Obama praises FEMA efforts

President Obama traveled to Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters Saturday to participate in a videoconference on the Hurricane Irene response, and praised the agency's efforts to work with states and localities, along with other federal agencies, to coordinate efforts.

"Each conversation I have had with state and local officials, they have confirmed to me that the relationship with FEMA has been outstanding," Obama said, according to a White House pool report. "The interagency cooperation at the federal level has been outstanding. They recognize that this is going to be a tough slide getting through this thing, but they are very appreciative of the outstanding work that all of you have done."

"I have not yet heard from any of the regions as we just listened to, anybody who is suggesting that we haven't done everything we can on this front," the president added. "That is just on the preparation phase. Obviously we are going to have to make sure that on the response and recovery phase we are just as effective and on top of it."

Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta had put 6,500 troops on notice that they might be deployed to help with response and recovery efforts. The troops would come from all branches of the military.

Officials at the Defense Department's Northern Command said they were coordinating Defense's support to FEMA. The command has designated Fort A.P. Hill, Va., as a FEMA Federal Teams Staging Facility in support of disaster relief operations in Virginia, and has provided aircraft to assist in transporting personnel and supplies for efforts in North Carolina.

Saturday evening, the White House also reported that:

• FEMA has proactively positioned a total of 18 Incident Management Assistance Teams along the coast to coordinate with state, tribal and local officials to identify needs and shortfalls affecting potential disaster response and recovery. Six national urban search and rescue teams, comprised of more than 500 personnel, have been placed on alert in the event that search and rescue support is needed. The Department of Health and Human Services has deployed a total of five Disaster Medical Assistance Teams to staging areas.
• Defense has positioned coordinating officers at FEMA's national response coordination center in Washington, and in FEMA regional response coordination centers in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Atlanta to support and coordinate any requests for defense assets and personnel.
• States, localities and the Red Cross have opened more than 150 shelters in eight states as local evacuation orders went into effect. The Red Cross is prepared to open more shelters. Last night, the shelter population was estimated at more than 13,000.
• FEMA disability integration specialists are positioned in North Carolina, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York, and Boston to ensure that the needs of people with disabilities are fully considered when addressing the needs of the whole community.
• Governors have activated 1,200 National Guard personnel in seven states (Fla., Conn., N.C., N.H., P.R., R.I. and Va.) to assist states with response efforts. In those states already being affected by the hurricane, National Guard forces are performing cleanup, communication, and search and rescue missions. The National Guard Bureau's Crisis Management Element has been activated. There are more than 83,000 National Guard personnel available in affected states to assist in hurricane relief efforts.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention activated the public health radio network which provides CDC, state, territorial, and local health departments with non-infrastructure dependent redundant communications capability - a back up method of communication when all else fails.
• The U.S. Postal Service advised customers that normal service operations in the path of the storm may be affected in the event of unsafe conditions such as high winds, flooding or impassable roads. Depending on local conditions, some post offices may temporarily close their lobbies as Hurricane Irene makes landfall.
• Department of Veterans Affairs facilities along the United States' eastern seaboard have completed preparatory actions in advance of Hurricane Irene.