News - femacontract.com

Update on FEMA and Federal Partners’ Support to Disaster Recovery in Louisiana Parishes Affected by Floods

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), federal partners’ and the state of Louisiana continue to work together to support relief efforts in Louisiana, to include opening Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) today.

FEMA and the State of Louisiana opened two DRCs today, and will continue to open additional centers in locations identified by the state to provide information to survivors. Three additional centers are scheduled to open on Monday. These centers bring together federal, state, and local representatives to share information and answer questions of disaster survivors. Survivors can apply for assistance at DRCs and meet face-to-face with recovery specialists. To find the nearest Disaster Recovery Center visit www.fema.gov/DRC, use the FEMA Mobile App or text DRC and your Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA).

Survivors do not need to visit a DRC to get assistance as there are multiple ways to get assistance. Forty Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in Louisiana and at shelters to address immediate and emerging needs of disaster survivors including: on-site registration, applicant status checks, on-the-spot needs assessments, and access to partners offering survivor services. Residents and business owners who sustained disaster-related losses can also call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Central Time) seven days a week until further notice.

In addition, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) opened two business recovery centers in Louisiana, one in Livingston parish and one in Tangipahoa parish. Business recovery centers provide a wide range of services to businesses impacted by the severe storms and flooding. An additional four business recovery centers will open on Monday, one in Ascension parish, two in East Baton Rouge parish, and one in Lafayette parish. SBA approved $36.4 million in low interest loans to Louisiana survivors and businesses to assist with uninsured and underinsured flood related losses.

More than 106,000 individuals and households have registered with FEMA for assistance, and more than $55 million has been approved to help survivors with temporary rental assistance, essential home repairs, and other serious disaster-related needs. Additionally, more than 25,000 National Flood Insurance policyholders have submitted claims for flood loss. FEMA has authorized and issued more than $15 million in advanced payments to NFIP policyholders in Louisiana who sustained damages by the flood providing expedited relief to disaster survivors.

Reverend David L. Myers, the director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, is traveling to Louisiana today to meet with the faith-based community. National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD) members including voluntary, non-profit and faith-based organizations are also working closely with the affected states and communities to assist with disaster survivor needs. For those looking for ways to help in the community, cash donations offer voluntary agencies flexibility in obtaining the most-needed resources and provide money to the local economy to help businesses recover.

In addition to these efforts, the federal government and other partners are providing the following support:

FEMA has more than 2,000 personnel on the ground, including six Incident Management Assistance Teams and Mobile Emergency Response Support personnel. FEMA also provided the state more than 650,000 liters of water, 812,000 meals, 20,000 cots and 42,000 blankets for distribution.

The Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS) deployed more than 445 AmeriCorps members, including FEMA Corps and AmeriCorps Disaster Response Teams, to support shelter operations, home clean-up operations, survivor call centers and disaster survivor assistance teams.

The Salvation Army deployed mobile feeding trucks to serve meals, drinks and snacks to residents affected by the flooding.

Tide Loads of Hope mobile laundry truck arrived in Baton Rouge on Friday. The mobile washing unit is collecting, washing, drying and folding laundry free of charge. An extended capacity semi-truck equipped with 32 energy efficient washers and dryers arrive in Louisiana this week. Truck location updates are available at www.twitter.com/tide.

Duracell PowerForward Truck is providing free batteries and mobile charging to those affected by the floods. Truck location updates are available at www.twitter.com/duracell.

The American Red Cross (ARC) operational priorities continue to focus on providing food, shelter and relief supplies to survivors and working closely with local authorities to assess what and where the current needs are. Approximately 3,000 people remain housed in 20 ARC community shelters. Since the flooding began last week, ARC has provided more than 39,000 overnight stays in shelters and served more than 200,000 meals and snacks with feeding partners. The Red Cross Shelter Finder app displays open Red Cross shelters and their locations on an easy to use map interface. Survivors can also find the location of the nearest shelter by texting SHELTER and their Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA). The American Red Cross activated the Safe and Well program to allow survivors to let family members know they are safe and for family members to search for loved ones.

