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FEMA Releases Severe El Nino Disaster Response Plan

FEMA Releases Severe El Nino Disaster Response Plan

For California, Arizona, Nevada

Combined Federal, State task force to meet today at Governor’s Office of Emergency Services

Sacramento Calif., — The FEMA Region 9 office, in Oakland, CA has established an El Niño task force charged with preparing the regional office and its partners for the impacts of El Niño. Today, the FEMA Region 9 Office released its Severe El Nino Disaster Response plan and will convene a regional interagency steering committee meeting in Northern California to exercise the plan.

The task force has evaluated the core capabilities needed to prepare for, respond to, recover from and mitigate against any El Niño related incident that occurs across the office’s area of responsibility. The task force has developed an Executive Decision Support Guide, or response plan, and an interactive flood decision support tool to enhance the regional office’s ability to respond to potential El Niño flood events during the winter of 2015-2016. The plan seeks to align actionable decision points that provide critical information that leaders need to make informed decisions by determining the hazard level potentially impacting lives, public health, safety, property, and critical infrastructure.

The objectives of the task force developed in the plan:

Establish actionable processes and procedures to identify the location, potential impacts, and probability of occurrence of natural hazards
Identify key at-risk populations, critical facilities and natural/cultural resources
Identify gaps in core capabilities needed to overcome the threat
Develop key messages to motivate partners to prepare and act

The task force consists of subject matter experts from the FEMA Region 9 office as well as other federal, state, local, tribal and community partners.

“California is at risk for many types of disasters,” said Mark Ghilarducci, Director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. “These joint exercises with our partners allow us to prepare for and respond to emergencies.”

“Utilizing a ‘whole community’ approach to emergency management reinforces the fact that FEMA is only one part of our nation’s emergency management team,” said Bob Fenton, FEMA Region 9 Administrator. “The exercise gives us an opportunity to learn from each other, and from the experts in the areas where solutions will come from.”

“There aren’t many types of disasters capable of impacting all Arizonans, but a strong El Niño could cause flooding, evacuations and power outages anywhere (and everywhere) in the state,” said Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs Deputy Director Wendy Smith-Reeve. “It takes a team effort to plan for, respond to and recover from the kinds of widespread consequences being talked about, which is why we’re invested in the education and training of and outreach to the whole community.”

FEMA recognizes that a government-centric approach to emergency management is not adequate to meet the challenges posed by a catastrophic incident. Utilizing a “whole community” approach to emergency management reinforces that FEMA is only one part of our nation’s emergency management team.

The El Nino task force has focused on interpreting data in areas of California, Arizona and Nevada that have proved historically vulnerable in order to develop risk projections of current El Niño events. It is through this assessment the task force seeks to determine the critical decision points needed by senior leaders during all phases of an incident from pre-incident, incident onset, through response and recovery.

Today, the FEMA Region 9 Office will participate in a Rehearsal of Concept (ROC) exercise with its disaster response partners to exercise the response plan and its flood decision support tools. During this exercise, participants will identify issues, gaps and shortfalls that will be incorporated to enhance the plan’s utility. The task force will leverage best available data from predictive modeling and other analytical tools to keep senior decision makers informed throughout potential El Niño events. The efforts undertaking by the task force during the ROC will enable the FEMA Region 9 Office, its partners and ultimately the disaster survivor to make intelligent decisions for any El Niño related event.

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FEMA Releases Severe El Nino Disaster Response Plan

Mississippi Hurricane Katrina: A Decade of Progress through Partnerships

BILOXI, Miss. — It’s been nearly ten years since Hurricane Katrina left widespread destruction along the Mississippi Coast. In the storm’s path, more than 234,000 homes were damaged or destroyed and more than one million people, a third of Mississippi’s population, were affected.

During the ten-years of recovery, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have collaborated with local governments and communities statewide to ensure that Mississippi rebuilds stronger and safer.

“FEMA was there to assist the state of Mississippi days before the storm made landfall and this partnership remains strong today,” said Robert Latham, Executive Director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. “They have continued to support with financial and technical assistance to help rebuild Mississippi and make us more resilient.”

