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Second Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Weld County

DENVER – FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in the city of Evans will open Wednesday, Oct. 30.

Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., MDT, daily. After Nov. 9, the DRC will be closed Sundays.

Colorado residents who suffered losses and damages as a result of the severe storms and flooding can get face-to-face disaster information at this DRC:

Weld County

Village Centre at the Landings

3613 – 23rd Ave.

Evans, CO 80620

All DRCs are operated by the Colorado Office of Emergency Management and FEMA in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), county and local governments.

Representatives from FEMA and the SBA are among the agencies represented at each DRC to explain assistance programs and help survivors apply for disaster aid.

Survivors with disaster losses will save time by registering with FEMA before going to a DRC.

Register with FEMA by phone, 800-621-3362, from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., MDT, seven days a week. Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA Helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages. People who have a speech disability or are deaf or hard of hearing may call (TTY) 800-462-7585; users of 711 or Video Relay Service can call 800-621-3362.

Register online: DisasterAssistance.gov or by Web-enabled device, tablet or smartphone: type m.fema.gov in the browser.

For individuals who have hearing and visual disabilities or are deaf, DRCs can provide accommodations such as:

• Captioned telephones, which transcribe spoken words into text
• The booklet “Help After a Disaster” in large print and Braille
• American Sign Language interpreters available upon request
• Magnifiers and assistive listening devices
• 711-Relay or Video Relay Services

For more information on the Colorado disaster operation, visit fema.gov/disaster/4145

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Second Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Weld County

Greeley Disaster Recovery Center Reopens in Weld County

DENVER – Greeley’s Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) reopens today, Monday, Oct. 28.

This DRC will be operate 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., MDT, today, Tuesday, Oct. 29, and Wednesday, Oct. 30.

It will close permanently at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 30.

WELD COUNTY

Island Grove Exhibition Hall

525 N. 15th Ave.

Greeley, CO 80631

DRCs are closed when the number of people needing disaster assistance falls. All DRCs are operated by the Colorado Office of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), county and local governments.

To find the open DRC closest to you, go to fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

Representatives from FEMA and the SBA are among the agencies represented at each DRC to explain assistance programs and help survivors apply for disaster aid.

For individuals who have hearing and visual disabilities or are deaf, DRCs can provide such accommodations as:

• Captioned telephones, which transcribe spoken words into text
• The booklet Help After a Disaster in large print and Braille
• American Sign Language interpreters, available upon request
• Magnifiers and assistive listening devices
• 711-Relay or Video Relay Services

Survivors with losses from the storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides will save time by registering for help from FEMA before going to the DRCs.

Register online: DisasterAssistance.gov or by Web-enabled device, tablet or smartphone: type m.fema.gov in the browser.

For more information on the Colorado disaster operation, visit fema.gov/disaster/4145.

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Greeley Disaster Recovery Center Reopens in Weld County

One Year Later: Mitigation Technique Applied 30 Years Ago Survived Sandy

LINCROFT, N.J. — The devastation Superstorm Sandy left behind changed the face of many New Jersey communities, perhaps none more so than along the Shore. With individual homes and businesses and even whole communities swept away, many people were left wondering if it’s even possible to live at the Shore.

But also along the Shore are homes that stand like lone sentinels, a testament to mitigation techniques that make structures stronger and safer. Mitigation construction practices such as elevation, berms and use of damage-resistant materials help reduce the risk of future damage. More and more, buildings throughout the country, and along the Shore, are constructed with these techniques.

Mantoloking, N.J., Nov. 5, 2012 — A Mantoloking home appears to be on its own island as Hurricane Sandy isolated it and damaged infrastructure and properties in the surrounding area. Before the storm came ashore last week, this was Route 528. Two new inlets were created as a result of the storm. Photo by Liz Roll/FEMA When Mantoloking resident Ed Wright built his home 30 years ago, he used a classic mitigation technique: elevation. Last October, that decision proved to be a good one. The storm surge from Sandy swept away five neighboring homes and left his standing alone at the end of the Mantoloking Bridge.

