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More than $3.6 Million in Disaster Aid Approved for June Storms

SIOUX FALLS, SD – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that more than $3.6 million in federal disaster aid has been approved to help communities in twelve counties and two tribal nations in South Dakota recover from a series of June storms. Those storms produced a tornado that struck Wessington Springs along with heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding in western, north central and southeast South Dakota.

According to FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Gary Stanley, “This figure represents only the first round of approved projects. We hope to have all applicants’ projects reviewed and approved by mid-November. While the final dollar total will change as we gather more information, it appears total Federal assistance will be greater than the $6.1 million originally estimated by the time all the projects are reviewed.” FEMA reimburses applicants not less than 75 percent of the cost of eligible projects and the State of South Dakota provides an additional ten percent cost share.

The disaster funds reimburse applicants for a variety of disaster recovery costs such as emergency work, removal of storm related debris, road and bridge repair and the restoration of electrical utilities. To date 89 applicants including city, county and tribal governments, state agencies and some private non-profits are working with FEMA and the South Dakota Office of Emergency Management (SDOEM) to document their eligible disaster related costs.

On July 28, 2014 President Obama issued a major disaster declaration for the state making Butte, Clay, Corson, Dewey, Hanson, Jerauld, Lincoln, Minnehaha, Perkins, Turner, Union and Ziebach counties and the Cheyenne River Sioux and Standing Rock Sioux tribal nations eligible for federal disaster aid. The presidential declaration came in response to a request from Governor Dennis Daugaard following a series of storms that hit the state in mid-June.

The Public Assistance Program provides funding to local government jurisdictions and eligible private non-profits for the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged infrastructure as well as costs incurred for disaster cleanup or emergency actions taken to protect lives or property.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards.

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More than $3.6 Million in Disaster Aid Approved for June Storms

Texas Receives More Than $1.5 Million in Federal Funding for University of Texas Medical Branch Mitigation Measures

DENTON, Texas – The state of Texas has received more than $1.5 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for mitigation measures for a University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) building.

Hurricane Ike damaged the UTMB Customs House, also known as the 1700 Strand Building, in 2008. These mitigation measures will protect it from potential future storm damage.

The measures include elevating a new chiller onto a new exterior platform; relocating existing mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems from the basement level to upper floors; and restoring the basement with a new floor plan, new lighting and fire protection system. The basement will now serve as a “shell space,” which is essentially an unfinished space enclosed by an exterior building shell.

To date, FEMA has obligated more than $476.8 million for UTMB-related projects, in the aftermath of Ike.

FEMA’s contribution, made possible by a Public Assistance grant, represents a 90 percent federal cost share. FEMA awards funding for projects directly to the state of Texas; 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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Texas Receives More Than $1.5 Million in Federal Funding for University of Texas Medical Branch Mitigation Measures

FEMA Awards $2.35 Million in Disaster Funds for Okanogan County PUD

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently awarded more than $2.35 million to the state of Washington to help pay for disaster-related repair costs of the Okanogan County Public Utilities District (PUD).

Under its Public Assistance (PA) program, FEMA funding helps eligible tribes, state agencies, local governments and certain nonprofits pay for the approved cost for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair or replacement of infrastructure damaged or destroyed by the wildfires. FEMA provides 75 percent of these costs, while non-federal sources pay for the remainder.

On Aug. 11, President Obama issued a major disaster declaration that authorized FEMA to coordinate federal disaster relief to help the state recover from the Carlton Complex Fire that occurred between July 9 and Aug. 5. The disaster declaration covers Kittitas County, Okanogan County and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

The $2.35 million award will help reimburse the Okanogan County PUD for the repair of 280,000 linear feet—more than 53 miles—of fiber optic cable and associated infrastructure damaged by the wildfires. Its fiber optic network backbone provides a wide variety of data services and stretches from the Columbia River junction in Brewster to the Canadian border.

For more information about this disaster—including the total dollar amount of PA grants—click on Washington Wildfires, or go to www.fema.gov/disaster/4188.

