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Colorado Flooding: Two Months Later

DENVER – In the two months since heavy rains brought flooding, Colorado survivors have received more than $117.4 million in state and federal assistance and low-interest loans and an additional $35.1 million in FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) payouts.

To date, more than $52.7 million in Individual Assistance (IA) grants has helped more than 15,000 Colorado households find safe, functional and sanitary rental units or make repairs to primary homes and cover other disaster-related expenses, such as medical needs or personal property loss. Nearly $48.7 million of IA grants have been issued in housing assistance and $4 million in other needs assistance, such as medical or personal property loss. Flood survivors have also received disaster unemployment assistance and disaster legal services.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $64.7 million in disaster loans to Colorado homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations. Of that amount, $54.3 million was in loans to repair and rebuild homes and $10.4 million in business and economic injury loans. Approved loan totals in some of the impacted areas are currently $40 million in Boulder County, $8.9 million in Larimer County and $7.7 million in Weld County.

In addition:

FEMA housing inspectors in the field have looked at more than 24,000 properties in the 11 designated counties for Individual Assistance.

In coordination with the State and local officials, FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance specialists have canvassed Colorado neighborhoods, helping 37,180 survivors connect with recovery services. Survivors have talked to local, state, nonprofit, nongovernmental and FEMA specialists at the Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs). At the DRCs, in the field and on the phone, FEMA provides information in Spanish and many other languages.

More than 50 national, state and local voluntary and faith-based organizations have spent 269,330 hours helping people as they recover from the flooding. The 27,655 volunteers are providing donations, volunteer management, home repair, child care, pet care, counseling services and removal of muck and mold from homes.

In the 18 counties designated for Public Assistance, 190 Applicant Kickoff Meetings have been conducted and so far FEMA has obligated $9,451,743 for eligible projects for debris removal, emergency protective measures and the repair of critical public-owned infrastructure.

FEMA and the State’s Private Sector team has contacted organization leaders from 33 Chambers of Commerce, six Economic Development Centers and 38 colleges and universities to share disaster assistance information.

The Federal Disaster Recovery Coordination group is coordinating disaster recovery across the entire federal family of agencies, facilitating long-term relationships among agencies, identifying technical expertise and funding opportunities; suggesting strategies for addressing specific needs, and generally encouraging a whole community approach to disaster recovery.
- Coordinating agencies represented in FDRC include U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and U.S. Department of Commerce.

Speakers Bureau has received 71 requests from local officials throughout the affected area and 363 State/FEMA specialists and SBA representatives have spoken at town hall meetings and other venues. More than 7,600 attendees received information about FEMA’s IA program, Hazard Mitigation, flood insurance and SBA.

Mitigation specialists have counseled 15,250 survivors during outreach efforts at area hardware stores and more than 4,300 survivors at Disaster Recovery Centers in Colorado.

In the first 60 days of the Colorado flooding disaster, there have been 96,375 total page views on the disaster web page, fema.gov/disaster/4145, or an average of 1,606 daily. More than 500 tweets in the last 60 days were posted on the FEMA Region 8 Twitter feed, an average of eight daily tweets. The R8 Twitter feed has increased its followers to 9,000, an increase of nearly 600 new followers in the past 60 days.

At the request of the State, the 11 counties with FEMA IA designations are Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Clear Creek, El Paso, Fremont, Jefferson, Larimer, Logan, Morgan and Weld.

At the request of the State, the 18 counties with FEMA Public Assistance (PA) designations are Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Clear Creek, Crowley, Denver, El Paso, Fremont, Gilpin, Jefferson, Lake, Larimer, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Sedgwick, Washington and Weld.

