FEMA Clean and Sanitize Assistance Can Help You – Even After the Storm is Long Gone

LANSING, Mich. – FEMA can give eligible survivors of the Aug. 24-26, 2023 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding up to $300 toward their cleaning expenses. Both homeowners and renters may be eligible for Clean and Sanitize assistance, even if they’ve already scrubbed, mopped, and bleached away the storm.

You may qualify if:

Your primary residence was damaged by the disaster, and you were living there when the disaster happened.

Your residence needed to be cleaned after the disaster.

The damage was not covered by your insurance, or you do not have insurance.

Your primary residence is safe to live in.

Apply for FEMA assistance one of four ways:

Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov. 

Use the FEMA mobile app. 

Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. The Helpline is open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Multilingual operators are available. If you use a video relay service, captioned telephone service or other accessibility service, give FEMA your number for that service when you call.

• Visit any Disaster Recovery Center. For locations and hours, visit fema.gov/drc.

The deadline to apply is Monday, April 8, 2024. For more information about the disaster recovery operation in Michigan, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4757. 

kirsten.chambers Wed, 03/13/2024 - 19:47

Damaged Wells, Furnaces, Private Roads and Bridges, and Septic Systems May Be Covered by FEMA

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – While most homeowners apply for disaster assistance for structurally related damages, such as to the roof or floors, there are other parts of a residence not covered by insurance that can be repaired or replaced under FEMA programs.

Damages to your furnace, septic system, private road and/or bridge, or your private well may also be covered by financial assistance from FEMA. 

Residents of Boone, Calhoun, Clay, Harrison, and Kanawha counties whose primary residences were damaged during the Aug. 28-30, 2023, severe storms and flooding may be eligible to apply.

FEMA disaster assistance may provide reimbursement for the cost of a professional, licensed technician’s estimate of the repair or replacement of these items. You may also receive assistance for the actual repair or replacement of these items not typically covered by homeowner’s insurance.

When applying for assistance, be sure to include damages to furnaces, septic systems, private roads, private bridges, or private wells on your form. 

There are four ways to apply:

• Apply in person at one of our Disaster Recovery Centers in Boone, Clay, Harrison or Kanawha counties
  • Contact your local emergency manager for more information
  • Use the DRC Locator to find the center nearest you
• Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov
• Apply with the FEMA App
• Download the free FEMA mobile app, available at Google Play or the Apple App Store
• Apply by Phone at 800-621-3362For more information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery, visit emd.wv.gov, West Virginia Emergency Management Division Facebook page, www.fema.gov/disaster/4756 and www.facebook.com/FEMA.

tiana.suber Wed, 03/13/2024 - 16:09

West Virginians: You have less than three weeks to register with FEMA

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – If you suffered damage or losses from the Aug. 28-30, 2023, severe storms and flooding, you have less than three weeks left to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for federal disaster assistance. The deadline to register is Monday, April 1.

Individual disaster assistance grants for homeowners and renters are available to eligible residents of Boone, Calhoun, Clay, Harrison and Kanawha counties. 

Here is how to register: 

• Visit your nearest Disaster Recovery Center.  Find that center by calling 800-621-3362 or going online to www.fema.gov/drc.
• Call 800-621-3362 (voice, 711 or video relay services) or 800-462-7585 for TTY users;
• Go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov;   

FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

You should register even if you have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but if you have losses insurance doesn’t cover, you may receive help from FEMA after your insurance claims are settled.

To fully cover your losses, you may also need a low interest disaster loan. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides these loans, not just for small businesses, but also for renters, homeowners, businesses of any size and private nonprofits to cover uncompensated real or personal property losses. The deadline to apply for an SBA physical damage loan is the same as for FEMA assistance, Monday, April 1. There is no fee to apply for a loan and you do not have to accept one even if it is offered.

For more information about SBA loans, call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster. TTY users can call 800-877-8339.  Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. 

tiana.suber Wed, 03/13/2024 - 14:05

Six Fire Departments Onboarded onto the New National Emergency Response Information System

WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S Fire Administration (USFA) announces the launch of the prototype version of the new, interoperable fire information and analytics platform, known as the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS), for the American fire and emergency services. The goal of NERIS is to empower the local fire and emergency services community by equipping them with near real-time information and analytic tools that support data informed decision-making for enhanced preparedness and response to emergency incidents involving fires, motor vehicle crashes, medical emergencies, hazardous materials spills and other occurrences. 

Six local fire departments have successfully onboarded onto NERIS and started reporting local emergency incident information through the new system. “The launch of the prototype NERIS and successful onboarding and use by these initial six fire departments represents a major step forward for USFA to fulfill our mission to equip the local fire and emergency services community with a modernized and easy-to-use solution to report critical incident information and provide them access to actionable intelligence,” said Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, U.S. Fire Administrator.

