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Disaster Recovery Centers transitioning to Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in Nassau and Suffolk Counties

NEW YORK – Four Disaster Recovery Centers in Nassau and Suffolk counties will become Disaster Loan Outreach Centers beginning at 9 a.m., Wednesday, May 1.

The centers, operated by the U.S. Small Business Administration, will be open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A disaster loan outreach center focuses on funds needed for long-term rebuilding and recovery. Homeowners, renters and businesses will be able to talk individually with SBA representatives. Specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will also available.

At these centers:

Businesses of any size and certain nonprofits with or without physical damage may apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EDIL), a working capital loan for disaster-related cash flow problems.
Businesses, homeowners and renters may check on the status or ask any questions about their SBA disaster loan application.
Applicants may check the status of their FEMA registration and get clarification of any written correspondence received.

Below is a list of locations transitioning to Disaster Loan Outreach Centers:

COUNTY	ADDRESS
Nassau County	Recreation Center and Ice Arena 700 Magnolia Blvd., Long Beach, NY 11561
Nassau County	Island Park Village Hall (LIRR) parking lot 127 Long Beach Rd., Island Park, NY 11558
Nassau County	Cedar Creek Park Merrick Rd. East, Seaford, NY 11783
Suffolk County	Copiague Memorial Library 50 Deauville Blvd., Copiague, NY 11726

For assistance with SBA disaster loan application, call the SBA Disaster Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339) or send an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy, www.fema.gov/blog.

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Disaster Recovery Centers transitioning to Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in Nassau and Suffolk Counties

NEW YORK – Four Disaster Recovery Centers in Nassau and Suffolk counties will become Disaster Loan Outreach Centers beginning at 9 a.m., Wednesday, May 1.

The centers, operated by the U.S. Small Business Administration, will be open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

At these centers:

Businesses of any size and certain nonprofits with or without physical damage may apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EDIL), a working capital loan for disaster-related cash flow problems.
Businesses, homeowners and renters may check on the status or ask any questions about their SBA disaster loan application.
Applicants may check the status of their FEMA registration and get clarification of any written correspondence received.

Below is a list of locations transitioning to Disaster Loan Outreach Centers:

COUNTY	ADDRESS
Nassau County	Recreation Center and Ice Arena 700 Magnolia Blvd., Long Beach, NY 11561
Nassau County	Island Park Village Hall (LIRR) parking lot 127 Long Beach Rd., Island Park, NY 11558
Nassau County	Cedar Creek Park Merrick Rd. East, Seaford, NY 11783
Suffolk County	Copiague Memorial Library 50 Deauville Blvd., Copiague, NY 11726

For assistance with SBA disaster loan application, call the SBA Disaster Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339) or send an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy, www.fema.gov/blog.

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Disaster Recovery Centers transitioning to Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in Nassau and Suffolk Counties

Federal Aid Programs for the State of Kansas Declaration

Main Content

Release date:

April 26, 2013

Release Number:

HQ-13-032Factsheet

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 Kansas.

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

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

Payment of not less than 75 percent for snow assistance, for a specific period of time during or proximate to the incident period. Snow Assistance may include snow removal, de-icing, salting, snow dumps, and sanding of roads. (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 the 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 the 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.

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.

Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts available at www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema ; follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fema and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fema.

Last Updated:

April 26, 2013 – 15:57

State/Tribal Government or Region:

Kansas

and

Region VII

Related Disaster:

Kansas Snowstorm

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Federal Aid Programs for the State of Kansas Declaration

A few days left for survivors to visit 4 Disaster Recovery Centers in NYC

NEW YORK – Hurricane Sandy survivors have until April 30 to visit four Disaster Recovery Centers in New York City.

Specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration are available to provide:

Guidance regarding disaster recovery
Status of applications being processed by FEMA
Clarification of any written correspondence received
Referrals to agencies that may provide further assistance
SBA disaster loan information

Below is a list of Disaster Recovery Centers available through Tuesday, April 30:

COUNTY	ADDRESS	HOURS: Mon.-Fri.	HOURS: Saturday
Kings County	MCU parking lot 1904 Surf Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11224	9 a.m.-6 p.m.	9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Queens County	Fort Tilden Park 415 State Rd. Breezy Point, NY 11697	9 a.m.-6 p.m.	9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Queens County	Arverne by the Sea 68-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd. Arverne, NY 11692	9 a.m.-6 p.m.	9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Richmond County	Kia in Staten Island 1976 Hylan Blvd. Staten Island, NY 10306	9 a.m.-6 p.m.	9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Survivors may check the status of their registration by calling the FEMA helpline 800-621-3362 (711 Relay or Video Relay Services are available) or TTY 800-462-7585. The Helpline is available 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT, seven days a week. Applicants may also visit DisasterAssistance.gov or with a smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov for more information.

For assistance with SBA disaster loan application, call the SBA Disaster Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339) or send an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy, www.fema.gov/blog.

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A few days left for survivors to visit 4 Disaster Recovery Centers in NYC

After 6 months, N.Y. communities make progress in recovery from Sandy

NEW YORK – In the six months since Hurricane Sandy made landfall on Oct. 29, 2012, significant progress has been made in New York’s recovery.

Nearly all of the debris is gone. Many survivors have returned to their homes and repaired or replaced damaged or destroyed personal property. Businesses are reopening.

Many public schools, libraries, community centers and other institutions have reopened, including New York University Langone Medical Center, Bellevue Hospital and Coney Island Hospital.

In February, the Federal Emergency Management Agency released advisory flood-risk data to help homeowners, business owners and public facilities plan for future flood events. Bellevue Hospital is among the facilities that are already using the Advisory Base Flood Elevation data to protect themselves from future flooding.

“New York has made tremendous progress in the six months since Sandy,” said Michael F. Byrne, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer for Hurricane Sandy operations. “But the work is not done. We are working with our state and local partners to apply mitigation measures to ensure that New York is better able to withstand future storms.”

The whole community is involved in the recovery effort, including local, state, federal and tribal, the private sector and voluntary and faith-based organizations.

So far, more than $6.6 billion has been provided in disaster assistance to individuals and families, low-interest disaster loans, flood-insurance claims payments and funding for debris removal, repair or replacement of public facilities and reimbursement for emergency expenses.

FEMA has approved more than $959 million for individuals and households in New York to help eligible survivors with home repairs, temporary rental costs and other uninsured hurricane-related losses.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved low-interest disaster loans totaling more than $1.4 billion for nearly 22,000 homeowners, renters and businesses.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid nearly $3.4 billion in claims to 56,766 policyholders.

Debris removal, essential to rebuilding neighborhoods, is nearly 95 percent complete. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local and state agencies have cleaned up nearly 5.7 million of the estimated 6 million cubic yards of debris.

FEMA has approved more than $848 million in Public Assistance grants to reimburse state, tribal and local governments and eligible private nonprofits for costs related to emergency response, debris removal and repairing or rebuilding damaged public facilities, among other expenses.

These grants include more than $114 million to New York University Langone Medical Center for temporary repairs, patient evacuation and other emergency-related expenses; $5.1 million to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to repair or reconstruct 16 pump stations; and $3.8 million to Long Beach Public Schools for repairs to the district’s elementary, middle and high schools.

More than 21,000 families were able to remain in their storm-damaged homes while repairs were made because of the Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power program, operated by local governments and funded by FEMA.

Because of a shortage of rental housing, 5,933 individuals and families have been housed temporarily in hotel rooms under the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program

Six months after the storm, nearly 1,500 FEMA personnel are on the job in New York, including nearly 400 local residents hired to help with recovery operations.

Storm survivors continue to receive face-to-face help in the recovery process at disaster recovery centers. To date, there have been more than 181,000 visits to the centers.

Early in the disaster, Federal Disaster Recovery Coordination commenced when more than a dozen federal agencies deployed to New York under the National Disaster Recovery Framework. Their mission was to coordinate with one another and to collaborate with state and local officials and hundreds of stakeholders on a comprehensive, whole community recovery strategy for the state of New York.