The following is a snapshot of FEMA and state assistance provided throughout the state during the last ten years:

Helping individuals and families:

More than $1.3 billion was spent to help individuals and families meet their basic needs and begin to recover. More than 126,000 families received rental assistance – with more than 45,000 families provided with a temporary housing unit.

Rebuilding Mississippi’s Infrastructure:

MEMA administers FEMA’s Public Assistance funds. To date, FEMA has obligated over $3.2 billion – the amount committed to restore schools, public buildings, roads and bridges, medical facilities, parks and other infrastructure and for debris removal and emergency response during and after the storm.

The current water and sewer infrastructure project underway in the City of Biloxi is the largest Public Assistance project in Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina. FEMA obligated over $363 million for this project.

Historic preservation

In an innovative agreement to preserve historic properties after a disaster, FEMA partnered with several agencies to streamline the process required by the National Historic Preservation Act. Under this agreement – called the Secondary Programmatic Agreement – FEMA’s historic and archaeological specialists used GPS data to survey thousands of historic properties, districts and archaeological sites in the lower Mississippi counties most affected by Katrina. This survey is nearly 94 percent complete.

FEMA has worked with the state of Mississippi to safeguard these treasures in our Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation work through extensive environmental/historical assessments and collaborative decisions.

Preparing for future disasters

FEMA has obligated $314 million for Hazard Mitigation in federal funds for safe rooms, shelters, hurricane-proofing and other projects to reduce the effect of future disasters. This is part of the $364 million available to Mississippi for projects to reduce the impact of disasters on people and property. The balance of the remaining funds to be obligated is just over $50 million. To date, $159 million has been obligated for safe rooms across the state. MEMA manages the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program in Mississippi. It identifies projects and manages them from beginning to closeout.

As we reach the ten year mark and the Hurricane Katrina recovery mission is nearly completed, Mississippi’s new and rebuilt infrastructure will be less vulnerable to future storms than in 2005. “Our strong partnership with the state of Mississippi was the key part in making our recovery efforts a reality for Mississippians,” said FEMA Mississippi Recovery Office Acting Director Laura Hill. “FEMA is proud of having worked with Mississippi in our rebuilding efforts to make the state stronger and better prepared.”

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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Mississippi Hurricane Katrina: A Decade of Progress through Partnerships

Scope of Work

Main Content

Appeal Brief | Appeal Letter | Appeal Analysis | Back

Second Appeal Brief

1909
PA ID# 125-U00B3-00; Clarksville Gas and Water
PW ID# 5451; Scope of Work
07/31/2015

Conclusion: Pursuant to the Stafford Act § 406(e) and 44 C.F.R. Parts 9 and 10, the requested scope of work is eligible for PA funding.

Summary Paragraph

Beginning on April 30, 2010, severe storms, tornadoes, heavy rains, high winds, flooding, and flash flooding caused the creek bed of Sycamore Creek to erode and the Applicant’s gas pipes to become exposed. During the final review of Project Worksheet (PW) 5451, FEMA denied funding for the directional boring method used by the Applicant to restore its natural gas pipes because it determined that the process was not the most cost effective method and there was no regulatory requirement for it. Instead, FEMA obligated PW 5451 to excavate the embankment areas, remove the pipes, relocate the pipes, and backfill the embankment areas. In the first appeal letter, the Applicant asserted that there was no conclusive evidence that the pipes were not damaged, the existing pipes could not have been reused, and natural gas regulations require operators to bury pipes in a safe manner that would prevent the pipes from becoming uncovered. The Applicant also asserted that, due to winter weather and time constraints, directional boring was the only method that would prevent future exposure. The Region IV Regional Administrator (RA) denied $559,964.86 in additional funding to complete the project as it was neither necessary nor cost effective, and the Applicant failed to provide a regulatory justification for the additional work performed during the restoration of its gas pipes located below Sycamore Creek. In the second appeal, the Applicant asserts that simply replacing the lost creek bed material to pre-disaster condition was not possible because this method does not comply with federal natural gas line regulations and is prohibited by Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation requirements. In addition, the Applicant claims the only available option was to utilize directional boring due to winter weather and time constraints. Pursuant to the Stafford Act § 406(e) and 44 C.F.R. Parts 9 and 10, the requested scope of work is eligible for PA funding.