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) deployed volunteers, equipment and resources, including four kitchens in Baton Rouge, Hammond, Lafayette and Walker. The four kitchens are staffed by SDBR volunteers from Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. Alabama SBDR is preparing for the response and will be sending volunteers and at least one shower unit.

AmeriCares deployed an emergency response team to assess health needs in impacted areas and coordinate aid shipments, including medicine, bottled water and hygiene products.

United Way of Southeast Louisiana set up a flood relief and recovery fund to accept donations to support short- and long-term efforts to provide relief and recovery to areas affected by flooding.

The National Guard activated more than 2,600 National Guardsmen to assist with emergency flood response. Guardsmen have rescued more than 19,000 residents and 2,600 pets, and continue assisting with distribution of water, meals, cots, and tarps, and providing additional security and shelter support.

Team Rubicon deployed a recon team to evaluate the flooding along the Gulf Coast. The team on the ground is connected with Louisiana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) and has identified a base of operations in Baton Rouge.

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans sent counselors, case managers, and a nurse to assist the organization’s Baton Rouge location.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) deployed team leaders and subject matter expert personnel to assist the state and local government with debris removal and flood response operations.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing technical assistance to FEMA regarding the management and disposal of white goods, household hazardous waste or other potentially hazardous materials. EPA is assisting the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality with emergency response and spill assessment needs in the flooded areas.

###

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.

Read this article –

Update on FEMA and Federal Partners’ Support to Disaster Recovery in Louisiana Parishes Affected by Floods

DRCs Open in East Baton Rouge, Tangipahoa and West Feliciana Parishes

BATON ROUGE, La. – Disaster recovery centers will open Sunday, August 21, in Tangipahoa and St. Helena parishes to help Louisiana flood survivors. The centers are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day until further notice.

The centers are at the following addresses:

Former Parish Tourism Building

42271 S. Morrison Blvd.

Hammond, La. 70443

St. Helena Environmental Health Unit

53 N. 2^nd St.

Greensburg, La. 70441

Survivors may locate centers near them at fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. That information is also available on the FEMA mobile app. Survivors may register at any open DRC, even out of state.

To register, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA helpline. Help is available in most languages and phone lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Representatives from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), volunteer groups and other agencies are at the centers to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses. They can also help survivors apply for federal disaster assistance.

Disaster Survivor Assistance teams are canvassing many affected areas, and are able to register people for FEMA assistance if needed. Sometimes these teams will remain in certain locations convenient to the community, such as a library or mayor’s office. When residents require further assistance the teams may refer them to a disaster recovery center nearby.

It is not necessary to visit a center to register for and receive federal disaster assistance. If possible, survivors should register with FEMA before visiting a recovery center.

Disaster survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585 to register. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service or require accommodations while visiting a center may call 800-621-3362. All disaster recovery centers are accessible and equipped with tools to accommodate disaster survivors who need disability-related communication aids. Each disaster recovery center has assistive technologies for people with disabilities. To arrange to have an ASL interpreter at the DRC when you visit, call 225-382-1739.

Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA are available for businesses of all sizes and landlords, private nonprofits, homeowners and renters. Disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries.

For more information, applicants may contact the SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or visiting the SBA’s website at sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

For information call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov or www.fema.gov/disaster/4263.

###

We urge everyone to continue to use caution in areas where floodwaters remain. Monitor DOTD’s www.511la.org website for updated road closure information. Look for advisories from your local authorities and emergency managers. You can find the latest information on the state’s response at www.emergency.la.gov. GOHSEP also provides information on Facebook and Twitter. You can receive emergency alerts on most smartphones and tablets by downloading the new Alert FM App. It is free for basic service. You can also download the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide and find other information at www.getagameplan.org.

