FEMA Authorizes Funds to Help Fight the Byrd Canyon Fire

SEATTLE, Wash — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Byrd Canyon Fire burning in Chelan County, Washington.

FEMA Acting Regional Administrator Sharon Loper approved the state’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) on September 10, 2012 at 5:00 PM PDT. This is the third FMAG in Washington in 24 hours.

The fire started on September 8, 2012, and has burned approximately 6,500 acres of Federal and private land.  At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 135 primary homes near the city of Chelan and was at 0 percent containment.  Approximately 170 people had evacuated the area under a mandatory evacuation order. 

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of Washington eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants provide reimbursement for firefighting and life-saving efforts. They do not provide assistance to individuals, homeowners or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

Fire Management Assistance Grants are provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders and 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.

Source: 

FEMA Authorizes Funds to Help Fight the Byrd Canyon Fire

FEMA Authorizes Funds to Help Fight Two Washington Wildfires

SEATTLE, Wash — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for both the 1st Canyons Fire burning in Chelan County and the Barker Canyon Fire burning in Douglas and Grant counties.

FEMA Acting Regional Administrator Sharon Loper approved Washington’s requests for Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG) for the two fires on September 9, 2012.

At the time of the request, the 1st Canyons Fire was threatening 210 primary homes in subdivisions near the city of Wenatchee.  The residents of approximately 200 homes have been placed under a mandatory evacuation order and one shelter is open.  The fire started on September 8, 2012, and has burned approximately 250 acres of private land.  There are 85 other large fires burning uncontrolled within the State.  The Principal Advisor confirmed the threat to homes.  The fire is at approximately 0 percent containment. 

At the time of the request, the Barker Canyon Fire was threatening 165 primary homes and had progressed to within 1/2 mile of the city of Grand Coulee.  Approximately 120 people had been evacuated and one shelter is open. Three power substations and major transmission lines are threatened, with one substation surrounded. The fire started on September 9, 2012 and has burned approximately 10,000 acres. The Principal Advisor has confirmed the threat to homes and utilities. The fire is at approximately 0 percent containment.

The authorizations makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of Washington eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants provide reimbursement for firefighting and life-saving efforts. They do not provide assistance to individuals, homeowners or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

Fire Management Assistance Grants are provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders and 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.

Source: 

FEMA Authorizes Funds to Help Fight Two Washington Wildfires

Statement by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate on House Passage of Legislation Addressing Tribal Sovereignty

Statement by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate on House Passage of Legislation Addressing Tribal Sovereignty

Main Content

Release date:

September 19, 2012

Release Number:

HQ-12-097

FEMA Reauthorization Act Allows Tribal Governments to Directly Apply for Federal Disaster Aid
 
WASHINGTON – Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate issued the following statement regarding passage in the U.S. House of Representatives of the 2012 FEMA Reauthorization Act, including Section 210, which would amend the Stafford Act to allow federally recognized Tribal governments to seek a federal emergency or disaster declaration directly from the President of the United States. In June, Administrator Fugate sent a letter to Congress asking for the passage of this provision:
 
“Today, the House of Representatives passed legislation to allow federally recognized Tribal governments to seek a federal emergency or disaster declaration directly from the President of the United States.  Such an amendment to the Stafford Act affirms the sovereignty of tribal governments. FEMA has strong, long-standing relationships with tribal governments, and they are essential members of the emergency management team.  The U.S. Government has a unique government-to-government relationship with federally recognized tribal governments, and amending the Stafford Act to recognize this sovereign relationship will only strengthen the way that FEMA supports tribal communities before, after and during disasters. The House’s action today is an important step forward for this legislation which would strengthen our nation’s emergency management team.”

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Last Updated:

September 19, 2012 – 19:38

State or Region:

Headquarters

Credit: 

Statement by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate on House Passage of Legislation Addressing Tribal Sovereignty

Disaster Recovery Centers Provide Assistance for People with Disabilities

BATON ROUGE, La. — Disaster Recovery Centers in the state of Louisiana are providing services to ensure that Hurricane Isaac survivors with disabilities have ready access to disaster assistance programs.

The centers are providing American Sign Language, Signed English or Tactile Sign Language interpreters to people who request these services.  In addition, video phones as well as caption phones for survivors who are deaf or hard of hearing have been installed at all locations. 

“Disasters affect everyone in the community”, said Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall. “We want to make sure that everyone has accurate, timely and accessible disaster assistance information.”

There are 27 State/FEMA recovery centers operating in 18 parishes. They open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. until further notice. For a list of open centers in Louisiana go online to www.fema.gov/disaster/4080. Specialists from the state of Louisiana, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration are on hand to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors.

Individuals can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. If you use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services, call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

The major disaster declaration for Hurricane Isaac now makes available federal assistance to eligible survivors in 21 parishes: Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington and West Feliciana.