Authorities and Second Appeals

Stafford Act § 406, 42 U.S.C. § 5172.
44 C.F.R. Parts 9 and 10.
44 C.F.R. § 206.201(m).
44 C.F.R. § 206.205(b)(2).
PA Guide, at 116, 127, 128.

Headnotes
- The Stafford Act § 406(e)(1) authorizes FEMA to reimburse the costs to repair, restore, or replace a damaged facility to its predisaster design, function, and capacity in accordance with applicable codes and standards.
- Pursuant to Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations (44 C.F.R.) Parts 9 and 10, FEMA must consider and comply with Federal laws, regulations, and Executive Orders that have EHP implications.
  - Regarding PW 5451, FEMA EHP reviewed and approved a scope of work that utilized the directional boring method.
  - The scope subsequently was changed utilizing the open cut method for repair and a new EHP review was not conducted.
  - FEMA is not authorized to provide funding for the revised scope that was neither reviewed nor approved by an EHP reviewer.

As the project is otherwise eligible for PA funding, FEMA is authorized to provide funding for the original scope of work utilizing the directional boring method.

Original article –

Scope of Work

Federal Flood Risk Management Standard

WASHINGTON – On January 30, the President issued an Executive Order 13690, “Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder Input.” Prior to implementation of the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard, additional input from stakeholders is being solicited and considered on how federal agencies will implement the new Standard. To carry out this process, a draft version of Implementing Guidelines is open for comment until April 6, 2015.

Floods, the most common natural disaster, damage public health and safety, as well as economic prosperity. They can also threaten national security. Between 1980 and 2013, the United States suffered more than $260 billion in flood-related damages. With climate change and other threats, flooding risks are expected to increase over time. Sea level rise, storm surge, and heavy downpours, along with extensive development in coastal areas, increase the risk of damage due to flooding. That damage can be particularly severe for infrastructure, including buildings, roads, ports, industrial facilities and even coastal military installations.

The new Executive Order amends the existing Executive Order 11988 on Floodplain Management and adopts a higher flood standard for future federal investments in and affecting floodplains, which will be required to meet the level of resilience established in the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard. This includes projects where federal funds are used to build new structures and facilities or to rebuild those that have been damaged. These projects make sure that buildings are constructed to withstand the impacts of flooding, improves the resilience of communities, and protects federal investments.

This Standard requires agencies to consider the best available, actionable science of both current and future risk when taxpayer dollars are used to build or rebuild in floodplains. On average, more people die annually from flooding than any other natural hazard. Further, the costs borne by the federal government are more than any other hazard. Water-related disasters account for approximately 85% of all disaster declarations.

The Standard establishes the flood level to which new and rebuilt federally funded structures or facilities must be resilient. In implementing the Standard, agencies will be given the flexibility to select one of three approaches for establishing the flood elevation and hazard area they use in siting, design, and construction:

Utilizing best available, actionable data and methods that integrate current and future changes in flooding based on climate science;
Two or three feet of elevation, depending on the criticality of the building, above the 100-year, or 1%-annual-chance, flood elevation; or
500-year, or 0.2%-annual-chance, flood elevation.

Prior to implementation of the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard, additional input from stakeholders is being solicited and considered. To carry out this process, FEMA, on behalf of the Mitigation Framework Leadership Group (MitFLG), published a draft version of Implementing Guidelines that is open for comment. A Federal Register Notice has been published to seek written comments, which should be submitted at www.regulations.gov under docket ID FEMA-2015-0006 for 60 days. Questions may be submitted to FEMA-FFRMS@fema.dhs.gov.

FEMA will also be holding public meetings to further solicit stakeholder input and will also host a virtual listening session in the coming months. Notice of these meetings will be published in the Federal Register. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the MitFLG will revise the draft Implementing Guidelines, based on input received, and provide recommendations to the Water Resources Council.

The Water Resources Council will, after considering the recommendations of the MitFLG, issue amended guidelines to provide guidance to federal agencies on the implementation of the Standard. Agencies will not issue or amend existing regulations or program procedures until the Water Resources Council issues amended guidelines that are informed by stakeholder input.

FEMA looks forward to participation and input in the process as part of the work towards reducing flood risk, increasing resilience, cutting future economic losses, and potentially saving lives.

