News - femacontract.com

New Jersey Ahead Of Schedule On Public Assistance Closeouts

LINCROFT, N.J. — When Superstorm Sandy hit New Jersey in October 2012, the damage it wreaked created the need for thousands of necessary projects ranging from debris removal to bridge reconstruction. Sixteen months later, New Jersey’s progress in managing the projects stemming from the impact of the storm has exceeded expectations.

Doug Westermann, Public Assistance Branch Chief at the FEMA New Jersey Sandy Recovery Field Office, says that New Jersey is ahead of schedule on closing out projects on a disaster of this magnitude. New Jersey is planning the final group of projects and working with the state Office of Emergency Management to start closing completed projects.

“This has really only been made possible by the efforts put forth with the State OEM and our Sandy Recovery Office to move forward and not delay the process,” Westermann said.

The closeout process begins when a project is funded and completed. The applicant must certify to the State that the work is finished and all of the allocated money was spent. Small projects are often bundled together under one applicant and can be closed as a group when they are all complete. Large projects must be closed individually. The Final Inspection Report (FIR), which consists of reconciliation of costs for the work performed in dealing with large projects, is initiated. Supporting documents are audited and added to the report, and amendments may be written after overages and/or shortfalls are reconciled. After the report is reviewed by the applicant and grantee, it is then entered into the Emergency Management Mission Integrated Environment (EMMIE) grant tracking program. After that process, the project will be closed, if requested by the grantee.

The Public Assistance FAQ at www.fema.gov defines a large project as any incident with damage costs greater than $68,500. Of the estimated 5,103 Public Assistance projects in the system in New Jersey, 1,534 are considered large projects.

Through the Public Assistance program, FEMA grants state governments the funds to reimburse municipalities, county governments and eligible private nonprofit agencies for the repair or replacement of damaged roads and bridges, water-control facilities, public buildings and their contents, publicly owned utilities, and parks and recreation areas. It also includes funds for emergency services and eligible debris-removal costs related to the disaster. FEMA reimbursed these applicants 90 percent of the eligible cost.

Nearly $1.1 billion in Public Assistance grants have been obligated in New Jersey since Sandy struck. Emergency projects, including debris removal and emergency protective measures, have accounted for $729.25 million, while permanent repairs to roads, bridges, water control facilities, utilities and buildings, have cost $359.5 million.

Westermann said FEMA has received 63 projects from the State that are ready to be closed.

Many of the completed projects were short-term emergency projects in which the money was allocated and governmental issues were addressed. Westermann says that Congress mandated several critical changes that have affected how much time applicants have to spend allocated funds, placing greater emphasis on getting the money to them. The Applicants’ Handbook at www.fema.gov/applicant-handbook states that applicants have six months to complete emergency projects and 18 months for permanent projects.

“In order to keep money flowing to the applicants, it is critical to work on closing things out so the state can release the funds that FEMA had obligated during the project development phase,” he said.

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

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.

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

View post –

New Jersey Ahead Of Schedule On Public Assistance Closeouts

FEMA, NOAA Sponsor National Flood Safety Awareness Week

LINCROFT, N.J. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association are sponsoring National Flood Safety Awareness Week from March 16-22, 2014.

NOAA and FEMA are reviving the “Be a Force of Nature: Take the Next Step” awareness theme from National Severe Weather Preparedness Week earlier in March by asking individuals and businesses to know their risk, take action and be an example for their community.

Flooding can happen in any state in the United States at any time. On average, $8.3 billion in damage is caused by flooding every year, more than any other weather-related event. In 2013, 85 people were killed in flood-related incidents. More than half of these cases were the result of people inadvertently driving into floodwaters.

The National Weather Service (NWS) recently redesigned its flood safety website, http://www.floodsafety.noaa.gov. It contains advice and information on what to do before, during and after a flood. Floodsmart.gov is the home of everything related to flood insurance and protecting your home and possessions. The NWS has provided daily posts for blogs and websites and has also made an article about the 10^th anniversary of the National ‘Turn Around Don’t Drown’ program available for publication online or in local newspapers.

