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$4 Million Federal Grant for Disaster Counseling

Release date:

April 8, 2014

Release Number:

NR-119

DENVER-Crisis counseling services will continue over the next nine months for survivors of the Colorado flooding disaster in September 2013 because of a $4 million federal grant. FEMA and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration have awarded the $4,058,060 grant to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment through the 2014 Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP).

The new grant will allow counselors to continue door-to-door services and community outreach counseling programs. Since the disaster, Colorado Spirit crisis counselors have:

Talked directly with 18,178 people and provided referrals and other helpful information to more than 88,000;
Met with nearly 1,200 individuals or families in their homes.

CCP was established by the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to provide mental health assistance and training activities in designated disaster areas. The program provides the following services:

Individual crisis counseling and group crisis counseling to help survivors understand their reactions and improve coping strategies, review their options and connect with other individuals and agencies that may assist them;
Development and distribution of education materials such as flyers, brochures and website information on disaster-related topics and resources;
Relationship building with community organizations, faith-based groups and local agencies.

Last Updated:

April 8, 2014 – 12:56

State/Tribal Government or Region:

Colorado

Related Disaster:

Colorado Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

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$4 Million Federal Grant for Disaster Counseling

Local, State and Federal Partners Working Closely, Individually With SR 530 Slide Survivors as Recovery Continues in Washington

BOTHELL, Wash. – Local, State, and Federal partners continue working one-on-one with survivors of the State Route 530 Slide in Washington to ensure they receive all of the disaster assistance for which they may qualify.

To that end, Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – including bereavement and program area specialists – are meeting in person with survivors to learn more about their short-term and long-term needs due to the slide.

“We’re working with FEMA to quickly bring the next phase of federal and state assistance to help survivors and affected families. This aid is part of the overall resources they will need to start their long-term recovery,” said State Coordinating Officer Kurt Hardin.

Federal disaster assistance was made available to individuals in Snohomish County –

including the Sauk-Suiattle, Stillaguamish, and Tulalip Tribes – on April 2 when President Obama declared a major disaster for the State of Washington.

“We are determined to provide as much personalized attention as possible here to survivors of this heart-breaking tragedy,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Michael J. Hall. “Our goal is, when desired, to meet personally with each individual – whether they lost a loved one, their home or were severely impacted in some other way.”

Three Disaster Recovery Centers are open to assist survivors in Arlington, Darrington and near Oso. Local, State and Federal disaster recovery specialists are meeting face-to-face with disaster assistance applicants at the centers. Representatives of local, State and Federal agencies and nonprofits such as the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and the American Red Cross will be available to work directly with survivors. Representatives with the U.S. Small Business Administration will be at the centers to explain about low-interest disaster loans for qualifying homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes.

Before visiting a center, applicants are encouraged to apply for disaster assistance. Registration is possible online or by phone or mobile device. To register online, visit: www.DisasterAssistance.gov or m.fema.gov. To register by phone, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Survivors who 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 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. PDT, seven days a week.

For individuals who have hearing and visual disabilities or are deaf, Disaster Recovery Centers can typically provide such accommodations as:

• Captioned telephones, which transcribe spoken words into text
• American Sign Language interpreters, available upon request
• Magnifiers and assistive listening devices
• 711-Relay or Video Relay Services

Locations and hours of operation of the centers are as follows:

Oso Fire Station (Snohomish County Fire Protection District 25 – parking lot)

21824 State Route 530 NE

Arlington, WA 98223

Arlington Public Works Administration-Stillaguamish Conference Room

154 West Cox Ave.

Arlington, WA 98223

Darrington Ranger District Office (Parking Lot)

1405 Emens Ave. North

Darrington, WA 98241

Hours of Operation

Opening Day (Monday, April 7) – 1 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Saturday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Closed on Sundays

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s 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.

Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are 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.

The Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division is responsible for administering federal disaster recovery programs on behalf of the state. The Department’s mission is to minimize the impact of emergencies and disasters on people, property, environment, and the economy of Washington State at the region; provide trained and ready forces for state and federal missions; and provide structured alternative education opportunities for at-risk youth.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations 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 information about SBA programs, applicants can go to www.sba.gov/disaster or call (800) 659-2955 (TTY 1-800-977-8339).