Wright had seen photos of debris washing down the street and elected to elevate the home rather than build on a standard foundation. He built it on 35- to 45-foot pilings sunk into the ground and later enclosed the ground level with breakaway walls, which are designed to collapse in flood waters.

Elevation is a tried-and-true mitigation technique. After a major disaster declaration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency makes Hazard Mitigation grants available to the designated state for projects that reduce or eliminate losses from future disasters.

Projects eligible for hazard mitigation grants include retrofitting buildings to minimize damage from high winds and flooding; elevation of flood-prone buildings; minor flood-control projects; and the purchase of property at risk of repetitive flooding for conversion to open space. The state works with local communities to determine the focus of the Hazard Mitigation program.

Hazard Mitigation grants cover up to 75 percent of approved project costs. State and local governments pay the remaining 25 percent (in-kind donations of labor and materials can contribute toward this share). A project’s potential savings must be more than the cost of implementing the project.

Mantoloking, N.J., Oct. 11, 2013 — A Mantoloking home is completely restored one year after Hurricane Sandy. Through successful mitigation efforts years before, this home survived the floodwaters that destroyed many homes in the surrounding area with minimal damage. While the state sometimes pays for mitigation projects through FEMA grants after a disaster, Wright paid for his home’s elevation as part of the construction cost. It was an investment in the future.

The day after Sandy struck New Jersey, a friend called Wright to tell him his home was the only one standing. When he returned home, he didn’t know what to expect.

“We had no clue,” he said. “It was very emotional to see it standing there all by itself.”

The home experienced minimal damage, losing the furnace, air conditioning unit, washer and dryer, and vehicles.

“We’re very fortunate,” Wright said. “We’re very happy to be here.”

Property owners who are interested in the Hazard Mitigation programs available in New Jersey after Sandy should contact their local emergency management office.

Video-links: Elevation Helps a Home Survive Hurricane Sandy,
What To Do About Mold (in American Sign Language)

Next, the One Year Later series examines the ways in which New Jersey’s private sector got down to business to aid in the recovery process.

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.

Link to article:

One Year Later: Mitigation Technique Applied 30 Years Ago Survived Sandy

Two Disaster Recovery Centers Transition to Disaster Loan Outreach Centers

DENVER – Colorado’s recovery from severe weather continues with changes at three Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC).

The DRCs in Colorado Springs and Golden will close at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26 and both will transition on Monday, Oct. 28 to Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOC).

DLOCs are operated by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). At each DLOC, SBA representatives will answer questions, explain the application process and help survivors apply for low-interest disaster loans.

Due to reduced numbers of survivors needing disaster assistance, the DRC in Fort Collins will close at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26.

DRCs are operated by the Colorado Office of Emergency Management (COEM) and FEMA in partnership with the SBA, county and local governments.

EL PASO COUNTY

Colorado Springs Fire Training Center

375 Printers Parkway

Colorado Springs, CO 80910

Converting to DLOC on Monday, Oct. 28

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., MDT, Monday through Friday

JEFFERSON COUNTY

Jefferson County Courthouse

100 Jefferson County Parkway

Golden, CO 80401

Converting to DLOC on Monday, Oct. 28

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., MDT, Monday through Friday

LARIMER COUNTY

Foothills Mall

215 East Foothills Parkway

Fort Collins, CO 80525

Closing at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26

At the seven other DRCs, survivors can continue to receive in-person assistance from representatives of FEMA, COEM and the SBA. A variety of specialists are available to explain programs and help survivors apply for disaster aid. Recovery specialists also help disaster survivors get in touch with volunteer and other programs.

To find the DRC closest to you, go to fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

Survivors with losses from the storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides will save time by registering for help from FEMA before going to the DRCs.

Register online: DisasterAssistance.gov or by Web-enabled device, tablet or smartphone: type m.fema.gov in the browser.

For individuals who have hearing and visual disabilities or are deaf, Disaster Recovery Centers can provide accommodations such as:

For more information on the Colorado disaster operation, visit fema.gov/disaster/4145.