Follow @NOAA, @NWS and @OwlieSkywarnNWS on Twitter. Those accounts will be using the hash tag #FloodSafety this week for Flood Safety Awareness posts. NOAA has prepared a social media plan for the week with pre-written Facebook and Twitter posts. It has also partnered with OSHA on a workplace education program to teach workers how to prevent and respond to floods and other disasters.

For more information on New Jersey’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/SandyNJ, twitter.com/FEMASandy, facebook.com/FEMASandy and fema.gov/blog.

Excerpt from –

FEMA, NOAA Sponsor National Flood Safety Awareness Week

FEMA Launches New Initiative to Increase Preparedness, Community Resilience Following Disasters; FEMA hosts April 1 workshop in Oakland with local…

For Immediate Release: March 28, 2014
Media Contact: Mary Simms, mary.simms@fema.dhs.gov, 510-627-7006 or
Kelly Hudson, kelly.hudson@fema.dhs.gov, 510-207-4011

FEMA Launches New Initiative to Increase Preparedness,
Community Resilience Following Disasters
FEMA hosts April 1 workshop in Oakland with local leaders from San Francisco Bay Area

Oakland, Calif., — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) invites you to join us for the 1st ever FEMA Region 9 Whole Community Workshop in Oakland, Calif., on April 1, 2014. The event will provide representatives of the public, private and non–profit worlds the opportunity to listen, ask questions, and participate in preparedness activities they could then share with their respective communities. The panelists will share their stories on how to improve community resilience before a disaster strikes.

Weather-related disasters in the United States continue to increase in size, frequency and impact, and experience repeatedly demonstrates that communities are better prepared to withstand an emergency and recover more quickly when everyone is involved. The workshop is being held as part of a new initiative, America’s PrepareAthon!, a nationwide, community-based campaign for action to increase emergency preparedness and resilience.

FEMA’s Acting Regional Administrator Karen Armes will be joined by preparedness partners from the Bay Area and greater Region 9 area. The workshop will include a presentation from San Francisco’s Daniel Homsey, Director of Neighborhood Resilience, to discuss San Francisco’s Empowered Communities Program, Building Resilient Cities One Neighborhood at a Time. Divya Saini, a FEMA Region 9 Youth Member from Palo Alto, Calif., will also discuss local preparedness engagement strategies and activities.

The Emmy award-nominated documentary, “A Village Called Versailles” by San Francisco based documentary filmmaker Leo Chiang will also be screened during the workshop.

Twice yearly through drills, group discussions and exercises America’s PrepareAthon! will provide a national backdrop for individuals, organizations and communities to prepare for local hazards, and practice actions to stay safe.

The goals of America’s PrepareAthon! are to increase the number of citizens who:
• Understand the hazards most relevant to their community;
• Know the corresponding action to stay safe;
• Practice a real-time behavior to increase their preparedness; and
• Contribute to increased whole-community preparedness planning

WHEN:                            Tuesday April 1st, 2014 – 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM*
*Please RSVP to the listed media contacts to request an agenda and media access in advance.
WHERE:                          FEMA Region 9 – 1111 Broadway, Suite 1200, Oakland, CA 94607
COST:                             Free

Members of the media: Please email Mary Simms at mary.simms@fema.dhs.gov or Kelly Hudson at Kelly.hudson@fema.dhs.gov for additional details and to coordinate attendance and interview requests in advance.
Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/femaregion9.

###

See more here:

FEMA Launches New Initiative to Increase Preparedness, Community Resilience Following Disasters; FEMA hosts April 1 workshop in Oakland with local…

FEMA: Capstone 2014 National Exercise Begins

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and its partners begin the Capstone 2014 national exercise to test, assess and improve the nation’s preparedness and resilience from catastrophic disasters.

The Capstone 2014 exercise examines the core capabilities described in the National Preparedness Goal. This multi-event design recognizes the need for comprehensive all-hazards planning and the complexity to ensure exercise objectives are met. Capstone 2014 is a complex emergency preparedness exercise comprised of five distinct, but linked, component events. This year’s exercise components include Alaska Shield, Ardent Sentry 14, Nuclear Weapon Accident/Incident Exercise, Eagle Horizon, and Silver Phoenix.

