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Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Flagler County for Hurricane Matthew Survivors

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —A Disaster Recovery Center is open in Flagler County to help survivors affected by Hurricane Matthew’s storms and flooding that affected the state beginning October 3.

The location of the center is:

Palm Coast Library

2500 Palm Coast Parkway NW

Palm Coast, FL 32177

Open Monday – Saturday

9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Closed Sundays

Disaster Recovery Centers serve as one-stop shops for eligible storm survivors seeking one-on-one help. Representatives from the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and various state agencies will be at the center to answer questions Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The center is closed on Sundays.

FDEM and FEMA officials continue to work closely with local officials in hard-hit areas to identify possible sites for additional centers. Survivors can also locate the center by visiting the DRC locator on fema.gov.

Downloading the FEMA App (available in English and Spanish) to their mobile device will allow survivors to:

Apply for disaster assistance
Get directions to the nearest Disaster Recovery Center
Get weather alerts
Subscribe to disaster safety tips

Many services available at disaster recovery centers are also available by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Survivors with questions regarding the application or the appeals process, or who need to register for assistance, may visit online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone (voice, 711 or video relay service/VRS) at 800-621-3362. (TTY users should call 800-462-7585.) The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available, (for Spanish press 2).

Survivors requiring a reasonable accommodation (ASL interpreting, Braille Large Print, etc.) while visiting a disaster recovery center may call the appropriate Helpline number above to receive support.

FEMA encourages survivors to register as soon as possible. Those who may have registered with their county emergency management office, the American Red Cross or other community organizations are reminded to also register with FEMA. If you pre-registered with FEMA before the presidential disaster declaration for Hurricane Matthew, there is no need to register again. However, you should call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 (voice, 711 or video relay service/VRS) TTY users can call 800-462-7585 to update your information.

Disaster assistance may include grants to help homeowners and renters pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs, personal property replacement, and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

SBA offers low-interest disaster loans for businesses of all sizes, homeowners, renters, and certain private non-profit organizations. SBA disaster loans may cover repairs, rebuilding, as well as the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged real estate and personal property.

For more information about SBA loans, call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster. TTY users may call 800-877-8339. Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4283, https://twitter.com/femaregion4, facebook.com/FEMA, and fema.gov/blog.

See the article here:

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Flagler County for Hurricane Matthew Survivors

Federal Partners Continue to Support Survivors in Louisiana

WASHINGTON – At the direction of President Barack Obama, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is leading the federal government’s effort to provide assistance and support to Louisiana, in response to recent flooding.

President Obama received updates throughout the day from his team on current response and recovery efforts underway in close coordination with state, local, and tribal officials. Today, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and FEMA Deputy Administrator Joseph Nimmich are visiting the impacted region to meet with local officials and review the ongoing response efforts.

President Barack Obama declared a major disaster for Louisiana on August 14, making federal resources available to assist with home repairs, temporary housing, low-cost recovery loans for uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover. Federal assistance is also available to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations to protect lives and property and remove debris.

Residents and business owners who sustained disaster-related losses can apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). If you use 711 relay or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362 directly. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Central Time) seven days a week until further notice. More than 80,000 Louisianans have registered for FEMA assistance and more than $3.7 million has been approved.

More than 17,000 National Flood Insurance policyholders have submitted claims for flood loss. Those who would like to file a claim should call their individual insurance carrier, go to Floodsmart.gov and review the “File Your Claim” section.

Below is a summary of federal actions underway to support ongoing response and recovery efforts:

To date, FEMA deployed more than 1,100 personnel on the ground, including six Incident Management Assistance Teams and one Urban Search and Rescue team in Louisiana. FEMA also deployed Mobile Emergency Response Support personnel and equipment in Louisiana to support the state with voice, video and information services to support emergency response communications needs.

The U.S. Department of Defense and FEMA provided to the state of Louisiana more than 650,000 liters of water and more than 812,000 meals for distribution to disaster survivors and pre-positioned supplies including cots and blankets.

