FMI wants to be a resource for our members that operate in Puerto Rico, Florida and other Southeastern states as they prepare for and later respond to Hurricane Irma.
<p>By: Hannah Walker, Senior Director, Technology and Nutrition Policy, Food Marketing Institute<br />
<img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/hurricane-irma-september-8-2017.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=e65a7f6e_1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="Hurricane Irma September 8, 2017" title="Hurricane Irma September 8, 2017" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /></p>
<p>FMI wants to be a resource for our members that operate in Puerto Rico, Florida and other Southeastern states as they prepare for and later respond to Hurricane Irma. Below is a link to the <a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/disaster/disaster-assistance" target="_blank">FNS disaster page</a>, this page includes an interactive map that will share state specific storm response information from the agency including SNAP waivers and other USDA nutrition program alerts. We will continue to update this page and provide additional links as we receive them from state and federal government agencies and others responding to the storm. Please do not hesitate to reach out directly to FMI if we can be of further assistance during this time.</p>
<h3>Federal Resources: </h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/disaster/disaster-assistance" target="_blank">FNS Disaster Assistance page</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-irma" target="_blank">FEMA Hurricane Irma page</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://fema.connectsolutions.com/nbeochurricaneirma/?launcher=false&disclaimer-consent=true" target="_blank">FEMA Private Sector Irma Dashboard</a></li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency/hurricane-irma-2017" target="_blank">Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Irma Page</a></p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Florida Resources:</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.floridadisaster.org/index.asp" target="_blank">Florida Division of Emergency Management website</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.floridadisaster.org/County_EM/ASP/county.asp" target="_blank">Florida Emergency Management Operation Centers by county</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fdot.gov/maintenance/STR/OWODP/Executive%20Order%2017-235.pdf" target="_blank">Florida Governor Executive Order Declaring State of Emergency</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fdot.gov/maintenance/STR/OWODP/EmergencyRoadUsePermitLetter%2017-235.pdf" target="_blank">Florida DOT Size and Weight Waiver for the State</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.flhsmv.gov/pdf/emergency/flhsmvemergencyorder17-235.pdf" target="_blank">Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Commercial Vehicle Registration, Hours of Service, Waiver of Fees etc Emergency Order</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.frf.org" target="_blank">Florida Retail Federation</a> - For information on reentry passes and the priority list for power as well as assistance with SNAP and WIC, contact <a href="mailto:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">Samantha Padgett</a> or <a href="mailto:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">Melissa Ramba</a> </li>
</ul>
<h3>Florida SNAP Resources:</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Florida will issue remaining September benefits to clients statewide on September 7 (rather than via the normal Florida benefit issuance stagger schedule - which runs from the 1<sup>st</sup> through the 28<sup>th</sup> of each month). A change to the issuance schedule within the benefit month does not require a waiver from FNS. Learn more at the <a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/disaster/florida-disaster-nutrition-assistance" target="_blank">USDA Florida Disaster Nutrition Assistance webpage</a>.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>
Georgia Resources:</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.gema.ga.gov/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Georgia Emergency Management Page </a></li>
<li><a href="https://gov.georgia.gov/sites/gov.georgia.gov/files/related_files/document/09.07.17.01.pdf" target="_blank">Governor Deal’s Executive Order Expanding State of Emergency to an additional 24 counties and mandatory evacuation order</a></li>
<li><a href="https://gov.georgia.gov/sites/gov.georgia.gov/files/related_files/document/09.07.17.01.pdf" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.gfia.org/" target="_blank">Georgia Food Industry Association</a> - For information on reentry passes and the priority list for power as well as assistance with SNAP and WIC, contact <a href="mailto:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">Kathy Kuzava</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.georgiaretail.org" target="_blank">Georgia Retail Association</a> - For information on reentry passes and the priority list for power as well as assistance with SNAP and WIC, contact <a href="mailto:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">Thomas Beusse</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>South Carolina Resources:</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.scemd.org/">South Carolina Emergency Management Division</a></li>
