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Public-Private Partnership Conference held in New Orleans

WASHINGTON – This week, the Fifth Annual Building Resilience through Public-Private Partnerships Conference was held in New Orleans, Louisiana. The conference was hosted this year by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and brought together innovators from the private sector, nonprofits, and state, local, and tribal governments to pursue strategies to build a more resilient nation.

Each year, the conference attracts hundreds of participants who look to promote innovation in furthering ongoing partnerships and resiliency. Key topics of discussion included: Executive Perspectives on Investing in Business Resilience; Harnessing Technology to Positively Disrupt the Status Quo; The Smart City of 2025: Innovations for a Resilient Future; and action planning sessions to include Addressing Cyber Threats Now and into the Future and Disaster Collaboration Simulation Exercise.

The conference was held in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the National Protection and Programs Directorate and Private Sector Office, and North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command and in collaboration with the American Logistics Aid Network, the American Red Cross, Business Forward, Business Executives for National Security, National Incident Management Systems and Advanced Technologies at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center.

Leaders from government, private sector and non-profits discussed the importance of strong partnerships across the whole community, and spoke about how their relationships helped to get the right resources to people in need more quickly. Exercises held during the week further exposed opportunities for conference participants to make new partnerships and better understand the resources and expertise that different organizations can offer throughout disaster response and recovery efforts.

Speakers included: FEMA Administrator, Craig Fugate; U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary for the Private Sector, José Raúl Perales; DHS Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection, Caitlin Durkovich,; FEMA Deputy Associate Administrator for Insurance and Mitigation, Roy Wright; FEMA Director, Office of External Affairs, Josh Batkin; DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection, Bob Kolasky; and American Red Cross, Senior Vice President, Disaster Cycle Services, Richard Reed.

“The private sector is an essential member of the team,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “The more resilient businesses are, the quicker they can recover and provide critical goods and services to help their communities rebuild. Fostering strong working relationships between the private sector, emergency management, and the whole community is great business for everyone, especially the disaster survivor.”

With this public-private partnership approach, conference partners committed to taking action and promoting information sharing to facilitate greater understanding of the whole community roles and better leverage existing programs to promote meaningful outcomes to drive resiliency.

Conference participants took away concrete action plans and a collection of shared resources that they can implement immediately to further their organization’s resilience and nurture new partnerships. The development of a public-private sector national framework for information sharing and a public-private sector model to facilitate successful partnerships at all levels are an example of the commitments made. FEMA and its Private Sector Division are committed to leading the charge on continued identification of solutions to coordination gaps and strengthen the understanding of roles between the public and private sectors to build national resilience and successful public-private partnerships.

For additional information, visit the 2015 Building Resilience through Public-Private Partnerships Conference page and follow the conversation at: #PPPWayForward.

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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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Public-Private Partnership Conference held in New Orleans

S.C. Flood Survivors Can Appeal FEMA Aid Determination

Release Number:

FYSA-News Release NR062 for DR 4241 SC

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina disaster survivors with questions about the assistance they received from FEMA or their eligibility determinations have the right to appeal the decision. Those who want to appeal should do so in writing within 60 days of the date of the determination letter.

Guidelines for appeals can be found on page 10 of the Applicant’s Guide, which is sent to everyone who registers with FEMA.

In the appeal letter to FEMA, an applicant should:

include full name, address, and date and place of birth;
include the last four digits of the applicant’s social security number;
include FEMA registration number and the disaster number, DR-4241, on every page;
explain why you disagree with FEMA’s decision;
include any supporting documentation for the appeal;
include the following statement: “I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.”;
sign the letter.

Appeal letters should be mailed to:

FEMA Appeals OfficerNational Processing Service CenterP.O. Box 10055Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055

Appeal letters and supporting documents can also be faxed to:

800-827-8112Attn: FEMA Appeals Officer

For disaster recovery center locations, visit: http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

FEMA recognizes that varying circumstances may prevent an applicant from filing an appeal within the standard 60-day appeal period. However, applicants who miss the 60-day deadline must submit with their appeals an explanation stating why they did not apply by the deadline. Applicants whose appeal letters are submitted outside the 60-day appeal period are not automatically denied a review.

FEMA and the South Carolina Emergency Management Division are committed to providing all eligible assistance to those who were affected by the Oct. 1-23 storms and flooding. Applicants with questions about their eligibility determinations or their assistance can contact FEMA by phone or visit a disaster recovery center to speak with an applicant services specialist.

