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FEMA Deputy Administrator Praises Emergency Medical Services

Release Date: May 23, 2012
Release Number: HQ-12-036

WASHINGTON, D.C. — National Emergency Medical Services Week is May 20-26, and is an opportunity to recognize medical personnel for their dedication and service to the community. As part of this important week, FEMA Deputy Administrator Richard Serino praised EMS professionals nationwide, and emphasized the important role they play in their communities – especially during times of disaster.

On May 23, Serino spoke at the Alameda County Emergency Services Conference in California, where he thanked those in the EMS profession for their hard work and dedication. He recognized that medical personnel are an important part of the emergency management team, operating at the intersection of public health and public safety.

“In a time of crisis, it is the EMS professionals who are the first on the scene,” said Serino. “They are the first to offer care and comfort, and they are the first to offer that immediate assistance when we are most vulnerable and hurting.”

Serino previously served as the Chief of Boston EMS and the Assistant Director of the Boston Public Health Commission, and has been in the EMS community for more than 35 years.

“Over the years, I have watched how technology and new innovations have changed the EMS profession. While the tools that we use have changed over the years, one thing hasn’t: the selfless commitment and dedication that EMS professionals bring to their jobs each and every day,” said Serino.

“I am very proud and honored to not only be part of the EMS community, but also to salute my fellow EMS professionals for the great work they do to save lives, while sometimes putting their own lives at risk.”

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.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 23-May-2012 16:43:58

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FEMA Deputy Administrator Praises Emergency Medical Services

Jefferson Parish Playgrounds Benefit From Flexible FEMA Grant

Release Date: April 6, 2012
Release Number: 1603-972

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

NEW ORLEANS – The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today a consolidated grant totaling approximately $559,000 to Jefferson Parish for the replacement of playground contents damaged during Hurricane Katrina.

“This grant best supports Jefferson Parish’s efforts to restore an essential element of their recreational system—their playgrounds,” said FEMA’s Louisiana Recovery Office Deputy Director of Programs Andre Cadogan. “Our funding enables Jefferson Parish to pool together contents funding from all of their playground facilities and distribute it as best needed.”

Prior to this grant, FEMA funded these damages through nine separate project worksheets, all the result of “content assessments” across eight of Jefferson Parish’s damaged playgrounds and other facilities, including the Recreational Department’s East Bank Administration Building. The eight playgrounds include the Johnny Bright Playground, Terrytown Playground, Harvey Playground, Pontiff Playground, Girard Playground, Lakeshore Playground and Jefferson Playground.

FEMA’s recent grant, as requested by Jefferson Parish, will fund contents under the following six major categories—information technology, parks and recreational building equipment and supplies, athletic equipment and supplies, furnishings, office equipment and supplies, and kitchen equipment and supplies.

“Jefferson Parish is grateful for the assistance from FEMA, which will allow us to move forward in the ongoing recovery from hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Our playgrounds are an essential part of the quality of life our children and families enjoy in Jefferson Parish. This recent grant will ensure repairs and restoration at eight of our playgrounds so that our citizens can continue to benefit from these outstanding recreational facilities,” said Jefferson Parish President John Young.

In total, FEMA has provided approximately $529.8 million for recovery work throughout Jefferson Parish related to hurricanes Katrina and Rita, of which $50.8 million—including FEMA’s recent grant for playgrounds—was provided specifically for the restoration of recreational facilities within the parish.

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

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

Last Modified: Friday, 06-Apr-2012 11:42:22

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Jefferson Parish Playgrounds Benefit From Flexible FEMA Grant

FEMA’s ‘Rambo’ Ready To Expedite Fire Management Grants

Release Date: March 29, 2012
Release Number: 4029-108, 1999-018

» More Information on Texas Wildfires
» More Information on Texas Wildfires

AUSTIN, Texas — As wildfires raged throughout Texas in 2011, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared a record 55 Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs) to help local governments and other applicants recoup some of their firefighting costs. Now FEMA wants to help those applicants get their money.

Through an innovative pilot program called Recovery Assistance Mobile-Based Operations (RAMBO), FEMA Public Assistance teams can work with the applicant much the way a tax preparer works with a client during tax season — and RAMBO is available to go right to the applicant’s office.