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FEMA Awards $2.35 Million in Disaster Funds for Okanogan County PUD

Federal Aid Programs for Kentucky Declaration

Main Content

Release date:

September 30, 2014

Release Number:

HQ-14-083-FactSheet

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 Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Assistance for the Commonwealth and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, taken to save lives and protect property and public health. Emergency protective measures assistance is available to state and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis. (Source: FEMA funded, commonwealth administered.)
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, commonwealth administered.)
Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state, tribal and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, commonwealth administered.)

How to Apply for Assistance:

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

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders and 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.

Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts available at www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema; follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fema and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fema.

Last Updated:

September 30, 2014 – 19:58

State/Tribal Government or Region:

Kentucky

Related Disaster:

Kentucky Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

Federal Aid Programs for Kentucky Declaration

Volunteer Fire Company in Rural NJ To Get New Turnout Gear

25 Firefighters on Duty 24/7 Year-Round in 50-Square-Mile District

New York, NY — “Eighty-four percent of our members have gear that is ten years old and the other 16 percent have no gear at all and are unable to receive training,” is the way Joseph Sterling, Captain of the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company, described the condition of his department’s personal protective equipment.

An Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to the fire company, however, reversed all that, providing the company with 25 sets of what is also called turnout gear, along with 25 face masks. Also president of the Board of Fire Commissioners, Captain Sterling said, “We’re excited, and relieved, with this grant. It saves the taxpayers money and takes a lot of pressure off the commissioners.” The federal share of the grant amounts to $75,644; the local share is $3,981.

The announcement of the grant was made here today by Dale McShine, Director of Grants for Region II of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which administers the AFG program. “FEMA offers these grants to fire companies large and small throughout our region,” she said. “We are keenly aware of how important safety is to all firefighters, and we are very pleased to take part in this program.”

The grant covers 25 complete sets of coats, pants, helmets, gloves, boots, and vests. It also includes funding for the same number of face masks, the current shortage of which produces additional safety problems. “The only masks we now have,” the captain explained, “are not assigned to individuals and are on our truck for anyone to grab. This causes dangerous confusion on the job as members scramble to find the right size mask. This AFG funding will allow each of our members to be properly outfitted with the appropriate mask size, which is a big safety plus,” he added.

“Our fire district is pretty large, covering 50 square miles in Maurice River Township New Jersey,” Captain Sterling pointed out. We’ve got a permanent population of some 4,725 residents, which swells by literally thousands of travelers headed for Cape May, Stone Harbor, Wildwood, and Ocean City during the summer.” The district also covers two Corrections Department facilities, a food market and fueling station, three boat yards, a refrigeration repair business, a municipal building, a senior-citizen complex, an Office of Emergency Management, and a post office.

Captain Sterling was very pleased with the role FEMA played in the grant application phase. “FEMA was a major help,” he recalled, saying that FEMA personnel “walked us through the entire paperwork procedure. We really appreciated that.”

FEMA’s AFG program has been aiding firefighters and other first responders since 2001. “The program provides critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards,” said Tania Hedlund, FEMA’s Grants Branch Chief. In 2012, the AFG provided funding of $25,340,000 for FEMA’s Region II (New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands).

For further information, please contact William H. Douglass at FEMA: 212-680-3665 or 917-561-3223.

Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/fema, www.fema.gov/blog,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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Volunteer Fire Company in Rural NJ To Get New Turnout Gear

Grant to Secaucus, NJ Provides Town’s Firefighters with Modern, Compliant Equipment

Federal Funding Also Offers Upgrades in Training

New York, NY — An award from the federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program will outfit 46 volunteer firefighters in Secaucus, New Jersey with personal protective equipment, in addition to funding advanced firefighter training.

The new equipment, which includes coats, pants, boots, gloves, suspenders, helmets, hoods, and facial shields, will replace 10- to 14-year old gear that has become too worn or damaged to offer the required level of safety for the town’s 90 volunteer first responders. The new gear complies with the standards of both the National Fire Protection Association and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The federal grant will also fund training for 55 volunteers to achieve Firefighter II status, through a course providing them with sufficient knowledge and skill to function in an emergency without direct supervision and to be capable of making on-duty decisions.

The federal grant comes to $132,027, with the applicant’s share amounting to $6,948.