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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.

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Federal Flood Risk Management Standard

FEMA 2014 Funding for Louisiana Tops $554 Million

DENTON, Texas —The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided more than $554 million in 2014 funding to the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and community partners for disaster recovery, mitigation and preparedness.

“FEMA in partnership with GOHSEP, continues to provide funding to assist communities in recovering from and mitigating against future damage,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “We are committed to helping Louisiana residents strengthen their resilience.”

The $554 million includes more than $4 million from FEMA’s Individual Assistance program, $301 million in Public Assistance dollars for repair and replacement of infrastructure, $225 million in Hazard Mitigation funding, and more than $24 million in Preparedness grants for projects to mitigate damage from future disasters.

“It is exciting to see the progress made over the past year,” said Kevin Davis, GOHSEP Executive Director. “Our team realizes the importance of working with FEMA in order to help Louisiana citizens recover.”

Some highlights from FEMA’s 2014 federal funding in Louisiana for disasters dating back to 2005 include:
•   The city of New Orleans received more than $79 million for road repairs and American with Disabilities (ADA) ramps for damage incurred after Hurricane Katrina.
•   Plaquemines Parish School Board was funded over $3 million for Phoenix High School repairs to campus facilities damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
•   St. John the Baptist Parish received $26.3 million to fund repairs to five East St. John High School buildings and the Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School following Hurricane Isaac.
•   Jefferson Parish received $2 million for the elevation of 16 homes, severely damaged by previous storms and flooding including Hurricane Gustav.
•   GOHSEP’s statewide generator project was awarded $2.1 million from Hurricane Gustav for the purchase and installation of permanent and portable generators at 19 critical facilities, including Covington, East Baton Rouge, and Jefferson parishes’ fire and police departments, lift stations, and Caddo Parish Child & Family Services.

In addition to providing federal funding, FEMA’s Environmental and Historic Preservation team in partnership with the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office helped to facilitate the new listing of New Orleans’ Edgewood Park Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.

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FEMA 2014 Funding for Louisiana Tops $554 Million

FEMA Administrator Appoints National Advisory Council Members

Today, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate appointed twelve new members and reappointed two current members to FEMA’s National Advisory Council (NAC).

The NAC is an advisory committee established by federal law to ensure effective and ongoing coordination of federal emergency management activities. Members represent the whole community and include representatives from a wide array of backgrounds and communities involved or affected by the emergency management profession. The NAC consists of up to 35 members.

“FEMA is just one part of our nation’s emergency management team,” FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said. “The National Advisory Council serves a vital role in guiding our plans and strategies by ensuring we remain informed by diverse viewpoints and experiences from every sector of society. I value the expertise and input of each of these members, and appreciate their dedication and commitment to ensuring effective emergency management.”

The NAC provides recommendations to the FEMA Administrator on a variety of issues within emergency management. For example, the NAC recently made recommendations regarding regional response and recovery capabilities as well as regarding mutual aid agreements among different units of government.

FEMA received over 200 applications for the open positions. All applicants were carefully considered through an intensive review process, which included an interagency membership recommendation panel of senior government officials. Most appointments are for three-year terms.

The twelve new NAC members include:

Emergency Management
Samantha Phillips, Director of Emergency Management, City of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Non-Elected Local Government Officials
W. Scott Field, Director, Denver Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (Denver, Colo.)

Standards Setting and Accrediting
Fritz Wilson, Executive Director, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (Cumming, Ga.)

Health Scientists
Gerald Parker, Jr., Vice President of Public Health Preparedness and Response, Texas A&M Health Science Center (Bryan, Texas)

Disabilities
Christopher Littlewood, Project Coordinator, Center for Public Safety Innovation, St. Petersburg College (Seminole, Fla)

Non-Elected Tribal Government Officials
Jeffrey Hansen, Emergency Manager, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (Durant, Okla.)

Elected Tribal Government Officials
James Akerelrea, Tribal Council Member, Scammon Bay Traditional Council and Store Manager, Scammon Bay Askinuk Store (Scammon Bay, Alaska)

Emergency Response Providers
Gerard Dio, Fire Chief, City of Worcester (Worcester, Mass.)