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

FEMA’s 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 https://twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at SBA.gov/disaster Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

Originally from:

DRCs Open in East Baton Rouge, Tangipahoa and West Feliciana Parishes

Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Two Parishes for Louisiana Survivors

The centers are at the following addresses:

Former Parish Tourism Building

42271 S. Morrison Blvd.

Hammond, La. 70443

St. Helena Environmental Health Unit

53 N. 2nd St.

Greensburg, La. 70441

To register, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA helpline. Help is available in most languages and phone lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

It is not necessary to visit a center to register for and receive federal disaster assistance. If possible, survivors should register with FEMA before visiting a recovery center.

For information call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov or www.fema.gov/disaster/4263.

###

We urge everyone to continue to use caution in areas where floodwaters remain. Monitor DOTD’s www.511la.org website for updated road closure information. Look for advisories from your local authorities and emergency managers. You can find the latest information on the state’s response at www.emergency.la.gov. GOHSEP also provides information on Facebook and Twitter. You can receive emergency alerts on most smartphones and tablets by downloading the new Alert FM App. It is free for basic service. You can also download the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide and find other information at www.getagameplan.org.

See original article:

Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Two Parishes for Louisiana Survivors

Federal Assistance to Louisiana Flood Survivors Tops $56 Million

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today more than $56 million dollars has been approved in federal support within the first week of the president’s major disaster declaration for the State of Louisiana.

FEMA approved more than $39 million to help survivors with temporary rental assistance, essential home repairs and other serious disaster-related needs. Disaster survivors can register for assistance and get help with other available resources several ways. Residents who sustained disaster-related losses can apply for assistance by registering online at www.disasterassistance.gov, or call 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). Residents who use 711 relay or Video Relay Service (VRS), can call 1-800-621-3362. Additionally, disaster survivor assistance teams are on the ground at shelters and going door to door to address immediate and emerging needs of disaster survivors including: on-site registration, applicant status checks, on-the-spot needs assessments and access to partners offering survivor services. Also, disaster recovery centers (DRCs) are scheduled to open in the next several days to provide information to survivors.

Additionally, $10.5 million in advance payments was approved through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to provide expedited relief to policyholders who sustained flood-related damages. These advance payments award up to 50 percent of the estimated covered loss to allow policyholders the ability to proceed with the recovery efforts while working with their adjusters.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) approved more than $3.5 million in low interest loans to Louisiana survivors and businesses to assist with uninsured and underinsured flood-related losses. The SBA currently has two business recovery centers open, one in Livingston parish and one in Tangipahoa parish. An additional four business recovery centers to be open on Monday, one in Ascension parish, two in East Baton Rouge parish, and one in Lafayette parish.

FEMA obligated nearly $2 million through the public assistance program for work undertaken to save lives, protect public health and safety, and protect public and private property.

The U.S. Department of Transportation made $2 million in emergency relief funds immediately available through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to help repair roads and bridges in the affected areas. The funds will also help stabilize structures to prevent further damage and set up detours until permanent repairs are completed.

Providing survivors with housing solutions remains a top priority and FEMA is actively supporting Louisiana’s Disaster Housing Task Force to help displaced Louisiana residents find access to housing. FEMA activated its Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program, at the request of the state, to make participating hotels or motels available to provide short-term lodging for eligible survivors who are currently residing in a personal vehicle, hotel or motel, shelter, or place of employment.

FEMA, the state, and private sector organizations are working to identify additional rental resources near the affected areas. Residents can access this information at lahousingsearch.org.

For those looking for ways to help in the community, cash donations offer voluntary agencies flexibility in obtaining the most-needed resources and provides money to the local economy to help businesses recover.

In addition to these efforts, the federal government is providing the following support:

FEMA has more than 1,800 personnel on the ground, including six Incident Management Assistance Teams, one Urban Search and Rescue team that completed their mission today, and Mobile Emergency Response Support personnel. FEMA also provided the state more than 603,000 liters of water, 535,000 meals, 12,500 cots and 12,500 blankets for distribution. FEMA and the state are conducting joint federal/state preliminary damage assessments in Assumption and St. Charles parishes over the next several days.

