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FEMA Releases Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Middlesex and Monmouth Counties

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today released Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for Middlesex and Monmouth Counties that reflect the latest refinements to the ongoing analysis of flood hazards. This release is the next step in the coastal Flood Insurance Study update. The Preliminary FIRMs replace the Preliminary Work Maps for Middlesex and Monmouth Counties that were released in June/July of 2013 as an interim product.

The new maps are extremely important as FEMA, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and Middlesex and Monmouth County communities continue to work in partnership to support resilient communities, and to avoid or reduce the loss of life and property, and the financial impacts of flooding. The Preliminary FIRMs reflect the same coastal flood risks as the Preliminary Work Maps and have now been updated to include riverine flooding.

The release of the Preliminary FIRMs indicates the first step in the official regulatory review process. The next step is a statutory 90-day appeal and comment period, which is expected to begin in Spring 2014. Property owners and interested parties will have the opportunity to appeal the Preliminary FIRMs by submitting technical documentation to their local Floodplain Administrators during this period. Once the appeal period is over, and all appeals are resolved, FEMA will issue a Letter of Final Determination (LFD) to the Middlesex and Monmouth County communities that initiates the six-month adoption period before the maps become effective.

Upon becoming effective, expected to occur in 2015, the new FIRMs will determine flood insurance rates. In the meantime, to promote higher standards for building performance and reduce potential future flood insurance costs, NJDEP and FEMA encourage Middlesex and Monmouth County communities to refer to the standards reflected in the Preliminary FIRMs for the construction of new and substantially improved structures.
For more information on flood risk mapping and insurance, visit www.region2coastal.com, www.msc.fema.gov, and www.floodsmart.gov.

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FEMA Releases Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Middlesex and Monmouth Counties

FEMA Awards $3.1 Million Grant to the Village of Whitefish Bay: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds will be used for the upgrade of storm sewer…

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today approved $3,143,531 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to the village of Whitefish Bay, Wis., for the upgrading of several storm sewers, including the construction of a dry detention basin to alleviate flooding to nearby properties.

“The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program enables communities to implement critical mitigation measures to reduce the risk of loss of life and property,” said FEMA Region V Administrator Andrew Velasquez III. “The improvement to the storm water system will reduce flood damage to nearby homes and other structures, thereby reducing the financial impact on individuals and the community.”

“This is the largest construction projected funded through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program in Wisconsin,” said Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Brian Satula. “The flooding in 2010 demonstrated the need for improvements to prevent future flood damage to homes in the area.”

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Through HMGP, FEMA will pay $3,143,531, or 75 percent of the project’s total cost. Wisconsin Emergency Management and the village of Whitefish Bay will each contribute 12.5 percent of the funds, or $523,922 each.

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Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

FEMA Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, (312) 408-4455

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FEMA Awards $3.1 Million Grant to the Village of Whitefish Bay: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds will be used for the upgrade of storm sewer…

FEMA Awards $3 Million to Louisiana Department of Transportation for Hurricane Isaac Recovery

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development will receive a $3 million federal grant to reimburse the costs it incurred clearing debris, including boats, from public roads after Hurricane Isaac, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said Thursday.

The $3,085,418 grant covers the removal and disposal of debris, including:

77,400 cubic yards of vegetative debris (a cubic yard is about the size of a washing machine)
37,200 cubic yards of construction and demolition debris
55,200 cubic yards of marsh grass
7,000 cubic yards of hazardous household waste
35,000 cubic yards of sediment
47 boats deposited in state roadways

“Debris removal is an essential step in disaster recovery,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar. “By restoring access to schools, businesses and recreation, this work provided Louisianians with an important step in their journey back to normal.”

Between Aug. 26 and Sept. 10, Hurricane Isaac produced high winds, rain and flooding throughout the state. The FEMA Public Assistance grant, totaling $3,085,418, helps reimburse the department during the Hurricane Isaac response and recovery.

The newly obligated funds are a portion of the $222.9 million in total Public Assistance recovery dollars approved for the state since the Aug. 29, 2012, disaster declaration.

