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FEMA Announces Next Meeting of National Advisory Council

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be holding the next National Advisory Council (NAC) public meeting on Wednesday, March 19, 2014. The public meeting will be 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EDT) at the FEMA Region III Office in Pennsylvania located at 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106.

The NAC was established to ensure effective and ongoing coordination of Federal preparedness, protection, response, recovery, mitigation for natural disasters, acts of terrorism and other man-made disasters. The NAC advises the FEMA Administrator on all aspects of emergency management and incorporates federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, and non-profit and private sector partners’ input into the development and revision of FEMA policies and strategies.

During the meeting, the NAC will meet with the FEMA Administrator to review the progress and/or potential recommendations of its three subcommittees: Preparedness and Protection; Response and Recovery; and Federal Insurance and Mitigation.

The NAC will also discuss:

FEMA’s Strategic Plan;
National Preparedness Grant Program;
National Preparedness System;
America’s PrepareAthon!;
Disability Inclusive Emergency Management; and
Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Initiative.

For those planning to attend in person and for additional information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, please contact the Office of the NAC by email at FEMA-NAC@fema.dhs.gov.

For more information on the NAC please visit www.fema.gov/national-advisory-council.

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FEMA Announces Next Meeting of National Advisory Council

FEMA Awards $1,398,396 Grant to Gallatin County: Hazard mitigation funds will be used to acquire 19 flood prone residential structures and raise seven…

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today released $1,398,396 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to Gallatin County, Ill., to acquire and demolish 19 residential structures as well as raise seven homes above the base flood elevation in the Ohio River floodplain.

“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 elevation of these structures greatly reduces the financial impact on individuals and the community when future flooding occurs in this area.”

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Through HMGP, FEMA will pay $1,398,396 or 75 percent of the project’s total cost. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will contribute 25 percent of the remaining funds, or $466,132.

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

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FEMA Awards $1,398,396 Grant to Gallatin County: Hazard mitigation funds will be used to acquire 19 flood prone residential structures and raise seven…

Federal Aid Programs for the State of South Carolina Declaration

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

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

Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for emergency protective measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health. Emergency protective measures assistance is available to state and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)

Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)

Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)

How to Apply for Assistance:

Application procedures for state and local governments will be explained at a series of federal/state applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders and 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.

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Federal Aid Programs for the State of South Carolina Declaration

President Declares Disaster for South Carolina

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of South Carolina to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe winter storm during the period of February 10-14, 2014.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to 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 a severe winter storm in Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Berkeley, Calhoun, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Dillon, Dorchester, Edgefield, Florence, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Marion, Orangeburg, Saluda, Sumter, and Williamsburg counties.

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

Joe M. Girot has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Girot said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

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

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President Declares Disaster for South Carolina

Flooding Always a Potential Threat

DENVER – As winter comes to a close, communities look forward to the coming of spring and a return to the warm outdoors. But it’s also a time to be aware of the threat of Mother Nature, meaning severe storms and flooding. Rapid snowmelt or a couple of inches of rainfall can create potential flooding.

FEMA Region VIII Preparedness and Mitigation experts have several recommendations to help people get ready for that threat. Region VIII includes Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.

First and foremost on the list is to get flood insurance. In the region, the average cost of flood insurance is about $700 a year. Since 1978, residents of the six states have collected more than $383 million in insurance payments.

It’s the first thing to do because there is a 30-day waiting period before a policy can take effect. If the waters are rising, it’s too late to purchase a policy.

Other steps you can take to protect your family and your property include:

Make sure downspouts carry water several feet from your house to a well-drained area. – About 2,500 gallons of water will come from a 1,000 square foot roof with one foot of snow depth across the roof. This much water may cause problems if allowed to drain next to the house.
Examine and clean your sump pump if you have one. Test your sump pump by pouring water into the pit. Make sure the discharge hose carries the water several feet away from the house to a well-drained area. Also make sure that the pipe is on sloped ground so it drains to prevent it from freezing.
Remove snow from around rural yards to minimize soft, wet soil conditions. Remember that a 20-foot diameter 10-foot high pile of snow contains about 2,600 gallons of water. Move the snow to well-drained areas.
Anchor any fuel tanks. An unanchored tank in your basement can be torn free by floodwaters and the broken supply line can contaminate your basement. An unanchored tank outside can be swept downstream, where it can damage other houses.
Have a licensed electrician raise electric components (switches, sockets, circuit breakers and wiring) at least 12″ above your home’s projected flood elevation.
Place the furnace and water heater on masonry blocks or concrete at least 12” above the projected flood elevation.
If your washer and dryer are in the basement, elevate them on masonry or pressure-treated lumber at least 12” above the projected flood elevation.
Plan and practice a flood evacuation route with your family.
Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to be the “family contact” in case your family is separated during a flood. Make sure everyone in your family knows the name, address, and phone number of this contact person.

Call 1-800-427-2419 or visit www.FloodSmart.gov to learn more about potential flood risks, flood insurance and how to prepare for floods.

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Flooding Always a Potential Threat

There’s More to NFIP than Just the Policy

DENVER – Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States. Recent years have seen more frequent severe weather events, like Hurricane Sandy, which ravaged the East Coast. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) manages the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that provides flood insurance policies that provide millions of Americans their first line of defense against flooding. But those flood insurance policies are only one component of the program and just part of the protection NFIP provides to individuals and the American public at large.

For anyone to be able to purchase an NFIP policy, the only requirement is that they live in a participating community. A participating community can be a town or city or a larger jurisdiction like a township or county that includes unincorporated areas. It is up to the community to opt into the NFIP program for the benefit of its citizens. When joining the program, the community agrees to assess flood risks and to establish floodplain management ordinances. In return for taking these actions, residents are able to purchase federally backed flood insurance policies.

One of the cornerstones of the NFIP is the flood mapping program. FEMA works with states and local communities to conduct studies on flood risks and develop maps that show the level of risk for that area, called a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). The FIRM provides useful information that can assist in communities in planning development. The area that has the highest risk of flooding is the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), commonly called the floodplain. The SFHA has a one percent chance of being flooded in any given year. Because of the greater risk, premiums for flood insurance policies for properties in the SFHA are greater than for those for properties outside of it.

Equally important to knowing the risks of flooding is having a game plan to address those risks. This is role of floodplain management. Local communities must comply with minimum national standards established by FEMA, but are free to develop stricter codes and ordinances should they choose to do so. Key elements of floodplain management include building codes for construction in the floodplain and limitations on development in high risk areas. Floodplain management is an ongoing process, with communities continually reassessing their needs as new data becomes available and the flood risk for areas may change.

The NFIP brings all levels of government together with insurers and private citizens to protect against the threat of flooding. Federally sponsored flood maps and locally developed floodplain regulations give property owners the picture of their risk and ensure building practices are in place to minimize that risk. As a property owner, purchasing a flood insurance policy is a measure you can take to further protect yourself. To find out more about your individual risk contact your local floodplain administrator. For more information on flood insurance policies or to find an agent, visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-800-427-2419.

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There’s More to NFIP than Just the Policy

FEMA Awards $2 Million for Jefferson Parish Elevations

DENTON, Texas — A federal grant totaling more than $2 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will help fund the elevation of 16 additional homes in Jefferson Parish.

The grant covers $2,063,418 of the total project costs of $2.7 million. FEMA grants pay the federal share of the eligible costs for the work. Under a cost-sharing formula, FEMA reimburses the state for 75 percent of the total costs, while the state and/or applicant cover the remaining 25 percent.

“The elevation of these structures will significantly reduce the potential for flooding during future weather events,” said FEMA’s Regional Administrator Tony Robinson.

This project was initially awarded in April 2011 to mitigate 45 properties for a federal share of more than $5.7 million. Given the high concentration of repetitive loss properties in this parish, additional funds were allocated by the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. Jefferson Parish will utilize all available funds to mitigate these properties benefiting both the property owners and National Flood Insurance Program.

“The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program helps communities rebuild stronger after a disaster,” Robinson said. “This elevation project in Jefferson Parish is a perfect example of what our mitigation program aims to accomplish – rebuilding from past disasters in a way that better protects properties against future disasters.”

Once the structures are elevated, individual homeowners will be required to maintain flood insurance on their newly elevated homes for the life of the properties.