The announcement was made here today by Ms. Dale McShine, Director of Grants for Region II of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which administers the AFG program.

“This grant is truly a lifesaver,” said Michael Gonnelli, the mayor of Secaucus, who is also the town’s former fire chief and serves with the department’s volunteers. “Secaucus is one of the last fully volunteer fire departments in Hudson County,” he added, emphasizing that “firefighter safety is our primary aim. The additional training covered in this grant follows the same path.”

The Town of Secaucus, with a population of roughly 18,500 – which grows by some 100,000 during work hours – responds annually to an average of 700 incidents, ranging from those taking place in 25-story structures, 300,000 square-foot warehouses, and marsh fires to single family homes. These responses include fire suppression, hazardous materials, extrications, technical rescue, structure-collapse rescue, natural disasters, and emergency medical service.

The Bergen County Fire Academy, adjacent to Hudson County, will offer the Firefighter II course, which, in addition to practical exercises, features lectures, overheads, audiovisual presentations, and a final practical evaluation. The course involves 37 three-hour courses.

“We are very pleased to have been involved in this grant,” FEMA’s Ms. McShine noted. “Our foremost goal of first-responder safety coincides precisely with Mayor Gonnelli’s.”

For further information, please contact William H. Douglass at FEMA: 212-680-3665 or 917-561-3223.

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

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Grant to Secaucus, NJ Provides Town’s Firefighters with Modern, Compliant Equipment

Federal Aid Programs for the Territory of Guam Declaration

Main Content

Release date:

September 11, 2014

Release Number:

HQ-14-073-FactSheet

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 Territory of Guam.

Assistance for the Territory and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for debris removal and emergency protective measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health. Emergency protective measures assistance is available to territory and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis. (Source: FEMA funded, territory administered.)
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, territory administered.)
Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by territory and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, territory administered.)

How to Apply for Assistance:

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

Last Updated:

September 11, 2014 – 16:52

State/Tribal Government or Region:

Guam

Related Disaster:

Guam Tropical Storm Halong

Source:

Federal Aid Programs for the Territory of Guam Declaration

2013 Colorado Floods Federal Assistance Fact Sheet

FEDERAL AGENCY ASSISTANCE OVERVIEW

Immediately following the historic September 2013 flooding in Colorado, federal agencies coordinated in a unified approach. Some federal agencies provided assistance under mission assignments from FEMA. In many other cases, agencies also responded and provided funding under their own authorities. Together, these agencies contributed to combined, collaborative effort to respond to public health and safety needs throughout the State. Federal life-saving and life-sustaining personnel worked under the direction, and at the request of, state and local leadership. Here’s a summary of the federal actions funded by FEMA and the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to ensure communities and people in the area were protected from further harm and could begin their recovery.

In all, FEMA directed 66 federal response and recovery assignments at a cost of more than $13.4 million to FEMA and almost $2.3 million to the State of Colorado.

In addition, FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has approved nearly $65.5 million on 2,093 claims, which is approximately 98 percent of all submitted claims.

National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA)

NGA provided geospatial analysts to supplement Geographic Information System production with the Urban Search and Rescue White Incident Support Team. Analysts provided analytical expertise, computer equipment, and a suite of GIS software to support disaster operations.

NGA deployed two analysts to Boulder and Loveland, Colo., and launched its suite of analysis and collaboration tools to aid search and rescue efforts and provide flood and damage assessments.

Utilizing a new system, GeoQ, imagery and analysis from multiple sources and geographically dispersed analysts facilitated the use of crowdsourcing to define the extent of damaged areas. It enabled analysts to review imagery from different sources simultaneously, rather than sequentially, which results in much faster damage assessments.

NGA’s imagery-derived damage assessments were especially critical because flooding did not take the course of typical river- and stream-bed patterns.

The technology NGA provided enhanced urban search and rescue operations by depicting, graphically, where searches already had occurred and areas search and rescue personnel had already covered.

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Bicentennial Volunteers, Inc. (BVI)

TVA Bicentennial Volunteers, Inc. (BVI) provided experienced Public Assistance project specialists with intensive FEMA eligibility experience. Specialists assisted FEMA by assessing damages, developing scopes of work, writing project worksheets, and providing general assistance to FEMA’s disaster recovery Public Assistance program. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

U.S. Department of Agriculture/Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS)

USDA activated personnel to assist recovery activities and operations. The agency has also supported the Recovery Support Functions by providing expertise, assisting with damage and impact assessments and long term recovery planning activities.

