September is traditionally the most active month for hurricanes, and we are seeing this already, as Hurricane Gordon made landfall the first week of September, sending heavy rains and high-force winds into the Gulf of Mexico. Now, Hurricane Florence has set her sights on the Carolinas and the Mid-Atlantic states, and is forecast to be a Category 5* hurricane with winds over 140 miles per hour – and rising. The results could be catastrophic. The storm is expected to reach the coast on Thursday. Thousands of residents are preparing to evacuate.
Field administrators of these affected areas within the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration have declared an emergency that has warranted issuance of a Regional Emergency Declaration.
Motor carriers can be a vital part of assisting states in need of recovery after a natural disaster such as a hurricane to shuttle people or to deliver supplies. Because of the immediate need, the FMCSA has determined, currently active for Gordon and expected for Florence, “not to enforce the Temporary Operating Authority Registration fee against motor carriers requesting Temporary Operating Authority Registration in order to provide direct assistance to emergency relief efforts pursuant to the Regional Declaration of Emergency.” Temporary operating authority is granted only for national disasters or emergency situations.
The amount waived is $300.
Since motor carriers would be “providing emergency relief through direct assistance to support State and local efforts to save lives or property or to protect public health or safety, are relieved from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations listed in 49 CFR Parts 390-399.” Specifically, motor carriers are exempt from – yet should resort to using good judgment – the typical restrictions on hours of service and required rest periods within 24 hours.
Applications for temporary authority are typically processed within 48 business hours of receipt. The authority is valid for 120 days, yet many emergency declarations last 30 days or less. Additional details about becoming a temporary operating authority can be found on the FMCSA website.
All temporary authorities are revoked once the emergency declaration expires. Stay apprised of active emergency declarations on the FMCSA website. As evident on the online map at the NOAA, there are more storms in the Atlantic and one in the Pacific that could impact the United States. Be ready to help your fellow man and send in your application.
*As of late Wednesday, September 12, Florence has been recategorized as a Category 2 hurricane. The storm is still forecast to be an “extremely dangerous major hurricane when it nears the U.S. coast late Thursday and Friday,” according to the the National Hurricane Center.