The U.S. Small Business Administration opened a Business Recovery Center in Walker, Louisiana today to provide a wide range of services to businesses impacted by the severe storms and flooding that began last week. As of today, SBA has issued more than 57,000 applications to homeowners and businesses.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services deployed two National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) Disaster Medical Assistance Teams consisting of approximately 80 NDMS members to Baton Rouge. In addition, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officers and a 30-person command and control personnel are among about 200 staff HHS has deployed to support the response effort. HHS is operating a Federal Medical Station capable of housing 250 patients on the Louisiana State University campus. At last report, HHS has provided care for 200 patients.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deployed subject matter expert personnel to assist the state and local government with debris removal in affected areas.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing support to the state through nutrition, farmer and rancher assistance. Thus far, USDA approved 4,877 authorized Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program retailers to assist those in need of nutrition assistance services.

The American Red Cross opened shelters throughout the community. The Red Cross Shelter Finder app displays open Red Cross shelters and their locations on an easy to use map interface. Survivors can also find the location of the nearest shelter by texting SHELTER and their Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA). The American Red Cross activated its Safe and Well program to allow survivors to let family members know they are safe and for family members to search for loved ones.

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC): NCMEC activated its Unaccompanied Minors Registry (UMR). Family members can go to http://umr.missingkids.org or call 1-800-THE-LOST to find an unaccompanied child who may have been separated from their parents or caregivers because of the floods by entering basic information and/or a photo.

The U.S. Northern Command activated a Defense Coordinating Element to support FEMA’s Regional Response Coordination Center in Denton, Texas with Department of Defense resources and requirement validation.

The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting air and surface rescue operations. Thus far the Coast Guard rescue teams have assisted more than 3,000 people, saved 243 lives, and 71 pets and continue to actively support ground operations.

The National Guard deployed over 3,650 Louisiana guard members operating under state authority that are performing numerous relief missions including evacuations, search and rescue, security and engineering missions in support of the flood response efforts.

The Corporation for National Community Service deployed 114 AmeriCorp members to support sheltering, disaster assessment, feeding, and other tasks in conjunction with the Red Cross.

The Federal Communications Commission continues to monitor communication outages and is working closely with affected carriers to ensure services are restore.

The Department of Justice deployed personnel to assist in evacuation, deconstruction, and debris removal operations in the affected areas.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency deployed specialist personnel to monitor and assess the impacts of the flooding rains in Louisiana and maintaining close communication with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.

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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 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.

Federal Partners Continue to Support Survivors in Louisiana

FEMA aid reaches $16.9 billion for New York’s Hurricane Sandy Recovery

NEW YORK – FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration have disbursed nearly $16.9 billion for New York’s recovery since Hurricane Sandy made landfall on the East Coast three years ago. This amount includes more than $1 billion paid directly to survivors for housing and other essential needs through the Individuals and Households Program which ended April 30, 2014.

“As we continue to work with our state, local and tribal partners, as well as other federal agencies, our focus is to build back safer and stronger than before,” said New York Sandy Recovery Office Director John Covell.

FEMA leverages its resilience efforts through its Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation programs. FEMA’s Public Assistance Program has obligated nearly $9.8 billion in grants to state and local governments and eligible nonprofit organizations to cover the costs of emergency response, debris removal and the repair, restoration, replacement and mitigation of damaged public facilities. Of this amount, a total of $3 billion has been dedicated for mitigation measures. Under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, approximately $512 million has been provided.

Covell stressed that 39 cents of every Public Assistance dollar spent in New York funded mitigation measures. In previous disasters, from 1998 until Hurricane Sandy, the average amount was 5 cents. This over 700 percent increase is meeting FEMA’s commitment to rebuild New York’s infrastructure in ways that will make it more resilient and better able to withstand storms.

A majority of the 4,127 Public Assistance grants for facilities damaged by the storm include parks, beaches, marinas, water treatment plants, hospitals, schools, public housing and other public buildings. In New York, FEMA reimburses 90 percent of eligible costs. The state is responsible for covering the remaining 10 percent.

In addition to FEMA’s housing and infrastructure programs, the National Flood Insurance Program has paid nearly $4 billion in claims to flood insurance policyholders and the Small Business Administration has approved over 23,000 SBA disaster loan applicants totaling more than $1.57 billion.

From:

FEMA aid reaches $16.9 billion for New York’s Hurricane Sandy Recovery

FEMA Helps Mississippi Preserve Important Architectural Properties

BILOXI, Miss. — As part of an innovative agreement between federal, state, local and tribal officials, 29 historic properties lost during Katrina have been commemorated with cast aluminum markers.