The last day to register for FEMA assistance is Jan. 4, 2016. Residents can call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362, TTY 800-462-7585, 711/VRS 800-621-3362. Residents may also visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

FEMA is working with its federal, state and local partner agencies as well as private sector and voluntary agencies, and faith-based organizations to reach everyone who qualifies for disaster assistance under the Individuals and Households Program.

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S.C. Flood Survivors Can Appeal FEMA Aid Determination

President Declares Disaster for Idaho

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Idaho to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe storm and straight-line winds on November 17, 2015

The President’s action makes federal funding available to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storm and straight-line winds in the counties of Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, and Kootenai and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.

Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Thomas J. Dargan has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Dargan said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

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.

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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President Declares Disaster for Idaho

Help Remains Available After Disaster Recovery Center Closes in Charleston

COLUMBIA, S.C. – One disaster recovery center will close Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 6 p.m.:

Bees Landing Recreation Center, 1580 Ashley Gardens Blvd. in Charleston

Applicants in Charleston may still visit other recovery centers to ask disaster assistance questions. They can locate their closest center by visiting asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

Two other disaster recovery centers remain open in the Charleston area. They are:

Department of Public Works, 5800 Casper Padgett Way, North Charleston
Berkeley Electric Co-op, 3351 Maybank Highway, Johns Island (Closed Saturdays)

Representatives from the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration and other agencies are at centers to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest loans.

Many services available at disaster recovery centers are also available by calling the FEMA helpline. Applicants can get help by calling 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585; those who use 711/VRS can call 800-621-3362. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. The helplines will be closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Survivors can use the helpline to:

Register for federal assistance. Households should register only once.
Ask questions about FEMA decision letters.
Learn how to appeal FEMA decision letters. All applicants may appeal.
Inquire about the status of a registration.
Provide change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information to avoid disaster assistance processing delays.
Receive information about FEMA home inspections.
Get questions answered about federal disaster assistance and the application process.

Applicants should have their nine-digit FEMA registration number and zip code if they want to discuss their application.

For the latest information on South Carolina flood recovery operations, visit scemd.org and fema.gov/disaster/4241.

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Help Remains Available After Disaster Recovery Center Closes in Charleston

Applied For Disaster Assistance? Texans Should ‘Stay in Touch’ with FEMA

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas homeowners and renters who have registered for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are encouraged by recovery officials to “stay in touch.”

If survivors change their address or phone numbers they should update that information with FEMA. Missing or erroneous information could result in delays getting a home inspection or in receiving assistance.

“We understand that survivors move around a lot as they adapt to their new normal,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin L. Hannes “But we always need to know your current address and contact number so we can make sure assistance goes to the right place.”

FEMA has provided three ways for homeowners and renters to update their information:

Log on to the FEMA website at DisasterAssistance.gov to upload documents
Call the toll-free FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (800-462-7585 for TTY users)
Visit any Disaster Recovery Center

When updating status information, callers should refer to the nine-digit number issued at registration. This number is on all correspondence applicants receive from FEMA and is a key identifier in tracking assistance requests.

Applicants may call the FEMA Helpline to ask questions about disaster assistance and track the progress of their FEMA application.

Residents of 16 Texas counties who sustained damage or loss as a result of the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding from Oct. 22 to Oct. 31 may be eligible for federal disaster assistance. The counties are: Bastrop, Brazoria, Caldwell, Cameron, Comal, Galveston, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Hays, Hidalgo, Liberty, Navarro, Travis, Willacy and Wilson.

Survivors can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone (voice, 711 or relay service) at 800-621-3362. TTY users should call 800-462-7585. The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Applicants will be asked to provide:

Social Security number
Address of the damaged primary residence
Description of the damage
Information about insurance coverage
A current contact telephone number
An address where they can receive mail
Bank account and routing numbers for those preferring direct deposit of funds

For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4245, Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

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All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters 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. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

Visit www.fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation for publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger.

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Applied For Disaster Assistance? Texans Should ‘Stay in Touch’ with FEMA

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Caldwell County for Texans

AUSTIN, Texas – A State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is now open in Caldwell County for homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained damage as a result of the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding from Oct. 22 to Oct. 31.

Specialists from the State of Texas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), nongovernmental organizations and the local community are on hand to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors.

All Disaster Recovery Centers are accessible and equipped to accommodate disaster survivors who need disability-related communication aids.

The DRC’s location and normal operating hours are as follows:

Allen Bates River Park
Intersection of FM 1979 and Fannin Street
Martindale, TX 78655
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday – Friday
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
Closed Sunday
Closed Dec. 23 to Dec. 27 for the Holiday

Disaster survivors who have questions may call the FEMA Helpline.

