September 14, 2005 - For Immediate Release

Important Hurricane Katrina information

OLYMPIA—Washington has responded with warm and open hearts to the hurricane disaster on the Gulf Coast. The state is preparing to shelter people displaced by the hurricane, and while a number have already made their way here through friends and families, we expect the first FEMA-organized arrivals as soon as this week.

Many of our state agencies have been working together to prepare for the arrival of the hurricane victims. We are calling this Hurricane Katrina relief effort, coordinated by the Washington Emergency Management Division, “Operation Evergreen.”

A Web page with more information about Operation Evergreen and what hurricane victims need to know is located at: http://www.ga.wa.gov/opevergreen/

The Department of Licensing expects to play a key role in helping the hurricane victims settle here in Washington. We are prepared to operate a special mobile driver licensing office for the FEMA-organized arrivals. We will be working directly with the licensing agencies in the victims' home states to quickly identify them and provide the government-issued identification they will need to begin rebuilding their lives.