Scheduled for release this summer, the Recovery Support Strategy focuses on how the federal government can help build back New York better, stronger and smarter. In addition to extensive input from local and national energy, housing, transportation, infrastructure, health, human services, economic, and environmental experts, the strategy reflects successful practices from other major disasters.

The document also incorporates guidance on effective uses for billions of dollars in Sandy supplemental funds approved by Congress and President Obama early this year. Federal Disaster Recovery Coordination in New York will be ongoing.

For more on Hurricane Sandy recovery in New York, visit www.FEMA.gov/SandyNY.

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After 6 months, N.Y. communities make progress in recovery from Sandy

East Greenville Resident Visited the White House on Wednesday as a “Champions of Change” Finalist for Helping Pennsylvanians Recover from…

HARRISBURG, Pa. — An East Greenville resident was honored at the White House on Wednesday for helping Pennsylvanians recover from Hurricane Sandy. Brian Buhman, a volunteer state coordinator of field operations with Team Rubicon USA, is a finalist in the White House “Champions of Change” initiative.

As a new state coordinator of field operations with Team Rubicon USA, a nonprofit disaster response service group of U.S. military veterans, Buhman was among the first responders to Hurricane Sandy. Since the days immediately after the storm, Buhman, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, has spent at least 150 hours supervising and working alongside some 50 Team Rubicon volunteers. They cleared trees from approximately 20 private properties throughout Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties. Buhman and his teams located and approached property owners who were identified on lists developed and maintained by county emergency managers.

“It just seemed like there was always a need,” Buhman said. “Just when we thought we had covered all of the impacted homes in an area, we would hear from an organization such as the local United Way that more homes were identified.”

Buhman is one example of hundreds of engaged volunteers who have spent hours tirelessly helping after Hurricane Sandy. Many volunteers have assisted their neighbors by clearing debris, helping with reconstruction projects and providing emotional support here in Pennsylvania – as well as supporting residents in the bordering states of New York and New Jersey.

“Volunteers like Brian Buhman have been a vital piece of the recovery process since Hurricane Sandy,” said Commonwealth Coordinating Officer Glenn M. Cannon, with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

Many volunteers have been affiliated with member groups of Southeastern Pennsylvania Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (SEPA VOAD). SEPA VOAD coordinates planning efforts and matches community needs with services provided by its member agencies. This cooperative effort is an effective way for a wide variety of organizations to work together in a crisis. Team Rubicon USA is one of those organizations.

“Brian Buhman from Team Rubicon was fantastic and a great new addition to SEPA VOAD,” said Liberty Lutheran Services Volunteer Engagement and Disaster Response Co-coordinator Julia Menzo. “The impact of Buhman’s work has meant a lot to homeowners and all of us as Team Rubicon’s partners. The organization is bringing a great deal of trained volunteers to our region and they are able to provide leadership and help with assessments.”

Being involved in disaster response comes naturally to Buhman. “I like going out and helping. It’s part of being a veteran – we strive in these kinds of situations,” he said.

Team Rubicon USA is comprised of individuals just like Buhman. The organization unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams. This activity provides veterans with a chance to continue serving by helping and empowering those afflicted by disasters. To learn more about Team Rubicon USA, see: TeamRubiconUSA.org/.

“Brian Buhman and others with Team Rubicon USA, as well as the multitude of individuals who responded to the needs of their neighbors after Hurricane Sandy, made vital contributions to the robust storm recovery still in process in Pennsylvania,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Thomas J. McCool.

The White House Champions of Change initiative highlights the extraordinary activity of Americans as they support their communities. Every week, “Champions of Change” finalists are invited to the White House to be acknowledged for their contributions and to share their ideas. To learn more about the “Champions of Change” program, see: WhiteHouse.gov/champions.

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. FEMA Region III’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion3.

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East Greenville Resident Visited the White House on Wednesday as a “Champions of Change” Finalist for Helping Pennsylvanians Recover from…

FEMA Releases Draft Environmental Impact Statement Addressing Hazardous Fire Risk Reduction Projects in East Bay Hills

OAKLAND, Calif. – The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will today release a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) on proposed hazardous fire risk reduction projects in the San Francisco Bay Area, in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The DEIS is being published in the Federal Register and will be filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency later this week.

The University of California, Berkeley (UCB), the City of Oakland, and the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) have submitted a total of four grant applications to FEMA, through the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA), for federal financial assistance to implement hazardous fire risk reduction projects in the East Bay Hills of Alameda and Contra Costa counties and at the Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline in Contra Costa County.

The funding sought in the four grant applications could be provided under FEMA’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). If awarded, the funding would be used to implement hazardous risk reduction projects in the East Bay hills and in the Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline, bordering the San Francisco Bay, in the City of Richmond. FEMA will use the draft EIS, along with input from the public and other agencies, and in conjunction with other relevant materials, to reach a final decision on the submitted applications.

The East Bay Hills and the vicinity of Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline have a hot and dry fall season, wind-conducive topography, flammable vegetation, dense development, and limited accessibility for firefighting. The area is subject to hot, dry winds that can drive a wildfire from the regional parks and other open space areas into residential areas. These factors combine to create a substantial regional fire danger with most of the undeveloped areas in the East Bay Hills in a very severe fire hazard zone.

Hazardous fire risk reduction refers to long-term, cost-effective actions that reduce the risk of a hazardous wildfire, such as the massively destructive Oakland Hills fire of 1991. Historically, 15 major wildfires in the East Bay Hills have burned a total of almost 9,000 acres, destroyed approximately 4,000 homes, and killed 26 people. One of the fires, the 1923 Berkeley Fire, destroyed more than 550 homes in a few hours. A fire in 1970 consumed more than 200 acres and burned 37 homes. The 1991 Tunnel Fire killed 25 people, destroyed more than 3,000 homes, and did an estimated $1.5 billion in damage.

Fire risk may be lowered by creating a fire break and reducing the amount of flammable trees, shrubs, and debris that can act as fuel during a wildfire. The proposed vegetation management work would primarily focus on reducing highly flammable, non-native invasive species.

Based on the wildfire hazard characteristics of the East Bay Hills and the Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline, FEMA has identified that a need exists to reduce hazardous fire risk to people and structures in these areas. FEMA is proposing to address this need by providing financial assistance to the sub-applicants — UCB, EBRPD, and Cal EMA, through the Pre-Disaster Mitigation program and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

FEMA will host three public meetings on Tuesday, May 14^th and Saturday May 18^th. The meetings will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on May 14^th in the Richard C. Trudeau Center’s Main Room, 11500 Skyline Boulevard, Oakland, CA 94619 and on Saturday, May 18^th, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., in the Claremont Middle School’s Gymnasium, 5750 College Avenue, Oakland, CA 94618.

The upcoming public meetings will provide information on the draft EIS, which describes the proposed East Bay Hills hazardous fire risk reduction projects and potential environmental impacts on the natural, physical, and human environments in the project. The purpose of the meetings is to provide information on the draft EIS, to receive oral and written comments, and to allow the public, local businesses, associations, stakeholders, affected governmental agencies, and interested parties to speak directly with federal, state and local representatives regarding the draft EIS.

Written comments must be submitted or postmarked by midnight on June 17, 2013. Oral and written comments may be made at the public meetings. Written comments may also be submitted through the project website at http://ebheis.cdmims.com, via email at EBH-EIS-FEMA-RIX@fema.dhs.gov, or via mail to P.O. Box 72379, Oakland, CA 94612-8579.

The draft EIS will be made available on the project website at http://ebheis.cdmims.com and at the following libraries: Oakland Main Library, Berkeley Main Library, San Leandro Main Library, Richmond Main Library, and Oakland Rockridge Library.

MEDIA CONTACT: Mary Simms, (510) 627-7006, mary.simms@fema.dhs.gov

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FEMA Releases Draft Environmental Impact Statement Addressing Hazardous Fire Risk Reduction Projects in East Bay Hills

Emergency Preparedness for Kids: Never Too Early

SAN JUAN, PR – What happens if there is an emergency and your children are not around? Will they be ready? The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) encourages families to have their children prepared for an emergency as early in their childhood as possible, making them smarter and more resilient as well as enhancing their opportunities to survive and help their communities recover faster from any type of disaster.

“Engaging children in the emergency preparedness process will automatically give them a sense of security and inclusion in such an important task. They will benefit from knowing what their family plans are and how things should work during this type of event, which can be a scary situation for them,” said FEMA’s Caribbean Area Division Director Alejandro De La Campa. “Kids can assist their parents when putting together an emergency kit and by taking care of the pets. It’s very important that they understand their roles in the family emergency plan.”

Every family needs an emergency communications plan that includes a list of phone numbers of key contacts to reach during an emergency; these can be written down in a piece of paper or card, for quick action. The list should include an out of town emergency contact that every family member can reach to inform where and how they are and when they will be able to reunite. Children should always keep a copy of this list in their belongings, such as school bag, luggage, sports bag and emergency kit.

During the upcoming vacation period, if kids will spend time in a summer camp, make sure you know the facility’s emergency procedures and adjust the family plan accordingly.

Another main component of any family emergency plan is an emergency kit. This should include enough supplies for at least three days, such as: Water, canned food, can opener, battery operated radio and additional batteries, first aid kit, flashlight, clothes, blanket, whistle, and any prescribed medicine. Kids can include personal items, such as their favorite toy or game.

Don’t forget that pets are part of the family and should be included in the emergency plan. Children can help by gathering enough pet food and water for at least three days; food should be kept in a waterproof container. Pets should wear a collar with a name tag and an extra collar should be included in the kit. If you haven’t done so already, consider acquiring a pet crate which is a safer to transport your pets. Do not forget any prescribed medicines, toys and supplies to clean up after the pet, such as; plastic bags, paper towels or newspapers.

Seek additional disaster preparedness information and identify hazards that may impact those places where your family spends most of their time and get ready now. Involve your children, practice your emergency plan frequently and talk about emergency preparedness. Learn more about emergency preparedness and how to improve your community resiliency to emergency situations by visiting www.fema.gov or www.ready.gov.

FEMA News Desk (787) 296-3554, (787) 296-3560

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Emergency Preparedness for Kids: Never Too Early

New Yorkers honored as White House Hurricane Sandy “Champions of Change”

NEW YORK – Eight New Yorkers were honored Wednesday by the White House as Hurricane Sandy “Champions of Change.”

The White House recognized the individuals for their work in response and recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy. These hidden heroes implemented innovative, collaborative solutions to meet the unique needs of communities and neighborhoods as they worked to rebuild after the devastating effects of this disaster.

“As soon as a disaster hits, we see citizens come together to help those in need,” said Paulette Aniskoff, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement. “Time and again, we have seen the courage and heroism of first responders, organizations and ordinary people in providing relief, recovery and care, and these Hurricane Sandy Champions of Change are no exception.”

Those honored were:

Amanda “Mandy” Bickerstaff, UWSLoves (New York, NY)

Mandy Bickerstaff is a Program Director for Do Your Part, a nonprofit organization that supports disaster relief and long-term recovery. After Hurricane Sandy hit New York City, Bickerstaff volunteered with the Red Cross and saw how important good food made with love was in times of disaster. She co-founded UWSLoves, which prepared over 1,500 hot meals and more than 3,000 sandwiches for those in need on the Lower East Side, Rockaway, Coney Island and Red Hook. During this time, Bickerstaff also compiled a cookbook of recipes and stories from the relief effort to support continued fundraising. She continues to work with relief organizations around the New York and New Jersey areas, coordinating fundraisers, large donations and volunteers. Her grandparents are her inspiration, instilling in her the importance of public service and dedication to those in need.

