DENVER – Updates to Steele County, North Dakota’s flood insurance rate maps are nearing completion. The new maps will provide Steele County with more accurate flood risk information that can help local officials and residents make informed decisions about reducing flood risks and purchasing flood insurance.

The mapping project is a joint effort between Steele County, and FEMA. It is part of a nationwide effort led by FEMA to increase local knowledge of flood risk and support actions to address and reduce that risk.

Officials encourage residents and business owners to review the proposed maps to learn about the flood threat in their area, and potential future flood insurance purchase requirements.

Once preliminary maps are released, there is a 90-day appeal period during which community members can provide additional data for consideration before the maps are final. This appeal period starts on July 29, 2022, and ends on October 27, 2022. Appeal packages should address scientific or technical mistakes in the maps and must include supporting data or engineering documentation.

For further details on this process, visit https://www.fema.gov/r8-map-appeals, or contact your local floodplain administrator.

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FEMA's mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.

Follow us on twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion8

DENVER – Updates to some of Missoula County, Montana’s flood insurance rate maps are nearing completion. The new maps will provide the Clearwater River in Missoula County with more accurate flood risk information that can help local officials and residents make informed decisions about reducing flood risks and purchasing flood insurance.

The floodplain mapping project was initiated in 2014 and is a joint effort between Missoula County, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), and FEMA. It is part of a nationwide effort led by FEMA to increase local knowledge of flood risk and support actions to address and reduce that risk.

In Missoula County, the project involved updated flood study work on 9 miles of the Clearwater River. New and updated flood insurance rate maps were produced, indicating areas at risk of flooding in a one-percent annual chance flood event. The new floodplain maps will be used to replace the existing floodplain maps for the Clearwater River that were originally produced in 1983.

Officials encourage residents and business owners to review the proposed maps to learn about the flood threat in their area, and potential future flood insurance purchase requirements.

Once preliminary maps are released, there is a 90-day appeal period during which community members can provide additional data for consideration before the maps are final. This appeal period begins on July 29, 2022 and ends on October 27, 2022. Appeal packages should address scientific or technical mistakes in the maps and must include supporting data or engineering documentation.

The proposed maps can be viewed online at www.floodplain.mt.gov/clearwater and at the Missoula County Community and Planning Services (CAPS) Department. 

If you have technical and scientific information, such as detailed hydraulic or hydrologic data, you may be able to appeal the flood risk information on the proposed maps during the 90-day appeal period. For further details on this process, visit www.floodplain.mt.gov/clearwater or contact Bailey Minnich, Missoula County Floodplain Administrator at caps@missoulacounty.us or 406-258-4657, or Nadene Wadsworth, DNRC Floodplain Outreach Specialist at nadene.wadsworth@mt.gov or 406-444-6732.  

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FEMA's mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.

Follow us on twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion8

WASHINGTON -- As part of FEMA’s commitment to make communities stronger and more resilient, the agency is adding two additional measures to help eligible homeowners in areas covered by Presidential Disaster Declarations due to wildfire damage. FEMA has been providing mitigation assistance to eligible homeowners under the individuals and households program (IHP) for several hazard mitigation measures since June 2021. These new measures are a continued effort to expand the types of hazard mitigation items FEMA may provide assistance under the IHP.

“Communities across the nation are experiencing an increasing number of larger and more destructive wildfires in urban, suburban and rural areas adjacent to or intermixed with the wildland,” said U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell.  “It is imperative that we rebuild after a fire, but do so in a way that promotes strong building codes, helps prevent fires from starting in the first place and shorter recovery when future fires do occur.” Homeowners who are affected by wildfire damage and eligible for IHP home repair assistance may receive additional funds for specific mitigation measures based on the cause and amount of damage to their home. After receiving their award letter, applicants whose home repair assistance includes additional funds for mitigation measures receive a follow-up letter explaining the intended mitigation measures. This additional assistance is available for all wildfire disasters declared on or after July 27, 2022.

While disasters can happen unexpectedly, taking steps to strengthen, repair and rebuild is vital for personal and community resilience.

