FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Open in Passaic County

TRENTON, N.J. – A Disaster Recovery Center opened today in Passaic County to help residents in New Jersey affected by the remnants of Hurricane Ida.  

Representatives from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration are available at the center to explain disaster assistance programs, answer questions about written correspondence and provide literature about repairs and rebuilding to make homes more disaster resistant.

The DRC is located in Passaic County:  

Senior Center and City Hall Building, 330 Passaic St., Passaic, N.J. 07055.

Hours: Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

To help alleviate the risk of COVID-19 being spread through person-to-person contact, wearing a mask or face covering is required to gain entry. Hand sanitizer is available to survivors and staff.

Workstations are spaced six feet apart to provide an extra level of protection for survivors and staff.

FEMA ensures that common areas are cleaned regularly, and workstations are sanitized after each visitor.

Individuals in Bergen, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Union, and Warren counties are eligible to apply for disaster assistance. To find a DRC nearest you, click on the FEMA DRC link: fema.gov/drc.

Survivors can ask questions or seek further information in person at the DRC, in addition to online or by phone. Survivors can visit any of the DRC locations and can also find their closest location through the FEMA App.  To download the FEMA App please visit the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

If you have homeowners or renters insurance, you should file a claim as soon as possible. By law, FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance. If you are uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for federal assistance.

The fastest and easiest way to apply is by visiting disasterassistance.gov.

If it is not possible to apply online, call 800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585). The toll-free telephone lines operate from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. ET, seven days a week. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service.

When you apply for assistance, have the following information readily available:

• A current phone number where you can be contacted
• Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying
• Your Social Security number, if available
• A general list of damage and losses
• If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name

Disaster assistance may include financial help for home repairs along with other programs to assist families recover from the effects of the event.

For the latest information visit fema.gov/disaster/4614. Follow the FEMA Region 2 Twitter account at twitter.com/FEMAregion2.

amir.nijem Thu, 10/14/2021 - 16:56

FEMA Provides $5M to OhioHealth Corporation for COVID-19 Response Expenses

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA) announced today that $5,166,613 in federal funding has been made available to OhioHealth Corporation–Greater Columbus Area Hospitals for costs related to the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic under the March 31, 2020, federal disaster declaration.

This funding will reimburse OhioHealth Corporation–Greater Columbus Area Hospitals for costs to provide COVID-19 screening, testing and patient care. Grant funding also includes costs for equipment, medical supplies and security related to OhioHealth Corporation’s pandemic response.

“FEMA’s Public Assistance program is an important resource for state and local governments, jurisdictions, and eligible private non-profits to cover eligible COVID-19 expenses,” said Moises Dugan, acting regional administrator, FEMA Region 5. “Since the start of the pandemic, FEMA has been committed to ensuring community partners have the resources they need. Supporting our states and communities will continue to be the highest priority for our agency as the response to COVID-19 continues.”

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, OhioHealth has been an essential partner in Ohio’s fight against COVID-19,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “This federal grant funding helps to provide the necessary tools and equipment that assist in preventing illnesses and saving lives.”

FEMA provides a 100 percent federal share of eligible reimbursable expenses for this project.

“I would like to thank FEMA, Region 5 for its continued funding support to Ohio’s cities, counties and the entire state,” said Ohio EMA Executive Director Sima Merick. “With the federal Public Assistance program, OhioHealth can continue to provide public information on COVID-19, and to provide screenings and critical care, as we remain vigilant in the battle against coronavirus.”

FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provides funding to state and local governments, jurisdictions, and eligible private non-profits for the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged infrastructure as well as costs incurred for emergency actions taken to protect lives or property.  To learn more, visit FEMA’s website at www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit.

 

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

troy.christensen Thu, 10/14/2021 - 14:04

FEMA Approves $26.2 Million for Félix Millán Stadium in Yabucoa

The sports facility will be demolished by the end of this year   

Guaynabo, Puerto Rico – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded nearly $26.2 million to the municipality of Yabucoa to rebuild the Félix "Nacho" Millán baseball stadium. This obligation is an addition to the more than $41 million that has been obligated for the municipality to date for 61 other permanent work projects.

“This obligation marks a vital moment for the recovery of the municipality. This, not only at the sports and culture level, but as it relates to the social fiber of the residents of Yabucoa and its integral recovery, which is part of our commitment to the municipalities,” said FEMA's Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator, José G. Baquero.

Located in the Aguacate neighborhood and built in 1995, this stadium is part of the Double-A Superior Baseball League and home of the municipality's Double-A baseball team, the Yabucoa Azucareros. The facility, which has concrete bleachers with 4,000 seats and includes a two-story structure with 40 rooms/offices, is also used for activities and large events.

Due to the severity of the damage to the structure, the federal funds are earmarked for the demolition and replacement of the stadium. According to the municipality, a pre-auction has already taken place for the demolition of the facility, and the demolition is expected to be completed by mid-December of this year.

According to the mayor of Yabucoa, Rafael Surillo Ruíz, the municipality is grateful and enthusiastic about this award. “I want to thank first of all God and all the people who made this obligation possible, such as FEMA personnel, COR3, the FEMA Branch Office in Caguas, our engineers and municipal personnel, among others. We are very happy in Yabucoa with the reconstruction of the Félix Millán Park because this represents overcoming Hurricane María,” the mayor said.

Some of the work to be performed includes replacing all exterior components, ceilings, columns, benches and electrical, air conditioning and lighting systems. The same will be done with the contents of the structure, including computers, chairs, the box office and sound equipment, among others.

For Enrique Díaz Lozada, the Yabucoa Azucareros team owner, this obligation is of great relevance. “We are passionate about baseball in our town and it will be an important asset in the future commitments of our organizations. Sports are the soul of the people and a town without sports is a town without a soul,” said the team owner, who reiterated his gratitude to FEMA for this allocation of funds.

The obligation includes a nearly $2 million for hazard mitigation measures to prevent similar damage to the structure in the event of another disaster. Some of this work includes improving the fastening of metal panels, adding steel reinforcing fibers to the concrete to improve load-bearing capacity, and installing a surge protector for the generator, among others.

On the other hand, the Executive Director of the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience (COR3), Manuel A. Laboy Rivera, acknowledged that this is one of the most awaited projects by the Yabucoa Azucareros fans. “This will allow the development of a modern, resilient and safe infrastructure, in accordance with current construction codes, for the enjoyment of Yabucoa residents. For the past months, the COR3 team has worked together with the municipality and FEMA to move the process forward and obligate the project,” said Laboy Rivera, who stressed that COR3's commitment is to continue supporting the development of the project until it comes to fruition.