County-By-County Breakdown of State and Federal Grants

Adams County	Housing Assistance:	$1,017,068
	Other Needs Assistance:	$118,156
	Total State/FEMA Assistance:	$1,135,224

Arapahoe County	Housing Assistance:	$2,928,379
	Other Needs Assistance:	$255,331
	Total State/FEMA Assistance:	$3,183,710

Boulder County	Housing Assistance:	$28,419,729
	Other Needs Assistance:	$1,820,947
	Total State/FEMA Assistance:	$30,240,676

Clear Creek County	Housing Assistance:	$190,128
	Other Needs Assistance:	$2,426
	Total State/FEMA Assistance:	$192,554

El Paso County	Housing Assistance:	$1,338,680
	Other Needs Assistance:	$142,673
	Total State/FEMA Assistance:	$1,481,353

Fremont County	Housing Assistance:	$43,859
	Other Needs Assistance:	$1,950
	Total State/FEMA Assistance:	$45,809

Jefferson County	Housing Assistance:	$1,378,621
	Other Needs Assistance:	$26,793
	Total State/FEMA Assistance:	$1,405,414

Larimer County	Housing Assistance:	$4,816,065
	Other Needs Assistance:	$267,884
	Total State/FEMA Assistance:	$5,083,949

Logan County	Housing Assistance:	$474,194
	Other Needs Assistance:	$42,515
	Total State/FEMA Assistance:	$516,709

Morgan County	Housing Assistance:	$69,450
	Other Needs Assistance:	$5,037
	Total State/FEMA Assistance:	$74,487

Weld County	Housing Assistance:	$8,027,426
	Other Needs Assistance:	$1,338,890
	Total State/FEMA Assistance:	$9,366,315

Register with FEMA by phone, 800-621-3362, from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., MST, seven days a week. Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages. People who have a speech disability or are deaf or hard of hearing may call (TTY) 800-462-7585; users of 711 or Video Relay Service can call 800-621-3362.

Register online: DisasterAssistance.gov. Register by Web-enabled device, tablet or smartphone: type m.fema.gov in the browser.

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Colorado Flooding: Two Months Later

New Disaster Recovery Center to Open in Brush

DENVER – A new Morgan County Disaster Recovery Center opens in Brush on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

MORGAN COUNTY

Morgan County Fairgrounds

750 Ellsworth St.

Brush, CO 80723

Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., MST, Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.

Beginning Nov. 24, this DRC will be closed on Sunday.

DRCs are operated by the Colorado Office of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), county and local governments. Representatives from FEMA and the SBA are among the agencies represented at each DRC to explain assistance programs and help survivors apply for disaster aid.

Survivors with disaster losses will save time by registering with FEMA before going to a DRC.

Register with FEMA by phone, 800-621-3362, from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., MDT, seven days a week. Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA Helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages. People who have a speech disability or are deaf or hard of hearing may call (TTY) 800-462-7585; users of 711 or Video Relay Service can call 800-621-3362.

Register online: DisasterAssistance.gov or by Web-enabled device, tablet or smartphone: type m.fema.gov in the browser.

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New Disaster Recovery Center to Open in Brush

Changes for Three Disaster Recovery Centers

DENVER – There are changes to the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) schedules in Boulder, Fremont and Morgan counties.

Boulder County – The DRC at the Lyons Elementary Gym, 338 High St., in Lyons will close every Sunday, beginning Nov. 10.
Morgan County – The DRC at the Fort Morgan Police Station, 901 E. Beaver Ave. will close permanently at 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9.
Fremont County – The DRC at Garden Park High School, 201 N. 6^th St., in Cañon City will close permanently at 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9.

To find the DRC closest to you, go to fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

Register with FEMA by phone, 800-621-3362, from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., MST, seven days a week. Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA Helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages. People who have a speech disability or are deaf or hard of hearing may call (TTY) 800-462-7585; users of 711 or Video Relay Service can call 800-621-3362.

Register online: DisasterAssistance.gov or by Web-enabled device, tablet or smartphone: type m.fema.gov in the browser.

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Changes for Three Disaster Recovery Centers

Latest Approved Funding Brings Total for Oklahoma Recovery to More Than $85 Million

OKLAHOMA CITY – An additional $5.8 million has recently been approved in federal funding for recovery in Oklahoma following the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred from May 18 – June 2, 2013. This amount includes three awards: $1.3 million for crisis counseling services; $3.5 million for debris removal; and $1 million for public electric utilities. This funding—along with additional amounts from Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)—brings state and federal assistance approved for Oklahoma to more than $85 million.