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

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 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.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of funding for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339).

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Disaster Recovery Centers Provide Assistance for People with Disabilities

Recovery Update: Disaster Aid Tops $20.6 Million in St. John Parish

BATON ROUGE, La. – Three weeks since the federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Isaac in Louisiana, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved more than $121 million in disaster assistance for Louisiana. Disaster assistance for survivors in St. John Parish now tops $20.6 million.                                 

ST. JOHN PARISH BY THE NUMBERS

Number of survivors who registered for assistance with FEMA: 12,007

Amount of Housing Assistance approved: $17,972,028

Amount of Other Needs Assistance approved: $2,700,540

TOTAL Amount of Individual Assistance: $20,672,568

TIMELINE

Aug. 27 – President Obama issued an Emergency Declaration in Louisiana, in advance of Hurricane Isaac, for emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct federal assistance under the Public Assistance program.

Aug. 29 – President Obama issued a Federal Disaster Declaration for 35 parishes in Louisiana, including St. John. The declaration made Public Assistance (PA) funds available for reimbursement of debris removal and emergency protective measures (Category A & B), including direct federal assistance. PA is now available in 55 parishes, which includes 52 parishes for Category A & B and three parishes for Category B only.

Aug. 29 – The federal disaster declaration also made all parishes in the state eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Aug. 31 – An amendment designated five parishes in Louisiana, including St. John, eligible for Individual Assistance (IA). With subsequent amendments, IA is now available in 21 parishes: Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington and West Feliciana.

Sept. 1 – A Disaster Recovery Center is open in St. John Parish at 1931 W. Airline Hwy. in LaPlace. Current hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. To date, 2,775 people have visited the recovery center. For a list of center locations, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4080.

Survivors in St. John Parish affected by Hurricane Isaac can apply for disaster assistance online at www.disasterassistance.gov or m.fema.gov with a smartphone. They can also apply by phone by calling 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. Survivors who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 800-621-3362.

Disaster assistance for individuals may include grants to help pay for temporary housing and emergency home repairs to make a home habitable. Survivors could also be eligible for grants for serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

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.

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 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.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of funding for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339).

Original article: 

Recovery Update: Disaster Aid Tops $20.6 Million in St. John Parish

Louisianians Urged to Get Permits Before Rebuilding

BATON ROUGE, La. – As Louisianians repair or rebuild homes and other property damaged in Hurricane Isaac, state and federal recovery officials have an important message for them: Haste makes waste when building without a permit.

“Before picking up a saw or swinging a hammer, property owners should stop at their city or parish permitting office,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “We want property owners to remember to get appropriate construction permits before they launch any rebuilding or significant repair project.”

By requiring construction permits, the state of Louisiana and its local governments ensure buildings are built to existing codes, which in turn protects the safety of homeowners and the community at large. Permits are required not only for new construction, but also for rebuilding an existing home or building, or doing substantial electrical, mechanical or plumbing work.

“We’d like to see homeowners wisely use their federal assistance grants,” Hall said. “Following local building ordinances is one way to ensure their homes are sound and their families safe.”

The federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Isaac makes Individual Assistance grants and U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest loans available to help eligible homeowners, renters and business owners repair and rebuild in 21 Louisiana parishes.

Survivors can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone at m.fema.gov. They may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

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.

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.

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Louisianians Urged to Get Permits Before Rebuilding

FEMA Working to Strengthen Connection with Survivors

BATON ROUGE, La. – Teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are going door to door in communities affected by Hurricane Isaac, seeking out survivors to help connect them with recovery services.

Armed with fliers in English, Spanish, French, Vietnamese and Braille, some 250 Community Relations specialists are providing survivors with valuable information about registering with FEMA and getting local, state and federal assistance.

The effort is part of FEMA’s stepped-up approach to reach survivors in their homes and communities as quickly and effectively as possible after a disaster declaration. Community Relations specialists also have met survivors at Disaster Recovery Centers, at points of distribution, at shelters and through community- and faith-based groups.

“FEMA’s Community Relations teams meet with survivors wherever possible to let them know how FEMA can help them and to listen to their concerns,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall. “This creates a vital link that helps us help people.”

The specialists also learn of survivors’ immediate needs and help direct local, state and federal resources to address problems. One Community Relations team is credited with helping prevent a tragedy in Lafourche Parish. When team members visited an elderly woman who wore an oxygen-fed breathing mask, they smelled gas in her home. They calmly asked her to leave the home with them and called local emergency services.

When firefighters arrived, the gas odor was so strong they could not enter the home. Because the woman had breathing assistance, she had not noticed the leak, but emergency officials said a single spark could have caused an explosion.

The Community Relations teams also may be able to dispel rumors in the community and help FEMA debunk myths.  The specialists help to identify survivors who require language translations and who have functional or access needs due to a disability or being elderly.