The first fire departments onboarded onto the prototype version of NERIS include:

• Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, Virginia
• Frisco Fire Department, Texas
• Orange County Fire Authority, California
• Springdale Fire Department, Arkansas
• Upper Merion Township Fire & EMS Department, Pennsylvania
• West Metro Fire Rescue, Colorado

USFA is working with these six fire departments to test and evaluate the prototype version of NERIS and to inform future development in preparation to release the full production version in the fall of 2024. “Our use of the prototype NERIS in this test phase has been a resounding success, and we’re eager to increase use across Fairfax County Fire and Rescue. As with any new technology roll-out, expanding the use of NERIS across all 39 fire stations within our department requires implementation planning, which we’re getting started with now," said Chief John Butler, Fire Chief of Fairfax County and President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. "Being an early adopter of NERIS not only benefits our department but also contributes to advancing the use of the latest technology and analytics available to the fire service nationwide.”

These first six fire departments are actively using NERIS to capture the most critical information following response to structure fires, hazardous materials events, emergency medical incidents, among other types of incidents. The prototype NERIS also provides basic, actionable analytic information back to the local fire departments. 

NERIS is built using the latest geographic information system (GIS) technology, interoperable data standards and advanced analytic capabilities, thereby providing location-enabled decision support capabilities to local fire departments nationwide. As NERIS continues to be developed, data from multiple federal data sets, local computer-aided dispatch (CAD), local records management systems (RMS) and other authoritative sources to inform community risks including vulnerable populations, climate hazards such as flood and drought-prone areas and wildland urban interface exposed areas. 

The new NERIS platform will replace the legacy data system known as the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). The legacy NFIRS will remain operational throughout the transition process, so all fire and emergency services departments should continue to use the current NFIRS data system and maintain status quo until onboarded onto the new platform. NERIS will fulfill the USFA's National Fire Data Center's obligation under the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-498) to mitigate the fire problem, reduce loss of life and property, and educate the public on fire prevention and protection, as well as effects of all hazards.

NERIS is provided to local fire departments at no cost. Development is being carried out as a partnership between USFA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and is supported by a contract awarded to the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI). FSRI is a part of UL Research Institutes, the nonprofit safety science organization within the UL enterprise. 

For the latest information on NERIS development, visit www.usfa.fema.gov/nfirs/neris.

amy.ashbridge Tue, 03/12/2024 - 21:10

Public Invited to Review Flood Maps in Lunenburg County, VA

FEMA is proposing updates to the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for Lunenburg County, Virginia. Community partners are invited to participate in a 90-day appeal and comment period. 

The updated maps were produced in coordination with local, state and FEMA officials. Significant community review of the maps has already taken place, but before the maps become final, community partners can identify any corrections or questions about the information provided and submit appeals or comments. 

The 90-day appeal period will begin on or around March 13, 2024. Residents, business owners and other community partners are encouraged to review the updated maps to learn about local flood risks and potential future flood insurance requirements. They may submit an appeal if they perceive that modeling or data used to create the map is technically or scientifically incorrect.

• An appeal must include technical information, such as hydraulic or hydrologic data, to support the claim. 
• Appeals cannot be based on the effects of proposed projects or projects started after the study is in progress.
• If property owners see incorrect information that does not change the flood hazard information—such as a missing or misspelled road name in the Special Flood Hazard Area or an incorrect corporate boundary—they can submit a written comment.

The next step in the mapping process is the resolution of all comments and appeals. Once they are resolved, FEMA will notify communities of the effective date of the final maps.

Submit appeals and comments by contacting your local floodplain administrator: Tracy M. Gee, county administrator, tgee@lunenburgva.gov. The preliminary maps may be viewed online at the FEMA Flood Map Changes Viewer: http://msc.fema.gov/fmcv. Changes from the current maps may be viewed online at the Region 3 Changes Since Last FIRM Viewer: FEMA Region 3 Mitigation Mapping and Data.

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; toll free, at 1-877-FEMA-MAP (1-877-336-2627) or by email at FEMA-FMIX@fema.dhs.gov.  

Most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover flooding. 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 and visiting https://www.floodsmart.gov.

Lunenburg County Flood Mapping Milestones

• Dec. 2, 2022 — Flood Risk Review Meeting to review draft flood hazard data.
• May 18, 2023 — Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map released.
• June 26, 2023 — Community Coordination and Outreach Meeting to review Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map and discuss updates to local floodplain management ordinance and flood insurance.
• March 13, 2024 –Appeal Period starts.
• June 2025* — New Flood Insurance Rate Map becomes effective and flood insurance requirements take effect. (*Timeline subject to change pending completion of the appeal review process.)

If you have any questions, please contact FEMA Region 3 Office of External Affairs at femar3newsdesk@fema.dhs.gov.

###

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 “X” at twitter.com/femaregion3 and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/femaregion3

amanda.hancher Tue, 03/12/2024 - 18:43

Tulsa County, Oklahoma, Flood Maps Become Final

DENTON, Texas – New flood maps have been finalized and will become effective on Sept. 12, 2024, for Tulsa County, Oklahoma. During the next six months, a FEMA compliance specialist will work with the community to update each floodplain ordinance and adopt these new flood maps. 

Residents are encouraged to examine the maps to determine if they are in a low-to-moderate or high-risk flood zone. The current and future Flood Insurance Rate Map can be viewed on FEMA’s Flood Map Changes Viewer at https://msc.fema.gov/fmcv.

