FEMA Awards Nearly $6 Million to Plymouth State University for COVID Testing Costs

BOSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending almost $6 million to the State of New Hampshire to reimburse Plymouth State University for the cost of providing testing for students, faculty and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $5,956,630 FEMA Public Assistance grant to the public university will reimburse it for the cost of providing 214,372  polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and 36,240 antigen testing kits between December 2020 and March 2022.

In addition to the cost of the tests, the grant will also cover the expenses associated with administering them such as signs, waste containers and wristbands, as well as the cost of repairing the floor of the gym used as a testing facility due to damage caused by high foot traffic.

“FEMA is pleased to be able to assist Plymouth State University with these costs,” said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. “Providing resources for our institutions of higher education to combat the COVID-19 pandemic is critical to their success, and to our success as a nation.”

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

So far, FEMA has provided more than $203 million in Public Assistance grants to New Hampshire to reimburse the state for pandemic-related expenses.

adrien.urbani Mon, 03/13/2023 - 18:40

FEMA Awards Rhode Island Almost $13.5 Million for COVID Staffing Costs

BOSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending nearly $13.5 million to the State of Rhode Island to reimburse the state’s health agency for the costs of contracting for public health and epidemiology staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $13,478,747 FEMA Public Assistance grant will reimburse the Rhode Island Department of Health for the cost of contracting to provide staffing for case investigation, outbreak control and other emergency protective measures statewide between July 2021 and March 2022.

The staffing included personnel such as physician consultants, nursing consultants, COVID-19 call center interpreters, emergency management, program management, professional services, and temporary staff including nurses, case investigators, and epidemiologists.

“FEMA is pleased to be able to assist the Rhode Island Department of Health with these costs,” said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. “Providing resources for our partners on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic fight is critical to their success, and to our success as a nation.”

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

This grant brings the total awarded by FEMA to the State of Rhode Island to almost $632 million to reimburse the state for pandemic-related expenses.

adrien.urbani Mon, 03/13/2023 - 18:33

FEMA Awards Over $1.5 Million to City of Boston for COVID-19 School Cleaning

BOSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $1.5 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse the City of Boston for the cost of overtime to clean and disinfect public schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $1,539,097 Public Assistance grant will reimburse the City of Boston for the cost of paying 535 staff some 90,771 hours of overtime to clean and disinfect 130 school buildings during the 2020-2021 school year so that they could be safely opened and operated.

“FEMA is pleased to be able to assist the City of Boston with these costs,” said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. “Providing resources for our partners on the front lines of the pandemic fight is critical to their success, and to our success as a nation.”

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

So far, FEMA has provided more than $1.5 billion in Public Assistance grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the commonwealth for pandemic-related expenses.

adrien.urbani Mon, 03/13/2023 - 18:32

FEMA Awards Almost $2.4 Million to Tufts University for COVID-19 Testing

BOSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending nearly $2.4 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse Tufts University for the cost of testing students, faculty and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $2,397,133 Public Assistance grant will reimburse the private university in Medford for the cost of contracting to administer 107,354 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests at its four campuses in the greater Boston area between August 2021 and June 2022.

The grant also covers the costs of purchasing and distributing some 18,212 home test kits and personal protective equipment (PPE) such as N95 masks to students and faculty, as well as contracting for a delivery service to transport PCR test specimens to a testing facility.

“FEMA is pleased to be able to assist Tufts University with these costs,” said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. “Providing resources for our institutions of higher education to combat the COVID-19 pandemic is critical to their success, and to our success as a nation.”

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

So far, FEMA has provided more than $1.5 billion in Public Assistance grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the commonwealth for pandemic-related expenses.

adrien.urbani Mon, 03/13/2023 - 18:27

Avoid and Report Disaster Fraud

LAKE MARY, Fla. – A survivor recently reported getting a text that their “federal government check in the amount of $2800 has been disbursed”. The text instructed the survivor to visit a link and provide personal information for FEMA to verify. This is a scam. Scam attempts can be made over the phone, by mail or email, text or in person. FEMA is not providing any financial assistance in the amount of $2,800.00. If you have applied for disaster assistance, FEMA will notify you of its decision. The agency may also contact you if it needs additional information to process your application. This may come in the form of a letter. In some instances, you may receive a phone call. Review your FEMA letters carefully.

Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov to create an online account with FEMA. Be extremely careful when clicking any links.

Here is a list of other possible scams that may target Hurricane Ian survivors:

Identity Theft

• Disaster survivors should be aware con artists and criminals may try to apply for FEMA assistance using names, addresses and Social Security numbers they have stolen from survivors.
• If a FEMA inspector comes to your home and you have not filed a FEMA application, your information may have been used without your knowledge. Tell the inspector you did not apply for FEMA assistance.
• If you did not apply for assistance but receive a letter from FEMA, please call our Helpline at 800-621-3362 any day between 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET.

If you believe you are the victim of a contracting scam, price gouging or other fraudulent activity, contact local law enforcement and report it to the Office of the Attorney General by calling 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226) or visit myfloridalegal.com. To file a fraud complaint, go online to Scam Report (myfloridalegal.com). or contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at www.ftc.gov/complaint.

Telephone calls

• FEMA will only reach out if you have already applied for assistance. If you are contacted by someone asking you to apply for FEMA assistance or if you question someone’s intent, contact your local law enforcement agency.

