BATON ROUGE, La. – FEMA flood-insurance rate maps identify areas subject to flooding and establish various zones in a community on which to base premiums. But they can do something else: help first responders, government officials and others prepare for an oncoming deluge.

It was these maps that kept an older gentleman from being trapped during the floods of August. William Wilson grew concerned as the rains fell heavily in the area around his southern Louisiana home, between the Amite River and Jones Creek. Wilson’s son, Houston landscape architect Kirk Wilson, routinely uses FEMA flood maps in his work. He knew the maps might be critical in assessing his father’s looming problem.

“My dad called to tell me that local authorities expected the Amite to crest at 46 feet, higher than the devastating 1983 flood, and he feared his home would be inundated.”

Kirk Wilson, who vividly remembered the devastating ‘83 floods from his childhood, shared his father’s concerns. He told his dad to go online to the Louisiana State University’s AgCenter’s online map center. They studied the maps, with Kirk guiding his father through the data by phone.

He explained to his father how to determine his property’s Base Flood Elevation (commonly called BFE). Once they had that number, the Wilsons looked at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s projections for the rising waters. “So we estimated the crest would be 36 feet, two feet higher than dad’s BFE,” said Wilson.

Wilson warned his father that while the house itself might not be in danger, his evacuation routes would almost surely be under water. A small, narrow bridge over Jones Creek was William’s only route to higher ground. Kirk told his father he was certain the bridge would be flooded and impassable, urging him to get out as soon as possible. The elder Wilson took the advice. The floodwaters lapped up just short of the house; the bridge was swamped.

Anyone can call FEMA’s Map Information Exchange and talk to an expert (877-336-2627, open 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., EST). The specialist will explain the basics of reading and interpreting maps. The website is www.msc.fema.gov/portal. The LSU AgCenter website is www.lsuagcenter.com (scroll down to “flood maps”).

More here:  

How FEMA Flood Maps Helped a Man Evacuate Safely

BATON ROUGE, La. – The U.S. Small Business Administration is opening a disaster loan outreach center on Thursday, Sept. 22, in St. Martin Parish to assist Louisiana flood survivors. The center will be open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, until further notice.

St. Martin Parish
Location: St. Martin Council on Aging
391 Cannery Road
Breaux Bridge, LA 70517
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday through Friday)

The new disaster loan outreach center will be transitioning from the FEMA disaster recovery center in Breaux Bridge that will cease operation on Tuesday, Sept. 20. With the community continuing to repair and rebuild, its need for the disaster recovery center has diminished and the facility will now be transitioning into a disaster loan outreach center to serve individuals with SBA loans.

Survivors can still visit any other disaster recovery center and may locate other centers near them by going online to fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers, calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362, or downloading the FEMA mobile app.

At the disaster loan outreach center, representatives from the SBA will be available to meet with business owners and residents to answer questions, explain SBA’s disaster loan program, help complete loan applications and close their approved disaster loans. Business owners and residents can meet with SBA representatives on the days and times indicated. No appointment is necessary.

Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA are available for businesses of all sizes including landlords, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters.

Applicants for disaster loans may also apply online using the electronic loan application via SBA’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

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Source:  

Disaster Recovery Center in St. Martin Parish Will Transition to Disaster Loan Outreach Center to Serve Louisiana Survivors

AUSTIN, Texas – The disaster recovery centers in Brookshire and Hempstead in Waller County will close June 4.

Location:
Brookshire Civic Center4010 4th St.
Brookshire, Texas 77423

Closing:
2 p.m. Saturday, June 4

Location:
Waller County Road & Bridge (government building)
775 Business 290 E.
Hempstead, Texas 77445

Closing:
2 p.m. Saturday, June 4

Disaster recovery centers are operated jointly by FEMA and the state. Visiting a disaster recovery center is not required to register for FEMA assistance.