To access more information on the recovery of Puerto Rico from Hurricane María, visit fema.gov/disaster/4339 and recuperacion.pr. Follow us on social media at Facebook.com/FEMAPuertoRico, Facebook.com/COR3pr and Twitter @COR3pr.

 YABUCOA, Puerto Rico – FEMA awarded nearly $26.2 million to the municipality of Yabucoa to rebuild the Félix "Nacho" Millán baseball stadium. Located in the Aguacate neighborhood and built in 1995, this stadium is part of the Double-A Superior Baseball League and home of the municipality's Double-A baseball team, the Yabucoa Azucareros. Photo / Courtesy of the Municipality of Yabucoa

frances.acevedo-pico Thu, 10/14/2021 - 11:55

Three Disaster Recovery Centers to Close, Two Continue to Operate and Another will Open Soon

Detroit – State of Michigan-FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers in Dearborn, Detroit and Southfield will cease operations soon, but help is still available at two DRCs in Wayne County and a new Macomb County center opening next Tuesday, Oct. 19.

 

Disaster Recovery Centers offer Michigan residents affected by the June 25-26 flooding, severe storms and tornadoes in-person visits to get information about their FEMA application, ask questions about letters they receive from FEMA, and have their documents scanned to be part of their application.

Upcoming Center Closures

The center located on the third floor at Henry Ford Centennial Library, 16301 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, Michigan 48126, will close at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 14. It is open from 9 a.m. through 7 p.m. through Thursday, Oct. 14.

 

The center located at the Salvation Army, 3000 Conner St., Detroit, Michigan 48215, will close at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15. It is open from 9 a.m. through 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13 and Thursday, Oct. 14. This Friday, Oct. 15, it will operate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

The center located in the City Office Buildings Complex at the Southfield Center, 26000 Evergreen Rd., Southfield, Michigan 48076, will close at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16. It is open from 9 a.m. through 7 p.m. through Saturday, Oct. 16.

 

Centers Continuing to Operate

 

Help will continue to be available at the State of Michigan-FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers in Hamtramck City Hall and Kemeny Recreation Center. Hours for both centers are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday-Saturday.

 

They are located at:

• Kemeny Recreation Center, 2260 S. Fort St., Detroit, Michigan 48217
• Hamtramck City Hall, 3401 Evaline St., Hamtramck, Michigan 48212

 

Survivors can visit any center. However, it is not necessary to visit to apply or update applications, which can be done in the following ways:

 

• Call FEMA toll -free at 800-621-3362 (TTY): 800-462-7585;
• Visit DisasterAssistance.gov; or
• Check FEMA's mobile app.

 

New DRC Opening Tuesday, Oct. 19

 

A new DRC will open Tuesday, Oct. 19 in Macomb County from 9 am-7 pm. It will be located at:

• Eastpointe City Hall, 23200 Gratiot Ave., Eastpointe, Michigan 48021

 

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread through person-to-person contact, wearing a mask or face covering is required to gain entry and visitors will receive “no touch” temperature screenings.

 

Hand sanitizer is available to survivors and staff.

 

Federal staff wear masks, face shields and gloves. Workstations are spaced six feet apart to provide an extra level of protection for survivors and staff.

 

FEMA ensures that common areas are cleaned regularly during the day and workstations are sanitized after each visitor.

      To find the location and operational hours of the nearest center to you, visit FEMA’s DRC locator page at fema.gov/ESF6/DRCLocator.

For more information about Michigan’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4607 . FEMA assistance is currently available to residents in Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw and Wayne counties. The deadline for individuals to apply for disaster assistance is Nov. 12, 2021. 

     

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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. Reasonable accommodations, including translation and American Sign Language interpreters via Video Relay Service, will be available to ensure effective communication with applicants with limited English proficiency, disabilities, and access and functional needs. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 (including 711 or Video Relay). If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585. 

 

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

fema.gov/disaster/4607   twitter.com/femaregion5  

troy.christensen Wed, 10/13/2021 - 21:59

ICYMI -- FEMA Administrator Addresses 2021 NEMA Annual Forum and Highlights the Evolving Role of Emergency Mangers, Expanding Risks

WASHINGTON -- FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell addressed the nation’s emergency managers today at the 2021 National Emergency Management Association’s Annual Forum in Cleveland. This was her first appearance as the FEMA Administrator at the event since she joined the agency in April of this year.

Administrator Criswell’s speech focused on two themes -- the way our role as emergency managers is evolving and how the risks we face, in large part due to climate change, are increasing. 

“After every major disaster, the field of emergency management changes. The ‘big ones’ are more than just historic events – they also represent the markers of fundamental changes in our field,” said Administrator Criswell. “Major disasters and incidents in our field have always been a catalyst for change. After every incident, we reflect and learn and remake our profession to be stronger, more dynamic, more mature and more capable,” Criswell said. “We’re seeing change – tremendous change – in both the landscape of risk and in our professional roles.”

Graphic

The Administrator discussed how emergency managers continue to face increasing expectations to coordinate emergency responses that have been traditionally outside of the industry’s scope. From a public health crisis like COVID-19 to sheltering operations for migrant children crossing the southern border, and cyber security attacks affecting the nation’s critical infrastructure, emergency managers throughout the country are dealing with issues that impact all of our communities on a daily basis.

Click here for a full transcript of the Administrator’s speech.

Later this week, the Administrator will travel to Grand Rapids, Mich., to address the 2021 International Association of Emergency Managers conference. She plans to focus her speech on the effects of climate change and the risks that will accompany future events. 

amy.ashbridge Wed, 10/13/2021 - 20:36

King County Library System and FEMA Partnership Makes Registering for Funeral Assistance Easier

BOTHELL, Wash. – A partnership between the King County Library System (KCLS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) improves community access to the technology and resources needed to register for FEMA Funeral Assistance. This collaboration between KCLS and FEMA connects people with free community resources and expertise at libraries throughout King County (outside the city of Seattle).

If you incurred COVID-19-related funeral, burial, or cremation expenses on or after January 20, 2020, FEMA may be able to help you with some of those costs. Applying for FEMA Funeral Assistance begins with a phone call to (844) 684-6333. Applicants must provide documentation before FEMA can fully process their application. Individuals who need help submitting their paperwork can use KCLS library scanners, computers, fax machines, and internet access to upload files; Library staff are available to assist with the process. Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available by request.

