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Beware of Fraud, Scams When Seeking Disaster Assistance

Baton Rouge, La. – State and federal recovery officials urge Louisiana residents affected by the March flooding events throughout the state to watch for and report any suspicious activity or potential fraud.

As government agencies and charitable groups began providing disaster assistance, scam artists, identity thieves and other criminals may attempt to prey on vulnerable survivors. The most common post-disaster fraud practices include phony housing inspectors, fraudulent building contractors, bogus pleas for disaster donations and fake offers of state or federal aid.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (Louisiana) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency advise all residents that no individual with a government disaster assistance agency will call or text asking for financial account information.

Survivors also should keep in mind that federal and state workers never ask for or accept money and always carry identification badges. There is no fee required to apply for or to get disaster assistance from FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration or the state.

Scam attempts can be made over the phone, by mail or email, text or in person. Unfortunately, there seems to be no limit to the inventiveness of those wanting to commit fraud. Louisiana residents are asked to remain alert, ask questions and require photo identification when someone claims to represent a government agency.

Those who question the validity of a contact or suspect fraud are encouraged to call the toll free FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721. Complaints also may be made by contacting local law enforcement agencies.

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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.

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 (SBA) 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 Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800)877-8339.

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Beware of Fraud, Scams When Seeking Disaster Assistance

It’s Not Too Early to Begin Flood Clean Up after Louisiana Floods

BATON ROUGE, La. – State and federal emergency management officials encourage Louisiana flood survivors to begin repairs as soon as they can.

Flood survivors do not need to wait for a visit from the Federal Emergency Management Agency or their insurance company to start cleaning up and make repairs. FEMA inspectors and insurance claims adjusters will be able to verify flood damage even after cleaning has begun.

It’s important for survivors to take photographs of damage and keep recovery-related receipts. Insurance companies may need both items, while FEMA may need receipts.

Survivors should check for structural damage before entering their homes and report any damage to local officials. They should also immediately throw away wet contents like bedding, carpeting and furniture because of health issues that may arise with mold.

Emergency management officials encourage survivors to register for FEMA assistance as soon as they can. They only need to register once and only one registration is allowed per household. Once registered, survivors should keep in touch with FEMA and update contact information if it changes.

FEMA assistance may help eligible homeowners and renters pay for a temporary place to stay, make repairs or replace certain damaged contents.

Individuals can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling toll-free 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Multilingual operators are available.

Survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. Survivors who use 711 or Video Relay Service or require accommodations while visiting a center may call 800-621-3362.

FEMA assistance is not taxable, doesn’t need to be repaid and doesn’t affect other government benefits.

Those who are referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration should complete and return the application for a low-interest disaster loan. It is not required to accept a loan offer but returning a completed application is necessary for FEMA to consider survivors for certain forms of disaster assistance.

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It’s Not Too Early to Begin Flood Clean Up after Louisiana Floods

Nearly $700,000 Awarded in FEMA Public Assistance Grants for Northern Idaho

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – Federal grants to help northern Idaho communities recover from severe winter storms late last year have reached nearly $700,000, according to officials with the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security (IBHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This figure is expected to continue to grow. The grants were made available under major presidential disaster declarations for a November windstorm and severe storms in December.

The grants come through FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program, which reimburses state and local governments, federally recognized tribes and certain private nonprofit organizations for eligible disaster-related expenses. Funding may cover emergency protective measures, debris removal and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged infrastructure.

“Northern Idaho counties suffered significant damage and upheaval following a late November wind storm, followed just weeks later by a severe winter storm event,” said IBHS Director Brad Richy. “Over these past few months, IBHS and FEMA have forged a strong partnership with our PA applicants in order to expedite the approval process.”

The FEMA grants obligated to the state for eligible applicants include:

$171,970 to Kootenai Electric Cooperative for debris removal, power restoration and emergency protective measures;
$133,083 to Inland Power and Light for power restoration;
$76,039 to the City of Plummer for debris removal, electric distribution and emergency protective measures;
$65,604 to Kootenai County for debris removal;
$64,518 to Northern Lights, Inc. for debris removal;
$50,528 to the Lake Highway District for debris removal;
$41,692 to Clearwater Power Co. for electrical distribution repairs;
$36,791 to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe for emergency protective measures, damaged buildings and contents, and Internet utility repairs; and
$30,552 to the Worley Highway District for debris removal.
Smaller grants totaling about $19,000 for building and equipment repairs have been obligated to towns, school districts and water and sewage plant work.

