Area Residents Helping FEMA Support Souris Valley

Area Residents Helping FEMA Support Souris Valley 

Release Date: June 11, 2012
Release Number: 1981-ANF001

» More Information on North Dakota Flooding

» 2012 Region VIII News Releases

“Helping people.”

That’s the answer Tamra “Tammy” Kloehn gave when asked what she liked most about her job with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Minot. Tammy knows what it is like to need assistance after a disaster, because her household was affected by last year’s flood and was an applicant for FEMA disaster assistance.

When the Federal Emergency Management Agency arrives to render aid following a declared disaster, survivors are often curious about the people who represent the agency. While it is usually true that the initial group of workers who arrive on the scene come from across the country, those impacted by disasters may be surprised to learn that many new FEMA employees are their family, friends and fellow disaster survivors. In “FEMA-speak” these folks are known as local hires.

Local hires are employees drawn from the local, disaster-affected area. Their willingness to train and work as FEMA employees, along with the wealth of local knowledge they bring, make them an integral part of helping communities recover.

Tammy has lived in Minot all of her life, working in various fields such as restaurant management, assisted living care and accounting. When she saw a job posting for FEMA last December and read the description, she applied, “It sounded interesting and it was working with people.”

As a Recertification Advisor, Tammy visits individuals and families living in FEMA housing units throughout Minot to work with them on their housing plan and help them return to a more permanent living arrangement. She provides those who were previously renting with lists of available rentals and offers assistance to homeowners that are repairing their damaged dwellings.

…

Christopher Geck was also born in Minot, but has lived the past 22 years in Mandan. In 2009 he was working as a security officer in the FEMA Bismarck Joint Field Office that was set up to help in recovery from the Red River flooding that year. Chris applied for a reservist position that was open in the Finance and Admin section and was hired as a Human Resources Specialist.

Reservists are FEMA employees who travel the country assisting in recovery efforts of all 50 states following disaster declarations. Chris finds it especially satisfying to be assigned to work in the city he was born in 28 years ago and where his own family was affected by the flood last year. He now serves as the HR supervisor in the Minot FEMA Housing Management Office, handling deployments of fellow employees who arrive from other parts of the country to assist in flood recovery, overseeing payroll and interviewing and processing new local hires.

…

When you look into the eyes of Laura Grueneberg, you can see the care and concern she carries for disaster survivors. In her position as a Voluntary Agency Liaison (VAL) that is appropriate, but even more so knowing her own home was substantially damaged during the flood in Minot last year. Living with her husband and 4 children in a hotel room for almost 4 months and then in a FEMA housing unit for another 5 months, Laura knows intimately what many disaster survivors are living through today.

“A way to make a difference in the lives of people” is what prompted Laura to apply for the position she saw posted online in November. As a VAL, Laura is FEMA’s link to local volunteer organizations. She also works hand-in-hand with FEMA Recertification Advisors to help applicants who have needs that cannot be met by FEMA programs, but that voluntary agencies may be able to assist.

“I am grateful for the opportunity FEMA has given me. Working in a field where I am able to help others is incredibly rewarding and working outside of the home has helped my family get back on our feet.”

FEMA is also grateful for the area residents serving in its ranks who have helped the Souris Valley in the disaster recovery.

Last Modified: Monday, 11-Jun-2012 10:00:22

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Area Residents Helping FEMA Support Souris Valley

FEMA Authorizes Funds to Help Fight Colorado’s Hyde Park Fire

FEMA Authorizes Funds to Help Fight Colorado’s Hyde Park Fire 

Release Date: June 11, 2012
Release Number: R8-12-012

» 2012 Region VIII News Releases

DENVER, Co. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Hyde Park Fire located in Larimer County.

FEMA Regional Administrator Robin Finegan approved the state’s request for a Federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) at 7:19 p.m on June 9, 2012. The fire has burned in excess of 4,000 acres of federal and state/private lands.

At the time of the request the fire was threatening 150 homes in and around Fort Collins, population 299,630. The fire is also threatening campgrounds in the area, the Stove Canyon and Poudre Canyon watersheds and an unknown amount of other infrastructure.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires.

FMAGs 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.

These grants do not provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

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.

Last Modified: Monday, 11-Jun-2012 12:31:27

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FEMA Authorizes Funds to Help Fight Colorado’s Hyde Park Fire

Additional $7.1 Million for Property Acquisitions Approved By FEMA

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Additional $7.1 Million for Property Acquisitions Approved By FEMA

FEMA Dollars Fund New Louisiana SPCA Facility In New Orleans

FEMA Dollars Fund New Louisiana SPCA Facility In New Orleans 

Release Date: June 4, 2012
Release Number: 1603 – 977

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

NEW ORLEANS – The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently announced nearly $8 million in consolidated funding to the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, allowing the private, nonprofit to construct their new animal control facility on higher ground.

