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FEMA Housing Inspections Underway – What to Expect

SAIPAN, CNMI – FEMA housing inspectors have begun assessing damaged homes of applicants who registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for damage sustained in Typhoon Soudelor. The inspections began late on Wednesday, and applicants across Saipan will continue to be receiving inspection appointment calls in the coming days and weeks.

Registered survivors will be contacted by a FEMA inspector to schedule an appointment for an inspection, so registrants do not need to contact FEMA to set up an inspection. The inspection is needed to verify and assess damages listed in your application. The inspection generally takes 30-40 minutes or less and consists of a general inspection of damaged areas of the home and a review of your records. There is no fee for the inspection.

When a FEMA housing inspector comes to visit your home, be sure they show you proper identification. All FEMA inspectors have prominent photo ID badges. If you are not shown photo identification, then do not allow the inspection. Unfortunately, disasters often bring out criminals who prey on the needs of disaster survivors – so beware of scams and scam artists.

“If you suspect someone is posing as a FEMA inspector, call our toll-free Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or call your local law enforcement officials,” said Steve DeBlasio, FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer for the response.

When a FEMA Housing Inspector visits your home, someone 18 years of age or older who lived in the household prior to the disaster must be present for the scheduled appointment. The inspector will ask to see:

Photo identification.
Proof of ownership/occupancy of damaged residence (structural insurance, tax bill, mortgage payment book/utility bill).
Insurance documents: home and/or auto (structural insurance/auto declaration sheet).
List of household occupants living in residence at time of disaster.
All disaster-related damages to both real and personal property.

If you are unable to provide traditional proof of ownership/occupancy (such as tax bill, mortgage payment books, deed, title, insurance), you can get a signed letter by a local precinct representative to validate the physical location of a home/dwelling (a P.O. Box address is not sufficient). Letters can be picked up at:

Fire Stations
- Kagman
- Garapan
- Susupe
- San Roque
- Koblerville

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING A FEMA HOUSING INSPECTION – Page 2

The Disaster Recovery Center located at the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe
Shelters located at:
- Kagman Community Center
- Tanapag Headstart
- Saipan Aging Center

Once filled out, please take the form to your local fire station. They will provide you with a contact number to reach your local precinct representative to validate.

If you have been displaced and need transportation to and from the housing inspection, you can contact the Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority at 670-237-8000 to schedule transportation.

Once the inspection process is complete, your case will be reviewed by FEMA and you will receive a letter or email outlining the decision about your claim.

Those who have suffered losses as a result of Typhoon Soudelor but have not yet applied for assistance are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. Survivors can register by phone at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for survivors with hearing disabilities. Online registration is also available 24/7 at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

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.

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call (800) 877-8339.

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FEMA Housing Inspections Underway – What to Expect

Federal Aid Programs for Commonwealth of Kentucky Declaration

Main Content

Release date:

August 12, 2015

Release Number:

HQ-15-060-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 Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:

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

How to Apply for Assistance:

Affected individuals and business owners in designated areas can begin the disaster application process by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov. Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.

Assistance for the Commonwealth and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:
Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for emergency protective measures, taken to save lives and protect property and public health. Emergency protective measures assistance is available to eligible commonwealth and 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 commonwealth 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 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:

August 12, 2015 – 15:18

State/Tribal Government or Region:

Kentucky

Related Disaster:

Kentucky Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

Original article –

Federal Aid Programs for Commonwealth of Kentucky Declaration

Federal Aid Programs for Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands Declaration

Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:

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

How to Apply for Assistance:

Affected individuals and business owners in designated areas can begin the disaster application process by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov. Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.

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

Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for emergency protective measures, taken to save lives and protect property and public health. Emergency protective measures assistance is available to eligible commonwealth and 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 commonwealth, 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 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.

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.

See original article here:

Federal Aid Programs for Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands Declaration

Disaster Recovery Center To Open In Bourbon County

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A disaster recovery center operated by the commonwealth of Kentucky and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will open at noon Friday, May 15, in Bourbon County.

The center will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (EDT) Saturday through Friday, May 22. The Bourbon center is located at 525 High St. (Paris Municipal Service Building) in Paris.

Specialists from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be on hand to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors.