“Although PA dollars go to governments and nonprofits after a disaster, they benefit everyone in a community,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Dolph Diemont of FEMA. “The money helps protect people and property, clean up neighborhoods, haul away disaster debris, put utilities back in order, and repair roads and bridges that residents use every day.”

The Dec. 23, 2015, major disaster declaration for the Nov. 17, 2015, severe storm and straight-line winds provides assistance to eligible applicants in Benewah, Bonner, Boundary and Kootenai counties and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. The Feb. 1, 2016, declaration for the Dec. 16-27, 2015, severe winter storms provides assistance for applicants in Benewah, Bonner and Kootenai counties.

Under the PA program, FEMA reimburses eligible applicants for at least 75 percent of their eligible and documented expenses, while the remainder is the non-federal share. FEMA pays the federal portion directly to the state, which administers and disburses the grants.

Both disaster declarations provide cost-share grants for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state, tribal and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property during future disasters.

More information about the PA program is available at www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit and http://bhs.idaho.gov/Pages/Operations/DisasterAssistance/PublicAssistance.aspx.

Additional information for the specific disasters, including funds obligated, is available at www.fema.gov/disaster/4246 and www.fema.gov/disaster/4252 .

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Nearly $700,000 Awarded in FEMA Public Assistance Grants for Northern Idaho

Three months later: More than $75 million approved for Missouri flood survivors

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Almost three months ago, heavy rains brought flooding and storms to cities along the Mississippi, Missouri and Meramec Rivers. Since that time, more than $75 million has been approved in the form of disaster grants to individuals and families, flood insurance payments, and low-interest loans to renters, homeowners and businesses.

It isn’t too late to receive assistance. The deadline to register for federal assistance is Monday, March 21, 2016. Those who register with FEMA can be referred to national and locally-active voluntary, faith-based and non-governmental agencies when federal assistance cannot meet all of their needs.

A few milestones from the Missouri flood disaster:

$11,828,408 in FEMA grants to nearly 2,300 individuals and families for emergency home repairs, repair or replacement of essential personal property, rental assistance, and help with funeral, medical, dental, legal and other disaster-related expenses.
$11,649,800 in U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loans to more than 270 homeowners, renters and businesses.
$52,118,027 in National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) payments.
More than 1,700 survivors visited 15 disaster recovery centers to get one-on-one counseling on survivor assistance, flood insurance, mitigation methods, low-interest loans and other information.
FEMA floodplain management specialists fielded 335 technical assistance calls and questions from NFIP participating communities.
FEMA floodplain management specialists worked with the state on substantial damage software and inspection training for local officials in NFIP participating communities.

In all, Individual Assistance was extended to 33 counties. The counties receiving IA were Barry, Barton, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Cole, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Jefferson, Laclede, Lawrence, Lincoln, Maries, McDonald, Morgan, Newton, Osage, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, Scott, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright.

For breaking news about flood recovery, follow FEMA Region 7 on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion7 and turn on mobile notifications or visit the FEMA web pages dedicated to this disaster at www.fema.gov/disaster/4250.

All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).

The SBA 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 www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

Douglas County Added to Oregon Disaster Declaration

SALEM, OR – Federal disaster assistance has been extended to public entities in Douglas County as a result of the severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, and landslides and mudslides occurring Dec. 6-23, 2015, the Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today.

Douglas County joins Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington and Yamhill counties under the disaster declaration signed by President Obama on Feb. 17, 2016. FEMA’s Public Assistance program offers supplemental financial assistance on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities in designated counties. The program also provides an opportunity for mitigation projects that protect damaged facilities from future events by providing assistance for certain hazard mitigation measures.

“The addition of Douglas County to the declaration is due to the work and collaboration of many agencies and individuals,” said Clint Fella, state coordinating officer at Oregon’s Office of Emergency Management. “We are pleased that Douglas County will benefit from this assistance.”

The state of Oregon, which administers the Public Assistance program, will conduct briefings with local officials in these counties and affected tribal governments, to provide information on the assistance available and how to apply.

“By assisting local, state and tribal governments and looking for ways to reduce future damages, state and federal disaster assistance has an impact on every individual in these communities,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Dolph Diemont.