The latest Individual Assistance funding covers eligible crisis counseling services and training. The funding will be awarded to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Initial funding for crisis counseling services was made available on June 11, 2013. Services were available to survivors immediately following the presidential disaster declaration. The latest reward is an extension that will continue to offer support to individuals and families impacted by the spring storms.

There are no cost-share requirements for the latest Individual Assistance amount and FEMA will obligate funding directly to the state.

“We remain dedicated to providing individuals and families with the necessary resources to fully assist them in their recovery,” said State Coordinating Officer and Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management Deputy Director Michelann Ooten.

More than $14.7 million in disaster assistance for housing and disaster-related expenses has been approved for qualified homeowners and renters. This includes more than $10.1 million in rental costs and house repairs, and more than $4.6 million for medical expenses, replacement clothing, vehicle repairs, funeral and burial costs, and other needs generated by the storms.

“We are continuing to assess individual needs to ensure that survivors are fully supported as the recovery process continues. Public Assistance funding is also ongoing as communities continue on the road to full recovery,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Sandy Coachman.

More than $26 million has thus far been approved in Public Assistance funding. An additional $3.5 million has been approved for debris removal. The funding covers eligible debris removal costs under a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance Alternative Procedures Pilot Program which is one of the new programs introduced in the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013. The program funds expenses such as debris removal and debris recycling from public property and right-of-ways.

An additional $1 million award has also been provided to Western Farmers Electric Cooperative for repair and replacement of components of their electrical transmission system.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $47 million in low-interest disaster loans for qualified homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations in Oklahoma.

For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click fema.gov/disaster/4117 or visit the OEM site at oem.ok.gov.

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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.

The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) prepares for, responds to, recovers from and mitigates against emergencies and disasters. The department delivers service to Oklahoma cities, towns and counties through a network of more than 350 local emergency managers.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money 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 losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

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Latest Approved Funding Brings Total for Oklahoma Recovery to More Than $85 Million

Federal Disaster Aid for Individuals and Businesses Tops $100 Million

DENVER – Federal disaster assistance for Colorado flood survivors recovering from the September storms has topped $100 million.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved more than $49.4 million in housing assistance and grants for other essential disaster-related needs, including medical, dental and funeral expenses and lost or damaged personal possessions.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved $50.7 million in federal disaster loans to Colorado homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofit organizations that sustained damage from the severe storms and flooding.

FEMA grants to homeowners and renters may include emergency rental assistance and necessary repairs to owner-occupied homes.

Homeowners, renters and business owners should not wait to settle with their insurance companies before applying to SBA for a low-interest disaster loan. Colorado flood survivors should return their completed applications, even if they have not settled with their insurance company.

Individuals and business owners who sustained property damage are encouraged to first register with FEMA prior to the Nov. 14 deadline.

Register with FEMA by phone, 800-621-3362, from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., MDT, seven days a week. Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages. People who have a speech disability or are deaf or hard of hearing may call (TTY) 800-462-7585; users of 711 or Video Relay Service can call 800-621-3362.

Register online: DisasterAssistance.gov. Register by Web-enabled device, tablet or smartphone: type m.fema.gov in the browser.

For more SBA disaster assistance information, call (800) 659-2955 (TTY 1-800-977-8339) or go to www.sba.gov/disaster

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Federal Disaster Aid for Individuals and Businesses Tops $100 Million

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Cañon City

DENVER – Cañon City’s Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., MDT, seven days beginning Thursday, Oct. 31. This is the first DRC in Fremont County.

Colorado residents who suffered losses and damages as a result of the severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides can get face-to-face disaster information at this DRC:

Fremont County

Garden Park High School

201 North 6th Street

Cañon City, CO 81212

Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., MDT, seven days a week at first.

Closed every Sunday beginning Nov. 10.

All DRCs are operated by the Colorado Office of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), county and local governments.

Representatives from FEMA and the SBA are among the agencies represented at each DRC to explain assistance programs and help survivors apply for disaster aid.

Survivors with disaster losses will save time by registering with FEMA before going to a DRC.

Register online: DisasterAssistance.gov or by Web-enabled device, tablet or smartphone: type m.fema.gov in the browser.