By understanding flood risks, individuals can decide which insurance option is best for their situation. Community leaders can use these maps to make informed decisions about building standards and development that will make the community more resilient and lessen the impacts of a flooding event.

Anyone without flood insurance risks uninsured losses to their home, personal property and business. Flood insurance is available either through a private policy or through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for those in communities who participate in the NFIP. Residents with federally backed mortgages must have flood insurance if their structures are in the Special Flood Hazard Area.

Contact your local floodplain administrator (FPA) to review the new flood maps and learn more about your risk of flooding. A FEMA Map Specialist can help identify your community FPA and answer questions about the maps as well. Contact them by phone or online chat.

• To use the live chat service, visit floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/fmx_main.html (just click on the “Live Chat” icon).
• To contact a FEMA Map Specialist, call 877-FEMA MAP (877-336-2627) or send an email to FEMA-FMIX@fema.dhs.gov.

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 floodsmart.gov.

alexa.brown Tue, 03/12/2024 - 14:34

$820M Federal Assistance in Six Months for Hurricane Idalia Recovery

Six months after Hurricane Idalia struck the Florida Big Bend as a major Category 3 hurricane, FEMA and its federal partners have provided more than $820 million to help with disaster recovery. 

FEMA provided $82.5 million in Individual Assistance grant funding to over 35,000 eligible survivors. More than 7,000 survivors were given rental assistance to help pay for lodging while they repair or rebuild their disaster damaged home. 

FEMA has provided $295 million in Public Assistance grant funding to the state of Florida to help state and local governments and certain nonprofits with emergency response projects. More projects are in development. 

The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved $78.6 million in low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, business owners and private non-profit organizations. 

With 5,210 claims submitted, the National Flood Insurance Program closed 98% of cases and paid out $364 million to policyholders to restore homes and businesses. In all, the Hazard Mitigation Community Education Outreach teams counseled over 12,000 survivors on the importance of flood insurance and other mitigation measures.

More than 230 FEMA staff members are deployed to the state, working with the Florida Division of Emergency Management and other partners in Idalia recovery.

Immediately after the storm, FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams went door to door in impacted communities to help survivors apply for assistance. FEMA inspectors have performed more than 42,000 home inspections for survivors who applied for federal disaster assistance. 

In Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Suwannee and Taylor counties, FEMA is providing temporary housing to eligible survivors whose homes are uninhabitable because of the hurricane. As of Jan. 23, all eligible survivors were provided FEMA temporary housing units.

FEMA operated 38 Disaster Recovery Centers, including 18 mobile recovery centers, with nearly 20,000 visits by survivors. 

As Hurricane Idalia caused major impacts to rural communities with a vast and varied agricultural landscape, FEMA and the state of Florida opened two Farmer Recovery Centers to better serve farmers. The centers served as a one-stop assistance shop where farmers spoke with many federal and state agencies about available resources to help them in their recovery.

FEMA continues to work with federal, state, local governments and voluntary organizations on an ongoing basis to identify survivors’ unmet needs, and to help navigate the available assistance and resources. 

For the latest information on Florida’s recovery from Hurricane Idalia, visit floridadisaster.org/info and fema.gov/disaster/4734. Follow FEMA on X, formerly Twitter, at twitter.com/femaregion4 and at facebook.com/fema.

thomas.wise Tue, 03/12/2024 - 13:02

FEMA Hosts Tribal Nations Training Week to Improve Preparedness and Resilience in Tribal Country

WASHINGTON -- Yesterday, FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness kicked off its largest ever Annual Tribal Nations Training Week in Anniston, Alabama. Over 375 tribal students representing more than 100 Tribal Nations will participate in engaging workshops, attend specialized classes and engage in Nation-to-Nation dialogue with FEMA leadership. This year’s theme, “Developing Generational Resiliency Through Training,” underscores our commitment to collaborating with and resourcing a skilled tribal emergency management workforce.

On the first day of the training, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell addressed tribal students, emphasizing the importance of partnering with Tribal Nations and supporting them before, during and after disasters. 

“I’m amazed by the record-setting turnout at this year’s Tribal Training Week,” said Administrator Criswell. “This is an opportunity for Tribal Nations to learn from one another and help us focus on what we at FEMA can do to better support Indian Country before, during and after disasters. FEMA’s leadership is here in person to not only share their best practices in emergency management, but also to listen and learn from the tribal leaders. I’m thankful that we have this forum to come together and build upon last year’s work.”

FEMA’s National Tribal Affairs Advocate Kelbie Kennedy, citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, emphasized the importance of this training. “FEMA’s Tribal Nations Training Week provides vital training for tribal leadership, tribal staff and Indian Health Service staff to build their capacity and strengthen tribal resilience,” said Kennedy. “As the largest gathering of tribal emergency management staff and leadership in the United States, this week provides a place where Tribal Nations can learn from each other, build the inter-tribal emergency management relationships that will save lives and work with FEMA to ensure that we are living up to our treaty and trust responsibilities to all Tribal Nations.” 

This 9th annual Tribal Nations Training Week also features an executive session for tribal leaders comprised of a Tribal Leaders Symposium, a tribal listening session with FEMA leadership, a Continuity of Government Operations Planning for Rural Communities and a National Incident Management System Overview for Senior Officials.

