AUSTIN, Texas – In August 2017, as the season was underway for Houston’s ballet and opera companies, Hurricane Harvey’s flood waters rushed into the Wortham Theater Center, home to the Houston Ballet and Houston Grand Opera. Water remained in the center for two weeks, ruining not only facilities, but also contents needed for performances like costumes, props and wigs.

The Nutcracker stage went dark.

Oakland, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted $2.6 million to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and Sonoma County to help more than 30 homeowners elevate their homes to protect from perennial flooding.

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico — Recently, FEMA obligated nearly $14.3 million in federal funds to the Puerto Rico State Historic Preservation Office for permanent work to restore the Cuartel de Ballajá in Old San Juan.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. — FEMA has approved two projects ($7,859,538 and $4,928,975) for a total of $12,788,513 for the state of Florida to reimburse Leon County for debris removal costs following Hurricane Michael. Disaster-generated debris posed a threat to public health, safety, natural resources and tourism.

WASHINGTON — Today, FEMA and its emergency management partners released Kate Konschnik’s PrepTalk “Left in the Dark: Power Outages in an Interconnected World.” In her PrepTalk, Konschnik dives into the fundamentals of how electricity is generated in the U.S. She explains how our aging electrical infrastructure increases the chances of catastrophic failures and offers considerations for emergency managers to prepare their communities for extended power outages.

CAGUAS, Puerto Rico – If earthquakes and aftershocks are causing you stress and anxiety, know that you are not alone.   While it is natural to withdraw and to keep feelings to yourself, connecting with others and talking about your feelings could make you feel better.

Oakland, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted $5.8 million to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and Sonoma Water to reduce potential pipe failure and the loss of water service to 600,000 residents and businesses as a result of damage from an earthquake along Rodger’s Creek Fault.

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico – FEMA and the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience, or COR3, have obligated over $22.1 million in additional funds for 33 projects related to the recovery and reconstruction of Puerto Rico. These funds were obligated between January 24 and January 30.

Oakland, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted $2 million to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and Sonoma County for long-range, fire detection cameras.

Who should apply for assistance?

If you live in the designated municipalities of Adjuntas, Cabo Rojo, Corozal, Guánica, Guayanilla, Jayuya, Lajas, Lares, Maricao, Peñuelas, Ponce, San Germán, San Sebastián Utuado, Villalba or Yauco and your home was damaged, you may be eligible for FEMA assistance.

During earthquakes, secondary aftershocks are usually less violent than the main earthquake but can be strong enough to do additional damage to weakened structures and can occur in the first hours, days, weeks, or even months after the quake.

DROP, COVER AND HOLD ON

• During an earthquake, Drop, Cover, Hold On and minimize your movements.

The State of West Virginia will receive $131,671,998.45 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the replacement of Richwood Middle School, Richwood High School, and Summersville Middle School damaged as a result of FEMA-DR-4273-WV (Severe Storms, flooding, Landslides and Mudslides).

CAGUAS, Puerto Rico – Individuals who lost their jobs because of the earthquakes in southwest Puerto Rico and live or work in any of the 16 municipalities FEMA approved for assistance may be eligible to receive unemployment funds.

The earthquakes that began Dec. 28, 2019, affected the municipalities of Adjuntas, Cabo Rojo, Corozal, Guánica, Guayanilla, Jayuya, Lajas, Lares, Maricao, Peñuelas, Ponce, San Germán, San Sebastián, Utuado, Villalba and Yauco.

CAGUAS, Puerto Rico – If you were affected by the recent series of earthquakes, you may be eligible for assistance from FEMA.

FEMA’s Individual Assistance program may provide some financial assistance for disaster-related needs such as child care, medical or dental care, or funeral expenses as well as grants for damaged or uninhabitable housing. FEMA also provides referrals to other agencies that may be able to help.

CAGUAS, Puerto Rico – As a community it is important to consider the well-being of all residents including those who have disabilities.

Aftershocks can weaken structures and may occur in the first hours, days, weeks or even months after an earthquake. If this happens Drop, Cover and Hold On. Cover your head and neck with your arms or a pillow until the shaking stops.

CAGUAS, Puerto Rico – Disaster recovery centers that are jointly run by the Government of Puerto Rico and FEMA are open in Guánica, Guayanilla, Peñuelas, Ponce, Utuado and Yauco to assist survivors of the earthquakes that began Dec. 28.

The centers have regular hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week.

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $2,315,890 in Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) funds to Des Plaines, Illinois, for the acquisition of 13 floodprone homes.
 

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – According to the National Weather Service, there is the potential for Missouri to experience serious flooding again in only a few weeks. Last year’s damage repairs are ongoing, while emergency managers, meteorologists, engineers, farmers, and residents monitor weather forecasts, anticipating another spring flood season.

WASHINGTON – FEMA is seeking applicants for its Youth Preparedness Council. The council offers an opportunity for youth leaders to serve on a distinguished national council and participate in the Youth Preparedness Council Summit in Washington, D.C.