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Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Cañon City

DENVER – Cañon City’s Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., MDT, seven days beginning Thursday, Oct. 31. This is the first DRC in Fremont County.

Colorado residents who suffered losses and damages as a result of the severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides can get face-to-face disaster information at this DRC:

Fremont County

Garden Park High School

201 North 6th Street

Cañon City, CO 81212

Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., MDT, seven days a week at first.

Closed every Sunday beginning Nov. 10.

All DRCs are operated by the Colorado Office of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), county and local governments.

Representatives from FEMA and the SBA are among the agencies represented at each DRC to explain assistance programs and help survivors apply for disaster aid.

Survivors with disaster losses will save time by registering with FEMA before going to a DRC.

Register with FEMA by phone, 800-621-3362, from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., MDT, seven days a week. Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA Helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages. People who have a speech disability or are deaf or hard of hearing may call (TTY) 800-462-7585; users of 711 or Video Relay Service can call 800-621-3362.

Register online: DisasterAssistance.gov or by Web-enabled device, tablet or smartphone: type m.fema.gov in the browser.

For individuals who have hearing and visual disabilities or are deaf, DRCs can provide accommodations such as:

• Captioned telephones, which transcribe spoken words into text
• The booklet “Help After a Disaster” in large print and Braille
• American Sign Language interpreters available upon request
• Magnifiers and assistive listening devices
• 711-Relay or Video Relay Services

For more information on the Colorado disaster operation, visit fema.gov/disaster/4145.

Original article:

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Cañon City

Late Season Storms: Remember Severe Weather Preparedness

CHICAGO – With an ominous Thursday forecast for the Ohio Valley that includes severe storms, heavy rains and strong winds, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region V encourages everyone to get prepared.

“Even though temperatures are dropping as we approach the winter months, severe storms are still a risk,” FEMA Region V Administrator Andrew Velasquez III said. “Knowing what to do before the storm will help keep you and your family safe.”

Individuals living throughout the Ohio Valley, which includes east and southeast Indiana, and central, south central and southwest Ohio, should follow the instructions of state and local officials and listen to local radio or TV stations for updated emergency information related to this storm system. If a warning is issued, get indoors, and move to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls.

Find valuable tips to help you prepare for severe weather at http://www.ready.gov/severe-weather or download the free FEMA app, available for your Android, Apple or Blackberry device. Visit the site or download the app today so you have the information you need to prepare for severe weather.

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 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.

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Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, 312-408-4455

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Late Season Storms: Remember Severe Weather Preparedness

Second Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Weld County

DENVER – FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in the city of Evans will open Wednesday, Oct. 30.

Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., MDT, daily. After Nov. 9, the DRC will be closed Sundays.

Colorado residents who suffered losses and damages as a result of the severe storms and flooding can get face-to-face disaster information at this DRC:

Weld County

Village Centre at the Landings

3613 – 23rd Ave.

Evans, CO 80620

All DRCs are operated by the Colorado Office of Emergency Management and FEMA in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), county and local governments.

Representatives from FEMA and the SBA are among the agencies represented at each DRC to explain assistance programs and help survivors apply for disaster aid.

Survivors with disaster losses will save time by registering with FEMA before going to a DRC.

Register online: DisasterAssistance.gov or by Web-enabled device, tablet or smartphone: type m.fema.gov in the browser.

For individuals who have hearing and visual disabilities or are deaf, DRCs can provide accommodations such as:

For more information on the Colorado disaster operation, visit fema.gov/disaster/4145

Originally from –

Second Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Weld County

New England: One Year After Hurricane Sandy

BOSTON – One year ago today, on October 29^th, 2012, the Northeast braced for impact as Hurricane Sandy came barreling toward our coastline. Although New England was spared the brunt of the storm, residents and businesses along the shores of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire suffered severe damages from wind and water, many losing homes and livelihoods. Towns along the coasts of Connecticut and Rhode Island were nearly impassable after the storm, roadways choked with debris and sand from a significant storm surge that swept through beachfront communities.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to work closely with its partners to help individuals and communities recover from Hurricane Sandy.