Visiting a DRC is not required to register for FEMA assistance. Survivors can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone (voice, 711 or relay service) at 800-621-3362. (TTY users should call 800-462-7585.) The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

If possible, register for FEMA assistance by phone or online before visiting a center. Going to a DRC is not a requirement of registration, but specialists there can provide guidance regarding disaster recovery and rental resources, explain written correspondence received from FEMA, inform survivors of the status of their application, make referrals to other organizations and answer questions.

When registering applicants will be asked to provide:

Social Security number
Address of the damaged primary residence
Description of the damage
Information about insurance coverage
A current contact telephone number
An address where they can receive mail
Bank account and routing numbers for those preferring direct deposit of funds

The presidential disaster declaration of Nov. 25 makes federal assistance available to eligible individuals and business owners in 16 counties: Bastrop, Brazoria, Caldwell, Cameron, Comal, Galveston, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Hays, Hidalgo, Liberty, Navarro, Travis, Willacy and Wilson.

Assistance for eligible survivors can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs. Also, low-interest disaster loans from the SBA are available for Businesses of all sizes (including landlords), private nonprofits, homeowners and renters.

Low-interest disaster loans help fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. Economic Injury disaster loans are available to businesses and private-nonprofits to assist with working capital needs as a direct result of the disaster.

Eligible survivors should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but under-insured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

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Visit www.fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation for publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger.

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Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Caldwell County for Texans

Lake County Receives $883,000 Federal Grant for Flood Control

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Lake County has been approved to receive $883,110 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a culvert project that will reduce localized flooding and debris flow at selected sites burned by the Valley wildfire, which began Sept. 12, 2015.

FEMA covers 75 percent of the eligible costs with the county paying the remaining 25 percent, for a projected total cost of $1.1 million.

The project includes installing 55 culverts in areas where burn scars prevent rainwater absorption. Engineers found debris and flood flow potential is up to 1.7 times the normal amount, which presents an expected inundation of existing drainage facilities.

This grant is the first from a pilot program called Fire Management Assistance Grant Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (FMAG-HMGP). FMAG grants can reimburse 75 percent of the costs of firefighting operations to state, tribal and local governments. Eligible costs include funding for personnel, materials and equipment.

The FMAG-HMGP grant provides funding to reduce the flood risk after FMAG declarations. A critical requirement for this funding is having an approved county and state hazard mitigation plan.

FMAG-HMGP Pilot funds are available to states, territories and federally recognized tribes that received an FMAG declaration in the time frame covered by the Department of Homeland Security 2015 Appropriations Act, March 4 through Dec. 11.

FEMA encourages the use of the FMAG-HMGP funds for mitigation of burn-impacted areas to reduce the increased risk for wildfire, flood or erosion post event. However, the FMAG-HMGP Pilot is available for the mitigation of any hazard in the FMAG declared area.

The Valley Fire burn area is drained by a number of waterways including Big Canyon Creek, Putah Creek, Dry Creek, Crazy Creek, Kelsey Creek and Seigler Canyon Creek. The residential communities within and downstream of those creeks are serviced by a network of roads and highways. Numerous culverts, many of them inadequate, drain this area.

This project is expected to be completed 22 months following the award by Cal OES.

For more information on California’s wildfire recovery, visit: caloes.ca.gov or fema.gov/disaster/4240 and follow us on Twitter @femaregion9 or @Cal_OES and at Facebook.com/FEMA or Facebook.com/California OES.

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Lake County Receives $883,000 Federal Grant for Flood Control

State, Federal Assistance for California Wildfire Survivors Tops $30 Million

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) have approved more than $30 million in disaster recovery grants and loans for survivors of the Butte and Valley wildfires.

“The job isn’t finished,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Tim Scranton. “We continue working with all of our recovery partners through the holiday season to help the survivors and communities in Calaveras and Lake counties recover and rebuild.”

“We have excellent teams who are dedicated to the mission,” said Cal OES State Coordinating Officer Charles Rabamad. “I’m continually inspired by the hard work and focus everyone has on trying to get those who were burned out of their houses into homes for the holidays.”

