survivors, ensuring that the needs of all residents were met. In some cases, O.U.R. has heard reports of aftercare centers being faced with the decision to send survivors to unverified homes because they could not provide basic food and water due to the disasters. O.U.R. is working tirelessly to avoid these situations and ensure that survivors remain out of harm’s way.
“While hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters are beyond our control,” said Jessica Mass, Director of O.U.R. Aftercare, “we have control over both our preparation for and response to tragedies. By providing essential supplies, conducting visits to shelters, and having evacuation and emergency plans in place, we can protect survivors and on-site staff. We are extremely grateful to all the volunteers and donors who have stepped up in this time of tremendous need. Without their generosity and courage, our work around the world would not be possible.”
Operation Underground Railroad is registered 501(c)3 organization. Bringing together former CIA, Navy SEALs, and Special Ops operatives, O.U.R. partners with local law enforcement agencies around the world to save children from this modern day slavery. Founded by CEO Tim Ballard in 2013, O.U.R. has rescued 730 victims and helped arrest over 365 traffickers worldwide.
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Rocky Mountain Power Announces Winners of the Act wattsmart Video Contest
Contest prizes total up to $15,000 in energy-efficient home upgrades, merchandise
Salt Lake City (October 9, 2017) – Rocky Mountain Power today announced the winners of the 2017 Act wattsmart Video Contest, with the grand-prize winner receiving $10,000 in energy-efficient home upgrades. The contest, which ran from July through September, invited Utah residential Rocky Mountain Power customers to submit a video showing why saving energy is good for Utah and how they live wattsmart. A full list of the winning videos can be seen on Rocky Mountain Power’s website.
Judges selected Nick Dixon of Layton, Utah, as the grand-prize winner with his clever video, “Energenie.” The humorous video depicts a man asking a not-so-helpful genie for riches and world peace, which are granted with energy efficiency suggestions on how to save money and create a cleaner world. The video also includes tips for how Utah residents can live wattsmart.
“I often work from home and use a lot of electricity for what I do, so I’ve always tried to offset my electricity usage by making sure lights are turned off, I’m mindful of thermostat temperatures, and that I use the most energy-efficient equipment I can find,” said Dixon. “I feel like we have a responsibility to keep Utah beautiful and clean, and being wattsmart is a way for individuals to do their part. A lot of small changes add up quickly.”
For his winning video, Dixon will receive $10,000 in energy-efficient home upgrades courtesy of Rocky Mountain Power. The grand-prize winner is currently researching ways to maximize his winnings to create the most energy efficient impact on his home.
In addition to Dixon’s grand-prize winnings, the Act wattsmart Video Contest runner-up, Matthew Johnson of Orem, Utah, will receive $3,000 in energy-efficient home upgrades with his video “Wattsmart Machine.” Casey Wayman of West Haven, Utah, will take home $2,000 in energy-efficient home upgrades as the People’s Choice Award winner for his video, “The Wattagette.”
“We were thrilled with the videos submitted into this year’s Act wattsmart Video Contest,” said Tiffany Erickson, External Communications, Rocky Mountain Power. “The themes and ideas in each submission are a good barometer on how we are doing in regards to educating the general public about energy efficiency. It is rewarding to see first-hand how customers combine their creativity and our information to share their passion for living wattsmart.”
For more information on the Rocky Mountain Power Act wattsmart Video Contest, visit www.wattsmart.com.
About Rocky Mountain Power
Rocky Mountain Power is committed to the delivery of reliable electric service that’s safe, low-cost and increasingly from clean, renewable resources. Serving more than 1 million customers in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming, the company is one of the lowest cost energy producers in the nation. Rocky Mountain Power is moving toward a sustainable energy future that includes increased use of solar, wind and other renewable resources; and provides customers with more choices to meet their energy needs.
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USDA Brings Key Resources to Individuals and Communities Hit by Recent Hurricanes
Secretary Perdue Pledges Support on the Long Road to Recovery
Click on the image to view the Flickr slideshow.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2017 – U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced employees and agencies in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continue to offer vital resources to help citizens and communities recover from the devastating effects of hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.