The following mitigation measures may now be covered for eligible applicants affected by wildfires:

• Covering attic vents, crawlspace vents and vents in enclosures below decks with metal screens to help prevent embers from entering and spreading fires inside of homes (FEMA Technical Fact Sheet: Vents).
• Installing non-combustible leaf guards over gutters to avoid future fire damage (FEMA Technical Fact Sheet: Gutters and Downspouts).

These measures will allow homeowners to repair in ways that make their homes more resilient to severe weather and wildfire events, reducing disaster suffering and the likelihood future federal assistance will be needed.

In June 2021, FEMA announced the initial phase of additional eligible mitigation measures related to roof repair, elevating water heaters or furnaces and elevating or moving electrical panels. For additional information on these eligible expenses, please visit Hazard Mitigation Under the Individuals and Households Program | FEMA.gov.

WASHINGTON -- FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Nebraska to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms and straight-line winds on May 12, 2022.

Federal funding also is available to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and straight-line winds in Antelope, Boone, Burt, Cedar, Cuming, Custer, Dixon, Garfield, Greeley, Holt, Knox, Logan, Pierce, Polk, Sherman, Thurston, Valley, Wayne, Wheeler, and York counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Andrew P. Meyer has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further assessments.

ATLANTA – FEMA and the Commonwealth of Kentucky have approved a grant to help Trooper Island rebuild a community safe room.

The community safe room designed years ago to provide protection in extreme weather is out of service. The safe room, built in the 1970s, took a battering from severe storms and tornadoes in mid-July 2015 that resulted in a major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth. Roof joists were knocked loose, making the room structurally unsafe and impractical for use by campers or the families who use the 28,000-acre lake and surrounding woodlands.

But soon, the island will have a safe space that can handle the worst weather. FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program recently approved $96,975 for the camp to rebuild the community safe room. Hazard mitigation is any sustainable action that reduces or eliminates long-term risk to people and property from disasters that are sure to come.

“This project will help protect the lives of Trooper Island campers and residents during tornadoes and other severe weather events,” FEMA Region 4 Administrator Gracia B. Szczech said.

The new safe room will be able to withstand winds up to 250 mph and have a capacity for 113 occupants. Demolition of the current safe room will start in the fall. Kentucky State Trooper Jonathan Biven is hoping the new building will be completed by March 2023, before the hectic summer season. FEMA will pay 75% of the project cost, or $72,731. The remaining 25% of the cost will be split between the Commonwealth of Kentucky paying and Trooper Island Kid’s Camp.

Trooper Island, located in Cumberland County in south-central Kentucky, sits on Dale Hollow Lake, which straddles the Kentucky-Tennessee border. The camp was founded in 1965 by former Kentucky State Police Director Col. James E. Bassett as a place where state troopers and children whose families might not be able to afford a stay at summer camp can spend time together.

“He wanted to give these kids an escape from their everyday turmoil, and for one week be able to just not worry about those things,” Biven said.

Since the opening of Trooper Island 57 years ago, more than 60 former campers and counselors have gone on to become state troopers. Among them is Kentucky Emergency Management Director Jeremy Slinker, who retired as a colonel with the Kentucky State Police.

“It had such an impact and influence on me that my career thinking started changing,” said Slinker, who spent four summers working as a counselor at Trooper Island.

Safety has been a priority throughout the years. Troopers and counselors are prepared for the rare, dangerous storms. They usher the children to a protected space and encourage boaters to tie their boats along the docks and take cover on the island.

Until the new community safe room is built, Biven’s basement will fill that role. But once construction is complete, signs will go up around the lake to let the public know the safe room is open to everyone during severe weather.

“Even if a bad storm develops, having that ability to make sure they are safe is more than significant,” Slinker said. “It is huge because (counselors) take every precaution to ensure the safety of the kids while they are there.”

Biven wants the week the campers spend on the island to be a memory they recall with fondness. He also wants the troopers and counselors to have peace of mind when it comes to weather safety.

“I’m highly protective of all of them,” he said. “This is our future.”