“While nothing can replace those we’ve lost to COVID-19, FEMA Funeral Assistance can help ease the financial burden of placing our loved ones to rest. It is vital that we remove digital barriers that might prevent someone from applying for this assistance,” says Acting Regional Administrator Vince Maykovich. “Just as library resources and staff deliver essential community services during periods of extreme heat or cold, they can provide access to information and resources to help anyone transmitting their FEMA application.”

“As trusted sources of information and assistance, public libraries are well-versed in connecting community members to important resources,” stated KCLS Executive Director Lisa Rosenblum. “KCLS extends our services and support to King County residents, and we hope this partnership helps our communities in their times of need.”

To apply for FEMA Funeral Assistance, call (844) 684-6333. The helpline is open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. P.T.. Multilingual services are available. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. You must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien to apply. However, there is no requirement for the deceased person to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien. A funeral assistance video describing eligibility is available in English and Spanish; view and share today.

To make an appointment with a King County Library, call (800) 462-9600 or schedule an appointment with a KCLS Digital Navigator, visit the Computer and Internet Help page at KCLS.org/Computer-Help.

For more information about FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program, visit: COVID-19 Funeral Assistance | FEMA.gov.

About the King County Library System Founded in 1942, the King County Library System (KCLS) is one of the busiest public library systems in the country. Serving the communities of King County (outside the city of Seattle), KCLS has 50 libraries and over 1.1 million cardholders. In 2020, residents checked out more than 7.4 million digital eBooks and audiobooks through Rakuten OverDrive, making KCLS the No. 3 digital circulating library system in the world and the highest per capita in the U.S. In 2011, KCLS was named Library of the Year by Gale/Library Journal. Follow KCLS on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube for the latest updates, and visit kcls.org for more information.

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Follow FEMA Region 10 on Twitter and LinkedIn for the latest updates and visit FEMA.gov for more information.

 

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

mary.j.edmon Wed, 10/13/2021 - 19:32

Application Period Open for FEMA Mitigation Grant Programs

PHILADELPHIA– FEMA recently announced the opening of its FY21 pre-disaster hazard mitigation grant programs, Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) on September 30, 2021. These grants help fund mitigation actions in states, local communities, tribes and territories to combat climate change and protect underserved communities against disaster hazards. 

FEMA’s BRIC program has $1 billion allocated, double last year’s funding, while FMA has $160 million available for communities across the country this year.

In addition to BRIC and FMA, the White House outlined a historic commitment to climate resiliency by making unprecedented levels of assistance available through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program based on the funding spent during the COVID response. In FEMA Region 3, this means $209 million is available through HMGP. In addition, there is another $65 million of funding yet to be awarded from other disasters. Together, this more than doubles the total amount of funding available to Region 3 communities through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

“The challenges posed by climate change, such as more intense storms, frequent heavy precipitation, heat waves, drought, extreme flooding and higher sea levels could significantly alter the types and magnitudes of hazards faced by communities and the emergency management agencies serving them,” said FEMA Region 3 Regional Administrator MaryAnn Tierney. “This is a historic amount of funding available through FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs and we encourage communities to work together with their state partners to apply for funding to reduce risk.”

Tierney added, “We know that disasters disproportionately impact already vulnerable communities. These grants can help to advance environmental justice, reduce community vulnerability to disasters and promote resilience to climate change.”

FEMA changed the scoring criteria for the BRIC grant program this year to expand access to disadvantaged communities. Scoring criteria for the competitive grant program has been adjusted to incentivize mitigation actions that consider climate change and future conditions, populations impacted and economically disadvantaged rural communities. Additionally, FEMA doubled to 20 the number of communities that can receive help with project development through non-financial Direct Technical Assistance.

The FEMA Mitigation Action Portfolio includes examples of innovative mitigation projects that address many types of natural hazards and emphasize the importance of collaboration between governments, private sector entities, and non-governmental organizations in order to achieve effective hazard mitigation and disaster resilience. 

 

FEMA released the BRIC and FMA Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) on Aug. 9, 2021. The NOFOs are posted on grants.gov and provides detailed program information and other grant application and administration requirements. The application period to apply for fiscal year 2021 (FY 2021) will open on Sept. 30, 2021, and close at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Jan. 28, 2022.

The timeline for HMGP COVID is separate from BRIC and FMA and is dependent on the date of a disaster declaration. Details on HMPG can be found at Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) | FEMA.gov.

Local communities should be mindful of state application deadlines which will be in advance of FEMA’s. Communities apply for these grant programs through their states.

The key differences between FEMA’s mitigation grant programs:

• Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)
  • FMA is a pre-disaster, competitive grant program that provides funding to states, local communities, federally recognized tribes and territories.
  • Funds can be used for projects that reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings insured by the National Flood Insurance Program.
  • FEMA chooses recipients based on the applicant’s ranking of the project and the eligibility and cost-effectiveness of the project.
  • FEMA requires state, local, tribal and territorial governments to develop and adopt hazard mitigation plans as a condition for receiving certain types of non-emergency disaster assistance, including funding for hazard mitigation assistance projects.
  • Cost share: 75% federal; 25% local. If a project mitigates a repetitive loss property insured by the NFIP, the cost share is 90% federal; 10% local. For severe repetitive loss properties, FEMA will provide up to 100% of the project costs.
• Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)
  • BRIC is a pre-disaster grant program that provides funding to states, local communities, federally recognized tribes, and territories. There are three funding options within BRIC:
    • State/Territory Allocation: provides $1million to each state or territority for capability & capacity builiding projects.
    • Tribal Set-Aside: A $25 million pool for projects undertaken by tribal governments across the country.
    • National Competition

• • The BRIC program’s guiding principles are: supporting communities through capability- and capacity-building; encouraging and enabling innovation; promoting partnerships; enabling large projects; maintaining flexibility; and providing consistency.
  • Funds diverse mitigation projects with a focus on holistic infrastructure solutions.
  • Cost share: 75% federal; 25% local. If an applicant is an economically disadvantaged rural community, then there is a 90% federal cost share, 10% local.
• Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
  • HMPG is a post-disaster, non-competitive grant program that provides funding to states, local communities, federally recognized tribes, and territories. 
  • This grant funding is only available after a presidentially declared disaster.
  • Funding is allocated to the state with the disaster declaration. There is not a national competition for the funding, though not all state projects are selected for funding.
  • Cost share: 75% federal; 25% local. If an applicant is an economically disadvantaged rural community, then there is a 90% federal cost share, 10% local.

