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FEMA Awards Over $1.4 Million to Massachusetts for COVID-19 Sheltering Costs
BOSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $1.4 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse the commonwealth for the costs associated with the sheltering of high-risk homeless populations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $1,434,451 Public Assistance grant will reimburse the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) for the costs associated with the sheltering of high-risk homeless populations between November 2020 and May 2021.
Contract services were used to open and operate a temporary shelter at the Health and Wellness Center in Boston which required interior facility disinfection, hiring security, and the purchase and distribution of food, water and ice.
“FEMA is pleased to be able to assist Massachusetts with these costs,” said FEMA Region 1 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 $1 billion in Public Assistance grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the commonwealth for pandemic-related expenses.
adrien.urbani Mon, 06/27/2022 - 16:35Stay in Touch with FEMA to Help Speed Your Recovery
FRANKFORT, Ky. – As homeowners and renters recover from the tornadoes, particularly after you have applied for FEMA assistance, your circumstances may have changed.
You may have a new address or phone number. Your insurance claims may have been settled. You may need more help with essential needs but aren’t sure where to turn.
These are just some of the reasons it’s important to stay in touch with FEMA. FEMA may need to contact you, and missing or wrong information could delay the delivery of assistance.
Survivors of the Dec. 10-11 tornadoes can contact FEMA to update your applications, get the status of your case or ask questions about the disaster assistance process. You’re encouraged to update FEMA with your contact information, including any email changes, as soon as possible and as often as necessary.
FEMA also can refer you to available services like crisis counseling, disaster legal assistance or non-profit programs that offer additional resources for your remaining needs.
Notify FEMA when your insurance claim is settled. FEMA’s Individual Assistance program may cover damage that your insurance does not.
Here’s how to stay in touch with FEMA:
- Create an online account at DisasterAssistance.gov. If you already have one, you can log in and update your status or upload your documents.
- Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use a relay service such as video relay service (VRS) or captioned telephone service, give FEMA the number for that service. Helpline operators are available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. EDT daily. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for an interpreter who speaks your language.
- You can fax FEMA at 800-827-8112 and provide a copy of your insurance settlement and your appeal letter. You may also submit documents to this address:
FEMA National Processing Service Center
P.O. Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055
When contacting FEMA, keep handy the nine-digit number assigned to you when you applied.
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.
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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.
johanna.strickland Mon, 06/27/2022 - 13:09FEMA Awards Nearly $1.3 Million to Connecticut for 2018 Storm Recovery Costs
BOSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending nearly $1.3 million to the State of Connecticut to reimburse it for the administrative costs of recovering from the tornadoes and storms that struck the state on May 15, 2018.
The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection will receive a total of $1,275,694 in federal funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance grant program to reimburse it for the costs of administering the Public Assistance grants that the state received to respond to and recover from the storm.
A line of thunderstorms hit the southwest corner of the state, spawning multiple tornadoes and high winds that left two dead and hundreds of thousands without power after millions of trees were knocked down.
Hundreds of homes were damaged and several state parks – Sleeping Giant, Kettletown, and Wharton Brook – were temporarily closed as a result of downed trees and damaged infrastructure.
FEMA awarded nearly $19 million in Public Assistance grants to state and local governments for the disaster. Under the program, the agency awards administrative costs calculated as a percentage of the grants provided.
“FEMA is pleased to be able to reimburse Connecticut for the administrative costs incurred recovering from this storm,” said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. “Recovery is a process that takes time and effort by state and local governments, and this grant recognizes those realities.”
FEMA’s Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding for states and communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency.
adrien.urbani Thu, 06/23/2022 - 00:20FEMA Approves Another $7.5 Million for Utah COVID-19 Response
DENVER – FEMA has approved $7.5 million in additional Public Assistance funding for the COVID-19 response in Utah. The assistance was made available under a major disaster declaration issued April 4, 2020. FEMA has provided more than $284 million for the Utah COVID-19 response to date with this additional funding.
