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Public Meeting Will Present Preliminary Findings For Cooper Nuclear Station Facility

Release Date: June 29, 2012
Release Number: R7-12-010

» 2012 Region VII News Releases

Kansas City, Mo. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will host a public meeting on August 3, 2012. Participants will discuss the exercise process involved with a full-scale response exercise scheduled to be conducted July 31 through August 1, 2012, by federal, state, and local public safety organizations and the Cooper nuclear facility.

Members of the public and the media are invited to attend this meeting. It begins at 10:00 a.m. in the Nebraska Public Power District, Emergency Operations Facility Auditorium, at 902 Central Avenue, in Auburn, Nebraska.

Representatives from FEMA Region VII will chair the meeting and explain the exercise process as well as the involvement of the states of Nebraska and Missouri and their respective risk and host counties. A representative from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) Region IV office, located in Arlington, Texas, will also be present and discuss activities conducted on-site at the Cooper Nuclear Station during the exercise.

The two day exercise will require the activation of emergency facilities for the states of Nebraska and Missouri, as well as Otoe, Nemaha, and Richardson counties in Nebraska and Atchison and Nodaway counties in Missouri. The activities of participants from the state, county and local units of government will be observed and evaluated by the FEMA Region VII Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program. The Cooper Nuclear Station onsite performance will be observed and evaluated by NRC. Because no results will be finalized at that time, the outcomes of the exercise will not be discussed at the public meeting on August 3, 2012.

The exercise is a biennial requirement to determine the adequacy of the radiological emergency preparedness and response plans. The main goal is to test the ability of the state of Nebraska and Missouri, the utility and the participating counties to protect the health and safety of the public living in the vicinity of the Cooper Nuclear Station. The evaluated exercise provides reasonable assurance that the appropriate protective measures can be taken onsite and offsite in the event of a radiological emergency.

The NRC is the federal agency responsible for evaluating onsite emergency plans and exercises for nuclear power plants. FEMA Region VII REP Program staff is responsible for evaluating offsite plans and exercises for states and counties through the Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program.

Visit FEMA Region VII online at www.fema.gov/region7. Follow FEMA online at 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.

Last Modified: Friday, 29-Jun-2012 17:06:14

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Public Meeting Will Present Preliminary Findings For Cooper Nuclear Station Facility

FEMA Dollars Continue To Support Crucial Health Care Services In Southeast Louisiana

Release Date: June 15, 2012
Release Number: 1603 – 978

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

NEW ORLEANS –The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently announced $289,150 in Katrina-related recovery aid to the Metropolitan Human Services District, the lead Louisiana state agency charged with providing addiction, behavioral health and developmental disability service to citizens of Orleans, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes.

Pre-Katrina, the MHSD operated out of a facility owned by the Louisiana Office of Facility Planning and Control—the New Orleans Mental Health Center, located at 3100 General DeGaulle Drive in New Orleans.

In addition to FEMA’s recent funding for MHSD, FEMA previously obligated $1.3 million directly to FP&C for work necessary to restore the actual New Orleans Mental Health Center facility, which was damaged significantly during Katrina. As a result, MHSD had to move its service-oriented operation to temporary facilities in order to continue providing services.

“Our recent funding to the Metropolitan Human Services District reimburses the agency for costs associated with using temporary facilities, including trailer rentals and land leases, following Katrina,” said FEMA’s Louisiana Recovery Office Deputy Director of Programs Andre Cadogan. “Our assistance is significant because, through supporting Louisiana’s overall recovery, we are also supporting state efforts to offer vital public services, including mental health services, throughout Southeast Louisiana.”

The building of the new, post-Katrina New Orleans Mental Health Center is scheduled for completion at the end of this summer; and once it’s completed, MHSD plans to then move back into the facility at the same location as it was before Katrina.

“These FEMA funds help ensure that residents of New Orleans’ West Bank can have their needs met in an appropriate setting. The opening of this facility also contributes significantly to MHSD’s commitment to establish the first true continuum of care model for the communities we serve,” said Judge Calvin Johnson (ret.), Metropolitan Human Services District executive director.

To date, FEMA has obligated approximately $11.5 billion in public assistance funding for Katrina and Rita related recovery work throughout Louisiana.

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, 15-Jun-2012 10:31:00

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FEMA Dollars Continue To Support Crucial Health Care Services In Southeast Louisiana

Public Assistance Funds Helped Get Minot Students Back to School

Release Date: June 11, 2012
Release Number: 1981-ANF003

» More Information on North Dakota Flooding

» 2012 Region VIII News Releases

Minot students benefitted from impressive teamwork when several groups collaborated to get them back in the classroom for the 2011-12 school year. FEMA, the Minot Public School District, contractor Kraus-Anderson and Innovative Modular Solutions worked together so that the school year started just a few days later than normal. FEMA’s Public Assistance program, managed by the state, will also provide funding to repair or replace numerous school district facilities, as well as temporary quarters for unusable locations. FEMA has already obligated nearly $50 million to the Minot Public Schools, ensuring a bright future for students in the community.