NRCS has provided an estimated $14.3 million to help over $15.7 million in construction costs. This funding will help cover costs of 40 projects at more than 170 sites.

U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)

DoD provided both air and ground search and rescue support operations with heavy lift, medium lift and medical evacuation rotary wing aircraft as well as high water vehicles from the Colorado National Guard and 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson. Numerous DoD subject matter experts from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; U.S. Army North; and U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base provided technical planning and assessment support.

The Defense Coordinating Element supporting staff with its Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers working in the state emergency operations center; Joint Field Office; Regional Response Coordination Center; incident command posts; congressional joint task force base; and federal staging area at Buckley Air Force Base provided knowledge and liaison support to FEMA Region VIII and other agencies.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

USACE provided support to the state of Colorado, including: technical assistance for debris removal and stream restoration work; infrastructure assessments of water and wastewater treatment plants; technical assistance in the development of engineering scopes of work under FEMA’s Public Assistance Program; external affairs support to the FEMA Joint Information Center; and coordination/facilitation with the integration of interagency capabilities focused on regional long-term recovery.

U.S. Air Force Civil Air Patrol (USAF – CAP)

USAF – CAP provided aircraft for transportation of FEMA, State and other federal agency personnel to assess infrastructure and property damage.

The Colorado Wing of USAF-CAP provided aerial and ground photos that were used to help assess damage. Photography missions flew out of Centennial, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal and Rocky Mountain Metropolitan airports. By September 19, 2013, the teams had captured 10,000 photographs of flooded rivers, roads, towns, farms, residential property and vehicles.

The mission included flights over Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Clear Creek, El Paso, Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Sedgwick, Washington and Weld counties.

Aircrews in red, white and blue CAP planes and ground team members provided images of flooded rivers, roads, highways, bridges, towns, farms, residential property, vehicles and more at minimal cost to taxpayers.

CAP aircrews also flew representatives of FEMA, ABC News and Good Morning America over sections of the South Platte and Big Thompson rivers. The photographs and video included damage south of Greeley, where a bridge on U.S. 34 across the South Platte had been washed away.

U.S. Department of Energy (DoE)

DoE provided 24-hour support to the FEMA Region VIII Regional Response Coordination Center, Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT), and worked with stakeholders to identify power restoration hurdles and mitigation actions. The Department also closely monitored impacts of the event on energy infrastructure.

U.S. Department of the Interior (DoI)

The Department of the Interior provided natural and cultural resources expertise, including knowledge about National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act compliance and cultural and historic property preservation.

DoI Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

The BLM provided on-call aviation personnel to support Disaster Operations. BLM support included aircraft and personnel necessary to accomplish evacuations, assessments of critical infrastructure, personnel, cargo transport and aerial photography for missions.

U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) – Federal Highway Administration

FHWA provided $270 million to the Colorado Department of Transportation for help in repairing flood-damaged roads, highways and bridges. That amount includes $5 million provided in “quick release” emergency relief funds on September 13, 2014, as well as $25 million provided just three days later, on September 16.

FHWA’s Central Federal Lands Division provided an estimated $482 million to the Colorado Department of Transportation. Of this amount, $326 million is for repair and replacement required to state infrastructure and $156 million is for repair of local infrastructure.

The agency also activated personnel to assist with highway design and environmental information. Specialists also coordinated with the Colorado DOT to help plan road repairs. FHWA has also provided support to the Recovery Support Functions by helping with damage and impact assessments and long-term recovery planning activities, including highway design and environmental information and coordination.

U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA)

The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) has provided $426,683 in grants to support disaster and community economic resiliency efforts in Colorado. Through the EDA, the Department of Commerce led the highly coordinated interagency and whole community effort to help state and local governments and the private sector sustain and rebuild businesses and employment. The grants include:

$126,683 in Local Technical Assistance funds to the Estes Park Local Marketing District, Estes Park, Colorado, to fund a tourism marketing plan to boost tourism in the northern Colorado region. Using print and digital placements, the campaign’s goal is to increase tourism to help the region recover and make up for lost revenues that resulted from the devastating floods in September 2013.