FEMA awarded the grant funds to the Utah Department of Health to reimburse them for the cost of providing COVID-19 test kits, sample collection services and lab processing of tests at no cost to the public. To prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Utah Department of Health used contracted services to collect more than 15,600 samples and process more than 128,000 diagnostic tests. This award covers the cost of COVID-19 testing from May 24, 2021 to January 31, 2022.
For the COVID-19 response, FEMA has simplified the Public Assistance application and funding process to address the magnitude of this event and to allow state and local governments to receive eligible funding more quickly. These reimbursements play a critical role as state, tribal and local officials work to assist their communities during this response.
To fully support this essential work, the President authorized provision of FEMA Public Assistance at 100 percent federal funding through July 1, 2022. Beginning July 2, 2022, the federal cost share for COVID-19 projects will be 90 percent of the eligible cost.
Additional information about FEMA’s Public Assistance program can be found at www.fema.gov/assistance/public.
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FEMA's mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.
Follow us on twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion8
jamie.casterton Wed, 06/22/2022 - 19:18FEMA Advances Equity, Launches Campaign in English and Spanish Promoting Free, Low-Cost Flood Preparedness Options
WASHINGTON -- In an effort to reach more communities at the onset of hurricane season, FEMA is launching a dual-language advertising campaign to educate and remind residents of the flood preparedness actions they can take to fit almost any budget.
The ads will be broadcast across iHeartMedia’s traditional and digital networks and will promote preparedness tips, aligning with FEMA’s equity goal to tailor disaster solutions that meet the unique needs of different communities. The ads will air in several hurricane-prone states, including Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and Texas.
“We are focused on eliminating the longstanding barriers underserved communities face during disasters. One way we are doing this is by meeting people where they are -- in the languages they understand,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “This new, bilingual campaign aims to ensure more communities are prepared for intensifying disasters by getting the word out in both English and Spanish, while sharing that wise flood preparation doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, if any at all.”
The ads will produce approximately 8,700 radio airings over iHeartMedia’s networks to an estimated reach of 61 million listeners with an additional 24 million listeners over digital networks.
FEMA’s partnership with iHeartMedia will use risk, income, Census and other data to ensure the ads reach underserved communities, providing important messages about flood risk awareness and protection options. Ads began Monday, June 20, and will run in English and Spanish through mid-July.
Free and low-budget flood preparedness tips that can protect homes, families and finances include:
- Store documents like passports and birth certificates in a flood-safe place.
- Elevate items that you want to protect.
- Toss out debris from gutters and drains.
For more information on flood preparedness visit the following sites:
FEMA’s Ready Campaign also launched a new webpage to help individuals with low and no-cost preparedness tips.
mayshaunt.gary Wed, 06/22/2022 - 15:45FEMA Seeking Public Comment on Alerting and Notification Plan in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Alerting and Notification exercise scheduled for the North Anna Power Station and Surry Power Station.
PHILADELPHIA – The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will host a virtual public meeting to seek public comment on a significant plan change to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s alert and notification system for nuclear power plant emergencies. FEMA will conduct an exercise of the new system on June 28, 2022.
“FEMA is seeking the public’s comments on the proposed plan change to replace sirens with wireless emergency alerts via cellular phones as the primary alert and notification system. This drill will test the government’s ability to alert and notify the public with the new system in the event of an emergency at either the Surry Power Station or North Anna Power Station,” said MaryAnn Tierney, Regional Administrator for FEMA Region 3. “We will assess the plan changes that replace the sirens with wireless emergency alerts received through cellular phones within the Commonwealth of Virginia.”
FEMA will use the exercise results to make its decision on approving the significant plan change.
FEMA will hear from members of the public and present preliminary findings of the exercise during a public meeting at 5:00 p.m. on June 30, 2022. The meeting will be conducted in a virtual format via Zoom. Planned speakers include representatives from FEMA and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Access to the public meeting is provided below:
ZoomGov Meeting:
https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1613837407
Meeting ID: 161 383 7407
Passcode: 725804
At the public meeting, FEMA may request that questions or comments be submitted in writing for review and response. Written comments may also be submitted after the meeting by emailing FEMAR3NewsDesk@fema.dhs.gov or by mail to:
MaryAnn Tierney
Regional Administrator
FEMA Region III
615 Chestnut Street, 6th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19106
FEMA created the Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program to (1) ensure the health and safety of citizens living around commercial nuclear power plants would be adequately protected in the event of a nuclear power plant accident and (2) inform and educate the public about radiological emergency preparedness.