Housing inspectors claiming to represent FEMA

• Be cautious if somebody asks for your nine-digit application number. A FEMA inspector will not ask for this. They already have it in their records and may provide it to you to confirm they are interacting with the correct person.
• FEMA inspectors never ask for or confirm banking information.
• Ask the inspector to show you their identification badge. Federal and contracted employees always wear an official government badge to identify themselves.

Someone comes to your home without a FEMA photo ID

• Do not let someone into your home who claims to be a FEMA employee but does not have a FEMA photo ID. All FEMA representatives carry a laminated photo ID.

Fake offers of local or federal aid

• Don’t trust someone who asks for money. Federal and local disaster workers do not solicit or accept money. FEMA and staff from the Small Business Administration never charge for inspections or help in filling out a disaster assistance application.
• Don’t believe anyone who promises a disaster grant and asks for large cash deposits or advance payments in full.

Charitable giving

• A list of reputable charities that are approved by the Better Business Bureau’s “Wise Giving Alliance” can be found at www.give.org.

Rental listings

• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has information on how rental scams work. For instance, scammers know finding the right apartment or vacation rental can be hard work, and a seemingly good deal is hard to pass up when you need a place to stay. Learn more at www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0079-rental-listing-scams.

bree-constance… Mon, 03/13/2023 - 17:24

Christian County Receives Nearly $1.2 Million in Federal Funding to Repair and Strengthen Electric Grid

FRANKFORT, Ky.– FEMA has approved nearly $1.2 million in total funding to reimburse the Pennyrile Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation (PRECC) for repairs to its power distribution system. This damage was due to severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, and tornadoes that occurred Dec. 10-11, 2021.

During this storm, power lines and trees were downed, damaging the PRECC electric grid in Christian County. FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides grants to state, tribal, and local governments, and certain types of private non-profit organizations including rural electric cooperatives, so that communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters.

FEMA approved $1,176,260 to reimburse the PRECC for repair efforts. The electrical co-op used contract workers and PRECC crews, equipment and vehicles to assist with the repairs. They removed/replaced 200 wood poles, 53 transformers along with conductor wire, insulators, guy wires, crossarms and associated hardware. The project restored the power distribution system back to its pre-disaster design, function, and capacity within the existing footprint.

Because of the damage from this storm, President Biden authorized a cost share adjustment to 90% federal funding for this project. All work and costs were between Dec. 11, 2021, and May 20, 2022. This means FEMA reimburses applicants at 90% of eligible costs with the remaining 10% covered by the commonwealth. The federal share is paid directly to the commonwealth to disburse to the PRECC.  Following the commonwealth's review process and upon receipt of appropriate documentation, they reimburse the PRECC.

A hazard mitigation proposal was included in this project to reduce the likelihood of similar damage from a future event. To increase the wind resistance and overall resilience of the power distribution system the PRECC reinforced specific poles with extra guy wires and anchors.

mayshaunt.gary Mon, 03/13/2023 - 16:54

Be Prepared for Future Disasters

PRATTVILLE, Ala.– Tornadoes may end up causing massive destruction to homes, property, and infrastructure. Typically, tornadoes cause the greatest damage to structures of light construction, including residential dwellings and particularly manufactured homes.

Mitigation measures are available to improve personal safety and reduce or eliminate the risk of future damage to structures and personal property. FEMA building specialists can give information on how to repair, retrofit, or rebuild to be safer and stronger before the next disaster.

Roof failures are a common cause of major damage to buildings and their contents from high winds. There are mitigation measures that can be taken to reduce potential roof damage.

These mitigation measures include:

• Designing wind-resistant roofs
• Reinforcing gable roof ends
• Securing sheathing properly
• Installing shingles properly

Exterior doors and windows are the weakest parts of a structure’s outer shell. If they are broken or blown in, high winds can enter a structure and create internal pressures which act on the roof and walls, resulting in serious damage. Once the structure is breached, wind, debris, and rain can damage the interior of the structure or injure any person inside.

Breach point mitigation measures include:

• Reinforcing garage doors
• Securing double-entry doors
• Installing impact-resistant glass

Always check with local building official before beginning any repairs or rebuilding .

• Building codes, permits, inspection requirements, and zoning ordinances may be involved.
• A floodplain ordinance will affect rebuilding when the structure has sustained substantial damage and is situated in a floodplain.

Building officials will reinforce the point that only licensed professionals are qualified to perform structural repair or structural mitigation work.

FEMA mitigation specialist are available to talk to survivors about their damage and discuss how to best repair their homes on the Mitigation Helpline. Survivors can call 833-336-2487 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Central Time. Survivors may leave a voicemail at any time or email FEMA-R4-HMHELP@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

For information on Alabama’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4684. Follow FEMA on Twitter at FEMA Region 4 (@femaregion4) / Twitter and at facebook.com/fema.

felicia.jordan Mon, 03/13/2023 - 16:10

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Emergency Declaration for California

WASHINGTON -- FEMA announced today that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of California to supplement state, tribal and local response efforts due to emergency conditions resulting from severe winter storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides beginning March 9, 2023, and continuing. 

The President’s action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance to save lives, to protect property and safety and to lessen or avert the threat of catastrophe in the counties of Amador, Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Lake, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Francisco, San Mateo, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sierra, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tulare, Tuolumne and Yuba.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures limited to direct federal assistance, under the public assistance program will be provided at 75% federal funding. 