FEMA hosts a series of webinars and information sessions to aid community applicants on hazard mitigation grants: FEMA.gov/blog/hazard-mitigation-funding-now-available

State, local, tribal or territorial officials, as well as community leaders, interested in making the connection between equity and hazard mitigation are encouraged to contact us at FEMA-ExpandingMitigation@fema.dhs.gov.

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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

 

amanda.hancher Wed, 10/13/2021 - 17:09

FEMA Fire Management Assistance Granted for the Alisal Fire

OAKLAND, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to assist the state of California in combating the Alisal Fire burning in Santa Barbara County.

On Oct. 12, the state of California submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the Alisal Fire. At the time of the request, the fire threatened approximately 200 residential structures in and around Goleta. The fire also threatened commercial properties, state beaches, a landfill, Highway 101, Union Pacific and Amtrak railways, an oil and gas plant, power transmission lines and an interagency repeater tower system.

The FEMA regional administrator approved the state’s request on Oct. 12, as the fire threatened to become a major incident.

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 cause major disasters. 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.

robert.barker Wed, 10/13/2021 - 14:24

FEMA Seeking Applicants to Join Hurricane Ida Recovery Team

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana residents with experience in customer service, data entry, external affairs, logistics and more have several opportunities to join the Hurricane Ida response and recovery effort as temporary employees. Hiring local, temporary staff is one way FEMA diversifies its workforce and broadens its expertise.

The following jobs are available, mostly in Baton Rouge, to aid with community recovery needs:

Hazard Mitigation Training and Administrative Specialist (posting closes Tuesday, Oct. 12)

Data Integration Specialist (posting closes Sunday, Oct. 17, or when 100 applications have been received)

External Affairs Private Sector Specialist (posting closes Sunday, Oct. 17, or when 200 applications have been received)

Geospatial Information Specialist (posting closes Sunday, Oct. 17, or when 100 applications have been received)

Manufactured Housing Specialist (posting closes Sunday, Oct. 17, or when 300 applications have been received)

Digital Communications Specialist (posting closes Sunday, Oct. 17, or when 100 applications have been received)

Voluntary Agency Liaison Specialist (posting closes Sunday, Oct. 17, or when 300 applications have been received)

Community Education and Outreach Specialist (posting closes Sunday, Oct. 17, or when 100 applications have been received)

Applicant Services Program Specialists will be hired in Baton Rouge, Houma and New Orleans (postings close Sunday, Oct. 17, or when 400 applications have been received, which may be sooner than the closing date)

Administrative Assistant (posting closes Monday, Oct. 18, or when 100 applications have been received)

 

Most temporary local hires are employed through a streamlined hiring process. A local hire’s term of employment is 120 days, though it may be extended in 120-day increments. Visit the links above for additional information, including job responsibilities and compensation.

FEMA is an equal opportunity employer. Salaries are comparable to local pay rates.

Conditions of Employment:

You must be a U.S. citizen to be considered for this position.

You must successfully pass a background investigation.

Selective Service registration is required for males born after Dec. 31, 1959.

To see other FEMA career postings, visit fema.gov/careers.

 

 

For the latest information visit fema.gov/disaster/4611. Follow the FEMA Region 6 Twitter account at twitter.com/FEMARegion6 or on Facebook at facebook.com/FEMARegion6.

mayshaunt.gary Tue, 10/12/2021 - 21:07

FEMA Seeks Public Comments on Proposed Changes to the National Flood Insurance Program Minimum Floodplain Management Standards

WASHINGTON -- FEMA published a notice today in the Federal Register seeking public comment on the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) minimum floodplain management standards.

This notice is to gather comments on opportunities to update the program’s minimum floodplain management standards to help communities become safer, stronger and more resilient. It also seeks input on NFIP minimum floodplain management standards that will promote conservation of threatened and endangered species and their habitats consistent with the Endangered Species Act, Section 7(a)(1).

The type of feedback that is most useful to the agency includes feedback that:

• Identifies opportunities for the agency to improve the NFIP’s minimum floodplain management standards for land management and use
• Identifies specific program components that promote conservation of threatened and endangered species and their habitats
• Refers to specific barriers to community participation
• Aligns the program with the improved understanding of flood risk and flood risk reduction approaches
• Identifies better incentives for communities and policyholders, particularly for Endangered Species Act-listed species and critical habitats
• Offers actionable data
• Specifies viable alternatives to existing approaches that meet statutory obligations

Written comments can be submitted from Oct. 12 – Dec. 13, 2021 on the Federal eRulemaking Portal, Docket ID: FEMA-2021-2024. Please follow the instructions on the webpage for submitting comments and contact the Regulations Help Desk if you have technical issues.

amy.ashbridge Tue, 10/12/2021 - 21:01

Two Weeks Left to Apply for Federal Assistance

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained uninsured or underinsured damage to their property from the wildfires in Lassen, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Tehama and Trinity counties have two weeks left to apply for disaster assistance.

The deadline to apply for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is Oct. 25, 2021.

Assistance from FEMA may include funds for temporary housing while you are unable to live in your home, such as rental assistance or reimbursement for hotel costs; funds to support the repair or replacement of owner-occupied homes that serve as the household’s primary residence, including privately-owned access routes, such as driveways, roads, or bridges; and funds for disaster-caused expenses and serious needs, such as repair or replacement of personal property and vehicles, funds for moving and storage, medical, dental, child care and other miscellaneous items.

Survivors are encouraged to file insurance claims for damage to their homes, personal property, businesses and vehicles before they apply for FEMA assistance. The easiest way to apply is online at DisasterAssistance.gov. Survivors who may need to request an accommodation or have additional questions can call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585) from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. PT, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

Applicants for disaster assistance should have the following information prior to registration: Social Security number; address of the damaged primary residence; insurance coverage information; current telephone number and mailing address; and bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.

For disaster damage to private property that is not fully covered by insurance, SBA may be the best option. SBA is the primary source of federal money for long-term disaster recovery. Homeowners may be eligible for a disaster loan up to $200,000 for primary residence structural repairs or rebuilding. SBA may also be able to help homeowners and renters with up to $40,000 to replace important personal property, including automobiles damaged or destroyed in the disaster. Businesses and nonprofit organizations may be eligible to borrow up to $2 million for repair costs and disaster related working capital needs.