Once FEMA reimburses the state of Louisiana it is the state’s responsibility to manage the funds, which includes making disbursements to local jurisdictions and organizations that incurred costs.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow FEMA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

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FEMA Awards $3 Million to Louisiana Department of Transportation for Hurricane Isaac Recovery

FEMA Obligates $4.5 Million to Jefferson Parish for Debris Removal

BATON ROUGE, La. – A $4.5 million federal grant has been awarded to Jefferson Parish to help with costs for cleaning up debris created by Hurricane Isaac’s high winds and flooding, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said Thursday.

The FEMA grant, totaling $4,510,862, helps reimburse the parish for work to remove and dispose of debris from the public rights of way. That includes more than 203,000 cubic yards of vegetative debris and nearly 54,400 cubic yards of construction and demolition debris.

“This grant demonstrates FEMA’s strong support for Jefferson Parish’s efforts to clear debris after the storm,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar. “The funds go to the parish but ultimately they will help the whole community recover from Hurricane Isaac.”

The FEMA grant covers the federal share of the parish’s eligible costs for the work. Under a cost-sharing formula, FEMA reimburses the state for 75 percent of the total costs, while the state and/or applicant pay the remaining 25 percent.

The newly obligated funds are a portion of the $14.3 million in total Public Assistance recovery funds approved for applicants in Jefferson Parish since the Aug. 29, 2012, declaration for Hurricane Isaac. Statewide, Public Assistance grants total $171.2 million.

Once FEMA reimburses the state of Louisiana it is the state’s responsibility to manage the funds, which includes making disbursements to local jurisdictions and organizations that incurred costs.

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FEMA Obligates $4.5 Million to Jefferson Parish for Debris Removal

FEMA Awards More Than $3.4 Million for Community Safe Rooms in Kleberg County, Texas

DENTON, Texas — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded more than $3.4 million to the state of Texas for the construction of two community safe rooms in the city of Kingsville in Kleberg County, Texas.

The concrete dome shaped safe rooms will serve as multi-purpose training centers; one will be 20,000 square feet in size and the other will be 18,000 square feet in size. Both will provide protection from storms and tornadoes for the people of Kleberg County, including those with access and functional needs, as well as special medical needs.

FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) will pay 75 percent of the more than $4.5 million total costs for the projects, which are being built under the Texas Safe Shelter Initiative.

The federal shares of the funds for the projects come from the agency’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). HMGP provides grants to states, and tribal and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures that 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.

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FEMA Awards More Than $3.4 Million for Community Safe Rooms in Kleberg County, Texas

Cleveland County Residents Cautioned to Protect Themselves from Post-Disaster Scam Artists

OKLAHOMA CITY – As Cleveland County residents work to rebuild following the devastating Aug. 3-14 wildfire, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials are cautioning them about phony, unscrupulous building contractors and other scam artists that often take advantage of people following a disaster.

“In the wake of a disaster, it’s common to see the generous side of human nature. Unfortunately, there are also those people who may try to take advantage of victims during this stressful time,” said OEM Deputy Director and State Coordinating Officer Michelann Ooten.

“Disasters often bring out the best and worst in people,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer William J. Doran III. “We strongly recommend that those who are rebuilding their homes and lives take a few simple steps to make sure they’re dealing with a reputable person.”

The first and best defense is to know the most common post-disaster fraud practices:

Phony housing inspectors: If a home’s damage is visible from the street, the homeowner may be especially vulnerable to the phony housing inspector who claims to represent FEMA or the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
What to do to help protect yourself?

Ask to see the inspector’s identification badge. All federal employees and contractors carry official, laminated photo identification. A FEMA or SBA shirt or jacket is not proof of someone’s affiliation with the government.
Don’t give bank account numbers to an inspector claiming to be affiliated with the federal government. FEMA inspectors never require banking information.
Don’t believe anyone that says they are endorsed by FEMA. FEMA does not endorse specific contractors to fix homes or recommend repairs. FEMA contracts with inspectors to verify losses.

