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FEMA Support Eases Local Nonprofit’s Recovery Costs

NEW ORLEANS – The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently announced nearly half-a-million dollars in recovery aid to a local nonprofit, the Family Center of Hope, bringing the federal agency’s overall Katrina and Rita recovery support for private, nonprofits within Louisiana to approximately $1.3 billion.

“Louisiana’s recovery continues to progress through joint efforts,” said FEMA’s Louisiana Recovery Office Deputy Director of Programs Andre Cadogan. “Nonprofits, such as the Family Center of Hope in New Orleans, are key recovery partners, driving overall growth through providing essential community services to local residents.”

As a community center, The Family Center of Hope, located at 4137 Washington Avenue, offers social services, including counseling, tutoring, and conflict resolution and outreach programs at local schools.

“The Family Center of Hope is very thankful and excited to receive these funds from FEMA for the completion of our project. We have served this community well for more than 20 years, and we will maintain our strong partnership with the city of New Orleans and our state officials to ensure that our new facility continues to address the many social ills plaguing children and their families in this community,” said Family Center of Hope Executive Director Patricia Watson.

During Hurricane Katrina, the community center’s roof was significantly damaged, allowing rain waters to enter the facility, which caused second floor damages. Likewise, approximately eight feet of floodwaters inundated and destroyed the first floor. As a result, the Family Center of Hope applied for and initially received both Community Block Grants and Capital Outlay Grants to fund the majority of necessary repair work.

Still, there were remaining repair costs, and in 2011, the Family Center of Hope became aware of their eligibility as a nonprofit to also apply for FEMA aid under the agency’s Public Assistance Program. Their request for recovery assistance recently resulted in FEMA providing $445,377 for eligible, Katrina-related building repairs not previously funded under CBDG and COG.

With remaining repairs underway, the Family Center of Hope community center will soon maintain the same capacity and function as it did pre-Katrina. It is anticipated to reopen in the summer of 2013.

Editors: For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/latro.

Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/femalro, blog.fema.gov, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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.

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FEMA Support Eases Local Nonprofit’s Recovery Costs

Disaster Assistance Deadline Extended

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today, the deadline to apply for disaster assistance in both Cleveland and Creek counties is being extended to Wednesday, Nov. 21.

“We want to make sure that all eligible residents have enough time to apply for assistance,” said State Coordinating Officer and OEM Deputy Director Michelann Ooten. “The two counties were not declared at the same time. That is why we are extending the deadline.”

“We hope this additional time will ensure that every one in Cleveland and Creek counties affected by the wildfires has an opportunity to register for state and federal assistance,” said Federal Coordinating Officer William J. Doran III of FEMA. “We want to be sure to reach all wildfire survivors who still need help.”

Nov. 21 will be the last day for residents to apply for state and federal disaster assistance to help them recover from the Aug. 3-14 wildfires This deadline also applies to homeowners, renters and businesses submitting applications for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Residents with computers or smartphones may apply or track their status online at; www.disasterassistance.gov, or web-enabled phones at m.fema.gov or the FEMA app, or if they prefer, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585. If 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.

Homeowners, renters and businesses affected by the wildfires, can apply for an SBA disaster loan after registering with FEMA by going online to SBA’s secure site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela; calling 1-800-659-2955 or TTY 1-800-877-8339. For information on SBA disaster assistance, go to www.sba.gov.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofits for their uncompensated physical disaster losses (homes, personal property and business assets). For small businesses and most private nonprofits, SBA disaster loans are available to cover working capital needs caused by the disaster, whether or not the business suffered physical damage.

To date, more than 750 residents of Cleveland and Creek counties have applied for assistance. Nearly $9.8 million in federal assistance has been distributed in Cleveland and Creek counties to help residents with their recovery efforts.

For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click on www.fema.gov/disaster/4078 or www.oem.ok.gov. Information can also be accessed via smartphone at m.fema.gov or the FEMA app.

