5 Things You Need to Know About Hurricane Florence and How You Can Help

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Thursday, September 13, 2018

States of Emergency

President Donald Trump speaks with a group of black Christian leaders at the White House on Aug. 1, 2018. He is seated next to megachurch pastor John Gray (L) and Alveda King (R). | (Screenshot: Twitter/@realDonaldTrump)

In response to the forthcoming hurricane, multiple states have issued a state of emergency and ordered evacuations of approximately 1 million people from low-lying coastal areas.

President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency for states in the path of the storm, thus allowing the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate relief efforts.

"FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding," the White House said on Monday.

"Brock Long, administrator, FEMA, Department of Homeland Security, named Elizabeth Turner as the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas."