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The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is working with numerous federal agencies and voluntary organizations to support state and local authorities in their early response to Hurricane Gustav. President Bush has issued pre-landfall Emergency Disaster Declarations for Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi which enables federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts The initial focus is on helping to coordinate evacuations and preparing for the response in the immediate aftermath of the storm. To date, shelters have opened in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. The 69 open shelters have the capacity to house 30,836 evacuees, though currently there are only 2,343 occupants. In an example of interagency coordination: the U.S. Postal Service and the U.S. Department of the Treasury delivered Railroad Retirement, Office of Personnel Management, Veteran’s Administration, Social Security Administration (SSA) checks on Friday and Saturday across the Gulf Coast region. SSA will issue an on-the-spot replacement check at relocation centers for individuals who may have evacuated prior to the weekend. While the primary focus is on the preparations and response to Hurricane Gustav, FEMA also has an interagency planning team working with states on the Atlantic coast to prepare for Tropical Storm Hanna, which could impact Southeastern or Gulf Coast states later in the week. FEMA encourages all residents in the region not in the areas immediately being evacuated to make final personal preparations to be able to meet their basic needs for 72-hours after landfall. Information is available at www.Ready.gov on how families and individuals can best prepare before the storm. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) * FEMA has the lead in coordinating the plans and preparatory activities numerous federal agencies are taking. FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center and Regional Response Coordination Centers in Atlanta, Ga., and Denton, Texas, are operating around the clock, coordinating the prepositioning of assets and responding to state requests for assistance. DHS/FEMA continued * FEMA’s emergency teams and resources are being deployed and configured for coordinated response. FEMA has pre-staged life-saving and life-sustaining commodities such water, meals, and tarps in various strategic locations to be made available to residents of affected areas (see attached slide with the most current data), including millions of meals and bottles of water, nearly 500 emergency generators, and hundreds of thousands of tarps, blankets and cots. U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) * USCG units within the projected landfall are taking actions to ensure personnel are ready to evacuate in time to avoid the storm, while simultaneously relocating personnel to continuity of operations locations to maintain situational awareness, command and control, and to ensure a seamless transition from preparedness to response operations. * The maritime community and boating public are strongly urged to track Gustav’s progress and take early action to protect themselves and their vessels. Extremely high seas, heavy rains and damaging winds that accompany tropical storms and hurricanes present serious dangers to mariners. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) * ICE's top priorities in any emergency are life-saving and life-sustaining activities, preventing the loss of property to the extent possible, and assisting with a speedy recovery of the affected region * There are no immigration enforcement operations, and there are no immigration enforcement checkpoints associated with the evacuations. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) * CBP is providing 20 law enforcement personnel to conduct and help protect Search & Rescue efforts as well as to help with evacuation and contra-flow traffic issues. * CBP will provide aircraft reconnaissance and imagery to improve situational awareness. Department of Defense (DOD) U.S. National Guard Bureau (NGB) * Approximately 7,000 National Guard members have been called up and are working with civil authorities in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to assist displaced citizens and to prepare for hurricane landfall. * Nearly 400,000 National Guard Citizen-Soldiers and –Airmen, including nearly 110,000 in the Gulf Coast region, are trained and equipped to help save lives and ease suffering. * The Texas National Guard is sending 10 rotary wing and six C-130 aircraft to Louisiana to extract nearly 1,000 special-needs people from the New Orleans area. U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) * NORTHCOM, working with U.S. Transportation Command, has provided contracted airlift and begun to move up to 16,000 general population passengers and cargo. The airlift is moving passengers from New Orleans to Nashville, Tenn.; San Antonio, Texas; Louisville, Ky.; and Ft. Smith, Ark. * Department of Defense aeromedical evacuation capabilities have begun for evacuations for up to 1,000 patients for Louisiana and up to 500 patients for Texas. * Department of Defense medium and heavy lift rotary wing aircraft are conducting movement of personnel and supplies in support of disaster operations. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) * USACE has alerted and begun deploying to the Gulf Coast both local and regional teams from across the nation to assist in debris removal, commodities procurement and delivery, temporary emergency power, temporary housing, temporary roofing, infrastructure assessment, and support to urban search and rescue missions. U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) * DOT deployed team of transportation experts to assist states with their evacuation procedures and produce bus and rail car safety inspections as needed. * Air traffic control is working to support air evacuations, with standby mobile air traffic control equipment on standby in Houston to serve as back ups in case storm damages equipment. U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) * Treasury is working to expedite check and direct deposit payments in the affected areas for certain federal benefits that are scheduled for regular delivery in the first week of the month. * Treasury, through the Federal Reserve, has requested that financial institutions in the Gulf Coast states honor the paper checks and consider making Direct Deposit payments available. U.S. Postal Service (USPS) * USPS is working closely with various federal agencies to support state and local authorities with their evacuation efforts. * USPS delivered Railroad Retirement, Office of Personnel Management, Veteran’s Administration, Social Security Administration checks Friday & Saturday for the Gulf Coast areas from Tallahassee Florida to McAllen Texas. * On Friday August 29, and Saturday August 30, monthly benefit checks for customers in potential Hurricane impacted areas were processed and delivered. Nearly 400,000 people in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida have received their Social Security checks rather than on September 3rd, the regularly scheduled payment day. * USPS has procedures in place to help customers reestablish connection with their lives through the mail. Customers are encouraged to file change of address cards as soon as they have relocated. Filing can be done in three ways: on-line, at www.usps.com; in person at any post office, station or branch; or by phone at 1-800 ASK USPS (1-800-275-8777). * USPS is working closely with the Social Security Administration and other agencies to continue disbursing checks that have not been received. Customers are encouraged to go to the Social Security website, www.ssa.gov and click on the Hurricane Gustav link for more information. U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) * DOE has activated its Strategic Petroleum Reserve Emergency Operations Center for 24-hour operations in Monroe, Louisiana. It will coordinate any distribution from the Reserve. * DOE has 15 responders deployed to the FEMA National and Regions Response Coordination Centers. Staff are also deployed to Pennsylvania in preparation for Tropical Storm Hanna. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) * NOAA’s National Hurricane Center is continuing to monitor the track and intensity of Hurricane Gustav. The center will issue watches and warnings to affected areas as needed. * NOAA aircraft are flying missions into Hurricane Gustav providing data on the storm for research and operational forecasts. NOAA’s geostationary and polar orbiting satellites are also providing valuable data to hurricane forecasters. * NOAA post-landfall functions such as navigation response teams, hazardous materials incident scientific support are being staged and prepared for deployment. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) * USDA responded to a state request and funded the purchase of infant formula and baby food that will be delivered on Aug. 31 to the two large shelters set up in Alexandria and Shreveport. * The State of Louisiana requested a waiver for early issuance of food stamp benefits which USDA approved on Aug. 30. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) * More than 600 SBA disaster personnel are standing by to deploy into the disaster impact area. An additional 500 disaster reservists are prepared to staff the agency's Disaster Loan Processing and Disbursement Center in Ft. Worth, Texas, and the Disaster Customer Service Center in Buffalo, NY * The SBA coordinates with federal and state emergency management agencies in the initial post-disaster damage assessment, and works with federal and state partners to provide information about disaster recovery assistance in the form of low-interest loans for homeowners, renters, non-profit organizations and businesses of all sizes. The majority of disaster loans approved by the SBA--about 80%--go to homeowners and renters. Department of Justice (DOJ) * DOJ and federal law enforcement agencies are carefully monitoring the path of Hurricane Gustav and making appropriate preparations in order to respond to the storms landfall. * Federal Law Enforcement Agencies are setting up command posts and positioning appropriate response teams. Currently, 2,700 interagency personnel from federal law enforcement agencies have been placed on standby. These resources consist of uniformed officers with marked vehicles, criminal investigators, and tactical teams from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshal Service, and Customs and Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, FPC, Drug Enforcement Agency, Office of Personnel Management’s Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Forest Service, Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General, and U.S. Mint Police. U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) * DOI’s U.S. Geological Survey is deploying temporary storm surge sensors in New Orleans, La. * DOI has deployed 30 Search & Rescue boat units from the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. * DOI’s Minerals Management Service has activated its "Continuity of Operations Plan" team to monitor activities of Gulf of Mexico offshore oil and gas operators American Red Cross (ARC) * This is the largest Red Cross relief effort since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The Red Cross has stood up relief operations in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. ARC’s first priority during this disaster is to provide people with food, shelter and emotional support. As people leave their homes, ARC staff are on the receiving end to provide shelter and to make them as comfortable as possible in our shelters. * ARC is prepared to shelter more than 150,000 people in the four affected states, as well as those states that have agreed to host evacuees. Together, with its partners, ARC has the capacity to provide nearly 650,000 meals per day post-landfall. * ARC is reaching out to underserved communities with partner groups, including: the NAACP, the National Immigration Law Center, the Southern Baptist Convention and Catholic Charities. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) * In response to a possible activation for oil and hazardous materials response, EPA’s Regional Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been brought to a heightened state of alert. EPA has personnel at the FEMA Regional Response and Coordination Center in Atlanta and is providing staff to the Mississippi EOC and the Alabama EOC. * EPA regional water program offices are coordinating with states in preparation for potential support should the storm impact the water sector and overwhelm local and state capabilities. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) * NRC dispatched additional staff to nuclear power plants in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. One plant, Waterford about 20 miles west of New Orleans, planned to shut down late Sunday as the storm approached. * NRC requires plants to shut down if winds hit hurricane strength. They may not restart without permission from the NRC and assurance from FEMA that evacuation routes are open. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) * HHS agencies continue to work closely with federal, states and local agencies to coordinate the public health and medical response. * HHS has activated the National Disaster Medical System, a federally coordinated operation that can assist state and local officials in dealing with major disasters. HHS also is working with FEMA and the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to provide air evacuation of 500 medical patients in Texas and an estimated 500 by air from Louisiana. * HHS has placed Federal Medical Stations, each with a 250-bed capacity, in Texas and Louisiana to provide low-critical care to residents during the emergency. HHS has caches of medical supplies in place in the Gulf region, with additional caches ready to deploy. * Teams from HHS human services agencies will work with special needs populations. For instance, the Administration on Aging has been facilitating discussions with directors of state agencies that aid the aging, to help coordinate preparation to ensure the needs of the elderly are met. Liaisons from the Indian Health Service are working with state officials and tribes to ensure state requests for assistance are met. FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror. For more information on FEMA activities visit www.FEMA.gov and for more information on personal preparedness see www.Ready.gov.