Survivors who suffered losses in Bath, Bourbon, Carter, Elliott, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Madison, Rowan and Scott counties can receive person-to-person assistance from specialists skilled in many disaster-related subjects.

Specialists can help with registration, check an individual’s case, answer questions about an application or review information needed to process an application.

Survivors who sustained losses from the severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides April 2 through April 17, 2015, should register for assistance before visiting a center.

Survivors can register by using the following methods:

· Online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

By calling 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585, Video Relay Service 800-621-3362).
By smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time seven days a week until further notice.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and essential home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

To learn more about what preventive measures to take before, during and after an emergency, visit www.ready.gov.

Source:

Disaster Recovery Center To Open In Bourbon County

Federal Aid Programs for the Commonwealth of Kentucky Declaration

Main Content

Release date:

April 30, 2015

Release Number:

HQ-15-021-FactSheet

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

Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for emergency protective measures 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 less than 75 percent for snow assistance, for a specific period of time during or proximate to the incident period. Snow Assistance may include snow removal, de-icing, salting, snow dumps, and sanding of roads. (Source: FEMA funded, commonwealth administered.)
Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, commonwealth administered.)

How to Apply for Assistance:

Application procedures for 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.

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

Last Updated:

April 30, 2015 – 20:53

State/Tribal Government or Region:

Kentucky

Related Disaster:

Kentucky Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

Visit site:

Federal Aid Programs for the Commonwealth of Kentucky Declaration

President Declares Disaster for Kentucky

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the Commonwealth of Kentucky to supplement commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides during the period of August 18-23, 2014.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to commonwealth and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides in Floyd, Johnson, Knott and Pike counties.

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

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

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.

Excerpt from:

President Declares Disaster for Kentucky

FEMA to Evaluate Readiness of Pennsylvania and Maryland

PHILADELPHIA – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will evaluate a Biennial Emergency Preparedness Exercise at the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station. The exercise will occur during the week of April 7^th to assess the ability of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of Maryland to respond to an emergency at the nuclear facility.

“These drills are held every other year to evaluate government’s ability to protect public health and safety,” said MaryAnn Tierney, Regional Administrator for FEMA Region III. “We will assess state and local emergency response capabilities within the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone as well as the adjacent support jurisdictions.”

Within 90 days, FEMA will send its evaluation to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for use in licensing decisions. The final report will be available to the public approximately 120 days after the exercise.

FEMA will present preliminary findings of the exercise in a public meeting at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 11th, 2014 at the Homewood Suites, 200 Granit Run Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601. Scheduled speakers include representatives from FEMA, NRC, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

At the public meeting, FEMA may request that questions or comments be submitted in writing for review and response. Written comments may also be submitted after the meeting by emailing FEMAR3NewsDesk@fema.dhs.gov or by mail to:

MaryAnn Tierney

Regional Administrator

FEMA Region III

615 Chestnut Street, 6th Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19106

FEMA created the Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program to (1) ensure the health and safety of citizens living around commercial nuclear power plants would be adequately protected in the event of a nuclear power plant accident and (2) inform and educate the public about radiological emergency preparedness.

REP Program responsibilities cover only “offsite” activities, that is, state and local government emergency planning and preparedness activities that take place beyond the nuclear power plant boundaries. Onsite activities continue to be the responsibility of the NRC.

Additional information on FEMA’s REP Program is available online at FEMA.gov/Radiological-Emergency-Preparedness-Program.

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. FEMA Region III’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at fema.gov/medialibrary and youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion3.

Media Contact: FEMAR3NewsDesk@fema.dhs.gov or 215-931-5597

See the original article here:

FEMA to Evaluate Readiness of Pennsylvania and Maryland

Penn Township Lowers Flood Insurance Premiums

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Residents of Penn Township in Snyder County, Pennsylvania have received a reduction in their flood insurance premiums through increase of various floodplain management measures encouraged by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) oversees the NFIP, which administers a program called the Community Rating System (CRS). The CRS is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed minimum NFIP requirements. The program includes 10 different class rating levels based on the number and type of activities voluntarily initiated by the participating community. Each level corresponds to a percentage discount on National Flood Insurance policy premiums within the municipality.