Pre-Katrina, the Louisiana SPCA’s animal control facility, which provided care and basic medical services for homeless animals, was located on 1319 Japonica Street in New Orleans. During the storm, the building sustained significant damages—both from wind and floodwaters.

“Given the level of damages at their original facility, the Louisiana SPCA asked us if they could utilize FEMA funding to build their post-Katrina facility at a new location—one that makes them less vulnerable to future flooding. Our recent grant approves this request, supporting not only their recovery efforts, but preparedness efforts as well,” said FEMA’s Louisiana Recovery Office Deputy Director of Programs Andre Cadogan.

Through FEMA’s grant, the Louisiana SPCA plans to construct their new, animal control facility at 1700 Mardi Gras Boulevard, which—because of its proximity to the riverbank—is on higher ground within New Orleans. While its space configuration and capacity will be different than before (since it qualified as an improved project under FEMA’s Public Assistance Program), the new animal control building will replace the same function of the pre-Katrina facility.

In total, including recent funding for the Louisiana SPCA, FEMA has provided approximately $1.3 billion in public assistance grants to date to nonprofit organizations across the state for recovery efforts related to hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

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.

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 Modified: Monday, 04-Jun-2012 14:16:30

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FEMA Dollars Fund New Louisiana SPCA Facility In New Orleans

Louisiana Hurricane History Demonstrates Need to Prepare For Upcoming Season

Louisiana Hurricane History Demonstrates Need to Prepare For Upcoming Season 

Release Date: May 30, 2012
Release Number: R6-12-098

» 2012 Region VI News Releases

DENTON, Texas — Sixteen hurricanes and six tropical storms since 1956, which resulted in federal disaster declarations, serve as reminders to Louisianans that now is the time to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season.

The 2012 Hurricane Season begins on June 1, and while experts are predicting a slower season than in past years, most of the predictions still call for at least a normal amount of activity. The 50 year average is a little over 11 named storms, six of those becoming hurricanes and two becoming major ones – Category 3 or higher. In the last 55 years, Louisiana has had 22 storms that resulted in federal declarations. Sixteen were hurricanes and six were tropical storms.

The hurricanes were two unnamed storms (1956 & 1957), Hilda (1964), Betsy (1965), Camille (1969), Edith (1971), Carmen (1974), Juan (1985), Andrew (1992), Georges (1998), Lili (2002), Ivan (2004), Katrina (2005) Rita (2005), Gustav (2008), and Ike (2008). The tropical storms were Allison (1989), Frances (1998), Allison (2001), Isidore (2002), Cindy (2005), and Lee (2011).

Six of the hurricanes and four of the tropical storms occurred in the last decade and resulted in Louisiana receiving more than $35.5 billion in federal disaster aid. That assistance fell under both the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) and Individuals and Households (IHP) programs and included funding for direct housing, crisis counseling, disaster legal services, disaster unemployment, and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loans.

“These statistics more than demonstrate the need for all Louisianans to be prepared,” said Acting FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “We say it often, but it’s the best way to get a clear message out there – Get a Kit, Make a Plan and Stay Informed.

For more information on the upcoming hurricane season, please visit www.ready.gov/hurricanes and www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare.

Volunteering is one way to be prepared to help others. Use VolunteerMatch to locate local Red Cross volunteer opportunities in your community. You can also visit www.citizencorps.gov for ways to help and be 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.

Last Modified: Thursday, 31-May-2012 10:49:06

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Louisiana Hurricane History Demonstrates Need to Prepare For Upcoming Season

Six Months Remain Before Flood Maps are Effective in Cameron Parish, Louisiana

Six Months Remain Before Flood Maps are Effective in Cameron Parish, Louisiana 

Release Date: May 23, 2012
Release Number: R6-12-093

DENTON, Texas – In six months, on Nov. 16, new flood maps for Cameron Parish will become effective. Before the maps are final, state, local and federal officials are encouraging everyone to view the maps to understand their flood risk and consider purchasing flood insurance.

Most property insurance policies do not cover the effects of a flood. Floods can place people at risk of uninsured loss to their businesses, homes and personal property if they don’t have either a private flood insurance policy or coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a voluntary protection program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Flooding is the #1 natural disaster in the United States and only flood insurance covers these unexpected, damaging and sometimes fatal events. “Where there is rain, there could be flooding,” said FEMA Region 6 Acting Administrator Tony Robinson. “Everyone lives in a flood zone.”

To learn if your community participates in the NFIP and to review the new flood maps, please contact your local floodplain administrator (FPA) who is located at the local Police Jury Office.