WASHINGTON -- FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Alaska to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by a landslide on May 7, 2022.

Federal funding also is available to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the landslide in the Kenai Peninsula Borough.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Yolanda J. Jackson has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further assessments.

Helena, Mont. – The Mobile Disaster Recovery Center (MDRC) at Gardiner High School in Park County will permanently close at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 29. Additionally, the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) located at Absarokee Elementary School Gymnasium in Stillwater County will permanently close at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 30.

Several other DRCs are still operating in designated areas to help with applications and recovery information. To find the nearest center, go online to FEMA.gov/DRC or call 800-621-3362.

It is not necessary to go to a center to apply for assistance. Homeowners and renters in Carbon, Park, Stillwater, and Yellowstone counties can apply for FEMA assistance online at disasterassistance.gov, by calling 800-621-3362 or by using the FEMA mobile app. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service.

FEMA financial assistance may include money for temporary housing, basic home repairs or other disaster-related needs such as childcare, transportation and medical, funeral or dental expenses. All DRCs are jointly operated by FEMA and the Montana Department of Emergency Services.

Disaster survivors have until Aug. 29, 2022 to apply for FEMA assistance.

For an accessible video on how to apply for FEMA assistance, go to youtube.com/watch?v=WZGpWI2RCNw.

Contact the FEMA Mitigation Helpline at 833-FEMA-4-US (833-336-2487) for information on resilient building practices. Mitigation specialists are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MDT. You can also email the team at FEMA-R8-Hmhelp@fema.dhs.gov.

For more information about FEMA’s support to Montana’s flooding and severe storms recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4655. Follow the FEMA Region 8 Twitter account at https://twitter.com/femaregion8.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Joint federal/state Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are now open in Okmulgee and Pottawatomie counties to help survivors affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that occurred May 2-8.

Survivors from any of the seven designated counties can meet face to face with FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) specialists to get help with their disaster assistance applications, upload documents and have their questions about federal disaster assistance answered at the center.

The seven designated counties are Adair, Cherokee, Muskogee, Okmulgee, Pottawatomie, Seminole and Tulsa.

The Disaster Recovery Centers are open at the following locations:

Okmulgee County

Trinity Baptist Church

830 West Ozark St.

Morris, OK 74445

Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday.

Closed on Sunday.

Pottawatomie County

Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center

1700 W. Independence St.

Shawnee, OK 74804

Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday.

Closed on Sunday.

The recovery centers will follow COVID-19 precautions. Masks are required for employees, volunteers and survivors.

Download the FEMA mobile app at fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/mobile-products for more information about DRCs (under Disaster Resources, select Talk to FEMA in Person). Active Disaster Recovery Center locations and hours are available FEMA.gov/DRC.

CHICAGO – Representatives from FEMA will host a Flood Map Information Open House for communities in Wright County, Minn., on Aug. 2, 2022, from 5 – 7 p.m. CT. The open house will give residents a chance to review preliminary versions of the recently completed Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report and its accompanying preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs).

The FIS and the FIRMs provide base flood (also known as the 1% -annual-chance event) information, designate areas that are subject to significant flood hazards within county, and offer information that public officials may use to guide development in the floodplain.

Experts at the open house will help residents understand flood risk and flood insurance, floodplain development regulations and the mapping process in Wright County. The newly prepared preliminary floodplain maps can also be reviewed at the meeting.

Once the maps become effective, they will be used as the basis for flood insurance ratings as well as local flood protection regulations adopted under the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA encourages public officials to use the maps to assist planning processes and prepare communities to quickly respond to and recover from future events.

WHAT:              Wright County—Flood Map Information Open House 

WHEN:              Aug. 2, 2022, 5–7 p.m. CT

WHERE:           Wright County Government Center                          3650 Braddock Ave. NE, Suite 1105                          Buffalo, MN  55313

Property owners, realtors, lenders, and insurance agents are urged to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about flood risk and hazard mitigation within their community. Digital files of the Preliminary FIRM and FIS report can be downloaded from www.fema.gov/preliminaryfloodhazarddata.