Fraudulent building contractors: Damage visible from the street also can bring out scam contractors who visit your home offering to begin work immediately, usually for an upfront payment. Most legitimate contractors will have more work than they can handle after a disaster and will provide you a written estimate for completion.
When you hire a contractor:

Use licensed local contractors backed by reliable references when possible. Get a written estimate from at least three contractors, including the cost of labor and materials, and read the fine print.
Demand that contractors carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation. If they don’t, you may be liable for accidents that occur on your property.
Note that the state of Oklahoma doesn’t license residential construction contractors, except in the electrical, mechanical and plumbing trades. But there are some special requirements for non-resident contractors.
To find out if an electrician, plumber or mechanical contractor is licensed in Oklahoma, call the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board at 1-405-521-6550 or toll-free at 1-877-484-4424 or check online at http://cibverify.ok.gov.

Bogus pleas for post-disaster donations: Understand that disaster aid solicitations may arrive by phone, email, letter or face-to-face visits. You can ensure the solicitation is legitimate if you:

Ask for the charity’s exact name, street address, phone number, and web address, then phone the charity directly and confirm that the person asking for funds is an employee or volunteer.
Think before you give cash — instead, pay by check made out to the charity in case you must stop funds later.
Request a receipt with the charity’s name, street address, phone number and web address (if applicable). Legitimate nonprofit agencies routinely provide receipts for tax purposes.

Fake offers of state or federal aid:

If someone claiming to be from FEMA or the state visits, calls or emails asking for your Social Security number, bank account number or other sensitive information, be cautious. Don’t provide any personal information unless you made the initial call.
Do not trust any phone or in-person solicitor who promises to speed up the insurance, disaster assistance or building permit process.
Some scam artists may promise to provide a disaster grant in return for large cash deposits or advance payments in full. Never agree to pay any amount of money for a disaster grant.

It is important to know that federal and state workers do not solicit or accept money. FEMA and SBA never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or help in filling out applications. If ever in doubt, do not give out personal information and report people claiming to be government workers to local police.

Provide your Social Security number and banking information only when registering for FEMA assistance; online at www.disasterassistance.gov; via a web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov; by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585; using 711-Relay or Video Relay
Services call 1-800-621-3362. FEMA phone lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT seven days a week; multilingual operators are available.

Register with the SBA online at its secure site: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela; call 1-800-659-2955 or TTY 1-800-877-8339; or visit the Noble Disaster Recovery Center. For more information on SBA disaster assistance, go to www.sba.gov.

If you suspect someone is perpetrating fraud, call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at
1-866-720-5721. Complaints may also be made to local law enforcement agencies and to the Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General at 1-918-581-2885 or online at www.oag.state.ok.us.

Disaster survivors who have any questions can call FEMA’s toll-free helpline at 1-800-621-3362.

For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click on www.fema.gov/disaster/4078 or www.oem.ok.gov.

Follow OEM on Twitter and Facebook at twitter.com/okem and www.facebook.com/oklahomadepartmentofemergencymanagement.

FEMA tweets about the Oklahoma disaster are at twitter.com/femaregion6.
Additional FEMA online resources include blog.fema.gov, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.

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Cleveland County Residents Cautioned to Protect Themselves from Post-Disaster Scam Artists

Supplemental Funding Available for Private Property Debris Removal in St. Bernard Parish

BATON ROUGE, La. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved supplemental funding for private property debris removal from qualified properties in St. Bernard Parish.

Debris removal from private property is generally not eligible for FEMA’s Public Assistance funding. FEMA may help fund removal if debris on residential and private business property is so widespread that public health, safety and the economic recovery of the community is threatened, but it must be approved in advance by FEMA.

Supplemental funding under the PA program is provided to the state and then forwarded to its eligible agencies, local governments, certain private nonprofit organizations and federally recognized tribal governments. Under the program, FEMA obligates funds to the state for 75 percent of eligible costs, while the applicant covers the remaining 25 percent.

Eligible removal includes the clearance, removal, and/or disposal of storm-generated debris such as trees, sand and gravel, building materials, wreckage, vehicles and personal property.

Ineligible debris includes debris form vacant lots, forests, heavily wooded areas and debris on agricultural lands used for crops or livestock. Construction debris used in the reconstruction of disaster-damaged improved property is ineligible.

For debris removal to be eligible the work must be necessary to:

Eliminate an immediate threat to lives, public health and safety,
Eliminate immediate threats of significant damage to improved public and private property when the measures are cost effective, or
Ensure the economic recovery of the affected community to the benefit of the community-at-large.