For individuals who have hearing and visual disabilities or are deaf, DRCs can provide accommodations such as:

• Captioned telephones, which transcribe spoken words into text
• The booklet “Help After a Disaster” in large print and Braille
• American Sign Language interpreters available upon request
• Magnifiers and assistive listening devices
• 711-Relay or Video Relay Services

For more information on the Colorado disaster operation, visit fema.gov/disaster/4145.

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Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Cañon City

One Year Later: Bridging a Link to History at Liberty State Park

LINCROFT, N.J. — When it comes to destruction, disasters like Superstorm Sandy don’t discriminate: historic structures and environmentally sensitive areas that lie in the path of a storm are in just as much peril as less significant sites.

But when a historic structure or ecologically fragile area is damaged in a disaster, particular care must be taken to ensure that any repair or remediation that must take place is done in accordance with historic and environmental regulations.

To accomplish that, state, county and local officials in the impacted area are able to draw on the support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Environmental and Historic Preservation Specialists.

The EHP cadre plays a critical role in helping municipalities and agencies understand the importance of compliance with environmental and cultural regulations so they may make informed planning decisions.

EHP provides expertise and technical assistance to FEMA staff, local, state and federal partners and applicants who are tasked with the challenge of preserving historic, cultural and natural aspects of our national heritage. They help applicants understand what is required under the law and how best to meet those requirements.

At Liberty State Park, which is adjacent to Jersey City, Sandy destroyed a popular pedestrian bridge that provided access to the park for walkers and cyclists in the Jersey City area.

With the help of specialists from FEMA’s Environmental and Historic Preservation program, city officials acted quickly to develop a plan for reconstructing the bridge, which had originally served as a rail bridge before its conversion for pedestrian use.

The city applied for a FEMA Public Assistance grant which, if the project was approved, would reimburse the city for most of the reconstruction costs.

Because the original bridge traversed environmentally sensitive wetlands, it was important that any new construction be environmentally acceptable and that it occupy the same footprint as the previous bridge.

The park, an oasis of green space adjacent to the bustle of Jersey City, offers recreational facilities, a science museum, and several historic sites including the historic Central Railroad of New Jersey terminal where new immigrants arriving from Ellis Island boarded the trains that would take them to new lives across America.

The park is also the site of a memorial honoring those who died in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, titled Empty Sky. It is the most heavily visited park in the state.

Located just across the river from lower Manhattan, Liberty State Park also played a critical role following the attacks of 9/11 as a staging area for first responders.

With so many reasons for area residents to visit the park, restoring access via the pedestrian bridge was a priority for Jersey City officials.

The cost of replacing the 120-foot-long, 10-foot-wide bridge was estimated at $834,600. Jersey City’s Assistant City Engineer Jeff Reeves chose a pre-fabricated bridge that could be lifted onto the foundation via a crane. The pre-made span cost $160,000.

Restoring the foundation cost an additional $650,000, which included the demolition of the remnants of the original bridge and the installation of necessary components such as foundation “riprap.”

The final cost for reconstruction of the foundation and replacement of the pedestrian bridge came in under budget at $810,000. PA grants reimburse applicants for at least 75 percent of eligible work.

Because the total cost of disaster recovery in New Jersey exceeded a benchmark set by the federal government according to a specific formula, the federal share of the cost of the bridge replacement was increased to 90 percent with the remaining 10 percent borne by the applicant.

On June 20, 2013, then-Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy dedicated the new bridge, which has been officially named the “Ethel Pesin Liberty Footbridge” in memory of the woman who, with her husband, Morris,worked tirelessly to establish the park. A community leader and founding trustee of the Friends of Liberty State Park, Pesin died early in 2013.

“We know how important this piece of infrastructure is to our residents, and that is why we worked with NJOEM and our engineering staff to find a way to expedite the replacement of the Jersey Avenue footbridge,” the mayor said.

Today, walkers and cyclists are again able to enjoy the recreational facilities at Liberty State Park and visit the park’s historic sites via the Jersey Avenue bridge.

And because of the teamwork between state and local officials and FEMA’s EHP experts, the environmentally sensitive wetlands that surround the bridge have been protected.

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Next, the One Year Later series concludes with a look at long-term recovery from Sandy.