In the past year over $125.9 million in FEMA funding has been obligated toward Hurricane Sandy recovery in New England:

Individual Assistance

More than $15.5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency grants approved for individuals and households region-wide, which includes:

Connecticut:

More than $13.8 million for housing assistance
More than $1.1 million for other needs assistance

Rhode Island

$378,748 for housing assistance
$42,592 for other need assistance

More than $51.6 million in Small Business Administration disaster loans approved for homeowners, renters and businesses in Connecticut.

More than $285.3 million in National Flood Insurance Program payments made to policy holders. Including:

Connecticut

More than $249.5 million paid to flood insurance policy holders

Rhode Island

More than $35.8 million paid to flood insurance policy holders

Public Assistance

More than $59.1 million in Public Assistance grants to reimburse local, state and tribal governments and eligible private nonprofits region-wide for some of the costs of:

Emergency response
Debris removal
Repairing or rebuilding damaged public facilities

The committed efforts of many additional federal, state and local agencies and organizations continue to assist states, towns, communities and individuals in the recovery process.

Original source:

New England: One Year After Hurricane Sandy

One Year Later: Bridging a Link to History at Liberty State Park

LINCROFT, N.J. — When it comes to destruction, disasters like Superstorm Sandy don’t discriminate: historic structures and environmentally sensitive areas that lie in the path of a storm are in just as much peril as less significant sites.

But when a historic structure or ecologically fragile area is damaged in a disaster, particular care must be taken to ensure that any repair or remediation that must take place is done in accordance with historic and environmental regulations.

To accomplish that, state, county and local officials in the impacted area are able to draw on the support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Environmental and Historic Preservation Specialists.

The EHP cadre plays a critical role in helping municipalities and agencies understand the importance of compliance with environmental and cultural regulations so they may make informed planning decisions.

EHP provides expertise and technical assistance to FEMA staff, local, state and federal partners and applicants who are tasked with the challenge of preserving historic, cultural and natural aspects of our national heritage. They help applicants understand what is required under the law and how best to meet those requirements.

At Liberty State Park, which is adjacent to Jersey City, Sandy destroyed a popular pedestrian bridge that provided access to the park for walkers and cyclists in the Jersey City area.

With the help of specialists from FEMA’s Environmental and Historic Preservation program, city officials acted quickly to develop a plan for reconstructing the bridge, which had originally served as a rail bridge before its conversion for pedestrian use.

The city applied for a FEMA Public Assistance grant which, if the project was approved, would reimburse the city for most of the reconstruction costs.

Because the original bridge traversed environmentally sensitive wetlands, it was important that any new construction be environmentally acceptable and that it occupy the same footprint as the previous bridge.

The park, an oasis of green space adjacent to the bustle of Jersey City, offers recreational facilities, a science museum, and several historic sites including the historic Central Railroad of New Jersey terminal where new immigrants arriving from Ellis Island boarded the trains that would take them to new lives across America.

The park is also the site of a memorial honoring those who died in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, titled Empty Sky. It is the most heavily visited park in the state.

Located just across the river from lower Manhattan, Liberty State Park also played a critical role following the attacks of 9/11 as a staging area for first responders.

With so many reasons for area residents to visit the park, restoring access via the pedestrian bridge was a priority for Jersey City officials.

The cost of replacing the 120-foot-long, 10-foot-wide bridge was estimated at $834,600. Jersey City’s Assistant City Engineer Jeff Reeves chose a pre-fabricated bridge that could be lifted onto the foundation via a crane. The pre-made span cost $160,000.

Restoring the foundation cost an additional $650,000, which included the demolition of the remnants of the original bridge and the installation of necessary components such as foundation “riprap.”

The final cost for reconstruction of the foundation and replacement of the pedestrian bridge came in under budget at $810,000. PA grants reimburse applicants for at least 75 percent of eligible work.

Because the total cost of disaster recovery in New Jersey exceeded a benchmark set by the federal government according to a specific formula, the federal share of the cost of the bridge replacement was increased to 90 percent with the remaining 10 percent borne by the applicant.

