FEMA Announces Second Meeting of the Technical Mapping Advisory Council

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced the second public meeting of the Technical Mapping Advisory Council (TMAC), scheduled for December 4 – 5, 2014, in Arlington, Virginia. The public meeting will be held at the FEMA South Arlington Office on December 4 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and December 5 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (EST) located at 1800 South Bell Street, Arlington, Virginia 20598.

Authorized under the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 and Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014, the TMAC was established to review and make recommendations to FEMA on matters related to the national flood mapping program. The TMAC is tasked with developing recommendations for FEMA’s flood mapping program to ensure that flood insurance rate maps reflect the best available science and are based on the best available methodologies for considering the impact of climate change and future development on flood risk.  They will also be required to produce a Review of the Mapping Program Report; a Future Conditions Risk Assessment and Modeling Report; and an Annual Report on Activities to include recommendations. 

During the public meeting, members will continue to discuss current and future possibilities for the flood mapping program to support the development of their recommendations and required reports. In addition, TMAC members will receive briefs from FEMA officials on the current mapping program and related activities and receive presentations from invited subject matter experts addressing the overall production of mapping components, future conditions, and examples of next generation mapping.

TMAC members will also discuss current and future possibilities for map development by considering how mapping data is acquired, maintained, and distributed; how maps are produced; how risk is accessed and communicated; how maps of risk are translated into insurance ratings; federal agency coordination and delegation of responsibility; and identify opportunities to emphasize mitigation throughout the process.

A public comment period will also be held on December 4 from 11:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. EST and on December 5 from 9:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. EST. Comments should be specifically related to and addressed to the TMAC. Those interested in speaking during the public comment period must contact FEMA by email at FEMA-TMAC@fema.dhs.gov or by calling 202-646-3432 to register as a speaker by November 25, 2014. Those not attending and who wish to submit written comments on issues to be considered by the TMAC can do so via one of the following methods:

  • Federal eRulemaking Portal:  http://www.regulations.gov.  Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
  • E-mail:  Address the email to FEMA-RULES@fema.dhs.gov and cc: fema-tmac@fema.dhs.gov.  Include the docket number FEMA-2014-0022 in the subject line of the message. Include name and contact detail in the body of the email.
  • Mail:  Regulatory Affairs Division, Office of Chief Counsel, FEMA, 500 C Street SW., Room 8NE, Washington, DC 20472-3100. 

All submissions received must include the words “Federal Emergency Management Agency” and docket number, FEMA-2014-0022. Comments received will be posted without alteration at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. 

For those planning to attend in person and for additional information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact FEMA at FEMA-TMAC@fema.dhs.gov. Attendees must contact FEMA and register by December 2, 2014 to receive important information on the meeting location.

FEMA is excited to be a part of the TMAC and is looking forward to the expertise and recommendations they will provide. For more information on the TMAC meeting, visit http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-11-19/pdf/2014-27396.pdf or www.fema.gov/TMAC.

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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 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.

Excerpt from: 

FEMA Announces Second Meeting of the Technical Mapping Advisory Council

FEMA Deadline Not the End of Flood Recovery in Florida

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Those affected by the spring storms and flooding will still be able to reach the Federal Emergency Management Agency for follow-up questions and will have access to other disaster services and resources after today’s registration deadline of July 21.

Florida survivors in designated counties of Escambia, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties who still haven’t registered for disaster assistance, should contact DisasterAssistance.gov or m.fema.gov on a smartphone by 11:59 p.m. EST or by calling 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585 by 10 p.m. EST.

Applicants who have registered before the deadline, but discover that their insurance has not covered all losses, have up to a year to submit additional documentation to FEMA. Assistance may be available for essentials, such as septic systems, if they are not covered by homeowner insurance policies.

Those who would like to contact FEMA after the deadline for additional information can call FEMA’s helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. Helpline hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

The U.S. Small Business Administration also has a customer service line for survivors who have questions about their low-interest disaster loans. For information, call 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339, or send an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

Since the May 6 disaster declaration, the SBA has approved more than $37.6 million in low-interest disaster loans for qualified homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations. More than $33 million from FEMA’s Individual Assistance program has been approved for homeowners and renters. This includes more than $27.3 million in rental expenses and essential home repairs, and nearly $5.7 million to help cover other expenses, such as lost or damaged personal property. 

