Advisory Flood Elevation Maps on the Web

TRENTON, N.J. — For Hurricane Sandy survivors who want to rebuild stronger, safer and smarter, knowing their risk of flooding is paramount. Property owners can find the data they need online in new advisory base flood elevation maps published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Advisory maps containing recommended building elevations are available for these counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Union. To learn more, visit the following web sites:

Advisory maps show, based on the best available information, how high structures should be elevated   to minimize damage from future flood events.  The maps  show that portions of communities are in new flood zones, which may impact insurance rates and building practices.

  • For information on federal flood insurance visit www.floodsmart.gov.You can also call 888-379-9531 or contact your insurance agent.
  • FEMA provides flood insurance resources including publications and frequently asked questions online at www.fema.gov/nfip.

Communities are encouraged to adopt advisory base flood elevation maps to reduce future flood risk  and to decrease the cost of flood insurance. Property owners should work with local building officials   to fully understand all requirements – including advisory maps – to rebuild stronger, safer and smarter.

Contact your local officials if you have questions about advisory base flood elevation maps and how they affect you and your community.

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.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.

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Advisory Flood Elevation Maps on the Web

League City, Texas Celebrates a Safer Community

DENTON, Texas – Residents and business owners in League City, Texas can now enjoy a 10 to 20 percent reduction in flood insurance premiums because of the city’s active participation in the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS). In addition to lower premiums, the CRS program has helped reduce the threat of damage due to flooding.

“The flood insurance program rewards communities for implementing programs and policies that protect their residents from flooding,” said Tony Robinson the Region 6 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) acting regional administrator.  “League City’s higher regulatory standards, public education and outreach, buyout programs and open space preservation initiatives, among other activities, have earned the city lower premiums as a CRS Class 6 Community.”

League City’s flood insurance policyholders who reside in Special Flood Hazard Areas will receive a 20 percent reduction on flood insurance premiums and policyholders located outside Special Flood Hazard Areas will enjoy a 10 percent discount. The reduction in flood insurance premiums represents an annual savings in premium costs for League City’s policy holders and will take effect at the time a new policy is written or an effective policy is renewed. Those individuals and business owners with a Preferred Risk Policy will not receive premium rate credits under the CRS because it already has a lower premium than other policies.

Since joining the CRS as a Class 9 Community in 1997, the city’s participation in the CRS has been beneficial in many respects.  In addition to the reduction in insurance premiums, League City officials are more knowledgeable about floodplain management and its residents are more knowledgeable about mitigation and flood insurance.    The CRS program has helped make League City a safer place to live, reduced the economic impact of flood hazards and saved their citizens money on their flood policy premiums.

The community rating system (CRS) is a voluntary program for NFIP-participating communities.  The intended goals of the CRS are to reduce flood losses; facilitate accurate insurance ratings; and to promote the awareness of flood insurance.  For more information on the NFIP’s CRS program, go to http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip/crs.shtm.

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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 http://twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

 

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League City, Texas Celebrates a Safer Community

FEMA Awards $13.7 Million Grant to Plaquemines Parish for Hurricane Isaac Recovery

BATON ROUGE, La. – Plaquemines Parish will receive a $13.7 million federal grant to help ensure the parish’s continued economic recovery following Hurricane Isaac, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced Thursday.

The FEMA grant, totaling $13,748,715, helps reimburse the parish for work to remove nearly 15,480 cubic yards of vegetative debris from a chokepoint in the main drainage canal.

“This grant will provide a significant boost to Plaquemines Parish’s efforts to recover from Hurricane Isaac,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar. “The funds will help restore functionality to the drainage system and therefore eliminate a threat to public health and safety.”

The FEMA grant covers the federal share of the parish’s eligible costs for the work. Under a cost-sharing formula, FEMA reimburses the state for 75 percent of the total costs, while the state and/or applicant pay the remaining 25 percent.

The newly obligated funds are a portion of the $73.2 million in total Public Assistance recovery dollars approved for Plaquemines Parish since the Aug. 29, 2012, declaration for Hurricane Isaac. Statewide, Public Assistance grants total $171.2 million.

Once FEMA reimburses the state of Louisiana it is the state’s responsibility to manage the funds, which includes making disbursements to local jurisdictions and organizations that incurred costs.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow FEMA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.
 