“We thought it especially important to have sketches of the destroyed buildings on the markers,” said Kenneth P’Pool, deputy state historic preservation officer of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. “It gives people an appreciation of what was lost. Some of these illustrations are the last examples of architectural styles on the Coast.”

The wooden Church of the Redeemer was a prime example of the Carpenter Gothic style. The engraving of a bell tower in front of it depicts one from a newer church built in 1891. The bell tower was the only part of that structure to survive Hurricane Camille in 1969.

It is a challenge for communities to protect historic properties during and after a disaster. They need to protect the health and safety of citizens – for example, by removing large amounts of disaster debris in a timely manner – while preserving the integrity of a historic site.

The National Historic Preservation Act requires federal agencies to consider the effects their projects may have on historic properties. The agencies must review background information and consult with the State Historic Preservation Officer, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer and other knowledgeable sources. In many cases, further surveys and studies are needed to make a final determination on how or if to proceed. The review process can take several weeks—even months, which may not be in the interest of public safety.

To expedite removal of massive amounts of debris after Hurricane Katrina for public health and safety, FEMA entered into an agreement with several agencies to streamline the process. Partners included the Mississippi State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO); Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI); Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).

Using GPS data, FEMA’s Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation program surveyed historic districts, properties and archaeological sites in the lower Mississippi counties most affected by Katrina and created a database that will help emergency management officials in future disasters.

They also updated listings for the National Register of Historic Places, and found 58 archaeological sites that had not previously been identified.

“So much damage was done by Katrina that there was a great need to clean up the debris, but little time to enter into the proper consultation required by the National Historic Preservation Act,” said P’Pool.

“We now have a much better handle on the numbers, locations and types of historic properties and

where they’re distributed around the Gulf Coast. Having that knowledge provides us with an opportunity to make a much more rapid response in assessing damage to specific historic properties in the future.”

“It’s very rewarding to be part of an agreement that can be used as a model for other states,” said Cyril Baxter Mann, deputy environmental liaison officer for FEMA’s Historic Preservation program.

For its work after Katrina, FEMA received the Chairman’s Award for Federal Achievement from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, in coordination with SHPO and other partners, for its innovative effort in creating the digitized database of historic properties.

In addition, for the Katrina recovery, FEMA’s EHP program reviewed more than 17,000 recovery projects for potential environmental and historic preservation issues. It also reviewed more than 13,000 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program applications for placement of in-ground shelters.

For more information on this agreement and FEMA archaeological specialists at work: view this video.

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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.

From:

FEMA Helps Mississippi Preserve Important Architectural Properties

Flood Insurance is an Essential Ingredient for Protecting Your Family

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – In 2013, the National Weather Service issued 332 flash flood and flood watches/warnings for the state. The state also reported one tropical storm in the Gulf Coast. More severe weather came this spring with tornadoes and more than two feet of rain.

Between the Gulf Coast’s tropical storms and the numerous rivers and streams, the potential for flooding in Alabama is ever present, according to the National Weather Service Office in Birmingham.

“Flooding due to heavy rains is a serious threat to all residents of our state,” said Alabama Emergency Management Director Art Faulkner. “Many of the homes and businesses flooded in the recent historic rain events were not in a flood zone. For the best protection, a flood policy available through the National Flood Insurance Program is a wise investment. Flood insurance will not keep rising water out of your home or business, but it will protect the investment you have in them.”

Flood insurance is important regardless of your flood zone. In fact, people outside high-risk areas file more than 25 percent of flood claims nationwide. And according to the flood insurance program, from 2003 to 2012, the agency averaged $4 billion in claims per year nationwide.

In Alabama, only 57,000 of the estimated 1.8 million households have flood insurance. Yet, the state is highly susceptible to the ravages of flooding, according to FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer in charge of Alabama’s disaster recovery Joe M. Girot.

“Here are two important points people need to understand,” he said. “First, homeowner insurance policies do not cover flooding. Second, flood insurance policyholders can file a claim even if a storm doesn’t trigger a federal disaster declaration.

“Flood insurance is available to homeowners, business owners and renters in communities that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program and enforce their local flood damage prevention ordinances,” Girot said.

Homeowners in a floodplain (or Special Flood Hazard Area) must buy flood insurance if they have a mortgage from a federally regulated lender. An interactive guide to determine your flood risk is available online at FloodSmart.gov. The site also provides information on the NFIP.