For information on the SBA process, visit DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov, call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing can call 800-877-8339.

Survivors should update contact information as soon as possible because FEMA may need to reach them to perform virtual home inspections or get additional information. FEMA encourages survivors to request direct deposits of disaster assistance to their financial institution. Survivors should let FEMA know as soon as possible of any changes to their mailing or banking information.

Disaster assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster. The assistance is intended to meet basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts.

For more information about California’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4610 and Cal OES’ wildfirerecovery.caloes.ca.gov.

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All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, you can call the Civil Rights Resource line at 833-285-7448 or 800-462-7585 (TTY/TDD).

FEMA’s mission: Helping people before, during and after disasters.

robert.barker Tue, 10/12/2021 - 18:47

FEMA Provides $30M to Minnesota Department of Health for COVID-19 Response Expenses

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Homeland Security and Emergency Management division (DPS-HSEM) announced today that $30 million in federal funding has been made available to the Minnesota Department of Health for costs related to the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic under the federal disaster declaration of April 7, 2020.

This funding will be used to reimburse the Minnesota Department of Health for contracted costs to provide testing kits, lab processing, training on proper testing supervision practices and technology for test tracking across the state from September 2021 through December 2021.

“FEMA’s Public Assistance program is an important resource for state and local governments, jurisdictions, and eligible private non-profits to cover eligible COVID-19 expenses,” said Moises Dugan, acting regional administrator, FEMA Region 5. “This grant funding helps ensure the availability of critical resources to keep people safe while effectively combatting the spread of COVID-19.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an historic set of challenges for our state and our people,” Minnesota Commissioner of Health Jan Malcolm said. “For more than a year and  a half, our public health system and our partners in other sectors have done amazing work on this emergency response effort to limit the impacts and give Minnesotans the tools they need to protect themselves. Federal funding support is instrumental in carrying out this response work. We are grateful for that support and for the willingness of so many Minnesotans to step up and help.”

FEMA provides a 100 percent federal share of eligible reimbursable expenses for this project.  

FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provides funding to state and local governments, jurisdictions, and eligible private non-profits for the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged infrastructure as well as costs incurred for emergency actions taken to protect lives or property.  To learn more, visit FEMA’s website at www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit.

 

# # #

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

troy.christensen Tue, 10/12/2021 - 18:43

FEMA Approves More Than $7.1 Million in Hurricane Michael Public Assistance Grants

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- FEMA has approved three Public Assistance grants totaling $7,159,415 to reimburse the state of Florida for Hurricane Michael recovery expenses.

• Bay District Schools: $1,368,183 for permanent repairs to eight of the A. Crawford Mosley High School buildings to bring those facilities back to their pre-disaster design, function and capacity. This reimbursement brings the total of FEMA grants for the school district to $115.3 million.
• Board of Trustees of Bay Medical Center: $3,557,485 for permanent repairs to five of the hospital’s core buildings in Panama City to return them to their pre-disaster design, function and capacity. This reimbursement brings the total of FEMA grants for the Board of Trustees to $47.6 million.
• City of Mexico Beach: $2,233,745 for the emergency protective measures it implemented to protect the health and safety of residents in response to Hurricane Michael. The amount will offset the city’s non-federal cost share for the grant. The city used donated labor, equipment and materials to complete the work between Oct. 13, 2018 and Dec. 19, 2019. This reimbursement brings the total of FEMA grants for the city to $90.6 million.

FEMA’s Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding for communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency. The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) works with FEMA during all phases of the program and reviews projects prior to FEMA final approval.

Applicants work directly with FEMA to develop projects and scopes of work. FEMA obligates funding for projects to FDEM after final approval.

Once a project is obligated, FDEM works closely with applicants to finalize grants and begin making payments. FDEM has procedures in place designed to ensure grant funding is provided to local communities as quickly as possible.

FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides grants to state, tribal and local governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations, including houses of worship, so communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies.

Kimberly.Kipp Tue, 10/12/2021 - 18:42

FEMA abrirá centros móviles de recuperación por desastre para ayudar a los residentes de Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania – Varios Centros móviles de recuperación de FEMA (MDRC, por sus siglas en inglés) abrirán esta semana para ayudar a los residentes del condado Montgomery cuyas viviendas o propiedad personas fueron impactadas por los remanentes del huracán Ida. Estos centros temporeros contarán con personal de FEMA y representantes de otras agencias federales y estatales para asistir con el registro y contestar preguntas sobre programas de asistencia por desastre.

Estas son las ubicaciones programadas de los MDRC:

• Hampton Inn & Suites 100 Cresson Blvd. Phoenixville, Pa. Horario: viernes 8 de octubre: 12 p.m. a 7 p.m. sábado 9 de octubre: 10 a.m. a 2 p.m.
• Hyatt Place 440 American Ave. King of Prussia, Pa. Horario: lunes 11 y martes 12 de octubre: 12 p.m. a 7 p.m.
• Marriott Collegeville 600 Campus Dr. Collegeville, Pa. Horario: miércoles 13 y jueves 14 de octubre: 12 p.m. a 7 p.m.

Además de los MDRC, si todavía no ha solicitado ayuda, puede hacerlo en cualquier momento en alguna de las siguientes instalaciones fijas:

• Gimnasio de Ciencias de la Salud de la Escuela Universitaria del Condado de Montgomery, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell
• Oficina Municipal de Chadds Ford, 10 Ring Road, Chadds Ford
• Centro Comercial de Ashbridge Square, 945 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown
• Edificio Municipal de Manchester, 3200 Farmtrail Rd, York
• Antiguo CVS, 7219 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia

Los horarios de estos centros de recuperación por desastre son:

lunes a viernes: 10:00 a.m. a 7:00 p.m. (Estos locales estarán cerrados el 11 de octubre, Día de la Raza)

sábado: 10:00 a.m. a 5:00 p.m.

domingo: cerrado

Anotación: The Chadds Ford DRC will close permanently at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9

 

• Iglesia Calvary, 820 Souderton Rd., Souderton

Horario:

viernes: 10 a.m. a 7 p.m.

sábado: 10 a.m. a 5 p.m. domingo: cerrado

lunes: 1 p.m. a 4:30 p.m. (Este local estará cerrado el 11 de octubre, Día de la Raza)

martes: 10 a.m. a 7 p.m.

miércoles: 10 a.m. a 4:30 p.m.