The federal funding for this project was made available after Hurricane Gustav made landfall in Louisiana in September 2008.

You can follow FEMA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

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 us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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FEMA Awards $2 Million for Jefferson Parish Elevations

FEMA Awards $4,106,484 Grant to Pine County: Hazard Mitigation funds will be used to acquire and demolish 32 flood prone homes

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved $4,106,484 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to Pine County, Minn., for the acquisition and demolition of 32 homes.

“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 acquisition 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.”

The Pine County homes that are eligible for acquisition were substantially damaged during a flash flood in June 2012which resulted in a major disaster declaration.

“Property acquisition projects in flood-prone areas, like Pine County, greatly reduce repetitive damage in the years ahead,” said Kris Eide, director of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM). “Local officials and residents in Pine County have worked hard to make this grant possible and we’ll continue to work with them as the acquisition process unfolds.”

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Through HMGP, FEMA will pay $4,106,484 or 75 percent of the project’s total cost. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will contribute 25 percent of the remaining funds, or $1,368,828. HSEM will administer the grant.

Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, (312) 408-4455 and Julie Anderson, (651) 206-0561

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FEMA Awards $4,106,484 Grant to Pine County: Hazard Mitigation funds will be used to acquire and demolish 32 flood prone homes

New Mexico Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Funds Deadline Approaching

SANTA FE – Officials with the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency remind communities, tribal entities, and state agencies that March 21, 2014, is the deadline for submitting a Notice of Interest to participate in the statewide Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Interested communities, tribal entities or state agencies need to submit a Notice of Interest before the March 21 deadline. This form is available at www.nmdhsem.org/Grants.aspx. After the Notice of Interest is received, the eligible applicants will be contacted for a review of the formal application process.

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding is a 75 percent federal and 25 percent non-federal grant program. The local jurisdiction, tribe or state agency is required to provide the 25 percent non-federal match, which can be in-kind or cash.

In order to be eligible for mitigation project funding, the community or tribe must have a FEMA approved Hazard Mitigation Plan. Creating a plan or updating an existing plan can also be funded with Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding.

Editors’ note: The counties and tribal entities designated under the disaster declarations are:

DR 4148 – Bernalillo, Colfax, Luna, Sandoval, Sierra, and Socorro counties as well as Cochiti, Sandia, Kewa (Santa Domingo), San Felipe Pueblos, and the Navajo Nation.

DR 4152 – Catron, Chaves, Cibola, Colfax, De Baca, Dona Ana, Eddy, Guadalupe, Harding, Lincoln, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Otero, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, and Torrance counties as well as Isleta, Sandia and Taos Pueblos, and the Navajo Nation.

The New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) is the state’s homeland security and emergency management agency. The agency works to identify and lessen the effects of emergencies, disasters and threats to New Mexico by developing effective prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery actions for all disasters and emergencies.

Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://fema.gov/blog.

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New Mexico Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Funds Deadline Approaching

FEMA Awards $7.6 Million to Texas for Relocation of Lone Star Flight Museum

DENTON, Texas – More than $7.6 million is being awarded to the state of Texas by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to relocate the Lone Star Flight Museum out of a flood zone in Galveston to Ellington Field in Houston.

The FEMA grant was approved after it was determined that it would be better to relocate and construct a new complex, managed by the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, instead of repairing the Galveston-based museum and replacing damaged aircraft and/or contents.

The new facility would be comprised of a 125,000-square-foot building that will include hangar space for aircraft display and storage, an auditorium, exhibit hall, library, gift shop, and cafeteria.

The relocation of the Long Star Flight Museum is considered an Alternate Project. Learn more about this option at http://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-project-formulation-cost-estimating/alternate-project.

The mission of FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program is to provide assistance to state, tribal and local governments, and certain types of private nonprofit organizations so that communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies declared by the president.

Through the PA Program, FEMA provides supplemental federal disaster grant assistance for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged, publicly owned facilities and the facilities of certain private nonprofit (PNP) organizations.

Learn more about FEMA’s Public Assistance program online www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit.

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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. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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FEMA Awards $7.6 Million to Texas for Relocation of Lone Star Flight Museum

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