Other resources and services available after the deadline include:

Disaster Legal Services

For survivors who need help with disaster-related legal issues, but can’t afford a lawyer, free legal services may be provided.

To request free legal assistance, survivors can call 866-550-2929.

Disaster-Related Stress Help

Survivors who are experiencing stress as a result of the spring storms and flooding can call the disaster distress helpline any time at 800-985-5990. Residents can also text “TalkWithUs” to 66746.

Dial 2-1-1

Survivors who need additional help can call the 2-1-1 information helpline to connect with more than 2,000 local health and human service programs. Residents may also text their zip code to 898-211. For more information, visit the Heart of Florida United Way website at hfuw.org/United_Way_2-1-1.php or send an email to uw211help@gmail.com.

United Way retains an online directory with information that could help residents with their individual needs. This may include information on how to receive donated clothing, food and other supplies; how to request other in-kind services; how to report fraud; how to contact recovery organizations; and who to talk to about disaster-related stress.

To view the online directory of community resources, go to referweb.net/211CommunityResources/.

Anyone with information about individuals who may have defrauded the government in connection with the spring flooding in Florida should call the FEMA fraud hotline at

800-323-8603 or email DHSOIGHOTLINE@DHS.GOV. This can include information on contractors, inspectors, disaster survivors or anyone posing as any of these.

# # #

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 childcare, medical, dental expenses and/or funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, those who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, transportation, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

Read original article – 

FEMA Deadline Not the End of Flood Recovery in Florida

FEMA Deadline Not the End of Flood Recovery in Florida

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Those affected by the spring storms and flooding will still be able to reach the Federal Emergency Management Agency for follow-up questions and will have access to other disaster services and resources after today’s registration deadline of July 21.

Florida survivors in designated counties of Escambia, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties who still haven’t registered for disaster assistance, should contact DisasterAssistance.gov or m.fema.gov on a smartphone by 11:59 p.m. EST or by calling 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585 by 10 p.m. EST.

Applicants who have registered before the deadline, but discover that their insurance has not covered all losses, have up to a year to submit additional documentation to FEMA. Assistance may be available for essentials, such as septic systems, if they are not covered by homeowner insurance policies.

Those who would like to contact FEMA after the deadline for additional information can call FEMA’s helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. Helpline hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

The U.S. Small Business Administration also has a customer service line for survivors who have questions about their low-interest disaster loans. For information, call 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339, or send an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

Since the May 6 disaster declaration, the SBA has approved more than $37.6 million in low-interest disaster loans for qualified homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations. More than $33 million from FEMA’s Individual Assistance program has been approved for homeowners and renters. This includes more than $27.3 million in rental expenses and essential home repairs, and nearly $5.7 million to help cover other expenses, such as lost or damaged personal property. 

Other resources and services available after the deadline include:

Disaster Legal Services

For survivors who need help with disaster-related legal issues, but can’t afford a lawyer, free legal services may be provided.

To request free legal assistance, survivors can call 866-550-2929.

Disaster-Related Stress Help

Survivors who are experiencing stress as a result of the spring storms and flooding can call the disaster distress helpline any time at 800-985-5990. Residents can also text “TalkWithUs” to 66746.

Dial 2-1-1

Survivors who need additional help can call the 2-1-1 information helpline to connect with more than 2,000 local health and human service programs. Residents may also text their zip code to 898-211. For more information, visit the Heart of Florida United Way website at hfuw.org/United_Way_2-1-1.php or send an email to uw211help@gmail.com.

United Way retains an online directory with information that could help residents with their individual needs. This may include information on how to receive donated clothing, food and other supplies; how to request other in-kind services; how to report fraud; how to contact recovery organizations; and who to talk to about disaster-related stress.

To view the online directory of community resources, go to referweb.net/211CommunityResources/.

Anyone with information about individuals who may have defrauded the government in connection with the spring flooding in Florida should call the FEMA fraud hotline at

800-323-8603 or email DHSOIGHOTLINE@DHS.GOV. This can include information on contractors, inspectors, disaster survivors or anyone posing as any of these.