 

Por favor tenga la siguiente información accesible al momento de registrarse:

• Nombre y número de Seguro Social del solicitante principal
• Nombre y número de Seguro Social del solicitante secundario o co-solicitante (fomentado, pero no requerido)
• Dirección actual y previa al desastre
• Nombres de todos los integrantes de la familia previo al desastre
• Información de contacto actual
• Tipo de seguro de la vivienda
• Ingreso bruto anual de la familia previo al desastre
• Pérdidas a causa del desastre
• Información bancaria para depósito directo de asistencia financiera, si se solicita

No se requiere visitar un centro de recuperación por desastre.

Para solicitar asistencia de FEMA:

• Llame a la línea de ayuda de FEMA al 800-621-3362. Operadores multilingües están disponibles. Personas sordas o con impedimentos auditivos o del habla y que utilizan TTY pueden llamar al 800-462-7585. Si utiliza 711 o un sistema de retransmisión por video (VRS, por sus siglas en inglés) o requiere acomodo razonable mientras visita un centro, llame al 800-621-3362. Las líneas de teléfono gratuitas operan las 24 horas del día.
  • La ayuda está disponible en la mayoría de los idiomas e información sobre el proceso de solicitar asistencia está disponible en Lenguaje de Señas Americano (ASL, por sus siglas en inglés) en fema.gov/es/multimedia-library
• Visite DisasterAssistance.gov/es;
• Descargue la aplicación móvil de FEMA disponible también en Google Play o el Apple App Store.

La fecha límite para inscribirse en el programa de asistencia por desastre de FEMA en Pennsylvania es el 10 de noviembre de 2021.

Para actualizaciones sobre la respuesta y la recuperación en Pensilvania, siga a la Agencia de Manejo de Emergencias de Pensilvania en Twitter twitter.com/PEMAHQ  y Facebook facebook.com/PEMAHQ. Más información está disponible en fema.gov/es/disaster/4618.

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La misión de FEMA es ayudar a las personas antes, durante y después de los desastres. La jurisdicción de la región 3 de FEMA incluye Delaware, el Distrito de Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia y West Virginia.

Síganos en Twitter twitter.com/femaregion3 y en LinkedIn en linkedin.com/company/femaregion3 (enlace en inglés).

amanda.hancher Tue, 10/12/2021 - 14:50

Comunicado de prensa ¿Fue determinado que no es elegible para la asistencia de FEMA? Usted puede apelar la decisión

Harrisburg, PA. – Usted ha estado esperando una carta del Programa de Individuos y Familias (IHP, por sus siglas en inglés) de la Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencias (FEMA, por sus siglas en inglés) en la que se le informa sobre la cantidad de su asistencia por desastre, pero en esta se le informa que no es elegible. ¿Y ahora qué?

Tiene derecho a apelar la decisión en un plazo de 60 días a partir de la fecha de la carta de determinación. Puede que sólo se trate de un fallo menor que haya que arreglar, tal vez falte una firma o haya que presentar un documento. Lea atentamente la carta de determinación. La carta le indicará los motivos de la decisión y le recomendará acciones que pueden cambiar la decisión.

1. 1. 13. apelar la decisión de FEMA

La apelación debe presentarse en forma de carta, firmada por el solicitante, en un plazo de 60 días a partir de la fecha de la carta de decisión de FEMA. Debe exponer claramente los motivos por qué no está de acuerdo con la decisión y proporcionar los documentos que apoyan su explicación. Incluya en su carta toda la información solicitada. Asegúrese de incluir lo siguiente:

• Nombre completo del solicitante, dirección actual y número de teléfono
• Dirección de la residencia principal del solicitante antes del desastre (propiedad dañada)
• Número de registro del solicitante (en cada página)
• Número de declaración de desastre de FEMA -4618-DR-PA (en cada página)
• Firma del solicitante y fecha
• Motivo de la apelación (titularidad, ocupación, reparación de la vivienda)
• Documentación de respaldo

Si la persona que escribe la carta de apelación no es el solicitante o un miembro de su familia, debe incluirse una declaración firmada por el solicitante que otorgue al escritor autorización para actuar en su nombre.

Su carta de apelación no es suficiente para que FEMA reconsidere su decisión. Usted necesita pruebas en su apelación para apoyar lo que está reclamando. Cuando presente su apelación, es importante que incluya los documentos o la información que FEMA solicita. Esto es lo que debe incluir en su carta:

• Cartas del seguro: Documentos de su compañía de seguros que demuestran que la cobertura de su póliza y/o la liquidación no es suficiente para hacer las reparaciones esenciales de la vivienda, proporcionar un lugar donde alojarse o reemplazar ciertos contenidos. FEMA no puede duplicar los beneficios. Sin embargo, las personas que no tienen suficiente cobertura de seguro pueden seguir recibiendo ayuda después de que se hayan resuelto sus reclamos al seguro.
• Comprobante de ocupación: Los siguientes documentos pueden fungir como comprobante de ocupación: Factura de servicios públicos, licencia de conducir, contrato de alquiler o estado de cuenta bancario, documentos de la escuela local (pública o privada), registros de vehículos de motor, documentos judiciales y otras formas de documentación, incluyendo cartas de empleadores, proveedores de beneficios federales o estatales y organizaciones de servicios sociales (como programas de asistencia comunitaria y organizaciones sin fines de lucro). Otros comprobantes de ocupación pueden ser: Una declaración firmada por el propietario de un complejo comercial o de casas rodantes y/o una certificación por cuenta propia para casas rodantes y remolques de viaje. Cualquiera de estos documentos puede utilizarse para demostrar que la propiedad dañada era su residencia principal. Todas las facturas y/o declaraciones deben estar fechadas dentro de los 3 meses siguientes al desastre.
• Comprobante de titularidad: Documentos de la hipoteca o del seguro, recibos del pago de impuestos o una escritura, recibos de reparaciones o mejoras mayores, o una carta del complejo de casas rodantes o un documento judicial. FEMA aceptará una carta de un funcionario público, y permitirá que los sobrevivientes con propiedades heredadas, casas rodantes o remolques de viaje, que no tengan la documentación tradicional de verificación de propiedad, certifiquen por cuenta propia la titularidad. Si sus documentos se perdieron o fueron destruidos, visite https://www.usa.gov/espanol/reemplazo-documentos-personales para obtener información sobre cómo reemplazarlos

Usted tiene 60 días a partir de la fecha de su carta de determinación de FEMA para que la agencia reciba su apelación de la primera decisión. Firme y feche su apelación, incluya los documentos de apoyo y recuerde incluir su número de solicitud de FEMA de nueve dígitos y el número de desastre (DR-4618-PA) en cada página.