USTIN - Gov. Rick Perry has ordered additional state resources to support evacuation efforts from the southeast Texas coast and Louisiana prior to the landfall of Hurricane Gustav. According to the National Weather Service, Gustav is currently a Category 3 hurricane with winds at 120 mph and potentially strengthen before making landfall on the Gulf Coast. "I urge Texas residents to heed the warnings from local leaders to keep their families and themselves safe as this hurricane heads toward the Gulf Coast," Governor Perry said. "Texas has pre-deployed substantial resources and stands ready to respond to either a direct hit or serious flooding as a result of Hurricane Gustav. We will continue to work with our local leaders, federal partners and neighbors in Louisiana throughout this storm." Today, Gov. Perry joined President George W. Bush, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Alabama Gov. Bob Riley and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour on a video teleconfercence to discuss preparations for Hurricane Gustav. A tropical storm warning and hurricane watch remains in effect from west of Cameron, La., to just east of High Island, Texas. A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 36 hours. The state of Texas assisted local leaders and emergency responders in successfully evacuating and sheltering nearly 10,000 special-needs Texans from Chambers, Orange and Jefferson counties. Hardin, Jefferson and Orange counties have issued mandatory evacuations, which include the cities of Beaumont and Port Arthur. Following the mandatory evacuation of the city of New Orleans beginning at 8:00 a.m. this morning, Texas state resources began mobilizing aerial resources and personnel to support the evacuation of an estimated 1,000 medical special needs evacuees from Louisiana to Texas. Currently, 27 buses transporting Louisiana residents who cannot evacuate themselves are en route to shelters in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area. Texas is also preparing for an estimated 45,000 general population evacuees to Texas from Louisiana. The Emergency Management Council and State Operations Center are fully activated. The State Operations Center is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Gustav and holding twice daily conference calls with federal, state and local officials, private industry partners, volunteer organizations and the National Weather Service. To date, Texas has taken the following actions: Texas Military Forces: Up to 7,500 guardsmen, 15 aerial resources, and six C-130 aircraft have been activated, some of which have begun deploying to transport medical special needs evacuees from New Orleans to Austin today. Texas Engineering Extension Service: Texas Task Force 1 and Texas Task Force 2 are preparing assets and will be mobilized today to provide search and rescue capabilities as needed. A team of 40 members of Texas Task Force 1 are deploying to Louisiana today to assist evacuation efforts. Department of Public Safety: Commercial Vehicle Enforcement troopers have inspected buses that are being used for evacuations. Texas Department of State Health Services: The agency is providing oxygen tanks at each of the temporary fueling stations in East Texas for evacuees. A respiratory therapist is at each of the stations. DSHS is providing health-related evacuation suggestions on its website (www.dshs.state.tx.us) Health and Human Services Commission: The state's 2-1-1 information and referral network has responded to thousands of calls for information about shelter locations and evacuation routes. Department of Family and Protective Services: The agency has provided information to foster parents in the evacuation areas and activated a hotline, 800-252-5400, where caregivers can report their new locations once they reach a safe area. Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs: Hurricane housing resources for communities are on the agency's website (www.tdhca.state.tx.us). TDHCA is reminding all affordable housing rental owners statewide to keep their apartment vacancy information current as they supply information to TDHCA. TDHCA will contact community action agencies in the projected path of the storm and advise them that they may be called upon to serve additional persons based on the events transpiring. Texas Department of Criminal Justice: The TDCJ LeBlanc Unit in Beaumont completed the evacuation of 1,100 inmates to units in Huntsville and Livingston. TDCJ Gist State Jail in Beaumont also completed the evacuation of 2,080 inmates to units in the Palestine and Huntsville areas. Texas Department of Agriculture: The agency has identified commodities that are available for distribution, and is coordinating with the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross. Texas Animal Health Commission: TAHC is coordinating with its member agencies and other animal care agencies to shelter animals. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: TCEQ is authorizing fuel waivers as necessary and is prepared to respond to impacts from Hurricane Gustav. A strike team capable of handling hazardous materials is on standby. TCEQ is working with local agencies to be prepared to address any environmental impact issues that may result from Gustav. Texas Public Utility Commission: The Public Utility Commission is prepared to coordinate a significant response into potential affected areas in order to restore power in a timely and effective manner. Texas Education Agency: School districts in the interior part of the state are making preparations to open as shelters, if needed. The TEA webpage, www.tea.state.tx.us/gustav/, is providing school officials with the latest school-related hurricane information. Texas Department of Information Resources: A DIR Texas Computer Security Incident Response Team remains on standby. Texas Department of Insurance: TDI continues to monitor Hurricane Gustav and remain in contact with its insurance stakeholder group, the Texas State Disaster Coalition. TDI is also encouraging Texas consumers to prepare for the storm and offering insurance tips (www.tdi.state.tx.us). TDI has contacted the Louisiana Department of Insurance to begin coordinating assistance to Louisiana insurance consumers who may be heading to Texas. Texas Department of Transportation: Previously planned lane closures for I-10 in the Houston area have been cancelled through Monday, Sept. 1. All previously planned lane closures in the Houston and Beaumont area are currently suspended. Major construction on U.S. 59 entering the city of Lufkin from Houston has been suspended. Dynamic message signs are being used to urge residents along the coast to fuel up their vehicles. TxDOT personnel are also sweeping roadside shoulders and patching pavement along potential evacuation routes. Fuel Team: The Fuel Team has ensured the availably of fuel in the evacuation areas and potential impact areas of Gustav. Volunteer organizations throughout Texas are working with local officials to shelter evacuees from Texas and Louisiana. For more information on hurricane preparedness and Hurricane Gustav please visit www.governor.state.tx.us