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FEMA Awards $13.7 Million Grant to Plaquemines Parish for Hurricane Isaac Recovery

FEMA Aid Will Not Affect Senior Citizens’ Benefits

WARWICK, R.I. – Rhode Island senior citizens who receive federal disaster assistance for losses due to Hurricane Sandy will still be able to receive all their other federal benefits-and they need not worry about having to pay any additional taxes. 

“We want to assist seniors affected by Hurricane Sandy,” said Federal Coordinating Officer James N. Russo, who leads the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Sandy recovery mission in Rhode Island. “We can’t do that if they fear that asking for help will impact their other benefits or raise their taxes.”

Federal disaster assistance does not affect Social Security payments, Medicare benefits, food stamps or any other federal assistance programs.. The Internal Revenue Service does not consider it taxable income.

Seniors and others who experienced damage from Sandy may be eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program. This may cover expenses for temporary housing, home repairs, replacement of damaged personal property and other disaster-related needs, such as medical, dental or transportation costs, not covered by insurance or other programs.

To determine whether they are eligible for disaster recovery help from FEMA, seniors and others must register. Go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov or to m.fema.gov if using a smartphone or call 800-621-FEMA (3362), 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Those who are deaf, hard of hearing or who have a speech disability may use TTY 800-462-7585.

After registering with FEMA, applicants may receive a packet from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA loans are not just for small businesses. After a federally declared disaster, the SBA offers low-interest disaster recovery loans for homeowners and renters. No one is obligated to take out a loan. But if you don’t complete the application, you will not be considered for some other federal grants.

Some seniors with paid-off mortgages may wonder why they would want a long-term government loan. But if they need funds to restore their homes to pre-disaster condition, a low-interest loan from the federal government may be the best solution. The SBA offers disaster loans up to $200,000 to repair or replace homes and up to $40,000 to homeowners and renters for personal property losses.  Interest rates are as low as 1.688 percent. 

Find tweets about Sandy recovery at @femaregion1. For Rhode Island specific information go to http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4089. Other online resources include @FEMASandy and http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/FEMASandy and http://blog.fema.gov.

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.

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 medical and dental expenses, 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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FEMA Aid Will Not Affect Senior Citizens’ Benefits

Notice on National Flood Insurance Program Borrowing Authority: Payments for Claims Related to Hurricane Sandy As Well As Other Major Disasters in…

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), mandated by Congress to administer the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), today notified Congress that without the approval of additional borrowing authority, funds available to pay claims will be exhausted sometime around the week of January 7, 2013.

Supplemental legislation currently under consideration by Congress, based on the Administration’s request submitted to Congress last month and subsequently passed by the Senate in a bipartisan vote, includes $9.7 billion in additional borrowing authority to support the National Flood Insurance Fund to address claims resulting from Superstorm Sandy and other floods. The NFIP continues to pay out claims related to Sandy. To date, nearly 140,000 claims have been made and $1.7 billion has been paid out to survivors. 

“FEMA continues to work closely with Write Your Own (WYO) partner companies to meet the needs of survivors and accelerate partial payments for claims,” said Dave Miller, FEMA’s Associate Administrator for the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration.  “We urge timely congressional action with regard to the pending supplemental to continue to meet survivor needs.”

Payments on more than 115,000 claims in states across the country may be delayed until Congress increases the NFIP borrowing authority. The use of National Flood Insurance Fund monies are being closely monitored based on actual and anticipated claims.

NFIP policies allow up to approximately 90 days after receipt of a claim to make a payment.  Upon depletion of borrowing authority, FEMA will work to ensure any available funds, including ongoing premium payments, may be applied to claim payments.

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.

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Notice on National Flood Insurance Program Borrowing Authority: Payments for Claims Related to Hurricane Sandy As Well As Other Major Disasters in…

Atlantic City Recovery Center Changes Locations

TRENTON, N.J. — The disaster recovery center in Atlantic City will change its location on Friday, Jan. 4.

The center located at the Atlantic City Convention Center will move to the following address:

Boardwalk Hall

2301 Boardwalk

Atlantic City, NJ  08401  

Center hours are 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday.   

Federal Emergency Management Agency staff are available at the center to provide clarification on letters, assist survivors with finding a temporary home if their primary residence was damaged or destroyed, check on the status of their application for assistance or refer survivors to other agencies that may provide additional help.

