Disaster Aid Meetings Set For Additional Colorado Counties

DENVER – State and federal officials have scheduled meetings with local governments and other entities in Adams, Boulder, Park and Denver Counties to help them apply for federal assistance for this spring’s storms.

The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM)  in cooperation with FEMA has scheduled Applicants’ Briefings August 25 to August 27 to help local governments, state agencies, and certain private non-profit organizations navigate the federal Public Assistance application process relative to this spring’s declared disaster.

On August 12, Adams, Boulder, Park and Denver Counties were added to 11 other Colorado counties that had already been declared eligible for damage reimbursement as a result of the severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, landslides, and mudslides that occurred between May 4 and June 16, 2015.

Applicants’ Briefing Schedule:

Park County: August 25, 1:00 p.m., Park County Emergency Operations Center, 911 Clark Street, Fairplay, CO 80440

Adams County: August 27, 8:30 a.m., Adams County Government Center, Conference Center – Platte D, 4330 S Adams County Pkwy, Brighton, CO 80603

Boulder County/statewide: August 27, 1:00 p.m., Colorado State Emergency Operations Center, 9195 E Mineral Ave., Centennial, CO 80112

Denver County: TBD

The briefings are the next step in FEMA’s Public Assistance Program and will provide information on the application process as well as deadlines for submission of necessary documents.

The Applicants’ Briefing may be followed by face-to-face meetings in local communities between FEMA/DHSEM officials and eligible applicants.

The disaster declaration issued by President Obama on July 16, 2015 for Baca, Elbert, El Paso, Fremont, Logan, Morgan, Pueblo, Saguache, Sedgwick, Washington, and Yuma counties made state, county, and local governments, as well as certain non-profit organizations, eligible to receive reimbursement for repairing infrastructure damage caused by the storms, as well as the cost of responding to them.

Qualified organizations in these counties and the four newly declared ones will receive no less than 75 percent of their eligible costs incurred as a result of the disaster.

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Colorado DHSEM’s mission is to provide leadership and support to Colorado communities to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond and recover from all-hazard events including acts of terrorism.

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.

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Disaster Aid Meetings Set For Additional Colorado Counties

Seven Disaster Recovery Centers in Five Texas Counties to Close August 27

AUSTIN, Texas – Seven Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Caldwell, Harris, Hays, Jim Wells and Nueces counties will close Aug. 27. That also is the final day for survivors of the May 4 to June 22 storms and flooding to register for FEMA recovery assistance or a loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The following DRCs will cease operations at 6 p.m. that Thursday:

Caldwell County: Martindale Baptist Church, 12351 Highway 142, Martindale, TX 78655.

Harris County: Leonel Castillo Community Center, 2101 South St., Houston, TX 77009. The DRC at Bayland Community Center, 6400 Bissonnet St., Houston, TX 77074, will close then transition the following day to an SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center.

Hays County: San Marcos Activity Center (Front Lobby Area), 501 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos, TX 78666, and Wimberley Community Center, 14068 Ranch Road 12, Wimberley, TX 78676.

Jim Wells County: Old Armory, 1207, N. Cameron St., Alice, Texas 78332.

Nueces County: Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds, Conference Center- Meeting Room A, B & C, 1213 Terry Shamsie Blvd., Robstown, TX  78380, will close then transition the following day to an SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center.

DRCs operated by the State of Texas and the Federal Emergency Management Agency and supported by other agencies have remained open until the needs of area residents were met. The centers have served as one-stop shops for information and guidance about disaster assistance.

Survivors with questions regarding their applications or the appeals process after the DRCs close have several ways to obtain information:

  • Go online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

  • Call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. Multilingual operators are available.

  • Visit the Texas Disaster Recovery website www.fema.gov/disaster/4223

  • Contact U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has a call center to answer Texas policyholders’ flood insurance questions. Specialists can help with servicing claims, providing general information and offering technical assistance to aid in recovery. To speak with a flood insurance specialist, call 800-621-3362 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Visit http://www.fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation for publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger.

For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4223, Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

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All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).

