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CERT: Prepared for the Worst When Disaster Strikes

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Community Emergency Response Teams prepare for the worst, then when disaster strikes, they help themselves, their families, their neighborhoods and their communities.

Begun in Los Angeles in 1985, the CERT program consists of specially trained volunteers who are called into action during and immediately following major disasters before first responders can reach the affected areas. They work closely with fire and emergency management departments in their communities.

More than 2,200 CERT programs are available in the United States. In Alabama, 10 counties offer CERT training and maintain teams. During a disaster, Alabama CERT members may self-deploy in their neighborhoods, be mobilized by a sheriff’s office or report to a pre-determined location.

“CERT groups provide immediate assistance to people in their areas and lead spontaneous volunteers before we can get to the area and inform emergency management of what the needs are,” said Art Faulkner, director of Alabama Emergency Management.

Billy Green, Deputy Director of Emergency Management for Tuscaloosa County, had just finished a training class for Hispanic CERT volunteers the week before the tornado outbreak of April 2011 in Alabama.

“We finished on the Saturday before the tornadoes hit,” he said. “These Spanish speakers took exactly what they learned and put it out in the field. The City of Holt has a high Hispanic population, and this team was able to go out there and do search and rescues.”

Holy Spirit Catholic Church set up its own shelter for the Hispanic population, he added. “Those guys were in that shelter helping and making sure everyone was all right.”

This April’s severe weather and flooding caught many Mobile County residents by surprise, said Mike Evans, Deputy Director of Mobile County Emergency Management Agency.

“Mobile gets the most rainfall of anywhere in the continental United States with 67 inches per year,” he said. “This wasn’t like during hurricane season; getting a lot of rain and thunderstorms is pretty common. But areas that normally flood didn’t, it was urban areas.”

Since the ground was already saturated, the rain had nowhere to go so roads that were low flooded, he said.

“People tried to drive through and we had to get them out,” Evans said.

CERTs distributed commodities and one team knocked on doors asking who was going to leave the area and who was going to stay, he said. After the storm, his teams notified people who left the area of the status of their property.

CERTs can also work with crowd and traffic control, work at water stations at large events, help community members prepare for emergencies, and assist with fire suppression and medical operations as well as search and rescue operations.

Initially, CERT members take training classes that cover components of disaster activities, including disaster preparedness, fire suppression, medical operations, search and rescue and disaster psychology and team organization. Additional training occurs twice a year with mock disasters. Refresher courses are also held. The Federal Emergency Management Agency supports CERT by conducting or sponsoring train-the-trainer and program manager courses for members of the fire, medical and emergency management community, who then train individual CERTs.

CERTs are organized in the Alabama counties of Dale, DeKalb, Shelby, Morgan, Tallapoosa, Jefferson, Colbert, Calhoun, Russell and Coffee.

To join an existing CERT program in your community, go online to www.fema.gov/community-emergency-response-teams. Click on the “find nearby CERT programs” link and enter your zip code. If there is a team near you, you will see the name and phone number of a contact person as well as pertinent information about the local program.

That site can also provide information on how to build and train your own community CERT, the curriculum for training members as well as how to register the program with FEMA.

Aside from providing a vital community service, CERT members receive professionally recognized training and continue to increase their skills.

“CERTs complement and enhance first-response capabilities by ensuring safety of themselves and their families, working outward to the neighborhood and beyond until first responders arrive,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Albie Lewis. “They are one of the many volunteer organizations that we rely on during a disaster.”

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for childcare, medical, dental expenses and/or funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, those who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, transportation, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

For more information on Alabama’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or http://www.ema.alabama.gov/. For the joint Facebook page, go to www.facebook.com/AlabamaEMA. To receive Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/AlabamaEMA or www.twitter.com/femaregion4

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CERT: Prepared for the Worst When Disaster Strikes

More Bang for the Buck – Inexpensive Disaster Rebuilding Tips

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Repairing damage after a disaster can be expensive. In cases of severe damage, the costs can be staggering.

However, many projects can be done for little or no money. Most can make a big difference in helping minimize damage from the next disaster and provide the extra bonus of lowering utility and home-maintenance costs year-round.