Andrew F. Grant has been named the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 

luther.wills-dudich Fri, 03/10/2023 - 20:46

FEMA Awards Over $2 Million to City of Boston for COVID-19 Supplies

BOSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $2 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse the City of Boston for the cost of purchasing emergency supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $2,006,134 Public Assistance grant will reimburse the Boston Public Health Commission for the cost of personal protective equipment (PPE) and supplies distributed to both its staff and community partners to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

The PPE and supplies purchased between March and December 2020 included masks, gloves, safety glasses, face shields, N95 masks, disinfecting wipes and sanitizer.

“FEMA is pleased to be able to assist the Boston Public Health Commission with these costs,” said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. “Providing resources for our partners on the front lines of the pandemic fight is critical to their success, and to our success as a nation.”

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

So far, FEMA has provided more than $1.5 billion in Public Assistance grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the commonwealth for pandemic-related expenses.

adrien.urbani Fri, 03/10/2023 - 20:11

FEMA Awards Nearly $1.4 Million to Massachusetts for COVID-19 Supplies

BOSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending almost $1.4 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse it for the cost of purchasing emergency supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $1,377,794 Public Assistance grant will reimburse the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for the cost of personal protective equipment (PPE) and supplies purchased to address COVID-19.

The PPE and supplies purchased between June 2020 and June 2021 included gloves, masks, gowns, face shields, storage carts and containers, respirator supplies, syringes, bandages, breathing tubes, thermometers and sanitizing supplies.

“FEMA is pleased to be able to assist the Massachusetts Department of Public Health with these costs,” said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. “Providing resources for our partners on the front lines of the pandemic fight is critical to their success, and to our success as a nation.”

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

So far, FEMA has provided more than $1.5 billion in Public Assistance grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the commonwealth for pandemic-related expenses.

adrien.urbani Fri, 03/10/2023 - 17:02

One Week Left to Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance

ATLANTA – There are two dates coming up on the calendar that disaster survivors from Butts, Henry, Jasper, Meriwether, Newton, Pike, Spalding and Troup counties should be aware of.

Monday, March 20, is the last day to apply for FEMA assistance if you had uninsured or underinsured damage to your property after the January storms and tornadoes. The last day to apply for a low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration is three days earlier, Friday, March 17.

Homeowners who had damage should apply for FEMA disaster assistance because your insurance may not cover all of your damage. Renters who had losses caused by tornadoes are also encouraged to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. Your losses may include damage to personal property such as furniture, appliances and vehicles.

After a disaster, you may find that a FEMA grant and your insurance settlement do not give you all the funds you need to restore your home to its pre-disaster condition. SBA’s disaster loans can help with the recovery of homeowners, renters, nonprofit organizations and businesses of all sizes.

Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 from SBA to repair or replace their primary residence. Homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property including vehicles. Businesses may borrow up to $2 million for any combination of property damage or working capital.

Homeowners and renters are encouraged to submit an SBA disaster loan application even if you’re not sure you will need or want a loan. There is no obligation to take all or part of an approved loan. If SBA cannot approve the application, SBA will refer you to FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance program for possible additional assistance.

If your SBA application is approved, you are not obligated to accept the loan. However, if you fail to return the application, that decision may disqualify you from other possible FEMA assistance and other grants or services. All disaster loans approved through Sept. 30, 2023, will be granted 12 months of no payments at zero percent interest.

Here are the ways to apply for FEMA disaster assistance by Monday, March 20:

• Visit DisasterAssistance.gov
• Use the FEMA mobile app
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in many languages. If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service. Helpline operators speak many languages and lines are open from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for an interpreter who speaks your language.
• For an American Sign Language video on how to apply, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU7wzRjByhI&list=PL720Kw_OojlKOhtKG7HM_0n_kEawus6FC&index=6

To apply for an SBA disaster loan for property damage by Friday, March 17, or to download applications, go to https://DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/. You may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov to have a loan application mailed to you.

For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services. You may also apply or leave your loan application with an SBA representative at one of their five Business Recovery Centers. For the locations of the centers, click https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/sfc/servlet.shepherd/version/download/068t000000izy1BAAQ.

You may mail completed SBA paper loan applications to:

U.S. Small Business Administration,

Processing and Disbursement Center

14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155

For the latest information on Georgia’s recovery from the severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes, visit fema.gov/disaster/4685. You may also follow @GeorgiaEMAHS/Twitter, Facebook.com/GeorgiaEMAHS, @FEMARegion4/Twitter and Facebook.com/FEMA.

felicia.jordan Fri, 03/10/2023 - 14:41

ICYMI: Biden-Harris Administration, Black Resilience Network Highlight Importance of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at Climate Resilience Roundtable

WASHINGTON -- Last week, FEMA joined the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, the Black Resilience Network and others to discuss efforts to reinforce climate resilience.

The roundtable discussion brought together Black faith-based and community organizations and partners from private and philanthropic sectors, sharing tools and resources to strengthen a whole-of-community approach to climate resilience.

“FEMA cannot address the climate emergency alone. It requires a whole-of-government approach and whole-of-community involvement,” said DHS Center Director Marcus Coleman. “Preparing our communities for a changing world also requires a coalition-driven approach to building climate resilience across the nation, and it will take all of us to do so now.”

The roundtable event included a facilitated discussion led by the Black Resilience Network, a membership community that offers learning and networking experiences focused on racial justice, crisis leadership, and resilience.

“The Black Resilience Network is excited for future opportunities for collaboration that will come out of this convening,” Executive Director of Next Leadership Development Dr. Atyia Martin. “Our members showed great expertise and passion as they shared our priorities and extended several opportunities for collaboration on climate and disaster resilience with black towns, communities and organizations. We are grateful to be a part of such a historic moment.”

