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Tennessee Teen Joins Nation’s Youth In Washington For Community Preparedness Roundtable

WASHINGTON –Members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Youth Preparedness Council, including Benjamin Cooke of Memphis, Tenn., will hold their inaugural meeting in Washington, DC today and tomorrow to discuss steps to strengthen the nation’s resiliency against all types of disasters.

“This has been an opportunity for members of the Youth Preparedness Council to share their ideas, experiences, solutions and questions on youth disaster preparedness with FEMA, other federal agencies and national organizations,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “Engaging youth is critical to including the whole community in national preparedness. The Youth Preparedness Council is contributing to set a national agenda for how young people play a role in emergency management.”

The Council members will participate in roundtable discussions and plenary sessions today, the first day of their two-day visit to the nation’s capital. During the roundtable, the Council will meet with Administrator Fugate and discuss steps to strengthen the nation’s overall resiliency. In addition to developing their annual work plan to address youth preparedness during national disasters, the Council is meeting with other federal and private sector partners committed to supporting their work. Tuesday, council members will also visit Capitol Hill and learn how disaster management legislation moves through the legislative process.

Benjamin is among 13 exceptional Youth Preparedness Council members. He frequently speaks to diverse groups of youth about the need for emergency preparedness and volunteers at the Memphis Virginia Hospital. During the May 2011 flooding of the Mississippi River, he witnessed the benefits of planning and the values taught by the Memphis’ Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program. He has participated in community initiatives such as “Get Ready Shelby” and “Go Green Memphis.”

The Youth Preparedness Council is comprised of the following youth leaders (13 – 17 years of age) from each of FEMA’s ten regions:

•    FEMA Region I: Rachel Little (Massachusetts)
•    FEMA Region II: Gabriela Rodriguez Boria (Puerto Rico)
•    FEMA Region III: Donald “Diesel” Embrey (Virginia)
•    FEMA Region IV: Benjamin Cooke (Tennessee)
•    FEMA Region V: Jason Reed (Indiana)
•    FEMA Region VI: Dorian Tre’Vaughn Gregory (Louisiana)
•    FEMA Region VI: Jonathan DeLong (Texas)
•    FEMA Region VII: Nimansha Jain (Nebraska)
•    FEMA Region VIII: Ashley Houston (Utah)
•    FEMA Region IX: Divya Saini (California)
•    FEMA Region IX: Tiffany Espensen (California)
•    FEMA Region IX: Christian Chowen (Hawaii)
•    FEMA Region X: Cayman Kirkhart (Idaho)

Council members are eligible to serve on the Council for two years.

To learn more about FEMA’s youth preparedness efforts, please visit: http://www.citizencorps.gov/getstarted/youth/youthindex.shtm.

To learn more about each council member visit: http://www.citizencorps.gov/getstarted/youth/youthpreparednesscouncil.shtm.

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.

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Tennessee Teen Joins Nation’s Youth In Washington For Community Preparedness Roundtable

FEMA Approves Fire Management Assistance Grant for Fire in Blaine County, Oklahoma

DENTON, Texas – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently approved a request from the state of Oklahoma for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) to help fight the Geary Fire burning in Blaine County.

“We support our local and state officials in their efforts to combat this fire threat and keep people and property safe from harm,” said FEMA Region 6 Acting Regional Administrator Tony Robinson.

Eligible state firefighting costs covered must first meet a minimum threshold for costs before assistance is provided. Eligible costs can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; tools, materials and supplies; and mobilization and demobilization activities.

An authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of state and local government eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. Federal fire management assistance is provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to reimburse local fire fighting efforts for fires that threaten to cause a major disaster.

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FEMA Approves Fire Management Assistance Grant for Fire in Blaine County, Oklahoma

FEMA: Survivors Need to Spend Disaster Aid Wisely

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Tropical Storm Debby survivors should use their government grants only to meet specific disaster-related needs.

Federal assistance received from the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency must be spent for repairs or replacement of items that were damaged as a direct result of the disaster and that are not covered by insurance.

Housing Assistance grants are intended for basic housing needs, including repairs to a septic system or private well. They may also be used for temporary rent payments or reimbursement of hotel/motel expenses.

Other Needs Assistance grants are intended to help repair or replace essential personal property and meet disaster-related medical, dental and funeral expenses.

FEMA financial assistance is provided by check or deposited electronically, and it is followed by a letter explaining how the money should be spent. Government-issued assistance may be audited. Survivors should keep receipts for three years to document disaster-related expenses.

Survivors who suspect someone is filing a false damage claim may call the FEMA fraud hotline at 800-323-8603.

