New Flood Maps Show Current Risks In Cass County, Texas

New Flood Maps Show Current Risks In Cass County, Texas 

Release Date: March 23, 2012
Release Number: R6-12-067

» 2012 Region VI News Releases

DENTON, Texas — Cass County, Texas homeowners, business and residential renters, and business owners who do not have flood insurance are encouraged to buy coverage now to get the best possible premiums before new flood insurance rate maps go into effect.

The new Cass County flood maps become effective on Tuesday, April 3 giving those who haven’t purchased flood insurance yet, time to get the best possible premiums to protect their property from potential flooding.

“While many people are required by mortgage and lending companies to have flood insurance, FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) strongly recommend that everyone have flood insurance,” said Region 6 Administrator Tony Russell. “The reason is simple: You don’t have to be in a mapped floodplain to flood.”

Current policy holders and those planning to purchase NFIP protection are strongly encouraged to contact their insurance agent or company to ensure that they have adequate coverage for building and contents that accounts for new flood risk data.

Those who purchase flood insurance prior to April 3 may be able to grandfather the current flood zone, saving money on flood insurance. For more information on estimated rates for flood insurance, whether you are eligible for grandfathering, and the Preferred Risk Policy extension, or to locate an agent in your area, visit www.floodsmart.gov.

Anyone who hasn’t had a chance to participate in local flood insurance meetings or to review the new flood maps is encouraged to contact their floodplain administrator to determine if they have been removed from the floodplain and may be able to have their premiums reduced accordingly. The floodplain administrator is most likely located at City Hall or the local courthouse.

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.

Last Modified: Friday, 23-Mar-2012 15:09:07

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New Flood Maps Show Current Risks In Cass County, Texas

FEMA Video On Houston Toad Monitoring Operation Focuses On Survivor Recovery

FEMA Video On Houston Toad Monitoring Operation Focuses On Survivor Recovery 

Release Date: March 22, 2012
Release Number: 4029-107

» More Information on Texas Wildfires

AUSTIN, Texas — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has just released a short video detailing a project in Bastrop County to monitor for the endangered Houston toad while pushing forward with survivor recovery from the Labor Day 2011 wildfires.

The 5 1/2-minute video, “Monitoring for the Endangered Houston Toad in Texas,” features scenes of hazardous tree cutting and debris removal operations that are under way as part of Bastrop County’s recovery. Also included is footage of a female juvenile Houston toad that was removed from a debris pile and safely relocated outside of the severe burn zone.

The video, posted on FEMA’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf2ikf65vyU), presents commentary from Bastrop County and FEMA officials, and from several professional biologists who are serving as Houston toad monitors, including Dr. Mike Forstner, a Texas State University biology professor who has spent more than a decade and a half studying and developing management protocols for the Houston toad.

“The citizens of Bastrop County pride themselves on a rural lifestyle with rural values,” Forstner says in the video. “The reason they moved to Bastrop County is because it looks a certain way. Maintaining that look maintains the habitat for the Houston Toad. And if we are able to do those two things, toads and people will continue to recover in the county.”

Kevin Hannes, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer for the wildfire recovery mission, explains that FEMA is obligated under the federal Endangered Species Act to ensure federally funded recovery projects do not jeopardize an endangered species or its habitat. The challenge was to keep survivor recovery moving forward and yet meet that obligation.

“We only had two options,” says Hannes. “One was to stop work completely during the chorusing season, while the toad was active. That was not a viable option. Or we could agree to find a way to protect the toad while we continued the work.”

The answer, reached through a collaborative effort among the state, federal and local stakeholders, was to bring in highly qualified biologists to monitor for the toad. The successful result is that each day brings progress toward survivor and Bastrop County recovery.

“We are working together really in the spirit of cooperation between all the agencies. And it’s great team work,” Ronnie Moore, Bastrop County director of planning and project management, says in the video.

Texans can follow FEMA tweets about the wildfire recovery effort at www.twitter.com/femaregion6. Other online resources are http://blog.fema.gov and www.facebook.com/fema.

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.