 

• Hay tres maneras para presentar su apelación: por correo postal, fax o subirlos a través de Disaster Assistance.gov/es
• Por correo: FEMA National Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055
• Por fax: 800-827-8112, Atención a: FEMA (Asegúrese de que todos los documentos enviados por fax incluyan la hoja de portada proporcionada con su carta de decisión de FEMA).
• Presente sus documentos en línea desde su cuenta de DisasterAssistance.gov/es.

Para establecer una cuenta de FEMA en línea o para subir documentos, visite www.disasterassistance.gov/es, y haga clic en “Verificar estatus” y siga las instrucciones

También puede presentar su apelación en un Centro de Recuperación por Desastre o en un Centro de Entrega de Documentos, donde el personal también está disponible para ayudarle a garantizar que se incluyan todos los documentos necesarios. Las personas pueden encontrar el centro de recuperación o de entrega de documentos más cercano visitando https://egateway.fema.gov/ESF6/DRCLocator (enlace en inglés).

1. 1. 25. ahora qué?

Ha redactado su apelación y la ha enviado a FEMA dentro de los 60 días siguientes de su carta de determinación. Es posible que reciba una llamada o una carta de FEMA solicitando más información, o que FEMA programe otra inspección de su vivienda principal. Sea cual sea el caso, una vez que haya enviado la apelación a FEMA, puede esperar una carta de decisión en un plazo de 90 días después de que FEMA la reciba.

Para más información sobre el apoyo de FEMA en la recuperación en Pennsylvania, visite www.fema.gov/es/disaster/4618

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La misión de FEMA es ayudar a las personas antes, durante y después de los desastres. La jurisdicción de la región 3 de FEMA incluye a Delaware, el Distrito de Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia y West Virginia.

Síganos en Twitter en twitter.com/femaregion3 y en LinkedIn en linkedin.com/company/femaregion3

amanda.hancher Tue, 10/12/2021 - 13:36

Four FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers Closing, One Relocating

TRENTON, N.J. – Four Disaster Recovery Centers will be closing next week, with one relocating. While these sites will be closing, face-to-face assistance is still available. Survivors can find their nearest DRC online at fema.gov/drc, or text DRC and their current ZIP Code to 43362. Standard message and data rates apply.

As survivors move through the recovery process, help is just a phone call, a mouse click or a tap on the FEMA app away.   

The DRC in Middlesex County below will permanently close tomorrow, Oct. 9 at 4 p.m.

• Middlesex Fire Academy
  • 1001 Fire Academy Dr., Cafeteria B, Sayreville, N.J. 08872. Saturday Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It will relocate to the following location and open Monday, Oct. 11.

• Piscataway Fire Academy
  • 171 Baekeland Ave., Piscataway, N.J. 08854. Hours are Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

DRCs in Hunterdon and Hudson counties will permanently close Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 5 p.m.

• Hunterdon County
  • Union Fire Company #1, 230 N. Main St., Lambertville, N.J. 08530. Hours: 7 a.m.to 5 p.m. Saturday Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Hudson County
  • Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center, 1379 Paterson Plank Rd., Secaucus, N.J. 07094. Hours: 7 a.m.to  5 p.m. Saturday Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed on Columbus Day, Oct. 11.

DRCs in Bergen and Passaic counties will permanently close Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 5 p.m.

• Bergen County
  • Phillip Ciarco Jr. Learning Center, 355 Main St., Hackensack, N.J., 07652. Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Passaic County
  • Little Falls Civic Center, 19 Warren St., Little Falls, N.J. 07424. Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Help is Still Available

Disaster survivors can still access disaster information and assistance the following ways: online at DisasterAssistance.gov; by calling 800-621-3362; (TTY:800-462-7585); or download the FEMA app available for smart phones. Disaster survivors who are deaf, have a speech or hearing disability and use TTY may call 800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone lines are currently operating 24 hours per day, seven days a week. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Multilingual operators are available.

The deadline to apply for disaster assistance is Nov. 4, 2021.

amir.nijem Tue, 10/12/2021 - 12:34

Your Help Is Needed but Donate and Volunteer Wisely

BATON ROUGE, La. – The overwhelming generosity of private donations and volunteers is helping Louisiana communities recover after Hurricane Ida. These efforts can augment the capabilities of local, state and tribal authorities and survivors throughout the recovery process, which may last many months, even years.

Volunteers should work with a response or relief agency to make sure their efforts will help those most in need. If you are not already connected with an organization, you can visit Volunteer Louisiana online at volunteerlouisiana.gov to find volunteer opportunities in the affected communities.  Volunteer Louisiana helps promote volunteerism and assists with coordinating spontaneous, solo volunteers in times of disasters.

Donations need to be targeted. An unexpected onrush of donated items may exceed a community’s needs or force a relief organization’s limited workforce to manage the donated goods instead of the needs of survivors. Targeting your donations will improve coordination with disaster relief organizations and local and state emergency managers so those in need receive the right help.

That’s why the most effective way to help disaster survivors is to make tax-deductible cash donations to trusted voluntary, faith and community-based charitable organizations. This gives them the ability to purchase the most needed resources or services to provide the survivors.

The easiest way to help is to donate cash. Cash contributions to voluntary organizations make good sense for several reasons:

• Cash donations place experienced disaster response and relief organizations on the ground and provide the steady flow of resources and services needed to help survivors recover.
• When organizations or survivors buy goods or services locally, they pump money back into the local economy to help businesses recover faster.
• It supports disaster responders on the ground, keeping the focus on response and recovery instead of collecting, sorting and transporting donated goods that communities did not ask for.

To ensure your cash contribution is used responsibly, only donate to reputable organizations. To find a list of trusted organizations, you can visit Volunteer Louisiana online at volunteerlouisiana.gov/donate and National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) at www.nvoad.org.

 

For the latest information visit fema.gov/disaster/4611. Follow the FEMA Region 6 Twitter account at twitter.com/FEMARegion6 or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/femaregion6/

mayshaunt.gary Sat, 10/09/2021 - 14:02

Public Assistance Made Available to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania How the Public Assistance Process Works

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that Public Assistance (PA) has been made available to Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Federal aid has been granted to augment state and local recovery efforts in the areas struck by Hurricane Ida. Additional counties may be designated at a later date.

