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FEMA Approves $1.62 Million for Mitigation Project in Culebra

San Juan, PR – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved $1.62 million to the Puerto Rico Ports Authority for the rehabilitation of the Terminal Cargo Ramp in Culebra. The funds were made available under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to enhance the resilience of the sole cargo ramp in the Island Municipality, which provides normal daily services, as well as during emergency situations.

“For years, when hurricanes and tropical storm events affected Culebra, the residents and visitors of the municipality remained isolated for days. This project assures the continuity of port services, for which most residents depend on for their daily routine. The services will continue without major interruptions during and after disaster events,” said FEMA’s Caribbean Area Division Director Alejandro De La Campa. “More than 1,800 Culebra residents will benefit from this mitigation measure, as well as thousands of tourists that visit the Island on a yearly basis.”

Past hurricanes and continuous wave action have deteriorated the concrete cargo platform at Bahía de Sardinas, in Culebra’s Dewey Ward. If the platform is left unattended, it may collapse eventually. Also, seawaters surrounding Culebra (up to three nautical miles) and its neighboring islands and cays are designated critical habitat for the green sea turtle. These elements were taken into consideration while choosing the structural mitigation measure to apply: improving the structure with the lowest impact on the adjacent ocean environment.

A project of this nature involves the structural evaluation of the terminal cargo ramp, its designing phase and the construction phase of the structure. The rehabilitation activities includes the partial demolition of the existing concrete platform, removal of the concrete debris outside the platform area, construction of a new concrete platform with new reinforcing steel, and concrete deposit with corrosion inhibitor additives. The total project cost is $2.16 million, with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico providing $542,269, which represents the 25% State share.

FEMA’s HMGP provides grants to States and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration, to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster.

State officials interested in heading up such projects to mitigate public facilities may learn more about the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program by going online to FEMA’s Federal Insurance and Mitigation Division section on the Federal Emergency Management website at http://www.fema.gov/fima/mitgrant.shtm.

FEMA News Desk: (787) 296-3554, (787) 296-3560

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FEMA Approves $1.62 Million for Mitigation Project in Culebra

More than $3.5 Million Awarded to Kentucky to Reduce Future Flood Damage: FEMA Grants will Fund Projects in Kenton and Jefferson Counties

ATLANTA – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved two grants which will help communities in Kentucky take steps to reduce future flood damage.

The first grant of more than $1.6 million will be used to remove 24 residential properties from flood-prone areas along the Banklick Creek in Kenton County, Ky. The properties are located in high-risk areas of flooding, causing them to be vulnerable to dangerous and costly flood damage. After the properties are acquired, they will be demolished and the land will be returned to a natural state to function as a floodplain for Banklick Creek. The land will have a conservation easement and will be transferred to Kenton County. The total project cost is nearly $2.2 million, which includes the federal share and the remainder will come from non-federal sources.

The second grant of more than $1.8 million will be used to eliminate existing flooding and loss of service to Jewish Hospital and St. Mary’s Healthcare System (JHSMH) in Jefferson County, Ky. The project includes elevating portions of the parking lot so that it will no longer be flood-prone and to make channel improvements adjacent to the hospital. The total project cost is nearly $2.5 million, which includes the federal share and the remainder will come from non-federal sources.

The grants are awarded through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), which provides funding to communities to implement long-term mitigation measures to reduce loss of life and property as a result of natural disasters. FEMA will obligate funding for these projects directly to the Commonwealth for it to manage and disburse to the communities.

“This funding reflects all levels of emergency management working together so that people and structures are better protected from dangerous and costly flood damage.” said FEMA Southeast Regional Administrator Phil May.

HMGP funds are made available following a major disaster declaration, such as the one for Kentucky after the August 2009 severe storms and flooding. The HMGP is authorized under Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

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More than $3.5 Million Awarded to Kentucky to Reduce Future Flood Damage: FEMA Grants will Fund Projects in Kenton and Jefferson Counties

FEMA OKs Nearly $3 Million to Rebuild Irene-Destroyed SEPTA Embankment

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Nearly $3 million in federal funding has been approved for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) to reconstruct a critical stretch of rail line in Delaware County, according to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today.

