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Help Remains Available After Disaster Recovery Center Closes in Charleston

COLUMBIA, S.C. – One disaster recovery center will close Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 6 p.m.:

Bees Landing Recreation Center, 1580 Ashley Gardens Blvd. in Charleston

Applicants in Charleston may still visit other recovery centers to ask disaster assistance questions. They can locate their closest center by visiting asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

Two other disaster recovery centers remain open in the Charleston area. They are:

Department of Public Works, 5800 Casper Padgett Way, North Charleston
Berkeley Electric Co-op, 3351 Maybank Highway, Johns Island (Closed Saturdays)

Representatives from the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration and other agencies are at centers to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest loans.

Many services available at disaster recovery centers are also available by calling the FEMA helpline. Applicants can get help by calling 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585; those who use 711/VRS can call 800-621-3362. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. The helplines will be closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Survivors can use the helpline to:

Register for federal assistance. Households should register only once.
Ask questions about FEMA decision letters.
Learn how to appeal FEMA decision letters. All applicants may appeal.
Inquire about the status of a registration.
Provide change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information to avoid disaster assistance processing delays.
Receive information about FEMA home inspections.
Get questions answered about federal disaster assistance and the application process.

Applicants should have their nine-digit FEMA registration number and zip code if they want to discuss their application.

For the latest information on South Carolina flood recovery operations, visit scemd.org and fema.gov/disaster/4241.

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Help Remains Available After Disaster Recovery Center Closes in Charleston

FEMA Awards $63.6 million to New Mexico for Road Repairs in Eddy County

DENTON, Texas — The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently awarded more than $63.6 million to the state of New Mexico for road repairs and hazard mitigation as a result of severe storms and flooding in September 2014. A federal disaster declaration (DR-4199-NM) designated eight counties eligible for Public Assistance grants.

This award provides $63,602,780 in federal funding to Eddy County for permanent repairs and hazard mitigation to 24 aggregate, asphalt, and chip-and-seal roadways. A total of 111 miles of county roads sustained base and surface erosion due to flooding.

The FEMA grant includes more than $35.3 million for permanent road repairs. Another $28.3 million in funding is for hazard mitigation – measures taken to avoid future damage from flooding. This funding is provided to raise the roadways where additional elevation will prevent the road from becoming a water drainage channel.

“We are committed to working with our state partners to assist communities as they recover from natural disasters and rebuild critical infrastructure,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “This grant will help Eddy County rebuild roads to withstand flood waters in the future.”

FEMA obligates funding for this project directly to the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Following the state’s review process and upon receipt of appropriate documentation, it will provide funds to Eddy County on a reimbursable basis.

FEMA Public Assistance grants pay the federal share of the eligible costs for the work and will cover 75 percent of the work performed on this road project. The funding is provided by FEMA under authority of Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act.

The mission of FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant Program is to provide assistance to state, tribal and local governments, and certain types of private nonprofit organizations so communities can respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies declared by the president. Learn more about FEMA’s Public Assistance at http://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit.

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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. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 , on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA and visit the FEMA blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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FEMA Awards $63.6 million to New Mexico for Road Repairs in Eddy County

Help Remains Available After Disaster Recovery Center Closes in Bamberg

COLUMBIA, S.C. – One disaster recovery center will close Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 6 p.m.:

Department of Social Services building, 374 Log Branch Road in Bamberg

Applicants in Bamberg may still visit other recovery centers to ask disaster assistance questions. They can locate their closest center by visiting asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

Survivors can use the helpline to:

Register for federal assistance. Households should register only once.
Ask questions about FEMA decision letters.
Learn how to appeal FEMA decision letters. All applicants may appeal.
Inquire about the status of a registration.
Provide change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information to avoid disaster assistance processing delays.
Receive information about FEMA home inspections.
Get questions answered about federal disaster assistance and the application process.

Applicants should have their nine-digit FEMA registration number and zip code if they want to discuss their application.

For the latest information on South Carolina flood recovery operations, visit scemd.org and fema.gov/disaster/4241.

Excerpt from:

Help Remains Available After Disaster Recovery Center Closes in Bamberg

Multiagency Team Working to Reduce Erosion and Flooding Threat in Eastern Washington

CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Washington’s devastating 2014 and 2015 wildfire seasons put vast areas of the state at risk of erosion and flooding, posing additional dangers to residents and communities. Today, a collaborative effort among all levels of government is finding ways to reduce that risk.

On Dec. 15-17, 2015, the Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division (EMD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will host a three-day workshop in Wenatchee to address topics such as assessments of burned areas in Eastern Washington, efforts already undertaken to reduce threats, analysis of unmet needs, and potential funding sources for new efforts to protect people and infrastructure.