After each year’s class, a focus group of tribal students from the previous year is gathered by FEMA to set the theme and agenda for the following year. FEMA’s Tribal Nations Training Week is both created by and for Tribal Nations to ensure that they have vital emergency management information and resources. 

Tribal Nations can still attend the 2024 Virtual Tribal Nations Training Week happening March 18-28, 2024 by registering on FEMA.gov today. 

To learn more, visit: https://www.fema.gov/event/tribal-nations-training-week. 

amy.ashbridge Mon, 03/11/2024 - 21:25

FEMA Seeking Applications for $36 Million in Grants to Strengthen Community Resilience Through Fire Prevention Programs

WASHINGTON -- FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell today announced the release of the funding notice and opening of the latest application period for the FY 2023 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grant program, which will award $36 million to strengthen community fire prevention programs and support scientific research on innovations that improve firefighter safety, health and well-being.

FP&S funds have supported life-saving research and outreach campaigns, while universities and organizations have been able to advance scientific research and study firefighter safety. For example, the University of Arizona is doing a decades-long study involving thousands of firefighters and what work exposures cause cancer in them, and ways to reduce it. Knowing that nearly 60% of fire deaths in the nation occur in homes that have no functioning smoke alarms, the American Red Cross’ Home Fire Campaign made home visits with more than 3 million people nationwide to provide fire safety education and installed more than 2 million free smoke alarms. In Crofton, Maryland, the U.S branch of The Institution of Fire Engineers works to reduce fire risk through Vision 20/20, a community risk-reduction program that identifies, prioritizes and addresses risk across fire and emergency services. 

“We are investing in better fire safety research and programming to reduce injury and prevent death among high-risk populations,” said Administrator Criswell. “These grants will help communities better equip themselves with the tools they need to save lives and protect themselves from future fire events. It’s in every community’s best interest to seek out this critical opportunity.”

“The FP&S grant funds are fundamental to enabling critical research from a variety of subject-matter experts and entities, necessary to identify gaps and inform interventions that ultimately have national impact on firefighter health and safety,” declared Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, U.S. Fire Administrator. 

The FP&S Program has awarded approximately $852 million since its inception. To help keep communities and firefighters safer, FP&S funding is being made available directly to eligible fire departments, national, regional, state, local, tribal and non-profit organizations such as academic (e.g., universities), research foundations, public safety institutes, public health, occupational health, and injury prevention institutions for fire prevention programs and firefighter health and safety research and development such as clinical studies that address behavioral, social science and cultural research. The application period will close on Friday, April 12, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET.

The FY 2023 FP&S Notice of Funding Opportunity and technical assistance documents for this program are available at www.grants.gov and on the FEMA website. Additional information about upcoming webinars to assist applicants is also available on the FEMA website.

amy.ashbridge Mon, 03/11/2024 - 20:35

Disaster Recovery Centers to Open in Eaton, Kent and Oakland Counties

LANSING, Mich. – FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers will open in Eaton, Kent and Oakland Counties at 8 a.m., March 11, to help residents in Eaton, Ingham, Ionia, Kent, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland and Wayne counties continue their recovery after the Aug. 24-26, 2023, severe storms, tornadoes and flooding. 

Specialists from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration at the centers can help survivors apply for federal disaster assistance, upload documents, learn about ways to make their property more disaster-resistant and get their questions answered in person.

All centers are open 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday to Saturday, except for the Wayne County Community 

College Downriver Campus in Taylor (Wayne County South East), which closes at 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 

All centers are closed Sundays.

Assistance in languages other than English, including American Sign Language (ASL), and translated materials are available at the centers. Disaster Recovery Center locations are chosen for their accessibility, with the goal of reaching as many people as possible. Accessible parking spaces are available. 

The Eaton County center will open at 8 a.m., Monday, March 11, at:

Lansing Community College –West Campus

5708 Cornerstone Drive

Lansing, MI 48917

Closing permanently 6:30 p.m., Saturday, March 16.

 

The Kent County center will open at 8 a.m., Monday, March 11, at:

Henze Community Center

In the Alpine Township Fire Station #1

1100 Henze St. NW

Comstock Park, MI 49321

Closing permanently 6:30 p.m., Saturday, March 16.

 

The Oakland County center will open at 8 a.m., Monday March 11, at:

South Lyon City Hall

335 S. Warren St.

South Lyon, MI 48178

Closing permanently 6:30 p.m., Saturday, March 16

 

Additional recovery centers are open at the following locations:

Monroe County: Opened 8 a.m., March 4, at:

Frenchtown Township Fire Dept.

2885 Nadeau Road

Monroe, MI 48162

Closing permanently 6:30 p.m., Saturday, March 16

 

Wayne County (South East): Tuesday, Feb. 27, at:

Wayne County Community College Downriver Campus

21000 Northline Road

Taylor, MI 48180

Friday and Saturday hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Open until further notice.

 

Wayne County (Canton West Central) Opened Tuesday, Feb. 27, at:

Canton Human Services Building

50430 School House Road

Canton, MI 48187

Open until further notice.

