Fema Officials Hold News Briefing On Hurricane Gustav

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Fema Officials Hold News Briefing On Hurricane Gustav

FEMA HOLDS A PRESS CONFERENCE ON HURRICANE GUSTAV

SEPTEMBER 2, 2008

SPEAKERS: DAVID PAULISON, FEMA DIRECTOR

MAJ. GEN. DON T. RILEY, DEPUTY COMMANDER, U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

KEVIN KOLEVAR ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ELECTRICITY DELIVERY AND ENERGY RELIABILITY DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

JOE BECKER, AMERICAN RED CROSS

REAR ADMIRAL BRICE O'HARA U.S. COAST GUARD

DIANA ROTH-SMITH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN DISASTERS

[*] (JOINED IN PROGRESS)

PAULISON: Our priorities right now are strictly life-saving, making sure we've got those efforts in place, getting resources in place, providing life-sustaining supplies and equipment so we can move into the hardest-hit areas, particularly Houma, Thibodaux, and Morgan City.

The Hurricane Gustav is still, still a very dangerous storm. The winds have died down, but there are still some gale-force winds out there, a lot of rain as it moves in from Louisiana to Arkansas. We've got tornadoes, still a lot of flash flooding, particularly along the riverbeds, so we ask people to be very, very careful.

We're out there doing damage assessments. They're ongoing in those particular areas. Allen Parish has the damage assessments going on. There appears to be minor damage right now, isolated power outages. Evacuations and curfews do remain in effect.

Beauregard Parish, we've completed the damage assessments. There's minor damage there, a lot of tree damage, but all the roads are open. The evac order has been lifted there. The curfews remain, and the shelters are closing there.

Calcasieu Parish, damage assessments are complete. The damage there is minor, also. All the roads are open (inaudible) power outages, that evac is lifted, and the curfew remains.

And Cameron Parish, the damage assessments are complete. A lot of tree damage, also. The curfew does remain in effect, but the power has been restored.

In New Orleans, I'm sure most of you are aware, most of the city has power, but part ...

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