Attendees shared their stories of resilience and ways to increase collaboration to strengthen our nation’s preparedness and resilience.  

“I was awestruck by the breadth of work being done across the nation,” said FEMA’s Assistant Administrator of Grants Program Directorate Pam Williams. “The creative and impactful ways these remarkable community leaders have found to build resilience is to be applauded.”

In addition to speakers from FEMA, presenters included representatives from nonprofit, philanthropy, private sector and federal agencies, including the Small Business Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Health and Human Services, Department of Agriculture and Department of Commerce Offices of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“Convenings such as the Climate Resilience Roundtable provide an opportunity for networking, learning and sharing across organizations and sectors,” said President & CEO of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) April Wood. “At NVOAD, we recognize the importance of volunteerism and the 4C’s: cooperation, communication, coordination and collaboration, and this event was instrumental in connecting organizations and programs to promote a holistic approach to supporting climate resilience.”

Attendees also learned about initiatives to increase climate resilience at a community level such as Community Disaster Resilience Zones, USDA Climate Hubs, participation in the Resilient Nation Partnership Network and other federal initiatives that advance the FEMA Strategic Goal to lead whole of community climate resilience and other climate-related priorities that promote proactive community engagement with historically underserved populations.

“It’s encouraging to see the federal government engaging with community-based organizations and the private sector to provide resources, tools and technical assistance to vulnerable populations,” said Executive Director of Build Strong Coalition Natalie Enclade.  “Providing aid to these communities is a core part of the Build Strong Coalition’s mission, and we’re looking forward to continuing to work with our federal partners and the like-minded organizations that participated in this event to build a stronger and more resilient America.”

The event inspired by the 2022 National Women Leaders In Public Health, Emergency Management & Environmental/Climate Justice, also supports FEMA’s Strategic Plan and the DHS Secretary’s priority to ready the nation to respond to and recover from disasters and adapt and respond to the climate crisis.

luther.wills-dudich Thu, 03/09/2023 - 20:41

One Week Left for Jan. 12 Alabama Storm Survivors to Apply for Federal Assistance

PRATTVILLE, Ala.– Alabama homeowners and renters who sustained damage to their primary property due to the Jan. 12 severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes have one week left to apply for federal assistance.

The deadline is March 16, 2023, for survivors to apply for federal assistance in Autauga, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Greene, Hale, Mobile, Morgan, Sumter, and Tallapoosa counties.

Homeowners and renters in the designated counties can apply for assistance the following ways:

• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. The helpline is open, and help is available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central Time in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
• Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov 
• Download the free FEMA mobile app for smartphones

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

When applying, homeowners and renters will need:

• 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
• A general list of damage and losses
• Banking information if you choose direct deposit
• If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name

If you are unable to locate important documents, FEMA will help you to identify other ways to verify your 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 information on Alabama’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4684. Follow FEMA on Twitter at FEMA Region 4 (@femaregion4) / Twitter and at facebook.com/fema.

felicia.jordan Thu, 03/09/2023 - 20:06

Federal Disaster Assistance to Eastern Kentucky Flood Survivors Tops $159 million, FEMA aid reaches $101 million

FRANKFORT, Ky.— As Eastern Kentuckians continue to recover from last year’s disastrous flooding, more than $158 million in low interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration and direct disaster assistance through FEMA have flowed into communities to help jumpstart the recovery process. Of that amount, FEMA has provided more than $101 million in direct awards to survivors.

Small Business Administration

To date, the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved nearly $58 million in low-interest disaster loans. The SBA is the number one source of federal disaster recovery funding. Through low-interest disaster loans the SBA provides recovery loans to businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters.

For homeowners and renters, the SBA has approved 724 disaster loans totaling more than $52 million dollars. These loans can be used to repair or replace a survivor’s disaster damaged home and personal property. Additionally, 49 businesses and private non-profits have been approved for loans totaling more than $5.7 million. These funds will help these businesses and organizations recover by replacing real estate, machinery and equipment, and inventory and business assets.

Individuals and Households Program as of March 7, 2023

When it comes to FEMA assistance, nearly 8,700 homeowners and renters have been approved for more than $101 million in federal awards through FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program. Unlike SBA loans, this money does not have to be paid back. This includes:

• More than $74.6 million in repair assistance to help survivors make basic repairs to make their home safe, sanitary and functional.
  • As part of this amount, more than 1,900 Kentuckians received additional funds to help repair or rebuild their homes safer and stronger. These funds may be awarded to elevate a furnace, elevate a water heater or elevate or move an electrical panel to help the homeowner mitigate and minimize damage from future disasters.
• More than $6.4 million in replacement assistance was approved to help survivors replace disaster destroyed homes. Replacement assistance may provide funds to owners whose primary residences were destroyed due to a Presidentially declared disaster. Replacement Assistance may be applied toward purchasing a new permanent residence even if the new residence's cost is greater than the IHP maximum amount of assistance.
• Nearly $7.2 million in rental assistance was provided to more than 5,000 applicants. FEMA rental assistance is an award to help survivors pay for somewhere to live while they repair or rebuild their disaster damaged home. FEMA awards eligible applicants an initial Rental Assistance payment based on the Fair Market Rent established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the county or where their pre-disaster residence is located and the number of bedrooms the household requires.
• FEMA Individual Assistance went the extra mile by conducting phone calls directly to FEMA applicants. Because of this outreach more than $32.8 million in recovery funds were approved for applicants.