Here are some ideas:

Cut it short. When replacing drywall, leave a ½-inch to 1-inch gap between the bottom of the drywall sheeting and the top level of the floor. (If adding carpet be sure the gap is above the carpeted level). Cover the gap with baseboard. Cost: Free for this technique. Drywall and baseboard costs are separate. Benefit: Water won’t come in contact with the drywall in a low-level flood (this includes interior liquid spills, like in a kitchen). When water meets drywall, it wicks up into the wallboard which can lead to mold if left untreated.

Power up. Raise electrical outlets. Check first to see what local codes allow. Most don’t have restrictions on the height of an outlet above the floor. Consider moving outlets up at least 1 foot above the minimum flood level or 24 inches above floor level. Cost: Free, if done after drywall has been removed. If drywall is still in place, costs can vary. Benefit: Helps keep water from seepage or a low-level flood from infiltrating and damaging an electrical outlet, which can cause damage to an electrical system and normally requires an electrician to repair/replace.

Show your numbers. Add visible address numbers to the house exterior and to the street curb or mailbox. Though it seems like a small task, it will make a difference if there is an emergency. Large numbers are best. Cost: Most house numbers sold at home- improvement stores are 6 inches tall and cost about $2 each. Benefit: Missing or barely visible house numbers can cause dangerous delays for emergency responders. The larger the numbers, the easier they are to see at night and during bad weather.

Put on a strip: Install weather stripping on outside doors and windows to help seal out air and even water. Weather stripping should seal well when a door or window is closed. Closing the gaps can save up to 15 percent in heating and cooling costs and can help minimize the intrusion of low-level water. Cost: Weather stripping supplies and techniques range from simple to more complex but most are easily installed as do-it- yourself projects. Benefit: Relatively easy to install, effective weather seal, durable, comes in a variety of colors. Vinyl stripping holds up well and resists moisture; metal stripping (bronze, copper, stainless steel and aluminum) lasts for years. Both are affordable.

Caulk it up: Use caulk to seal all exterior openings, such as holes where wires, cables and pipes enter or exit a structure (winds of 74 mph can blow water up a wall about 4 feet). Caulk now comes in many types that are non-toxic and specifically designed for a number of different home-repair jobs. Cost: All-purpose caulk, suitable for most jobs, is less than $2 a tube; for doors and windows, less than $4 a tube. Benefit: Helps prevent heat loss around windows and doors. In severe storms, a well-sealed exterior helps keep wind-driven rain and flooding from getting inside. Some caulks are designed for use in high-moisture areas. Caulk can be used indoors or outdoors; some types can last up to 20 years.

Window well … cover it: Add a clear plastic cover over exterior window wells to help keep out debris, leaves, animals and excess water – both from the window cavity (well) and a structure’s interior. Most covers are made from a polycarbonate plastic and specially designed for window-well areas. Cost: Prices vary, depending on size and style, starting at $17 each and are available at most local home-improvement stores. Benefit: Weather resistant, generally not affected by sunlight or temperature extremes.

They are easy to install and relatively maintenance free. Many can be custom-made to fit openings of special sizes and/or shapes.

Elbow a way around: Add an elbow or drain sleeve to the bottom of downspouts to help divert water away from a structure.

Elbows can come in aluminum or flexible heavy plastic tubing and are made to fit round or square downspouts.

The flexible variety is especially good if water needs to be diverted some distance away from a structure. Cost: Aluminum elbows start at about $4 each; metal elbows run about $6 each. Flexible gutter elbows (heavy plastic tubing) range in size from 8 to 18 inches and costs start at $4. Benefits: Keeps rainwater from eroding foundations and from finding its way into crawl spaces or basements.

Block that splash: Place splash blocks directly under the lower end of a downspout to stem soil erosion and divert water away from a structure. Choose blocks large enough to handle the volume of water that could come through a downspout in a heavy rainstorm. Also, place the block high enough and at enough of an angle to divert water at least 3 feet from the foundation Cost: Plastic or fiberglass splash blocks range from $6 to $20 each. Concrete blocks average about $15 but can run as high as $45, depending on the size. Benefit: Saves damage to a structure’s foundation and helps to keep water from channeling underground (below slabs, for example) and through to the interior.