After the centers close, Texans whose homes or businesses were affected by the April 17-24 storms and flooding can still register for assistance, get updates about applications, learn about the appeals process or check the status of their claim the following ways:

  • visit DisasterAssistance.gov
  • phone 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

Recovery officials encourage Texans who registered for disaster assistance with FEMA to stay in touch. If survivors change their addresses or phone numbers they should update FEMA with the information. Missing or erroneous information could result in delays in getting a home inspection or receiving assistance.

Disaster survivors can also visit other recovery centers that remain open. To find the closest one, go online to the Disaster Recovery Center Locator at asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the April storms at fema.gov/disaster/4269 or visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at dps.texas.gov/dem/. Follow us on Twitter @femaregion6.

Survivors may also download the FEMA app fema.gov/mobile-app to locate open shelters and disaster recovery centers, receive severe weather alerts, safety tips and much more.

# # #

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.

Download the FEMA app fema.gov/mobile-app to locate open shelters and disaster recovery centers, receive severe weather alerts, safety tips and much more.

 

Originally from – 

Disaster Recovery Centers to Close June 4 in Brookshire and Hempstead, Waller County

Eatontown, N.J. — When it comes to destruction, disasters like Superstorm Sandy don’t discriminate:  historic structures and environmentally sensitive areas that lie in the path of a storm are in just as much peril as less significant sites.

But when a historic structure or ecologically fragile area is damaged in a disaster, particular care must be taken to ensure that any repair or remediation that must take place is done in accordance with historic and environmental regulations.

To accomplish that, state, county and local officials in the impacted area are able to draw on the support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Environmental and Historic Preservation Specialists.

The EHP cadre plays a critical role in helping municipalities and agencies understand the importance of compliance with environmental and cultural regulations so they may make informed planning decisions.

A view of the damaged Liberty State Park pedestrian bridge

The Liberty State Park pedestrian bridge was destroyed in Sandy.

EHP provides expertise and technical assistance to FEMA staff, local, state and federal partners and applicants who are tasked with the challenge of preserving historic, cultural and natural aspects of our national heritage. They help applicants understand what is required under the law and how best to meet those requirements.

At Liberty State Park, which is adjacent to Jersey City, Superstorm Sandy destroyed a popular pedestrian bridge that provided access to the park for walkers and cyclists in the Jersey City area.

With the help of specialists from FEMA’s Environmental and Historic Preservation Department, city officials acted quickly to develop a plan for reconstructing the bridge.

The city applied for a FEMA Public Assistance grant which, if the project was approved, would reimburse the city for most of the reconstruction costs.

Because the original bridge traversed environmentally sensitive wetlands, it was important that any new construction be environmentally acceptable and that it occupy the same footprint as the previous bridge.

The park, an oasis of green space adjacent to the bustle of Jersey City, offers recreational facilities, a science museum, and several historic sites including the historic Central Railroad of New Jersey terminal where new immigrants arriving from Ellis Island boarded the trains that would take them to new lives across America.

The park is also the site of a memorial honoring those who died in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, titled Empty Sky. It is the most heavily visited park in the state.

Located just across the river from lower Manhattan, Liberty State Park also played a critical role following the attacks of 9/11 as a staging area for first responders.

With so many reasons for area residents to visit the park, restoring access via the pedestrian bridge was a priority for Jersey City officials.

The cost of replacing the 120-foot-long, 10-foot-wide bridge replacement project was estimated at $834,600. Jersey City’s Assistant City Engineer Jeff Reeves chose a pre-fabricated bridge that could be lifted onto the foundation via a crane. The pre-made span cost $160,000.

Restoring the foundation cost an additional $650,000, which included the demolition of the remnants of the original bridge and the installation of necessary components such as foundation “riprap.”

The final cost for reconstruction of the foundation and replacement of the pedestrian bridge came in under budget at $755,642 which represents the 90% federal share of the total cost.

A view of the newly constructed bridge

The new Ethel Pesin Liberty Footbridge

Because the total cost of disaster recovery in New Jersey exceeded a benchmark set by the federal government according to a specific formula, the federal share of the cost of the bridge replacement was increased to 90 percent with the remaining 10 percent borne by the state and the City of Jersey City.