The workshop will bring together partners on the Erosion Threat Assessment/Reduction Team, or ETART, a group first formed following Washington’s Carlton Complex Fire of 2014 and reactivated following the Oct. 20, 2015, federal disaster declaration for this summer’s historic wildfires.

Federal participants on the ETART include FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Weather Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, among others.

The state and local partners include Washington EMD, the Washington State Conservation Commission, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Okanagan and Whatcom conservation districts.

ETART relies on reports and assessments developed by various Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams. BAER is a process created by the U.S. Forest Service and modified and used by several local teams to determine erosion risks and recommend appropriate treatments.

“When the land is stripped of trees and other vegetation by fire, healthy roots that soak up rainwater are lost,” said Anna Daggett, FEMA’s ETART coordinator. “Even moderate rain on burn scars can cause flash flooding or debris flows that can severely damage infrastructure, homes and businesses downstream.”

After the president issued a major disaster declaration for the 2014 Carlton Complex Fire, FEMA’s Public Assistance program provided about $2.4 million in grants targeted specifically for ETART-identified projects to reduce immediate threats of significant additional damage to improved public or private property. The federal share amounted to 75 percent of the total cost of $3.2 million for these projects. The state and local partners covered 25 percent, or $800,000.

ETART assessments provided important information to EMD and FEMA to justify these grants.

The 2014 measures were able to reduce substantially the effects of the wildfires by clearing culverts and ditches of debris, installing straw wattles to counter erosion, shoring up breached pond dams, and spreading grass seed over vast areas that had burned.

“ETART has shown to be an effective way to address post-fire dangers,’ said Gary Urbas, EMD’s ETART coordinator. “Merging the work of so many experienced partners allows the team to tackle tough problems in our state.”

ETART now will be looking for additional financing streams, including other FEMA and federal programs as well as local and state sources, with the goal of significantly reducing damages resulting from post-fire flooding and erosion in Eastern Washington.

More information about the PA program is available at www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit and on the Washington EMD website at http://mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division/disaster-assistance/public-assistance.

Additional information regarding the federal response to the 2015 wildfire disaster, including funds obligated, is available at www.fema.gov/disaster/4243.

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Multiagency Team Working to Reduce Erosion and Flooding Threat in Eastern Washington

Help Remains Available After Disaster Recovery Centers Close in Elgin, Huger and Newberry

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Three disaster recovery centers will close Saturday, Dec. 5 at 3 p.m.:

Blaney Fire Department at 1200 Rose St. in Elgin
Berkeley County Emergency Management Station No. 7 at 1501 Recreation Road in Huger
Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at 540 Wilson Road in Newberry

Applicants in Elgin, Huger and Newberry may still visit other recovery centers to ask disaster assistance questions. They can locate their closest center by visiting asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

Applicants also can get help by calling 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585; those who use 711/VRS can call 800-621-3362. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

For the latest information on South Carolina flood recovery operations, visit scemd.org and fema.gov/disaster/4241.

Help Remains Available After Disaster Recovery Centers Close in Elgin, Huger and Newberry

Replacing personal documents after a natural disaster

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Wildfire survivors in Calaveras and Lake counties who lost important documents can use this guide to help obtain replacements.

All of the organizations listed below offer online resources. If personal computers aren’t available, public libraries and other agencies may have computers available to the general public.

Document	Who to Contact for Replacement
EBT Card	California’s CalFresh is part of the federal program known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP – formerly known as Food Stamps). Lost EBT card replacements – Call 877-328-9677 right away, or contact your local county social services worker.
Birth and Death Certificates	Birth and Death Certificates-California Department of Public Health or online at www.cdph.ca.gov or by calling 916-445-2684. $25 fee for replacement.
Lost Green Card	Go to www.uscis.gov and complete the Form I-90, application to replace a permanent resident card, and file it online or by mail. Call 800-375-5283 to check the status of your application.
California Driver License	Visit a California DMV office to complete an application. Replacement license forms must be delivered in person. For more information, call 800-777-0133.

Bank Checks, ATM/Debit Cards, or Safe Deposit Boxes	Contact your financial institution or get contact information from the FDIC by calling 877-275-3342 or going to www.fdic.gov.
Credit Cards	Contact the issuing institution: American Express 800-992-3404 or www.home.americanexpress.com Discover 800-347-2683 or www.discover.com/credit-cards/help-center/ Master Card 800-622-7747 or www.mastercard.com/cgi-bin/emergserv.cgi Visa 800-847-2911 or www.usa.visa.com NOTE: If you don’t remember all the credit cards you had, obtain a credit report from any of the three major credit bureaus.
Credit Report	Equifax, Experian or TransUnion 877-322-8228 or www.annualcreditreport.com
Social Security Card	Social Security 800-772-1213 or www.ssa.gov
Fraud Alerts or a Credit Freeze	Fraud Alerts: Call the identity theft helpline at 877-438-4338; contact the FTC at: www.ftc.gov
Medicare Cards	Social Security Administration 800 772-1213 or www.socialsecurity.gov/medicarecard/
Passport	U.S. Department of State, Passport Services, Consular Lost/Stolen Passport Section 202-955-0430 or 877-487-2778 or www.travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/lost-stolen.html
U.S. Savings Bonds	U.S. Department of Treasury 800-722-2678 or www.treasurydirect.gov
Tax Returns	Internal Revenue Service 800-829-1040 or download the Request for Copy of Tax Return at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf
Military Records	National Archives and Records Administration 866-272-6272 or www.archives.gov/contact/