Communications
Christopher Smith, Homeland Security Advisor to the Governor and Emergency Management Director, State of Nevada (Sparks, Nev.)

Infrastructure Protection
Daniel Zarrilli, Director of Resiliency and Acting Director for Long-term planning and sustainability, Office of the Mayor, City of New York (New York, N.Y.)

Administrator Selection
Jeanne-Aimee De Marrais, Senior Director for U.S Emergencies, Save the Children (Westport, Conn.)

Administrator Selection
Meloyde Batten-Mickens, Executive Director of, Facilities, Gallaudet University (Washington, D.C.)

The two reappointed members include:

Administrator Selections
Lee Feldman, City Manager, City of Fort Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Administrator Selection
Felix (Phil) Zarlengo, Chairman, AARP Board of Directors (Jamestown, R.I.)

In addition, Jerry Demings, Sheriff, Orange County Sheriff’s Office (Orlando, Fla.) was appointed on July 1, 2014 to fill a vacancy in the Elected Local Government Officials position.

Additional information on the National Advisory Council, including a full list of members, is available at www.fema.gov/national-advisory-council.

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FEMA Administrator Appoints National Advisory Council Members

Hurricane Sandy: The New London Harbor Lighthouse Recovers

When Hurricane Sandy slammed into the Connecticut coast last October, the New London Harbor Lighthouse, built in 1801, found itself in a vulnerable spot. Standing at attention where the Thames River meets the eastern edge of the Long Island Sound, there was nothing to protect the lighthouse from Hurricane Sandy’s severe lashing. Members of the New London Maritime Society, the lighthouse’s current stewards, anxiously awaited the passing of the storm to survey the damage.

When the skies cleared and the waves receded the lighthouse itself emerged stoic as ever, but the wreckage at its feet was significant. A masonry walkway that bridged the rocky gap from the Keeper’s house to the lighthouse, and a brick seawall bordering the property were clobbered by waves, which resulted in disastrous structural damage.

Without the funds to repair the estimated $42,255 in damage, the New London Maritime Society applied for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

One year later, with the application approved and $31,691.25 in FEMA funds, Susan Tamulevich, Executive Director at the New London Maritime Society’s Custom House is happy to report that the rebuilding of the walkway is all but finished. She explained that the city of New London gave them granite curbing for the rebuilding of the walkway, which is now very strong, level, and smooth. “It’s so level that someone in a wheelchair can now enter the lighthouse, which wasn’t possible before,” said Susan. She noted that previously there was one steep step and an uneven surface leading to the lighthouse door.

The New London Maritime Society has a $10,533.75 bill left over after the federal share of 75 percent is taken care of, but Susan plans to sell the bricks from the damaged sea wall to raise the money. Work on the sea wall is slated to begin in two weeks.

The lighthouse has weathered many hurricanes in its 212 years, including the hurricane of 1938, which was one of the top ten deadliest hurricanes to make landfall in the U.S. Today the lighthouse still serves as an aid to navigation, as well as a long-loved attraction for school groups, tourists, and local appreciators. Susan was happy to note that the New London Harbor Lighthouse is featured in the U.S. Postal Service’s New England Lighthouses stamp collection this year, prompting many new visitors this past summer.

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Hurricane Sandy: The New London Harbor Lighthouse Recovers

FEMA Awards $90,757 Grant to State of Ohio: Hazard mitigation funds will be used to install 16 residential tornado safe room structures

CHICAGO — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $90,757 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (EMA) for the construction and installation of 16 residential tornado safe room structures.

“The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program enables communities to implement critical mitigation measures to reduce the risk of losing lives and property,” said FEMA Region V Administrator Andrew Velasquez III.“The construction of these safe rooms will protect the lives of residents by providing a secure location to seek shelter from tornados and other high wind events.”

“The Ohio Safe room program is great contribution to our mission of a Safer Ohio”, said Nancy Dragani, Ohio EMA Executive Director. “We applaud the work FEMA has done to support Ohio as we work toward mitigating against disasters.”

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Through HMGP, FEMA will pay 75 percent of the $121,010 eligible project cost.The remaining 25 percent of the funds $30,253 will be provided by the State of Ohio and participating homeowners.