 

Macomb County: Opened 8 a.m. Friday, Feb. 23, at:

Chesterfield Township Fire Department Central Station

33991 23 Mile Road

Chesterfield, MI 48047

Open until further notice.

To find the center nearest you, visit FEMA.gov/DRC. Survivors may visit any center for assistance.

Survivors don’t need to visit a Disaster Recovery Center to apply for FEMA assistance. To apply without visiting a center, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or download the FEMA App. If you use a relay service such as video relay service, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service when you apply. The deadline to apply for assistance is April 8, 2024.

For more information about the disaster recovery operation in Michigan, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4757. 

kirsten.chambers Mon, 03/11/2024 - 18:59

FEMA Approves More Than $2.9 Million for the City of Rolling Fork

MADISON, Miss. – FEMA has approved $2,926,875 to reimburse the city of Rolling Fork for the replacement of signs and the repair of roads following the March 24-25, 2023, severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes.

Following the March 2023 tornadoes, the city of Rolling Fork lost signage, sustained deep road rutting and the loss of asphalt due to the large trucks traveling on the roads.

The city of Rolling Fork will use their own personnel and contractors to replace 662 signs and repair roads to pre-disaster design, function and capacity. The 662 signs include:

• 218 street signs.
• 104 children playing signs.
• 89 speed limit signs.
• 88 stop signs.
• 71 historical signs: street, stop, four-way and directional signs. 
• 44 four-way signs.
• 42 directional signs.
• four reduce speed school zone ahead signs.
• two one-direction, large arrow signs.

FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides 75% grant reimbursement to local and state government agencies for the costs of emergency response, debris removal and restoration of disaster-damaged public facilities and infrastructure. 

For the latest information on recovery from the March tornadoes, visit msema.org and www.fema.gov/disaster/4697. On X/Twitter follow MEMA @MSEMA and FEMA Region 4 @femaregion4.

melanie.barker Mon, 03/11/2024 - 18:23

FEMA Invites Fire Department and Volunteer Firefighter Interest Organizations to Apply for $360 Million in FEMA Grants to Boost Number of Trained Firefighters in Communities Nationwide

WASHINGTON -- Today, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell announced the opening of the application period for the Fiscal Year 2023 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, which offers $360 million in grants directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained firefighters protecting communities across the nation. 

Building more resilient communities includes having sufficiently staffed fire departments. FEMA SAFER grant funding will be used to increase the number of firefighters to help communities meet industry minimum standards, attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate fire protection from fire and fire-related hazards and to fulfill traditional missions of fire departments. The SAFER application period will close on Friday, April 12, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET.

“All disasters are local and it’s the local firefighters that are first on the scene taking action to prevent loss of life and property,” Administrator Criswell said. “These awards are an annual opportunity for FEMA to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained firefighters available in their communities.”

Since 2005, the SAFER Program has awarded approximately $5.2 billion in grant funding. This support helps ready households and communities, trains a skilled firefighting workforce (both paid and volunteer) and builds local capacity across the nation.

“Across the nation, many career and volunteer fire departments struggle with recruitment of new firefighters and retention of those on the job,” acknowledged Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, U.S. Fire Administrator. “SAFER grant funds are essential to ensuring that local communities have enough firefighters to respond when they are needed.”   

Over the years, SAFER funds have had a big impact in communities, including stories of lives saved because of SAFER-funded staffing.

• In Lake County, Florida, two firefighters rescued a 3-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl from a housefire. They were able to make immediate entry into the burning home because of additional staffing from a SAFER grant.
• A firefighter from Pennsylvania’s Southwest Greensburg Fire Department, hired through a SAFER grant, climbed nine flights of stairs to rescue a man from an apartment fire.
• In Arizona, the City of Maricopa Fire/Medical department was able to continue 24/7 coverage in each fire protection zone during the COVID pandemic in 2020 because of SAFER funding.

The FY 2023 SAFER Notice of Funding opportunity and technical assistance documents for this program are available at www.grants.gov and on the FEMA website. Additional information about upcoming webinars to assist applicants is also available on the FEMA website.

amy.ashbridge Mon, 03/11/2024 - 16:53

FEMA Claims Office Hosting Three-Day Workshop in Las Vegas, March 12 -14

SANTA FE, N.M. -- FEMA Hermits Peak /Calf Canyon Claims Office Advocate team will host a three-day workshop from March 12 to 14 at the New Mexico Highlands University to offer assistance with the claims process. 

People affected by the Hermits Peak Fire and subsequent flooding are invited to take advantage of the workshop and visit one-on-one with Claims Office representatives to ask questions about any part of the process or their own individual claim. Attendees will also be able to bring in any paperwork that needs to be added to their claims. 

WHEN: March 12 to March 14, 2024, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., daily.

WHERE: Highlands University, Student Union Building, Room 321, 800 National Ave., Las Vegas, NM 87701.

The workshop will take people through the whole process, from start to finish. Each day of the workshop will have a specific theme. These are:

• March 12 - Small Business Day
• March 13 – Agriculture/Farming Day
• March 14 – Address questions on probate process and flood insurance

Staff members, with examples in each of the above areas, will be available to walk people through the claims process.