Shape up and out: Landscaping is an effective, easy way to keep overland water at bay and make a property more attractive. Add fill dirt with a binding material (like clay) around a foundation and angle away from the structure. Cover with low-growing vegetation or ornamental materials, such as shredded bark or lightweight lava rock. Avoid heavier rock or landscaping gravel (unless required for drainage) to keep it from flying around and causing damage in a high-wind event. Cost: A 2 cubic foot bag of wood bark or mulch will cost about $4. (Sometimes, communities offer free mulch after large-scale tree removal projects). The amount of bark required will depend on the coverage area. Many low-growing, spreading plants can be purchased for less than $50. Benefit: Helps keep overland flooding from reaching a foundation and leaking inside. Foliage helps hold soil in place, naturally enhances drainage and increases curb appeal.

This list is only a sampling of do-it-yourself ideas. A variety of publications are available to provide additional information. These can be found online, at your local library or any home building store.

Before beginning any project, visit your local government’s building department to determine if a project is permissible and compliant with local laws, ordinances and codes. Building officials also can advise which projects require permits, as well as any rules and regulations that will apply and any fees associated with obtaining a permit.

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More Bang for the Buck – Inexpensive Disaster Rebuilding Tips

Federal Firefighter Grant Helps Recoup Atlantic City Equipment Lost During Sandy

New York, NY, July 28, 2014 — In addition to its other widespread destruction, Hurricane Sandy also undermined the effectiveness of multiple sets of the Atlantic City Fire Department’s (ACFD) personal protective equipment via several feet of salt water, oil, gasoline, and sewage.

The ACFD has been awarded $489,060 from the Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) program, however, to replace not only the Sandy-damaged equipment, but also more than 100 other protective suits that are eight years old, showing significant wear, and losing their ability to safeguard the first responders. The local share of the federal grant is $54,340, bringing the total to $543,400.

The announcement was made here today by Dale Mcshine, Grants Director for Region II of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. AFG is a FEMA program.

“During and after Hurricane Sandy, the Atlantic City Fire Department’s gear was exposed to harsh ingredients,” says the department’s Administrative Deputy Chief, Vincent Granese. “It’s unlikely that these contaminants can be removed, and the odds are that they have damaged the integrity of our personal protective equipment.”

Personal protective equipment includes coats, suspenders, helmets, gloves, and hoods. “This grant allows for state-of-the-art gear,” says Chief Granese. “We never would have been able to afford this generation of equipment. It will be made of far better materials, and will enhance our ability to fight fires and respond to other incidents.”

The ACFD is a full-time career department with members assigned to six fire stations that operate on a 24-hour basis 365 days per year. Its services include fire suppression, fire prevention, public safety education, fire investigations, first-responder EMS, level III hazardous material response, and all phases of technical rescue. The department also provides regional support throughout the southern half of New Jersey for Hazmat and Technical Rescue Team response.

The city is a historic beach resort, operating 12 casinos and numerous first-name hotels. It is home to almost 40,000 residents with daily influxes of 110,000 to 600,000 people.

“With its multitude of capabilities, our fire department serves not only our bustling, populated city, but also the state. I have long been proud and impressed by their capabilities and this AFG grant serves only to boost their strengths,” observes Atlantic City mayor, Donald Guardian.

FEMA’s AFG program has been aiding firefighters and other first responders since 2001. “The program provides critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards,” said Tania Hedlund, FEMA’s Grants Branch Chief. The AFG provided funding of $25,340,000 for FEMA’s Region II (New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) in 2012.

For further information, contact William H. Douglass at 212-680-3665/917-561-3223.

Link:

Federal Firefighter Grant Helps Recoup Atlantic City Equipment Lost During Sandy

Disaster recovery going strong 10 months after flooding

Almost 10 months ago, heavy rains brought flooding, landslides and mudslides to several counties along Colorado’s Front Range. Since that time, nearly $449 million in grants, reimbursements, low-interest loans and insurance payments to individuals, businesses and communities has been approved by the State of Colorado, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

In all, Individual Assistance was extended to 11 counties, while 18 counties were eligible for Public Assistance. The counties receiving IA were Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Clear Creek, El Paso, Fremont, Jefferson, Larimer, Logan, Morgan and Weld. The counties designated for PA were Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Clear Creek, Crowley, Denver, El Paso, Fremont, Gilpin, Jefferson, Lake, Larimer, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Sedgwick, Washington and Weld.