“USDA remains steadfast in its mission to work on behalf of every community in Texas, Florida, Georgia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to ensure that life-sustaining resources are available to our neighbors as they begin the hard work of rebuilding their lives and communities following these devastating storms,” Perdue said. “We are coordinating hour-by-hour and day-by-day with state and local governments, the private and non-profit sectors, dozens of our federal sister agencies, and in some cases, key international partners, to bring aid to everyone in need.”
At the same time, Perdue noted that communities face a long, uphill battle on the road to recovery and pledged that USDA will do all it can to aid in that recovery. The following summary of key actions that USDA has taken to help individuals and communities cope with the aftermath of hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria exemplifies USDA’s commitment to all who have been impacted.
Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
APHIS' experience in responding to plant and animal health emergencies is vital to FEMA as it responds to recent hurricanes and a wide variety of emergencies. For example, APHIS continues to coordinate with multiple non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to ensure that pet food and resources are sent to points of distribution where human supplies are available. The agency is helping owners relocate with their pets and making entry of those pets into the United States as easy as possible. APHIS coordinated response efforts for exotic animal owners and zoos affected by the hurricanes.
At the request of Puerto Rico’s government, APHIS is working to get pet assessment teams (NGOs) into the commonwealth to assess shelters and rescue facilities. In Texas and Florida, APHIS identified locations of stranded livestock and dropped feed for stranded livestock in Texas and worked with officials there identify and re-patriate those that can be identified. In Florida, the agency played a key role in bringing a train load of much needed feed for dairy cows. Additionally, APHIS facilitated coordination among non-governmental organizations interested in providing hay, feed, and other products to support horses and livestock in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Food and Nutrition
As of September 29, USDA provided 40,296 cases of USDA Foods that have been used by voluntary organizations to feed residents in Puerto Rico congregate settings and shelters. USDA also approved Puerto Rico to operate the Disaster Household Distribution program, which provides boxes of nutritious, USDA Foods. Approximately 500,000 households are expected to benefit.
FNS’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has responded with disaster assistance to households affected by the hurricanes by providing DSNAP to new households and replacing and supplementing food benefits to current participants. As of October 1, SNAP benefits to victims of the hurricanes have totaled over $860 million. Eligible households continue to apply for this important disaster relief.
FNS has also issued approvals across four jurisdictions for flexibilities to meal patterns and other requirements. The action will impact nearly 4.7 million children.
More details on the Food Nutrition Service’s (FNS) efforts are provided at: www.fns.usda.gov/pressrelease/2017/013017
Finally, the USA Foods division of USDA’s Agricultural Market Service (AMS) is working with FEMA to expedite purchases and deliveries of food for families in Texas and Puerto Rico. So far, 20 truckloads of food have been delivered to Texas for Disaster Household Distribution products weighing over 700,000 pounds. The program has also delivered 35 truckloads of ready-to-feed infant formula, supplemental drinks, baby food stage II, baby cereal, bottles and nipples for families in Puerto Rico.
Farm Service Agency (FSA)
FSA provides much-needed hurricane recovery support to farmers, foresters and livestock producers through an extensive portfolio of emergency commodity, conservation, livestock and credit disaster assistance programs. FSA disaster assistance program benefits include loans and assistance for conservation, forestry restoration, assistance for livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish, tree assistance and non-insured crops as well as emergency loans for access to capital.
For those producers located in counties where FSA’s local infrastructure has been impacted, the agency has established state-specific toll-free information lines where producers in need can receive immediate information regarding available FSA assistance. Likewise, producers should be looking to local media and other information channels for announcements of upcoming USDA disaster assistance workshops in which FSA and other USDA agencies will participate. These meetings will be held in hurricane-impacted counties and are free and open to the public.
The Forest Service (FS)
There are currently 298 personnel mobilized through the Forest Service (108 from the Forest Service) assigned in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Incident Management Teams (IMTs) are assessing fire protection capabilities and needs, establishing and managing Logistics Staging Areas (LSA) for commodity and resource receiving and distribution, supporting jurisdictional emergency operations centers, and supporting the Isolated Communities Task Force. Firefighting resources – chain saw specialists in particular – are assisting with emergency road clearing to provide access for search and rescue crews and other emergency responders. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers are providing force protection for responders.