As a member of the Community Rating System, Penn Township is within an elite group of 24 Pennsylvania municipalities that have received this recognition. With the continued steps taken by Penn Township to protect its citizens and increase its resiliency, it has moved from a Class 8 to a Class 7 Community Rating System community. The Township is one of only four communities in the Commonwealth that have achieved this rating. The Class 7 rating qualifies National Flood Insurance Program policy holders in the Township an average of $103 savings on their annual premium. In total, the upgrade in class rating level accounts for a total savings of over $4,000 annually for citizens of Penn Township.

Under the CRS, local officials are asked to meet three goals: (1) reduce flood losses; (2) facilitate accurate insurance rating; and (3) promote the awareness of flood insurance. Communities can earn a CRS rating by submitting an application explaining the projects they have in place or development. Once the information is verified and approved, FEMA provides flood insurance premium discounts through the NFIP. The amount of a property owner’s policy discount is based on the community’s CRS rating.

For each Class that a community moves up to, it provides its residents with an additional 5% reduction in their flood insurance premiums up to the 45% reduction that a Class 1 community receives. As a Class 7 community, Penn Township enables its residents to receive a 15% reduction on their flood insurance premiums.

For information about flood insurance, property owners should contact their insurance agent, visit floodsmart.gov, or call the NFIP’s toll-free information line at 800-427-4661. To learn more about the CRS, visit floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/crs/community_rating_system.jsp.

From:

Penn Township Lowers Flood Insurance Premiums

Federal Dollars At Work: Fema Is Helping To Restore New Jersey

LINCROFT, N.J. — When Superstorm Sandy barreled through New Jersey last October, she left behind the kind of wreckage often dreamed up by Hollywood for big-screen disaster films.

The largest tropical storm ever to form in the mid-Atlantic basin tore up utility lines, flooded sewage treatment facilities, disrupted transportation links, downed trees, washed out roads and bridges and pushed hundreds of shorefront homes into the ocean.

Wide swaths of the state were without power for weeks. Traffic signals were down. Phone lines were out. Train, bus and ferry services were out of commission.

Recovery efforts began immediately, and nine months later, the work of rebuilding and restoring is still under way.

In dozens of New Jersey communities, dredges, cranes, utility trucks and construction crews are now familiar parts of the landscape.

And as the recovery progresses, the costs mount.

A disaster of this magnitude could potentially bankrupt the budgets of many of New Jersey’s 565 municipalities and result in unprecedented tax increases for property owners.

But thanks to the support of the state and federal government, New Jersey taxpayers don’t have to bear the enormous costs of this catastrophe alone.

As authorized under the Stafford Act, when a major disaster such as Superstorm Sandy occurs anywhere in the United States, the governor of an impacted state may determine that the nature and extent of the emergency exceeds the state’s ability to respond effectively and ask the president to declare a disaster.

A governor’s request is relayed to the president through the regional office of the Federal Emergency Management Agency after the governor has established that the state has taken appropriate action under state law and has executed its emergency plan.

The provisions of the Stafford Act also apply to the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and tribal nations.

Once a governor makes a request for federal assistance, state and federal officials conduct a Preliminary Damage Assessment to estimate the extent of the disaster and its impact on individuals and public facilities.

Once made, that declaration authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, to mobilize its resources to assist the state in recovery.

FEMA assistance is tailored to the character of the disaster. Assistance may include outreach to individuals and families through FEMA’s Housing and Other Needs program, and Public Assistance, which provides supplemental Federal disaster grants for distribution by the state to eligible applicants such as local governments and certain private nonprofits.

These grants can be applied to the cost of disaster-related debris removal, emergency protective measures, repair, replacement, or restoration of publicly-owned facilities as well as those of eligible nonprofits such as medical, educational, utility, emergency and custodial care agencies.

The Public Assistance Program also provides grant assistance to eligible applicants for hazard mitigation measures designed to reduce the risk of damage in a future disaster.

The Federal share of assistance is not less than 75 percent of the eligible cost for emergency measures and permanent restoration. When the cost of disaster recovery exceeds a certain amount, as it has in New Jersey following Superstorm Sandy, the federal government may increase the federal cost-share to 90 percent.