Direct Temporary Housing Assistance

• Due to a lack of rental resources in flood affected communities, the Commonwealth requested Direct Temporary Housing Assistance. FEMA provides Direct Temporary Housing Assistance for up to 18 months from the date of the declaration when adequate, alternate housing is unavailable. Direct Temporary Housing is available in six counties (Breathitt, Floyd, Knott, Letcher Perry and Pike) that the Commonwealth identified as having a lack of rental resources.
  • Currently there are 85 households in temporary housing units in 5 counties.
  • To date, 17 families have moved out of Direct Temporary Housing and located permanent housing.

Other Needs Assistance

Other Needs Assistance provides financial assistance for disaster-related necessary expenses and serious needs that are not covered by insurance or provided by any other source. More than $13.3 million in ONA has been awarded to Kentucky survivors. This includes:

• More than $1.6 million in Critical Needs Assistance to more than 3,300 applicants who had immediate or critical needs because they were displaced from their primary residence or to applicants who need assistance to leave their pre-disaster primary residence for temporarily shelter elsewhere. Immediate or critical needs are lifesaving and life-sustaining items including, but not limited to water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, diapers, personal hygiene items, and fuel for transportation.
• More than $710,000 in Transportation Assistance was provided to 106 applicants. This assistance may be provided to individuals and households with disaster-caused vehicle repair or replacement expenses.
• More than $10.6 million in Personal Property Assistance was provided to more than 2,400 applicants. FEMA may provide financial assistance to repair or replace personal property damaged or destroyed due to a disaster. Items eligible for personal property assistance include appliances, clothing, room furnishings and essential tools and equipment required by an employer.
• More than $11,000 in moving and storage assistance was provided to 26 applicants for expenses incurred on or after the incident period start date to avoid additional disaster damage.
• Nearly $49,000 for disaster related medical expenses was provided to 14 applicants for medical or dental expenses caused by a disaster.
• More than $135,000 for Clean and Sanitize Assistance was awarded to 452 applicants. Clean and Sanitize Assistance is intended to ensure contamination from floodwaters is addressed in a timely manner to prevent additional losses and potential health and safety concerns.
• More than $61,000 in assistance for miscellaneous items. Eligible miscellaneous items are items purchased or rented after the incident to assist with the applicant’s disaster recovery, such as gaining access to the property or assisting with cleaning efforts.
• Through ONA, more than 1,100 homeowners have been enrolled in Group Flood Insurance Policies. GFIP helps to reduce future expenses from floods. FEMA directly purchases three years of flood insurance coverage at a cost of $2400 for each policy.

Though the application period for FEMA assistance ended in October of last year, The agency has continued to work with disaster survivors to help them receive assistance. Since October, an additional more than $19 million has been approved for eligible Kentuckians.

Kentuckians with questions about a pending application or appeal are encouraged to contact the disaster assistance helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service.

For the latest information on Kentucky flooding recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4663 and follow FEMA on Twitter at twitter.com/FEMARegion4. Visit the Governor’s website at governor.ky.gov/disaster-response/flood-response.

                                                                                                        ###

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

ricardo.zuniga Thu, 03/09/2023 - 16:32

La asistencia federal por desastre para los sobrevivientes de las inundaciones en Kentucky sobrepasa $159 millones y la ayuda de FEMA alcanza $101 millones

FRANKFORT, Kentucky — Mientras los habitantes del este de Kentucky siguen recuperándose de las desastrosas inundaciones del año pasado, más de $159 millones en préstamos por desastres a bajo interés de la Agencia Federal de Pequeños Negocios (SBA, por sus siglas en inglés) y la asistencia directa por desastre a través de la Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencias (FEMA, por sus siglas en inglés) han llegado a las comunidades para ayudar a imp0ulsar el proceso de recuperación. De esa cantidad, FEMA ha proporcionado más de $101 millones en otorgamientos directos a los sobrevivientes.

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Federal de Pequeños Negocios

Hasta la fecha, la Agencia Federal de Pequeños Negocios ha aprobado casi $58 millones en préstamos por desastre a bajo interés. SBA es la fuente principal de fondos federales para la recuperación de desastres. A través de préstamos por desastre a bajo interés, SBA proporciona préstamos de recuperación a negocios de todos los tamaños, organizaciones privadas sin fines de lucro, propietarios de vivienda e inquilinos.

Para propietarios de vivienda e inquilinos, SBA ha aprobado 724 préstamos por desastre, para un total de más de $52 millones. Estos préstamos se pueden utilizar para reparar o remplazar la vivienda y propiedad personal del sobreviviente, dañados por el desastre. Además, 49 negocios y organizaciones privadas sin fines de lucro por un total de más de $5.7 millones. Estos fondos ayudarán a estos negocios y organizaciones a recuperarse mediante el reemplazo de bienes raíces, maquinaria y equipo, inventario y activos comerciales.

