FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
09/06/2005
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Katrina's Aftermath
Answering Your Questions and Setting the Record Straight

What is the Commonwealth doing to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina? 

A number of state resources have already been mobilized to assist the recovery and rescue of hurricane victims along the Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana Gulf Coast. 

On Sept. 1, 2005, the Governor mobilized 2,500 Pennsylvania Army and Air National Guard members to support hurricane disaster relief efforts along the Gulf Coast.  This is the largest state activation of Pennsylvania National Guard troops since Hurricane Agnes in 1972. 

Immediately following the disaster, PA Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) unit was mobilized, and will begin rescue and recovery operations in the affected areas.  PA Task Force 1 is a highly trained unit that responds to the collapse of large structures and other hazardous rescue missions.   

In addition, several members of the PA One Region 13 Disaster Medical Assistance Team  (DMAT) were dispatched to Biloxi, Mississippi, along with the Erie PA Two DMAT team, which was deployed to New Orleans, Louisiana.  Governor Rendell dispatched a six-person Pennsylvania National Guard team along with a Satellite Communications (SATCOM) package to provide voice and data communications to affected areas. This package provides vital communications due to the loss of landline and cellular communications.  

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has also dispatched three fire fighting staff and a chain saw team from its forest fire protection units to hurricane duty. 

Are we sending the Pennsylvania National Guard to the South to help support disaster relief efforts?

On Sept. 1, 2005, the Governor mobilized 2,500 Pennsylvania Army and Air National Guard members to support hurricane disaster relief efforts along the Gulf Coast.  Pennsylvania National Guard personnel will begin arriving in the region over the Labor Day weekend. The mission is expected to last at least 30 days. This is the largest state activation of Pennsylvania National Guard troops since Hurricane Agnes in 1972. 

Approximately 200 Army and Air Guard members from locations throughout the state are preparing to be airlifted to Louisiana to support stability and support missions.  Over the next week, 2,300 additional personnel will travel by convoy, airlift and commercial bus to support the Louisiana Guard. 

On August 30, the Pennsylvania National Guard deployed a six-person satellite communications team to assist a tactical operations center in Jackson, Miss.  Their mission is to link first responders with state and federal emergency management operations centers.  In addition, the Pennsylvania National Guard has supplied 20,000 sandbag containers, slings and a generator to the rescue efforts.

How can I help the victims of Hurricane Katrina? 

Making a donation to the American Red Cross is the quickest and easiest way to help hurricane victims right now. A donation to the Disaster Relief Fund enables the Red Cross to provide food, shelter, counseling and other assistance to thousands of disaster victims, and can make a difference in the lives of people who depend on the Red Cross after a large disaster like Hurricane Katrina. Governor and Mrs. Rendell have already donated $1,000 to the relief effort. 

To make a donation to the Disaster Relief Fund, please call 1-800-HELP-NOW or visit the Red Cross Web site at www.redcross.org. 

While professional resources from Pennsylvania have been requested and dispatched, Emergency Management directors in the states affected by Hurricane Katrina are asking that other citizens do not travel to these areas at this time to help.  Concerned residents who would like to help are asked to make a donation to their preferred Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster (VOAD).  To see a complete listing of VOADs visit www.nvoad.org.

I received an email asking me to donate money for Katrina-related disaster relief.  Is this for real? 

Chances are the email you received is a scam; so don't use it! Attorney General Tom Corbett has said that scam artists are circulating bogus emails, purportedly raising money for hurricane relief. He said that legitimate charities are not conducting direct email solicitations. You are safest donating to established, legitimate organizations such as the Red Cross. 

Read the Attorney General's Tips for Charitable Giving [PDF].

Why don't we drop Pennsylvania's gas tax to combat the rising gasoline prices? 

While this option is under consideration, such action comes at a price and the impact on the state's multi-billion dollar highway and bridge program would have to be seriously considered.  The bulk of the $2 billion raised from gasoline taxes pays for highways and bridges.  Removing the Gas Tax would remove funding for the vast majority of road and bridge repair and construction projects throughout the Commonwealth. 

The gas station down the street is charging $3.50 per gallon.  Isn't this price gouging? 

We have seen a sharp increase in prices, but have no evidence of price gouging in Pennsylvania at this time. 

There is no excuse for the $5-$6 price per gallon of gasoline you've seen at the pump in other states and Pennsylvania will move swiftly with the Attorney General to prosecute people who we believe are price gouging. What happened in the United States Gulf Region is the greatest natural disaster in this country's history and we shouldn't let profiteering occur as a result of it.  This is a time for all Americans and American businesses to help in the recovery in these Gulf states, rather than profit from their misfortune. 

If you believe you have been a victim of price gouging, contact the Attorney General's Office to file a complaint.  You can call 1-800-441-2555 or file the complaint online here. 

What can I do to conserve gas? 

Motorists can take steps to make gasoline dollars go farther and minimize the impact of high fuel prices on daily life by following some of these tips:

• Don't be an aggressive driver. It lowers gas mileage by as much as 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent on city streets --- or 87 cents per gallon and 13 cents per gallon, respectively, at current prices.
• Replace dirty air filters that waste gas and cause engines to lose power. Replacing these filters can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent, saving about 26 cents a gallon.
• Check tire pressure. When tires are underinflated, it is like driving with the parking brake on and can cost a mile or two per gallon.
• Replace worn spark plugs. A vehicle can have up to eight spark plugs, which fire as many as 3 million times every 1,000 miles. A dirty spark plug causes misfiring, wasting fuel.
• Avoid quick stops and starts. This can save up to two miles a gallon.
• Avoid idling. Sitting idle gets zero miles per gallon and consumes between one-half and one gallon of gasoline per hour.
• Check the vehicle's gas cap. Loose, damaged and missing gas caps allow 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.
• Take unnecessary weight out of trunks or back seats. By some estimates, hauling around an extra 100 pounds can cost 1 mile a gallon.
• Combine errands to reduce vehicle miles traveled.
• Whenever possible, take public transportation or carpool.

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