The National Guard activated more than 2,900 National Guardsmen to assist with emergency flood response. Guardsmen have rescued more than 19,000 residents and 2,600 pets, and continue assisting with distribution of water, meals, cots, tarps and are providing additional security and shelter support.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) in 12 parishes to provide low to moderate-income households who do not already receive supplemental assistance with buying groceries following a disaster. Residents in those areas who already receive Supplemental Nutritional Assistance benefits will not need to register in order to receive this assistance. Residents affected by the flooding are urged to pre-register for the program at: https://dsnap.dcfs.la.gov/CustomerPortal/CPLogon.jsp.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is expediting federal assistance to provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes. HUD granted a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures and forbearance of Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured home mortgages. Additionally, HUD is re-allocating existing federal resources such as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME programs to give the state and communities the flexibility to redirect millions of dollars of funding to address critical needs, including housing and services for disaster survivors toward disaster relief.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) deployed two National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) Disaster Medical Assistance Teams consisting of approximately 80 NDMS members to Baton Rouge. In addition, U.S. Public Health Service commissioned corps officers and a 30-person command and control unit. They are among 200 staff deployed to support the response effort. HHS is operating a Federal Medical Station capable of housing 250 patients on the Louisiana State University campus and is providing care for 200 patients. The HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration activated its Disaster Distress helpline. This toll-free, multi-lingual crisis support service is available everyday by calling 1-800-985-5990 or texting ‘TalkWithUs’ to 66746 for Louisianans who are experiencing emotional distress.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) deployed team leaders and subject matter expert personnel to assist the state and local government with debris removal and flood response operations. USACE also provided St. John Parish with HESCO Barriers. The state provided sand and coordinated with the National Guard for installation.

The American Red Cross (ARC) operational priorities continue to focus on providing food, shelter and relief supplies to survivors and working closely with local authorities to assess what and where the current needs are. Approximately 3,100 people remain housed in 20 ARC community shelters. Since the flooding began last week, ARC has provided more than 36,000 overnight stays in shelters and served more than 171,000 meals and snacks with feeding partners. The Red Cross Shelter Finder app displays open Red Cross shelters and their locations on an easy to use map interface. Survivors can also find the location of the nearest shelter by texting SHELTER and their Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA). The American Red Cross activated its Safe and Well program to allow survivors to let family members know they are safe and for family members to search for loved ones.

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children activated its Unaccompanied Minors Registry (UMR). Family members can go to http://umr.missingkids.org or call 1-800-THE-LOST to find unaccompanied children who may have been separated from parents or caregivers because of the floods, by entering basic information and/or a photo.

The U.S. Northern Command activated a Defense Coordinating Element to support FEMA’s Regional Response Coordination Center in Denton, Texas with Department of Defense resources. The personnel are heavily involved in assisting relief efforts on the ground.

The U.S. Coast Guard supported Louisiana with air and surface rescue operations.

The Corporation for National Community Service deployed more than 330 AmeriCorps members, including FEMA Corps and AmeriCorps Disaster Response Teams, to support shelter operations, survivor call centers and disaster survivor assistance teams.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is in daily contact with local cooperators, the National Weather Service and River Forecast Centers to give status updates on stream gages and coordinate flood response efforts.

The Federal Communications Commission continues to monitor communication outages and is working closely with affected carriers to ensure services are restored.

The U.S. Department of Justice deployed personnel to assist in evacuation, deconstruction and debris removal operations in the affected areas.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency deployed specialist personnel to monitor and assess the impacts of the flood. They are maintaining close communication with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.

###

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.

Follow this link:

Federal Assistance to Louisiana Flood Survivors Tops $56 Million

Efforts from Federal Partners Continue to Support Survivors in Louisiana

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is leading the federal government’s effort to provide assistance and support to Louisiana, in response to recent flooding.

Providing survivors with housing solutions remains a top priority and FEMA is collaborating with states and federal partners to coordinate strategies and programs to help find suitable housing for Louisiana residents displaced by flooding. Already, more than 98,000 Louisianans have registered for FEMA assistance and more than $20 million has been approved to help survivors with temporary rental assistance, essential home repairs and other serious disaster-related needs. To begin the process, FEMA continues to advise residents and business owners who sustained disaster-related losses to apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). 711 relay or Video Relay Service (VRS) are available by calling 800-621-3362 directly. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Central Time) seven days a week until further notice.