The funds covered reconstruction that was completed on a 40-foot-tall embankment that supported the Norristown High Speed Line between Roberts and Conestoga roads in Radnor Township. The 150-foot-long stretch of SEPTA train track was destroyed by heavy rains, including Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee floodwaters, during the period from Sept. 3 through Oct. 15.

So much soil was washed away that the slope of land shifted out and down approximately 16 inches. Additionally, the shift caused the inbound set of tracks to drop approximately 12 inches.

A technique known as “soil nailing” was utilized to rebuild the slope. Soil nailing is a construction technique in which metal anchors, called “soil nails,” are either driven or drilled into rock or stable material to secure an unstable area. Grout is then pumped into and around the nails to permanently hold them. After the grout cures, a metal mesh fabric is affixed to the heads of the nails.

Because the collapse of the embankment was a direct result of Hurricane Irene, the project to replace it qualifies for Public Assistance in Category G, which covers permanent repair or replacement of eligible damaged rail facilities. For a detailed description of Public Assistance categories see http://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-eligible-work.

FEMA has obligated $2,943,479 for the embankment to be restored to its pre-disaster condition.

This amount comprises the 75 percent federal cost-share of the reconstruction project, which is estimated to cost a total of $3,924,639. The remaining 25 percent non-federal share will be paid by the Commonwealth.

FEMA manages the Public Assistance program, approves grants and provides technical assistance to the Commonwealth and applicants. The Commonwealth educates potential applicants, works with FEMA to manage the program and is responsible for implementing and monitoring the grants awarded under the program. Local officials are responsible for identifying damage, providing information necessary for FEMA to approve grants and managing each project funded under the program.

For a list of frequently asked questions about the federal Public Assistance process see http://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-frequently-asked-questions.

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.

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FEMA OKs Nearly $3 Million to Rebuild Irene-Destroyed SEPTA Embankment

Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Briefing Set for Wyoming County

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A Hurricane Sandy Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation briefing is scheduled for Wyoming County, according to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Date, time and location of the briefing is as follows:

DATE:

Tuesday, Feb. 5

TIME:

10 a.m.

LOCATION:

Wyoming County Emergency Operations Center

3880 State Route 6 East

Tunkhannock, PA 18657

At the briefing, officials from state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations will receive information about applying for federal assistance to recover from Hurricane Sandy during the period from October 26 to November 8, 2012.

For more information about the Public Assistance process, including a list of frequently asked questions, see http://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-frequently-asked-questions.

Federal funding is also available through the Public Assistance program on a cost-sharing basis for Hazard Mitigation measures in all counties of the Commonwealth.

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Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Briefing Set for Wyoming County

Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Briefing for Northampton County Rescheduled for February 6

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Public Assistance (PA) and Hazard Mitigation briefing for Northampton County has been rescheduled, according to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The briefing that was scheduled to be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 28 will now be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6.

DATE:

Wednesday, Feb. 6

TIME:

1 p.m.

LOCATION:

Northampton County Emergency Management Services

100 Gracedale Ave.

Nazareth, PA 18604

At the briefing, officials from Commonwealth and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations will receive information about applying for federal assistance to recover from Hurricane Sandy during the period from October 26 to November 8, 2012.

For specifics about the Public Assistance process, including a list of frequently asked questions, see http://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-frequently-asked-questions.

Federal funding is also available through the Public Assistance program on a cost-sharing basis for Hazard Mitigation measures in all counties of the Commonwealth.

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Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Briefing for Northampton County Rescheduled for February 6

Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Briefings for Franklin County

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Public Assistance briefings have been scheduled for Franklin County, according to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The briefings will be held at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 29 in Chambersburg.