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Local, State and Federal Partners Working Closely, Individually With SR 530 Slide Survivors as Recovery Continues in Washington

President Declares Disaster for Oregon

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Oregon to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe winter storm during the period of February 6-10, 2014.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to state 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 a severe winter storm in Benton, Lane, Lincoln, and Linn counties.

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

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

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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.

Original source:

President Declares Disaster for Oregon

FEMA, K-State and Other Organizations Partnering to Prepare Students for Future Disasters

Media Contacts:

FEMA News Desk Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region VII (816) 283-7095

Lynda Bachelor Kansas State University, HandsOn Kansas State (785) 410-4599

Kansas City, Mo. –The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region VII office will partner with Kansas State University (K-State), the American Red Cross, Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KDEM) and other community agencies and organizations for two upcoming events to raise awareness and inspire emergency preparedness on and off campus.

The first event will be a LIVE, one hour virtual Twitter discussion about disaster preparedness. During the second one, ReadyCampus, K-State students will participate in an exercise to familiarize themselves with some things they might expect from emergency management organizations during and after a disaster and learn how to best use social media for emergencies. The American Red Cross will also be there hosting a blood drive. Both events support the national campaign America’s PrepareAthon! (@PrepareAthon), which is designed to increase emergency preparedness and resiliency, http://www.ready.gov/prepare.

“ReadyCampus is a great program and HandsOn K-State is thrilled to host such an important event. We encourage students to take advantage of this unique opportunity to both help their communities–through the blood drive and donating time to build care kits for the Salvation Army– and to prepare for disasters.” said Lynda Bachelor, project coordinator, K-State School of Leadership Studies.

“Both events should be a lot of fun for the students, but more than that—they’ll learn some important skills to take care of themselves and their friends and family when an emergency happens, and we know it will; it’s just a matter of when,” said Beth Freeman, FEMA Administrator, Region VII. “It’s our hope participating young adults will walk away from both events feeling a bit more confident they can handle whatever emergencies come their way.”

ReadyCampus Event

ReadyCampus is a disaster preparedness event geared towards student involvement and will be held at the K-State Bosco Plaza on Tues., April 15, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. CDT. During the event students will learn about local, state and federal programs and resources available to them for emergency preparedness and discover opportunities for student involvement. There will be a walk-through of a mock POD (Point of Distribution) that, in the event of a disaster, could deliver food, medicine and other critical supplies to survivors. At ReadyCampus the POD will distribute materials and information from participating organizations and students will have an opportunity to donate their time to create emergency supply/care kits for people served by the Salvation Army.

Social media is becoming increasingly important for emergency management and the number of people using it during times of crisis is skyrocketing! During this event FEMA representatives will be on-hand teaching attendees the fastest and best ways to use sites like Twitter and Facebook to find critical disaster-related updates and connect with friends and loved ones during emergencies. For those less familiar with social media, they’ll provide tips to make it easy to immediately begin using it to prepare for any future emergencies.

“Done right, social media is the fastest way to get and give information on the planet and it’s free, that’s why it’s a game changer. We want our students to know how to best use it to manage emergencies. They’re going to get some great tips at ReadyCampus, even if they already use social media,” stated Bachelor.

Tweetchat

On Weds., April 9, 2014, join @HandsOn_KState, @FEMARegion7, @KansasEmergency and other participants during a LIVE disaster preparedness and awareness discussion on Twitter from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. CDT. Tweetchat participants will learn how local, state and federal partners support communities before, during and after emergencies and which organizations and agencies do what, when. Everyone is encouraged to participate, using hashtag #ReadyKState. For those who don’t sign into Twitter, you may follow the conversation at https://twitter.com/search?src=typd&q=%23readykstate and email questions to FEMARegion7info@fema.dhs.gov, during the tweetchat.