FEMA is also supporting Louisiana’s Disaster Housing Task Force to help Louisiana residents displaced by the flooding find access to housing. FEMA activated its Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program, at the request of the state of Louisiana, to make participating hotels or motels available for eligible disaster survivors who are unable to return to their homes for an extended period of time. This program is intended to provide short-term lodging for eligible survivors who are currently residing in a personal vehicle, hotel or motel, shelter, or place of employment.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is re-allocating existing federal resources such as Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME programs to give the state and communities the flexibility to redirect millions of dollars of funding to address critical needs, including housing and services for disaster survivors toward disaster relief.

Additionally, as of today, more than 24,000 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders have submitted claims for flood loss. FEMA authorized and issued more than $4 million in advance payments to NFIP policyholders in Louisiana who sustained flood-related damages to provide expedited relief to disaster survivors. FEMA continues advising those who would like to file a claim should call their individual insurance carrier, or go to Floodsmart.gov and review the “File Your Claim” section.

Below is a summary of additional federal actions underway to support ongoing response and recovery efforts:

FEMA has more than 1,100 personnel on the ground, including six Incident Management Assistance Teams, one Urban Search and Rescue team and Mobile Emergency Response Support personnel. Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are visiting shelters in affected areas to assist with on-site registration for survivors, provide applicant status checks, provide on-the-spot needs assessments, and identify any unmet needs. FEMA also provided the state more than 408,000 liters of water and more than 252,000 meals to distribute. FEMA and the state are conducting joint federal/state preliminary damage assessments in Assumption and St. Charles parishes over the next several days.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) opened a Business Recovery Center in Walker, Louisiana and it is opening one in Tangipahoa Parish Saturday and one in Baton Rouge on Monday. As of today, SBA issued more than 57,000 applications to homeowners and businesses.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services deployed two National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) Disaster Medical Assistance Teams consisting of approximately 80 NDMS members to Baton Rouge. In addition, U.S. Public Health Service commissioned corps officers and a 30-person command and control unit. They are among 200 staff deployed to support the response effort. HHS is operating a Federal Medical Station capable of housing 250 patients on the Louisiana State University campus and is providing care for 200 patients.

The U.S. Department of Transportation made $2 million in emergency relief funds immediately available through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to help repair roads and bridges in the affected areas. The funds will also help stabilize structures to prevent further damage and set up detours until permanent repairs are completed.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing support to the state through nutrition, farmer and rancher assistance. USDA Food and Nutrition Service approved the state’s hot foods waiver request. The waiver allows Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) recipients to purchase hot foods at authorized SNAP retailers statewide with their benefits. USDA encourages farmers, ranchers, producers, landowners and rural communities to contact their local Louisiana USDA Service Center to report damages to crops or livestock loss.

The American Red Cross (ARC) operational priorities continue to focus on providing food, shelter and relief supplies to survivors and working closely with local authorities to assess what and where the current needs are. Nearly 4,000 people remain housed in 28 ARC community shelters. Since the flooding began last week, ARC has provided more than 32,000 overnight stays in shelters and served more than 158,000 meals and snacks with feeding partners. The Red Cross Shelter Finder app displays open Red Cross shelters and their locations on an easy to use map interface. Survivors can also find the location of the nearest shelter by texting SHELTER and their Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA). The American Red Cross activated its Safe and Well program to allow survivors to let family members know they are safe and for family members to search for loved ones.

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) activated its Unaccompanied Minors Registry (UMR). Family members can go to http://umr.missingkids.org or call 1-800-THE-LOST to find unaccompanied children who may have been separated from parents or caregivers because of the floods, by entering basic information and/or a photo.

The U.S. Northern Command activated Defense Coordinating Element to support FEMA’s Regional Response Coordination Center in Denton, Texas with Department of Defense resources. The personnel are heavily involved in assisting relief efforts on the ground.