Flood insurance, with an average premium running about $600 per year, can save homeowners thousands of dollars in repairs. Just three inches of floodwater in a home will require replacing drywall, baseboards, carpets, furniture and other necessary repairs that can cost an estimated $7,800, according to the National Flood Insurance Program.

The deeper the floodwater, the more it will cost – 18 inches of water means repairs to the electrical system and the heating and cooling system. It also means replacement of doors, appliances and cabinetry, adding another $26,000 to the bill.

Homeowners can insure their homes for up to $250,000 and contents for up to $100,000. Renters can cover their belongings for up to $100,000. Nonresidential property owners can insure a building and its contents for up to $500,000 each.

There is normally a 30-day waiting period when purchasing a new policy. Flood insurance is sold through private companies and agents and is backed by the federal government.

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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 temporary housing assistance and grants for childcare, medical, dental expenses and/or funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, those who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, transportation, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

For more information on Alabama’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or http://www.ema.alabama.gov/. For the joint Facebook page, go to www.facebook.com/AlabamaEMA. To receive Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/AlabamaEMA or www.twitter.com/femaregion4

Originally from:

Flood Insurance is an Essential Ingredient for Protecting Your Family

There’s More to NFIP than Just the Policy

DENVER – Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States. Recent years have seen more frequent severe weather events, like Hurricane Sandy, which ravaged the East Coast. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) manages the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that provides flood insurance policies that provide millions of Americans their first line of defense against flooding. But those flood insurance policies are only one component of the program and just part of the protection NFIP provides to individuals and the American public at large.

For anyone to be able to purchase an NFIP policy, the only requirement is that they live in a participating community. A participating community can be a town or city or a larger jurisdiction like a township or county that includes unincorporated areas. It is up to the community to opt into the NFIP program for the benefit of its citizens. When joining the program, the community agrees to assess flood risks and to establish floodplain management ordinances. In return for taking these actions, residents are able to purchase federally backed flood insurance policies.

One of the cornerstones of the NFIP is the flood mapping program. FEMA works with states and local communities to conduct studies on flood risks and develop maps that show the level of risk for that area, called a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). The FIRM provides useful information that can assist in communities in planning development. The area that has the highest risk of flooding is the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), commonly called the floodplain. The SFHA has a one percent chance of being flooded in any given year. Because of the greater risk, premiums for flood insurance policies for properties in the SFHA are greater than for those for properties outside of it.

Equally important to knowing the risks of flooding is having a game plan to address those risks. This is role of floodplain management. Local communities must comply with minimum national standards established by FEMA, but are free to develop stricter codes and ordinances should they choose to do so. Key elements of floodplain management include building codes for construction in the floodplain and limitations on development in high risk areas. Floodplain management is an ongoing process, with communities continually reassessing their needs as new data becomes available and the flood risk for areas may change.

The NFIP brings all levels of government together with insurers and private citizens to protect against the threat of flooding. Federally sponsored flood maps and locally developed floodplain regulations give property owners the picture of their risk and ensure building practices are in place to minimize that risk. As a property owner, purchasing a flood insurance policy is a measure you can take to further protect yourself. To find out more about your individual risk contact your local floodplain administrator. For more information on flood insurance policies or to find an agent, visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-800-427-2419.

Original article:

There’s More to NFIP than Just the Policy

A Year After Hurricane Sandy: New Jersey Recovery By The Numbers

Sandy facts

October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy strikes with a storm surge weather experts had never seen before
37,000 primary residences destroyed or damaged
8.7 million cubic yards of debris left behind
2.7 million New Jerseyans without power

The first 48 hours

548 FEMA specialists on the ground in New Jersey
Three mobile disaster recovery centers open
3 States responded with Emergency Medical Services – 385 people
8 Disaster Medical Assistance Teams and U.S. Public Health Strike Teams arrive
October 31, 2012, the first FEMA Individuals and Household Program disbursement of $155,027

Response milestones at one year

More than $5.67 billion in total federal assistance approved for Individual Assistance grants, SBA low-interest disaster loans, National Flood Insurance Program payments and Public Assistance grants.

