HOUSTON — KHOU 11 Anchor Mia Gradney spoke with U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell about the response to Hurricane Beryl and the resources available to Houstonians.
Criswell first explained to Gradney, via a Zoom call, how FEMA still had its people on the ground and in Houston from the May derecho. The agency transitioned those team members to now respond to Hurricane Beryl's aftermath and added additional response personnel. Criswell also shared how the agency had pre-positioned resources like water, food, and tarps ahead of the storm.
"We also have generators and teams to go install generators on critical facilities," Criswell said.
State and local jurisdictions identify the priority facilities for FEMA. Hospitals, medical facilities, water and wastewater treatment facilities, plus government structures are usually top of mind.
Criswell said more practical places are included, too.
"It could be something as simple as a library, which is where a lot of people may go to cool off if need be," she said.
Programs to support individual homeowners are also in the works.
"Right now, I think the biggest thing for people to do is to document what’s happened. They need to take photos and contact their insurance company to get that claim started as well," Criswell said.
This information, she said, better helps the state understand the needs of the people especially since FEMA is in information-gathering mode. The agency will finish the storm assessment with the state, and review images, while also possibly going door to door to determine the community’s greatest needs.
Here's the full interview: