WASHINGTON  -  U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) yesterday co-sponsored a Washington meeting to explore the role food aid agencies would play in post-disaster food aid.  The briefing was held by the Congressional Hunger Center and attended by the U.S. Food and Nutrition Service, America’s Second Harvest, the American Red Cross and Catholic Charities USA, among others.

 

“If a major earthquake were to strike Southern Missouri tonight, it is highly likely that citizens in need would be cut off from emergency food supplies right down the road.  We have to focus on ways to coordinate immediate relief between local, state and federal officials and relief agencies that provide food aid to ensure the resources are on the ground and being distributed as fast as possible,” Emerson said.  “Katrina taught us a very valuable lesson.  All the technologies and advancements in the world don’t mean a thing if we do not have a clear, solid plan of action in place.”

 

Emerson and U.S. Senator Jim Talent have asked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to conduct a comprehensive exercise to assess preparedness and response in the event of a catastrophic New Madrid quake. 

 

“Food, water and medicine are the three most valuable commodities in the aftermath of a disaster.  In Southern Missouri, virtually all of our infrastructure which is vulnerable to a 7.0 or greater earthquake.  The damage will make the delivery of emergency supplies and personnel impossible unless we start thinking about these contingencies now,” Emerson said.  “I really appreciate the interest in post-disaster food aid expressed by the organizations which attended the briefing on Tuesday.  I look forward to using their feedback and ideas to fill this gap in our earthquake preparedness, and I want to make sure the Department of Homeland Security gets the same message.”