Follow the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management 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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Disaster Assistance Deadline Extended

When in Doubt, Register for Disaster Assistance

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urge Cleveland and Creek County residents who sustained property damage or losses from the Aug. 3-14 wildfires to apply for disaster assistance even if they think they may not qualify.

You have insurance
Your well and septic system was damaged
You already started to rebuild – save receipts for work already done
You think you may not qualify

You can call the same number you called when you registered to:

Confirm your registration
Check your status if you called before your county was declared a major disaster
Change your contact information or report additional damages

“Don’t prejudge your eligibility. You may be eligible for assistance you didn’t think was available,” said State Coordinating Officer and OEM Deputy Director Michelann Ooten.

“Registering provides access to a host of Federal, State and voluntary programs. We are here to provide assistance for all eligible applicants,” said Federal Coordinating Officer William J. Doran III. “FEMA may provide assistance that can address a person’s specific needs, not just housing.”

Federal disaster assistance may include FEMA’s grants to help pay for temporary housing, emergency home repairs or other serious disaster-related expenses, such as wells or septic tanks, medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs, not covered by insurance or other sources.

Since the disaster declaration, 596 individuals in Creek County and 150 in Cleveland County affected by the wildfires applied for assistance with FEMA.
Homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations, that have not yet registered should do so now by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585, visiting www.disasterassistance.gov or m.fema.gov via web-enabled phones or using the FEMA app. Anyone using 711 Relay or Video Relay Services can call 1-800-621-3362. Phone lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT seven days a week; multilingual operators are available.

To apply for a disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): After registering with FEMA, go online to SBA’s secure site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela; call 1-800-659-2955 or TTY 1-800-877-8339; or visit the Disaster Recovery Center in Noble. For more information on SBA disaster assistance, go to www.sba.gov.

SBA’s low-interest disaster loans are available to homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofits for their uncompensated physical disaster losses (homes, personal property and business assets). For small businesses and most private nonprofits, SBA disaster loans are available to cover working capital needs caused by the disaster, whether or not the business suffered physical damage.

It is important that anyone receiving an SBA disaster loan application complete and return it. Returning the application does not obligate you to accept an SBA loan; however, it is a necessary step to be considered for other additional forms of federal disaster assistance

For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click on www.fema.gov/disaster/4078 or www.oem.ok.gov. Information can also be accessed via smartphone at m.fema.gov or the FEMA app.

Follow the 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.

When in Doubt, Register for Disaster Assistance

SBA Disaster Loan Application Is Win-Win Situation – Apply Before Win-Window Closes

Clinton, Miss. – Disaster recovery officials are concerned that many homeowners and renters with Hurricane Isaac losses could miss out on valuable grants and low-interest loans by not returning completed applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

“This is a win-win situation for everybody who received a disaster loan application from the SBA, even if they’re leaning away from a loan,” said Mississippi Emergency Management Director Robert Latham. “If the SBA is not able to approve your home loan application, you could be referred back to FEMA for a possible grant. And if you qualify for a loan, there is no obligation to take it.”

Many disaster survivors receive loan applications from the SBA after registering with FEMA for help. Loan applications are also available from disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/. Property damage loan applications must be returned to the SBA no later than Oct. 31, 2012.

Business owners, although not eligible for grants, can apply for low-interest SBA disaster loans to cover uninsured losses to business assets such as real estate, machinery, equipment, inventory and more.

Small businesses can also qualify for economic injury disaster loans. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.

SBA representatives are at each of the MEMA/FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers and SBA Business Recovery centers to provide information about disaster loans and offer assistance filing disaster loan applications. To locate a center or learn more about SBA disaster loans, call 800-659-2955,
(TTY) 800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing or send an e-mail to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

To start all forms of disaster assistance, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, m.fema.gov or call 800-621-3362.

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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 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.