FEMA awards its grants to the state of New Jersey, which distributes federal eligible funding to the applicants. FEMA provides 90 percent of the cost of eligible projects. The remaining 10 percent of eligible costs is borne by state and local government.

To date, nearly $800 million in federal grants has been disbursed by FEMA’s Public Assistance division to pay for the cost of emergency response, debris removal, dredging, replenishment of engineered beaches eroded by Sandy, reconstruction of public boardwalks and streets, restoration of sewage treatment facilities and rebuilding of taxpayer-supported infrastructure.

Among the projects presently under way is the replacement of the Belmar boardwalk, which is funded by a $9.2 million FEMA grant, $26.1 million to the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission for the repair of one of the largest wastewater treatment facilities in the nation, $17.3 million for the reconstruction of the Atlantic Highlands Marina and $2.2 million for costs involved in the restoration of sand and dune grass on Strathmere Beach in Upper Township.

So while the name “FEMA” doesn’t appear on construction vehicles or worksites, FEMA dollars are hard at work in New Jersey, supporting the state in their mission to rebuild and restore the quality of life that makes New Jersey and the Jersey Shore the place that more than 8.8 million people choose to call home.

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 here:

Federal Dollars At Work: Fema Is Helping To Restore New Jersey

Community Leaders Collaborate in Sayre to Discuss Best Practices and Challenges of Long-Term Recovery from Irene and Lee

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Community leaders from areas hit hard by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee met in Sayre on Saturday, April 27, 2013 to discuss best practices, challenges and objectives for moving forward as their towns continue to rebuild. The collaboration is an initiative to keep local organizations strong and growing in the direction of continued recovery.

The four-hour-long meeting was hosted by Futurescapes. The Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that grew out of the Rebuild Athens Steering Committee, which was established to develop a long-term community recovery plan after Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011. Futurescapes was formed in 2012.

“As our long-term recovery group moves beyond the first year of operation, we are seeking a partnership with other volunteers in communities rebuilding after the 2011 flooding. On Saturday, we gained insights on some specific challenges that communities are facing. By sharing our combined experiences, we hope participants came away from the conference with renewed energy and armed with specific information and resources to help them move forward in their recovery process,” said Linda Spagnoli, a Futurescapes board member.

Spagnoli joined 19 other volunteers, as well as county and Commonwealth emergency managers in the roundtable-style discussion. The conversation was moderated by Community Recovery Specialist SheaBrianna Christilaw with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“While all of you were impacted at the same time by the same storm, your roads to recovery have been very different,” Christilaw said. “Some of you are in the process of completing long-term recovery plans, while others published plans as long as one year ago.”

Many of the groups are in the process of securing tax exemption status from the Internal Revenue Service, a designation that will substantially augment their ability to secure further recovery funding.

“We are working to acquire tax exempt status,” said Shickshinny Forward President Brian Phillips.

From new biking and hiking trails that will help areas regain their recreational resources to websites that will boost communication channels, each community is striving to accomplish projects. In many cases, funding will be required. The group highlighted the need for building and developing strong local partnerships.

In West Pittston, volunteers are helping with the development of a website for West Pittston Tomorrow, a nonprofit group that residents established to help rebuild.

“Right now, we are in the process of deciding how to format information and what information should be included,” said West Pittston Tomorrow President Judy Aita.

Organizations from both sides of the New York and Pennsylvania state borders are among the communities participating in the collaboration, which includes participants from Athens, Shickshinny and West Pittston in Pennsylvania and Nichols, Owego and Tioga in New York.

The following organizations were also represented at the meeting: Ashburn Advisors, the Bradford County Emergency Management Agency, the New York Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, and the Tioga (N.Y.) County Emergency Management Agency and the Tioga (N.Y.) County Planning Department.

“These communities are working together to share their successes, build a network of peers, and brainstorm solutions to common challenges,” Christilaw said.

Futurescapes is currently analyzing feedback to strategize the next steps that should be taken to continue the collaborative approach. Ideas about locations and times of the next in-person meeting with community leaders will be planned based on information captured in survey results.

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. FEMA Region III’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion3.

Excerpt from –

Community Leaders Collaborate in Sayre to Discuss Best Practices and Challenges of Long-Term Recovery from Irene and Lee

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