IAFF Braces for Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Ike rumbled through the Gulf of Mexico as a 350-mile-wide monster Friday toward the Texas coast, led by a massive storm surge that is already flooding homes many hours before the main event is to begin. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is calling the storm “potentially catastrophic.”

As Ike comes ashore, the IAFF and its members are on alert, ready to respond.

IAFF 11th District Vice President Sandy McGhee is in touch with IAFF locals in the storm's path and is preparing to assist members and their families affected by Hurricanes Ike. 

IAFF 14th District Vice President Danny Todd says, “We have supplies ready to disperse and the Professional Fire Fighters of Louisiana has a fully-stocked trailer that can be dispatched to Texas, as needed.”

Additionally, San Antonio, TX Local 624 fire fighters are offering their training center as a shelter to displaced fire fighters and their families.

Meanwhile, fire fighters across Texas and the Gulf Coast and specialty teams across the nation are preparing for Hurricane Ike.Prior to Ike’s imminent landfall, hundreds of IAFF members that are part of search and rescue and logistical operations teams from cities across the country are on standby and ready to respond.

The most immediate need will be for financial assistance to IAFF members affected by Hurricane Ike.

The IAFF Disaster Relief Fund provides assistance to IAFF members in the United States and Canada who suffer financial hardship as the result of a federally declared disaster area or in cases of natural or man-made disasters, such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires or civil disturbances.

Click here to donate online.

After Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma in 2005, the Fund disbursed more than $1,750,000 to IAFF members in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Florida who were displaced by the storms. Additionally, the IAFF assisted more than 45 local affiliates and their 5,000 members in the stricken area, and provided incident command staff, communications, evacuation, food, medicine (including vaccinations and baseline medical evaluations), behavioral health and counseling, building materials, crews for house repairs, transportation and housing support. The Fund provided more than $500,000 for these efforts. In this fiscal year alone, the IAFF has provided more than $45,000 in member relief.

The IAFF Disaster Relief Fund is a 501 (c)(3) Trust Fund. Tax deductible contributions can be sent to:

IAFF Disaster Relief Fund
1750 New York Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 824-1571