If you need a reasonable accommodation (sign language interpreters, Braille, CART, etc.), please send an e-mail to FEMA-Region5-FloodInsuranceOutreach@fema.dhs.gov at least 48 hours before the event. Last minute requests will be accepted but may not be possible to fulfill.

For more information, contact the FEMA News Desk at FEMA-R5-News-Desk@fema.dhs.gov.

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FEMA's mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.

WASHINGTON -- FEMA announced that federal emergency aid has been made available to the territory in U.S. Virgin Islands to supplement the territory’s response efforts to the emergency conditions resulting from a water shortage and health impact from unprecedented sargassum seagrass influx beginning on July 15, 2022, and continuing. 

The President's action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures. This is authorized under Title V of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to save lives; to protect property, public health and safety; and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe. 

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize and provide, at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance under the Public Assistance program, will be provided for a period of 90 days for the island of St. Croix.

Patrick Cornbill has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal response operations in the affected area.  

OAKLAND, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) regional administrator authorized the use of federal funds to assist the state of California in combatting the Oak Fire burning in Mariposa County.

On July 22, the state of California submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). At the time of the request, the fire threatened approximately 1,540 homes in and around Midpines. The fire also threatened community water infrastructure, power transmission and distribution lines, cell towers, and a fire station.

FMAGs provide federal funding for up to 75 percent of eligible firefighting costs. The Disaster Relief Fund provides allowances for FMAGs through FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to become a greater incident.

Eligible costs covered by FMAGs can include expenses for field camps, equipment use, materials, supplies and mobilization, and demobilization activities attributed to fighting the fire.

For more information on FMAGs, visit fema.gov/assistance/public/fire-management-assistance.

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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. Follow FEMA Region 9 online at twitter.com/femaregion9.

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The U.S. Economic Development Administration in collaboration with the U.S. Small Business Administration is offering a series of economic recovery webinars for small businesses in Western Kentucky on July 26, Aug. 2 and Aug. 9.

These webinars are free and open to all, including those whose business was not affected by the disaster.

Creative Financing to Strengthen Small Businesses: Are you a start-up, new or seasoned small business? Don’t miss the upcoming creative financing webinar for small businesses in Western Kentucky. In this webinar, which will also be of interest to organizations assisting businesses, you will learn about specific financing opportunities from federal and community-based partners, eligibility and application opportunities, and build connections for one-on-one engagement.

• When: Tuesday, July 26, 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. CDT
• Registration (free): https://4630ky.econrsf.info/webinar-registration.html

Technical Assistance for Resilient Small Businesses and Start-ups: Looking for a boost to help advance your business goals? Join us for this informative webinar about opportunities for entrepreneurs starting new business ventures to access expertise, and other support from the Small Business Development Center. You’ll also hear about best practices in business continuity to help make your business less vulnerable to shocks. Federal and regional partners will share how they assist businesses like yours.

• When: Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. CDT
• Registration (free): https://4630ky.econrsf.info/webinar-registration.html

Best Practices in Community Development and Redevelopment: As communities recover from the 2021 tornadoes, you may be faced with a myriad of development and redevelopment choices that could affect your community for the next 50 to 100 years. In this webinar, you will hear from federal experts and national non-profit organizations on best practices to help inspire your decisions.

• When: Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. CDT
• Registration (free): https://4630ky.econrsf.info/webinar-registration.html

If you have questions about these webinar opportunities, contact Brian Lombard, blombard@eda.gov, (202) 893-4435.

For information on Kentucky’s recovery from the tornadoes, visit fema.gov/disaster/4630. Follow FEMA on Twitter at FEMA Region 4 (@femaregion4) / Twitter and at facebook.com/fema.

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Commonwealth of Kentucky and FEMA have approved $1,589,191 to reimburse utility cooperative Big Rivers Electric Corporation for expenses resulting from the mid-December 2021 tornadoes, which damaged power lines and conductors affecting 56.7 miles of transmission line.

The Henderson County-based cooperative, which sits on the Ohio River across from Evansville, Ind., provides wholesale electric power and services to three distribution cooperative members across 22 counties in western Kentucky.