Also, survivors can consult with U.S. Small Business Administration customer service representatives about low-interest disaster loans to repair or rebuild their homes and FEMA mitigation specialists about cost-effective rebuilding and repair techniques to reduce property damages in future disasters.

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.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.

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Atlantic City Recovery Center Changes Locations

National Flood Insurance Program Probation for Port Vincent, Louisiana

DENTON, Texas- Efforts are ongoing by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist the village of Port Vincent, Louisiana hold on to its National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) status; a status that it is in jeopardy of losing if it does not correct current floodplain management violations.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) makes flood insurance available in communities where minimum local floodplain management standards are adopted and enforced. FEMA recently issued a letter to Port Vincent that establishes a deadline of March 1, 2013 for the village to correct certain violations and program deficiencies.

The deficiencies cited in the probation letter include the failure to manage floodplain development in accordance with the village’s floodplain program and a lack of adequate administrative procedures and record keeping.

While the village works to correct these violations, property owners will still be able to purchase and renew flood insurance coverage during the probationary period. However, a $50 surcharge will be added to any policy sold or renewed in the community for the next year beginning on March 1, 2013. There are currently 103 flood insurance policies in the village.

If the village fails to make progress by Sept. 1, 2013, it could be suspended from the program. The result of suspension is the loss of federally backed flood insurance in the community.  Residents in the village will not be able to purchase or renew their flood insurance policies after the suspension occurs.

Additionally, if a flood disaster occurs in a suspended community, most types of federal disaster assistance for structures within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), including federal assistance to individuals and households is not available. Also, the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 prohibits federal agencies from making grants, loans, or guarantees for the acquisition or construction of structures located in a SFHA.

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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 http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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National Flood Insurance Program Probation for Port Vincent, Louisiana

New Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Kings County on Thursday

 NEW YORK – The state of New York and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will open a new Disaster Recovery Center in Brooklyn at 8 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, to provide one-on-one, face-to-face help for Hurricane Sandy survivors. 

The center will be located at Sheepshead Bay Yacht Club, 3076 Emmons Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11235.

Normal operational hours for the Disaster Recovery Center are:

8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week until further notice

Individuals may visit the Brooklyn center to obtain useful FEMA information and apply forlow-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. 

Two months after Hurricane Sandy struck, 22 Disaster Recovery Centers are open throughout New York. They have hosted more than 114,000 survivors of the severe weather. 

To find the nearest recovery center, the following options are available: Text DRC and a Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA), and a text message will be sent back with the address. Also, check out the Disaster Recovery Center locator at www.FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

Individuals can find a recovery center – and register for FEMA help – online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet by going to m.fema.gov or downloading the FEMA app. They may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) should call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.

Hurricane Sandy survivors in New York have until Jan. 28, 2013 to register for federal disaster assistance, which can include money for rent, essential home repairs, personal property losses and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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New Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Kings County on Thursday

Resolve to be Ready in Tennessee, Commit to Emergency Preparedness in 2013!

Resolve to be Ready in Tennessee, Commit to Emergency Preparedness in 2013!

ATLANTA — This year was characterized by extremely active and devastating weather events across the country; flooding in the Southeast as a result of Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricane Isaac, wildfires across the Midwest, and Hurricane Sandy which devastated parts of the Northeast and was the second-largest Atlantic storm on record.

As 2012 comes to a close and people make resolutions for the new year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) are encouraging everyone to Resolve to be Ready in 2013 by committing to emergency preparedness.

“The right time to get ready for any emergency is right now,” said TEMA Director Jim Bassham.  “Don’t wait until tomorrow and then decide to get your emergency plans in place. Take the time now to get an emergency kit together so you and your family are ready today for tomorrow’s disaster.”

As we have seen in 2012, including the recent severe weather affecting many parts of the country during the holidays, disasters can strike anytime, anywhere, and being prepared is one of the most effective things we can do to protect our homes, businesses and loved ones.  Resolve to be Ready in 2013 is a nationwide effort to increase awareness and encourage individuals, families, businesses and communities to take action and prepare for emergencies in the new year. 

“Resolve to be Ready is one new year’s resolution you’ll want to keep,” said FEMA Region IV Administrator Phil May. “There are simple steps you can take to prepare for emergencies, such as putting together an emergency supply kit and creating a family emergency plan. Taking these steps will help keep you and your family safe, and could be the most important pledge you make.”

