Acting Health Commissioner Darice Plaskett announced that the Department of Health’s Functional and Access Needs Shelter is opened and accepting residents at the Charles Harwood Medical Complex for persons needing medical assistance during emergency evacuation situations. 

Plaskett said that the intent is to provide, to the extent possible under emergency conditions, an environment in which the current level of health of persons with functional and access needs is sustained within the capability of available resources. The shelter will be opened at 7 p.m. on St. Croix.

Functional and access needs are independent individuals with special medical support equipment needs or receive care in the home from a family member, she said.

“Those eligible for the [shelter] have physical or mental condition that require medical/nursing oversight that cannot be accommodated or provided for in a general population shelter,” Plaskett said.

Functional and Access Needs persons should bring medical equipment, such as oxygen tanks, if necessary and all medication and dietary supplies. 

Further, when a person requiring functional and access needs care is ordered to evacuate, he or she should bring a caregiver with them to the shelter who will be expected to remain with the Functional and Access Needs person. 

Plaskett said that Department of Health nurses are assigned to staff the shelter to assist individuals and their caregivers as needed for basic support services. The nursing staff will provide support within their scope of practice based on their training and qualifications and are not expected to provide total care beyond their professional level of expertise. A DOH physician will supervise the nurses.

The following are some of the criteria for Functional and Access Needs.

People with minor health/medical conditions that require professional observation, assessment and maintenance

People with contagious health conditions that require precautions or isolation which cannot be handled in a general population shelter

People with chronic conditions that require assistance with activities of daily living but do not require hospitalization

People with regular need for medications and/or regular vital sign readings and who are unable to do so without professional assistance

www.healthvi.org

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Health Department Operating Shelter for Functional and Access Needs Residents

FEMA Awards More than $5.4 Million to New Mexico for Debris and Sediment Removal

DENTON, Texas – More than $5.4 million has been awarded to the state of New Mexico by the Federal Emergency Management Agency

(FEMA) for debris and sediment removal from a number of retention ponds in the aftermath of severe storms and torrential rains in late

August 2011.

More than $4.1 million of the funding will cover costs related to the removal and disposal of silt and debris from 11 secondary retention structures

for the Santa Clara Pueblo. Nearly $1.3 million of the funding will cover costs to remove and dispose of sediment from a Cochiti Pueblo retention structure.

“We are committed to working with our state, local and tribal partners to assist in the recovery process. Debris and sediment removal

activities such as this are critical to the communities’ recovery because debris can pose a significant threat to the lives and safety of

residents,” said FEMA Region 6 Acting Administrator Tony Robinson.

FEMA’s contribution, made possible by a Public Assistance grant, represents a 75 percent federal cost share. FEMA awards funding

for projects directly to the state of New Mexico; the state then forwards the grant to the eligible applicant.

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

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FEMA Awards More than $5.4 Million to New Mexico for Debris and Sediment Removal

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

More here – 

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

5 Months Before Flood Maps are Effective in Lawrence Co, AR 

Release Date: July 17, 2012
Release Number: R6-12-121

» 2012 Region VI News Releases

DENTON, Texas — In five months on Dec. 18 new flood maps for Lawrence County, Arkansas will become effective. Before the maps are final, state, local and federal officials are encouraging everyone to view the maps to understand their flood risk and consider purchasing flood insurance.

Most property insurance policies do not cover the effects of a flood. Floods can place people at risk of uninsured loss to their businesses, homes and personal property if they don’t have either a private flood insurance policy or coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a voluntary protection program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Flooding is the #1 natural disaster in the United States and only flood insurance covers these unexpected, damaging and sometimes fatal events. “Where there is rain, there could be flooding,” said FEMA Region 6 Acting Administrator Tony Robinson. “Everyone lives in a flood zone.”

To learn if your community participates in the NFIP and to review the new flood maps, please contact your local floodplain administrator (FPA) who may be located at City Hall or the local courthouse.

FEMA Map specialists and Flood Insurance experts also are available to answer questions. They can be reached by phone and online chat:

FEMA encourages communities not currently participating in the NFIP to look at the benefits of joining the program. Participation in the NFIP can assure a faster recovery in the event of a devastating flood.

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: Tuesday, 17-Jul-2012 10:47:37

Taken from:  

5 Months Before Flood Maps are Effective in Lawrence Co, AR

Preliminary Flood Maps In Kay County, OK Ready for Public View 

Knowing flood risks allows for more informed decisions

Release Date: July 16, 2012
Release Number: R6-12-119

» 2012 Region VI News Releases

DENTON, Texas — Homeowners, renters and business owners in Kay County, Oklahoma are encouraged to look over newly released preliminary flood maps in order to determine their flood risks and make informed decisions.

Kay County officials and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are presenting the preliminary maps to communities and unincorporated areas in order to help leaders and residents identify known flood risks and use that information to make decisions about buying flood insurance and how the community should move forward with any development.

“As we work together with our state and local partners to bring this critical information to the county, we ask that everyone review the maps to understand what flood risks are involved,” said Region 6 Acting Administrator Tony Robinson “The role of the community as an active partner in the flood mapping process is very important.”

To view the new flood maps, please contact your local floodplain administrator (FPA) who may be located at City Hall or the local courthouse.

Once a flood risk is identified, the next step is to consider the purchase of a flood policy from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Contacting a local insurance agent is the first step to gather information about this relatively low-cost federally backed insurance. Visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531 to locate an agent in your area.

