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Governor Quinn Directs Illinois Team to Assist New York in Hurricane Sandy Response


Will Assist in New York City Emergency Operations Center

SPRINGFIELD –(ENEWSPF)–November 1, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today announced the deployment of 13 local emergency managers and two Illinois Emergency Management Agency’s (IEMA) employees to New York City to help emergency management officials coordinate recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The responders will assist with operations and logistics in the city’s emergency operations center. The duration of the deployment is two weeks, with responders set to return to Illinois on Nov. 16.

“Hurricane Sandy left behind unbelievable devastation affecting millions of people along the East Coast,” Governor Quinn said. “This recovery will be long and difficult, and the impacted communities will need help. Illinois stands ready to provide any assistance we can, like the dedicated emergency responders who are headed to New York today.”

The responders, from across the state, reported to the state’s Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration (RSOI) operation at the IEMA headquarters in Springfield this morning to receive event identification, mission and safety briefings and mobilization assistance. This process ensures the accountability and readiness of personnel and assets before departure.

This deployment is the first from Illinois in response to Hurricane Sandy-related requests submitted through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), the nation’s state-to-state mutual aid system. EMAC coordinates the assistance needs of states affected by disasters with available resources from unaffected states to support response and recovery efforts. IEMA, the Illinois National Guard and other Illinois public safety agencies are standing by, ready to provide assistance in response to further EMAC requests.

Illinois has deployed assets to other states on several occasions, most notably following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when more than 2,500 first responders and other personnel from Illinois were sent to the Gulf Coast.

Source: illinois.gov


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