Four parishes are now approved for funding for private property debris removal: Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and St. John. Requests from other parishes for this type of assistance are being reviewed.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6, the R6 Hurricane Preparedness website at www.fema.gov/about/regions/regionvi/updates.shtm and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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Supplemental Funding Available for Private Property Debris Removal in St. Bernard Parish

Creek County Residents Cautioned to Watch Out for Post-Disaster Scam Artists

OKLAHOMA CITY – As Creek County residents work to rebuild following the devastating Aug. 3-14 wildfire, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials are cautioning them about phony, unscrupulous building contractors and other scam artists that often take advantage of people following a disaster.

“In times of crisis, most Oklahomans and others from around the country will pull together for one another. There are those who will try to take advantage of people at their most vulnerable time,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer William J. Doran III. “We strongly recommend that those who are rebuilding their homes and lives take a few simple steps to make sure they’re dealing with a reputable person.”

Although no reports of unscrupulous practices or fraud have been reported in Creek County to date, the first and best defense is to know the most common post-disaster fraud practices:

Ask to see the inspector’s identification badge. All federal employees and contractors carry official, laminated photo identification. A FEMA or SBA shirt or jacket is not proof of someone’s affiliation with the government.
Don’t give bank account numbers to an inspector claiming to be affiliated with the federal government. FEMA inspectors never require banking information.
Don’t believe anyone that says they are endorsed by FEMA. FEMA does not endorse specific contractors to fix homes or recommend repairs. FEMA contracts with inspectors to verify losses.

Use licensed local contractors backed by reliable references when possible. Get a written estimate from at least three contractors, including the cost of labor and materials, and read the fine print.
Demand that contractors carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation. If they don’t, you may be liable for accidents that occur on your property.
Note that the state of Oklahoma doesn’t license residential construction contractors, except in the electrical, mechanical and plumbing trades. But there are some special requirements for non-resident contractors.
To find out if an electrician, plumber or mechanical contractor is licensed in Oklahoma, call the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board at 1-405-521-6550 or toll-free at 1-877-484-4424 or check online at http://cibverify.ok.gov.

Ask for the charity’s exact name, street address, phone number, and web address, then phone the charity directly and confirm that the person asking for funds is an employee or volunteer.
Think before you give cash — instead, pay by check made out to the charity in case you must stop funds later.
Request a receipt with the charity’s name, street address, phone number and web address (if applicable). Legitimate nonprofit agencies routinely provide receipts for tax purposes.

Fake offers of state or federal aid:

If someone claiming to be from FEMA or the state visits, calls or emails asking for your Social Security number, bank account number or other sensitive information, be cautious. Don’t provide any personal information unless you made the initial call.
Do not trust any phone or in-person solicitor who promises to speed up the insurance, disaster assistance or building-permit process.
Some scam artists may promise to provide a disaster grant in return for large cash deposits or advance payments in full. Never agree to pay any amount of money for a disaster grant.

Provide your Social Security number and banking information only when registering for FEMA assistance; online at www.disasterassistance.gov; via a web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov; by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585; using 711-Relay or Video Relay
Services call 1-800-621-3362. FEMA phone lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT seven days a week; multilingual operators are available.

Register with the SBA online at its secure site: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela; call 1-800-659-2955 or TTY 1-800-877-8339; or visit a Disaster Recovery Center. For more information on SBA disaster assistance, go to www.sba.gov.

If you suspect someone is perpetrating fraud, call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at
1-866-720-5721. Complaints may also be made to local law enforcement agencies and to the Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General at 1-918-581-2885 or online at www.oag.state.ok.us.

Disaster survivors who have any questions can call FEMA’s toll-free helpline at 1-800-621-3362.

For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click on www.fema.gov/disaster/4078 or www.oem.ok.gov.

Follow OEM on Twitter and Facebook at twitter.com/okem and www.facebook.com/oklahomadepartmentofemergencymanagement.

FEMA tweets about the Oklahoma disaster are at twitter.com/femaregion6.
Additional FEMA online resources include blog.fema.gov, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.

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Creek County Residents Cautioned to Watch Out for Post-Disaster Scam Artists

Protect Your Property From Wind and Water Damage

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Property owners planning to rebuild homes or businesses damaged by Tropical Storm Debby should consider using construction methods that will minimize damage in future storms.