On June 20, 2013, then-Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy dedicated the new bridge, which has been officially named the “Ethel Pesin Liberty Footbridge” in memory of the woman who, with her husband, Morris,worked tirelessly to establish the park. A community leader and founding trustee of the Friends of Liberty State Park, Pesin died early in 2013.

“We know how important this piece of infrastructure is to our residents, and that is why we worked with NJOEM and our engineering staff to find a way to expedite the replacement of the Jersey Avenue footbridge,” the mayor said.

Today, walkers and cyclists are again able to enjoy the recreational facilities at Liberty State Park and visit the park’s historic sites via the Jersey Avenue bridge.

And because of the teamwork between state and local officials and FEMA’s EHP experts, the environmentally sensitive wetlands that surround the bridge have been protected.

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Next, the One Year Later series concludes with a look at long-term recovery from Sandy.

Liberty State Park – A Gift Worth Saving

http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/82646

Morristown Library

http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/82180

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

Read this article:

One Year Later: Bridging a Link to History at Liberty State Park

FEMA Mitigation Outreach at Four Ace Hardware stores Oct. 31 to Nov. 2

DENVER – FEMA mitigation teams will offer building tips at Ace Hardware stores in Fort Collins, Firestone and Windsor this weekend beginning Thursday, Oct. 31, through Saturday, Nov. 2.

Mitigation measures can benefit homeowners, renters and business owners hoping to reduce problems including mold and mildew. Advice also may be of help protecting electrical systems, furnaces and appliances.

FEMA mitigation specialists will be at these four locations:

Downtown Ace Hardware

215 S. College Ave.

Fort Collins, CO 80524

Hours: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 8a.m. to 6 p.m., MDT

Clays’ Ace Hardware

1001 E. Harmony Rd., Unit B

Fort Collins, CO 80525

Hours: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., MDT

Ace Hardware of Firestone

8258 Colorado Blvd.

Firestone, CO 80504

Hours: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., MDT

Windsor Ace Hardware

1245 Main St.

Windsor, CO 80550

Hours: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., MDT

The mitigation teams also will have free reference booklets in English and Spanish, including:

Preparing Makes Sense, Get Ready Now
Protecting Your Home From Flood Damage
Help After a Disaster
Mold & Mildew: Cleaning Up Your Flood-Damaged Home

More information about strengthening property can found at fema.gov/what-mitigation

Original post:

FEMA Mitigation Outreach at Four Ace Hardware stores Oct. 31 to Nov. 2

One Year Later: Communities, Local Professionals Take Ownership of Recovery for a Stronger New Jersey

LINCROFT, N.J. — As the State of New Jersey approaches the one-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, many communities along the Shore are focused on recovery efforts. Much of the planning efforts in these devastated towns and boroughs are based on the question: “What will our communities look like in one, five or 10 years?”

Rumson, N.J., Oct. 9, 2013—Families visit project boards developed by Sea Bright community members at the Sea Bright 2020 second community workshop. The workshop allows residents to speak with Project Advocates and vote to resolve community issues following Superstorm Sandy. Rosanna Arias/FEMA Though many of the community leaders and their residents hold hopeful visions for the future, it may be hard for them to conceptualize these visions. With reduced technical capacity, often because of the destruction caused by Sandy, residents of municipalities such as Highlands and Sea Bright boroughs have requested assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Many communities have limited resources to pay for technical planning assistance, so to support local recovery efforts FEMA provides locally hired technical professionals who can provide a true cost-saving measure for these municipalities.

FEMA’s Federal Disaster Recovery Coordination is tasked with assisting communities in need with technical assistance ranging from planning, engineering, construction management and architectural design, to strategic goal-setting, resource identification and community development. The FDRC assigns Community Recovery Assistance teams to municipalities that have requested assistance. The teams combine experienced disaster response reservist personnel with local professionals brought in to provide the needed technical expertise.

“FEMA works closely with municipalities, helping them plan what the recovery strategy is going to look like and how they can take advantage of all the federal resources available,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer in New Jersey Gracia Szczech.