The U.S. Coast Guard continues to support Louisiana with air and surface rescue operations.

The Louisiana National Guard has more than 3,800 Guardsmen assisting with emergency flood operations. They have rescued more than 19,000 citizens and over 2,600 pets, and have conducted operations including evacuations, search and rescue, engineering missions, aerial sling-load drops, distribution and supply of water, meals, cots, tarps, sandbags, and security and shelter support.

The Federal Communications Commission continues to monitor communication outages and is working closely with affected carriers to ensure services are restored.

The U.S. Department of Justice deployed personnel to assist in evacuation, deconstruction and debris removal operations in the affected areas.

###

More –

Efforts from Federal Partners Continue to Support Survivors in Louisiana

FEMA Awards $262,420 Grant to the City of Lansing

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $262,420 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to the City of Lansing, Mich., for the acquisition and demolition of four flood-prone homes.

“The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides funding for mitigation activities that reduce disaster losses and protect life and property from future disasters,” said Andrew Velasquez III, regional administrator, FEMA Region V. “This project will help to eliminate future structural losses in Lansing by permanently removing these four buildings from the floodplain and will also greatly reduce the financial impact on individuals and the community.”

“I strongly encourage our communities to seize the opportunity for hazard mitigation assistance to enhance the safety of Michigan’s residents,” said Capt. Chris A. Kelenske, Deputy State Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and commander of the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division. “With federal aid, our communities can initiate projects to save lives and protect public property and health.”

HMGP provides grants to state, local and tribal governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Through HMGP, FEMA will pay 75 percent of the $349,893 eligible project cost. The remaining 25 percent of the funds, $87,473, will be provided by the City of Lansing.

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/fema, twitter.com/femaregion5, 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.

###

Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, 312-408-4455

Visit source:

FEMA Awards $262,420 Grant to the City of Lansing

More than $81 Million in Federal Help Flows to Texans for May-June Storms and Flooding

AUSTIN, Texas—With images of damage from the May-June storms and flooding receding into a rear view, Texas individuals, families and businesses are now shifting focus ahead on the road to recovery thanks to $81.2 million in federal assistance.

FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration recently released dollar amounts to date that point to recovery progress in the 24 designated counties approved for federal help: Austin, Bastrop, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Eastland, Fayette, Fort Bend, Grimes, Harris, Hidalgo, Hood, Kleberg, Lee, Liberty, Montgomery, Palo Pinto, Parker, San Jacinto, Stephens, Travis, Tyler, Waller and Washington.

Nearly $37.5 million was approved in FEMA household assistance grants for eligible applicants to repair damaged homes and pay for temporary housing.
An additional $6.5 million was approved to cover other essential needs including personal property, disaster-related dental and medical expenses, transportation and child care.
The SBA has approved $37.2 million for businesses, nonprofits, homeowners and renters for low-interest disaster loans.

Additionally, the National Flood Insurance Program has paid $107.6 million in claims to about 3,500 Texas policyholders affected by the May-June storms.

Those who have registered with FEMA for the May-June floods can get updates about their applications, learn about the appeals process or check the status of their claims online or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

For more information on this Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the May-June storms at fema.gov/disaster/4272; or survivors can visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Follow FEMA on Twitter @femaregion6.

# # #

Download fema.gov/mobile-app to locate open shelters and disaster recovery centers, receive severe weather alerts, safety tips and much more.

See the article here:

More than $81 Million in Federal Help Flows to Texans for May-June Storms and Flooding

More than $75 Million in Federal Help Flows to Texans for May-June Storms and Flooding

Nearly $31.7 million was approved in FEMA household assistance grants for eligible applicants to repair damaged homes and pay for temporary housing.
An additional $6.5 million was approved to cover other essential needs including personal property, disaster-related dental and medical expenses, transportation and child care.
The SBA has approved $37.2 million for businesses, nonprofits, homeowners and renters for low-interest disaster loans.

Additionally, the National Flood Insurance Program has paid $107.6 million in claims to about 3,500 Texas policyholders affected by the May-June storms.