$300,000 in Economic Adjustment Assistance funds to the Town of Estes Park (including surrounding region) to develop a strategy that will guide their economic diversification and resiliency efforts. One key component of this grant is developing specific actions to make use of Estes Park’s existing fiber optic ring to deliver improved broadband services to the town and surrounding region. By working with other affected communities – including nearby Loveland and Lyons – this strategy will help the region diversify while strengthening their existing established industry clusters.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

EPA coordinated and executed necessary actions associated with debris clearance, removal, and disposal from public property to eliminate or lessen immediate threats to public health and safety. EPA removed debris from critical access routes, roads, bridges, waterways, and rights-of-way for emergency vehicles and public access. This support included pick-up, segregation, hauling, and disposal of flood debris at a landfill or reuse for stream stabilization.

EPA provided health-related analysis in heavily impacted areas. EPA conducted a landfill assessment in the Town of Evans. “Phase I” included initial observation and information gathering. This included use of contractor resources and other specialists, including the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, (ATSDR). “Phase I” informed the development of recommendations for action and defined the scope of work for subsequent phases. “Phase II” included more in-depth investigation of the nature and extent of the potential threats associated with the landfill.

EPA personnel performed a wide range of supportive initiatives to the FEMA Region VIII Regional Response Coordination Center, Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT), and other teams.

EPA provided aerial technical analysis of potential impacted areas to help identify immediate threats associated with oil and hazardous materials that may have been discharged or released by the flood. The review was necessary for mitigating actual and potential threats to public health and safety.

EPA also conducted oil and hazardous materials field operations. EPA personnel and contractor specialists provided assistance to counties to estimate the volume of household hazardous waste and other waste containers. Field operations also included pick-up, segregation, hauling, and disposal of the orphaned containers and household hazardous wastes.

U.S. Fire Administration (USFA)

USFA supported command, control and coordination personnel and resources to Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMATs), area command teams and multi-agency coordination groups. The teams provided command, control and coordination resources, including incident search and rescue, and medical and security needs for assigned resources.

U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

HUD invested more than $320 million through the department’s Community Development Block Grant program. The funding will support the State of Colorado’s long-term recovery efforts, primarily in Boulder, Weld and Larimer counties. HUD’s CDBG grants are intended to confront housing, business and infrastructure needs.

Additionally, subject matter experts assisted survivors by answering questions and providing direction and disaster-related resources. HUD personnel staffed Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) and other locations.

U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

The IRS provided subject matter experts to assist survivors by answering questions and providing direction and disaster-related publications/resources. Personnel staffed and/or provided publications to Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) and other locations as required during open hours, which was sometimes 12 hours per day.

The IRS provided tax relief to survivors in affected counties by postponing certain filing and payment deadlines.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

The SBA has provided $109.6 million in low-interest disaster loans to 2,127 renters and homeowners and 374 businesses.

SBA Business Recovery Centers in Estes Park, Greeley, Longmont and Loveland received a total of 933 visits. SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in Aurora, Colorado Springs and Golden received a total of 403 visits.

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2013 Colorado Floods Federal Assistance Fact Sheet

FEMA Hires Local Residents During Colorado floods

In the aftermath of the 2013 Colorado floods, FEMA and other agencies brought in personnel from all over the country to assist. At the other end of the spectrum were 54 local residents that FEMA hired to support response and recovery efforts. Following a disaster declaration, FEMA frequently hires local residents to work in various positions, augmenting existing staff. By hiring locals, the agency gets a unique perspective and critical local knowledge. Madison Taylor, Philip Holmes and Colleen Cunningham are three such local hires that were hired for the Colorado floods late last year.

Holmes was hired in December 2013 as a Recovery Support Function (RSF) Specialist, assisting in the Community Planning and Capability Building (CPCB) RSF. In short, he helps support and build recovery capacities and coordinates community planning resources of local, county and state governments affected by the last year’s floods. Where there is a recovery need identified or gap in resources, CPCB finds a group, person or organization to help fill that gap or address that need.