Ariel Creamer, Survivors Silver Lining (Queens, NY)

After evacuating her home during Hurricane Sandy, fourteen-year-old Rockaway resident Ariel Creamer founded the organization Survivors Silver Lining, which matches donors with Hurricane Sandy survivors. The mission of the organization is to help children and families replace items lost in the storm and rebuild their lives. Creamer has worked with other hurricane relief organizations to bring and distribute supplies to the Rockaways. Her hope is to continue her work and to bring awareness that the need in the Rockaways is far from over.

Erin Corcoran Daly, Operation Breezy Gut and Pump (Queens, NY)

Erin Daly sprang into action after Hurricane Sandy struck her hometown of Breezy Point. Daly, a Florida state prosecutor, immediately began her relief efforts by collecting donations of generators, sump pumps, tools, food and water, and arrived at the disaster zone with a truckload full of supplies and gasoline. The next day, Daly and off-duty FDNY firefighter Kevin Adams pitched a tent in a field and offered to pump and gut houses for free. Operation Breezy Gut and Pump was born. Kevin recruited fellow FDNY member Phil Pillet, and soon volunteers began showing up by the hundreds. Over the next 36 days, Daly and her crew worked tirelessly day and night, coordinating the integration of federal, state and local resources and matching victims with volunteer groups and relief organizations. Thanks to Operation Gut and Pump’s efforts, over 600 homes in Breezy Point were pumped, gutted and cleaned out free of charge.

Mike “Loco” Hoffman, Boots on the Ground (Staten Island, NY)

His community devastated after Hurricane Sandy, Mike “Loco” Hoffman has contributed to disaster relief and recovery every day since the storm struck. From rescuing stranded and frightened survivors to providing household needs, heaters and generators to gutting and rebuilding homes, Hoffman has been a one-man powerhouse of recovery. He even brought Christmas gifts and cheer to residents by dressing as Santa Claus and driving a decorated truck playing Christmas music through the streets of storm-ravaged neighborhoods. A lifelong resident of Staten Island, Hoffman founded Boots on the Ground Staten Island to put his local knowledge to use and serve as a resource for the thousands of volunteers who arrived to the area. In this way, he is assisting with the formation of an organized at-the-ready volunteer response network as a resource for future disaster victims.

Adam Marlatt, Global DIRT: Disaster Immediate Response Team (New York, NY)

Adam Marlatt is a Marine Reserve infantry sergeant and the founder of Global Disaster Immediate Response Team (DIRT). Using the skills he learned on the battlefield, on a District Stability Team with the U.S. State Department, and with his local volunteer fire department, Marlatt leads his team into the immediate aftermath of disasters to provide technical solutions, medical assistance and coordination support. Founded after the Haiti earthquake of 2010, Global DIRT has deployed to Haiti, Pakistan, New Zealand, Japan and the tri-state area after Hurricane Sandy.

Walter Meyer, Power Rockaway Resilience (Brooklyn, NY)

Together with a group of designers, sustainability experts, and solar engineers, Walter Meyer, an urban designer based in Brooklyn, New York, helped form the community-based organization “Power Rockaways Resilience.” Days after Hurricane Sandy, while gas generators sat idle due to a fuel shortage, the group began delivering hand-built, shopping-cart-sized solar generators to the hardest-hit blocks of the Rockaway peninsula, a barrier island off New York City that bore the brunt of a 14-foot tidal surge topped by three-story-high waves. This small-scale initial effort grew, and with the help of a nationwide fundraising campaign, Power Rockaways Resilience oversaw the widespread installation of large-scale solar generators at relief centers and volunteer hubs. The use of solar power to keep lights shining and helping hands working throughout the darkest days of the storm has inspired peninsula-wide interest in alternative energy technologies. Power Rockaways Resilience is still on the ground connecting solar suppliers and installers with Rockaway businesses and residents seeking to rebuild for a more sustainable, resilient future.

