**FEMA Director Joe Allbaugh on CBS Early Show**

**09/12/01**

GUMBEL: President Bush has declared a major disaster in New York and has
dispatched federal emergency teams to the area. Joseph Allbaugh is the
director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. And Mr. Allbaugh,
good morning.

ALLBAUGH: Morning, Bryant.

GUMBEL: What are your marching orders this morning? Give me an idea of
what\'s high on your to-do list.

ALLBAUGH: I\'m here this morning making sure we have the necessary
personnel deployed to Northern Virginia, to the Pentagon, and to New
York City. Yesterday, I activated, after the president\'s declaration,
12 urban search-and-rescue teams out of our 28 nationally. Eight will be
coming to New York City. They\'re either on the ground or on their way
right now. Four here to Northern Virginia. I\'ll be briefing Congress
later on this morning. I\'ll see the president here in about 45, 50
minutes. And then I\'ll be making my way to New York City. I have spoken
with Governor Pataki, Governor Gilmore, Mayor Giuliani. We\'re there to
assist their needs. My biggest concern, Bryant, are those folks who have
been working now almost 24 hours at this situation. They\'re getting
tired. And we need to make sure that we roll in fresh troops, because
there are folks, I believe, that we can still find alive.

GUMBEL: So the people you have dispatched to New York and the Pentagon
are basically in what, an investigative capacity?

ALLBAUGH: No, no, no. These are highly trained search-and-rescue
individuals mainly made up of fire department personnel from all across
the United States. They bring technical assistance. They bring dogs. And
they\'ll be the folks helping New York Fire Department go through the
rubble in New York City.

GUMBEL: I know you\'re hearing from officials in New York and DC. What
are you hearing about the needs? Let\'s start with New York. What\'s
most needed right now?

ALLBAUGH: This morning, when I spoke with Governor Pataki, he was
concerned about power. They need power in lower Manhattan to make sure
that the search-and-rescue operations can continue. We\'re trying to
make sure that they have the necessary portable generators to take care
of. I\'d like to make sure that those who have been immediately harmed
or in need of assistance would call our 800 number to get registered.
That will start the flow of federal dollars to those individuals for
individual and family assistance. That 800 number is 800-467-9029. And I
appreciate your help, Bryant in getting that word out.

GUMBEL: OK. And in terms, Mr. Allbaugh, of supplying the generator
needs, do you have the resources to give New York all it needs?

ALLBAUGH: Absolutely, absolutely. I\'m the president\'s representative
to make sure that all the federal assets that New York and Northern
Virginia need will be present.

GUMBEL: And are the needs in the Northern Virginia area quite a bit
different than those in New York?

ALLBAUGH: Somewhat different. But we\'re attacking this problem in both
communities the same way.

GUMBEL: All right. Let me give that number again one more time. It is
1-800-462-9029. That\'s anyone in need of FEMA assistance can at least
get the ball rolling. Is that correct?

ALLBAUGH: That\'s correct, Bryant. And I appreciate your help.

GUMBEL: All right, Mr. Allbaugh. Good luck to you, sir.

ALLBAUGH: See you soon.