MONTGOMERY-Governor Bob Riley today declared an official state of emergency due to the imminent threat posed by Hurricane Gustav. The emergency declaration enables the Governor to invoke various emergency preparedness measures. “The tracking of Hurricane Gustav indicates that Alabama is at risk to sustain damage from high winds, heavy rains, and possible tornadoes,” said Governor Riley. “I am again urging everyone to take the necessary precautions to ensure your and your family’s safety. Because of the high possibilities of damage, it is extremely important to have a declaration in place.” The Alabama Emergency Management Agency has been directed to make appropriate assessments of damages and seek the necessary state and federal assistance for the affected areas, if necessary. Governor Riley has already put 3,000 Alabama National Guardsmen on alert, and the Departments of Transportation and Public Safety are also preparing to re-route traffic on I-65, should it become necessary. The Governor is keeping in close contact with officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, as well as local emergency management officials. The declaration also allows the Governor to invoke Alabama’s price gouging law, which applies during times of a state of emergency issued by the Governor.

Governor Riley Orders Evacuations for Parts of Mobile and Baldwin Counties CLANTON - At the request of local emergency management officials, Governor Bob Riley on Sunday ordered the mandatory evacuation of residents of low lying and flood prone areas of southern Mobile County and Baldwin County due to the threat posed by Hurricane Gustav. The evacuation order, which went into effect at 7 a.m. Sunday, applies to all residents of Mobile County in Hurricane Evacuation Zone 1, which is south of Interstate 10 and includes areas such as Fowl River, Coden and Bayou La Batre, and all Baldwin County residents on Fort Morgan Peninsula, Plash Island, and areas south of Fort Morgan Road in the city of Gulf Shores. “I’ve discussed this with local officials and we’re in agreement this evacuation is necessary to protect the lives of these residents,” said Governor Riley. The current track of Hurricane Gustav indicates the primary threat posed to Alabamians is going to be flooding in these areas.” The 3,000 Alabama National Guard troops the Governor activated earlier remain on alert, and the Alabama Department of Transportation continues to have staff propositioned along Interstate 65 and are ready to reverse lanes if and when that becomes necessary. Alabama State Troopers also remain deployed to assist the flow of evacuation. spacer gif

More than 40 shelters are open throughout Mississippi PEARL – As of 6 p.m. more than 3,400 Hurricane Gustav evacuees were listed in shelters throughout Mississippi. There are 42 shelters open in the state at this time. The list of open shelters will be updated regularly by MEMA. Call the following numbers for the most recent information: 1-866-519- MEMA, 1-800-Red-Cross, 2-1-1 or 1-866-472-8265. Currently, shelters in Mississippi can accommodate up to 192,143 evacuees. People who plan to stay at a shelter should bring the following:  Clothes for three to five days Medications Blanket, pillow Personal hygiene items Identification Accommodations for children (personal items, entertainment, toys) For more information call MEMA’s Public Information Line at 866-519-MEMA or the Media line at 866-920-MEMA or visit http://www.msema.org.

Important phone numbers and information: * Public Information Line: 866-519-MEMA. * Media Information Line: 866-920-MEMA. * MDOT: 866-521-MDOT (6368). * Volunteer information: 1-866-472-8265. * Safe and Well: click here * Hurricane Preparedness Number: 1-866-458-4948 * Mississippi Department of Health: http://www.HealthMs.com. * Hotel accomodations are extremely limited in both Jackson and Memphis. Shelters for Gustav evacuees: Call 211, or 1-866-472-8265 or, Red Cross: 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767), or click here Alabama Emergency Hotline for Shelters: 1-800-206-0816.

Governor Bobby Jindal held a press conference along with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to give an update on state and federal preparedness measures surrounding the impact of Hurricane Gustav on Louisiana. Governor Jindal said, "Our most up to date information from the Hurricane Center shows that the storm did not reorganize as well as it could have, which is good news; but, again, we expect tropical storm force winds overnight tonight and as early as late this evening. St. Bernard, Plaquemines, and Terrebonne Parishes will get tropical storm force winds by midnight. Those areas at the mouth of the Mississippi River will get hurricane force winds early Monday morning. The Hurricane Center said hurricane wind warnings will stretch from Lake Charles to Baton Rouge. "The eye of the storm is expected to hit midday tomorrow, and the storm is predicted to leave the state before it stalls." The Governor added that Baton Rouge and central Louisiana should be aware of possible 70 to 80 miles-per-hour winds as the hurricane comes through the state, which will likely cause power outages and downed trees. The Governor said that he visited Lakefront Airport earlier today to thank the National Guard for their support in evacuating medical patients out of South Louisiana. Additionally, the Governor said that this afternoon he signed a memorandum of understanding between Louisiana and Missouri and Tennessee for the use of their National Guard forces assisting evacuation and response operations. SPECIAL NEEDS SHELTERS UPDATE: The Governor announced that the state has worked with several states to identify shelters for special needs individuals, including 53,000 spots in eight states. The Governor said that there is currently no wait for non-critical patients for air evacuations, and the state has extra air capacity available. The Governor said that region 1 (New Orleans) is done evacuating homebound patients and the city is currently evacuating their 73 remaining patients from hospitals now. Region 3 (Houma) - homebound and nursing homes are evacuated, and hospitals who wanted to evacuate have done so. Region 5 (Lake Charles) has reported one nursing home that now needs to be evacuated and the state is working to assist them. Currently, 84 out of 115 nursing homes in impacted areas have evacuated - which is around 8,000 individuals (at least 27 with state assistance), and 27 hospitals have had full or partial evacuations. Governor Jindal also spoke about the risk of evacuating critically ill patients from hospitals and said that there are reports of three unconfirmed deaths that occurred during evacuation efforts. The Governor said that the state continues to help hospitals, nursing homes, and local officials work to evacuate people out of harm's way and his prayers go out to the families of those who have been lost. EVACUATION SUPPORT UPDATE: Governor Jindal said that seven states are helping Louisiana to shelter more than 29,000 citizens at 107 shelters. Texas has offered to shelter several thousand patients, Oklahoma has agreed to accept 4,000 general evacuees, and 150 medical patients from southwest Louisiana hospitals are expected to arrive at the Oklahoma Air National Guard Base at WillRogersAirport in Oklahoma City today. More than 25,000 citizens are currently sheltered in Louisiana in 120 Red Cross shelters. Four state-run Critical Transportation Needs Shelters are full (10,000 capacity), two FEMA/Red Cross Critical Transportation Needs Shelters are full (5,500 capacity), and the five Medical Special Needs Shelters across the state still have several hundred slots remaining (649 patients currently sheltered there). Additionally, Louisiana continues to work with AL, AR, TX, OK, MO, KY, GA, and TN to provide additional shelter space for thousands of residents, as needed. Buses will arrive in Ascension and Lafayette once evacuations are complete for search and rescue operations, and more than 400 buses are still available in New Orleans. The Governor said that 123 general population shelters are open in Louisiana and the local OEPs and Red Cross workers continue to take in those citizens seeking shelter. Governor Jindal said that utility teams including 11,000 utility workers from out of state are staged and standing by to help turn back on utilities after the storm passes, and they will start working on the essential functions of hospitals, fire service, water, and sewer systems. The Governor said that around six to seven hours after landfall the state will start surveillance efforts to identify damaged areas. Additionally, the Governor announced that 96 percent of oil and 82 percent of natural gas in federal waters in the Gulf is currently shut in, in preparation for the storm. Louisiana State Police estimates that 95 percent of the two million people expected to evacuate have done so, accounting for a total of more than 1.9 million people evacuating the coast - the largest evacuation in the history of the state. SEARCH AND RESCUE UPDATE: Governor Jindal said that the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will work alongside the Coast Guard and FEMA and the National Guard during search and rescue operations. SAR operations will be based at three locations, and have determined three other forward-leaning bases, including: West Bank, Abbeville, and Nicholls State University. The Governor said that 300 people with 200 boats plus 500 people with equipment from the federal government and other states will support SAR operations after the storm and for example California is now also supporting SAR operations by sending 100 people with 16 boats. New York and Michigan are also sending additional support units. There are already people staging at Camp Beauregard and there is capacity for 700 people at Lamar Dixon. Additionally, Mississippi has three 100-member search and rescue teams, which may be freed up to help Louisiana's efforts. Governor Jindal closed by encouraging all media and residents to visit www.emergency.louisiana.gov for most updated information on storm.