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SBA Disaster Loan Application Is Win-Win Situation – Apply Before Win-Window Closes

Los Angeles, San Francisco Emergency Managers Appointed to FEMA’s Post-Katrina National Advisory Council

Date: September 26, 2012

RIX-12-11

Media Contact: FEMA News Desk Region 9 (510) 627-7006 or (626) 431-3843

Los Angeles, San Francisco Emergency Managers Appointed to FEMA’s Post-Katrina National Advisory Council
Jim Featherstone, General Manager of the Emergency Management Department of the
City of Los Angeles will Chair Council

Oakland, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the appointment of nine new members and the reappointment of one member to the FEMA National Advisory Council (NAC). Mandated by Congress in the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, the mission of the NAC is to ensure effective and ongoing coordination of federal preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation for natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. The NAC is comprised of state, tribal and local governments, private sector, and non-governmental partners who advise and provide recommendations on a variety of issues within emergency management to the FEMA Administrator.

“The NAC has provided thoughtful guidance on a range of issues, including integrating access and functional needs in emergency planning, considering the needs of children in disaster response operations, and engaging the whole community to develop and implement the agency’s mission,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “I congratulate the new members on their appointment. This council represents the interests and expertise of the whole community and I look forward to hearing their recommendations.”

Members of the NAC are appointed by the FEMA Administrator to serve for three years and represent a geographic and significant cross section of officials from emergency management and law enforcement, and include homeland security directors, adjutants general, and emergency response officers from state, local, and tribal governments, private sector, and non-governmental organizations.

Jim Featherstone, the General Manager of the Emergency Management Department of the city of Los Angeles, has been reappointed as the NAC Chair. Teresa Scott, the Director of Public Works for the city of Gainesville, Florida, has been selected to finish her second term as the Vice Chair for the NAC.

The new NAC members are:

Senator Joseph Bolkcom, Assistant Majority Leader, State Senator, Iowa State Senate
Dr. Sarita Chung, Director and Attending Physician, Disaster Preparedness Division of Emergency Medicine, Children’s Hospital Boston
Ms. Anne Kronenberg, Executive Director, San Francisco Department of Emergency Management
Mr. Robert Maloney, Director of the Office of Emergency Management, Baltimore City, Maryland
Mr. Ken Miyagishima, Mayor, City of Las Cruces, New Mexico
Mr. Joseph Nimmich, Director, Maritime Surveillance and Security, Raytheon Homeland Security
Mr. Thomas Powers, Vice President, Corporate Security and Safety, Iron Mountain
Mr. Earl Pat Santos, Deputy Director, Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP), Louisiana
Lieutenant General Guy Swan, Vice President of Education and Executive Director, Institute of Land Warfare at the Association of the US Army

Additional information on the NAC, including a list of current members, can be found at http://www.fema.gov/national-advisory-council.

Follow FEMA Region 9 on Twitter! https://twitter.com/femaregion9

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Los Angeles, San Francisco Emergency Managers Appointed to FEMA’s Post-Katrina National Advisory Council

Private Nonprofit Organizations may be Eligible for Disaster Aid

REISTERSTOWN, MD—Kenneth Mallette, Director of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, is urging all private nonprofit organizations who incurred costs from the severe storms and straight-line winds, which impacted Maryland beginning on June 29, 2012, to apply for disaster assistance under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) Public Assistance Program.

Here are some qualifiers to help determine eligibility:

Private nonprofit organizations must hold tax exempt status under Section 501 (c), (d) or (e) of the IRS Code or have State certification that your organization is a non-revenue producing nonprofit entity, organized or doing business under State law.
Organizations must have incurred costs related to the June storm. These costs could be for debris removal and clean-up, emergency protective measures (emergency response services, evacuation) or permanent damage to your facility.
The service or facility being claimed must be open to the public.
The organization must provide essential government-like services, and be in a county designated under the Federal disaster declaration. The designated areas are Calvert, Charles, Kent, Montgomery and St. Mary’s Counties and the Independent City of Baltimore.
Eligible damage must meet the $1,000 threshold.