Anyone impacted by the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire and subsequent flooding is welcome to visit any one of our three Claims Offices. Visit fema.gov/disaster/current/hermits-peak/contact-us for locations and hours.

For information and updates regarding the Claims Office, please visit the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office website at fema.gov/hermits-peak. For information in Spanish, visit fema.gov/es/hermits-peak. Follow our Facebook page at facebook.com/HermitsPeakCalfCanyonClaimsOffice/ and turn on notifications to stay up to date about the claims process, upcoming deadlines and other program announcements.

erika.suzuki Mon, 03/11/2024 - 15:08

Mayfield First United Methodist Church Approved for More Than $4.8 Million in FEMA Recovery Funds

Frankfort, Ky. – FEMA has approved $4,838,775 in federal funding to The Mayfield First United Methodist Church for damage caused by the December 2021 severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, and tornadoes in Kentucky. 

During the incident period, an EF-4 tornado outbreak resulted in the destruction of the church, originally completed in 1919. 

The church will utilize contractors to replace the church facility, interiors, services, and equipment to include the foundation, columns, roofing to interior finishes, mechanical systems, and furnishings. Contract work will also be used to replace the church’s M.P. Moller brand organ to match the original design, function, and capacity as well as various types of stained glass and insulated windows throughout the church along with framing requirements. Contractors will also be used to replace the church sign, its foundation, lighting, and associated elements. 

Funding for this Public Assistance (PA) project is authorized under Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. PA funds reimburse eligible applicants for the cost of debris removal; life-saving emergency protective measures; and the repair, replacement or restoration of disaster-damaged facilities like buildings, roads, and utilities.

Applicants work directly with FEMA to develop project worksheets and scopes of work. Following approvals by FEMA and KYEM, FEMA obligates funding for the project.

The FEMA PA program provides grants to state, tribal, and local governments, and certain types of private non-profit organizations including some houses of worship, so that communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies.

The federal share for this Public Assistance project is 90 percent of the eligible with the remaining non-federal share of 10% to be contributed by other sources.

erika.suzuki Mon, 03/11/2024 - 14:51

FEMA Funds to Uphold the Legacy of Marketplaces

Guaynabo, Puerto Rico – Four marketplaces located in Las Piedras, San Juan and Vega Baja will have their facilities repaired with nearly $2 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The allocations seek to foster and promote these plazas, which are of great significance to the municipalities and their communities. 

In general, the plazas will undergo repairs to lighting, security and roof membranes, in addition to replacing doors, air conditioners, signs and windows.

“The personal service and the variety of products and services, in addition to the sense of tradition and familiarity of the people, are part of what makes Puerto Rico's marketplaces unique. For FEMA it is important to be part of their revitalization, as they promote the economy of the municipalities through small merchants and are meeting points for locals and tourists,” said FEMA’s Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator in Puerto Rico José G. Baquero.

One of the projects in this allocation is the Vega Baja Héctor A. Joy Sandín Marketplace, with over $876,400 to repair three of its facilities: the Market Plaza, an annex and the Public Car Terminal. Hazard mitigation measures such as the replacement of roof panels with water-resistant ones are considered with an allocation of over $39,000.

The repairs will help root vegetable vendors like Osvaldo Camacho Alicea receive their customers in a safer and more comfortable area. 

Camacho Alicea spent part of his childhood working in the former Marketplace with his father, Marcelo Camacho Martínez, who had a root vegetable stand. “In 1967 my dad brought me to work with him and I stayed until 1975. I had no vacations or holidays; I had to be with him working. I didn't like the work, but he said to me, 'If you don't study, I'm going to give you a college that you won't have to pay for.' I graduated from high school, went to Chicago and in 1983 I returned to Puerto Rico, to this day,” he recalled.

For him, marketplaces are important and, although he confessed that the number of customers has decreased over the years, he thinks that this tradition should continue. In fact, he still keeps in his stall the bus horn which he used to sell root vegetables around the neighborhoods.

Meanwhile, the executive assistant in charge of the Office of Protocol, Calendar and Communications for the municipality of Vega Baja, Luis R. Pérez Santos, pointed out that people still visit the marketplace, because it has everything they could need. “The people’s hospitality and the type of business here, which no longer exist in the urban centers, such as greengrocers, lottery salespeople, the hair salon, the flower shop; all that and obviously a cafeteria that is legendary. You will find the best stuffed potatoes there”, he indicated.

In the municipality of San Juan, two plazas received a total of over $718,500 for repairs. These are the Río Piedras Rafael Hernández Marketplace, built in 1956, which has been awarded $672,000; and the Santurce Marketplace, built in 1912, with over $46,000. 

According to the executive officer in charge of the Santurce Marketplace, Miguel Ángel Orta Vélez, the marketplace tradition is still alive. In his opinion, the plaza has evolved and has become a place recognized worldwide for its artistic and cultural events, and receives nearly 400,000 visitors each year. 