1. 1. 1. 1. 16. de Individuos y Familias de FEMA
                8. el 7 de marzo de 2023

En lo que respecta a la asistencia de FEMA, cerca de 8,700 propietarios de vivienda e inquilinos han sido aprobados para recibir más de $101 millones en otorgamientos federales a través del Programa de Individuos y Familias (IHP, por sus siglas en inglés). A diferencia de los préstamos de SBA, este dinero no tiene que devolverse. Esto incluye:

• Más de $74.6 millones en ayudas de reparación para ayudar a los sobrevivientes a realizar las reparaciones básicas para que su vivienda sea segura, limpia y funcional.
  • Como parte de esta cantidad, más de 1,900 habitantes de Kentucky recibieron fondos adicionales para ayudar a reparar o reconstruir sus viviendas de una forma más segura y sólida. Estos fondos pueden otorgarse para elevar una caldera, calentador de agua, elevar o trasladar un panel eléctrico para ayudar al propietario a mitigar y minimizar daños por futuros desastres.
• Se aprobaron más de $6.4 millones en asistencia de remplazo para ayudar a los sobrevivientes a remplazar las viviendas destruidas por el desastre. La asistencia de remplazo puede proporcionar fondos a los propietarios cuyas residencias principales fueron destruidas por un desastre declarado por el presidente. La asistencia de remplazo puede aplicarse a la compra de una nueva residencia permanente, aunque el costo de la nueva residencia sea superior al máximo de la ayuda de IHP.
• Se proporcionaron casi $7.2 millones en asistencia de alquiler a más de 5,000 solicitantes. La asistencia de alquiler de FEMA se otorga para ayudar a los sobrevivientes a pagar un lugar donde vivir mientras reparan o reconstruyen su vivienda dañada por el desastre. FEMA otorga a los solicitantes elegibles un pago inicial de asistencia de alquiler basado en el alquiler de mercado justo, establecido por el Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de EE. UU. (HUD) para el condado o donde se encuentra su residencia antes del desastre y la cantidad de habitaciones que requiere la familia.
• La Asistencia Individual de FEMA hizo un esfuerzo adicional al realizar llamadas telefónicas directamente a los solicitantes de FEMA. Debido a este alcance, se aprobaron más de $32.8 millones en fondos de recuperación para los solicitantes.
  1. 1. 1. 2. de Vivienda Provisional Directa de FEMA
• Debido a la falta de recursos de alquiler en las comunidades afectadas por las inundaciones, el estado solicitó Asistencia de Vivienda Provisional Directa. FEMA proporciona Asistencia de Vivienda Provisional Directa por hasta 18 meses a partir de la fecha de la declaración cuando no haya disponibilidad de una vivienda alternativa adecuada. La vivienda provisional directa está disponible en seis condados (Breathitt, Floyd, Knott, Letcher Perry y Pike) que el estado identificó como carentes de recursos de alquiler.
  • Actualmente hay 85 familias en unidades de vivienda provisional en 5 condados.
  • Hasta la fecha, 17 familias se han mudado de la vivienda provisional directa y se han ubicado en una vivienda permanente.
    1. 1. 2. para Otras Necesidades de FEMA

La Asistencia para Otras Necesidades de FEMA brinda asistencia financiera para los gastos necesarios relacionados con el desastre y las necesidades graves que no están cubiertas por el seguro ni son provistas por ninguna otra fuente. Se han otorgado más de $13.3 millones en ONA a los sobrevivientes en Kentucky. Esto incluye:

• Más de $1.6 millones en Asistencia para Necesidades Críticas para más de 3,300 solicitantes que tenían necesidades inmediatas o críticas porque fueron desplazados de su residencia principal o para solicitantes que necesitan asistencia para dejar su residencia principal previa al desastre para refugiarse temporalmente en otro lugar. Las necesidades inmediatas o críticas son aquellos artículos de socorro y de subsistencia que incluyen, entre otros: agua, alimentos, primeros auxilios, medicamentos, fórmulas para bebé, pañales, artículos de higiene personal y combustible para transporte.
• Se proporcionaron más de $710,000 en Asistencia de Transporte a 106 solicitantes. Esta asistencia se puede brindar a individuos y familias con gastos de reparación o reemplazo de vehículos causados por desastres.
• Se proporcionaron más de $10.6 millones en asistencia para propiedad personal a más de 2,400 solicitantes. FEMA puede brindar asistencia financiera para reparar o reemplazar propiedad personal dañada o destruida debido a un desastre. Los artículos elegibles para asistencia de propiedad personal incluyen electrodomésticos, ropa, muebles de habitación y herramientas y equipos esenciales requeridos por un empleador.
• Se proporcionaron más de $11,000 en ayudas para mudanza y almacenamiento a 26 solicitantes para gastos incurridos en la fecha de inicio del periodo del incidente o después, con el fin de evitar daños adicionales por el desastre.
• Se proporcionaron cerca de $49,000 a 14 solicitantes para cubrir gastos médicos o dentales ocasionados por un desastre.
• Se otorgaron más de $135,000 para asistencia de limpieza y desinfección a 452 solicitantes. La asistencia de limpieza y desinfección tiene como objetivo garantizar que la contaminación de las inundaciones se aborde de manera oportuna para evitar pérdidas adicionales y posibles problemas de salud y seguridad.
• Más de $61,000 en asistencia para artículos misceláneos. Los artículos misceláneos elegibles son artículos comprados o alquilados después del incidente para ayudar con la recuperación del desastre del solicitante, como obtener acceso a la propiedad o ayudar con las tareas de limpieza.
• A través de ONA, más de 1,100 propietarios de vivienda se han inscrito en Pólizas Grupales del Seguro de Inundación (GFIP, por sus siglas en inglés). Las GFIP ayudan a reducir los gastos futuros por inundaciones. FEMA compra directamente tres años de cobertura del seguro de inundación a un costo de $2,400 por cada póliza.