If private nonprofit organizations feel they qualify and may be an eligible applicant, they should contact the Maryland Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance Program office at 410-517-3604 or 1-877-636-2872.

An Applicants’ Briefing will be held at the Rice Auditorium, located on the grounds of Spring Grove Hospital Center, 55 Wade Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228, on Wednesday, August 29, 2012, from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Potential applicants are encouraged to attend. The Request for Public Assistance (RPA) and PNP Questionnaire (attached) must be completed and received by the Maryland Emergency Management Agency by 09/01/2012. Forms may be emailed to Kelly.devilbiss@maryland.gov or faxed to 410-517-3610.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. FEMA Region III’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion3.

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Private Nonprofit Organizations may be Eligible for Disaster Aid

The FEMA Declaration Process: Know the Facts

SAN JUAN, PR – As the peak of the hurricane season rapidly approaches and to manage accurate expectations, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials explain the response process to an emergency event and the course of action for any potential federal declaration.

“At the local, state and federal governments we are prepared and ready to effectively respond to, recover from, and mitigate against any disaster, but it is important to highlight that it also takes all aspects of a community, volunteer, faith and community-based organizations, the private sector, and the public, including survivors themselves, to prepare because it is possible that assistance could take up to 72 hours to arrive ,” explained FEMA’s Caribbean Area Division Director, Alejandro De La Campa.

When an emergency incident occurs, whether a natural or man-made event, the local, state and federal governments engage in a series of responding procedures, which include emergency response measures, communication protocols, organizational structure, terminology and key resources to achieve an even surge of efforts in responding to incidents at all levels of government.

In the Territory of the US Virgin Islands (USVI), as well as in the United States, if an effective response is beyond the capability of local and state governments and voluntary organizations, the magnitude and severity of the damage is assessed to determine if federal assistance is needed. This evaluation, known as a preliminary damage assessment (PDA), is conducted by local, state and federal governments and estimates the extent of the disaster and its impact on individuals and public facilities.

The Governor of USVI must request a disaster declaration to the President of the United States through the Regional FEMA office. The USVI is under the jurisdiction of FEMA Region II based in New York, which serves New York, New Jersey and Puerto Rico, as well. The request should explain the insufficiency of state and local resources and include: damage estimates, committed resources and requested assistance.

Normally, the PDA is completed prior to the submission of the Governor’s request. However, when an obviously severe or catastrophic event occurs, the Governor’s request may be submitted prior to the PDA. Nonetheless, the Governor must still make the request.

A presidential declaration activates assistance under the Stafford Act that includes Individual Assistance for individuals and family households, Public Assistance for government infrastructure and Hazard Mitigation, which grants assistance to local, state governments and certain nonprofit organizations to implement hazard mitigation measures in the declared jurisdiction.

If you want to learn more about your community emergency evacuation plan, contact your local emergency management office. Further information on how to prepare for an emergency is available at www.fema.gov or www.ready.gov.

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The FEMA Declaration Process: Know the Facts

Louisiana Export and Import Gateway Receives FEMA Assistance

NEW ORLEANS – The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently announced $210,000 in federal aid to the Port of South Louisiana, the largest tonnage port district in the western hemisphere, for damages incurred during Hurricane Katrina.

Stretching more than 54 miles along the Mississippi River, the Port of South Louisiana is called on by approximately 4,000 oceangoing vessels and 55,000 barges each year and owns facilities within St. Charles, St. James and St. John the Baptist parishes.

FEMA’s recent funding for hurricane damages pertain to the port’s Globalplex Intermodal Terminal located in Reserve, La., within St. John the Baptist Parish. This terminal provides handling and storage for bulk, break bulk and containerized cargo. During Hurricane Katrina, strong winds and flooding damaged its scale and security house facility.