“The Plaza has survived despite the proliferation of other spaces that sell food. The tradition of people coming to the square to eat prepared foods and search for their root vegetables, fruits and vegetables, it remains here,” he said. He also emphasized that for the merchants this is their way of life. “Some of them have been here for 30 or 40 years and many of them are the children of those who were originally here in the plaza,” he added. 

One of these second-generation merchants is Jorge Luis Otero. For nearly 60 years, his father was in charge of the stall that he now manages. For Otero, it’s not only about the importance of cultural heritage, but also about offering good prices and a pleasant experience to the visitor, “so that they are satisfied and come back.”

Perhaps a good example of this is Arsenio Quiles from Lares, who has lived in Santurce since 1967 and has found his place in this plaza. Don Arsenio is 95 years old and spends his days here, happy and surrounded by “good people and good neighbors.” “This is my paradise. I am here every day. There is joy, events, you meet people and the community is very nice. You can find everything here,” he said. Quiles also said that he serves people when they arrive, sweeps if he has to sweep and even takes pictures with tourists from all over the world who want to take a souvenir of their visit to the iconic square.

On the other hand, an allocation of nearly $264,000 went to the Juan Velázquez Marketplace in Las Piedras to repair its building, built in 1996. The plaza has the 52nd flag by artist Héctor Collazo Hernández and receives about 400 people a month. The Culture and Tourism director of Las Piedras, Elvin Agosto Rodríguez, said that although sales have decreased in certain areas, "the plaza remains alive due to the wide range of artisan workshops offered and the variety of events that take place.”

Businesswoman Mayrabel Tolentino Serrano, owner of a beauty salon, agrees that activity has decreased, but understands that the repairs in the plaza will benefit merchants and customers, since it will be possible to fix existing problems that affect the structure and, therefore, services.

For his part, the executive director of the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency (COR3), Manuel A. Rivera Laboy, said that “marketplaces represent an important opportunity for the development of local farmers and merchants. The reconstruction work and the implementation of mitigation measures will make these buildings, some of them historic, more resilient to future natural disasters. At COR3, we will continue to assist in the necessary steps to ensure that these works, which are subsidized by FEMA funds, are carried out in an expeditious and compliant manner.”

To date, FEMA has obligated over $32 billion for more than 10,900 recovery projects in Puerto Rico following Hurricane María.

For more information about Puerto Rico’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4339, fema.gov/disaster/4473 and recovery.pr. Follow us on our social media at Facebook.com/FEMAPuertoRico, Facebook.com/COR3pr and Twitter @COR3pr.

Héctor A. Joy Sandín Marketplace, Vega Baja PR

Vega Baja, Puerto Rico (February 29, 2024) – FEMA obligated over $876,400 to the Municipality of Vega Baja to repair three facilities of the Héctor A. Joy Sandín Marketplace: the Market Plaza, an annex and the Public Car Terminal. Hazard mitigation measures such as the replacement of roof panels with water-resistant ones are considered with an allocation of over $39,000. Photo FEMA/Karixia Ortiz

Santurce Marketplace, San Juan, PR

San Juan, Puerto Rico (March 4, 2024) – FEMA allocated over $46,000 to repair the Santurce Marketplace, built in 1912. Photo FEMA/Eliezer Hernández

 

frances.acevedo-pico Mon, 03/11/2024 - 12:00

Beware of Fraud and Scam Artists

Spokane, Wash.  – Survivors of the Gray and Oregon Road Fires should be aware that con artists and criminals may try to obtain money or steal personal information through fraud, scams, or identity theft. 

FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance

• Federal and local disaster workers do not solicit or accept money. Don’t trust anyone who offers financial help and then asks for money.
• Do not disclose information to any unsolicited telephone calls and e-mails from individuals claiming to be FEMA or federal employees. FEMA will only contact you if you have called FEMA first or registered for assistance. If you receive suspicious emails or phone calls, you can call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 to verify if a FEMA call or email is legitimate. 
• FEMA representatives will ask for social security and bank account numbers when you apply and may ask for it again after you apply. Be cautious when giving this information to others who ask for it. Scam artists may pose as government officials, aid workers, or insurance company employees.
• Ask to see ID badges. All FEMA representatives carry an identification badge with a photograph. A FEMA shirt or jacket is not proof of identity.

Phony Property Inspections:

• Be on alert if somebody asks for your nine-digit registration number. FEMA inspectors will never ask for this information. They already have it in their records.
• FEMA-contracted inspectors assessing damage never charge a fee to inspect your property.

Phony Building Contractors:

• FEMA does not hire or endorse specific contractors to fix homes or recommend repairs. A FEMA inspector’s job is to verify damage.
• Always hire a reputable engineer, architect or building official to assess your home. An unethical contractor may create damage to get work.

To report scams, fraud, and identity-theft contact:

• FEMA’s toll-free Disaster Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721
• The Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud: justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster- complaint-form
• When in doubt, report any suspicious behavior to your local authorities.

You can register for FEMA assistance online by visiting disasterassistance.gov, using the FEMA mobile app, or by calling 1-800-621-3362.

FEMA is committed to ensuring disaster assistance is accomplished equitably, without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. Any disaster survivor or member of the public may contact the FEMA Civil Rights Office if they feel that they are the victim of discrimination. FEMA’s Civil Rights Office can be contacted at 833-285-7448. Multilingual operators are available.

