FEMA and America's Second Harvest Partner to Feed Disaster Victims
Release Date: August 9, 2005
Release Number: HQ-05-162
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 Washington, DC, August 9, 2005 -- Under Secretary Michael D. Brown signs a Memorandum of Understanding with Robert Forney, the President of America's Second Harvest, The Nation's Food Bank Network while Ben Curran looks on. America's Second Harvest is the nation's largest non-governmental hunger-relief organization. This year, in response to Hurricane Dennis, America's Second Harvest provided over 480,000 pounds of products to the most affected areas. During the 2004 hurricanes that hit the Southeast, the organization handled more than 4 million pounds of food and drink support for the relief operation. The MOU formalizes the partnership between FEMA and America's Second Harvest in planning for and responding to disasters. Bill Koplitz/FEMA |
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Under Secretary of Department of Homeland Security Michael D. Brown and America’s Second Harvest President Robert Forney signed an official Memorandum of Understanding today establishing a permanent relationship to bring much needed food and supplies to victims of the nation’s worst disasters.
“America’s Second Harvest continues to be a critically important FEMA partner in the national, regional, state and local leadership roles it plays in the coordination of volunteers and donated goods,” said Brown, who heads the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “Each piece of the disaster assistance pie is equally important and is equally depended upon by the American people. We appreciate the full participation of America’s Second Harvest.”
As the nation’s Food Bank Network, America’s Second Harvest works with more than 210 food banks around the country, serving all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The organization distributed more than seven million pounds of relief supplies to nine states and Puerto Rico during the historic 2004 hurricanes. The supplies accounted for 236 truck loads of food, enough to fill a three-mile convoy of trucks bumper-to-bumper. Already this year, America’s Second Harvest provided over 483,000 pounds of supplies to the areas most affected by Hurricane Dennis.
The Memorandum of Understanding provides a framework for FEMA and America’s Second Harvest to continue working together in carrying out disaster response and recovery operations. In addition to coordination for distribution of supplies in a disaster, highlights of the agreement include:
- Coordinated outreach campaigns to encourage mitigation of hazard risks and community involvement both before and after disasters occur.
- As permitted by law, FEMA will offer surplus products to America’s Second Harvest food banks for use in disaster and/or regular food bank operations.
- Active participation in and support of the national and state-level Volunteer Organizations in Active Disasters to further coordinate relief efforts with other national and state relief groups.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 09-Aug-2005 15:08:40