REP Program responsibilities cover only “offsite” activities, that is, state and local government emergency planning and preparedness activities that take place beyond the nuclear power plant boundaries. Onsite activities continue to be the responsibility of the NRC.
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) will test the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) infrastructure at the following dates, times, and locations:
North Anna Power Station – Tuesday, June 28, 2022 Test: 9:30 am
Surry Power Station – Tuesday, June 28, 2022 Test: 1:30 pm
This test will support ongoing preparations for the transition from the existing siren system to WEA for emergencies at Virginia’s two nuclear power stations. The tests will validate system design standards and help identify any administrative improvements.
The test message sent to the WEA infrastructure will only be received by specially configured phones and will read:
“This is a Wireless Emergency Alert Test. No actions are required.”
Only those phones that have been opted in specifically to receive system test messages will display the test message. Most mobile phones will not display the test message. It is important to note that in an actual emergency, everyone with alerts enabled will automatically receive wireless emergency alerts on compatible phones even if they do not receive test messages.
Members of the public may opt in to receive FEMA IPAWS/WEA test messages. Instructions on opt in procedures can be found in the following link:
IPAWS: New Procedure for Opting-In to WEA Tests on Apple Devices (govdelivery.com)
More information about FEMA IPAWS/WEA can be found at Integrated Public Alert & Warning System | FEMA.gov.
Additional information on FEMA’s REP Program is available online at FEMA.gov/Radiological-Emergency-Preparedness-Program.
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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. FEMA Region 3’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.
Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion3 and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/femaregion3
charles.elison Wed, 06/22/2022 - 14:41FEMA Awards Nearly $1.9 Million to Connecticut College for COVID Testing Expenses
BOSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending nearly $1.9 million to the State of Connecticut to reimburse Connecticut College for the costs of providing testing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The private liberal arts college in New London will receive a total of $1,855,566 in federal funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance grant program to reimburse it for the costs of providing approximately 80,699 tests for students and staff between August 2020 and December 2021.
“FEMA is pleased to be able to assist Connecticut College with these costs,” said FEMA Region 1 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 almost $416 million in Public Assistance grants to Connecticut to reimburse the state for pandemic-related expenses.
adrien.urbani Wed, 06/22/2022 - 01:48FEMA Awards More Than $1 Million to State of Maine For COVID Testing Expenses
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $1 million to the State of Maine to reimburse the cost of testing the public during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $1,062,625 Public Assistance grant will go to the Maine Department for Health and Human Services to cover the cost of providing 42,505 tests to the public at 62 Walgreens locations throughout the state between August and September 2021.
“FEMA is pleased to be able to assist the State of Maine with these costs,” said FEMA Region 1 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.”
So far, FEMA has provided more than $133 million in Public Assistance grants to Maine to reimburse the state for pandemic-related expenses.
adrien.urbani Wed, 06/22/2022 - 01:45FEMA Awards Vermont Nearly $1.7 Million for COVID Sheltering Costs
BOSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending nearly $1.7 million to the State of Vermont to reimburse the costs of providing non-congregate sheltering for the homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $1,696,237 Public Assistance grant will go to the Vermont Agency of Human Services for contracting with two hotels – Harbor Place in Shelburne and the Ho Hum Motel in South Burlington – to provide rooms between October 2020 and March 2022. The state also contracted for transportation costs to return shelter occupants back to their original communities once cleared to do so by a healthcare professional.
“FEMA is pleased to be able to assist the State of Vermont with these costs,” said FEMA Region 1 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.”
adrien.urbani Wed, 06/22/2022 - 01:38FEMA Awards Nearly $51 Million to Massachusetts for COVID-19 Supply Costs
BOSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending nearly $51 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse the commonwealth for the cost of purchasing needed supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $50,990,775 Public Assistance grant will reimburse the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) for part of the cost of purchasing supplies between March 2020 and July 2021.
Those supplies included alcohol prep pads; gowns; body bags; hand sanitizer; bouffants; high-efficiency particulate absorbing (HEPA) filters; circuit arm supports; KN95 masks; culture fluid; nasal swabs; disinfecting wipes; disposable masks; powered air purifying (PAPR) respirators, neck capes, and filters; face shields; pillows; first aid kits; shoe covers; disposable surgical gloves; viral bacterial filters; glucose test solution and strips; viral transport tubes and eye protection.
“FEMA is pleased to be able to assist Massachusetts with these costs,” said FEMA Region 1 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 $1 billion in Public Assistance grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the commonwealth for pandemic-related expenses.
adrien.urbani Wed, 06/22/2022 - 01:33
FEMA Awards Nearly $6.6 Million to UMass Amherst for COVID-19 Testing Costs
BOSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending nearly $6.6 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse the University of Massachusetts Amherst for the cost of testing students, faculty and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $6,593,575 Public Assistance grant will reimburse the public land-grant research university in Amherst for the cost of providing 263,743 tests between August 2020 and August 2021.
“FEMA is pleased to be able to assist UMass Amherst with these costs,” said FEMA Region 1 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 $1 billion in Public Assistance grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the commonwealth for pandemic-related expenses.
adrien.urbani Wed, 06/22/2022 - 01:23FEMA Awards More Than $1 Million to Wellesley College for COVID-19 Testing Costs
BOSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $1 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse Wellesley College for the cost of testing students, faculty and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $1,036,178 Public Assistance grant will reimburse the private liberal arts college in Wellesley for the cost of providing 33,117 coronavirus tests between January and April 2021, as well as providing masks for students and staff. The school also set up 31 rooms for isolation of students with COVID and 68 rooms to quarantine students exposed to COVID.
“FEMA is pleased to be able to assist Wellesley College with these costs,” said FEMA Region 1 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 $1 billion in Public Assistance grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the commonwealth for pandemic-related expenses.
Additional information about FEMA’s Public Assistance program is available at https://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit. To learn more about the COVID-19 response in Massachusetts, please visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4496
adrien.urbani Tue, 06/21/2022 - 23:11Corte Madera Earns 20% Flood Insurance Discount
OAKLAND, Calif. – Residents and businesses in Corte Madera will now be eligible for an additional five percent discount—up from 15 to 20 percent—on their flood insurance premiums thanks to local mitigation efforts.
The town’s new Community Rating System (CRS) Class 6 level, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), rewards policyholders with 20 percent discounts on residential and nonresidential structures in identified flood zones.
After April 1, current and new policyholders will save about $270 on their annual flood insurance premiums, about $80 more than Class 7 discounts. With over 428 policies in Corte Madera, $113,788 per year will now be saved by the community.
Activities that help communities raise their CRS standing include public outreach programs, higher mapping and regulation standards, and flood mitigation initiatives that help save lives and protect property from flooding.
NFIP policies are available through private insurance companies and agents, with a 30-day waiting period before coverage goes into effect.
Visit floodsmart.gov for information about floods, flood insurance and your own flood risk.
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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. Follow FEMA Region 9 online at twitter.com/femaregion9.
robert.barker Tue, 06/21/2022 - 19:45Michael Chesney Selected as FEMA Region 5 Deputy Regional Administrator
CHICAGO – Michael Chesney, recently selected as deputy regional administrator of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 5, was sworn into his new role on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Chesney will oversee operational aspects of the agency’s mission at the Chicago-based FEMA office, serving a six-state region that includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin, along with 34 federally recognized tribal nations.
“Mike’s 30 years of honorable military service, combined with his extensive federal government and emergency management experience, position him as a strong leader with the expertise to successfully guide our agency in the face of new challenges and opportunities,” said Tom Sivak, regional administrator, FEMA Region 5. “He’s a true embodiment of our agency’s core values and will be an asset to the important work of building a FEMA that our nation needs and deserves.”