# # #

Download fema.gov/mobile-app to locate open shelters and disaster recovery centers, receive severe weather alerts, safety tips and much more.

View post:

More than $75 Million in Federal Help Flows to Texans for May-June Storms and Flooding

FEMA Appoints National Advisory Council Members

Next NAC Meeting Scheduled

WASHINGTON—Today, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate appointed five new members and reappointed seven current members to FEMA’s National Advisory Council (NAC).

The NAC is an advisory committee established by federal law to ensure effective and ongoing coordination of federal emergency management activities. Members represent the whole community and include representatives from a wide array of backgrounds and communities involved in or affected by the emergency management profession. The NAC consists of up to 35 members.

“I commend the work that the members of the National Advisory Council do to advise FEMA on carrying out our mission,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “The NAC plays a pivotal role to ensure effective and ongoing coordination of federal preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation for natural disasters and man-made disasters. Their recommendations have a direct impact across the agency, survivors, and others we serve. I welcome these new members to the team, trust their counsel, and appreciate their dedication and commitment to ensuring effective emergency management.”

The NAC provides recommendations to the FEMA Administrator on a variety of issues within emergency management. For example, the NAC recently made recommendations regarding strategies for the more effective integration and accommodation of the needs of individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs and providing funding for and supporting hazard mitigation for flood-prone housing.

FEMA received many applications for the open positions. All applicants were carefully considered through an intensive review process, which included a panel of senior government officials. Most appointments are for three-year terms.

The five new NAC members include:

Administrator Selection

Donna Boston, Director, Emergency Management Division, Orange County Sheriff’s Department (Silverado, CA)

Administrator Selection (Emerging Leader)

Gabriele Almon, Independent Consultant (Monrovia, CA)

Emergency Management

Jeff Stern, State Coordinator, Virginia Division of Emergency Management (Richmond, VA)

Non-Elected Local Government Official

Eugene Henry, Hazard Mitigation Manager, Hillsborough County, Florida (Tampa, FL)

Standards Setting and Accrediting

Peter Ginaitt, Senior Environmental Affairs, Safety Compliance Officer and Emergency Manager, Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (Providence, RI)

The seven reappointed members include:

Administrator Selections

Chris Howell, Director of Tribal Relations, BNSF Railway (Fort Worth, TX)

Linda Langston, Director of Strategic Relations, National Association of Counties, National Association of Counties (Washington, DC)

Access and Functional Needs

June Kailes, Associate Director, Harris Family Center for Disability and Health Policy, Western University of Health Sciences (Playa del Rey, CA)

Emergency Medical Providers

Emily Kidd, Project Director, Texas Disaster Medical System (San Antonio, TX)

Ex Officio

Robert Salesses, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Integration and DSCA, U.S. Department of Defense (Washington, DC)

Non-Elected State Government Official

W. Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management and Assistant Director, Texas Homeland Security Department of Public Safety (Austin, TX)

Public Health

Suzet McKinney, Executive Director, Illinois Medical District Commission (Chicago, IL)

Standards Setting and Accrediting

Teresa Scott, Public Works Director, City of Gainesville Public Works Department (Gainesville, FL)

FEMA will also be having the next NAC public meeting in the Washington, D.C. area from September 13 to 15.

During the meeting, the NAC will meet with the FEMA Administrator and Deputy Administrator, receive program briefings from agency leadership, and review the progress and potential recommendations of its three subcommittees: Preparedness and Protection, Response and Recovery, and Federal Insurance and Mitigation.

The NAC will also discuss other topics to include:

GIS Technology in Disaster Response and Recovery
Tribal Engagement
Disaster Deductible
Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration Activities
National Preparedness Directorate Activities
Office of Response and Recovery Activities

Additional information on the NAC, meeting agenda, and a full list of current NAC members, is available at www.fema.gov/national-advisory-council.

For those planning to attend in-person, 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.

###

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.