Ten months later, FEMA and the Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator continue to work closely with the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and Colorado Recovery Office. Going forward, the FDRC will continue to manage the coordination of recovery programs with other federal agencies as well as on-going FEMA recovery programs.

A few milestones from the Colorado flood disaster:

• One month after the disaster, more than $60 million dollars was in the hands of survivors to help with the cleanup and rebuilding of their homes and lives. One hundred days after the disaster, more than $204 million was helping survivors recover.

• FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams canvassed hundreds of neighborhoods, visiting more than 62,000 homes and 2,741 businesses to provide information on a vast array of services and resources available to eligible applicants and made follow-up contacts in hundreds of cases.

• More than 21,500 survivors were able to visit 26 State/federal Disaster Recovery Centers to get one-on-one briefings on available assistance, low-interest loans and other information.

• Transitional Sheltering Assistance was activated Sept. 22 to house applicants in 177 hotels. That program closed Dec. 15 after sheltering a total of 1,067 households. Following TSA, the housing mission provided 54 Manufactured Housing Units to house 47 households. Twenty-three households have vacated 27 units since the onset of the program.

• Nearly 54 percent of Public Assistance permanent repair work and more than 65 percent of large (more than $67,500) Public Assistance projects contain mitigation measures to lessen the impact of similar disasters on publicly owned infrastructure.

• Public Assistance worked closely with state and county officials not only to reimburse for repairs or replacement of infrastructure, but also to remove hazards from streams. PA also implemented new Alternative Procedures (PAAP) pilot program created by the Sandy Recovery and Improvement Act to streamline the reimbursement process for permanent repairs to or replacement of disaster-damaged infrastructure.

Federal assistance and obligations by county:

Adams

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $1,111,231

Other Needs Assistance: $136,457

Total IA Assistance: $1,247,688

Small Business Administration Assistance:

Homeowner Loans: $1,634,200

Business Loans: $80,500

Total SBA Assistance: $1,714,700

Public Assistance: $6,092,859

Arapahoe

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $3,279,187

Other Needs Assistance: $295,250

Total IA Assistance: $3,574,437

Small Business Administration Assistance

Homeowner Loans: $3,769,300

Business Loans: $252,800

Total SBA Assistance: $4,022,100

Public Assistance: $2,205,031

Boulder

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $32,868,721

Other Needs Assistance: $2,307,482

Total IA Assistance: $35,176,203

Small Business Administration Assistance

Homeowner Loans: $50,300,100

Business Loans: $14,430,600

Total SBA Assistance: $64,730,700

Public Assistance: $82,041,560

Clear Creek

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $244,111

Other Needs Assistance: $2,674

Total IA Assistance: $246,785

Small Business Administration Assistance

Homeowner Loans: $142,200

Business Loans: $29,600

Total SBA Assistance: $171,800

Public Assistance: $1,134,005

Crowley

Public Assistance: $239,576

Denver

Public Assistance: $2,405,472

El Paso

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $1,578,069

Other Needs Assistance: $194,261

Total IA Assistance: $1,772,330

Small Business Administration Assistance

Homeowner Loans: $1,785.900

Business Loans: $370,100

Total SBA Assistance: $2,156,000

Public Assistance: $7,186,433

Fremont

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $59,352

Other Needs Assistance: $1,950

Total IA Assistance: $61,302

Small Business Administration Assistance

Homeowner Loans: $45,400

Total SBA Assistance: $45,400

Public Assistance: $799,341

Gilpin

Public Assistance: $448,147

Jefferson

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $38,442

Other Needs Assistance: $1,561,089

Total IA Assistance: $1,599,531

Small Business Administration Assistance

Homeowner Loans: $2,662,600

Business Loans: $450,000

Total SBA Assistance: $3,112,600

Public Assistance: $7,692,622

Lake

Public Assistance: $156,570

Larimer

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $6,547,742

Other Needs Assistance: $396,376

Total IA Assistance: $6,944,118

Small Business Administration Assistance

Homeowner Loans: $9,053,400

Business Loans: $11,265,000

Total SBA Assistance: $20,318,400

Public Assistance: $49,302,684

Lincoln

Public Assistance: $96,737

Logan

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $491,539

Other Needs Assistance: $42,875

Total IA Assistance: $534,414

Small Business Administration Assistance

Homeowner Loans: $1,312,100

Business Loans: $179,200

Total SBA Assistance: $1,491,300

Public Assistance: $590,548

Morgan

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $82,381

Other Needs Assistance: $8,292

Total IA Assistance: $90,673

Small Business Administration Assistance

Homeowner Loans: $65,400

Total SBA Assistance: $65,400

Public Assistance: $3,403,673

Sedgwick

Public Assistance: $20,618

Washington

Public Assistance: $277,783

Weld

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $8,676,604

Other Needs Assistance: $1,502,403

Total IA Assistance: $10,179,007

Small Business Administration Assistance

Homeowner Loans: $9,541,600

Business Loans: $1,179,400

Total SBA Assistance: $10,721,000

Public Assistance: $17,918,448

Statewide Agencies

Public Assistance: $31,220,892

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Disaster recovery going strong 10 months after flooding

Rebuilding stronger and better

DENVER — Rebuilding after a disaster can present opportunities as well as challenges.

The challenges include getting the job done quickly and efficiently. The opportunities involve rebuilding stronger and better.

When it comes to repairing and rebuilding infrastructure damaged in last September’s floods, FEMA’s Stafford Act Section 406 can provide mitigation funds for risk-reduction improvements to roads, waterways, bridges, dams, buildings and other public structures already eligible for Public Assistance reimbursement.

Mitigation projects are being undertaken throughout the 18 Colorado counties designated eligible for FEMA Public Assistance, particularly in Boulder, Larimer and Weld counties. The goal is to reduce risk, reduce damages, and reduce the threat to life and property from future flooding events.

As Coloradans continue recovery efforts, nearly 200 Public Assistance repair projects now include some form of Section 406 mitigation. Many of these projects involve “armoring,” or shoring up, stream banks scraped and weakened by the flooding. Workers are also elevating electrical equipment out of harm’s way in public buildings and in the field, and doing what they can to strengthen piers and other supports under bridges.

FEMA typically reimburses at least 75 percent of eligible costs for projects that return infrastructure to its pre-disaster condition. Under certain circumstances, FEMA can also fund Section 406 mitigation measures as long the project is cost effective.

Most types of mitigation projects in this disaster recovery can be considered cost-effective and eligible for funding if they are performed on disaster-damaged infrastructure and reduce the potential for damages from similar events in the future.

Cost-effectiveness, along with other conditions for eligibility, are determined on a case-by-case basis. Applicants for 406 mitigation should consult with their FEMA Public Assistance Coordinator for more detailed information and guidance.

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Rebuilding stronger and better

FEMA Rebuilding Specialists Providing Advice in Jackson and Ridgeland

JACKSON, Miss. – Rebuilding or repairing property damaged from the recent severe storms? Residents in Jackson and Ridgeland can get advice on building safer and stronger this week from Federal Emergency Management Agency specialists.

FEMA mitigation specialists will be at two Jackson-area Lowe’s locations to offer information on rebuilding after a disaster. The advisors can answer questions about protecting homes from future disaster-related damage and offer tips to build hazard-resistant homes.

FEMA officials estimate that every dollar spent on mitigation can save almost four dollars if another disaster hits.

Homeowners and contractors can learn more at the following locations 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. beginning Tuesday, July 22 and ending Saturday, July 26.

Lowe’s

2250 Greenway Dr.

Jackson MS 39204

Lowe’s

910 E. County Line Rd.

Ridgeland, MS 39157

This concludes FEMA mitigation outreach events at hardware and home improvement stores in Mississippi.

For more information on Mississippi disaster recovery, go to FEMA.gov/Disaster/4175. Visit the MEMA site at msema.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/msemaorg.

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FEMA Rebuilding Specialists Providing Advice in Jackson and Ridgeland

Coffee and Collaboration: FEMA and NEW JERSEY Share Office Space at SRO

EATONTOWN, N.J. – When the NJ-Sandy Recovery Office moved from their previous facility in Lincroft to new office space in Eatontown last June, FEMA’s state partners moved their offices, too.

FEMA’s key partners in the state Office of Emergency Management work just down the hall from their FEMA colleagues in the new facility.

That proximity is a big plus when it comes to sharing expertise and working together to resolve any potential stumbling block.