Aunque el período de solicitud de asistencia de FEMA finalizó en octubre del año pasado, la agencia ha seguido trabajando con los sobrevivientes del desastre para ayudarlos a recibir asistencia. Desde octubre, se han aprobado más de $19 millones adicionales para los residentes elegibles en Kentucky.

Se recomienda a los residentes de Kentucky que tengan preguntas sobre una solicitud o apelación pendiente, que se comuniquen con la línea de ayuda de asistencia por desastre al 800-621-3362. Si utiliza un servicio de retransmisión, como el servicio de retransmisión de video (VRS), teléfono con subtítulos u otro servicio, brinde a FEMA el número de ese servicio.

Para obtener la información más reciente sobre la recuperación tras las inundaciones en Kentucky, visite femagov/es/disaster/4663 y siga a FEMA en Twitter en twitter.com/FEMARegion4. Visite el sitio web del Gobernador en governor.ky.gov/disaster-response/flood-response.

###

La misión de FEMA es ayudar a las personas antes, durante y después de los desastres.

ricardo.zuniga Thu, 03/09/2023 - 16:21

FEMA Supports Economic Development in Waterfronts and Boardwalks

FEMA allocated over $5.7 million to repair these structures in several of the island’s municipalities

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico - Fernando Rodríguez Gil owns one of the nine restaurants on the Costero del Sur boardwalk located in the Capitanejo neighborhood of Juana Díaz. For eight years, his business has enriched the culinary offer at the boardwalk.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved over $5.7 million for this and other waterfronts (known as malecón in Spanish) and boardwalks to repair structures damaged by Hurricane María.

“Aside from their importance in mitigating coastal erosion in these areas, waterfronts serve as spaces for family entertainment and economic development. These funds will contribute to the repairs of 13 projects throughout nine municipalities on the island, which we trust will revitalize these spaces,” said Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator José G. Baquero.

For this project, which is in the permitting stage, FEMA obligated nearly $2.9 million to the municipality of Juana Díaz. The project includes a support system for decks and piers to strengthen them against storm surges and flooding, among other natural events, in order to reduce coastal erosion by allowing the natural movement of sand and other sediments.

For Rodríguez Gil, when these repairs are completed, economic activity is expected to increase for about ten fishermen in the area that sell lobster and a variety of local fish. “Tourism will increase since it will look better and [this will] impact the people who visit it which is positive for everyone,” said Rodríguez Gil.

The mayor of the City of Kings, Ramón A. Hernández, explained that the development and maintenance of the boardwalk helps to maintain formal and supervised activity in the area.

“It is a highly attractive space due to the coastal landscape and the variety of seafood and Puerto Rican Creole cuisine; this tends to bear positive results such as avoiding the deterioration of a community that has an area of great positive social and economic exchange for all,” Hernández added.

Revitalization beyond the coastal zone

Meanwhile, residents of the Jagual neighborhood in Patillas will benefit from improvements to the boardwalk located on Lake Patillas. Mayor Maritza Sánchez explained that the site receives hundreds of visitors weekly.

“The structure highlights the beauty of the lake, where activities such as fishing, kayaking and other events take place,” according to Sánchez.

As part of the work following the agency’s nearly $482,000 allocation, the atrium, benches, gazebo and sidewalk will be replaced or repaired. Also, utility poles will be replaced with hurricane-resistant aluminum poles as part of the project’s mitigation measures, which add up to nearly $10,000.

Manuel A. Laboy Rivera, executive director for the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency (COR3), said that the repairs to be made will stabilize the operations of businesses during a time when Puerto Ricans are looking for different ways to bond with their families and return to normalcy after two years of the pandemic. “In COR3, we will continue supporting throughout the process so that these permanent repairs come to fruition,” said Laboy Rivera.  

To date, FEMA has obligated over $29 billion under its Public Assistance program to help Puerto Rico recover from Hurricane María. 

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

frances.acevedo-pico Thu, 03/09/2023 - 12:43

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Disaster Declaration for Tennessee

WASHINGTON - FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Tennessee to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the severe winter storm during the period of Dec. 22-27, 2022.

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 severe winter storm in Cocke, Coffee, Davidson, Greene, Henderson, Knox, Maury, Perry, Putnam, Shelby and Washington counties.

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

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

luther.wills-dudich Wed, 03/08/2023 - 21:13

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Disaster Declaration for the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria

WASHINGTON -- FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria to supplement the Tribal Nation’s efforts in the areas affected by an earthquake from Dec. 20, 2022 – Jan. 1, 2023.

Federal funding is available to the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the earthquake.

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

Benigno (Bern) Ruiz 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 requested and warranted by the results of further assessments.

luther.wills-dudich Wed, 03/08/2023 - 20:38

An Immense Job, a Robust Effort after Hurricane Ian

LAKE MARY, Fla. – Homes. Schools. Beaches. Fire stations. City halls. Water and sewer systems. Parks, Train stations. Marinas. Hospitals. Recreation centers. Daycare centers. Docks. Piers. Public safety buildings. Post Offices.

Hurricane Ian was an equal opportunity destroyer in Florida.

The Category 4 storm that made landfall in southwest Florida Sept. 28, 2022, was the third costliest tropical cyclone in U.S. history, the fourth largest storm to strike Florida and the worst crisis that thousands of Floridians have ever faced. Nearly six months later, it has resulted in one of the largest federal disaster response and recovery efforts in FEMA history.