“In order to be ready for disasters, as a nation, we have to practice how we would respond,” FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said. “In Capstone 2014, FEMA joins state, tribal and local government, along with our partners in the non-profit, faith-based and private sectors to test and assess our joint preparedness for a disaster. Preparedness is a team effort, and every family and business can take steps to be ready for disasters by learning your risks, making a plan, and having a kit. Visit www.ready.gov to learn easy steps on how to prepare and take action.”

By congressional mandate, these exercises—formerly known as National Level Exercises and the Top Officials exercises— represent the culmination of a two-year cycle and are designed to educate and prepare participants for potential catastrophic events. These exercises are facilitated by FEMA’s National Exercise Division.

The exercise is national in scope with the goal of fostering coordination and building relationships prior to an incident occurring. Each exercise cycle varies from drills to functional assessments, and it challenges participants from all levels of government, non-governmental and private sector organizations and other organizations representing the whole community.

Various aspects of local, state, federal, non-governmental, private sector and other whole community organizations will be tested by the exercise, including the emergency response to mass casualties from the earthquake, resulting infrastructure, communication and coordination challenges and the tangential element of hazardous materials spills.

Among the exercises and participants are the following:

Alaska Shield: FEMA and state emergency management agencies, including Alaska, will commemorate the anniversary of the 1964 9.2 magnitude Great Alaskan Earthquake, with an exercise that tests response and mass casualty care.

Ardent Sentry 14: In conjunction with Alaska Shield and other exercises during the period, the Department of Defense will exercise its Defense Support to Civilian Authorities’ mission.

Nuclear Weapon Accident/Incident Exercise: The Department of Energy will participate in the exercise with a scenario that tests response and recovery following an accident during secure transport convoy of nuclear weapons.

Eagle Horizon 2014: During this exercise, many federal departments and agencies will activate their continuity of operations and reconstitution planning to test their continuity plans and ensure that primary mission essential functions can take place from alternate facilities.

Silver Phoenix 2014: This exercise explores challenges associated with examining, prioritizing, and conducting recovery activities involving multiple geographically-dispersed and competing events using the National Disaster Recovery Framework.

For more information on these exercises, visit www.fema.gov/national-level-exercise. Learn more about earthquake preparedness at Ready.gov/earthquakes.

###

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

See original article here –

FEMA: Capstone 2014 National Exercise Begins

FEMA Awards $238,112 Grant to Bayfield County: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds will be used to construct a tornado safe room

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today released $238,112 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to Bayfield County, Wis., for the construction of a safe room at the Bayfield County Fairgrounds in Iron River.

“The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program enables communities to implement critical mitigation measures to reduce the risk of loss of life and property,” said Andrew Velasquez III, regional administrator, FEMA Region V. “The construction of this safe room will protect the lives of vulnerable citizens by providing a secure location to seek shelter from tornados and other high wind events.”

Bayfield County has experienced numerous powerful storms in recent years. This safe room will be centrally located in the fairgrounds, across from the grandstand and provide shelter for up to 500 event participants and residents during a severe weather event.

“This safe room could provide life-saving protection during a destructive storm in Bayfield County,” said WEM Administrator Brian Satula. “I am pleased that federal, state and local governments are working together to help build this facility.”

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Through HMGP, FEMA will pay $238,112 or 75 percent of the project’s total cost. Wisconsin Emergency Management Agency and Bayfield County will both contribute 12.5 percent of the funds, or $39,686 each.

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, (312) 408-4455

###

Link –

FEMA Awards $238,112 Grant to Bayfield County: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds will be used to construct a tornado safe room

Federal Disaster Aid for Colorado Flooding Tops $304 Million

Main Content

Release date:

March 25, 2014

Release Number:

NR-116

DENVER – In the more than six months since heavy rains brought flooding in September 2013, Colorado survivors have received more than $304 million from FEMA disaster grants, flood insurance payments and SBA low-interest disaster loans.