FEMA reimburses 75 percent of eligible costs covered in the declaration.

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Douglas County Added to Oregon Disaster Declaration

FEMA Public Assistance Added for 26 Texas Counties

AUSTIN, Texas— Twenty-six additional Texas counties are now eligible for Federal disaster assistance for FEMA Public Assistance (PA). The added counties received damage as a result of the severe winter storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding, which took place between Dec. 26, 2015 and Jan. 21, 2016.

FEMA Public Assistance is now available to state and local governments, and certain private nonprofits, to supplement recovery efforts. The 26 newly designated counties for PA include: Borden, Cass, Collingsworth, Cottle, Crosby, Delta, Donley, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Franklin, Haskell, Hockley, Jones, Knox, Leon, Motley, Nolan, Scurry, Shackelford, Stonewall, Terry, Trinity, Walker, Wheeler, and Wilbarger counties.

This brings the total to 51 counties designated for PA. The previous 25 counties included in the presidential disaster declaration of Feb. 9 include: Bailey, Castro, Childress, Cochran, Dallas, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Ellis, Hall, Hardeman, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Kaufman, Kent, King, Lamb, Lubbock, Navarro, Parmer, Rains, Red River, Rockwall, Titus and Van Zandt.

FEMA Public Assistance reimburses a minimum of 75 percent of the cost of eligible projects, which can include repair of roads and bridges, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utilities and parks and recreational facilities affected by the December and January storms. The cost of debris removal and emergency protective services, such as police overtime for extra work caused from responding to the disaster, may also be eligible for reimbursement.

Applicants apply through the state of Texas using a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) form alerting FEMA that an applicant will seek assistance from the agency. State Public Assistance personnel will soon conduct briefings for applicants on how to prepare projects for submission.

FEMA ensures that all projects meet environmental quality standards and gives final approval for all projects. The federal share goes directly to the state, with the applicant paying the remaining 25 percent. The state forwards the federal funds to eligible applicants when documentation is complete.

For more information on Texas recovery, visit our disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4255 Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

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Visit www.fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation for publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger.

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FEMA Public Assistance Added for 26 Texas Counties

Louisianans in Seven Parishes Encouraged to Apply for Federal, State Disaster Assistance

Louisianans in Seven Parishes Encouraged to Apply for Federal, State Disaster Assistance

Baton Rouge, La. – Louisiana homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained property damage as a result of the ongoing severe storms and flooding are urged to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as they may be eligible for federal and state disaster assistance.
The presidential disaster declaration of March 13 makes federal Individual Assistance available to eligible applicants in Bossier, Claiborne, Grant, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, and Webster parishes.
“Governor John Bel Edwards and our team at the GOHSEP are doing everything we can to make sure people impacted by the storms receive the assistance they need. We realize the tremendous burden some face because of the flooding,” said GOHSEP Director Jim Waskom. “Our prayers are with everyone dealing with hardship. We need those of you with damage to take a moment and register with FEMA to help us start the recovery process.”

People who had uninsured and underinsured storm damage in the seven designated parishes can register for FEMA assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Assistance for eligible survivors can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs. Long-term, low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also may be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

“FEMA wants to help Louisiana residents begin their recovery as soon as possible, but we need to hear from them in order to do so,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Gerry Stolar.

Eligible survivors should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.
Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if the person has registered with another disaster-relief organization such as the American Red Cross, or local community or church organization. FEMA registrants must use the name that appears on their Social Security card. Applicants will be asked to provide:
   Social Security number
   Address of the damaged home or apartment
   Description of the damage
   Information about insurance coverage
   A current contact telephone number
   An address where they can get mail
   Bank account and routing numbers if they want direct deposit of any financial assistance.

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 (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations 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 Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800)877-8339.

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Louisianans in Seven Parishes Encouraged to Apply for Federal, State Disaster Assistance

Federal Aid Programs for the State of Louisiana

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

Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:

Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs. (Source: FEMA funded at 75 percent of total eligible costs; 25 percent funded by the state.)
Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals. (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.)
Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
Loans up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster’s adverse economic impact. This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $2 million. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence. (Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.)
Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans’ benefits and social security matters.