<li>
<p><a href="http://scretail.org/">South Carolina Retail Merchants Association</a><strong><a href="http://scretail.org/"></a> - </strong>For information on reentry passes and the priority list for power as well as assistance with SNAP and WIC, contact <a href="mailto:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">Lisa Sweatman</a> or <a href="mailto:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">Lindsey Kueffner</a>.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>North Carolina Resources: </h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.ncrma.org/">North Carolina Retail Merchants Association</a><strong><a href="http://www.ncrma.org/"></a> - </strong>For information on reentry passes and the priority list for power as well as assistance with SNAP and WIC, contact <a href="mailto:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">Elizabeth Robinson</a> or <a href="mailto:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">Jessica Edwin</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Alabama Resources: </h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://mail.fmi.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=OcMVGwS6yAZwL9ak8f4CDbSRA3WyMLT1F21_1fGYOi7IG0yXGPfUCA..&URL=https%3a%2f%2falabamagrocers.org%2f" target="_blank">Alabama Grocers Association</a> - for resources, contact <a href="mailto:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">Ellie Taylor</a></li>
<li>The Alabama Grocers Association dispersed the following information on September 8, 2017:</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left: 40px;">While we all wait and see where Hurricane Irma decides to make her path, we wanted to go ahead and give you some vital information to prepare. </p>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">First of all the Governor signed a proclamation on September 6th declaring that all vehicles of legal size and weight transporting emergency related materials, supplies, goods and services in direct response to Hurricane Harvey or in preparation for, or response to, Hurricane Irma are hereby authorized to bypass all Alabama Department of Transportation weigh station facilities until 30 days from the date of this proclamation, unless the State of Emergency is sooner terminated. To view the entire Proclamation, please <a href="https://mail.fmi.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=E2ZX614lDs0eK1RJfLHPgPvFxO_z5wX3bUruD_foinvIG0yXGPfUCA..&URL=https%3a%2f%2faga6.wildapricot.org%2fEmailTracker%2fLinkTracker.ashx%3flinkAndRecipientCode%3dCB0j0pzFYeUhZ56aFawdT61BmsDZG688rO4T1HpaF13ioMKX5urgCCyjA5qL919%252bQLrbEWQ%252bTUqppZ8zQ7bJZ%252fyAemvg8i1rRUq1DUwYV58%253d" target="_blank">click here</a>. <br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">Second, Byars | Wright has sent us a two page document on advance planning for Hurricanes. This document covers information on Disaster Recovery Plan as well as reviewing your insurance plan. To read this information, please download the <a href="https://mail.fmi.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=2xO7ObWT04nJ3xoHcQ3tvwQiTZPgj0TjOEmkBXJMeEbIG0yXGPfUCA..&URL=https%3a%2f%2faga6.wildapricot.org%2fEmailTracker%2fLinkTracker.ashx%3flinkAndRecipientCode%3dLljz%252b63d4SDRaghFJdC4olAgQF53uwypU6IgQu%252bp01wS9kvypBCjDv0T8X3rxB6NdorzZjOz9RLNm5FrN5reOvAZyZkQmfrRJrjKPSwhvlE%253d" target="_blank">Byars | Wright document</a>. <br />
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</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">Last but not least, if you need to contact your local EMA, please use the <a href="https://mail.fmi.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=DAPb6NzJeBu8eaH7Mj0Sp3CPjzjMxzD7gZ3dz3ZawGPIG0yXGPfUCA..&URL=https%3a%2f%2faga6.wildapricot.org%2fEmailTracker%2fLinkTracker.ashx%3flinkAndRecipientCode%3d6Bf0n%252ffwI%252bC1b9exkFpwn%252b48hVrVCbANgduL6NaowSooDxW0DMQdooBVMlZ09GwOQnA6O0LdeerRTVSexludV8MV3XeCBTpAY9hZHRayx7c%253d" target="_blank">list attached</a> for all the contact information for each county. <br />
<br />
Again, we do not anticipate Irma effecting Alabama directly, however we will continue to watch the storm track through the weekend. Please look for an update in your market minute on Tuesday.</div>
<p> </p>
<br />
<h3>
West Virginia Resources:</h3>
<ul>
<li>The West Virginia Department of Transportation has <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/c94leqo76sevl5d/Hurricane%20Irma%20Weight%20Restriction%20Waiver_0001.jpg?dl=0" target="_blank">waived weight restrictions</a> for Hurricane Irma Relief</li>
</ul>