A special task force was assembled to assess the needs of all flood-impacted schools and to quickly determine the level of damage and what types of repairs would be needed. The team methodically looked at each school, developing estimates for building repairs and replacement of lost equipment.

For two Minot schools – Ramstad Middle School and Lincoln Elementary School – FEMA determined that replacement would be more cost-effective than the extensive repairs that would be needed. Other facilities will be repaired to pre-disaster condition in compliance with local building codes. The agency will pay 90 percent of the cost of all eligible projects under the Public Assistance program. The state will fund 7 percent and the school district the remaining 3 percent.

While getting damaged facilities back on line was the long-term goal, there was also the immediate challenge of finding students a home for the rapidly approaching start of classes. More than 1,200 students suddenly found themselves without schools following the flood. An estimated one-fourth of the district’s staff and students were forced to evacuate in the wake of the disaster. But the timing of the deluge – during the early part of summer vacation – gave authorities plenty of time to respond before the scheduled start of fall classes. Some schools used modular classrooms to replace flood-damaged classrooms, some relocated to nearby temporary facilities, and others were cleaned and repaired.

The most challenging aspect of getting physical facilities ready for the new school year was transporting the modular classrooms to Minot and assembling them on temporary sites. Innovative Modular Solutions of Bolingbrook, Ill., supplied 60,000 square feet of educational space comprising 10 modular units with 64 total classrooms.

Each modular classroom can hold up to 30 students. The two-, six- and eight-classroom buildings vary in size from 28 feet wide by 70 feet long to 68 feet wide by 126 feet long. The 10-classroom buildings are 72 feet wide by 154 feet long and also contain office space.

The modular classrooms are surprisingly roomy, and contain everything one would expect in a modern educational environment including smart boards, ceiling-mounted projectors and ample lighting. Each modular unit also has drinking fountains and restrooms. Prior to winter’s arrival, the modules were also outfitted with heating and insulation, as well as heat tape for the water pipes.

Students and teachers made the best of their new quarters. Ramstad Middle School dubbed their move to the municipal auditorium “Ramstad @ the AUD” and printed up bright red T-shirts with that phrase, a way for students to embrace (and many years from now recall) what will surely go down as one of the more memorable events of their school days. Students also painted murals in the walkways connecting the auditorium to the temporary classrooms behind it. A final highlight of the school year was the benefit concert by classic rock band Kansas in support of the school’s music program.

The temporary school buildings are eligible for funding under the Public Assistance Recovery Policy provision for Temporary Relocation of Facilities passed in December 2010.

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS FOR MINOT SCHOOL DISTRICT

Adult Learning Center– clean out building, main Building, replace school contents, lease modular classroom space (Jefferson Campus)
- Total Obligated $1,172,668.86
Central Campus Plus– clean out building, lease building (Souris River Campus), replace school contents
- Total Obligated $788,517.40
Erik Ramstad Middle School – replace building, lease modular classroom and building, clean out building, temporary dike, replace school contents, playground equipment, athletic field elements
- Total Obligated $27,881,901.70
Headstart – clean out building, lease modular classroom space (Jefferson Campus), playground equipment, replace school contents, main building
- Total Obligated $3,872,257.89
Lincoln Elementary – clean out building, lease building (1^stPresbyterian Church), replace building, replace school contents, playground equipment, clear debris
- Total Obligated $6,030,947.84
Longfellow Elementary– lease modular classroom space, clean out building, playground equipment/fence, replace school contents
- Total Obligated $5,526,191.97
McKinley Elementary – clean out building, main building, replace school contents
- Total Obligated $76,561.47
Perkett Elementary – clean out building, playground equipment/fence, asbestos abatement, pumping out piping tunnels, replace school contents, asphalt pathway/parking lot/sidewalk, storage sheds
- Total Obligated $1,133,529.19
Sunnyside Elementary – clean out building, asbestos abatement, equipment repair, building repair
- Total Obligated $111,752.71
Total Obligated for Minot Public Schools thus far $46,682,932.77
Project review continues and additional funding is expected.

Last Modified: Monday, 11-Jun-2012 10:01:03

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Public Assistance Funds Helped Get Minot Students Back to School

FEMA Approves $3.1 Million to Danville Area School District for damages caused by Tropical Storm Lee

Release Date: June 7, 2012
Release Number: NR-142

» More Information on Pennsylvania Tropical Storm Lee

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Commonwealth recently provided a $3,176,028.54 grant to the Danville Area School District to repair or replace damaged buildings and equipment to the Danville Middle school caused by the effects of Tropical Storm Lee. The grant represents a 75 percent federal share and a 25 percent Commonwealth share of the project costs.