The Dec. 10-11 tornadoes damaged 27 metal and 10 wood power poles, 69 insulators and 15,600 feet of conductor in Ohio County. Funding from FEMA’s Public Assistance program covers labor, replacement of the equipment, materials and contracts for in-kind repairs.

FEMA’s cost for the project is $1,430,271 for work completed Dec. 10 to Jan. 14.

FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides grants for state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations to reimburse the eligible cost of debris removal, emergency protective measures and facility restoration.

Public Assistance is a cost-sharing program. Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, federal reimbursement for eligible Public Assistance projects shall not be less than 90% of total eligible costs. Typically, the federal cost share is 75%. The federal share is paid directly to the commonwealth to disburse to agencies, local governments and the nonprofit organizations that incurred costs.

For information on Kentucky’s recovery from the tornadoes, visit fema.gov/disaster/4630. Follow FEMA on Twitter at FEMA Region 4 (@femaregion4) / Twitter and at facebook.com/fema.

BOSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending nearly $1.8 million to the State of Vermont to reimburse the costs of providing wraparound services to testing sites during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $1,786,777 Public Assistance grant will go to the Vermont Agency of Human Services for providing wraparound services to support testing locations across the state, including employees and visitors at state buildings; inmates, staff, and visitors at correctional facilities; students, staff, and visitors at public and non-profit schools;  residents, staff, and visitors at non-profit long-term care facilities; and staff, campers, and visitors at public and non-profit summer camps.

Among the costs covered were:

• Facility rent/lease costs;
• Postage and delivery of the test vials and specimens;
• Tech equipment to set up testing sites;
• Cleaning services and cleaning supplies for the test sites;
• Materials and supplies used at test sites and
• Contractor labor costs associated with running test sites from the contractor, CIC Health

“FEMA is pleased to assist Vermont with these costs,” said FEMA Region I Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. “Providing resources for our partners on the front lines of the pandemic fight is critical to their success, and our success as a nation.”

FEMA’s Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding for states and communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency. So far, FEMA has provided more than $359 million in grants to Vermont to reimburse the state for pandemic-related expenses.

BOSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $1.1 million to the State of Connecticut to reimburse the City of Stamford for the costs of removing debris after Tropical Storm Isaias in 2020.

The city will receive a total of $1,127,838 in federal funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance grant program to reimburse it for the costs of cleaning up debris after the Aug. 4, 2020 storm, which spawned high winds across the state and an EF1 tornado in Westport.

One person was killed in Connecticut by a falling tree, while approximately 750,000 residents were left without power. Another person later died from a chainsaw accident while clearing downed trees.

Stamford used both city workers and some contract services to pick up 13,095 cubic yards of vegetative debris, which was hauled to two temporary staging sites before being hauled to final disposal sites. The debris removal was performed between Aug. 4, 2020 and January 13, 2021.

FEMA has awarded nearly $35 million in Public Assistance grants to state and local governments for the disaster to date.

“FEMA is pleased to be able to reimburse the City of Stamford for the costs incurred recovering from Tropical Storm Isaias,” said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. “Quickly removing debris to re-open transportation routes and commerce is a key part of a successful recovery.”

FEMA’s Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding for states and communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency.

CHICAGO – Representatives from FEMA will host a virtual Flood Map Information Open House for communities in Ross County, Ohio, on July 26, 2022, from 5 – 7 p.m. E.T. The open house will give residents the chance to review preliminary versions of a recently completed Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report and its accompanying preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs).

The FIS and the FIRMs provide base flood (also known as the 1%-annual-chance event) information, designate areas that are subject to significant flood hazards within the county, and offer information that public officials may use to permit development in the floodplain.

Experts at the virtual open house will help residents understand flood risk and flood insurance, floodplain development regulations and the mapping process in Ross County. The newly prepared preliminary floodplain maps can also be reviewed at the meeting.

Once the maps become effective, they will be used as the basis for flood insurance ratings as well as local flood protection regulations adopted under the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA encourages public officials to use the maps to assist planning processes and prepare communities to quickly respond to and recover from future events.