The mission of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, Texas Department of Public Safety, is to support the citizens of Texas and local jurisdictions as they plan for, respond to, recover from and mitigate the impacts of all hazards, emergencies and disasters. For more information, see: www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

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.

Last Modified: Thursday, 22-Mar-2012 14:20:52

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FEMA Video On Houston Toad Monitoring Operation Focuses On Survivor Recovery

Disaster Recovery Centers Opening Thursday In Hamilton, McMinn And Monroe Counties

Disaster Recovery Centers Opening Thursday In Hamilton, McMinn And Monroe Counties 

Release Date: March 21, 2012
Release Number: 4060-002

» More Information on Tennessee Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding

ATLANTA, Ga. — The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency announce the openings of disaster recovery centers in Hamilton, McMinn and Monroe counties to help those whose homes or businesses were affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding Feb. 29 – March 2. The centers will open at noon Thursday, March 22 and will remain open that day until 6 p.m.

Beginning Friday, March 23, center hours will be 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The centers will remain open until further notice.

Representatives from the state, FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and other agencies will be at the center to explain assistance programs and help survivors register for disaster aid.

The disaster recovery centers will be located at the following addresses:

Hamilton County

Chattanooga Fire Dept. Station #7
6911 Discovery Dr.
Chattanooga, TN 37416

McMinn/Polk counties

Etowah Rural Fire and Rescue
1018 Tennessee Ave.
Etowah, TN 37331

Monroe County

Tellico Plains Community Center
132 Bank St.
Tellico Plains, TN 37385

If possible, before visiting a disaster recovery center, people with storm losses should register with FEMA by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), which is video relay service accessible. Applicants using TTY can call 800-462-7585. Help is available in most languages and lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week until further notice.

Survivors can also register by computer online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. If using a smartphone or tablet, register at m.fema.gov.

Federal disaster assistance for individuals and families can include grants for rental assistance and home repairs, low-interest loans from the SBA to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help recover from the effects of the disaster.

For more information, visit www.TNEMA.org and www.FEMA.gov/assistance.

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.

Last Modified: Thursday, 22-Mar-2012 10:50:21

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Disaster Recovery Centers Opening Thursday In Hamilton, McMinn And Monroe Counties

Community Disaster Loan Program Aids Pennsylvania Municipalities

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Community Disaster Loan Program Aids Pennsylvania Municipalities

Workshop Participants Innovate to Increase Youth Preparedness

Workshop Participants Innovate to Increase Youth Preparedness 

Release Date: March 21, 2012
Release Number: R7-12-003

» 2012 Region VII News Releases

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Community leaders and educators filled the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Beacon Office Facility today to attend the first-ever Federal Emergency Management Agency-sponsored youth preparedness workshop in Kansas City.

The workshop provided participants with the tools and organizational how-to needed to build programs that teach young people about disaster preparedness so they can make the communities they live in more resilient.

Youth Preparedness experts from FEMA led discussions with attendees from the public and private sectors in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Leaders in businesses, not-for-profit organizations, state and local governments shared ideas and best practices about how to create curriculum for, implement and manage successful youth preparedness programs.

“When we think about how strong we want America to be in the future, we have to think about resiliency. As a nation, we’re as strong and able to recover from disaster emergency situations as each individual is, so preparing our youth is like taking an insurance policy out on the American way of life.” said FEMA Regional Administrator Beth Freeman. “When we educate young people about disaster preparedness they share it and spread the word to their peers, their families and on social media. They act as leaders and influencers and if we’re successful, they will transform American culture into a culture of preparedness.”

FEMA Region VII partnered with the American Red Cross and the U.S. Department of Education to host the event. Similar FEMA-sponsored workshops have been and will continue to be conducted nationwide.

If you would like additional information about youth programs, please visit FEMA’s Youth Preparedness (www.citizencorps.gov/ready/kids.shtm) page, which includes a Catalogue of Youth Preparedness Resources (www.citizencorps.gov/ready/resources.shtm). In addition, see the U.S. Department of Education Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) (rems.ed.gov/) Website.

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.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 21-Mar-2012 14:25:43

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Workshop Participants Innovate to Increase Youth Preparedness

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