The school experienced heavy flooding throughout the facility with more than 90,000 square feet flooded extensively throughout the first floor. Floodwaters, which ranged anywhere from six inches to six feet deep, were responsible for extensive damages to the gym/stage floor, wall panels and windows, chalk boards, lockers, doors, 7500 feet of urethane indoor athletic flooring, cabinets, 800 unit metal bleachers, HVAC controls, equipment and pipes, and various other school-related equipment.

More than $1 million of the grant has been allocated for mitigation projects, designed to alleviate future damages to the middle school. In addition, some of the other hazard mitigation projects to be performed include the installation of 48 inch high walls and 76 inch removable gates at each exterior entry/exit doors; removing all vinyl tile flooring and replacing it with epoxy-type floor covering; and the removal and relocation of HVAC units and through-the-brick-wall HVAC vents.

Under FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) Program, funding is provided to the Commonwealth, eligible local governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis.

FEMA is responsible for managing the program, approving grants, and providing technical assistance to the Commonwealth and applicants. The Commonwealth educates potential applicants, works with FEMA to manage the program, and is responsible for implementing and monitoring the grants awarded under the program. Local officials are responsible for identifying damage, providing information necessary for FEMA to approve grants, and managing each project funded under the program.

To date, more than $65.5 million has been obligated to the Commonwealth by FEMA under the federal PA program. Assistance is expected to top $200 million.

Information on FEMA’s PA program is available at http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/index.shtm.

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, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts available at www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion3.

Last Modified: Friday, 08-Jun-2012 15:18:51

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FEMA Approves $3.1 Million to Danville Area School District for damages caused by Tropical Storm Lee

Louisiana’s Legal System Receives Recovery Aid From FEMA, Benefiting The Orleans Parish Criminal District Court

Release Date: May 21, 2012
Release Number: 1603 – 975

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

NEW ORLEANS – The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today approximately $103,000 in consolidated public assistance funding to the Louisiana Judicial System, helping the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court in New Orleans replace contents damaged during Hurricane Katrina.

During the storm, floodwaters fully inundated the basement of the courthouse, located at 2700 Tulane Avenue within the city. Pre-Katrina, this area provided office space for various Orleans Parish Criminal District Court departments, including the Judicial Administration Office which handles administrative functions required for the court to operate.

“Katrina’s floodwaters stayed in the courthouse’s basement for approximately two weeks following the storm, damaging all contents within these offices,” said FEMA’s Louisiana Recovery Office Deputy Director of Programs Andre Cadogan. “Our recent grant assists with replacing damaged contents, helping Louisiana’s Judicial System fully recover from Hurricane Katrina as needed.”

Contents to be replaced with FEMA’s aid include computer equipment and two-way radios, as well as drug testing equipment.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 22-May-2012 10:34:01

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Louisiana’s Legal System Receives Recovery Aid From FEMA, Benefiting The Orleans Parish Criminal District Court

FEMA Dollars Begin Flow Into Washington Disaster

Release Date: May 1, 2012
Release Number: 4056-006

» More Information on Washington Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

LACEY WA (May 1, 2012) – When the severe winter storms dubbed ‘Snowmageddon’ hit Washington State in January of this year, airports, roads and schools closed, cars crashed, and trees and tons of debris blocked roads and knocked out power to more than 275,000 customers across the state.

Governor Christine Gregoire’s request for disaster funding after the storm estimated damage at more than $32 million.

As of today, more than $354,800 has been approved for 21 of some 800 recovery projects. FEMA will pay 75 percent of that, nearly $266,000 in Public Assistance (PA) disaster relief dollars; the State and local governments will match 25 percent.

Reimbursement dollars have begun flowing.

“Without a doubt, having these dollars begin flowing into these disaster-struck communities will help them with budget shortfalls,” said Kurt Hardin, Washington Emergency Management Division’s state coordinating officer. “The massive January disaster response hit these already strapped local governments hard.”

Following the March 5, 2012 Presidential disaster declaration, the State Emergency Management Division (EMD) and FEMA began processing public assistance applications throughout the 11 disaster declared counties. Projects in Seattle, Lacey, Renton, the Shelton School District, the Cedar River Water and Sewer District, as well as others, were among the first applicants to be approved.

“Our primary goal is to get to ‘yes’ on projects so we can help these Washington communities recover as quickly as possible,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Karl at FEMA’s Lacey-based field office. “This initial funding approval is the first of many to come.”

Eligible counties include Clallam, Grays Harbor, King, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Pierce, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, and Wahkiakum. FEMA will pay 75 percent of the eligible costs for debris removal, emergency protective measures, repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas, and similar publicly owned facilities.

Under the PA program, the state is able to forward federal funds to eligible state, local and tribal governments as well as certain private non-profit organizations providing essential community services that incurred disaster-related costs.

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

Last Modified: Wednesday, 02-May-2012 10:14:00