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: Tuesday, 17-Jul-2012 10:36:25

View original article: 

Preliminary Flood Maps In Kay County, OK Ready for Public View

5 Months Before Flood Maps Are Effective in Johnson Co, TX 

Release Date: July 2, 2012
Release Number: R6-12-114

DENTON, Texas — In five months, on Dec. 4, new flood maps for Johnson County, Texas will become effective. Before the maps are final, state, local and federal officials are encouraging everyone to view the maps to understand their flood risk and consider purchasing flood insurance.

Most property insurance policies do not cover the effects of a flood. Floods can place people at risk of uninsured loss to their businesses, homes and personal property if they don’t have either a private flood insurance policy or coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a voluntary protection program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Flooding is the #1 natural disaster in the United States and only flood insurance covers these unexpected, damaging and sometimes fatal events. “Where there is rain, there could be flooding,” said FEMA Region 6 Acting Administrator Tony Robinson. “Everyone lives in a flood zone.”

To learn if your community participates in the NFIP and to review the new flood maps, please contact your local floodplain administrator (FPA) who may be located at City Hall or the local courthouse.

FEMA Map specialists and Flood Insurance experts also are available to answer questions. They can be reached by phone and online chat:

  • To contact a FEMA Map Specialist, call 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or send an email to FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com
  • To use the live chat service, visit go.usa.gov/r6C. Click on the “Live Chat” icon.
  • For more information on estimated rates for flood insurance, flood facts and to locate an agent in your area, visit www.FloodSmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531.

FEMA encourages communities not currently participating in the NFIP to look at the benefits of joining the program. Participation in the NFIP can assure a faster recovery in the event of a devastating flood.

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: Monday, 02-Jul-2012 09:44:26

View original:

5 Months Before Flood Maps Are Effective in Johnson Co, TX

5 Months Before Flood Maps Are Effective in Santa Fe Co, NM 

Release Date: July 2, 2012
Release Number: R6-12-115

» 2012 Region VI News Releases

DENTON, Texas — In five months, on Dec. 4, new flood maps for Santa Fe County, New Mexico will become effective. Before the maps are final, state, local and federal officials are encouraging everyone to view the maps to understand their flood risk and consider purchasing flood insurance.

Most property insurance policies do not cover the effects of a flood. Floods can place people at risk of uninsured loss to their businesses, homes and personal property if they don’t have either a private flood insurance policy or coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a voluntary protection program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Flooding is the #1 natural disaster in the United States and only flood insurance covers these unexpected, damaging and sometimes fatal events. “Where there is rain, there could be flooding,” said FEMA Region 6 Acting Administrator Tony Robinson. “Everyone lives in a flood zone.”

To learn if your community participates in the NFIP and to review the new flood maps, please contact your local floodplain administrator (FPA) who may be located at City Hall or the local courthouse.

FEMA Map specialists and Flood Insurance experts also are available to answer questions. They can be reached by phone and online chat:

  • To contact a FEMA Map Specialist, call 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or send an email to FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com
  • To use the live chat service, visit go.usa.gov/r6C. Click on the “Live Chat” icon.
  • For more information on estimated rates for flood insurance, flood facts and to locate an agent in your area, visit www.FloodSmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531.

FEMA encourages communities not currently participating in the NFIP to look at the benefits of joining the program. Participation in the NFIP can assure a faster recovery in the event of a devastating flood.

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: Monday, 02-Jul-2012 09:41:39

Original source: 

5 Months Before Flood Maps Are Effective in Santa Fe Co, NM

Federal, State and Local Partners Team Up To Identify Middle Brazos/Palo Pinto Watershed Flood Risks in Texas 

Release Date: July 2, 2012
Release Number: R6-12-113

» 2012 Region VI News Releases

DENTON, Texas — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is initiating a watershed approach to identifying flood risk in an area involving nearly a dozen Texas counties.

As this effort begins in the Middle Brazos/Palo Pinto Watershed, local, state and federal officials are working together to develop partnerships, share flood risk information and identify opportunities for mitigation action.

The watershed touches a total of 11 Texas counties: Archer, Eastland, Erath, Hood, Jack, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell, Stephens and Young.

“It’s important that the whole community be a part of this process in order for the end result to be a tangible mitigation action,” said FEMA Region 6 Acting Administrator Tony Robinson. “For a comprehensive picture of a community’s flood risk, FEMA relies heavily on information and data provided by the community itself.”

Presently, FEMA is gathering information from a variety of stakeholders including community officials, flood plain administrators, engineers, watershed council representatives, planners, and emergency managers. This data is being collected through a process called discovery, initiated by discovery meetings recently held in the local area.

Because flood hazards change over time, officials say the watershed approach to identifying flood risks provides a great opportunity to take a comprehensive look at the components that contribute to a community’s flood risk.

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: Monday, 02-Jul-2012 09:11:22

Credit – 

Federal, State and Local Partners Team Up To Identify Middle Brazos/Palo Pinto Watershed Flood Risks in Texas

Original article: 

FEMA Approves Fire Management Assistance Grant for Fire in Sandoval County, New Mexico

FEMA Approves Fire Management Assistance Grant for Fire in San Juan County, New Mexico 

Release Date: June 19, 2012
Release Number: R6-12-111

DENTON, Texas – To help fight the Blanco Fire in San Juan County, New Mexico, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved a request from the state of New Mexico for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG).

“We support the efforts to combat this fire threat,” said FEMA Region 6 Acting Administrator Tony Robinson. “We know that this declaration will help state and local officials protect lives and property.”

Eligible state firefighting costs covered by the aid must first meet a minimum threshold for costs before assistance is provided. Eligible costs covered by the aid 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 is made available by FEMA to reimburse local fire fighting efforts for fires that threaten to cause a major disaster.

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: Tuesday, 19-Jun-2012 13:59:03

View this article:  

FEMA Approves Fire Management Assistance Grant for Fire in San Juan County, New Mexico

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