Franklin County Department of Emergency Services

390 New York Ave.

Chambersburg, PA 17201

At the briefings, officials from state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations from these counties will receive information about applying for federal assistance to recover from Hurricane Sandy during the period from October 26 to November 8, 2012.

Federal funding is also available through the Public Assistance program on a cost-sharing basis for Hazard Mitigation measures in all counties of the Commonwealth.

Continued –

Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Briefings for Franklin County

Hurricane Sandy Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation for Cameron County

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Hurricane Sandy Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation briefings for designated counties in Pennsylvania began this week, according to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

A briefing for Cameron County officials will be held on Friday, Jan. 25 in Emporium.

DATE:

Friday, Jan. 25

TIME:

10 a.m.

LOCATION:

Cameron County Courthouse

20 E. Fifth St.

Emporium, PA 15834

All seven categories of Public Assistance (A-G) are now available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for eligible expenditures. Projects may include emergency work, debris removal and repair or replacement of damaged roads, bridges and other elements of the infrastructure. Public Assistance funding also covers partial or complete repair of schools and other critical functions such as public water tanks or sewer systems. Projects will be approved only if they are necessary as a direct result of Hurricane Sandy during the time period from Oct. 26 to Nov. 8, 2012.

In cases where small improvements may reduce the risk of future disaster damage, FEMA may pay for cost-effective mitigation measures. For example, FEMA may cover the cost of such projects as increasing the size of a culvert if the increase could prevent future flooding. Otherwise, FEMA generally pays only to bring facilities back to pre-disaster condition.

Category A: Debris Removal

Removal of obtrusive items on public property, including trees, woody debris, sand, mud, silt, gravel, building components, wreckage, vehicles and personal property to eliminate an immediate threat to lives, public health and safety. An example of an eligible project is the removal of debris from a street or highway to allow the safe passage of emergency vehicles. An example of an ineligible project is the pre-disaster sediment from engineered channels.

Category B: Emergency Protective Measures

Emergency Protective Measures are actions taken by applicants before, during and after a disaster to save lives, protect public health and safety, and prevent damage to improved public and private property. Emergency communications, emergency access and emergency public transportation costs may also be eligible. These can include such projects as search and rescue, sandbagging and removal of health and safety hazards.

Category C: Roads and Bridges

Roads (paved, gravel, and dirt) are eligible for permanent repair or replacement, unless they are Federal-aid roads. Eligible work includes repair to surfaces, bases, shoulders, ditches, culverts, low water crossings and other features, such as guardrails. Damage to the road must be disaster-related to be eligible for repair. Eligible work includes repairs to such elements as piers and approaches.

Category D: Water Control Facilities

Water control facilities include such elements as dams and reservoirs, levees and engineered drainage channels. Restoration of the carrying capacity of engineered channels and debris basins may be eligible, but maintenance records or surveys must be produced to show the pre-disaster capacity of these facilities.

Category E: Buildings and Equipment

Buildings, including contents such as furnishings and interior systems such as electrical work, are eligible for repair or replacement. FEMA may also pay for the replacement of library books and publications. Removal of mud, silt, or other accumulated debris is eligible, along with any cleaning and painting necessary to restore the building.

If an insurance policy applies to a facility, FEMA will deduct from eligible costs the amount of insurance proceeds, actual or anticipated, before providing funds for restoration of the facility.

Category F: Utilities

Typical utilities include

• Water treatment plants and delivery systems

• Power generation and distribution facilities, including generators, substations and power lines

• Sewage collection systems and treatment plants

• Telecommunications

Category G: Parks, Recreational Facilities and Other Items

Repair and restoration of parks, playgrounds, pools, cemeteries and beaches are eligible. This category also is used for any work or facility that cannot be characterized adequately by Categories A-F. Other types of facilities, such as roads, buildings and utilities, that are located in parks and recreational areas are also eligible and are subject to the eligibility criteria for Categories C, D, E and F.