# # #

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 childcare, medical, dental expenses and/or funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, those who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, transportation, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

Read original article – 

FEMA Deadline Not the End of Flood Recovery in Florida

Të mbijetuarit e uraganit Sandy që kanë nevoja aksesi në shtëpitë e tyre duhet të kontaktojnë me FEMA-n

NJU JORK – Të mbijetuarit që kanë nevoja aksesi në shtëpitë e tyre për shkak të Uraganit Sandy, veçanërisht të moshuarit dhe personat me aftësi të kufizuara, janë të inkurajuar të kontaktojnë me Agjencinë Federale të Menaxhimit të Emergjencave (FEMA). FEMA mund t’i ndihmojë nëse nuk funksionojnë mirë ashensorët apo energjia elektrike, edhe nëse struktura vetë nuk ka pësuar dëme.

Banorët që jetojnë në ndërtesa me ashensorë që nuk funksionojnë apo zona të përbashkëta ku nuk mund të hyjnë dot, mund të kualifikohen për të marrë nga FEMA ndihmë të përkohshme për qira ose ndihmë tjetër që lidhet me katastrofën. Edhe personat që kanë probleme aksesi gjatë kohës që presin pagesën e sigurimeve, mund të kualifikohen për të marrë ndihmë.

Ndërtesat me kushte të pasigurta si p.sh. me probleme energjie elektrike në zonat e përbashkëta, ashensorë që nuk punojnë dhe hyrje ndërtesash ku aksesi është i vështirë, mund të paraqesin vështirësi për banorët, veçanërisht për ata me aftësi të kufizuara ose me probleme shëndetësore që e kanë të vështirë të përdorin shkallët.

Specialistët e FEMA-s po shqyrtojnë lagjet e prekura nga Uragani Sandy për t’u siguruar që të mbijetuarit me nevoja të veçanta fizike apo që kanë probleme me lëvizjen të kenë akses të barabartë dhe të marrin përfitime të barabarta nga programet e FEMA-s. Ata do të punojnë sipas rastit për të ndihmuar të mbijetuarit me nevoja funksionale dhe nevoja të veçanta për akses për t’u siguruar që ata të marrin ndihmën që u përket.

Ndërkohë që FEMA vazhdon përpjekjet e kontaktit në terren, të mbijetuarit nxiten të telefonojnë linjën e asistencës së FEMA-s

800-621-3362 (me zë, 711/në gjuhën e shenjave) ose TTY 800-462-7585.  Qendrat e telefonatave janë të disponueshme nga ora7:00 paradite deri në 01:00 të natës EST, shtatë ditë në javë. 

Originally posted here:  

Të mbijetuarit e uraganit Sandy që kanë nevoja aksesi në shtëpitë e tyre duhet të kontaktojnë me FEMA-n

Sandy survivors with home accessibility needs should contact FEMA

NEW YORK – Survivors with home accessibility needs because of Hurricane Sandy, especially older adults and people with disabilities, are encouraged to stay in touch with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA may be able to assist if elevators or electricity are not working properly, even if the structure did not sustain damage.

Residents living in buildings with non-working elevators or inaccessible common areas may be eligible for temporary rental assistance or other disaster-related assistance from FEMA. Those experiencing accessibility issues while waiting for an insurance settlement also may be eligible for assistance.

Buildings with unsafe conditions such as electrical problems in common areas, non-working elevators and hard-to-access entrances may present difficulties to residents, especially those with disabilities or health concerns that make it difficult to use the stairs.

FEMA specialists are canvassing neighborhoods impacted by Hurricane Sandy to ensure survivors with physical or mobility needs have equal access and receive equal benefits from FEMA programs. They will work on a case-by-case basis to assist survivors with access and functional needs to ensure they receive the assistance for which they are eligible.

While FEMA will continue outreach efforts, survivors are urged to call the FEMA helpline 800-621-3362 (Voice, 7-1-1/Relay) or TTY 800-462-7585. Call centers are available 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. EST, seven days a week.

Originally from – 

Sandy survivors with home accessibility needs should contact FEMA