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. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

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

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Seven Disaster Recovery Centers in Five Texas Counties to Close August 27

Ten Years after Katrina, FEMA has Obligated Over $3.2 billion in Public Assistance

BILOXI, Miss. — More than $3.2 billion in FEMA funding has been allocated to Mississippi for Public Assistance after Hurricane Katrina. FEMA’s Public Assistance program includes grants for the repair and rebuilding of public infrastructure, such as bridges, roads, schools, hospitals and sewer treatment facilities. The PA program also provides funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures, such as search and rescue operations, temporary roads and overtime for other emergency workers, including police and firefighters. 

Some of the PA projects in Mississippi included repairing and rebuilding the Biloxi Civic Center and Library; the Hancock County Courthouse and Medical Center; the Waveland City Hall and Municipal Complex; and St. Martin School in Jackson County. The famous Biloxi Lighthouse, which came to represent the resiliency of the Mississippi Gulf Coast after Katrina, was also repaired with funding from FEMA’s PA program.

For more information on PA recovery projects in Mississippi, please go to FEMA’s Revitalizing Mississippi Communities.

The PA program normally reimburses local, state and tribal governments and qualified nonprofit organizations for a certain share of eligible costs. However, because of the magnitude of Katrina, FEMA covered 100 percent of allowable project expenses.

The largest PA project funded by FEMA in Mississippi after Katrina is the repair of a large section of Biloxi’s water and sewer treatment system. After Katrina, the system was out of operation for weeks. It was brought back into working condition with generators and temporary bypass pumps to transfer wastewater to treatment plants. City officials decided to use the $363 million in eligible FEMA repair and rebuilding grants toward the total cost of improving and upgrading the system. Repairs include consolidating and hardening the pump stations along the beachfront to withstand future storms.

Following is a breakdown of Public Assistance funding by sector.

Health Care: More than $50 million has been obligated to rebuild and improve hospitals and other health care facilities in disaster-affected areas. Over $40.6 million was used to restore parts of Hancock Medical Center in the town of Bay St. Louis which serves a population of approximately 44,000.

Education: More than $334 million has been allocated for K-12 public schools and universities. Some of these schools, such as the St. Martin school in Jackson County, combined the funding with other sources to build new state-of-the-art educational facilities and a public safe room to protect the community from future disasters.

Public Works/Utilities: Nearly $901.6 million has been obligated. This includes more than $363 million to repair and rebuild part of Biloxi’s sewer and water treatment system and nearly $99 million for the sewer and water treatment system in Gulfport. More than $36 million funded the repair of the wastewater treatment facility in Diamondhead.

Roads and Bridges: More than $84 million was allocated for repair and rebuilding.

Public Safety and Protection: Over $33 million has been obligated for the restoration of fire and police stations, courthouses and corrections facilities. Some public safety buildings, such as the Pass Christian police station, were rebuilt using FEMA 361 standards for public safe rooms to protect first responders in future disasters.

Historic Structures: Over $129 million was obligated for restoration of historic properties, such as the town of Waveland’s Civic Center, the Carnegie Library in Gulfport and the Old Brick House in Biloxi.

Debris Removal/Emergency Protective Measures: More than $1.15 billion was allocated to clear debris and reimburse overtime hours for emergency workers, including police and firefighters.

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 FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

 

 

 

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Ten Years after Katrina, FEMA has Obligated Over $3.2 billion in Public Assistance

FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Grizzly Bear Complex Fire

Two New Mexico firefighters walk up a hill to continue battling smoldering forest fires. Fire Management Assistance Grants can provide federal funds to support costs like firefighting tools and equipment, overtime compensation, mobilization and travel costs, meals, health and safety items.

Through Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs), federal funds are available to support firefighters battling wildfires if needed. Original photo by Andrea Booher/FEMA News Photo. Los Alamos, N.M., May 4, 2000 – “Hot Shot” members from Zuni, NM, continue their fight with smoldering forest fires.

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SEATTLE – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Grizzly Bear Complex Fire burning in Wallowa County, Oregon.