“They are our eyes and ears in the field,” Hall said. “By having Community Relations specialists out there, FEMA and the state are learning how to best help survivors recover from Hurricane Isaac.”

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.

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 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, the R6 Hurricane Preparedness website at www.fema.gov/about/regions/regionvi/updates.shtm and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

Excerpt from: 

FEMA Working to Strengthen Connection with Survivors

FEMA Aid Does Not Affect Government Assistance Programs

CLINTON, Miss. — Receiving disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency following Hurricane Isaac in Mississippi does not affect government assistance programs for lower-income individuals and families.

Receiving assistance from FEMA for temporary housing, home repair, repair or replacement of personal property or for other disaster-related needs does not influence eligibility for government assistance programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

FEMA assistance does not need to be repaid and is not taxable.

Other disaster assistance tips to know:

  • Survivors can call 2-1-1 to be connected to volunteer or faith-based organizations that may be able to help them with resources and needs.
  • Representatives from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and FEMA are at disaster recovery centers to provide information on disaster assistance programs, help survivors apply for aid and assist in appealing determinations of eligibility for assistance.
  • If a survivor is provided an application for a low-interest disaster loan from the Small Business Administration, it is important to return it. Returning the application is required to be considered for grants that do not need to be repaid.

Applicants should register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by mobile device at m.fema.gov. If online or mobile access is unavailable, applicants should call the FEMA toll-free Helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

###

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 public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and 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.

See more here:

FEMA Aid Does Not Affect Government Assistance Programs

FEMA Advisers Offer Home Repair Tips at Local Stores

BATON ROUGE, La. – Teams of hazard mitigation specialists with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are available at home improvement centers in several parishes to offer free consultations to survivors who are rebuilding after Hurricane Isaac.                                               

The FEMA advisers can offer tips and techniques on how to protect homes from future disaster-related damage and other measures to make homes stronger and safer; they also have advice on topics such as:

  • emergency preparedness
  • roof repair
  • rebuilding flooded homes
  • home elevation
  • flood insurance
  • mold and mildew cleanup

Most of the information and free publications provided are geared for do-it-yourself work and general contractors.

The mitigation stations are open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., they are all open through Sept. 25 except in Lafourche Parish.  That one will remain open until Sept. 29.

 

St. John Parish

Home Depot

300 W. Airline Hwy.

LaPlace, LA, 70068

 

St. Bernard Parish

The Home Depot

8601 Judge Perez Drive

Chalmette, LA 

 

Jefferson Parish

Lowes

121 Jefferson Hwy.

Jefferson, LA

 

Lafourche Parish

Lowes

614 North Canal

Thibodaux, LA 70301

 

Ascension Parish

The Home Depot

2740 South Cajun Ave.

Gonzales, LA

 

Survivors can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone at m.fema.gov. They may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

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.

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 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.

More:

FEMA Advisers Offer Home Repair Tips at Local Stores

Disaster Recovery Center in Mannford to Close Friday, Sept. 21

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) encourage Creek County residents affected by the Aug. 3-14 wildfire to take advantage of the face-to-face service before the Disaster Recovery Center at 101 Green Valley Rd. in Mannford closes 6 p.m., Friday, Sept. 21.

The center opened Aug. 27 to serve Creek County homeowners, renters and businesses following the devastating wildfire.  Nearly 600 people have taken advantage of the center to register, receive assistance with forms, update their information and learn about mitigation measures.

The center provides one-on-one service. Individuals needing to meet personally with representatives from OEM, FEMA, and the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) have only days left to do so.

Once the center closes, residents with computers or smartphones may apply or track their status online at www.disasterassistance.gov, or web-enabled phones at m.fema.gov or the FEMA app, or if they do not have a computer, by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585. If using 711 Relay or Video Relay Services, call 1-800-621-3362. FEMA phone lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT seven days a week; multilingual operators are available.

Homeowners, renters and businesses affected by the Aug. 3-14 wildfire, can apply for an SBA disaster loan after registering with FEMA by going online to SBA’s secure site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela; calling 1-800-659-2955 or TTY 1-800-877-8339. For information on SBA disaster assistance, go to www.sba.gov.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofits for their uncompensated physical disaster losses (homes, personal property and business assets).  For small businesses and most private nonprofits, SBA disaster loans are available to cover working capital needs caused by the disaster, whether or not the business suffered physical damage.

Federal disaster assistance programs are available only for a limited time following a major disaster declaration. The deadline for all Creek County residents who suffered damages or loss to apply is Oct. 22.

For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click on www.fema.gov/disaster/4078 or www.oem.ok.gov.

Follow the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook at twitter.com/okem and www.facebook.com/oklahomadepartmentofemergencymanagement. FEMA tweets about the Oklahoma disaster are at twitter.com/femaregion6. Additional FEMA online resources include blog.fema.gov, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.

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Disaster Recovery Center in Mannford to Close Friday, Sept. 21

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