The deadline to register with FEMA for disaster assistance is Monday Nov. 23. Survivors can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362; TTY 800-462-7585; 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

For more information on California’s wildfire recovery, visit: caloes.ca.gov and follow us on Twitter @cal_OES, and on Facebook.com/CaliforniaOES. For FEMA, go to fema.gov/disaster/4240 and follow us on Twitter @femaregion9 and at Facebook.com/FEMA.

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 are referred to SBA for a disaster loan must apply to be eligible for additional FEMA assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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Replacing personal documents after a natural disaster

FEMA, State Broadcasters’ Associations and Emergency Managers to Test the Emergency Alert System

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in cooperation with state, local, and tribal emergency managers and state broadcasters’ associations, will conduct a test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Tuesday, November 17, 2015 in six states at 1:20 p.m. PST.

FEMA will send the voluntary EAS test message signal through its Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) from the exhibit floor of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. Broadcasters are voluntarily participating in the test from Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The EAS test is scheduled to last approximately one minute.

The message will be the same as typical EAS test messages, with the word “national” added to the message: “This is a national test of the Emergency Alert System. This is only a test.” The test is designed to have limited impact on the public. There is no Federal Commissions Commission regulatory liability for stations that choose not to participate. The EAS test might also be seen and heard in bordering states participating in the test, including California, Oregon, Idaho, Texas, Wyoming, Colorado, Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan.

The test will assess the operational readiness of FEMA’s IPAWS infrastructure that will distribute a national-level EAS test message to radio, television and cable operations from origination to reception by the public. In 2007, FEMA began modernizing the nation’s public alert and warning system by integrating new technologies into existing alert systems. IPAWS connects public safety officials, such as emergency managers, police and fire departments to multiple communications channels to send alerts to the public when a disaster or other imminent danger occurs.

More information on the Public Alert and Warning System and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) is available at www.fema.gov/ipaws or www.ready.gov/alerts.

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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.

More here:

FEMA, State Broadcasters’ Associations and Emergency Managers to Test the Emergency Alert System

FEMA Hiring Local Employees for South Carolina Disaster Recovery Offices

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency is hiring South Carolinians for full-time, temporary jobs at offices in Blythewood, Florence and North Charleston.

The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce and FEMA are working together to advertise job opportunities. To apply for open positions, create an account on the jobs.scworks.org website.

The following positions are needed:

Administrative assistant
Logistics management specialist
Courier
Program liaison
Speakers bureau specialist
Digital communications specialist
Writer/editor
GIS specialist
Environmental specialist
Environmental floodplain specialist
Historic preservation specialist
Switchboard operator

More positions may be posted on the SCworks website as disaster recovery continues.

Candidates must be U.S. citizens 18 years of age or older. They must have a valid government identification card, such as a driver’s license or military ID. Before hiring, selected candidates will be subject to a complete background investigation.

FEMA is committed to employing a highly qualified workforce that reflects the diversity of our nation. All applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, political affiliation, nondisqualifying physical handicap, sexual orientation and any other nonmerit factor. The federal government is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4241 and http://www.scemd.org/ for news and information about South Carolina’s recovery.

Taken from:

FEMA Hiring Local Employees for South Carolina Disaster Recovery Offices

Bridging a Link to History at Liberty State Park

Eatontown, N.J. — When it comes to destruction, disasters like Superstorm Sandy don’t discriminate: historic structures and environmentally sensitive areas that lie in the path of a storm are in just as much peril as less significant sites.

But when a historic structure or ecologically fragile area is damaged in a disaster, particular care must be taken to ensure that any repair or remediation that must take place is done in accordance with historic and environmental regulations.

To accomplish that, state, county and local officials in the impacted area are able to draw on the support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Environmental and Historic Preservation Specialists.

The EHP cadre plays a critical role in helping municipalities and agencies understand the importance of compliance with environmental and cultural regulations so they may make informed planning decisions.

A view of the damaged Liberty State Park pedestrian bridge

The Liberty State Park pedestrian bridge was destroyed in Sandy.