FEMA Region X Regional Administrator Kenneth D. Murphy determined that the fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Murphy approved the state of Oregon’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) at 12:15 a.m. PDT on Aug. 21, 2015.

At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 150 homes in and around the communities of Troy and neighboring areas. Nearly all of the threatened homes are primary residences. The fire was also threatening high value timberland, cultural resources, camp grounds, wildlife areas, power lines and community infrastructure in the area. Mandatory and voluntary evacuations were issued for approximately 200 people. Additionally the communities of Grouse Flats, Eden Bench, and Bartlett Bench are also threatened. 

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state of Oregon’s eligible firefighting costs for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants provide reimbursement for firefighting and life-saving efforts. They do not provide assistance to individuals, homeowners or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

FMAGs are provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

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FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Grizzly Bear Complex Fire

More than $159 million Obligated for Safe Rooms from Katrina

BILOXI, Miss.– In the last 10 years, FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program has obligated more than $159 million from Hurricane Katrina recovery to build community safe rooms throughout Mississippi to protect people during storms. HMGP provides grants to state, local and tribal governments to implement long-term mitigation measures to reduce the loss of life and property from a disaster.

Safe rooms can be built as multipurpose shelters to protect communities from tornadoes, hurricanes and floods. These community safe rooms are built to FEMA 361 specifications, which include hardening of walls and roofs to withstand 200 mph winds.

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency officials have made the construction of safe rooms a priority since Katrina. A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control found that safe rooms are the best option to reduce the number of deaths during tornadoes.

“We always tell folks to get out of mobile homes and manufactured homes, and to consider going to a more substantial structure to wait out the storm,” said Robert Latham, executive director of MEMA. “By providing a secure place for them to go, we make our communities safer. Citizens need to incorporate safe room locations into their plans, or know where a substantial structure is located.”

“In so many cases, the death toll would be much higher were it not for safe rooms for people to take shelter in,” said Acting Director of FEMA’s Mississippi Recovery Office, Loraine Hill.

To date, 42 public safe rooms have been added to schools; 34 have been built as stand-alone structures for general use, and 9 constructed for first responders. Populations served by these safe rooms include approximately 44,000 students and staff; 28,000 citizens in the general population, and 3,500 first responders.

During the threat of an outbreak of tornadoes in the state earlier this year, 70 residents sought shelter; in a community safe room in Rankin County, built to FEMA 361 standards.  

Another $205 million in HMGP funding was made available to Mississippi for mitigation projects, such as elevating buildings, flood control, sirens, generators and grants to individuals to retrofit areas of their home or build stand-alone safe room units.

For more information on building a public safe room to FEMA 361 specifications, go to http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/3140.

A video on community safe rooms in Mississippi.

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 FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

 

 

 

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More than $159 million Obligated for Safe Rooms from Katrina

Disaster Recovery Center Open in Carter County to Help Kentucky Storm Survivors

FRANKFORT, Ky. — A disaster recovery center operated by the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Federal Emergency Management Agency is now open in Carter County.

The center will operate from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (EDT) Monday through Saturday until further notice. The Carter County center is located at Northeast Kentucky Community Action, 539 Hitchins Ave. in Olive Hill.

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 after the severe storms in July.

Survivors who suffered losses in Carter, Johnson, Rowan and Trimble counties can get help with registration, questions about an application or review information needed to process an application.

Before visiting a center, if possible, survivors should register for assistance.

Disaster recovery centers are accessible to people with disabilities. The centers have tools to amplify sound, magnifiers and materials in alternative formats along with video remote interpretation and available sign language interpreters. Survivors with a disability, and need an accommodation when visiting the disaster recovery center, should call 502-209-2748 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Survivors can register by using the following methods:

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. Multilingual operators are available.

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.

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

For more information on Kentucky’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or http://kyem.ky.gov. On Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/KYEmergencyManagement. To receive Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/kyempio or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

 

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Disaster Recovery Center Open in Carter County to Help Kentucky Storm Survivors

FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Stickpin Fire

SEATTLE – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Stickpin Fire burning in Ferry County, Washington.