I pray that this hurricane does not do any harm to the people in its path.

At the recommendation of Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Republican National Convention announced substantial changes to the convention's program and actions being taken to help with Hurricane Gustav relief efforts. On Monday, all program activities beyond the official business that must be conducted in accordance with party rules will be cancelled. Among the other actions announced today are the formation of the Affected States Working Group, the establishment of an Affected States Information Center, and the chartering of a DC-9 to transport affected delegates. Rick Davis, campaign manager for John McCain 2008, announced that the upcoming Republican National Nominating Convention is making serious revisions to the convention program and surrounding activities. Davis said, "We are deeply concerned about the safety and welfare of the residents of the Gulf State region. Our top priority is to assist those who will be affected by Hurricane Gustav. This is not a time for politics or celebration; it is a time for us to come together as Americans and assist the residents of the Gulf States." Davis also discussed what the changes in the program will mean for the nomination process. "In order for the Republican Party to officially exist and for Senator McCain to qualify for the ballot, we are - by law - required to conduct specific official business. At this point, our program on Monday has been scaled back and will only include what party rules governing the nomination of our candidates for president and vice president require. We will perform the official business as required. In addition, we have set aside time to make delegates and Americans watching our proceedings at home aware of what they can do to assist in relief efforts designed to help those who will be affected by Hurricane Gustav." Davis concluded: "At some point between Monday and Thursday evening, we will convene once again to complete the activities needed to qualify Senator McCain and Governor Palin for the ballot in all 50 states. Beyond that, all we can say is that we will monitor what is happening and make decisions about other convention business as details become available." Chairman of the Republican National Committee Robert M. "Mike" Duncan added, "The safety and well-being of the people of the Gulf States remains our top concern. We are doing everything we can on the ground in Minneapolis-Saint Paul to ensure that the delegations affected by this storm have the resources and information that they need. As Senator McCain said this morning, we must redirect our attention and efforts. We will act as Americans - not Republicans - to help our fellow citizens in need." This morning, at the request of Governor Barbour (R-Miss.), Sen. McCain attended a briefing with the governor about the state's storm preparation efforts. The briefing was held at the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency offices in Pearl, Miss. Following the briefing, Sen. McCain, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, and Mrs. Cindy McCain toured the emergency management center. The convention is in continuous communication with all delegates, speakers, and program participants. All parties understand that the schedule for the convention will be dictated by the conditions on the ground in the Gulf States and are, therefore, subject to change. The campaign and the convention's first priority is the safety and security of those living in the areas where the hurricane will make landfall. The McCain campaign has also taken several additional steps to assist delegates from the Gulf States, including the formation of an Affected States Working Group, the chartering of a DC-9 to transport affected delegates, and the establishment of an Affected States Information Center. The Affected States Working Group The Affected States Working Group is comprised of a group of representatives from each of the states in Hurricane Gustav's path. The group will ensure that all affected delegates have information and assistance in real time. The Affected States Working Group is led by all five state party chairs from the affected area along with other delegation officials. The purpose of the group will be to regularly brief their delegates and convention planners, provide access to timely information and assistance, and give input on appropriate steps that can be taken from Minnesota. The state party chairs released the following joint statement: "We appreciate the thoughts and prayers of everyone around the country as we prepare for this dangerous storm. We are here in Minnesota for the necessary job of nominating our choice for president and vice president, but obviously our focus is on our families and friends back at home. We are in constant communication with our governors and elected officials and feel confident that they are taking the appropriate and necessary steps to prepare. The purpose of this group is to discuss ways that we can come together to provide information and support for our delegates here in Minneapolis." The group is made up of nine leaders from the region and is chaired by the following individuals: * Roger Villare, Louisiana State Chair * Tina Benkiser, Texas State Chair * Brad White, Mississippi State Chair * Mike Hubbard, Alabama State Chair * Jim Greer, Florida State Chair Air Transportation Provided to Delegates Also announced today were transportation arrangements for delegates from states affected by Hurricane Gustav. The McCain 2008 campaign has chartered a DC-9 that will transport delegates that wish to return to home to their states. The DC-9 will leave Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport today and will fly to Jackson, Mississippi. All transportation costs will be covered by the McCain 2008 campaign. "As we all watch and prepare for Gustav to make landfall, it is important that the convention make it as easy as possible for delegates to be where they are needed most - with their families and local agencies in their home states. We are grateful to Senator McCain for making this resource available to the delegates from the Gulf States," Maria Cino, President and CEO of the Republican National Convention 2008, said today. Affected States Information Center The convention has established an Affected States Information Center, which will be fully staffed and located inside the Xcel Energy Center. The center will remain open during the Xcel Energy Center's operating hours and will serve as a central location where delegates can get news about the hurricane, weather reports, and information about rescue relief organizations; access to computers and phones; and the resources they need to address their situations back home. Delegates can go to the center and get information. There will also be contacts in the center that can contact Gulf State governors, if needed. Republican Party Rules The convention program has been altered in response to the situation developing in the Gulf States region. However, the convention will still take place. According to party rules, it is necessary for the convention to proceed in order to ensure that the party is able to place its candidates' names on the ballot in November. On November 9, 2007, pursuant to the rules adopted at the 2004 National Republican Convention, the party issued the call for its convention. The call requires that the convention meet on Sept. 1, 2008. The session must be convened no earlier than 9 a.m. and no later than 7 p.m. Under the current party rules, this is the only method by which the party may select a candidate for President and Vice President.

Mr Rees, I think you have clearly stated that your stance that homosexuality is a moral evil. I love my wife and I am a supporter of traditional marriage. But, posting hateful banter leads to greater negative energy, which begets more negative energy. I respect the fact that God and our great country gives the freedom of choice to every human being. It is my hope that this country does not persecute people because of their sexual orientation. Even here in the "Land of the Free" hundreds of federal and state employees were fired in the 1950s because of their homosexuality. Hitler exterminated homosexuals with the jews, because the Nazi party deemed these groups inferior and evil. I am requesting that your tone down your rhetoric for the common good of all our readers.

Easy on the flame wars people. Both John McCain and Barack Obama are quality Americans. They just have differences in which directions they want to take our country. I recieved this letter from the McCain campaign that explains why the Senator chose Governor Palin.