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at 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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Media Contact:

FEMA Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, (312) 408-4455

OEMA Contact: Tamara McBride, (614) 799-3695

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FEMA Awards $90,757 Grant to State of Ohio: Hazard mitigation funds will be used to install 16 residential tornado safe room structures

Louisiana Recovery: Eight Years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

NEW ORLEANS – In the continued recovery from hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided nearly $19.6 billion to help Louisiana’s communities and families rebuild and protect their property against future hazards.

“Since 2005, FEMA has remained committed to Louisiana’s post-Katrina and Rita recovery. In the last eight years, we have funded one of the most significant comebacks in the history of natural disasters. This would not have been possible without the strong partnerships we share with our state and local recovery partners,” said FEMA’s Louisiana Recovery Office Executive Director Mike Womack.

FEMA’s Public Assistance Program assists in rebuilding disaster-damaged public infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, publicly owned utilities, schools, police and fire departments and healthcare facilities. FEMA has provided approximately $11.9 billion in public assistance funding to 1,849 Louisiana applicants for their Katrina and Rita recovery projects.

“In the past year alone, parish governments have held more than 50 groundbreaking and ribbon cutting events related to Katrina and Rita projects. These celebrations highlight the hard work and commitment that spurs the progress being made every day in Louisiana,” said Womack. “Our new, online photo essay at www.fema.gov/la8year offers a glimpse at some of the major, completed projects in local parishes.”

FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program helps communities rebuild stronger and smarter by providing grants for projects that are designed to save lives and protect properties. Specifically, in response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita, FEMA has made more than $1.86 billion in HMGP funding available to the state of Louisiana.

Regarding individuals and families, after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, hundreds of thousands of Louisiana residents needed help rebuilding their lives. To aid these residents, FEMA provided approximately $5.8 billion in Individuals and Households Program grants to 915,884 individuals and families statewide. These dollars were used as housing assistance for rent, repairs and replacement housing, as well as other needs assistance for such things as furniture, clothing and replacement vehicles.

FEMA also housed more than 92,000 households in travel trailers, park models and mobile homes across Louisiana to combat the largest housing shortage ever seen in the agency’s history. Units were located on private properties, at industrial sites, in commercial mobile home parks and across 111 FEMA built and maintained group sites throughout the state. The last temporary housing unit was vacated last year in 2012.

For more information about Louisiana’s recovery from hurricanes Katrina and Rita and to view the 8^th Year Photo Essay, visit www.fema.gov/la8year.

All data is as of Aug. 22, 2013.

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.

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.

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Louisiana Recovery: Eight Years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

FEMA Go Green Initiative Team wins 2013 DHS Sustainable Practices Award

NEW YORK – The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Go Green Initiative Team at the joint field office for New York Sandy recovery was recently recognized for its success in implementing sustainable practices. The team won the “Green Dream Team Award” from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Sustainable Practices Award program.

The annual award, which received 17 nominations from federal departments and agencies, recognizes the FEMA team for outstanding achievement in reaching their sustainability goals as outlined in Executive Order 13514, Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance.

A panel of federal sustainability leaders selected the FEMA team because it presented a “superior quality project reflecting the highest ideals of [our] sustainability efforts,” according to Chris Cummiskey, senior sustainability officer for DHS. “I am impressed with the leadership and teamwork that helped institute sustainability practices into a response and recovery effort.”

Part of the team’s initiatives included encouraging the use of mass transit and issuing fewer rental vehicles, resulting in fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the 75-person team oversaw a 51 percent reduction in paper usage and took energy conservation measures like installing light sensors in restrooms at the office. These sustainability practices are responsible for an estimated savings of $25 million.

“Even as we coordinate response and recovery efforts from Hurricane Sandy, we must be good stewards of both the taxpayer’s money and the environment,” said Willie Nunn, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer in New York. “Our Go Green Initiative Team set high goals and executed a strong sustainability strategy that is now being recognized by DHS. I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve been able to accomplish so far.”

The FEMA “Green Dream Team” is now being considered for a 2013 GreenGov Presidential Award, a program led by the White House Council on Environmental Quality that recognizes the efforts of federal agencies to lead sustainability practices.

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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FEMA Go Green Initiative Team wins 2013 DHS Sustainable Practices Award

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