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Two Disaster Recovery Centers Transition to Disaster Loan Outreach Centers

FEMA and National Public Radio Work Together to Increase Emergency Alert Preparedness for People Who Are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing

WASHINGTON —The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced a cooperative pilot project with National Public Radio’s (NPR’s) technology research and development group, NPR Labs, to demonstrate the delivery of the first-ever, real-time emergency alert messages to people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing in five Gulf states.

Twenty-five NPR-affiliated public radio stations throughout Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas agreed to participate in the pilot project to transmit emergency alert messages, such as weather alerts, to 475 individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing in the stations’ listening areas to determine how effectively the messages are being sent and received. The Gulf State region was selected for the demonstration because it is often subjected to extreme weather conditions. Individuals participating in the project will receive alert and warning messages through specially designed receivers capable of displaying the text messages.

“FEMA is committed to providing equal access to effective communication for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing as information must be accessible to be actionable,” said Damon Penn, Assistant Administrator for FEMA’s National Continuity Programs Directorate. “FEMA has been working with NPR’s technology research and development group to identify key resources and radio stations to demonstrate whether special receivers made exclusively for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing will help them receive emergency alerts. We hope the data and experiences gained from the demonstration will be used to help improve this specialized technology.”

The public radio stations participating in the pilot will receive emergency alert messages from FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), where the network operations center of the Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS) will uplink the warnings to the participating stations. The stations will then broadcast the emergency alerts to specially designed FM Radio Data System (RDS) radio receivers that alert the participants with a flashing indicator. The receivers can display the alert message through the receiver’s display, and the participants can connect a strobe light or bed-shaker alerting device to the receiver, helping ensure alerts are noticed day and night.

“This demonstration project is a crucial first step in improving the technology for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing during emergencies,” said Mike Starling, Executive Director, NPR Labs. “I want to sincerely thank the 25 stations for agreeing to participate in this demonstration project that is working to test the latest technology to ensure that all individuals, including those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, can be informed of emergencies when electricity, the Internet and other communications channels are unavailable.”

FEMA, designated by DHS to implement a U.S. public alert and warning system, established the IPAWS system to provide the President with a way to address the American people during a national emergency. FEMA has been working with numerous public and private industry stakeholders to ensure that emergency alerts can be delivered simultaneously through multiple communications pathways. The National Weather Service uses IPAWS to send Wireless Emergency Alerts to participating cell phone carriers, who sends the alerts to cell phones.

NPR manages the Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS), which is the distribution network that delivers news, music, and specialized programming to public radio stations throughout the United States reaching 27 million listeners each week. The initiative is a joint effort with NPR Labs under a contract with DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate and FEMA’s National Continuity Programs. NPR Labs’ mission is to identify, evaluate, and advance the application of innovative technologies in support of the public service mission of NPR and its 900 member stations. NPR Labs was established in 2005 and is located at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C.

FM participating stations: Alabama:WUAL, Tuscaloosa; WBHM, Birmingham; WLRH, Huntsville; WJAB, Huntsville; Florida: WUSF, Tampa; WLRN, Miami; WPBI, West Palm Beach; WUFT, Gainesville; WMFE, Orlando; WFSU, Tallahassee; WGCU, Fort Meyers; WJCT, Jacksonville; WQCS, Fort Pierce; Louisiana: KDAQ, Shreveport; WWNO, New Orleans; WRKF, Baton Rouge; KRVS, Lafayette; in Mississippi: WMPN, Jackson; and in Texas: KERA, Dallas; KUHF, Houston; KETR, Commerce; KUT, Austin; KMBH, Harlingen; KEDT, Corpus Christi and KVLU, Beaumont.

For more information on FEMA programs, go to www.fema.gov/ipaws

FEMA does not endorse any non-government entities, organizations, or services. 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.

Original article:

FEMA and National Public Radio Work Together to Increase Emergency Alert Preparedness for People Who Are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing

Weld County Disaster Recovery Center in Greely Closes Temporarily

DENVER – The FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Greeley will temporarily close at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 23 and will resume normal business hours at 9 a.m. on Monday, October 28.

WELD COUNTY

Island Grove Exhibition Hall

527 N. 15th Ave.

Greeley, CO 80631

Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., MDT.