Like millions of Americans, tonight I watched a historic moment happen at Mile High Stadium tonight. Senator Barack Obama accepted the Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States. I thought about my father who lost his carpentry job, because 45 years ago he marched with Dr. King and listed to a prolific dream. I know my father is smiling down from heaven tonight knowing the spirit of slavery is dying. There were many good lines in Senator Obama's speech. Some will say it was "I'm not ready to take a 10 percent chance on change," because he voted for Bush 90% of the time. Some will say it was the moment that he stated this country is not Red America or a Blue America it is the United States of America. Some will say it was "It's not because John McCain doesn't care. It's because John McCain doesn't get it." There were many great lines, but the one that sticks with me the most was Senator Obama explanation of why some people don't get how an ordinary guy from a broken family could be nominated for the highest office in the land. "this election has never been about me. It's about you." Lincoln must be smiling, because his sacrifice was not in vain. Barack Obama is a new chapter in American History. Here is a transcript of his speech

Former President William Jefferson Clinton speech closed the final chapter of the rift between the Barack and Hillary supporters tonight. President Clinton lacked the charisma of his wife, but he removed all doubt that he is still the Patriarch of the DNC. He immediately started off by endorsing Senator Obama's decision of Joe Biden and adding that his wife and her 18 million supporters do as well. Clinton's strongest banter came when he stated that Americans had not fully understood the Republicans extreme philosphy until 2001 when the party had control of Congress and the White House. "They actually want us to reward them for the last eight years by giving them four more. Now, let's send them a message that will echo from the Rockies all across America, a simple message: Thanks, but no thanks." Here is a transcript of Bill Clinton's Convention Speech

I just watched Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's speech. In my opinion, it was well written and masterfully delivered. My favorite part was when Senator Clinton asked her democratic followers whether they were in the race for her or were in the race for America's future. I also appreciate her not going over the top and being mean spirited. Senator Clinton gave proper respect to Senator John McCain. She also touched on a common message of the night -- that Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, would offer more of the same types of policies of the Bush administration. Her remark on the how appropriate it was for the Republicans to hold their convention in the Twin Cities, because President Bush and Senator McCain are pretty much twins was quite clever. If you did not get the chance to watch or listen to Senator Clinton's speech here is the transcript:

Here is a photo of two of the assailants. Tharin Gartrell (Left) and Nathan Johnson (Right) .... One of the suspects told police they were "going to shoot Obama from a high vantage point using a ... rifle ... sighted at 750 yards," Denver television station CDS4 is reporting. Police have told the television station that one of the suspects "was directly asked if they had come to Denver to kill Obama. He responded in the affirmative." The suspects were arrested on Sunday when local police arrested a man, identified by the television station as Tharin Gartrell, 28, who was driving a rented pickup truck erratically. CDS4 is reprrting that in his truck police found two high powered rifles with telescopic sites, as well as camouflage clothing, walkie-talkies, a bulletproof vest, a high powered spotting scope, licences in the names of various people, and the drug methamphetamine. One of the rifles is listed as stolen from Kansas. ....

The FAA reports that Dulles International Airport is the 16th busiest airline terminal in the United States with 419127 operations. Balt/Wash International Airport is 29th. Reagan National is 30th. The list is categorized by rank, number of operations, and terminal name. 1 991627 Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Int’l. (ATL) 2 926973 Chicago/O’Hare Int’l. (ORD) 3 686711 Dallas/Ft. Worth Int’l. (DFW) 4 680954 Los Angeles International (LAX) 5 619941 Denver International (DEN) 6 619287 Las Vegas/Mc Carran Int’l. (LAS) 7 603641 Houston/G. Bush Intercont’l. (IAH) 8 539211 Phoenix Sky Harbor Int’l. (PHX) 9 525943 Charlotte/Douglas Int’l. (CLT) 10 499683 Philadelphia International (PHL) 11 467442 Detroit Metro Wayne Co. (DTW) 12 456835 John F. Kennedy Int’l. (JFK) 13 453566 Minneapolis-St. Paul Int’l. (MSP) 14 441908 Newark International (EWR) 15 420996 Salt Lake City Int’l. (SLC) 16 419127 Washington Dulles Int’l. (IAD) 17 401890 Boston/Logan International (BOS) 18 397280 LaGuardia (LGA) 19 386367 Miami International (MIA) 20 379568 San Francisco Int’l. (SFO) 21 376528 Memphis International (MEM) 22 367860 Orlando International (MCO) 23 347046 Seattle Tacoma Int’l. (SEA) 24 328261 Covington/Cincinnati Int’l. (CVG) 25 307952 Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood (FLL) 26 307112 Honolulu International (HNL) 27 304657 Chicago Midway (MDW) 28 299917 Anchorage International (ANC) 29 296639 Baltimore-Washington Int’l. (BWI) 30 279488 Washington National (DCA) 31 264518 Portland International (PDX) 32 258745 Tampa International (TPA) 33 256928 Lambert-St. Louis Int’l. (STL) 34 252679 Raleigh-Durham Int’l. (RDU) 35 245170 Cleveland Hopkins Int’l. (CLE) 36 237574 San Diego Int’l/Lindbergh (SAN) 37 236742 Houston Hobby (HOU) 38 218146 San Antonio International (SAT) 39 212998 Pittsburgh International (PIT) 40 212204 Nashville International (BNA) 41 208196 San Jose International (SJC) 42 203616 Indianapolis International (IND) 43 201236 Teterboro (TEB) 44 199996 White Plans/Westchester (HPN) 45 194959 Kansas City International (MCI) 46 190780 Albuquerque International (ABQ) 47 190463 Palm Beach International (PBI) 48 188965 San Juan International (SJU) 49 147889 Maui/Kahului (OGG) 50 147678 Ontario International (ONT)

I got an email requesting where the local CVS flu center are in the District. So I compiled a list of all the stores in Washington. Flu center locations are in bold. Store #1355 1900 7TH STREET NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, DC 20001 202-232-2201 Pharmacy 1-Hr Photo Store #6419 1000 U STREET NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, DC 20001 202-518-2978 Pharmacy 1-Hr Photo Drive Thru Store #21 1117 10TH STREET, COMMERCIAL UNIT WASHINGTON, DC 20001 202-326-1401 Pharmacy 1-Hr Photo Store #2817 1418 P STREET NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, DC 20005 202-939-5735 Pharmacy 1-Hr Photo Flu Clinic Store #7218 400 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, DC 20001 202-289-2236 Pharmacy 1-Hr Photo Flu Clinic Store #1341 1199 VERMONT AVENUE NORTHWEST WASHINGTON , DC 20005 202-628-0720 Pharmacy 1-Hr Photo Flu Clinic Store #1365 1637 P STREET NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, DC 20036 202-328-1250 Pharmacy 1-Hr Photo Flu Clinic Store #2075 1500 K STREET, NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, DC 20005 202-638-6250 Pharmacy Store #1334 717 14TH STREET NORTHWEST WASHINGTON , DC 20005 202-737-9525 Pharmacy 1-Hr Photo Store #2490 435 8TH STREET NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, DC 20004 202-783-4293 Pharmacy 1-Hr Photo Flu Clinic Store #1363 660 RHODE ISLAND AVENUE, NORTHEAST WASHINGTON, DC 20002 202-635-8520 Pharmacy 1-Hr Photo Flu Clinic Store #2834 3031 FOURTEENTH STREET NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, DC 20009 202-332-4865 Pharmacy 1-Hr Photo Flu Clinic Store #2527 1025 CONNECTICUT AVENUE WASHINGTON, DC 20036 202-785-3102 Pharmacy 1-Hr Photo Flu Clinic Store #1842 1275 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, DC 20019 202-638-4583 Pharmacy 1-Hr Photo Store #1351 1700 COLUMBIA ROAD NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, DC 20009 202-234-8601 Pharmacy 1-Hr Photo Flu Clinic Store #1347 6 DUPONT CIRCLE NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, DC 20036 202-785-1466 Pharmacy 24-Hr 1-Hr Photo Flu Clinic Store #57 1716 G STREET NORTHWEST WASHINGTON , DC 20006 202-289-1616 Store #1841 2000 M STREET NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, DC 20036 202-862-8417 Pharmacy 1-Hr Photo Store #1839 1990 K STREET NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, DC 20006 202-223-8735 Pharmacy Store #1342 1901 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NORTHWEST WASHINGTON , DC 20006 202-331-7077 Pharmacy 1-Hr Photo Store #2208 2000 L STREET NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, DC 20036 202-452-6194 Pharmacy 1-Hr Photo 2240 M STREET NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, DC 20037 202-296-9877 Pharmacy 24-Hr 1-Hr Photo Flu Clinic Store #283 500 C STREET SOUTH WASHINGTON , DC 20024 202-484-8522 Store #1358 2125 E STREET NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, DC 20037 202-338-6337 Pharmacy Flu Clinic Store #1354 2616 CONNECTICUT AVENUE NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, DC 20008 202-332-1446 1-Hr Photo