“I was part of a team that helped the State connect with organizations such as AmeriCorps, a national volunteer organization who provides assistance to communities in need, to assist Colorado businesses who needed help in writing grants,” said Holmes.

When Holmes and other members of CPCB along with Colorado’s Department of Local Affairs determined that many small business owners needed help in writing grants to get some funding for their business, his team supported the State in putting together a funding workshop to link volunteers, non-profits and other organizations to assist with grant writing and submission. The AmeriCorps volunteers addressed these issues and came to their aid.

“I work to assist with preparedness efforts of the State of Colorado and communities for disaster recovery before a disaster, as well as tools and resources for planning, managing and implementing recovery post-disaster,” said Holmes, who has lived in Colorado Springs for six years. He is a retired Army military police officer with more than 20 years of service and drives to Denver every day to work at FEMA’s Colorado Recovery Coordination Center, based in Lakewood.

Taylor was hired in November 2013 as a Public Assistance Reports Specialist. Some may describe this job as mind numbing, but she loves what she does, based on her bachelor’s degree in statistics. “I am in charge of tracking all the grants/projects and pull together any information (e.g. numbers) that may be needed for reports on the Public Assistance Program,” said Taylor.

Currently, she is tracking the status of an estimated 1,200 grants for the September2013 Colorado floods. The status of grants is continually tracked throughout the disaster for management and budgetary purposes. Taylor started with FEMA about 18 months ago when she signed up to participate in FEMA Corps, a program supported through AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, which recruits young adults 18-24 to assist FEMA during disasters with recovery efforts. After completing her 10-months with FEMA Corp, Madison was hired on as a local hire because of her knowledge in the field of Public Assistance and her experience with FEMA Corps.

Cunningham holds a position that is integral to the rebuilding of communities after disasters. She works as an Environmental and Historical Prevention Specialist, where she works hand-in-hand with the cities, counties and states to make sure they are aware of any environmental impacts to the ecosystem in that area when rebuilding or building at new sites.

“I make sure that FEMA, the State of Colorado and the applicant comply with federal regulations to protect the fish, wildlife and vegetation during the disaster recovery process,” said Cunningham. “There are other local staff members that monitor the regulations for historical buildings and land.” She has lived in Golden/Denver for three and has worked in the field of environmental protection for 13 years.

By hiring locals, this is one of many ways that FEMA gives back to the communities where there has been destruction, and for FEMA to follow through on its commitment to support citizens in need.

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FEMA Hires Local Residents During Colorado floods

Arkansas and Louisiana Receive Nearly $2.5 Million in FEMA Preparedness Grants

DENTON, Texas — Fire departments in Arkansas and Louisiana and been awarded more than $2.49 million in preparedness grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

In Arkansas, the grants total more than $1.3 million and cover a variety of items including:

• Firefighting equipment for the Williams Junction Volunteer Fire Department in Perryville, the Valley View Fire Protection District in Jonesboro, the Bauxite Fire Department and Crawford County Fire District One in Rudy;
• A tanker vehicle for the Jacksonport Volunteer Fire Department;
• A water tender vehicle for the Burnt Ridge Volunteer Fire Department in Shirley;
• A manufacturer burn simulator for the Butterfield District 5 Volunteer Fire Department in Van Buren;
• A pumper vehicle for the Galla Rock Rural Volunteer Fire Department in Centerville;
• A brush truck for the North Pulaski Fire Protection District 15 in Jacksonville; and
• Radio equipment for the Hensley Volunteer Fire Department.

In Louisiana, the grants total more than $1.1 million and pay for firefighting equipment for the Oakdale Fire Department and the Melville Volunteer Fire Department; health screenings and fitness equipment for the Ruston Fire Department; communications equipment for the Spearsville Fire Protection District LA; and two vehicles — a pumper vehicle and a water tender vehicle — for St. Tammany Parish Fire District 9 in Bush.

The federal grants are part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program. The primary goal of the AFG is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations. Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders get critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

For more information on the AFG program, visit http://www.fema.gov/assistance-firefighters-grant.

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Arkansas and Louisiana Receive Nearly $2.5 Million in FEMA Preparedness Grants

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