During the four days the DRC will be closed, applicants seeking help can continue to call the FEMA helpline 1-800-621-3362 to register, update their information or find out the status of their application. Help from representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Colorado Office of Emergency Management and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will also continue to be available at other 10 DRCs during this time.

To find another DRC close to you, go to fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

Once the DRC reopens, survivors will continue to receive in-person assistance from a variety of specialists available to explain assistance programs and help survivors apply for disaster aid. Recovery specialists also help disaster survivors get in touch with volunteer and other programs that may be able to help.

Survivors with losses from the storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides will save time by registering for help from FEMA before going to the DRCs.

Register online: DisasterAssistance.gov or by Web-enabled device, tablet or smartphone: type m.fema.gov in the browser.

For individuals visiting a DRC, who have hearing and visual disabilities or are deaf, disaster recovery centers can provide accommodations such as:

For more information on the Colorado disaster operation, visit fema.gov/disaster/4145.

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Weld County Disaster Recovery Center in Greely Closes Temporarily

Local, State, Tribal and Federal Partners Assessing Flood Damage in New Mexico

DENTON, Texas – The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region 6 office, the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and county, local and tribal officials are assessing damage in the aftermath of recent severe storms and flooding in the state.

Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments are the first step for a state or tribe in determining whether or not to request a presidential declaration. Assessments were already conducted for storms that hit the state in late July where teams looked at public infrastructure damage only. The current assessments include review of damages to both residences and community infrastructure from September storms.

During the assessments, the teams collect estimates of the expenses and damages such as the following:

• Amount and type of damage;
• Threat to public safety and people’s health;
• How many people may be displaced and for how long;
• Extent of insurance coverage;
• Extent of business losses;
• Extent of infrastructure damages;
• Impact to critical facilities;
• Cost of emergency workers’ overtime;
• Need for debris removal;
• Damage to roads, bridges or public facilities;
• Additional data from the American Red Cross or other local voluntary agencies may also be reviewed.

The governor’s office and tribal leaders review the results of the joint assessments and then decide whether the damage is beyond state, tribal and local recovery capabilities. The findings could then be used by Governor Susana Martinez or the tribal leaders to support a request for a Presidential declaration. The request for a presidential declaration is then submitted in writing by the governor to the president through FEMA’s regional office. In this request, the governor or tribal leader certifies that the combined local, county, tribal and state resources are insufficient to meet the emergency situation and that the situation is beyond the state’s recovery capabilities.

The request is reviewed at FEMA’s regional and national level. A number of factors are considered:

• Local response efforts, including labor and state/local assistance programs;
• Assistance from other sources – federal, state, charitable, volunteer, private sector;
• Private insurance availability;
• Impact on public health and safety;
• Impact on state and local financial resources;
• State and local involvement in recent disasters;
• Implementation of hazard mitigation and other corrective measures.

FEMA provides the president with an analysis of the situation and a recommended course of action.

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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 www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the R6 Preparedness website at www.fema.gov/region-vi/region-6-preparedness

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Local, State, Tribal and Federal Partners Assessing Flood Damage in New Mexico

North Texas Emergency Managers Participate in Open House for Preparedness

DENTON, Texas – September is National Preparedness Month. In recognition of that, North Texas emergency managers teamed up today for an “Open House for Preparedness,” where they shared their knowledge and experience with hundreds of third graders in the Duncanville Independent School District (ISD).

The students interacted one-on-one with experts from the city of Duncanville Fire Department and Police Department; the Best Southwest Community Emergency Response Team (CERT); the American Red Cross; and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

They learned critical emergency information such as how to prepare for any type of disaster including fires, earthquakes and tornadoes; how to put together an emergency preparedness kit; and how to be aware of “stranger danger.”

“Over the next few weeks, our third grade students will be studying catastrophic events and their impact on communities, and how to better prepare their own families for catastrophes,” said Duncanville ISD Chief Academic Officer Liz Birdwell. “Today’s event gave students direct access to emergency experts, who shared in an engaging and meaningful way what preparedness means and what it looks like.”

“We are so excited to work with our partners to share this very important preparedness message with everyone – especially the students,” said FEMA Region 6 Deputy Administrator David Passey. “That’s because preparedness starts at home and, very often, young people are the catalyst for action in their families.”