FEMA Region X Regional Administrator Kenneth D. Murphy determined that the fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Murphy approved the state of Washington’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) at 9:04 p.m. PDT on Aug. 14, 2015.

At the time of the request, 520 primary homes were under evacuation orders in the communities of Malo and Curlew. 800-1000 people are estimated to live in the immediate vicinity of the rapidly expanding fire perimeter. The fire had burned over 20,000 acres and was 0 percent contained. Multiple facilities, including state, county and city roads and 25 miles of power transmission lines are threatened. A shelter is open at Republic High School.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state of Washington’s eligible firefighting costs for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants provide reimbursement for firefighting and life-saving efforts. They do not provide assistance to individuals, homeowners or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

FMAGs are provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

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FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Stickpin Fire

FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Reach Complex Fire

SEATTLE – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Reach Complex Fire burning in Chelan and Douglas counties, Washington.

FEMA Region X Regional Administrator Kenneth D. Murphy determined that the fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Murphy approved the state of Washington’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) at 4:53 p.m. PDT on Aug. 14, 2015. An additional request to add on related damages in Douglas County was approved at 9:49 p.m. PDT the same evening.

At the time of the initial request, the fire was immediately threatening approximately 730 homes in and around the City of Chelan with the perimeter of the fire less than 200 yards from homes. A Red Cross shelter with a population of approximately 100 has been relocated to Entiat. Industrial and agricultural facilities including an apple packing warehouse were actively burning.

Embers from the Reach Complex burning in Chelan County crossed the river and ignited additional fires in Douglas County. Gusting winds and hot, dry conditions fueled explosive growth. 150 homes were evacuated in McNiel Canyon and evacuation preparation was underway for the cities of Bridgeport and Mansfield.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state of Washington’s eligible firefighting costs for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants provide reimbursement for firefighting and life-saving efforts. They do not provide assistance to individuals, homeowners or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

FMAGs are provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

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FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Reach Complex Fire

FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Okanogan County Complex Fire

SEATTLE – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Okanogan County Complex Fire burning in Okanogan County, Washington.

FEMA Region X Regional Administrator Kenneth D. Murphy determined that the fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Murphy approved the state of Washington’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) at 12:51 a.m. PDT on Aug. 15, 2015.

At the time of the request, eight known fires (Old Railroad, West Bonaparte, Roy, Dugout, North Star, Cooper Mountain, Dunn Mountain and Pine Creek) were threatening homes, infrastructure, natural and cultural resources across the county.  Mass evacuations were underway and structures have been lost. The community of Pateros, with a population of 3,500 was at immediate risk and is particularly vulnerable after suffering damage in the 2014 Carlton Complex. State Route 153 at Pateros, a vital arterial route for the community, was closed from MP 248-253.  Numerous other communities are threatened, including Conconully, a community of 210 where important infrastructure includes a dam and power distribution lines. Shelters have been established at Oroville High School and Republic High School.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state of Washington’s eligible firefighting costs for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants provide reimbursement for firefighting and life-saving efforts. They do not provide assistance to individuals, homeowners or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

FMAGs are provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

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FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Okanogan County Complex Fire

FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Canyon Creek Complex Fire

SEATTLE – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Canyon Creek Complex Fire burning in Grant County, Oregon.

FEMA Region X Regional Administrator Kenneth D. Murphy determined that the fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Murphy approved the state of Oregon’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) at 9:43 p.m. PDT on Aug. 14, 2015.

At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 300 homes in and around the communities of John Day and Canyon City. Approximately 95 percent of the threatened homes are primary residences. The fire was also threatening historic buildings, city hall, the court house, post office, library and other facilities in John Day. Mandatory and voluntary evacuations orders were issued for approximately 200-300 people. The fire was zero percent contained. 

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state of Oregon’s eligible firefighting costs for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants provide reimbursement for firefighting and life-saving efforts. They do not provide assistance to individuals, homeowners or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

FMAGs are provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

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FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Canyon Creek Complex Fire

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