As of early October, 632 personnel have been mobilized through the Forest Service (210 from the Forest Service alone) for hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.
Natural Resources and Conservation Services (NRCS)
NRCS works with producers and communities to solve natural resource challenges, and several programs are available to help with recovery following disasters. NRCS has more than 250 employees in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico working to provide conservation assistance to farmers and ranchers across hurricane impacted states. This includes assessing damage and providing technical advice to individuals and communities on restorative actions. NRCS will dispatch next week a team of employees from around the country to support efforts in Puerto Rico.
To date, NRCS has fielded more than 1,200 requests for conservation technical assistance related to hurricane impacts, and is working with FSA to set up disaster assistance workshops in every FEMA disaster-declared county (public/individual assistance designation) to provide program information that can assist impacted customers.
In Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is assisting agricultural producers plan and make conservation improvements on lands damaged by natural disasters, including flooding and severe rain events. In Texas, NRCS has already announced a special signup for impacted producers to apply for assistance. For example, soil erosion often occurs following these storms, and these practices help prevent erosion in the future.
Through the Emergency Watershed Protection Program, NRCS works with local government entities and Tribes in impacted counties to remove debris, stabilize streambanks, fix water control structures, among other practices.
Risk Management Agency (RMA)
To date, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) and Approved Insurance Providers have facilitated more than $2.6 million in indemnity payments to producers affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. In anticipation of the scale of damage from the hurricanes, RMA took proactive steps to ensure the efficient and reliable delivery of the crop insurance program. These included working with insurance providers to ensure enough loss adjusters were available to process claims in a timely manner, and authorizing Emergency Loss Procedures to streamline determinations on specific crops and accelerate the adjustment of losses and issuance of indemnity payments to policyholders in impacted areas.
In Puerto Rico specifically, producers with coverage through the RMA administered federal crop insurance program can contact the Corporation de Seguros Agricolas (CSA) for issues regarding filing claims. Those who purchased crop insurance will be paid for covered losses.
In addition, RMA has a standard reinsurance agreement in place with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to offer crop insurance on a variety of crops and plantations (plants) for producers through the Corporacion de Seguros Agricolas. RMA has been in frequent communication with CSA to ensure producers in Puerto Rico will get paid for losses in a timely manner.
Rural Development (RD)
Rural Development (RD) staff are working in joint field offices with other USDA agencies in Austin, Texas, Tallahassee, Fla. And Puerto Rico, to assist both agency borrowers and non-borrowers impacted by the hurricanes.
RD is working closely with FEMA on a number of fronts to help people find temporary housing. In addition, the agency has worked with its housing industry partners that underwrite loan guarantees, alerting them of the FEMA voucher program for displaced homeowners.
RD has also been working closely with electric cooperatives in Texas, Florida, and Georgia to restore power in hurricane effected areas.
Finally, RD is providing up to $1 million for technical assistance and training grants for disaster recovery through its Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program, which makes grants to public bodies and private non-profit corporations, (such as States, counties, cities, townships, and incorporated towns and villages, boroughs, authorities, districts, and Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations) to provide associations with technical assistance and/or training on essential community facilities programs.
Assessing the Economic Impacts to Agriculture
Staff in USDA agencies are collecting and analyzing data that will provide an assessment of the impact these hurricanes had on harvested acreage and agricultural commodities. The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is collecting harvested acreage information for a number of crops in affected states in preparation for the October 12 Crop Production report. These additional data will help to better assess the full impact and provide official U.S. statistics for use with damage assessments, payments, research, and commodity supply estimates for marketing, planning, and many other private and public uses.
Depending upon the state, NASS will collect information on Upland cotton, peanuts, soybeans, rice, sorghum, sugarcane, corn, alfalfa, and other hay. If the newly collected data justifies any changes from the September 12 estimates, NASS will publish updated harvested acreage estimates in the October 12 report. Additionally, weekly Crop Progress reports provide up-to-date summaries of crop conditions.
The Economic Research Service (ERS) provides Commodity Outlook Reports that contain information on the impacts of the 2017 hurricanes on various agricultural commodities. ERS makes these reports, and links to other useful information, available in the ERS Newsroom.