Liberty State Park – A Gift Worth Saving

http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/82646

Morristown Library

http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/82180

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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One Year Later: Bridging a Link to History at Liberty State Park

One Year Later: Communities, Local Professionals Take Ownership of Recovery for a Stronger New Jersey

LINCROFT, N.J. — As the State of New Jersey approaches the one-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, many communities along the Shore are focused on recovery efforts. Much of the planning efforts in these devastated towns and boroughs are based on the question: “What will our communities look like in one, five or 10 years?”

Rumson, N.J., Oct. 9, 2013—Families visit project boards developed by Sea Bright community members at the Sea Bright 2020 second community workshop. The workshop allows residents to speak with Project Advocates and vote to resolve community issues following Superstorm Sandy. Rosanna Arias/FEMA Though many of the community leaders and their residents hold hopeful visions for the future, it may be hard for them to conceptualize these visions. With reduced technical capacity, often because of the destruction caused by Sandy, residents of municipalities such as Highlands and Sea Bright boroughs have requested assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Many communities have limited resources to pay for technical planning assistance, so to support local recovery efforts FEMA provides locally hired technical professionals who can provide a true cost-saving measure for these municipalities.

FEMA’s Federal Disaster Recovery Coordination is tasked with assisting communities in need with technical assistance ranging from planning, engineering, construction management and architectural design, to strategic goal-setting, resource identification and community development. The FDRC assigns Community Recovery Assistance teams to municipalities that have requested assistance. The teams combine experienced disaster response reservist personnel with local professionals brought in to provide the needed technical expertise.

“FEMA works closely with municipalities, helping them plan what the recovery strategy is going to look like and how they can take advantage of all the federal resources available,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer in New Jersey Gracia Szczech.

Every disaster is different, and the response and recovery efforts must be tailored to the needs of the local communities affected by the event. With Sandy, the engagement of a large number of local

professionals has been a key part of the success of this recovery effort. Some of these individuals have suffered through the loss of their own home or property, which makes them even more invested in the success of the state’s recovery. More importantly, these professionals possess important skills and unique insights into the governing and community development processes of these municipalities.

Highlands, N.J., Aug. 7, 2013 — A resident marks his residence on a map at the Highlands Long Term Community Recovery Strategy Workshop. The borough is collaborating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other organizations to develop a plan to recover from and mitigate future disasters like Hurricane Sandy. Rosanna Arias/FEMA“We made a special effort in hiring local residents in New Jersey who have special skill sets,” said Peter Gozza, Federal Disaster Recovery Officer.

These efforts are not just about the local technical professionals. Community leaders and residents along the Jersey Shore have volunteered and dedicated countless hours to assist in the recovery of their respective hometowns. In each engaged community, a Recovery Steering Committee was created to develop appropriate, resilient projects that will contribute to the recovery of their communities. Recovery from a storm as powerful as Sandy requires a combination of hard work, patience and creativity from all those involved in the process. These efforts have begun to take hold in communities where the Community Recovery Assistance teams have worked with local leaders and residents.

In the Borough of Highlands, the Steering Committee has developed several project proposals including the creation of a “housing advocate.” The advocate would coordinate with borough officials and property owners to identify appropriate funding sources for rebuilding, restoring or developing appropriate mitigation measures for the borough’s housing stock. In this way, an important component of a community’s economic base can be maintained and leveraged for the benefit of the entire borough.

As local leaders and residents continue to work through the recovery process, some aspects of their community will look much different than they did before the storm. In the Borough of Sea Bright, Steering Committee members, who dubbed their program “Sea Bright 2020,” have proposed a project that includes a multi-purpose community center and unique streetscaping design elements throughout the borough.

All of the efforts of the recovery committees – and the local professionals who assist them – have given true meaning to the motto “Jersey Strong.” This collaboration has helped foster a sense of ownership in the success of the state’s recovery. Working together, residents, local and state leaders, non-governmental and nonprofit organizations, and federal agencies have forged vital bonds to help New Jersey recover from the devastation of Sandy.