WHAT:              Ross County— virtual Flood Map Information Open House meeting for the public

WHEN:             July 26, 2022, 5–7 p.m. ET

WHERE:           Visit www.zoom.com and enter the following meeting ID and passcode. This requires registering for a free Zoom account or clicking the following link: https://stantec.zoom.us/j/94836903698?pwd=dkpEZDRPQjhzU2NISCtxYSsxYm9ZZz09 (Meeting ID: 948 3690 3698 | Password: 668458)

You may also call into the meeting using one of the following telephone numbers and entering the meeting ID and passcode shown above. Long-distance charges may apply.

        (301) 715-8592         (312) 626-6799          (646) 876-9923

Property owners, realtors, lenders, and insurance agents are urged to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about flood risk and hazard mitigation within their community. Digital files of the Preliminary FIRM and FIS report can be downloaded from www.fema.gov/preliminaryfloodhazarddata.

If you need a reasonable accommodation (sign language interpreters, Braille, CART, etc.), please send an e-mail to FEMA-Region5-FloodInsuranceOutreach@fema.dhs.gov at least 48 hours before the event. Last minute requests will be accepted but may not be possible to fulfill.

For more information, contact the FEMA News Desk at FEMA-R5-News-Desk@fema.dhs.gov.

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FEMA's mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.

CHICAGO – Representatives from FEMA will host a virtual Flood Map Information Open House on July 25, 2022, for communities in Morrow County, Ohio from 5 – 7 p.m. ET. The open house will give residents the chance to review preliminary versions of a recently completed Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and its accompanying preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).

The FIS and the FIRMs provide base flood (also known as the 1%-annual-chance event) information, designate areas that are subject to significant flood hazards within areas of the county and offer information that public officials may use when permitting development in the floodplain.

Experts at the virtual open house will help residents understand flood risk and flood insurance, floodplain development regulations and the mapping process in Morrow County. The newly prepared preliminary floodplain maps can also be reviewed at the meeting.

Once the maps become effective, they will be used as the basis for flood insurance ratings as well as local flood protection regulations adopted under the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA encourages public officials to use the maps to assist planning processes and prepare communities to quickly respond to and recover from future events.

WHAT:              Morrow County—virtual Flood Map Information Open House meeting for the public

WHEN:             July 25, 2022, 5–7 p.m. ET

WHERE:           Visit www.zoom.com and enter the following meeting ID and passcode. This requires registering for a free Zoom account or clicking the following link: https://stantec.zoom.us/j/97655176137?pwd=bHg0cWFuSHZpaE4vMG00cCt6U0kyUT09 (Meeting ID: 976 5517 6137, Password: Morrow)

You may also call into the meeting using one of the following telephone numbers and entering the meeting ID and passcode shown above. Long-distance charges may apply.

        (301) 715-8592         (312) 626-6799         (646) 876-9923

Property owners, realtors, lenders, and insurance agents are urged to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about flood risk and hazard mitigation within their community. Digital files of the Preliminary FIRM and FIS report can be downloaded from www.fema.gov/preliminaryfloodhazarddata.

If you need a reasonable accommodation (sign language interpreters, Braille, CART, etc.), please send an e-mail to FEMA-Region5-FloodInsuranceOutreach@fema.dhs.gov at least 48 hours before the event. Last minute requests will be accepted but may not be possible to fulfill.

For more information, contact the FEMA News Desk at FEMA-R5-News-Desk@fema.dhs.gov.

# # #

FEMA's mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A joint federal/state Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is now open in Muskogee County to help survivors affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that occurred May 2-8.

Survivors from any of the seven designated counties can meet face to face with FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) specialists to get help with their disaster assistance applications, upload documents and have their questions about federal disaster assistance answered at the center.

The seven designated counties are Adair, Cherokee, Muskogee, Okmulgee, Pottawatomie, Seminole and Tulsa.

The Disaster Recovery Center is open at the following location:

Muskogee County

Harris-Jobe School

2809 N. Country Club Road

Muskogee, OK 74403

The hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday. The DRC is closed on Sundays.