On June 20, 2013, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy dedicated the new bridge, which has been officially named the “Ethel Pesin Liberty Footbridge” in memory of the woman who, with her husband, Morris, worked tirelessly to  establish the park. A community leader and founding trustee of the Friends of Liberty State Park, Pesin died early in 2013.

“We know how important this piece of infrastructure is to our residents, and that is why we worked with OEM and our engineering staff to find a way to expedite the replacement of the Jersey Avenue footbridge,” the mayor said.

Today, walkers and cyclists are again able to enjoy the recreational facilities at Liberty State Park and visit the park’s historic sites via the Jersey Avenue Bridge.

And because of the teamwork between state and local officials and FEMA’s EHP experts, the environmentally sensitive wetlands that surround the bridge have been protected.

Please be sure to watch the video titled, “Apr 17, 2013 Liberty State Park – A Gift Worth Saving” at http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/82646

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 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.”

Source article: 

Bridging a Link to History at Liberty State Park

CHEYENNE, WYO. – Wyoming residents in Johnson and Niobrara counties who have been affected by the flooding that occurred from May 24 to June 6 can soon visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) if they have questions about recovery programs. The DRCs opening this week are located in Buffalo and Lusk and have recovery program representatives available to help answer questions about assistance.

The DRC is set up for residents who like to speak one-on-one to recovery representatives, but it’s not necessary to visit a center to receive disaster assistance. The fastest way to register with FEMA is by phone or online. Individuals or businesses can call 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585) or go online at www.fema.gov or www.disasterassistance.gov. The registration line is open daily from 5 a.m. – 9 p.m. (MDT) until further notice. Individuals may also register by smart phone at m.fema.gov. 

Even if residents previously registered with their local emergency manager or with a voluntary agency, they must still register with FEMA to access federal disaster assistance programs.

The DRCs will be open daily from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. until further notice.

Residents who plan to stop by the DRC are urged to register for assistance before their visit.

Johnson County (Opens July 14)             Niobrara County (Opens July 16)

Road and Bridge Building                              Niobrara County Fairgrounds

325 Butte Street                                            Shooting Sports Multiplex Complex

Buffalo, WY 82834                                        310 West US HWY 20

                                                                      Lusk, WY 82225

Customer service representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will be at the centers to answer questions about SBA’s federal low-interest disaster loans and help business owners and residents complete their application.

FEMA Mitigation specialists are scheduled to be on hand at the DRC to provide information and answer questions about cost-effective rebuilding and repair techniques to reduce property damage in future disasters.

Original article:  

DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS TO OPEN: Assistance Process Starts by Registering with FEMA

LINCROFT, N.J. — Communities recovering from Hurricane Sandy are getting some extra help with their recovery projects from students at colleges and universities throughout New Jersey.
Graduate and undergraduate students from Richard Stockton State College, Rowan University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Monmouth University and Rutgers University are volunteering with projects that include grant writing, landscaping, dune maintenance and debris cleanup.

On Thursday and Friday, April 3 and 4, students from NJIT in Newark visited Highlands and Sea Bright to help these two hard-hit towns take a few more steps forward on the long road to recovery.

Their presence in Highlands and Sea Bright came about as a result of recovery initiatives being undertaken by the FEMA Federal Disaster Recovery Coordination Group. FDRC is working with the state Office of Emergency Management, the League of Municipalities, two nonprofit organizations: Sustainable Jersey and New Jersey Future to match college volunteers with the recovery needs of some of the state’s hardest hit communities.

In southern New Jersey, the communities of Tuckerton and Little Egg Harbor had a lot of projects on the drawing board but lacked the manpower to move forward with their plans.

 “They were very understaffed and swamped,” said FDRC University Coordinator Mark Strohoefer. “We contacted Stockton College and they were able to immediately place a graduate student in Tuckerton to assist with grant-writing. We were later able to place business school students who assisted with economic development, marketing and branding plans. We were then able to include Little Egg Harbor in some of those areas.”