FEMA Map specialists and Flood Insurance experts also are available to answer questions. They can be reached by phone and online chat:

  • To contact a FEMA Map Specialist, call 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or send an email to FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com
  • To use the live chat service, visit go.usa.gov/r6C. Click on the “Live Chat” icon.
  • For more information on estimated rates for flood insurance, flood facts and to locate an agent in your area, visit www.FloodSmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531.

FEMA encourages communities not currently participating in the NFIP to look at the benefits of joining the program. Participation in the NFIP can assure a faster recovery in the event of a devastating flood.

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 Modified: Wednesday, 23-May-2012 16:50:39

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Six Months Remain Before Flood Maps are Effective in Cameron Parish, Louisiana

FEMA Administrator Statement On New National Hurricane Center Director

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FEMA Administrator Statement On New National Hurricane Center Director

FEMA Funding Made Available to Help Nevada Fight TRE Fire

FEMA Funding Made Available to Help Nevada Fight TRE Fire 

Release Date: May 23, 2012
Release Number: R9-12-002

» 2012 Region IX News Releases

OAKLAND, Calif. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help the state of Nevada fight the TRE Fire in Douglas County.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to reimburse 75 percent of the eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling the fire.

At the time the state of Nevada submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant, the fire was threatening 700 homes in and around Topaz Ranch Estates. The fire was also threatening numerous businesses, infrastructure and utilities in the area. Voluntary evacuations had taken place for approximately 300 people.

“FEMA Region IX remains in constant contact with the Nevada Division of Emergency Management to identify needs and provide ongoing support as requested,” said FEMA Region IX Administrator, Nancy Ward.

The President’s Disaster Relief Fund provides funding for federal fire management grants made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible firefighting costs, covered by the grant, must meet a minimum threshold for costs before delivery of assistance. Eligible costs covered by the aid can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; tools, materials and supplies; and mobilization and demobilization activities.

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 Modified: Wednesday, 23-May-2012 14:36:16

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FEMA Funding Made Available to Help Nevada Fight TRE Fire

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

FEMA Approves $1.1 Million for Commonwealth Property Acquisitions

FEMA Approves $1.1 Million for Commonwealth Property Acquisitions 

Release Date: May 16, 2012
Release Number: 4025-140

» More Information on Pennsylvania Tropical Storm Lee
» More Information on Pennsylvania Hurricane Irene

HARRISBURG, Pa. — More than $1.1 million in federal funding has been approved for property acquisitions that will permanently remove flood-prone properties from harm’s way. Additional projects will be approved as the application process continues and program requirements met.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the funds were being obligated through its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). Fourteen properties in one Pennsylvania County will be demolished from this program. Property owner participation in the program is voluntary with sponsorship through their local municipality.

A summary of the projects and the federal cost share follows:

  • Wyoming County: $1,187,000
    Tunkhannock Township, 6 properties
    Tunkhannock Borough, 5 properties
    Meshoppen Township, 3 properties

HMGP funding is made available to encourage states and municipalities to take steps that will reduce the impact of future disasters. The funding represents 15 percent of the total federal cost of the response and recovery. An estimated $66 million is expected to be available to Pennsylvania for the property acquisition program as a result of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.

“Typically, the funding for home buyouts doesn’t become available until at least 18 months after a major disaster declaration, which in this case, would be around March 2013,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Thomas J. McCool, “but after Irene and Lee, it was obvious many homeowners needed a permanent solution to repeated flooding as quickly as possible.”

“Getting to the point when funding is initially obligated typically takes a great deal longer than the eight months it has this time.” said Commonwealth Coordinating Office John Forr. “Buyouts involve not just the homeowners, but local, state, and federal officials as well. Everyone sensed the urgency and did their part.”

Forr said county and municipal officials involved in this effort should be commended for their timely efforts to have hazard mitigation plans approved and adopted, which helped move the process along that much faster.

An application for a buyout is prepared by local officials with input from the community. The state receives and reviews applications to ensure they meet the acquisition requirements prior to submitting them to FEMA for approval. FEMA then reviews the applications to ensure they are eligible under the program, are environmentally sound, and are a cost-effective use of funds.

Once FEMA gives its approval, the acquisition process begins. The communities purchase the homes, the buildings are removed or destroyed, and the land is cleared. The site is then preserved as open space with no permanent structures in perpetuity.

“The process saves taxpayers the continuing costs associated with repetitive flooding,” McCool said, “and it saves homeowners a lot of heartache.”

The project is funded 75 percent by FEMA, with an additional 22 percent from the Commonwealth and the balance from other non-federal sources.

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 Modified: Friday, 18-May-2012 14:25:25

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FEMA Approves $1.1 Million for Commonwealth Property Acquisitions

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