The recovery center will follow COVID-19 precautions. Masks are required for employees, volunteers and survivors.

Download the FEMA mobile app at fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/mobile-products for more information about DRCs (under Disaster Resources, select Talk to FEMA in Person). Active Disaster Recovery Center locations and hours are available FEMA.gov/DRC.

San Juan, Puerto Rico – FEMA urges those who paid for funeral expenses due to the coronavirus to call FEMA and apply for assistance TODAY. To date, more than 2,471 applicants in Puerto Rico, have already registered.

“In Puerto Rico, FEMA has already approved over $6.8 million to help families with funeral expenses, but there are families that may be eligible to receive this assistance. We are encouraging every person who covered funeral expenses to call today and apply”, said Idamis De Jesus, Individual Assistance lead of FEMA Caribbean Area Office in PR.

Call 1-844-684-6333 to apply for FEMA COVID-19 funeral assistance. FEMA is only accepting applications via phone call. The phoneline is available from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday.

Once registered, FEMA will send the applicant a Request for Information (RFI) which outlines all the documentation needed to process the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance application. For further information, applicants can also visit the frequently asked questions section in FEMA’s website at: FEMA.gov/funeral-assistance/faq.

FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020, under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

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FEMA funds will go to municipal facilities, fine arts buildings and senior services homes

Guaynabo, Puerto Rico – For over 25 years, José Feliciano's work as director of the Ryder housing facilities has focused on a wide variety of services for the elderly and children with disabilities who live there, but for him, the most important thing they need is to be accompanied and listened to. But for him, the most important thing these people need is to be accompanied and listened to, “To feel part of a community: we all win with that,” he said.

This is why common areas are very important for residents. When natural events happen, for example, neighbors gather in these rooms and spend time together. The installation of storm shutters in these areas offers greater safety for residents during a period of high winds. In this way, the community remains united at times when isolation should not be an option.

Storm shutters are the first line of defense and mitigation against a storm. In addition to providing protection for doors and windows, they reduce pressure on walls from high winds.

The lack of shutters in structures such as community centers or public service facilities represents a danger to the services they provide, in addition to limiting their availability during an emergency situation. This is why the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is working with the public and private sector to provide funding for this important mitigation measure.

Through the Hazard Mitigation Grants Program (HMGP), the agency recently contributed over $877,000 for nine storm shutter projects in several towns. The facilities to benefit range from municipal facilities where services are provided to citizens to basketball courts where people can exercise.

“By preventing further damage in the event of a future disaster, participants will be able to benefit from continued service at these facilities, while managers can have relief from risk reduction and focus on the important services they provide,” said Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator Jose G. Baquero.

Ryder Hospital Homes are part of the approved projects with nearly $34,000 for the Ryder Village II facility and over $14,500 for Ryder Assisted Care II. The facilities provide over 100 apartments for low-income individuals over 62 years of age and disabled minors who can live independently.

The Camuy City Hall is another structure that offers a diversity of services for its residents and visitors. In addition to the governmental services offered at city hall, the building also serves as the command center for coordination of emergency services. With a total of $213,872 in funds, the municipality will be able to install the necessary storm shutters to mitigate the risks posed by a storm and continue services to the communities.

Likewise, the Municipality of Hormigueros has over $129,500 in approved funds for the installation of storm shutters for the Julio Pérez Irizarry Center for Multiple Activities and Services for the Elderly where social, educational, recreational and nutritional services are provided to nearly 180 people to improve their quality of life.

In addition to the center, the Hormigueros Fine Arts building also has over $64,000 for the installation of its storm shutters. The Office of Arts, Culture and Tourism, located in this building, organizes the municipality's cultural activities and provides workshops in visual arts, dance, history, literature, music and theater for community residents.

For more information on Puerto Rico's recovery from Hurricane María, please visit fema.gov/es/disaster/4339 and recuperacion.pr. Follow our social media pages at Facebook.com/FEMAPuertoRico, Facebook.com/COR3pr and Twitter @COR3pr.