Individual Assistance

More than $413 million approved for individuals and households including:
- Nearly $356 million for housing assistance
- More than $56.6 million for other needs, including clothing, household items, disaster-related damage to a vehicle, and disaster-related medical and dental expenses
More than 261, 000 people contacted FEMA for help or information
127,046 housing inspections completed
36 disaster recovery centers opened
90,000 visits to disaster recovery centers
5,546 individuals and families housed temporarily in hotel rooms under the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program
3,410 survivors received disaster unemployment assistance

U.S. Small Business Administration

More than $819.8 million in SBA low-interest disaster loans approved for homeowners, renters and businesses

National Flood Insurance Program

More than $3.5 billion paid on all claims in flood insurance payments made to policyholders

Public Assistance

More than $926 million was approved in FEMA Public Assistance grants to communities and some nonprofit organizations that serve the public
4,959 projects approved so far

A whole community response

507 voluntary agencies were involved in recovery
More than 1.6 million meals and 1.4 million liters of water were distributed
21 languages were used to communicate assistance information to survivors
More than 1 million multilingual fliers were distributed
Nearly 8.7 million cubic yards of debris was removed
At peak, more than 2,429 people were deployed to New Jersey by FEMA and other federal agencies
36 federal agencies assisted FEMA during Hurricane Sandy in New York
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers received 335 requests for generators – 106 installed at peak
Approximately 300,000 pounds of food was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Defense Logistics Agency delivered 2.3 million gallons of fuel to distribution points in New York and New Jersey
The Port of New Jersey was closed to incoming and outgoing vessel traffic because of Superstorm Sandy, according the U.S. Coast Guard

This article is from:

A Year After Hurricane Sandy: New Jersey Recovery By The Numbers

FEMA Urges Residents to Continue Monitoring Conditions as Tropical Storm Approaches Gulf Coast

Heavy Rains and Flooding Possible in Some Areas

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through its national response coordination center in Washington, D.C. and its regional offices in Atlanta, Ga., and Denton, Texas remains in close coordination with states potentially affected by Tropical Storm Karen. According to the National Weather Service, tropical storm conditions are expected along areas of the Gulf Coast as early as this afternoon and into Sunday.

“Residents along the Gulf Coast are encouraged to continue to monitor local conditions and follow the direction of local officials,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “As the storm continues to move toward land, residents may begin to experience strong winds and flooding. Remember that conditions can change with little or no notice.”

Based on applicable legal requirements and consistent with its contingency plan, FEMA has recalled currently furloughed employees necessary to serve functions of the agency that protect life and property as they prepare for potential landfall of Tropical Storm Karen.

FEMA has recalled staff necessary to deploy four incident management assistance teams (IMAT), including a national incident management assistance team (IMAT), to potentially affected states. Each IMAT is supported by its defense coordinating element staffed by the Department of Defense. Liaison officers are currently positioned in emergency operations centers in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi to assist with the coordination of planning and response operations. Additional teams are on standby and available for deployment as needed and requested.

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate spoke with Alabama Governor Robert Bentley, Florida Governor Rick Scott, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, and Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant this week about ongoing efforts to prepare for Tropical Storm Karen. Fugate reiterated that Gulf Coast states have the full support of FEMA and the rest of the federal family in advance of the storm making landfall. Fugate’s calls were preceded by outreach from FEMA’s Regional Administrators to emergency management officials in potentially impacted states.

According to the National Weather Service, a tropical storm warning remains in effect from Morgan City, La. to the mouth of the Pearl River. A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours. Also, a tropical storm watch remains in effect for metropolitan New Orleans, Lake Maurepas, Lake Pontchartrain and from east of the mouth of the Pearl River to Indian Pass, Fla. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible, generally within 48 hours.

Severe Weather Safety and Preparedness Tips for Potentially-affected Gulf Coast areas:

Have important supplies ready to sustain you and your family, if needed. This includes water, a battery-powered radio, flashlight, extra batteries, cell phone charger, medicines, non-perishable food, and first aid supplies.
History shows that storm tracks can change quickly and unexpectedly, so FEMA encourages coastal residents to monitor weather conditions and take steps now to get prepared for potential severe tropical weather.
Tropical storms can bring high winds and heavy rains, so listen to local officials and follow their instructions.

FEMA, through its regional offices in Chicago, Ill and Kansas City, Mo., also is monitoring the storms affecting and potentially affecting areas of the Central U.S., including portions of Iowa and Nebraska, and has been in touch with state and local officials. FEMA deployed a liaison to the emergency operations center in Nebraska and activated an incident management assistance team (IMAT), positioning the team for immediate deployment should assistance be requested by the states affected. FEMA continues to stand ready to support the states, as requested.