Tools and resources are available to help you prepare for, respond to and recover from any type of disaster. Visit www.Ready.gov or the Spanish language site www.Listo.gov. These sites include important information such as how to put together an emergency kit, make a plan and stay informed.

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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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North Texas Emergency Managers Participate in Open House for Preparedness

FEMA Braces for Fires, Floods, Earthquakes and other Natural Disasters, Emphasizes need for citizens to plan to Survive for 3 days

OAKLAND – September is National Preparedness Month and the Federal Emergency Management Agency is partnering with communities in Arizona, California, Nevada and Hawaii to encourage citizens to encourage families, individuals and businesses to act now to increase preparedness throughout the U.S.

FEMA Region 9 Administrator Nancy Ward will participate in an event with the Arizona Division of Emergency Management (ADEM), American Red Cross, City of Chandler, and the business community to kick-off National Preparedness Month in Arizona with a press conference and expo on Wednesday, September 4th at the Chandler Wal-Mart located at 1175 South Arizona Avenue. ADEM will share samples of a recipe found in the Emergency Kit Cook-off (www.EmergencyKitCookOff.org) that is inspired by the contents of the 72-hour emergency food kit.

“Preparedness is a shared responsibility. It takes a whole community and this is why you see federal, state, and county government agencies partnering with local municipalities, non-profits, and private businesses to spread the message about the importance of being prepared for emergency situations,” said Nancy Ward, FEMA Region IX Administrator. “This year’s National Preparedness Month focuses on turning awareness into action by encouraging all individuals and all communities nationwide to make an emergency preparedness plan.”

National Preparedness’ Month is a nationwide, month-long effort hosted annually by the Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps, that encourages households, businesses and communities to prepare and plan for emergencies. One of National Preparedness Month’s key messages is: being prepared in the event an emergency means being self-reliant for three days without utilities and electricity, water service, access to a supermarket or local services, possibly without available response from police, fire or rescue. Preparing for such disaster realities can start with four important steps:

1. Be informed about emergencies that could happen in your community, and identify sources of information in your community that will be helpful before, during and after an emergency

2. Make a plan for what to do in an emergency

3. Build an emergency supply kit

4. Get involved

This year’s National Preparedness Month focuses on turning awareness into action by encouraging all individuals and all communities nationwide to make an emergency preparedness plan. Preparedness information and events will be posted to http://community.fema.gov/connect.ti/READYNPM

For a list of public events being hosted in FEMA Region 9 please visit: https://www.fema.gov/NPM2013Events

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FEMA Braces for Fires, Floods, Earthquakes and other Natural Disasters, Emphasizes need for citizens to plan to Survive for 3 days

Disaster Legal Assistance Available for Alaskans

Who:

Alaskans living or working within the Alaska Gateway REAA, Lower Yukon REAA, Yukon Flats REAA and the Yukon Koyukuk REAA which were impacted by the May 17 through June 11 flooding who are self-employed or not eligible for the state’s unemployment compensation program. The services are implemented through a collaborative agreement between the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Alaska Legal Services Corporation.

What:

A toll-free helpline is now available for survivors who are unable to afford a lawyer. For free legal help call 1-800-478-5401 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ADT Monday through Friday. Messages can be left at any time.

The type of free legal help includes:

•   Assistance with securing FEMA and other government benefits available to disaster survivors
•   Assistance with life, medical and property insurance claims
•   Help with home repair contracts and contractors
•   Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the flood
•   Assisting in consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures
•   Counseling on mortgage foreclosure problems
•   Counseling on landlord-tenant issues

Where:

Includes individuals living or working in the communities of Eagle, Tok, Circle, Fort Yukon, Galena, Hughes, Koyukuk, Manley, Stevens Village, Tanana, and Emmonak, as well as other communities within the areas affected by flooding from May 17 through June 11, 2013.

How:

The service allows callers to request the help of a lawyer

Why:

When the U.S. President declares a major disaster, FEMA in conjunction with the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, establishes a toll-free number for disaster survivors to request legal help.

Disaster Legal Assistance Available for Alaskans

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