A commercial-scale process to extract and reuse pure hydrogen from the hydrogen sulfide that naturally contaminates unrefined oil, including oil sands, is one step closer to reality thanks to a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory and Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc. (KPM) of Kingston, Ontario. Argonne and KPM researchers have invented a molten copper reactor, an innovative process technology that is more energy-efficient than existing methods, according to Gregory Krumdick, an engineer in Argonne's Energy Systems Division. Moreover, the pure hydrogen gas stream that it extracts can be used to upgrade and clean crude oil and petroleum products and aid in a number of refining processes, KPM President Boyd Davis said. Krumdick, Davis, Alain Roy, KPM's vice president of operations, and former Argonne researcher John Hryn invented the technology. In the reactor, hydrogen sulfide gas is first separated from the crude oil stock, using technology already in place. This gas is then bubbled though molten copper, which releases pure hydrogen. The hydrogen is then captured for use as a valued product. As the sulfur reacts with the copper, the copper is gradually turned into copper sulfide. Argonne is collaborating with KPM, a bench-scale process development firm, under a work-for-others agreement. KPM is supported in part by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), which has provided $600,000 (Canadian) for the research over the last three years. In addition to generating pure hydrogen, the process creates another valuable product, concentrated sulfuric acid, which is used widely in the chemical industry and which has become a valued agricultural commodity. The concentrated sulfuric acid is created when copper sulfide is reacted with air to recover the pure copper, releasing a concentrated stream of sulfur dioxide which is then reacted with water. The copper is then reused in the process with negligible losses, Krumdick said. The reactions between the hydrogen sulfide and copper and the copper sulfide and air release energy that helps to heat the system, enabling the researchers to harvest the products efficiently, Krumdick said. The system operates at a temperature of about 1,200 degrees Celsius. "Technologies that are in use today, including the widely used Claus process, are more energy- and capital-intensive," Krumdick said. "In addition, they also lose the hydrogen in the process. Instead of capturing the hydrogen from the hydrogen sulfide, the Claus process ends up converting it into water." The multi-step Claus process was invented more than 100 years ago and is the most widely used method for removing the hydrogen sulfide that is present in crude oil and raw natural gas. The Claus process is also believed to be more limited than the Argonne-KPM process in terms of the other types of impurities it can handle. Costly energy-intensive modules that scrub other contaminants, such as ammonia, methane and carbon dioxide from raw oil and natural gas must be separately attached to Claus processing facilities. Argonne computer modeling strongly indicated that the Argonne-KPM process would deal with those other impurities, a conclusion that was later experimentally proven. Contaminants such as ammonia and various hydrocarbons are reformed to their elemental constituents, providing an added benefit to the process, Krumdick said. Argonne and KPM continue to scale up their experimental work to further test the process. "Our goal is to develop a pilot scale reactor," Krumdick said. "If a pilot plant demonstrates that the process is a major improvement over existing technology � and we believe it is � it will spur the interest of industries that use a process to separate hydrogen sulfide," Davis added. "Companies will be able to retrofit their facilities with the process technology or construct new plants that incorporate it," Davis added. "In the meantime, we are working with Argonne to use the technology for other energy applications, such as gas cleanup for Integrated Gassification Combined Cycle plants." Argonne and KPM began working on the technology in 2003 as a laboratory-directed research and development proof-of-concept project. Kingston Process Metallurgy is an industrial process research and development company. It focuses on providing quantitative data to support the development of novel processes and explores business opportunities in collaboration with customers and partners. It has clients from around the world who use KPM's expertise in process development and laboratory experimentation. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) works to ensure the responsible development of Canada's natural resources, including energy, forests, minerals and metals. It has expertise in earth sciences that it uses to build and maintain an up-to-date knowledge base of Canada's landmass and resources. NRCan develops policies and programs that enhance the contribution of the natural resources sector to the economy and improve the quality of life of residents, and represents Canada at the international level to meet the country's global commitments related to natural resources.

Two national nonprofit health groups are offering local public health departments a shot in the arm for fall influenza vaccination efforts by helping them organize immunization clinics at or near polling places. The Vote and Vax program is a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), a healthcare philanthropy organization, and SPARC (Sickness Prevention Achieved through Regional Collaboration), a nonprofit organization focused on disease prevention, according to background materials posted on the initiative's Web site. The program provides health agencies with technical expertise to set up the clinics and marketing muscle to promote them, but does not provide the vaccine. Public health agencies are advised to charge for the shots as they normally would at other fall flu-vaccination clinics. Offering flu vaccinations on Election Day in November is a way to target seniors, who typically vote in large numbers, Vote and Vax organizers say. Seniors are one of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) priority groups for flu immunization. SPARC started offering fall election clinics in the late 1990s, but the program expanded in 2006 when it partnered with the RWJF to enable 25 public health agencies to sponsor Vote and Vax clinics at polling places. That year, the clinics delivered 13,790 vaccine doses at 127 polling sites in 14 states. The program's goal for Nov 4 is to expand to 1,000 polling places across the United States. This November, the Guilford County Department of Public Health in north-central North Carolina will offer Vote and Vax clinics at eight polling places, according to an Aug 20 report in the Greensboro (N.C.) News & Record. Lynne Beck, the health department's spokeswoman, said officials will visit 11 of the county's 165 polling sites before narrowing the number to eight. The department expects to charge $25 to $30 for the flu vaccine, the same as it charges at other sites, she told the News & Record. In a report on the effect of the 2006 Vote and Vax, Douglas Shenson, MD, MPH, president of SPARC, and Mary Adams, MPH, an epidemiologist and partner at On Target Health Data in Hartford, Conn., wrote that Election Day in early November is an optimal time for flu vaccination. They also said that polling places, because they meet strict accessibility requirements, are likely to attract other vulnerable people besides seniors, who might be difficult to reach with the vaccination message. The report was published in the July-August issue of the Journal of Public Health Management Practice. Survey results from the 2006 Election-Day immunization clinics revealed that more than 80% of the adults who were vaccinated were in the CDC's flu-immunization priority groups. About 43% of the recipients were men and 57% were women. Nearly 900 pediatric vaccine doses were administered at the Vote and Vax clinics. Eleven percent of the recipients did not have health insurance. On a scale of 1 to 10, public health agencies rated the overall success of the program at 8.5. Health officials gave the program high marks for organization, ease of planning, publicity, and convenience for recipients. However, some sites reported problems with vaccine supply. One group had to cancel its clinic after its plan to offer free vaccinations at a polling place in a medically underserved neighborhood was criticized by political activists, who perceived it as "get out the vote" campaign for Democrats. "We are encouraged that not only were significant numbers of participants 'new' vaccine recipients, but also 28% reported they would not have likely received an influenza vaccination had they not been offered one at a Vote and Vax site," Shenson and Adams wrote. The Vote and Vax program could be a model for the delivery of other preventive health services such as cancer screenings or pandemic influenza measures, they wrote. Though the program isn't deployed in emergency conditions, it involves delivering a large single-day supply of vaccine to many residents in many non-healthcare settings across communities, they added. The authors said, however, that some questions about the Vote and Vax strategy remain. For example, it's unclear if the program increases communitywide vaccine coverage. Also, they wrote that the political response in one community emphasized the importance of clearly separating public health activities from any perception of "political intrigue."