“Contacting a RAMBO team leads to expedited assistance,” said FEMA Public Assistance Branch Director Karri DuBois. “Not only is a checklist provided beforehand to help the applicants know the kind of paperwork to collect, we then save everyone time by reviewing the documentation and helping them work through the process.”

The team goes over receipts and other documents with the applicant, making sure that all paperwork is in order and asking and answering questions so that the final project worksheet can be completed and funds quickly obligated.

In Kimble County, for instance, the RAMBO team helped get funds obligated within a couple of weeks rather than the normal timeframe of several months or longer.

“We worked closely with our state partner, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, to find a way to expedite the FMAG process, and RAMBO was the answer,” said Kevin L. Hannes, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer for the Texas wildfire disasters. “Our goal is to get local governments reimbursed as quickly as possible so they can focus on the current wildfire season.”

An FMAG is federal assistance approved while a fire is burning uncontrolled and threatens such destruction as to constitute a major disaster. It offers 75 percent reimbursement for eligible expenses such as overtime labor, equipment and supplies, provisions for shelters, safety items for firefighters and mutual aid. The grant recipient for an FMAG is the state. State agencies and local entities apply to the state for subgrants.

FMAGs were declared in 2011 for specific fires in Archer, Bastrop, Bexar, Bosque, Brewster, Cass, Clay, Coke, Eastland, Ector, Ellis, Fisher, Grimes, Harris, Howard, Hutchinson, Jack, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Kent, Kimble, King, Knox, Marion, Midland, Mitchell, Montgomery, Motley, Nolan, Palo Pinto, Potter, Presidio, Randall, Shackelford, Somervell, Stephens, Stonewall, Tom Green, Travis, Walker, Waller, Webb, Wichita, Wilbarger, Williamson and Young counties.

Applicants wanting assistance from RAMBO should contact their state Public Assistance coordinator.

Follow FEMA tweets about the Texas disaster at www.twitter.com/femaregion6. Other online resources are blog.fema.gov, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.

Last Modified: Thursday, 29-Mar-2012 11:46:09

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FEMA’s ‘Rambo’ Ready To Expedite Fire Management Grants

Readout of FEMA Administrator Fugate Remarks at the National Hurricane Conference

Release Date: March 27, 2012
Release Number: HQ-12-026

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Craig Fugate, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today delivered remarks at the National Hurricane Conference in Orlando in preparation of the upcoming hurricane season. In his address, Fugate encouraged the emergency management team to work inclusively with all partners to meet the needs of the whole community when responding to and recovering from disasters. As he discussed the work that federal, state, local and tribal governments, and voluntary organizations do on a regular basis in preparation each year, Administrator Fugate also focused his remarks at this year’s conference about the importance of engaging the private sector early and often.

“We need to give the private sector a seat at the table,” said Fugate. “When we look at the disasters last year, the unreported story was how the private sector was a part of the recovery team. The sooner we can get private businesses — and government-backed infrastructure — up and running, the sooner communities will recover.”

Administrator Fugate also took the opportunity to remind this year’s participants to never lose sight of the fact that the impacts of hurricanes are wide-ranging. “Last year proved that the effects of hurricanes can impact areas beyond just the coast,” said Fugate. “As we look to 2012 we need to work together as a team, with all our partners, the private sector and the public to ensure that communities are prepared no matter where tropical storms impact.”

In wrapping up his remarks at the conference, Fugate encouraged those in attendance to plan beyond hurricane season. “We have to stop planning for the past storm,” said Fugate. “We have to be look forward and plan for all-hazards — understanding the current threats before us and what vulnerabilities we have.”

Following his remarks, Fugate participated in a panel discussion with National Hurricane Center Director Bill Read, Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Bryan Koon, and Walgreens Security Operations Center’s Jim Williams.

The National Hurricane Conference seeks to improve hurricane preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation in an effort to protect lives and property in the United States and the tropical islands of the Caribbean and Pacific. In addition, the conference serves as a national forum for federal, state and local officials to exchange ideas and recommend new policies to improve emergency management.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 27-Mar-2012 14:05:03

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Readout of FEMA Administrator Fugate Remarks at the National Hurricane Conference

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