Captain Geleta is seated in front of the flags at the SRFO Captain Joseph Geleta“There is a collaborative spirit between FEMA and the state government, working on behalf of all of the applicants who require assistance,” said N.J. Recovery Bureau Chief Captain Joseph Geleta following a recent Command Staff meeting at the SRFO.

“You still have FEMA and state teams mirroring each other to help many who were affected by Sandy. It’s not just the state doing something or FEMA doing something, it’s working together.”

Captain Geleta, a veteran of many previous disasters in New Jersey, said the successful collaboration between FEMA and New Jersey is inspired by a mutual commitment to the mission.

“The SRFO is a key component in sustaining the Sandy recovery efforts here in New Jersey,” Captain Geleta said.

“Having FEMA and the State working together under one roof creates a single, comprehensive approach to fulfilling Public Assistance, Mitigation, and Individual Assistance missions.”

Laura Connolly at work at her desk at the SRFO Branch Director Laura ConnollyThe close collaboration has also helped to build trust and forge friendships. “We have all created personal relationships with our program counterparts here at the SRO,” Captain Geleta noted.

For State Individual Assistance Branch Director Laura Connolly, working closely with her FEMA partners at the SRFO offices has helped the recovery mission operate more efficiently across the board.

“The SRFO is a key component in sustaining the Sandy recovery efforts here in New Jersey,” Connolly said. “FEMA and the State working together under one roof creates a single comprehensive approach to fulfilling Public Assistance, Mitigation, and Individual Assistance missions. We have all created personal relationships with our program counterparts, which fosters continued interested participation during this phase of the disaster. The free coffee is an amazing perk as well!”

Public Assistance Unit Head for the state of New Jersey Lt. Patrick Gorman, works closely with his FEMA counterpart, Infrastructure Branch Director Doug Westermann.

Lieutenant Patrick Gorman takes a moment for a pose at his desk. Lieutenant Patrick Gorman“The relationship has been phenomenal. It’s kind of like we’ve developed total quality management. In a lot of states, it’s the state against FEMA. But when you’re face to face with people who are like-minded in solving problems, it’s just much easier.”

“That kind of relationship is a win-win for the people of New Jersey,” said Captain Geleta.

“The relationship that we have with Pat and his group has been second to none,” said PA Branch Director Westermann. “Without the state’s cooperation, we might have been going down two different paths, but with their cooperation, we are going down a single path.”

“The incredible partnership that has been built here will benefit the people of New Jersey for many years to come,” said NJ-SRO Director John Covell.

http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4086/updates/sandy-one-year-later

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

Coffee and Collaboration: FEMA and NEW JERSEY Share Office Space at SRO

FEMA Deadline Not the End of Flood Recovery in Florida

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Those affected by the spring storms and flooding will still be able to reach the Federal Emergency Management Agency for follow-up questions and will have access to other disaster services and resources after today’s registration deadline of July 21.

Florida survivors in designated counties of Escambia, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties who still haven’t registered for disaster assistance, should contact DisasterAssistance.gov or m.fema.gov on a smartphone by 11:59 p.m. EST or by calling 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585 by 10 p.m. EST.

Applicants who have registered before the deadline, but discover that their insurance has not covered all losses, have up to a year to submit additional documentation to FEMA. Assistance may be available for essentials, such as septic systems, if they are not covered by homeowner insurance policies.

Those who would like to contact FEMA after the deadline for additional information can call FEMA’s helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. Helpline hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

The U.S. Small Business Administration also has a customer service line for survivors who have questions about their low-interest disaster loans. For information, call 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339, or send an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

Since the May 6 disaster declaration, the SBA has approved more than $37.6 million in low-interest disaster loans for qualified homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations. More than $33 million from FEMA’s Individual Assistance program has been approved for homeowners and renters. This includes more than $27.3 million in rental expenses and essential home repairs, and nearly $5.7 million to help cover other expenses, such as lost or damaged personal property.

Other resources and services available after the deadline include:

Disaster Legal Services

For survivors who need help with disaster-related legal issues, but can’t afford a lawyer, free legal services may be provided.

To request free legal assistance, survivors can call 866-550-2929.

Disaster-Related Stress Help

Survivors who are experiencing stress as a result of the spring storms and flooding can call the disaster distress helpline any time at 800-985-5990. Residents can also text “TalkWithUs” to 66746.