Visit site:

FEMA Appoints National Advisory Council Members

Federal Partners Continue to Support Survivors in Louisiana

WASHINGTON – At the direction of President Barack Obama, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is leading the federal government’s effort to provide assistance and support to Louisiana, in response to recent flooding.

President Obama received updates throughout the day from his team on current response and recovery efforts underway in close coordination with state, local, and tribal officials. Today, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and FEMA Deputy Administrator Joseph Nimmich are visiting the impacted region to meet with local officials and review the ongoing response efforts.

President Barack Obama declared a major disaster for Louisiana on August 14, making federal resources available to assist with home repairs, temporary housing, low-cost recovery loans for uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover. Federal assistance is also available to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations to protect lives and property and remove debris.

Residents and business owners who sustained disaster-related losses can apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). If you use 711 relay or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362 directly. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Central Time) seven days a week until further notice. More than 80,000 Louisianans have registered for FEMA assistance and more than $3.7 million has been approved.

More than 17,000 National Flood Insurance policyholders have submitted claims for flood loss. Those who would like to file a claim should call their individual insurance carrier, go to Floodsmart.gov and review the “File Your Claim” section.

Below is a summary of federal actions underway to support ongoing response and recovery efforts:

To date, FEMA deployed more than 1,100 personnel on the ground, including six Incident Management Assistance Teams and one Urban Search and Rescue team in Louisiana. FEMA also deployed Mobile Emergency Response Support personnel and equipment in Louisiana to support the state with voice, video and information services to support emergency response communications needs.

The U.S. Department of Defense and FEMA provided to the state of Louisiana more than 650,000 liters of water and more than 812,000 meals for distribution to disaster survivors and pre-positioned supplies including cots and blankets.

The U.S. Small Business Administration opened a Business Recovery Center in Walker, Louisiana today to provide a wide range of services to businesses impacted by the severe storms and flooding that began last week. As of today, SBA has issued more than 57,000 applications to homeowners and businesses.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services deployed two National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) Disaster Medical Assistance Teams consisting of approximately 80 NDMS members to Baton Rouge. In addition, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officers and a 30-person command and control personnel are among about 200 staff HHS has deployed to support the response effort. HHS is operating a Federal Medical Station capable of housing 250 patients on the Louisiana State University campus. At last report, HHS has provided care for 200 patients.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deployed subject matter expert personnel to assist the state and local government with debris removal in affected areas.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing support to the state through nutrition, farmer and rancher assistance. Thus far, USDA approved 4,877 authorized Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program retailers to assist those in need of nutrition assistance services.

The American Red Cross opened shelters throughout the community. The Red Cross Shelter Finder app displays open Red Cross shelters and their locations on an easy to use map interface. Survivors can also find the location of the nearest shelter by texting SHELTER and their Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA). The American Red Cross activated its Safe and Well program to allow survivors to let family members know they are safe and for family members to search for loved ones.

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC): NCMEC activated its Unaccompanied Minors Registry (UMR). Family members can go to http://umr.missingkids.org or call 1-800-THE-LOST to find an unaccompanied child who may have been separated from their parents or caregivers because of the floods by entering basic information and/or a photo.

The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting air and surface rescue operations. Thus far the Coast Guard rescue teams have assisted more than 3,000 people, saved 243 lives, and 71 pets and continue to actively support ground operations.

The National Guard deployed over 3,650 Louisiana guard members operating under state authority that are performing numerous relief missions including evacuations, search and rescue, security and engineering missions in support of the flood response efforts.

The Corporation for National Community Service deployed 114 AmeriCorp members to support sheltering, disaster assessment, feeding, and other tasks in conjunction with the Red Cross.

The Federal Communications Commission continues to monitor communication outages and is working closely with affected carriers to ensure services are restore.

The Department of Justice deployed personnel to assist in evacuation, deconstruction, and debris removal operations in the affected areas.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency deployed specialist personnel to monitor and assess the impacts of the flooding rains in Louisiana and maintaining close communication with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.

###

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.

Federal Partners Continue to Support Survivors in Louisiana

Page 32 of 386 « First ... « 30 31 32 33 34 » ... Last »