The first step toward obtaining recovery assistance is to register with FEMA:

By phone, call 800-621-FEMA (3362) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time. Assistance is available in many languages. Those who are deaf, hard of hearing or who have a speech disability may use TTY 800-462-7585.
By computer, go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
By smartphone or tablet, use m.fema.gov.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or www.floridadisaster.org. On Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/FloridaSERT. To receive Twitter updates: www.twitter.com/FLSERT or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

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). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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FEMA: Survivors Need to Spend Disaster Aid Wisely

Mildew, Mold Likely in Flooded Homes

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Mold in flood-damaged homes and other structures can cause health problems if it is not eliminated. People with asthma, allergies and other breathing conditions may be more sensitive to mold, and people with immune suppression are more susceptible to infections caused by mold, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Quick action can minimize the damage caused by mold and stop its spread. Do not wait for an inspector to begin cleanup. If possible, take pictures of the damage.

The CDC and the Environmental Protection Agency recommend the following steps:

Open windows and doors and use fans to dry out the building as quickly as possible. If possible, use wet vacuums to remove water and use dehumidifiers in closed spaces.
When working in an affected building, wear eye protection, latex or rubber gloves and a mask.
Remove baseboards and soaked drywall to a foot above the watermark and discard. Drain walls by drilling holes or pulling non-porous paneling away from the studs. Check the interior of walls for mold.
Remove porous items that have been wet for more than 48 hours and cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried – carpeting and carpet padding, upholstery, wallpaper, drywall, floor and ceiling tiles, insulation, leather, wood, paper, food and clothing. If there is any doubt about whether the item has been affected by mold, discard it.
Hard, non-porous surfaces (metal, glass, solid wood, plastic, etc.) should be washed with non-ammonia detergent and hot water. Scrub rough surfaces like concrete. Disinfect all cleaned surfaces with a solution of water and bleach; rinse after 10 minutes. Never mix bleach with ammonia.

If the area to be cleaned exceeds 10 square feet or if assistance is required to complete cleanup, consult a professional contractor. For more information, go to http://epa.gov/mold/cleanupguidelines.html.

People who need help cleaning their homes can call the Florida Volunteer and Donation Hotline, which can connect survivors with a local volunteer agency. The number is 800-FL-HELP-1 (800-354-3571).

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Mildew, Mold Likely in Flooded Homes

Federal Aid Programs for the State of Wisconsin Disaster Recovery

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

Assistance for the State, Tribal and Local Can Include as Required:

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, tribal 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 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.

Follow FEMA online at http://blog.fema.gov, 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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Federal Aid Programs for the State of Wisconsin Disaster Recovery

President Declares a Major Disaster for Wisconsin

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal aid has been made available for the state of Wisconsin to supplement the state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms and flooding during the period of June 19-20, 2012.

Federal funding is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and flooding in the counties of Ashland, Bayfield, and Douglas and the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties and tribes within the state of Wisconsin.

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

Follow FEMA online at http://blog.fema.gov, 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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President Declares a Major Disaster for Wisconsin

Federal Aid Programs for the State of Maryland Disaster Recovery

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

Assistance for the State, Tribal and Local Can Include as Required:

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

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Federal Aid Programs for the State of Maryland Disaster Recovery

President Declares a Major Disaster for Maryland

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal aid has been made available for the state of Maryland to supplement the state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms and straight-line winds during the period of June 29 to July 8, 2012.

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and straight-line winds in the counties of Calvert, Charles, Kent, Montgomery, and St. Mary’s and the Independent City of Baltimore.

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

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

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

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President Declares a Major Disaster for Maryland

Fema Mitigation Specialists to Answer Questions at Volkswagen Jubilee in Highlands County

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Federal Emergency Management Agency mitigation specialists will be providing information and advice on cleaning and rebuilding homes after Tropical Storm Debby on Saturday in Highlands County.

FEMA mitigation specialists – who can explain disaster-resistant ways to repair and rebuild – will be at the Summer of Love Volkswagen Jubilee in downtown Sebring on Saturday, Aug. 4, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mitigation specialists offer suggestions on cleaning mold and mildew. They also provide information on flood insurance.

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Fema Mitigation Specialists to Answer Questions at Volkswagen Jubilee in Highlands County

Fema Mitigation Specialists to Answer Questions at 9th Annual Kingfish Shootout in Franklin County

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the 9th Annual Kingfish Shootout are teaming up in Franklin County to provide information and advice on cleaning and rebuilding homes after Tropical Storm Debby.

FEMA mitigation specialists – who can explain disaster-resistant ways to repair and rebuild – will be at the fishing tournament at 501 St. James Ave. (U.S. 98) in Carrabelle on Aug. 4 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Aug. 5 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Mitigation specialists offer suggestions on cleaning mold and mildew. They also provide information on flood insurance.

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Fema Mitigation Specialists to Answer Questions at 9th Annual Kingfish Shootout in Franklin County

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