Dial 2-1-1

Survivors who need additional help can call the 2-1-1 information helpline to connect with more than 2,000 local health and human service programs. Residents may also text their zip code to 898-211. For more information, visit the Heart of Florida United Way website at hfuw.org/United_Way_2-1-1.php or send an email to uw211help@gmail.com.

United Way retains an online directory with information that could help residents with their individual needs. This may include information on how to receive donated clothing, food and other supplies; how to request other in-kind services; how to report fraud; how to contact recovery organizations; and who to talk to about disaster-related stress.

To view the online directory of community resources, go to referweb.net/211CommunityResources/.

Anyone with information about individuals who may have defrauded the government in connection with the spring flooding in Florida should call the FEMA fraud hotline at

800-323-8603 or email DHSOIGHOTLINE@DHS.GOV. This can include information on contractors, inspectors, disaster survivors or anyone posing as any of these.

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FEMA Deadline Not the End of Flood Recovery in Florida

Other resources and services available after the deadline include:

Disaster Legal Services

For survivors who need help with disaster-related legal issues, but can’t afford a lawyer, free legal services may be provided.

To request free legal assistance, survivors can call 866-550-2929.

Disaster-Related Stress Help

Dial 2-1-1

To view the online directory of community resources, go to referweb.net/211CommunityResources/.

Anyone with information about individuals who may have defrauded the government in connection with the spring flooding in Florida should call the FEMA fraud hotline at

800-323-8603 or email DHSOIGHOTLINE@DHS.GOV. This can include information on contractors, inspectors, disaster survivors or anyone posing as any of these.

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FEMA Deadline Not the End of Flood Recovery in Florida

FEMA & ARRL Announce Disaster Communication Partnership

Hartford, Conn. – Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) announced a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that increases cooperation between FEMA and ARRL in the area of disaster communication. FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, KK4INZ, and ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, signed the agreement during the ARRL National Centennial Convention at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Connecticut.

This agreement will allow FEMA and ARRL to work together to provide resources, services and personnel, as available, in order to strengthen capacity in areas of emergency communications, mass care and emergency assistance, disaster preparedness, response and recovery, while also raising public awareness about the use of Amateur Radio as a public safety resource.

“Radio is one of the most resilient communications technologies we have,” Fugate said. “When the power is out and telecommunications are down, the Amateur Radio community can serve as a vital resource in support of emergency responders and survivors during a disaster. This MOA will strengthen FEMA’s partnership with ARRL and build upon our work to expand emergency communications capabilities and the use of Amateur Radio in emergency management.”

The agreement outlines the ways in which FEMA and ARRL will cooperate to carry out their respective responsibilities, with respect to disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery operations in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. The agreement sets forth the terms by which FEMA and ARRL will provide resources, services and personnel, as available, in order to strengthen capacity in areas of emergency communications, mass care and emergency assistance, disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

“From the earliest days of experimentation with radio to the present time, amateur radio volunteers have combined their passion for exploring radio technology with their devotion to assisting the governmental and charitable agencies that respond to disaster,” Craigie said. “This combination of inventiveness and service has saved lives for a century. We look forward to working with FEMA to further develop opportunities for trained, equipped and prepared amateur radio operators to serve the public interest whenever and wherever disasters affect our country and its communities.”

Amateur Radio operators have been responding to disasters since the beginning of the Amateur Service in the early 1900s. Through the ARRL-sponsored Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and other groups, federally licensed Amateur Radio operators have volunteered their time, equipment and expertise to their communities and country for all kinds of public service events and disaster efforts.

Following recent events, ARRL has supported local communities as they prepare for and recover from the devastation caused by disasters. As part of this agreement, FEMA and ARRL will strengthen their partnership and encourage first responders and citizens to consider joining the ranks of radio amateurs and their long and legendary history of public service to the nation.

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards. More information is available from www.fema.gov.

The ARRL’s mission is based on five core areas, or “pillars”: Public Service, Advocacy, Education, Technology, and Membership. Founded in 1914, the American Radio Relay League is the national association for amateur radio in the USA. Today, with more than 164,000 members, the ARRL is the largest organization of radio amateurs in the world. More information is available at www.arrl.org.

Source:

FEMA & ARRL Announce Disaster Communication Partnership

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