How to Apply for Assistance:

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

Assistance for the State and Affected Local and Tribal Governments 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 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 state, local and tribal governments 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 Louisiana

President Declares Major Disaster for Lousiana

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Louisiana to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms and flooding beginning on March 8, 2016, and continuing.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Bossier, Claiborne, Grant, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, and Webster parishes. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

The President’s action makes federal funding 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 a severe storms and flooding in the Bossier, Claiborne, Grant, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, and Webster parishes.

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

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

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov. Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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President Declares Major Disaster for Lousiana

Multiagency Team Addresses Post-Wildfire Dangers in Eastern Washington

DUPONT, Wash. – Washington suffered its worst wildfire season in state history in 2015. Raging fires burned more than one million acres of public and private lands. After two straight years of record-breaking wildfires, vast areas of the state face a much greater risk of flash flooding, debris flow and mudslides. But a team effort by all levels of government aims to reduce those threats to public safety.

The team—called the Erosion Threat Assessment/Reduction Team (ETART)—was formed by the Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division (EMD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after the Carlton Complex Fire of 2014. A new ETART was formed in October 2015 following the federal disaster declaration for the 2015 wildfires.

ETART participants include EMD, FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Weather Service, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Washington State Conservation Commission, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the Spokane, Okanagan and Whatcom conservation districts, and many others.

Led by the Okanogan Conservation District, ETART members measured soil quality, assessed watershed changes, identified downstream risks and developed recommendations to treat burned state, tribal and private lands.

“Without vegetation to soak up rainwater on charred mountainsides, flash floods and debris flows may occur after a drizzle or a downpour,” said Anna Daggett, FEMA’s ETART coordinator. “ETART brings together partners to collaborate on ways to reduce the vulnerability of those downstream homes, businesses and communities.”

Besides seeding, erosion control measures may include debris racks, temporary berms, low-water crossings and sediment retention basins. Other suggestions may include bigger culverts, more rain gauges and warning signs, and improved road drainage systems.

While public health and safety remains the top priority, other values at risk include property, natural resources, fish and wildlife habitats, as well as cultural and heritage sites.

“ETART addresses post-fire dangers and promotes collective action,” said Gary Urbas, EMD’s ETART coordinator. “With experienced partners at the table, we can assess and prioritize projects, then identify potential funding streams to fit each project based on scale, location and other criteria, which may lead to a faster and more cost-effective solution.”

Since the major disaster declaration resulting from wildfire and mudslide damages that occurred Aug. 9 to Sept. 10, 2015, FEMA has obligated more than $2.9 million in Public Assistance grants to

Washington. Those funds reimburse eligible applicants in Chelan, Ferry, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Whatcom and Yakima counties, as well as the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, for at least 75 percent of the costs for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair or restoration of disaster-damaged infrastructure.

After the 2014 Carlton Complex Fire, FEMA provided $2.4 million in Public Assistance grants specifically for ETART-identified projects. Those grants funded erosion control measures that reduced the effects of the 2015 wildfires—such as installing straw wattles, clearing culverts and ditches of debris, shoring up breached pond dams, and seeding and mulching burned lands.

FEMA also offers fire suppression grants, firefighter assistance grants, Hazard Mitigation Grants and National Fire Academy Educational Programs.

Affected jurisdictions, landowners and business owners continue to submit requests for grants, disaster loans, goods, services and technical assistance from local, state and federal sources to recover from the wildfires, protect the watersheds or reduce the risks associated with flooding and other natural hazards.

ETART recently issued its final report, which details its methodology, assessments, debris-flow model maps, activities and recommendations. Completed activities include:

Compiled and shared multi-agency risk assessments across jurisdictions through a public file-sharing site.
Developed and disseminated an interagency program guide to assist jurisdictions seeking assistance.
Transitioned ETART to a long-term standing committee to address threats, improve planning, and resolve policy and coordination issues that may thwart successful response and recovery efforts related to past fires and potential future events.

The “2015 Washington Wildfires Erosion Threat Assessment/Reduction Team Final Report” is available at https://data.femadata.com/Region10/Disasters/DR4243/ETART/Reports/. Visitors to this site may also access “Before, During and After a Wildfire Coordination Guide” developed by ETART.

More information about the PA program is available at www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit and on the Washington EMD website at http://mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division/disaster-assistance/public-assistance.

Additional information regarding the federal response to the 2015 wildfire disaster, including funds obligated, is available at www.fema.gov/disaster/4243.

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Multiagency Team Addresses Post-Wildfire Dangers in Eastern Washington

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