By making a resolution to take a few simple steps in advance, people can minimize the impact of an emergency on their families, homes and businesses.  To take the pledge, visit www.ready.gov/resolve or www.listo.gov, which includes free information, checklists and guidelines about how to put together a kit and make a plan.

Here are a few important tips to get you started:

  • Be informed. Know the hazards and risks in your area and learn what you need to do to get ready for them. One way you can do this is by signing up to receive information on your mobile device.  Here are a few agency websites that offer timely information:
  • Make a family emergency plan so you know how you would communicate with and find your loved ones when a disaster strikes. Think about how you would reach your kids at school or your spouse at work. If you had to evacuate, where would you go? Thinking this through in advance will make a big difference.
  • Build two emergency supply kits – one for home and one for the car – that include water, food and first aid supplies to help you survive if you lose power or are stranded in your car. This is especially important for dealing with icy roads and snowstorms this winter.
  • Get Involved.  Be an advocate and educator for safety and emergency preparedness within your community. Contact your local Citizen Corps.

Spread the word to your loved ones and encourage them to Resolve to be Ready in 2013. Anyone can learn more by visiting Ready.gov or Listo.gov.  

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.

 

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Resolve to be Ready in Tennessee, Commit to Emergency Preparedness in 2013!

Resolve to be Ready in Mississippi, Commit to Emergency Preparedness in 2013!

Resolve to be Ready in Mississippi, Commit to Emergency Preparedness in 2013!

ATLANTA — This year was characterized by extremely active and devastating weather events across the country; flooding in the Southeast as a result of Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricane Isaac, wildfires across the Midwest, and Hurricane Sandy which devastated parts of the Northeast and was the second-largest Atlantic storm on record.

As 2012 comes to a close and people make resolutions for the new year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) are encouraging everyone to Resolve to be Ready in 2013 by committing to emergency preparedness.

MEMA’s goal for the new year is for every Mississippian to be prepared for any type of disaster, whether natural or man-made.

“The events of the past year prove that preparedness is the most important aspect of disasters,” said MEMA Director Robert Latham. “Preparedness begins with individuals and families, but should include the whole community. When everyone is prepared, residents will have to depend less on local, state and federal government to recover after a disaster.”

As we have seen in 2012, including the recent severe weather affecting many parts of the country during the holidays, disasters can strike anytime, anywhere, and being prepared is one of the most effective things we can do to protect our homes, businesses and loved ones.  Resolve to be Ready in 2013 is a nationwide effort to increase awareness and encourage individuals, families, businesses and communities to take action and prepare for emergencies in the new year. 

“Resolve to be Ready is one new year’s resolution you’ll want to keep,” said FEMA Region IV Administrator Phil May. “There are simple steps you can take to prepare for emergencies, such as putting together an emergency supply kit and creating a family emergency plan. Taking these steps will help keep you and your family safe, and could be the most important pledge you make.”

By making a resolution to take a few simple steps in advance, people can minimize the impact of an emergency on their families, homes and businesses.  To take the pledge, visit www.ready.gov/resolve or www.listo.gov, which includes free information, checklists and guidelines about how to put together a kit and make a plan.

Here are a few important tips to get you started:

  • Be informed. Know the hazards and risks in your area and learn what you need to do to get ready for them. One way you can do this is by signing up to receive information on your mobile device.  Here are a few agency websites that offer timely information:
  • Make a family emergency plan so you know how you would communicate with and find your loved ones when a disaster strikes. Think about how you would reach your kids at school or your spouse at work. If you had to evacuate, where would you go? Thinking this through in advance will make a big difference.
  • Build two emergency supply kits – one for home and one for the car – that include water, food and first aid supplies to help you survive if you lose power or are stranded in your car. This is especially important for dealing with icy roads and snowstorms this winter.
  • Get Involved.  Be an advocate and educator for safety and emergency preparedness within your community. Contact your local Citizen Corps.

Spread the word to your loved ones and encourage them to Resolve to be Ready in 2013. Anyone can learn more by visiting Ready.gov or Listo.gov.  

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.

 

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Resolve to be Ready in Mississippi, Commit to Emergency Preparedness in 2013!

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