Unlike many volunteer projects, Strohoefer noted, this effort is aimed at providing “targeted assistance that is one hundred percent useful and beneficial to the towns.”

One example he cited is a team of students from Rowan University’s engineering school, who volunteered their skills in hard-hit Cumberland County. “They’re working on wastewater management and a potable water project.”

Students from NJIT will be working on developing a plan for Highlands to address a sloping issue on the hillsides, assist with a direct piping plan for storm water runoff from high-lying Route 36 and help to educate the public about the ongoing efforts to mitigate flood risks in Highlands.

At Monmouth University in West Long Branch, FDRC is partnering with classes from the Urban Coast Institute, Dept. of Criminal Justice, Rapid Response Institute and the Polling Institute on a number of recovery initiatives.
“We’ve just sent them about three projects from Sea Bright and Highlands to see if they would like to engage on them,” Strohoefer said.

Rutgers University School of Landscape Architecture is already engaged with Sea Bright as the seaside community contemplates landscape enhancements at three gateways to town:  from the Oceanic Bridge in Rumson, Monmouth Beach to the south and from the Azzolina Bridge in Highlands to North Sea Bright.

“What we would like to get done is to look at all the public space in town and essentially develop a master plan,” said Frank Lawrence, volunteer coordinator for the Borough of Sea Bright.
“If you have a plan in place, it allows us to talk to grant-funders like America the Beautiful. If you have a plan with a vision, it makes it more convincing to go to a landscaper and say, ‘Give me a price.’’’

The community is also appreciative of the work done recently by students from NJIT, who cleaned public sidewalks and picked up sand and debris that has accumulated during the harsh winter. The students filled two dumpsters with trash collected in the downtown area, leaving sidewalks freshly swept.

“It makes the town look a little nicer and it makes people feel better,” Lawrence said.  “It’s the type of thing that’s hard to get done in a small town. In the aftermath of a disaster like Sandy, public works departments are already stretched very thin and marshalling enough manpower to get things done can be a difficult challenge.

 “You don’t recover from an event this large that quickly,” Lawrence said. “It takes a lot of time. It’s never quite as fast as you would like.

http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4086/updates/sandy-one-year-later

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 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

View this article:  

College Students Helping Sandy-Damaged Communities Recover

DULUTH, Minn. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that $2,012,087 has been made available to the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) in federal disaster aid for repairs to the Scanlon (Division D) Interceptor. Additionally, Minnesota Recovers has approved $2,334,497 in Disaster Relief Appropriation Funds to assist with essential restorations. The interceptor sustained damages during the June 14 – 21 severe storms and flooding. The FEMA funds are being made available as part of recovery efforts in response to President Obama’s federal disaster declaration of July 6, 2012.

 

The Scanlon Interceptor is a 36 inch iron pipe that carries wastewater to the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) Knowlton Creek Pump Station in West Duluth. Flooding damaged a 150 foot portion of the Pipe Bridge, where the pipeline emerges from ground cover and is elevated over a creek. Three of the seven supporting concrete piers and the pipe itself were damaged. Rip-rap was eroded on each side of the creek and a portion of the six-foot high chain link fence that surrounds the pipeline and piers was destroyed.

 

In addition to repairing the damages caused by the disaster, WLSSD plans on replacing an additional 265 linear feet of the pipe, lining 175 linear feet of the buried portion of pipeline, and renovating three manholes. WLSSD intends to utilize the MN Recovers funds to cover the costs of these restorations.

 

FEMA’s 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. The federal share of recovery costs is 75 percent. The remaining share is the responsibility of the state and local government or non-profit organization.

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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.

 

See original:

FEMA and HSEM Provide More Than $4.3 Million Combined for Scanlon Interceptor Repairs

TRENTON, N.J. — The disaster recovery centers located at Bay Head Fire Station No. 1 in Bay Head and the William Heart Community Center in Newark will close Saturday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m.

