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Now, as the disaster response operation moves closer to the recovery phase, the City of Pleasant Grove would like to salute two of their employees that performed a multitude of missions with the FEMA Response Team, Lt. Jim Phillips and Matt Johnson.

Where there is heartbreak, hope appeared-recently in the uniform of firefighters from across the land as they administered aid to victims of Hurricanes Katrina. PG firefighters helped remove trees from driveways of residences. They distributed food and water and addressed special needs of those who could not otherwise provide for themselves. On several occasions they used their emergency medical training by performing EMT or Paramedic functions.

Lt. Phillips and Matt Johnson witnessed first hand the amount of destruction that Hurricane Katrina brought on shore. "There is no describing it. I saw stuff that made me laugh until I cried and I saw things that made me cry, " said Lt. Phillips.

FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.