To date:

FEMA has granted nearly $55.9 million for housing assistance in 11 designated counties and nearly $4.9 million in other needs assistance, such as disaster-related medical expenses or personal property loss. Flood survivors have also received disaster unemployment assistance and disaster legal services.
FEMA has obligated more than $76.1 million to publicly owned entities and certain nonprofits in 18 designated counties. Through its Public Assistance cost-share program, FEMA reimburses 75 percent for eligible, disaster-related costs for debris removal, emergency measures and permanent work to repair and replace disaster-damaged public facilities. The remaining 25 percent nonfederal share comes from state and local sources. The state manages the grants for all projects.
The SBA has approved nearly $102.6 million in federal disaster loans to Colorado homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofit organizations that sustained damage from the severe storms and flooding.
The National Flood Insurance Program has approved nearly $64.7 million to settle 2,085 claims.
FEMA is providing manufactured housing units for 40 households who have no other suitable housing available.

Last Updated:

March 25, 2014 – 18:07

State/Tribal Government or Region:

Colorado

Related Disaster:

Colorado Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

Original source:

Federal Disaster Aid for Colorado Flooding Tops $304 Million

FEMA Awards $6,415,688 Grant to City of West Frankfort: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds will be used to make sewer treatment plant improvements

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today released $6,415,688 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to the City of West Frankfort, Ill., for aproposed sewer treatment plant improvement project.

The project includes the relocation of all sewer treatment plant components from the south plant site to the north plant site, where it will be three feet above the base flood elevation.

“The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program enables communities to implement critical mitigation measures to reduce the risk of loss of life and property,” said FEMA Region V Administrator Andrew Velasquez III. “The completion of this project will reduce flood damage and lessen the financial impact on individuals and the community when future flooding occurs in this area.”

“This grant supports an important public health and safety project in West Frankfort,” said Jonathon Monken, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. “Flood waters have knocked the current sewer treatment plant out of service in the past, including for more than 200 days in 2008. Moving the facility above the flood elevation will protect the sewage treatment process from future flood-related disruptions.”

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Through HMGP, FEMA will pay $6,415,688 or 75 percent of the project’s total cost. The City of West Frankfort will contribute 25 percent of the remaining funds, or $2,138,562.

Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, (312) 408-4455

###

Follow this link:

FEMA Awards $6,415,688 Grant to City of West Frankfort: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds will be used to make sewer treatment plant improvements

Federal Aid Programs for the State of Washington Emergency Declaration

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s emergency disaster declaration issued for the State of Washington.

Assistance for the State and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

FEMA is authorized to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the designated areas.
Specifically, FEMA is authorized to provide emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent Federal funding.

# # #

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

See original article –

Federal Aid Programs for the State of Washington Emergency Declaration

President Obama Signs Washington Emergency Declaration

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal emergency aid has been made available to the State of Washington to supplement state and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from flooding and mudslides beginning on March 22, 2014, and continuing.

The President’s action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in Snohomish County.

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, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.

Michael J. Hall has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal response operations in the affected area.

# # #

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

Visit link:

President Obama Signs Washington Emergency Declaration

FEMA Awards $2,698,523 Grant to Des Plaines: Hazard Mitigation funds will be used to acquire and demolish 21 flood prone structures

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved $2,698,523 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to the City of Des Plaines, Ill., for the acquisition and demolition of 21 residential structures in the Big Bend subdivision located in the Des Plaines River floodplain. Following demolition, these properties will be maintained as permanent open space in the community.

“The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program enables communities to implement critical mitigation measures to reduce the risk of loss of life and property,” said FEMA Region V Administrator Andrew Velasquez III. “The acquisition and demolition of these homes permanently removes the structures from the floodplain and greatly reduces the financial impact on individuals and the community when future flooding occurs in this area.

“Approval of this grant is good news for residents in the Big Bend subdivision who have been devastated by flooding many times in the past,” said Jonathon Monken, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. “The grant will enable them to move out of the floodplain and avoid future heartache and property losses.”

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Through HMGP, FEMA will pay 75 percent of the $3,598,030 eligible project cost. The remaining 25 percent of the funds, $899,507 will be provided by Des Plaines through grant funds from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. Additional funding for this project may be released based on the project work schedule and progress.

Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, (312) 408-4455

###

See the original article here:

FEMA Awards $2,698,523 Grant to Des Plaines: Hazard Mitigation funds will be used to acquire and demolish 21 flood prone structures

Page 195 of 386 « First ... « 193 194 195 196 197 » ... Last »