State and federal officials have been paying close attention to how many applicants are visiting centers throughout the state. Over the past weeks, the number of individuals seeking help at the Bay Head and Newark centers has dropped, indicating the information needs of survivors in the area have mostly been met. 

Since the Bay Head disaster recovery center opened Nov. 16, there have been nearly 2,000 visits from Hurricane Sandy survivors.

There have been more than 1,000 visits to the Newark disaster recovery center since it opened Nov. 11.

Those who want to visit a disaster recovery center in the Bay Head area can go to the Brick or Belmar centers at

Brick Township Civic Center

270 Chambers Bridge Road

Brick, NJ 08723

 

Belmar Municipal Building

601 Main St.

Belmar, NJ 07719

Those who want to visit a disaster recovery center in the Newark area can go to the Jersey City regional center at:

Hudson County Government Building (formerly the Provident Bank building)

830 Bergen Ave.

Jersey City, NJ 07306

FEMA staff is available at the centers to provide clarification to letters, assist survivors with finding a temporary home if their primary residence was damaged or destroyed, check on the status of their application for assistance or refer survivors to other agencies that may provide additional help.

Also, survivors can consult with Small Business Administration customer service representatives about low-interest disaster loans to repair or rebuild their home and FEMA mitigation specialists about cost-effective rebuilding and repair techniques to reduce property damages in future disasters.

Individuals can register for assistance and follow up on their applications online at DisasterAssistance.gov, or by using a smartphone or tablet at m.FEMA.gov. By phone or 711/VRS, call 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 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 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.

Taken from: 

Bay Head, Newark Disaster Recovery Centers to Close This Week

Public Open Houses Scheduled to Share Map Changes and Flood Risk Information

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

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

The Texas-based coastal flood mapping effort follows the release of a new, comprehensive storm surge study from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) that gives updated information on coastal flood risks. To share that data, two public workshops have been scheduled in the county where interested citizens can obtain more information about the proposed changes.

Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 15 & 16, 2013                                      

Bridge City Community Center                          

105 Parkside

Bridge City, TX 77611

2 p.m. – 8 p.m.

“As we work together with our state and local partners to bring this critical information to the county, we ask that everyone review the maps to understand what flood risks are involved,” said FEMA R6 acting Regional Administrator Tony Robinson. “The role of the community as an active partner in the flood mapping process is very important.”

Additional information is available, including links to the interactive mapping website on www.txchart.com. Residents can also contact the Orange County Floodplain Administrator for more details.

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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.

 

Source: 

Preliminary Flood Maps in Orange County, Texas Ready for Public View

TRENTON, N.J. — Getting free advice on how to repair or rebuild your home to minimize future disaster damage is as easy as visiting your local home improvement store. Specialists from FEMA will offer their expertise on building techniques that can help protect your home, business or other property in future disasters.

This free service also offers information and publications about home improvement, such as:

  • Mold and mildew cleanup.
  • Flood- and wind-resistant building methods.
  • Wind straps.
  • Flood insurance.
  • Retrofitting buildings.
  • Elevating utilities.

FEMA specialists are available daily Jan. 5 to Saturday, Jan. 12, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the following home improvement stores:

  • Atlantic County – Home Depot, 6 Tower Ave., Egg Harbor 08234.
  • Cape May County – Lowe’s, 3171 Route 9 S., Rio Grande 08242.
  • Essex County – Home Depot, 399-443 Springfield Ave., Newark 07103.
  • Hudson County – Home Depot, 440 Route 440, Jersey City 07302.
  • Middlesex County – Home Depot, 1090 Route 9, Old Bridge 08857.
  • Monmouth County – Home Depot, 3540 Route 66, Neptune 07753.
  • Ocean County – Home Depot, 197 Route 72 W., Manahawkin 08050.
  • Ocean County – Home Depot, 1900 Shorrock Road, Lakewood 08701.
  • Union County – Home Depot, 977 W. Grand St., Elizabeth 07202.

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 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.

See original article: 

Free Expertise On Building Stronger, Safer, Smarter

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