Taking steps to reduce future damage is called hazard mitigation. The most obvious example of mitigation is elevating flood-prone properties. Information on many mitigation procedures is available free from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Here are some improvements property owners should discuss with contractors:

WIND CLIPS: These are small inexpensive metal plates that are used to firmly secure a roof to the walls of a structure.
MASONRY TIES: These are metal strips used to anchor the wooden frame of a structure to the masonry foundation walls.
PLYWOOD: Construction engineers prefer plywood to pressboard, not less than 7/16 of an inch thick.
FASTENING: In securing four-by-eight foot plywood sheathing to walls or roofs, nails should be driven at intervals no greater than four inches in the perimeter and six inches in the middle lines.
GARAGE DOORS: Consider a heavy gauge door. When high winds buckle a garage door it is likely that the roof will be lifted off.
ELEVATION: This is the ultimate safeguard against flooding. It is costly but widely employed, particularly along coastlines.
ELECTRICAL: Appliances and circuit breaker boxes should be raised above base flood elevation, door seals renewed and old windows replaced with waterproof windows.
DRAINAGE: Ditches should be cleared.

Specialists stress the necessity of tying foundations to the frames of structures with correctly installed anchor bolts. Bolts should penetrate foundation blocks at least 15 inches to connect with the second course of block.

While these measures can’t guarantee protection from storm damage, the odds for escaping major damage are much improved.

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). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

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

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or http://www.floridadisaster.org. On Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/FloridaSERT. To receive Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/FLSERT or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

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Protect Your Property From Wind and Water Damage

Slidell Catholic School Receives Additional Support From FEMA

Release Date: May 31, 2012
Release Number: 1603 – 976

» More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Rita
» More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Katrina

NEW ORLEANS – As the construction of Our Lady of Lourdes School’s new cafeteria nears completion, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today $984,241 in additional funding to the Archdiocese of New Orleans for the Katrina-related recovery project.

This new funding brings the federal agency’s total monetary support for the cafeteria’s construction to nearly $3.5 million. More than $23.2 million has gone toward the recovery efforts at Our Lady of Lourdes School—a prekindergarten through eighth grade Catholic School located in Slidell, LA.

“We greatly appreciated FEMA’s ongoing work with us that make capital projects such as the Our Lady of Lourdes cafeteria, and entire campus, possible post-Katrina. This allows us to continue our mission to educate children of the community, and as we are very aware of in our area, education is a key element in the fight against poverty and violence,” said Archbishop Gregory Aymond.

Like many schools owned and operated by the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Our Lady of Lourdes campus incurred significant damages during Hurricane Katrina. The cafeteria, which provided meals to students and also served as a general assembly center at the school, qualified for FEMA assistance after floodwaters rendered the facility completely inoperable and in need of complete reconstruction.

“Meal services for students are currently provided out of temporary facilities at Our Lady of Lourdes’ campus,” said FEMA’s Louisiana Recovery Office Deputy Director of Programs Andre Cadogan. “Our recent funding, along with previously provided grants, ensures that a more permanent cafeteria will once again serve students in the near future.”

Construction of Our Lady of Lourdes’ post-Katrina cafeteria is expected to be completed during the 2012-2013 school year.

In addition to FEMA’s recent aid, on an even larger scale, FEMA has supported Our Lady of Lourdes School’s overall recovery, including funding the replacements of a majority of the school’s classrooms and administration offices.

To date, FEMA has obligated approximately $323.5 million in public assistance funding to the Archdiocese of New Orleans for Katrina-related recovery efforts across Archdiocesan-owned schools in Orleans, St. Tammany, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes.

When FEMA approves projects through its supplemental Public Assistance grant, the funds are made available to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness, who disburses them to the applicant for eligible work completed.

The Public Assistance program works with state and local officials to fund recovery measures and the rebuilding of government and certain private nonprofit organizations’ buildings, as well as roads, bridges and water and sewer plants. In order for the process to be successful, federal, state and local partners coordinate to draw up project plans, fund these projects and oversee their completion.

Last Modified: Thursday, 31-May-2012 10:47:30

Slidell Catholic School Receives Additional Support From FEMA

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