Chesney joins the Senior Executive Service (SES) of the federal government, which is comprised of leaders who serve in key positions just below the top presidential appointees. SES members are the major link between these appointees and the rest of the federal workforce. They operate and oversee nearly every government activity in approximately 75 federal agencies, including FEMA.
Most recently, Chesney served as the Federal Preparedness Coordinator and the Director of the National Preparedness Division (NPD) for FEMA Region 5, where he coordinated a range of preparedness activities for the six Great Lakes states. During the COVID-19 pandemic response, he served as the Regional Coordinating Officer for operations that managed medical resources to combat the virus and provided oversight of six federally supported community vaccination centers.
Prior to his role as the Director of NPD, Chesney served with FEMA Region 5 in a military capacity as the assigned Defense Coordinating Officer. Most notably, he successfully commanded the military recovery operation for the I-35 Minnesota bridge collapse in 2007.
Completing three decades of honorable military service in the United States Army, Chesney served in executive-level management for several years, culminating in the rank of Colonel. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northern Illinois University and a master’s degree in National Security Studies from the U.S. Army War College.
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FEMA's mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.
troy.christensen Tue, 06/21/2022 - 16:06Licking County Residents Invited to Attend Flood Map Information Open House
CHICAGO – Representatives from FEMA will host a virtual Flood Map Information Open House on June 28, 2022, for communities in Licking 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) report and its accompanying preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).
The FIS and the FIRMs provide base flood (also known as the 1-percent-annual-chance event) information, designate areas that are subject to significant flood hazards within 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 Licking 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: Licking County—virtual Flood Map Information Open House
WHEN: June 28, 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/92407325121?pwd=ak1OUVBMc2ZBQVE1STVBWFRZZVNoZz09 Meeting ID: 924 0732 5121, Passcode: licking
(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.
troy.christensen Tue, 06/21/2022 - 15:55Stay Safe in Extreme Heat This Week
CHICAGO – With the season’s first wave of oppressive heat and humidity forecast this week, the FEMA Region 5 office in Chicago is encouraging residents to avoid the dangers of extreme heat by taking some simple steps to stay safe.
“We all need to take precautions when temperatures soar to potentially dangerous highs,” said Tom Sivak, FEMA Region 5 acting regional administrator. “Extreme heat makes the body work extra hard to maintain a normal temperature. Regularly check yourself and those you care about—especially children, older adults and pets—for the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and be ready to respond to them.”
After weeks of comfortable temperatures, don’t be caught unaware as highs spike this week.
- Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides a list of warning signs and symptoms of heat illness and recommended first aid steps.
- Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun. If you don’t have access to air conditioning at home, find places in your community with AC, such as a local cooling center.
- Keep your home as cool as possible. Roughly 40% of unwanted heat buildup in our homes is through windows. Use awnings or curtains to keep the heat out, and check the weather stripping on doors and windows to keep the cool air in.
- If you must be outside, find shade. Avoid strenuous activity, cover your head with a hat wide enough to protect your face and wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
- Drink plenty of water, even if you don't feel thirsty.
- NEVER leave people or pets in a parked car.
For more information and tips on being ready for extreme heat, visit www.ready.gov/heat.
FEMA's mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.
troy.christensen Tue, 06/21/2022 - 15:08FEMA Honors Juneteenth with Employee Engagement and Community Service
WASHINGTON -- In commemoration of Juneteenth National Independence Day, FEMA staff will participate in employee-hosted programming honoring the legacy of Juneteenth, followed by a day of public service on Monday, June 20, led by members of the FEMA National Service Alumni Employee Resource Group at Washington, D.C., non-profit Bread for the City.
“It is incredibly important that we come together as a nation to recognize the significance of Juneteenth, and to never forget the millions of Black Americans who were deprived of their freedoms in this country under slavery,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “At FEMA, we strive to place equity at the center of our efforts and do our part in addressing and correcting these historical injustices.”
Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day or Black Independence Day, commemorates the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were informed of General Order 3, declaring that all slaves were free. Last year, in support of this important day, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. signed the “Juneteenth National Independence Day Act” into law, officially commemorating Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
“Juneteenth not only serves as a celebration of the hope, resilience and perseverance of the African-American community, but it also allows us all to reflect on our country’s complex history -- examining both the legacy of systemic racism while also appreciating how far we have come,” said FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik A. Hooks. “At FEMA, and across the Biden-Harris Administration, we know even more work must be done if we are to live up to the promise of Juneteenth and ensure everyone in this country lives a life of dignity.” Deputy Administrator Hooks also recorded a video where he reflected further on his thoughts for the holiday.
In addition to the community service project FEMA’s National Service Alumni Employee Resource Group will do with D.C.’s non-profit Bread for the City, FEMA also recognized Juneteenth with two special employee-hosted events earlier this week.
One event, hosted by the agency’s Veteran’s Advisory Council, featured a presentation from Juneteenth Legacy Project President Samuel L. Collins III. A second event, co-hosted by the FEMA African American Employee Resource Group and Equity Coalition of the Willing, featured a conversation celebrating Juneteenth, acknowledging lessons from the past and connecting them to the current-day struggle for African-American freedom and equity.
amy.ashbridge Fri, 06/17/2022 - 15:59President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Montana
WASHINGTON -- FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Montana to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by a severe storm and flooding from June 10, 2022 and continuing.
The President's action makes federal funding available to state 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 storm and flooding in Carbon, Park and Stillwater counties.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
Maona N. Ngwira has been named the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas.
amy.ashbridge Thu, 06/16/2022 - 19:00Revised Preliminary Flood Maps for Craighead County, Arkansas Ready for Public View
DENTON, Texas – Revised Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are available for review by residents and business owners in portions of the City of Jonesboro and unincorporated areas of Craighead County, Arkansas.
Property owners are encouraged to review the latest information to learn about local flood risks and potential future flood insurance requirements. Community stakeholders can identify any concerns or questions about the information provided and participate in the appeal and comment periods for the maps.
For this Physical Map Revision, the FIRMs for Craighead County serve multiple purposes, including defining Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). SFHAs are areas at high risk for flooding. Communities and residents can use the information to make informed decisions about building, development and flood insurance.
FEMA stresses that flooding can and does happen outside of the most vulnerable areas.
Review the preliminary flood maps by visiting the local floodplain administrator (FPA). A FEMA Map Specialist can help identify community FPAs. Specialists are available by telephone at 1-877-FEMA-MAP (1-877-336-2627) or by email at FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com.
The preliminary maps may also be viewed online:
- The Flood Map Changes Viewer at http://msc.fema.gov/fmcv
- FEMA Map Service Center at http://msc.fema.gov/portal
For more information about the flood maps:
- Use a live chat service about flood maps at http://go.usa.gov/r6C (just click on the “Live Chat” icon).
- Contact a FEMA Map Specialist by telephone at 1-877-FEMA-MAP (1-877-336-2627) or by email at FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com.
There are cost-saving options available for those newly mapped into a high-risk flood zone. Learn more about your flood insurance options by talking with your insurance agent or visiting https://www.floodsmart.gov.
Carmen.Castro Thu, 06/16/2022 - 17:09Proposed Mineral County Flood Maps Reflect Changes to Local Flood Risk
DENVER – Updates to Mineral County, Montana’s flood insurance rate maps are nearing completion. The new maps will provide portions of the Clark Fork and St. Regis Rivers and several tributary streams in Mineral 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 was initiated in 2016 and is a joint effort between Mineral 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 Mineral County, the project involved flood study work on 58 miles of the Clark Fork River, 37 miles of the St. Regis River, and 71 miles of smaller tributaries to these rivers. 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 existing floodplain maps from 1996 and update Mineral County and communities to the countywide digital flood insurance rate map format.
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 ends on September 13, 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/mineral and at the Mineral County Environmental Health and Planning 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/mineral or contact Andy Short, Mineral County Floodplain Administrator at 406-822-3525, or Nadene Wadsworth, DNRC Floodplain Outreach Specialist at 406-444-6732.
jamie.casterton Wed, 06/15/2022 - 22:16Pages