EHP provides expertise and technical assistance to FEMA staff, local, state and federal partners and applicants who are tasked with the challenge of preserving historic, cultural and natural aspects of our national heritage. They help applicants understand what is required under the law and how best to meet those requirements.

At Liberty State Park, which is adjacent to Jersey City, Superstorm Sandy destroyed a popular pedestrian bridge that provided access to the park for walkers and cyclists in the Jersey City area.

With the help of specialists from FEMA’s Environmental and Historic Preservation Department, city officials acted quickly to develop a plan for reconstructing the bridge.

The city applied for a FEMA Public Assistance grant which, if the project was approved, would reimburse the city for most of the reconstruction costs.

Because the original bridge traversed environmentally sensitive wetlands, it was important that any new construction be environmentally acceptable and that it occupy the same footprint as the previous bridge.

The park, an oasis of green space adjacent to the bustle of Jersey City, offers recreational facilities, a science museum, and several historic sites including the historic Central Railroad of New Jersey terminal where new immigrants arriving from Ellis Island boarded the trains that would take them to new lives across America.

The park is also the site of a memorial honoring those who died in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, titled Empty Sky. It is the most heavily visited park in the state.

Located just across the river from lower Manhattan, Liberty State Park also played a critical role following the attacks of 9/11 as a staging area for first responders.

With so many reasons for area residents to visit the park, restoring access via the pedestrian bridge was a priority for Jersey City officials.

The cost of replacing the 120-foot-long, 10-foot-wide bridge replacement project was estimated at $834,600. Jersey City’s Assistant City Engineer Jeff Reeves chose a pre-fabricated bridge that could be lifted onto the foundation via a crane. The pre-made span cost $160,000.

Restoring the foundation cost an additional $650,000, which included the demolition of the remnants of the original bridge and the installation of necessary components such as foundation “riprap.”

The final cost for reconstruction of the foundation and replacement of the pedestrian bridge came in under budget at $755,642 which represents the 90% federal share of the total cost.

The new Ethel Pesin Liberty Footbridge

Because the total cost of disaster recovery in New Jersey exceeded a benchmark set by the federal government according to a specific formula, the federal share of the cost of the bridge replacement was increased to 90 percent with the remaining 10 percent borne by the state and the City of Jersey City.

On June 20, 2013, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy dedicated the new bridge, which has been officially named the “Ethel Pesin Liberty Footbridge” in memory of the woman who, with her husband, Morris, worked tirelessly to establish the park. A community leader and founding trustee of the Friends of Liberty State Park, Pesin died early in 2013.

“We know how important this piece of infrastructure is to our residents, and that is why we worked with OEM and our engineering staff to find a way to expedite the replacement of the Jersey Avenue footbridge,” the mayor said.

Today, walkers and cyclists are again able to enjoy the recreational facilities at Liberty State Park and visit the park’s historic sites via the Jersey Avenue Bridge.

And because of the teamwork between state and local officials and FEMA’s EHP experts, the environmentally sensitive wetlands that surround the bridge have been protected.

Please be sure to watch the video titled, “Apr 17, 2013– Liberty State Park – A Gift Worth Saving” at http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/82646

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 FEMA online at www.twitter.com/FEMASandy,www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/fema, www.fema.gov/blog, 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.”

Source article:

Bridging a Link to History at Liberty State Park

Disaster Recovery Centers in South Carolina Open in Florence and Kershaw Counties

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Two disaster recovery centers are open in Florence and Kershaw counties to help South Carolina flood survivors. The centers are open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.

Representatives from the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Small Business Administration and other agencies will be at the centers to explain disaster assistance programs and help survivors apply for aid.

The disaster recovery centers are located at the following addresses:

Florence County
Holiness Conference Center (Evans Dining Hall)
620 Ron McNair Blvd.
Lake City, SC 29560

Kershaw County
Blaney Fire Department
2344 Highway 1 South
Elgin, SC 29045

If possible, before going to a disaster recovery center, people with flooding losses should register with FEMA. They can go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages, and lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week until further notice.

Disaster survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585. If survivors use 711 or VRS (Video Relay Service) or require accommodations while visiting a center, call 800-621- 3362.

All disaster recovery centers are accessible and equipped with tools to accommodate disaster survivors who need disability related communication aids.

Federal disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for temporary rental assistance and essential home repairs for primary residences not covered by insurance.

Low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration are also available to help with business, homeowner and renter uninsured losses.

Survivors and businesses should first register with FEMA and may obtain information on SBA disaster loan applications by calling 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people who are deaf or hard of hearing) or online. They may also apply online.

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 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.

Taken from:

Disaster Recovery Centers in South Carolina Open in Florence and Kershaw Counties

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