ReadyCampus and tweetchat participants

American Red Cross, @kscapredcross

Campus Student Security, KSU Emergency Management, Public Safety, @kstate

HandsOn Kansas State, @handson_kstate

KS Citizen Corps (Kansas Division of Emergency Management), @kscitizencorps

K-State Collegian, @kstatecollegian

K-State News, @kstatenews

K-State Ready Campus, @kstateready

Manhattan Fire Department, @manhattanfd

Riley County Emergency Management, @rileycoems

Riley County Police Department, @rileycountypd

Salvation Army, @salarmymokan

Please note, all social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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Visit FEMA Region VII’s website, http://www.fema.gov/region-vii-ia-ks-mo-ne-0 and follow the region on Twitter, http://www.twitter.com/femaregion7. FEMA headquarters is on Twitter, http://www.twitter.com/fema, Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/fema and YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/fema. Also follow Administrator Craig Fugate on Twitter, http://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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FEMA, K-State and Other Organizations Partnering to Prepare Students for Future Disasters

President Declares Disaster for Washington

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Washington to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the area affected by flooding and mudslides beginning on March 22, 2014, and continuing.

This assistance is in addition to the support provided under the Presidential Emergency Declaration granted on March 24, 2014.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Snohomish County, including the Sauk-Suiattle, Stillaguamish, and Tulalip Tribes.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and 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.

Federal funding is available to state and eligible tribal and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work due to flooding and mudslides in Snohomish County, including the lands associated with the Sauk-Suiattle, Stillaguamish, and Tulalip Tribes.

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

Due to the localized impacts of the disaster, FEMA will work closely with residents, tribal members, and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area on a one on one basis.

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

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 Declares Disaster for Washington

FEMA Releases Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Ocean County, NJ

Release Number:

FEMA Region II PR-002–NY, NJ, PR, USVI

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Friday, March 28, 2014, released Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for Ocean County 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 Ocean County that were released in June of 2013 as an interim product.

The new maps are extremely important as FEMA, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and Ocean 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 Ocean 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 Ocean 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.

FEMA Releases Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Ocean County, NJ

FEMA: Capstone 2014 National Exercise Begins

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and its partners begin the Capstone 2014 national exercise to test, assess and improve the nation’s preparedness and resilience from catastrophic disasters.

The Capstone 2014 exercise examines the core capabilities described in the National Preparedness Goal. This multi-event design recognizes the need for comprehensive all-hazards planning and the complexity to ensure exercise objectives are met. Capstone 2014 is a complex emergency preparedness exercise comprised of five distinct, but linked, component events. This year’s exercise components include Alaska Shield, Ardent Sentry 14, Nuclear Weapon Accident/Incident Exercise, Eagle Horizon, and Silver Phoenix.

“In order to be ready for disasters, as a nation, we have to practice how we would respond,” FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said. “In Capstone 2014, FEMA joins state, tribal and local government, along with our partners in the non-profit, faith-based and private sectors to test and assess our joint preparedness for a disaster. Preparedness is a team effort, and every family and business can take steps to be ready for disasters by learning your risks, making a plan, and having a kit. Visit www.ready.gov to learn easy steps on how to prepare and take action.”

By congressional mandate, these exercises—formerly known as National Level Exercises and the Top Officials exercises— represent the culmination of a two-year cycle and are designed to educate and prepare participants for potential catastrophic events. These exercises are facilitated by FEMA’s National Exercise Division.

The exercise is national in scope with the goal of fostering coordination and building relationships prior to an incident occurring. Each exercise cycle varies from drills to functional assessments, and it challenges participants from all levels of government, non-governmental and private sector organizations and other organizations representing the whole community.

Various aspects of local, state, federal, non-governmental, private sector and other whole community organizations will be tested by the exercise, including the emergency response to mass casualties from the earthquake, resulting infrastructure, communication and coordination challenges and the tangential element of hazardous materials spills.

Among the exercises and participants are the following:

Alaska Shield: FEMA and state emergency management agencies, including Alaska, will commemorate the anniversary of the 1964 9.2 magnitude Great Alaskan Earthquake, with an exercise that tests response and mass casualty care.

Ardent Sentry 14: In conjunction with Alaska Shield and other exercises during the period, the Department of Defense will exercise its Defense Support to Civilian Authorities’ mission.