Every disaster is different, and the response and recovery efforts must be tailored to the needs of the local communities affected by the event. With Sandy, the engagement of a large number of local

professionals has been a key part of the success of this recovery effort. Some of these individuals have suffered through the loss of their own home or property, which makes them even more invested in the success of the state’s recovery. More importantly, these professionals possess important skills and unique insights into the governing and community development processes of these municipalities.

Highlands, N.J., Aug. 7, 2013 — A resident marks his residence on a map at the Highlands Long Term Community Recovery Strategy Workshop. The borough is collaborating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other organizations to develop a plan to recover from and mitigate future disasters like Hurricane Sandy. Rosanna Arias/FEMA“We made a special effort in hiring local residents in New Jersey who have special skill sets,” said Peter Gozza, Federal Disaster Recovery Officer.

These efforts are not just about the local technical professionals. Community leaders and residents along the Jersey Shore have volunteered and dedicated countless hours to assist in the recovery of their respective hometowns. In each engaged community, a Recovery Steering Committee was created to develop appropriate, resilient projects that will contribute to the recovery of their communities. Recovery from a storm as powerful as Sandy requires a combination of hard work, patience and creativity from all those involved in the process. These efforts have begun to take hold in communities where the Community Recovery Assistance teams have worked with local leaders and residents.

In the Borough of Highlands, the Steering Committee has developed several project proposals including the creation of a “housing advocate.” The advocate would coordinate with borough officials and property owners to identify appropriate funding sources for rebuilding, restoring or developing appropriate mitigation measures for the borough’s housing stock. In this way, an important component of a community’s economic base can be maintained and leveraged for the benefit of the entire borough.

As local leaders and residents continue to work through the recovery process, some aspects of their community will look much different than they did before the storm. In the Borough of Sea Bright, Steering Committee members, who dubbed their program “Sea Bright 2020,” have proposed a project that includes a multi-purpose community center and unique streetscaping design elements throughout the borough.

All of the efforts of the recovery committees – and the local professionals who assist them – have given true meaning to the motto “Jersey Strong.” This collaboration has helped foster a sense of ownership in the success of the state’s recovery. Working together, residents, local and state leaders, non-governmental and nonprofit organizations, and federal agencies have forged vital bonds to help New Jersey recover from the devastation of Sandy.

Video-links: Federal Disaster Recovery Coordination (FDRC)

Jersey Strong

3D Timeline

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.

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One Year Later: Communities, Local Professionals Take Ownership of Recovery for a Stronger New Jersey

New FEMA Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps Released Soon for Cumberland and York Counties in Maine

BOSTON – Communities throughout Cumberland and York counties in the state of Maine are receiving updated preliminary flood hazard maps on November 5, 2013, as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s nationwide program to modernize Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The maps should be available for viewing shortly after November 5, 2013.

The release of these maps is the result of a long process which involved extensive collaboration with state and local partners. This long term project began in 2004 and will culminate when these maps are reviewed and finally approved at the end of the process.

Flood hazard maps, also known as Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps, indicate whether properties are in areas of high, moderate or low flood risk. In reviewing the new maps of Cumberland and York counties, many property owners may find that their risk of flooding is higher or lower than they thought. If the risk level for a property changes, so may the requirement to carry flood insurance.

Community officials and residents should look at the new preliminary flood maps to become familiar with the flood risks in their community and to see whether the flood zone has changed around their property. The maps can be viewed at each community’s municipal office, or online at the FEMA Map Service Center, found at https://msc.fema.gov. Every community will receive both a paper copy and a digital copy of the new maps to share with their residents for review before the maps become finalized.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency encourages residents of Cumberland and York counties to view the new maps, understand their level of flood risk, and learn how their properties may be affected. Residents are also encouraged to contact an insurance representative to learn more about financial steps they may be able to take in order to protect their investment. Additional information outlining the entire map adoption process and the next steps for communities and residents will be provided soon after the maps are released on November 5, 2013.