Natural features are not eligible facilities unless they are improved and maintained. This restriction applies to features located in parks and recreational areas. Specific criteria apply to beaches and to trees and ground cover.

The Commonwealth begins the Public Assistance process by announcing the schedule of briefings through which potential applicants are guided through the application process. During the briefings, specialists will describe the application process. After the general applicant briefing, each applicant will meet one-on-one with an assigned Public Assistance Coordinator (PAC) at a scheduled kick-off meeting. The PAC will contact their assigned applicants within one week after a request for Public Assistance is submitted. Applicants should contact their State Public Assistance Officer to arrange the first meeting if they have not heard from their PAC within two weeks.

Here’s what to expect at a kick-off meeting:

A PAC will provide a detailed list of required records and can recommend ways of organizing them.

Applicants should be prepared to bring documents with them to their kick-off meeting, including a list of damage and a description of intended repair or replacement projects.

Applicants should try to identify circumstances that require special review, such as insurance coverage, environmental resource issues and historic preservation. The earlier these conditions are known, the faster they can be addressed, and they must be addressed before funding can be approved.

After the meeting, applicants will be able to contact their PAC with any questions or requests for assistance.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for Hazard Mitigation measures for all counties within the Commonwealth.

Applicants are responsible for maintaining records of completed work and work to be completed.

For more information about the Public Assistance process, including a list of frequently asked questions, see http://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-frequently-asked-questions.

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.

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Hurricane Sandy Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation for Cameron County

Nearly $7 Million in Federal Funds Approved to Reconstruct Hurricane Irene-Destroyed Bridge in Wyoming County

Nearly $7 Million in Federal Funds Approved to Reconstruct

Hurricane Irene-Destroyed Bridge in Wyoming County

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Nearly $7 million in federal funding has been approved for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to reconstruct a bridge in Wyoming County, according to officials with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Until Hurricane Irene-fueled high velocity flood waters wiped it out, the bridge crossed the Mehoopany Creek on State Route 3001 in Forkston Township. FEMA has obligated $6,924,799 to reconstruct the bridge in its original location.

Because devastation of the bridge was a direct result of Hurricane Irene, the project to replace it qualifies for Public Assistance (PA) in Category C, which covers permanent repair or replacement of eligible non-federal-aid roads and bridges. For a detailed description of PA categories, see http://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-eligible-work.

The FEMA portion of the project will comprise the 75 percent federal cost-share to reconstruct the bridge, which is estimated to cost a total of $9,233,065. The remaining 25 percent non-federal share will be paid by the Commonwealth.

FEMA manages the program, approves grants and provides technical assistance to the Commonwealth and applicants. The Commonwealth educates potential applicants, works with FEMA to manage the program and is responsible for implementing and monitoring the grants awarded under the program. Local officials are responsible for identifying damage, providing information necessary for FEMA to approve grants and managing each project funded under the program.

For a list of frequently asked questions about the federal PA process, see http://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-frequently-asked-questions.

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.

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Nearly $7 Million in Federal Funds Approved to Reconstruct Hurricane Irene-Destroyed Bridge in Wyoming County

President Declared Disaster for Commonwealth of Virginia

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 Virginia to supplement the commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area affected by Hurricane Sandy during the period of Oct. 26 to Nov. 8, 2012.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to the 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 Hurricane Sandy in the counties of Accomack, Arlington, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper, Essex, Fauquier, Frederick, Greene, Highland, King and Queen, Lancaster, Loudoun, Madison, Mathews, Middlesex, Nelson, Northampton, Northumberland, Prince William, Rappahannock, Shenandoah, Surry, Warren, and Westmoreland and the independent cities of Fairfax, Falls Church, and Manassas.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Donald L. Keldsen has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Keldsen 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 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.

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President Declared Disaster for Commonwealth of Virginia

Federal Aid Programs for the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Declaration

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

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

FEMA is authorized to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the designated areas.
Specifically, FEMA is authorized to provide emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent Federal funding.

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.

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Federal Aid Programs for the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Declaration

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