###

Follow FEMA Region 10 on X 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 Fri, 03/08/2024 - 21:48

FEMA Expands its Reinsurance Program by Transferring $575 Million in Flood Risk to Capital Markets

WASHINGTON -- FEMA continues to engage reinsurance markets to help strengthen the financial framework of the National Flood Insurance Program and promote private sector participation in flood-risk management.

On March 7, 2024, FEMA obtained reinsurance coverage through Insurance-Linked Securities reinsurance for a seventh time.  FEMA entered into three-year reinsurance agreements with its transformer reinsurer, Hannover Re (Ireland) Designated Activity Company. In turn, Hannover, transferred $575 million of the program’s financial flood risk to qualified capital market investors through a special purpose insurer, FloodSmart Re Ltd, for sponsoring catastrophe bonds.

As part of these agreements, FEMA will pay about $85.7 million in premiums, excluding initial expenses, for the first year of reinsurance coverage. Additionally, the agreements will cover the following losses for any single flood event:

• 10% of losses between $8 billion and $9 billion  
• 23.75% of losses between $9 billion and $11 billion 

“I’m pleased that FEMA has successfully secured favorable terms for this year’s capital market reinsurance and retained our current level of reinsurance coverage at acceptable rates,” said David Maurstad, FEMA’s Assistant Administrator for the Federal Insurance Directorate and senior executive of the National Flood Insurance Program. “This latest investment in our reinsurance program reinforces FEMA’s objectives to expand financial tools to achieve a sound financial framework and bolster the programs’ claims paying capacity following extreme flooding events.” 

This coverage builds on FEMA’s NFIP Reinsurance Program transferring the program’s flood risk to qualified capital market investors since 2018. Each placement is a three-year term:

• $275 million in March 2023
• $450 million in February 2022

Combined with FEMA’s existing reinsurance coverage -- FloodSmart 2022-1 bonds, FloodSmart 2023-1 bonds and the January 2024 traditional reinsurance placement -- FEMA has transferred $1.92 billion of the NFIP’s flood risk to the private sector ahead of the 2024 hurricane season.

Congress authorized FEMA to secure reinsurance through the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, and the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 .  

Visit FEMA.gov for more information about the reinsurance programs for the National Flood Insurance Program.

amy.ashbridge Fri, 03/08/2024 - 21:07

Three Weeks Left to Apply for FEMA Assistance

Homeowners and renters in Androscoggin, Franklin, Kennebec, Oxford, and Somerset counties who have uninsured damage to their property or other disaster-caused losses from the severe storm and flooding from December 17-21 have only three weeks left to apply for disaster assistance.

The deadline to apply for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is April 1. 

There are several ways to register:

• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages. The Helpline is available daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET.
• Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov (also in Spanish).
• Download the FEMA mobile app (also in Spanish), available on Google Play or the Apple App Store.

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.

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.

Survivors should keep their contact information updated with FEMA because they may need to reach them to perform a home inspection or get additional information. For faster reimbursement, 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.

adrien.urbani Fri, 03/08/2024 - 20:51

WV Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers Will Be Closed Saturday, March 9, 2024

CHARLESTON, W.Va.– The state-federal Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers in Boone and Clay counties will be closed Saturday, March 9, 2024, due to forecast inclement weather. 

The Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers will reopen at 9 a.m. Monday, March 11, 2024.

The centers are located at:

Boone County

38 John Slack Circle, Racine, WV 26165 

Hours of operation:

Closed Saturday, March 9, 2024

Reopening 9 a.m. Monday, March 11, 2024

 Clay County

Located at 223 Main Street Clay, 25043, WV

Hours of operation:

Closed Saturday, March 9, 2024

Reopening 9 a.m. Monday, March 11, 2024

Centers in Harrison and Kanawha counties will be open on Saturday, March 9, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 a.m. to assist survivors.

If it is not possible to visit the Disaster Recovery Center or to apply online, call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone line operates from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., 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.

1. For more information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery, visit emd.wv.gov, West Virginia Emergency Management Division Facebook page, www.fema.gov/disaster/4756  and www.facebook.com/FEMA.

tiana.suber Fri, 03/08/2024 - 20:23

First Christian Church Approved for More than $4.7 Million in FEMA Recovery Funds

Frankfort, Ky. – FEMA has approved $ 4,757,382 to the Commonwealth of Kentucky to replace the First Christian Church which was destroyed by the Dec. 2021 Western Kentucky tornadoes.

During the incident period, severe storms, and flooding caused an EF-4 Tornado outbreak resulted in the destruction of the First Christian Church, a facility listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In response, contractors were used for demolition and disposal of damaged church facilities. The applicant will also utilize contractors for the replacement of the main church building using current codes and standards. 

Applicants work directly with FEMA to develop project worksheets and scopes of work. Following approvals by FEMA and KYEM, FEMA obligates funding for the project.

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

The federal share for this Public Assistance project is 90 percent of the eligible with the remaining non-federal share of 10% to be contributed by other sources.

erika.suzuki Fri, 03/08/2024 - 17:37