Nuclear Weapon Accident/Incident Exercise: The Department of Energy will participate in the exercise with a scenario that tests response and recovery following an accident during secure transport convoy of nuclear weapons.

Eagle Horizon 2014: During this exercise, many federal departments and agencies will activate their continuity of operations and reconstitution planning to test their continuity plans and ensure that primary mission essential functions can take place from alternate facilities.

Silver Phoenix 2014: This exercise explores challenges associated with examining, prioritizing, and conducting recovery activities involving multiple geographically-dispersed and competing events using the National Disaster Recovery Framework.

For more information on these exercises, visit www.fema.gov/national-level-exercise. Learn more about earthquake preparedness at Ready.gov/earthquakes.

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

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FEMA: Capstone 2014 National Exercise Begins

FEMA Awards $238,112 Grant to Bayfield County: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds will be used to construct a tornado safe room

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today released $238,112 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to Bayfield County, Wis., for the construction of a safe room at the Bayfield County Fairgrounds in Iron River.

“The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program enables communities to implement critical mitigation measures to reduce the risk of loss of life and property,” said Andrew Velasquez III, regional administrator, FEMA Region V. “The construction of this safe room will protect the lives of vulnerable citizens by providing a secure location to seek shelter from tornados and other high wind events.”

Bayfield County has experienced numerous powerful storms in recent years. This safe room will be centrally located in the fairgrounds, across from the grandstand and provide shelter for up to 500 event participants and residents during a severe weather event.

“This safe room could provide life-saving protection during a destructive storm in Bayfield County,” said WEM Administrator Brian Satula. “I am pleased that federal, state and local governments are working together to help build this facility.”

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Through HMGP, FEMA will pay $238,112 or 75 percent of the project’s total cost. Wisconsin Emergency Management Agency and Bayfield County will both contribute 12.5 percent of the funds, or $39,686 each.

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.

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

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FEMA Awards $238,112 Grant to Bayfield County: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds will be used to construct a tornado safe room

FEMA Awards $6,415,688 Grant to City of West Frankfort: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds will be used to make sewer treatment plant improvements

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today released $6,415,688 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to the City of West Frankfort, Ill., for aproposed sewer treatment plant improvement project.

The project includes the relocation of all sewer treatment plant components from the south plant site to the north plant site, where it will be three feet above the base flood elevation.

“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 completion of this project will reduce flood damage and lessen the financial impact on individuals and the community when future flooding occurs in this area.”

“This grant supports an important public health and safety project in West Frankfort,” said Jonathon Monken, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. “Flood waters have knocked the current sewer treatment plant out of service in the past, including for more than 200 days in 2008. Moving the facility above the flood elevation will protect the sewage treatment process from future flood-related disruptions.”

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Through HMGP, FEMA will pay $6,415,688 or 75 percent of the project’s total cost. The City of West Frankfort will contribute 25 percent of the remaining funds, or $2,138,562.

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

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FEMA Awards $6,415,688 Grant to City of West Frankfort: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds will be used to make sewer treatment plant improvements

FEMA Awards $2,698,523 Grant to Des Plaines: Hazard Mitigation funds will be used to acquire and demolish 21 flood prone structures

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved $2,698,523 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to the City of Des Plaines, Ill., for the acquisition and demolition of 21 residential structures in the Big Bend subdivision located in the Des Plaines River floodplain. Following demolition, these properties will be maintained as permanent open space in the community.

“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 acquisition and demolition of these homes permanently removes the structures from the floodplain and greatly reduces the financial impact on individuals and the community when future flooding occurs in this area.

“Approval of this grant is good news for residents in the Big Bend subdivision who have been devastated by flooding many times in the past,” said Jonathon Monken, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. “The grant will enable them to move out of the floodplain and avoid future heartache and property losses.”

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Through HMGP, FEMA will pay 75 percent of the $3,598,030 eligible project cost. The remaining 25 percent of the funds, $899,507 will be provided by Des Plaines through grant funds from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. Additional funding for this project may be released based on the project work schedule and progress.

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

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FEMA Awards $2,698,523 Grant to Des Plaines: Hazard Mitigation funds will be used to acquire and demolish 21 flood prone structures

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