All seven categories of PA (A-G) are now available to commonwealth and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a 75 percent cost-sharing basis for eligible expenditures. These may include emergency work, debris removal and repair or replacement of damaged roads, bridges and other elements of the infrastructure. Public Assistance funding also covers partial or complete repair of schools and other critical functions such as public water tanks or sewer systems. Projects will be approved only if they are necessary as a direct result of storm damage during the designated timeframe. 

FEMA will pay 75 percent of the cost of PA projects; the remainder is the responsibility of commonwealth and local government and, in some cases, non-profit organizations.

In cases where small improvements may reduce the risk of future disaster damage, FEMA may pay for cost-effective mitigation measures. For example, FEMA may cover the cost of such projects as increasing the size of a culvert if the increase could prevent future flooding. Otherwise, FEMA generally pays only to bring facilities back to pre-disaster conditions.

Category A: Debris Removal

Removal of obtrusive items on public property, including trees, woody debris, sand, mud, silt, gravel, building components, wreckage, vehicles and personal property to eliminate an immediate threat to lives, public health and safety. An example of an eligible project is the removal of debris from a street or highway to allow the safe passage of emergency vehicles. An example of an ineligible project is the pre-disaster sediment from engineered channels.

Category B: Emergency Protective Measures

Emergency Protective Measures are actions taken by applicants before, during and after a disaster to save lives, protect public health and safety, and prevent damage to improved public and private property. Emergency communications, emergency access and emergency public transportation costs may also be eligible. These can include such projects as search and rescue, sandbagging and removal of health and safety hazards.

Category C: Roads and Bridges

Roads (paved, gravel, and dirt) are eligible for permanent repair or replacement, unless they are Federal-aid roads. Eligible work includes repair to surfaces, bases, shoulders, ditches, culverts, low water crossings and other features, such as guardrails. Damage to the road must be disaster-related to be eligible for repair. Eligible work includes repairs to such elements as piers and approaches.

Category D: Water Control Facilities

Water control facilities include such elements as dams and reservoirs, levees and engineered drainage channels. Restoration of the carrying capacity of engineered channels and debris basins may be eligible, but maintenance records or surveys must be produced to show the pre-disaster capacity of these facilities.

Category E: Buildings and Equipment

Buildings, including contents such as furnishings and interior systems such as electrical work, are eligible for repair or replacement. FEMA may also pay for the replacement of library books and publications. Removal of mud, silt, or other accumulated debris is eligible, along with any cleaning and painting necessary to restore the building.

If an insurance policy applies to a facility, FEMA will deduct from eligible costs the amount of insurance proceeds, actual or anticipated, before providing funds for restoration of the facility.

Category F: Utilities

Typical Utilities include:

• Water treatment plants and delivery systems
• Power generation and distribution facilities, including generators, substations and power lines
• Sewage collection systems and treatment plants
• Telecommunications
  • Category G: Parks, Recreational Facilities and Other Items

Repair and restoration of parks, playgrounds, pools, cemeteries and beaches are eligible. This category also is used for any work or facility that cannot be characterized adequately by Categories A-F. Other types of facilities, such as roads, buildings and utilities, that are located in parks and recreational areas are also eligible and are subject to the eligibility criteria for Categories C, D, E and F.

Natural features are not eligible facilities unless they are improved and maintained. This restriction applies to features located in parks and recreational areas. Specific criteria apply to beaches and to trees and ground cover.

A detailed description of the seven PA categories is available online. Visit: https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public/program-overview.

The state begins the PA process by announcing a schedule of briefings through which potential applicants are guided through the application process. A list of meeting places and times for each county will be announced within the next few weeks. During the briefings, specialists will describe the application process. After the general applicant briefing, each applicant will meet one on one with an assigned Program Delivery Manager (PDMG) at a scheduled recovery scoping meeting. The PDMG will contact their assigned applicants within one week after a request for PA is submitted. Applicants should contact their commonwealth Public Assistance Officer to arrange the first meeting if they have not heard from their PDMG within two weeks.

• Here’s what to expect at a kick-off meeting

A PDMG will provide a detailed list of required records and can recommend ways of organizing them.

Applicants should be prepared to bring documents with them to their recovery scoping meeting, including a list of damages and a description of intended repair or replacement projects.

Applicants should try to identify circumstances that require special review, such as insurance coverage, environmental resource issues and historic preservation, and potential mitigation projects. The earlier these conditions are known, the faster they can be addressed, and they must be addressed before funding can be approved.

After the meeting, applicants will be able to contact their PDMG with any questions or requests for assistance.

Applicants are responsible for maintaining records of completed work and work to be completed.

For a complete list of frequently asked questions about the PA process, visit: https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public/program-overview.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties and tribes within the state.

For updates on the Pennsylvania response and recovery, follow the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency on Twitter twitter.com/PEMAHQ and Facebook https://m.facebook.com/PEMAHQ/. Additional information is available at fema.gov/disaster/4618.

 

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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

valerie.amato Fri, 10/08/2021 - 23:05

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Major Disaster Declaration for New York

WASHINGTON -- FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of New York to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred from Aug. 18-19, 2021.

Federal funding is available to the 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 remnants of Tropical Storm Fred in Allegany, Cayuga, Cortland, Lewis, Oneida, Steuben, Tioga and Yates counties.

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

Lai Sun Yee has been named the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas. Additional designations may be made at a later date if warranted by the results of damage assessments.

amy.ashbridge Fri, 10/08/2021 - 19:50

FEMA May Provide Help for Privately Owned Roads and Bridges FEMA May Provide Help for Privately Owned Roads and Bridges

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. – FEMA encourages residents in Buncombe, Haywood or Transylvania County whose access to their home was impacted by Tropical Storm Fred to register with FEMA.

FEMA may be able to provide financial assistance to repair or replace a privately owned road or bridge that is the only access to the property.

To apply for FEMA disaster assistance, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, call 800-621-3362, or use the FEMA app for smartphones. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time, seven days a week. The deadline for applications is Nov. 8, 2021.

For more information about Tropical Storm Fred recovery in North Carolina, visit fema.gov/disaster/4617 and ncdps.gov/TSFred. Follow us on Twitter: @NCEmergency and @FEMARegion4.

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

brianasummer.fenton Fri, 10/08/2021 - 18:41