For more information on preparing for hurricanes, severe weather and other natural disasters, and what you can do to protect yourself and your family, visit www.Ready.gov or www.listo.gov. Information regarding emergency preparedness and what to do before and after a disaster can also be found at m.fema.gov or by downloading the FEMA app from your smartphone’s app store.

Follow FEMA online at 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.

Original article –

FEMA Urges Residents to Continue Monitoring Conditions as Tropical Storm Approaches Gulf Coast

Readout of FEMA Administrator Fugate’s Calls to Gulf Coast State Governors on Tropical Storm Karen Preparations

WASHINGTON – Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate today completed calls with Alabama Governor Robert Bentley, Florida Governor Rick Scott, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, and Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant about ongoing efforts to prepare for Tropical Storm Karen.

Fugate reiterated that Gulf Coast states have the full support of FEMA and the rest of the federal family in advance of the storm making landfall. The governors did not express any unmet needs at this time. Fugate’s calls were preceded by outreach from FEMA’s Regional Administrators to emergency management officials in potentially impacted states.

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 are provided for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

Link:

Readout of FEMA Administrator Fugate’s Calls to Gulf Coast State Governors on Tropical Storm Karen Preparations

FEMA Urges East Coast Residents to Be Prepared for Localized Flooding and Listen to Local Officials

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through its regional offices in Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston, continues to closely monitor Tropical Storm Andrea and the potential for flooding in coastal and inland areas along the path of the storm.

As Tropical Storm Andrea continues to churn over the East Coast, FEMA urges citizens to closely monitor the storm and take steps to be as prepared as possible, in advance of severe weather, and most importantly follow the directions of state, local and tribal officials. This storm is projected to bring significant rainfall and the risk for flash flooding in many areas. If you encounter flood waters, remember – turn around, don’t drown.

FEMA remains in close contact with emergency managers in affected and potentially affected areas along the East Coast to ensure they have the resources they need for Andrea and for the 2013 hurricane season. FEMA’s National Watch Center in Washington, D.C. remains at an enhanced watch. An incident management assistance team (IMAT) and liaison are en route to the Virginia emergency operations center to assist in coordination efforts, and at the request of the state of Florida the IMAT and liaison deployed earlier in the week to Florida to support coordination are standing down.

“As the storm continues northeastward along the East Coast, we urge those in potentially affected areas to continue to monitor storm conditions and follow the instructions of state, tribal and local officials,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “Stay away from flood waters; never drive through flooded roadways.”

Driving through a flooded area can be extremely hazardous and almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. When in your car, look out for flooding in low lying areas, at bridges, and at highway dips. The depth of water is not always obvious. As little as six inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Road beds may be washed out under flood waters. Never cross any barriers that are put in place by local emergency officials.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service, as of 11 a.m., Tropical Storm Andrea is located 50 miles southwest of Fayetteville, North Carolina with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. The center of Andrea made landfall on the coast of the Big Bend area last evening, and will continue to move along the East Coast through Saturday. As much as 6 inches of rain will be expected in some areas.

Tropical storm warnings remain in effect from north of the South Santee River, South Carolina to Cape Charles Light, Virginia, including Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds, North Carolina, and for the lower Chesapeake Bay south of New Point Comfort, Virginia. A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours. Tornados are possible over eastern portions of North Carolina and Virginia today.

Although there have been no requests for federal Stafford Act assistance, FEMA continues to stand ready to assist states and tribes, as needed and requested.

As the first named storm of the 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season, Tropical Storm Andrea should serve as another reminder that if you live in a flood-prone or coastal state, now is the time to be prepared, including determining if you live in an evacuation zone.

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are now being sent directly to many cell phones on participating wireless carriers’ networks. WEAs sent by public safety officials such as the National Weather Service are designed to get your attention and to provide brief, critical instructions to warn about imminent threats like severe weather. Take the alert seriously and follow instructions. Tune to local media for emergency details in your town. More information is available on WEA at www.fema.gov/wireless-emergency-alerts.

As always, residents should listen to the instructions of state, tribal and local officials, and evacuate if told to do so. For more information on tropical storms and severe weather, and what you can do to protect yourself and your family, visit www.Ready.gov.

Information can also be found on your smartphone at m.fema.gov.

FEMA Urges East Coast Residents to Be Prepared for Localized Flooding and Listen to Local Officials

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