Federal support as of March 6 totals $6.6 billion. FEMA Individual Assistance has provided $1.04 billion in financial help to 383,081 households in 26 counties. The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved $1.73 billion in disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses. The National Flood Insurance Program has received 46,400 claims and paid $3.2 billion. FEMA Public Assistance has obligated $636.8 million to reimburse state and local jurisdictions for emergency response and debris removal expenses.

Damage from Hurricane Ian is estimated at $112.9 billion, including insured and uninsured losses, making it the third costliest cyclone to strike the United States, after Katrina and Harvey, according to NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and the National Hurricane Center (NHC). 

“Hurricane Ian recovery is one of the largest operations the Federal Emergency Management Agency has undertaken,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Tom McCool. “We are working closely with the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) and will be on the job as long as it takes. More than 1,400 federal employees are in Florida today. This operation is locally executed, state managed and federally supported. The private sector, nonprofit organizations and the faith-based community all are active participants in helping these communities recover.”

“The Florida Division of Emergency Management remains committed to working with our local, state and federal partners to navigate the ongoing recovery process in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian,” said FDEM Director Kevin Guthrie. “I want to thank my team as they continue to work diligently in our State Emergency Operations Center and on the ground in impacted communities.”

FEMA has provided rental assistance and funds for basic home repair for 73,532 households. More than 4,500 families have been provided temporary hotel stays while they look for longer-term housing, and most have found other lodging. As of March 6, 530 households have been given the keys to FEMA temporary housing, including travel trailers, manufactured housing units or apartment homes leased by FEMA for hurricane survivors. More homes are being prepared for occupancy.

The state of Florida is providing non-congregate sheltering in travel trailers with FEMA funding supporting that initiative. As of March 6, 354 households occupy state trailers. The state has allocated $150 million to Florida Housing Finance Corporation to assist families impacted by the disaster and is providing other support to survivors.

Debris removal in the hardest-hit areas was expedited when FEMA allowed for waivers in the application process by some local jurisdictions, saving as much as six months in the debris removal process.

To speed assessment of damage and inspection of applicants’ homes, FEMA used geospatial information systems and other technology in response and recovery operations.

FEMA operated 57 Disaster Recovery Centers in affected areas with 138,000 visits. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams visited 354,615 homes. SBA operated six Business Recovery Centers and two Loan Closing Centers.

Voluntary organizations have been active since the storm made landfall. More than 540 organizations have helped survivors with cleanup, financial and housing support, mental health and other types of support.

From the beginning, FEMA activated a robust Interagency Recovery Coordination mission, which brings resources from multiple federal agencies to support state and local recovery needs.

For the latest information on Florida’s recovery from Hurricane Ian, visit floridadisaster.org/info and fema.gov/disaster/4673. Follow FEMA Region 4 (@femaregion4) / Twitter and at facebook.com/fema.

bree-constance… Wed, 03/08/2023 - 19:54

FEMA Region 1 Hosts Multi-State Winter Disaster Response Exercise

FEMA Region 1 simulated a two-day, multi-state disaster March 1-2, which required wide-spread federal, state, and private sector disaster response coordination.

The purpose of the simulated ice storm exercise, called “Frosty Force,” was to bring together federal, state, and other disaster response capabilities in the New England region in a coordinated response. It was designed to test emergency workers in a long-duration power outage scenario — across multiple states.

The exercise primarily took place at FEMA’s Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) in Maynard, Mass. In addition, a small contingent of FEMA workers on the region’s Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) deployed to the Vermont state Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Other New England states were simulated players during the exercise, with Vermont actively participating. Lessons learned will be shared broadly amongst the New England emergency response community.

IMAT Team Leader Terence Hermans said the state EOC in Vermont was bustling with federal and state emergency responders working side by side. The end result: “By the afternoon, we helped the state [Vermont] lock down a temporary power plan, and commodity and refueling plans,” he said.

Exercise Director Kimberly Heredia said the broad goal of the simulated multi-state event was to train state and federal emergency responders to work in lockstep — should a disaster strike the New England region. She said the only way to obtain that level of preparedness is through planning and training for likely regional disasters.

“Essentially, the goal of the exercise was to get new FEMA employees and state partners in our region acclimated to responding to the RRCC for an emergency — and to creating a coordinated emergency response.” Heredia added that the exercise sought to foster innovation and collaboration ahead of regional emergencies, such as hurricanes, floods, blizzards, or pandemics. “We can find the gaps now — in this large-scale training ahead of a potential disaster — and make sure to improve on whatever we’ve found.”

For Heredia, one of the biggest take-aways of the exercise was highlighted by more of an accomplishment than a challenge: “I was amazed at how natural it was for FEMA and our partners, which included multiple federal and state agencies, to come together to execute our training exercise… and to accomplish key goals of the disaster response within one day,” she said, listing goals such as helping states institute plans of action, and effectively simulating the steps necessary to potentially save lives.

“Our partners not only performed well on the day of the training event, but they also helped us plan the training, which made it almost feel effortless,” Heredia said.

Jarrett Devine, FEMA Region 1 Response Division Director, applauded the efforts of each participating person and agency partner, adding the observation: “ I saw amazing discussions and engagement from all” who participated in the exercise.

Lori Ehrlich, Region 1 Administrator, said the success of the exercise comes from working through a disaster simulation with our state and federal partners. “Numerous federal agencies were involved, and state partners either participated or have expressed an interest in reviewing the plans and data we share as a result of the exercise,” Ehrlich said.

 

adrien.urbani Wed, 03/08/2023 - 15:06