Video-links: Federal Disaster Recovery Coordination (FDRC)

Jersey Strong

3D Timeline

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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One Year Later: Communities, Local Professionals Take Ownership of Recovery for a Stronger New Jersey

Hurricane Sandy, A Year of Recovery

FEMA Helping Survivors and Communities Rebuild

WASHINGTON – On the evening of October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall in southern New Jersey, with impacts felt across 24 states. The storm battered the East Coast, particularly the densely-populated New York and New Jersey coasts, with heavy rain, strong winds, and record storm surges. In Sandy’s immediate aftermath, more than 23,000 people sought refuge in temporary shelters, and more than 8.5 million customers lost power. The storm flooded numerous roads and tunnels, blocked transportation corridors, and deposited extensive debris along the coastline.

At the direction of President Barack Obama, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its federal partners are worked closely with disaster survivors to ensure they received all the assistance for which they are eligible under the law. Over the course of the year, more than $1.4 billion in Individual Assistance has been provided to more than 182,000 survivors, and an additional $2.4 billion in low-interest disaster loans have been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration. More than $7.9 billion in National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) payments have been made to policy holders.

Over the last twelve-months, more than 11,900 grants totaling over $3.2 billion have been approved for emergency work, to remove debris and rebuild or replace public infrastructure in the hardest hit areas. This includes more than $1.3 billion for first responder costs for personnel overtime, materials and equipment used to save lives and protect property; more than $400 million obligated toward repairs to storm damaged homes so that disaster survivors could safely remain in their homes; and more than $19 million toward the costs to repair storm flooded and damaged schools. FEMA has been working in concert and integrating with all levels of government, private and nonprofit sectors, faith-based organizations, communities and individuals to provide a whole community approach to recovery and leverage the capabilities of the entire nation.

While supporting disaster survivors and communities on their road to recovery, FEMA has been aggressive in its implementation of new authorities granted in the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 (SRIA). In many ways, the passage of SRIA represents the most significant legislative change to the FEMA’s substantive authorities since the enactment of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The changes have nationwide impact and provide greater flexibility to state, local, tribal and territorial governments, allow FEMA to operate more effectively and efficiently, and provide tribal nations options for seeking emergency and disaster declarations for their tribes. To date, 13 of the 17 provisions outlined in this legislation have been completed, implemented via a pilot program, or are otherwise immediately available.

FEMA is encouraging everyone to take steps to become better prepared for an emergency, whether or not the event occurs while they are at home, at work, at school, or in the community. For more information on preparing for severe weather events and other disasters, visit www.Ready.gov or www.listo.gov on the Internet. Information regarding emergency preparedness and what to do before and after a disaster can also be found at m.fema.gov or by downloading the FEMA app from your smartphone’s app store.

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 are provided for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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Hurricane Sandy, A Year of Recovery

Disaster Recovery Centers Open in El Paso and Morgan Counties

DENVER – Colorado’s recovery continues with two Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) opening in Colorado Springs and Fort Morgan on Tuesday, Oct. 29.

The Colorado Springs DRC will be open for one week only from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 29 to Saturday, Nov. 2.

Colorado residents who suffered losses and damages as a result of the severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides can get face-to-face disaster information at these DRCs:

EL PASO COUNTY

Black Forest Fire Department No.1

11445 Teachout Rd.

Colorado Springs, CO 80908

Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., MDT, Tuesday, Oct. 29, through Saturday, Nov. 2. One week only.

MORGAN COUNTY

Fort Morgan Police Station

901 E. Beaver Ave.

Fort Morgan, CO 80701

Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., MDT, Tuesday, Oct. 29, through Sunday, Nov. 3. (Closed every Sunday beginning Nov. 10)

Representatives from FEMA and the SBA are among the agencies represented at each DRC to explain assistance programs and help survivors apply for disaster aid.

Survivors with disaster losses will save time by registering with FEMA before going to a DRC.

Register online: DisasterAssistance.gov or by Web-enabled device, tablet or smartphone: type m.fema.gov in the browser.

For individuals who have hearing and visual disabilities or are deaf, DRCs can provide accommodations such as:

For more information on the Colorado disaster operation, visit fema.gov/disaster/4145.

Read the article –

Disaster Recovery Centers Open in El Paso and Morgan Counties

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