Not at the cost of lives. (From a U.S. European Command news release.) European Command Chief Checks Georgia Relief Effort First-Hand he commander of U.S. European Command traveled to the former Soviet republic of Georgia to ensure the ongoing U.S. humanitarian effort in the wake of a Georgian conflict with Russia is proceeding smoothly. "I'm here to talk to Georgian leaders and our U.S. assessment team to hear what they need," Army Gen. Bantz J. Craddock said. "We have to get it right so we can help people quickly. We want to optimize the humanitarian aid effort and bring in the right stuff, to the right place at the right time." The general and several key staff members from EuCom headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, were joined on the visit by U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Henrietta Holsman Fore. As part of the visit, Craddock visited a building in Tbilisi where about 250 displaced people were living, unable to return home since the Russian advance. The general also met with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and defense ministry officials about the way ahead for U.S.-Georgian military-to-military relationship. Craddock said EuCom would assess the Georgian forces’ needs and make a recommendation to the secretary of defense. "We express our gratitude for your help, and will never forget what you have done to help us in our time of need," Saakashvili said in a brief joint news conference after the meeting. Craddock minced no words when discussing Russia's compliance with a France-brokered cease-fire agreement. "There is an agreement between two heads of state, and there has to be compliance," he said Aug. 21. "My assessment is that the Russian withdrawal is now slower than it ought to be. [The Russians] need to do what they said they were going to do almost a week ago and withdraw." Craddock expressed support for an Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe observer mission slated to provide 100 unarmed military observers. The mission will provide better awareness of withdrawal progress and reduce the possibility of new clashes between Russians and Georgians. Also part of Cradock’s visit was a stop to observe the growing U.S. aerial port mission at Tbilisi Airport and tothank the U.S. troops working there. To date the U.S. has provided more than $11 million in direct support of the humanitarian aid mission in Georgia. Navy Rear Adm. Steven Romano, EuCom’s director of logistics and security assistance, said U.S. Air Force aircraft have established a tempo of C-17 and C-130 deliveries that are providing enough food to feed about 50,000 people per day until USAID and Georgian government efforts can sustain the effort. Maritime assets are also playing a growing role in the aid effort. USS McFaul, a Navy destroyer, left Souda Bay, Crete, on Aug. 21 after taking aboard dozens of pallets of humanitarian relief supplies, and the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dallas is following with more humanitarian aid.

Lush beautiful lawns are a part of summer, but they require time and money. The average lawn requires up to 40 hours of work and costs about $700 each year to maintain. But did you know that your yard and how you take care of it can help the environment? A thick full lawn reduces soil erosion, filters contaminants from rainwater and absorbs airborne pollutants like dust and soot. Grass is also great at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen. The following are tips suggested by the EPA to help homeowners have yards that are beautiful and environmentally friendly. · To keep your lawn looking its best set your mower height to 2½ to 3 ½ inches. Longer grass has more leaf surface which enables the grass to take in more sunlight and develop a deeper root system, making your lawn more drought and insect resistant. Longer grass also helps soil retain moisture and cuts down on the need to water. Mow often, but never cut more than a third of the length. · According to a 2004 survey by the National Gardening Association, 66 million U.S. households used chemical pesticides and/or fertilizers on their lawns and gardens. But leaving grass clippings on your yard can reduce the need for these products. Grass clippings are about 90% water, will decompose quickly and provide nourishment back to the soil. They save landfill space too. Between 20 and 40 percent of landfill space is taken up by yard waste. Landfills produce methane gas which contributes to climate change. · Keeping your yard healthy requires good preventative care, starting with the soil. Lawns grow best in an intermediate soil that is a mix of clay, sand and silt. You can always improve the quality of any type of soil by fertilizing. Instead of chemicals, add organic matter like compost, manure or grass clippings to the soil for nourishment. If your soil is hard, compacted or has a heavy clay presence, you may want to loosen or aerate the soil to allow water and nutrients to reach the grass and plant root systems. · Consider reducing the size of your lawn by Greenscaping. Greenscaping makes use of native plant species as ground cover and provides a landscape that is more similar to natural habitats. Going natural can also reduce the need for chemicals, cut maintenance time and costs while still providing a beautiful yard and positive benefits for the environment. · Planning your Greenscape can be creative and fun. For example, consider planting a wildflower meadow or use native perennials to provide color and ground cover near trees, patios and fences. Consider allowing part of your lawn to revert to woods (occasional management to control invasive exotic plants might be necessary until the woodland matures). · Choose plants that are native to your region of the country. Your local nursery or County Agricultural Extension office can help you identify plants that will flourish in your area. Native plants require far less fertilization and are more resistant to insects, reducing the need for pesticides.

A federal grand jury in San Juan, Puerto Rico, today returned an indictment against Puerto Rico Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá, a senior aide and a former campaign director for wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez announced. Today's indictment follows an earlier indictment, returned on March 24, 2008, which charged these same defendants and others with related crimes. The five-count indictment returned today in U.S. District Court in Puerto Rico, charges Acevedo Vilá, 46, of San Juan; Luisa Inclán Bird, 47, of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico; and Miguel Nazario Franco, 61, of San Juan with honest services wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Acevedo Vilá was Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner in the U.S. House of Representatives between 2001 and 2005, and has been the Governor of Puerto Rico since 2005. Inclán Bird, a lawyer, was a legal advisor for the San Juan Resident Commissioner Office when defendant Acevedo Vilá served as Resident Commissioner and a volunteer in the finance department for Acevedo Vilá's 2004 gubernatorial campaign. Currently, Inclán Bird is a senior advisor for Governor Acevedo Vilá. Nazario Franco, a businessman in Puerto Rico, was director of the finance department for Acevedo Vilá's 2004 gubernatorial campaign. According to the indictment, the charges are focused on two related courses of conduct. The first, in counts one through four, alleges that the defendants deprived the citizens of Puerto Rico of the honest services of Acevedo Vilá as Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Specifically, the indictment alleges that during his campaign for governor, and continuing after he was elected and inaugurated, Acevedo Vilá and others connected with his campaign solicited and received approximately $250,000 from a local businessman, referred to as "Collaborator 18," for the benefit of Acevedo Vilá and his campaign. Furthermore, the indictment alleges that during his term as governor, Acevedo Vilá participated in official actions intended to aid the business interests of Collaborator 18, while failing to disclose the nature and extent of his financial relationship with Collaborator 18. In the indictment, count five sets forth the second related course of conduct and alleges that the defendants conspired to conduct financial transactions with the illegal funds provided by Collaborator 18. These transactions were designed to conceal and disguise the nature and the source of the money, which constituted the proceeds of the honest services fraud alleged in the earlier counts. The indictment further alleges that the media company used by Acevedo Vilá's campaign created approximately $250,000 in fake invoices, which were provided to Collaborator 18's company under the guise that the media company had provided bona fide services when, in fact, it had done no work for Collaborator 18 or his company. These invoices were designed to conceal the fact that the $250,000, which was subsequently paid by Collaborator 18's company and used to offset debts incurred by the campaign, was the proceeds of the honest services fraud perpetrated by the defendants. If convicted on counts one through four, each defendant faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted on the fifth count, each defendant faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of twice the value of the property involved in the transaction or $500,000 - whichever is greater. This case is being prosecuted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney María A. Domínguez and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ernesto López of the District of Puerto Rico, as well as Trial Attorneys Daniel A. Schwager, Ethan H. Levisohn and Peter M. Koski of the Criminal Division's Public Integrity Section. The Public Integrity Section is headed by Chief William M. Welch, II. The case is being investigated by the FBI and Internal Revenue Service, with assistance and cooperation from the Office of the Comptroller of Puerto Rico. The investigation into related corruption and other crimes is ongoing in the District of Puerto Rico. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.