Carolina Salguero, PortSide NewYork (Brooklyn, NY)

PortSide NewYork is a nonprofit in Red Hook, Brooklyn, focused on waterfront issues. Since 2005, the organization has operated from the Mary A. Whalen, an oil tanker on the National Register of Historic Places. After protecting the ship during Hurricane Sandy, they came ashore to help the community of Red Hook. Led by founder Carolina Salguero, PortSide created an aid station that evolved to provide services in response to emerging needs. They provided computer equipment to enable people to apply to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, organized the work of electrician Danny Schneider who donated his services for free, and set up free legal clinics and a small business recovery center. Based on what they learned, they are now planning programs for Red Hook and the New York City government.

Marcie Allen Van Mol, Beach 119th Street Angels (New York, NY)

Marcie Allen is the president of MAC Presents, a New York City-based sponsorship and fulfillment agency. After Hurricane Sandy, Marcie raised over $100,000 in donations and supplies for families on Beach 119th Street in Rockaway Beach, New York. Allen directed the short documentary film Beach 119 about the families of one block in Rockaway and their recovery.

To learn more about the White House Champions of Change program and nominate a Champion, visit www.whitehouse.gov/champions.

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New Yorkers honored as White House Hurricane Sandy “Champions of Change”

FEMA Grants Additional $1.2 Million to Rebuild Louisiana State University School of Dentistry Physical Plant

NEW ORLEANS – The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently announced an additional $1.2 million in recovery aid to Louisiana Facility Planning and Control to rebuild the physical plant at the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry, including mitigation measures to help prevent damage from future storms.

“The LSU School of Dentistry has been a New Orleans landmark since 1972,” said FEMA’s Louisiana Recovery Office Deputy Director of Programs Andre Cadogan. “The school educates a significant number of future dentists, hygienists and lab technicians and could not afford to be lost to Katrina. We have all worked together to bring this school back, not only as it was before but with added mitigation efforts to strengthen it against future hurricanes.”

LSUSD, located at 1100 Florida Avenue on a 22-acre tract of land near New Orleans City Park, was flooded with approximately 5 feet of water from Hurricane Katrina. The water stood in the facility for two weeks, damaging, among other things, the physical plant’s architectural, mechanical and electrical components. Following Katrina, the school relocated to the South Campus of LSU in Baton Rouge until it was able to return to New Orleans in August 2007.

Prior to the hurricane, the physical plant, built in 1971, generated and supplied chilled water, soft water, hot water, compressed air and building steam to the administration and clinical buildings. As part of the renovation process, the school proposes to utilize FEMA’s Public Assistance mitigation funding to elevate mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipment and the incinerator. Additionally, mitigation will fund environmental control generators to provide power during a similar storm event.

“We are most appreciative of this next step towards a return towards normalcy of our campus and anxiously anticipate FEMA approval of the next important mitigation project related to our clinical and research facilities,” said Henry A. Gremillion, DDS, MAGD, Dean of the LSUHSC School of Dentistry.

More than 4,000 dentists, hygienists and lab technicians have been educated at LSUSD, equating to 75 percent of the dental health care workers in Louisiana having been trained at the school.

Louisiana Facility Planning and Control owns the Dental School facility, which is part of the larger Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center complex. To date, FEMA has obligated approximately $188.9 million in public assistance funding for Hurricane Katrina-related recovery work at LSU-HSC. This figure includes the recent $1.2 million in funding.

Editors: For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/latro.

Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/femalro, blog.fema.gov, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

When FEMA approves projects through its supplemental Public Assistance grant, the funds are made available to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness, who disburses them to the applicant for eligible work completed.

The Public Assistance program works with state and local officials to fund recovery measures and the rebuilding of government and certain private nonprofit organizations’ buildings, as well as roads, bridges and water and sewer plants. In order for the process to be successful, federal, state and local partners coordinate to draw up project plans, fund these projects and oversee their completion.

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FEMA Grants Additional $1.2 Million to Rebuild Louisiana State University School of Dentistry Physical Plant

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