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New FEMA Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps Released Soon for Cumberland and York Counties in Maine

Greeley Disaster Recovery Center Reopens in Weld County

DENVER – Greeley’s Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) reopens today, Monday, Oct. 28.

This DRC will be operate 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., MDT, today, Tuesday, Oct. 29, and Wednesday, Oct. 30.

It will close permanently at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 30.

WELD COUNTY

Island Grove Exhibition Hall

525 N. 15th Ave.

Greeley, CO 80631

DRCs are closed when the number of people needing disaster assistance falls. All DRCs are operated by the Colorado Office of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), county and local governments.

To find the open DRC closest to you, go to fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

Representatives from FEMA and the SBA are among the agencies represented at each DRC to explain assistance programs and help survivors apply for disaster aid.

For individuals who have hearing and visual disabilities or are deaf, DRCs can provide such accommodations as:

• Captioned telephones, which transcribe spoken words into text
• The booklet Help After a Disaster in large print and Braille
• American Sign Language interpreters, available upon request
• Magnifiers and assistive listening devices
• 711-Relay or Video Relay Services

Survivors with losses from the storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides will save time by registering for help from FEMA before going to the DRCs.

Register online: DisasterAssistance.gov or by Web-enabled device, tablet or smartphone: type m.fema.gov in the browser.

For more information on the Colorado disaster operation, visit fema.gov/disaster/4145.

Continue reading:

Greeley Disaster Recovery Center Reopens in Weld County

Hurricane Sandy, A Year of Recovery

FEMA Helping Survivors and Communities Rebuild

WASHINGTON – On the evening of October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall in southern New Jersey, with impacts felt across 24 states. The storm battered the East Coast, particularly the densely-populated New York and New Jersey coasts, with heavy rain, strong winds, and record storm surges. In Sandy’s immediate aftermath, more than 23,000 people sought refuge in temporary shelters, and more than 8.5 million customers lost power. The storm flooded numerous roads and tunnels, blocked transportation corridors, and deposited extensive debris along the coastline.

At the direction of President Barack Obama, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its federal partners are worked closely with disaster survivors to ensure they received all the assistance for which they are eligible under the law. Over the course of the year, more than $1.4 billion in Individual Assistance has been provided to more than 182,000 survivors, and an additional $2.4 billion in low-interest disaster loans have been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration. More than $7.9 billion in National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) payments have been made to policy holders.

Over the last twelve-months, more than 11,900 grants totaling over $3.2 billion have been approved for emergency work, to remove debris and rebuild or replace public infrastructure in the hardest hit areas. This includes more than $1.3 billion for first responder costs for personnel overtime, materials and equipment used to save lives and protect property; more than $400 million obligated toward repairs to storm damaged homes so that disaster survivors could safely remain in their homes; and more than $19 million toward the costs to repair storm flooded and damaged schools. FEMA has been working in concert and integrating with all levels of government, private and nonprofit sectors, faith-based organizations, communities and individuals to provide a whole community approach to recovery and leverage the capabilities of the entire nation.

While supporting disaster survivors and communities on their road to recovery, FEMA has been aggressive in its implementation of new authorities granted in the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 (SRIA). In many ways, the passage of SRIA represents the most significant legislative change to the FEMA’s substantive authorities since the enactment of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The changes have nationwide impact and provide greater flexibility to state, local, tribal and territorial governments, allow FEMA to operate more effectively and efficiently, and provide tribal nations options for seeking emergency and disaster declarations for their tribes. To date, 13 of the 17 provisions outlined in this legislation have been completed, implemented via a pilot program, or are otherwise immediately available.

FEMA is encouraging everyone to take steps to become better prepared for an emergency, whether or not the event occurs while they are at home, at work, at school, or in the community. For more information on preparing for severe weather events and other disasters, visit www.Ready.gov or www.listo.gov on the Internet. Information regarding emergency preparedness and what to do before and after a disaster can also be found at m.fema.gov or by downloading the FEMA app from your smartphone’s app store.

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

Link:

Hurricane Sandy, A Year of Recovery

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