A new analysis of environmental conditions over the Atlantic Ocean shows that hot, dry air associated with dust outbreaks from the Sahara desert was a likely contributor to the quieter-than-expected 2007 hurricane season. Factors known to influence the number and intensity of hurricanes in a season, including El Niño, sea surface temperatures, wind, and sea level pressure, led to NOAA forecasts for an above-average 2007 hurricane season. However, the season, which runs from June through November, turned up six hurricanes – a near normal number, but less than the 10 expected and far fewer than the record-breaking 15 hurricanes in 2005. The difference between the 2007 and 2005 seasons could be due in part to the westward reach of Saharan dry air and dust over the North Atlantic, according to researchers, including Bill Lau of NASA's Goddard Spaceflight Center in Greenbelt, Md., and co-author of a study on this finding published Aug. 14 in the American Geophysical Union's Geophysical Research Letters. The study also confirms the possible role of Saharan dust in shattering predictions for the 2006 hurricane season, and has implications for more accurate predictions for future hurricane seasons. Lau and colleagues previously reported that the presence of dust could have contributed to a weaker 2006 hurricane season than forecasters expected. Dust over the North Atlantic blocked some sunlight from reaching the ocean, accounting for 30 to 40 percent of the drop in sea surface temperatures measured between June 2005 and June 2006. The cooler sea surface increases atmospheric stability and also reduces the transfer of heat from ocean to atmosphere – a major source of fuel that drives hurricanes. Tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes during the hurricane seasons of 2007 and 2008 Dots mark the locations of tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes during the hurricane seasons of 2007 (above) and 2008 (below). Green indicates the westward extent of dust. Credit: NASA Now, the team found that hurricane formation in 2007 was also hampered by Saharan dry air. They go further, however, to describe the extent to which the dry air and associated dust spread across the tropical North Atlantic, as seen by instruments aboard NASA satellites such as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer. They created a "wind-stretch index," based on the east-west difference in wind speed over the tropical Atlantic. The index is connected to relative humidity over the tropical western Atlantic, and is a perfect measure of how far west dry air and dust from Africa extends over the North Atlantic. The team found that instances of Saharan dry air and dust extending far west over the Caribbean were in sync with conditions that contributed to fewer hurricanes in both 2007 and 2006, including lower sea surface temperatures. They also found that the far-reaching western extent of dust in 2006 and 2007 was associated with less-than-normal humidity over the western North Atlantic. "This index hasn't been looked at before," said Lau. "We introduce a way to relate wind stretch to dry air and dust, which correlate very well with humidity in the western tropical Atlantic." The link between dust and humidity, the researchers say, could aid future forecasts. As dust outbreaks occur most often in early summer prior to peak hurricane season, researchers could use a measure of humidity in the western tropical Atlantic to gauge the extent of dust transport, possibly providing an additional parameter to estimate the following month's hurricane activity. "The index we proposed may provide practical implications for the prediction of Atlantic hurricane activities," says Donglian Sun of George Mason University in Fairfax Va., and lead author of the study. "Further studies are needed to discern the general prediction capability of our results."

Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today that it has obtained newly declassified information regarding Osama bin Laden. The State Department had previously redacted this information on documents released to Judicial Watch in August 2005 prompting Judicial Watch's appeal to the Department of State Appeals Review Panel on October 13, 2005. The new information was released by the State Department on August 5, 2008. According to a document entitled, "Terrorism/Usama bin Ladin: Who's Chasing Whom?" dated July 18, 2006, the Clinton administration was aware of a bin Laden suicide car bombing threat in London: "[redacted] . . . indicated bin Ladin planned to sponsor suicide car bombings against US interests in the UK, in part to punish London for 'submitting' to US pressure to bar his entry into the UK." The information about the terrorist threats to London had previously been redacted. New information in the documents also suggests the leadership of Sudan, President Al Bashir and Hassan Turabi, had nefarious ties with bin Laden: "National Islamic Front (NIF) leader Turabi...agreed to the expulsing of terrorist financier Usama bin Ladin on the condition that in the future he be allowed to return.... Turabi and President Bashin hoped that when bin Ladin visited he would use false documentation and provincial airports...to avoid publicity." The documents discuss bin Laden's travels, his prolonged stay in Afghanistan, financial networks, anti-Western threats in press interviews, his ties to the Khobar Towers bombing and his "emboldened" threats against U.S. interests. The State Department documents were first produced to Judicial Watch in August, 2005, in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed with the State Department on December 11, 2001 concerning the government of Sudan's reported offer to share intelligence files on bin Laden. The Clinton administration also rebuffed an offer by Sudanese officials to turn bin Laden over to the U.S. According to the declassified documents, bin Laden's many passports and his private plane allow him considerable freedom to travel "with little fear of being intercepted or tracked." Bin Laden reportedly even traveled to London where he gave a press interview subsequent to his departure from Sudan. The report also warns that bin Laden's prolonged stay in Afghanistan "could prove more dangerous to U.S. interests in the long run than his three-year liaison with Khartoum." The intelligence predicts that even if bin Laden were forced to keep on the move, it would prove no more than an inconvenience since, ". . . his informal and transnational network of businesses and associates remains resilient." The report goes on to explain that bin Ladin on the move, ". . .can retain the capability to support individuals and groups who have the motive and wherewithal to attack U.S. interests almost worldwide." "Over five years before 9/11, the Clinton administration was warned about bin Laden's murderous intent - including specific threats to attack U.S. interests through suicide car bombings in London. And yet the Clinton administration took no meaningful action against bin Laden," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "As a result of this inaction, not only did 9/11 come to pass, but so did massive suicide bombings in London's Underground in 2005."

The Kids Zone, a new addition to the National Park Service’s website, http://www.nps.gov, contains more than 50 interactive activities designed to connect children with the people, places, and events commemorated in the country’s 391 National Park Service sites. Starting August 25, children visiting the website can learn about Mitsy, a nine-year-old Border Collie who performs an important job at the Statue of Liberty or little Lula McLean’s rag doll which is a witness to history at Appomattox Courthouse or how Thomas Edison changed their lives. “The Kids Zone, launched on the 92nd anniversary of the National Park Service, introduces the next generation of park stewards to the fascinating stories told in national parks,” said National Park Service Director Mary A. Bomar. “The website will enable young people to actively explore parks without leaving home but, hopefully, will also inspire them to visit these special places in person.” The website includes information on the 325 in-park Junior Ranger programs where young visitors complete booklets on park resources and earn certificates, patches, or badges. In 2007, more than 440,000 children participated in Junior Ranger programs nationwide. Other features on the website include stories by children who live in national parks, biographies of dogs who work in national parks, and an expanded WebRangers page. Children can continue to earn a WebRanger patch after completing exercises that include decoding a secret message from George Washington, helping endangered turtles get to the sea, setting up a ranger station, tracking animals, and learning how to survive in the desert. The Kids Zone “hot button” on http://www.nps.gov, the National Park Service homepage, will provide a direct link to the expanded children’s website starting today.