“As a result of Katrina’s damages, the terminal’s scale and security house currently operates from a temporary facility. FEMA’s recent grant will aid in the construction of a permanent facility for the port,” said FEMA’s Louisiana Recovery Office Deputy Director of Programs Andre Cadogan.

Located at the entrance to the terminal, the scale and security facility ensures that all entering vehicles and occupants register with the guards, and containers and goods are also weighed upon entrance as needed. Construction of the new, post-Katrina scale and security facility is expected to begin soon.

“We appreciate FEMA’s response to the port’s needs for a replacement to the port terminal’s scale and security house facility,” said Port of South Louisiana Executive Director Joel Chaisson.

To date, including this recent grant, FEMA has provided approximately $800,000 to the Port of South Louisiana for hurricane-related damages. This funding represents mentioned damages from Hurricane Katrina and other damages incurred during Hurricane Gustav.

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Louisiana Export and Import Gateway Receives FEMA Assistance

Plaquemines Parish Emergency Management System Benefits From Flexible FEMA Grant

NEW ORLEANS – The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today $582,000 in consolidated federal funding to Plaquemines Parish for contents damaged during Hurricane Katrina throughout several of their emergency management system buildings.

During the storm, Plaquemines’ Port Sulphur EMS Building, Pointe a la Hache EMS Building, Braithwaite Ambulance Office and Health Department Building all sustained extensive damages, resulting in FEMA previously providing separate grants to replace each of their respective contents losses. More recently, Plaquemines Parish requested FEMA to fund an improved project to consolidate these multiple grants into one through using a broader content categorization system.

“Our recent funding approves this request, providing Plaquemines Parish the flexible recovery support necessary to purchase new contents to meet their overarching, post-Katrina EMS needs,” said FEMA’s Louisiana Recovery Office Deputy Director of Programs Andre Cadogan.

Before, Plaquemines Parish needed to replace damaged contents “item for item” when using federal dollars, whereas this new approach allows them to buy similar items within five agreed upon categories—information technology, emergency medical service equipment and supplies, office equipment and supplies, furnishings, and kitchen and laundry equipment and supplies.

“This is another example of the great team work that FEMA is doing. Because of these efforts we have made great progress in rebuilding our great parish. I am thankful for the ongoing relationship we have with the people at FEMA,” said Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser.

To date, including this recent consolidated grant, FEMA has provided approximately $808.5 million for hurricanes Katrina and Rita recovery efforts throughout Plaquemines Parish.

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Plaquemines Parish Emergency Management System Benefits From Flexible FEMA Grant

Atlantic Hurricane Season Beings Today

Release Date: June 1, 2012
Release Number: HQ-12-041

MIAMI, Fla. — Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today joined FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, Deputy Administrator Rich Serino, NOAA National Hurricane Center Director Bill Read and Florida Governor Rick Scott to discuss the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season outlook and preparedness measures with leadership of hurricane-prone states.

“We may not know exactly what Mother Nature will bring this year, but we are leaning forward in our preparations, utilizing the ‘Whole Community Approach’,” said Secretary Napolitano. “As part of this approach, we are engaging the broadest possible set of partners in our preparedness efforts—integrating planning across federal, state, local, tribal and territorial governments as well as with private sector, community, non-governmental, and faith-based partners.”

Hurricane season begins June 1 and extends through November 30. Being aware of risks and hazards and taking the steps to prepare can reduce the impacts of hurricanes.

“Hurricane season officially begins today and yet we have already had two named storms,” said FEMA Administrator Fugate. “When it comes to preparing for disasters, don’t simply focus on the calendar … focus on the need to be prepared. You can go to www.ready.gov and find all of the tools and information you need to prepare your home, business and family.”

This season, we ask families, communities and businesses to be a force of nature by taking the pledge to prepare at www.ready.gov/hurricanes.

For more information, visit www.ready.gov.

Last Modified: Monday, 04-Jun-2012 16:42:00

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Atlantic Hurricane Season Beings Today

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