Here is a snapshot of state and federal disaster assistance approved to date:

The registration period for federal assistance ended Nov. 23, 2015. During that timeframe, more than 3,700 Californians contacted FEMA for information or registered for assistance with FEMA.
$940,000 approved for survivors through California’s State Supplemental Grant Program.
More than 1,500 survivor households have been approved for a total of more than $11.5 million in FEMA Individual Assistance grants.
- Of that, nearly $7.5 million was approved in Housing Assistance, which can include grants to help cover home repair and replacement costs as well as financial rental assistance.
- 833 survivor households are receiving rental assistance. Of that number, 606 are renters and 227 are homeowners.
- More than $4 million was approved for Other Needs Assistance, which helps survivors cover the cost of replacing lost contents and other disaster-related expenses.
SBA has approved $19.2 million in low-interest disaster loans to help business owners and residents with their recovery.
- $16.9 million approved for 190 homeowners and renters.
- $2.2 million for 34 businesses.
35 survivor households are currently sheltering at hotels and motels through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program. The program is designed to provide temporary sheltering until alternative housing accommodations are made available.

Helping survivors find a safe, secure temporary place to live is the number one priority of the state and federal recovery team. FEMA is working with eligible survivor households in both counties to ensure their temporary housing needs are met. When it comes to temporary housing for survivors, the first option is always rental assistance as it is the fastest and most efficient form of temporary housing.

FEMA continues connecting eligible survivors with available rental resources within a reasonable commuting distance from their community. For survivors in areas where rental resources are not available, the agency is working to provide Manufactured Housing Units on both private sites and commercial sites.

FEMA, the state and the counties are coordinating to complete debris removal, secure utilities and complete required local licensing to move more Manufactured Housing Units onto feasible private sites. FEMA is also working with property owners at various commercial sites to complete required upgrades and move more units onto those locations.

Survivors can make changes or track their grant status online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362; TTY 800-462-7585; 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

Although the deadline has expired to apply for property damage loans from SBA, small, non-farm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may continue to apply for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage. These loans help meet financial obligations and operating expenses, which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.

EIDL applicants may apply online via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955 or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call 800-877-8339. For more disaster assistance information, or to download applications, visit www.sba.gov/disaster.

For more information on California’s wildfire recovery, go to caloes.ca.gov and fema.gov/disaster/4240 and follow us on Twitter @femaregion9 and @Cal_OES, and on Facebook at facebook.com/FEMA and facebook.com/CaliforniaOES.

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). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

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 are referred to SBA for a disaster loan must apply to be eligible for additional FEMA assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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State, Federal Assistance for California Wildfire Survivors Tops $30 Million

Homeowners and Owners of Second Homes Have Every Reason to Buy Flood Insurance

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – After five years of drought, many owners of homes and second homes in California may shrug off the suggestion of buying flood insurance. El Niño and the recent wildfires may change the minds of many.

In California, El Niño means extremely heavy rainfall that could lead to devastating flooding, especially in areas affected by prolonged drought and recent wildfires.

The winter of 1997 was one of the strongest El Niños on record. The rains were so unrelenting in California that they led to mudslides, causing houses to crumble off disintegrating cliffs and hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.

This winter’s El Niño is expected to be as strong or even stronger. El Niño conditions will be strongest between January and late March, and could linger through May.

While flood insurance cannot prevent damage to a home, it is a good investment for protecting it. Property owners can purchase up to $250,000 in building coverage and up to $100,000 for contents.

Especially vulnerable are the areas where wildfires hit. Burn scars leave the ground unable to absorb water, creating conditions ripe for flash flooding and mudflow for up to five years until the vegetation is restored.

Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and covers a general and temporary condition of rapid and unusual accumulation of surface water displaced over two acres or two properties as defined in the standard NFIP policy.

Since there is a 30-day waiting period before flood insurance coverage becomes effective, property owners are urged to speak with their local insurance agent soon.

For additional information on the NFIP or to find an agent, call 800-427-2419 or visit www.floodsmart.gov.

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Homeowners and Owners of Second Homes Have Every Reason to Buy Flood Insurance

Help Remains Available After Disaster Recovery Center Closes in St. Matthews

COLUMBIA, S.C. – One disaster recovery center will close Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 6 p.m.:

John Ford Community Center at 304 Agnes St. in St. Matthews

Applicants in St. Matthews may still visit other recovery centers to ask disaster assistance questions. They can locate their closest center by visiting asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

Survivors can use the helpline to:

Register for federal assistance. Households should register only once.
Ask questions about FEMA decision letters.
Learn how to appeal FEMA decision letters. All applicants may appeal.
Inquire about the status of a registration.
Provide change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information to avoid disaster assistance processing delays.
Receive information about FEMA home inspections.
Get questions answered about federal disaster assistance and the application process.

Applicants should have their nine-digit FEMA registration number and zip code if they want to discuss their application.

For the latest information on South Carolina flood recovery operations, visit scemd.org and fema.gov/disaster/4241.

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Help Remains Available After Disaster Recovery Center Closes in St. Matthews

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