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FEMA aid reaches $16.9 billion for New York’s Hurricane Sandy Recovery

NEW YORK – FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration have disbursed nearly $16.9 billion for New York’s recovery since Hurricane Sandy made landfall on the East Coast three years ago. This amount includes more than $1 billion paid directly to survivors for housing and other essential needs through the Individuals and Households Program which ended April 30, 2014.

“As we continue to work with our state, local and tribal partners, as well as other federal agencies, our focus is to build back safer and stronger than before,” said New York Sandy Recovery Office Director John Covell.

FEMA leverages its resilience efforts through its Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation programs. FEMA’s Public Assistance Program has obligated nearly $9.8 billion in grants to state and local governments and eligible nonprofit organizations to cover the costs of emergency response, debris removal and the repair, restoration, replacement and mitigation of damaged public facilities. Of this amount, a total of $3 billion has been dedicated for mitigation measures. Under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, approximately $512 million has been provided.

Covell stressed that 39 cents of every Public Assistance dollar spent in New York funded mitigation measures. In previous disasters, from 1998 until Hurricane Sandy, the average amount was 5 cents. This over 700 percent increase is meeting FEMA’s commitment to rebuild New York’s infrastructure in ways that will make it more resilient and better able to withstand storms.

A majority of the 4,127 Public Assistance grants for facilities damaged by the storm include parks, beaches, marinas, water treatment plants, hospitals, schools, public housing and other public buildings. In New York, FEMA reimburses 90 percent of eligible costs. The state is responsible for covering the remaining 10 percent.

In addition to FEMA’s housing and infrastructure programs, the National Flood Insurance Program has paid nearly $4 billion in claims to flood insurance policyholders and the Small Business Administration has approved over 23,000 SBA disaster loan applicants totaling more than $1.57 billion.

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FEMA aid reaches $16.9 billion for New York’s Hurricane Sandy Recovery

FEMA Mitigation updates its Outreach schedule

SAIPAN, CNMI – FEMA Mitigation Outreach specialists are updating their schedule.

They are currently at Do-It-Best Hardware in Chalan Kiya, meeting with customers and providing booklets and pamphlets on how to build back stronger to be safer in the next storm. They are in the store from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays, and will continue there through Friday, Oct. 23.

Starting Saturday, Oct. 24, they will be at Ace Hardware on Middle Road in Gualo Rai during the same hours through Nov. 7. The store is in the Europa Plaza, behind the Pizza Hut and First Hawaiian Bank

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FEMA Mitigation updates its Outreach schedule

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Gadsden to Help South Carolina Flood Survivors

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A new disaster recovery center is open in Gadsden to help South Carolina flood survivors. This Richland County center is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Representatives from the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Small Business Administration and other public and private agencies are at the center to explain disaster assistance programs and help survivors with applications for aid.

The disaster recovery center is located at the following address:

Richland County

Temple of Faith Bible Way Church

2850 Congaree Road

Gadsden

It is not necessary to visit a center to register for and receive state-federal disaster assistance. If possible, survivors should register with FEMA before visiting a recovery center.

To register go online any time to DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages, and phone lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Disaster survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585 to register. Those who use 711 or VRS (Video Relay Service) or require accommodations while visiting a center may call 800-621-3362. All disaster recovery centers are accessible and equipped with tools to accommodate disaster survivors who need disability-related communication aids.

Federal and state disaster assistance for eligible individuals and families can include money for temporary rental assistance and essential home repairs for primary residences and help with other serious disaster-related losses not covered by insurance.

Low-interest disaster recovery loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are the primary means of federal help for disaster survivors, including homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes. Individuals and businesses should first register with FEMA. For information on SBA disaster recovery loans call 800-659-2955/800-877-8339 TTY or go online to SBA.gov/disaster. An application for an SBA disaster recovery loan may be completed online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Additional disaster recovery centers are open in Richland and other South Carolina counties. For information on the locations of recovery centers call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

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Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Gadsden to Help South Carolina Flood Survivors

FEMA to Assess Future Over-the-Air Broadcast Alerting Technology

WASHINGTON —The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Continuity Programs’ Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Division has begun to assess the feasibility of a public alert and warning capability that is being developed in the private sector.

New technologies could deliver detailed emergency information to the public with pictures and videos of evacuation routes, storm tracks, and shelter information – increasing community preparedness before, during, and after a disaster. The media alerts will be able to include multilingual and multi-format information to warn non-English speaking populations and people with access and functional needs.

“FEMA is committed to working with the private sector to examine and improve future alerts and warnings,” said Roger Stone, Acting Assistant Administrator for National Continuity Programs. “New systems could someday include pictures and video as part of the advanced alert and warning information provided to the general public.”

One such technology being considered is the Advanced Warning and Response Network (AWARN). AWARN works by using advanced capabilities in the next generation of digital television broadcast system called ATSC 3.0 being standardized by the Advanced Television Systems Committee. The emerging television broadcast standard provides for the transmission of large media rich, data messages over-the-air to mobile, portable, and fixed television and video devices without interrupting ongoing television shows.

FEMA’s IPAWS is a national system for local alerting. IPAWS enables authorities at all levels of government to alert and warn people in areas endangered by disasters. IPAWS is used by federal, state, and local authorities to send emergency alerts to cellular phones as Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs), to radio and television as Emergency Alert System (EAS) broadcasts, to NOAA Weather Radios, and to an All-Hazards Alert and Information Feed for Internet applications, services, and websites.

For more information on IPAWS, go to www.fema.gov/ipaws.

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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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FEMA to Assess Future Over-the-Air Broadcast Alerting Technology

CalOES and FEMA Serves the Whole Community: Assistance for Survivors with Disabilities

Sacramento, CA – The California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are continuing to encourage Lake and Calaveras county residents with disabilities, or any survivor with additional needs, who were affected by the recent wildfires, to utilize the many available accessible resources to register for assistance.

People with disabilities are eligible to receive the same services and assistance that are offered to everyone in the declared disaster area, and both CalOES and FEMA are committed to ensuring services and assistance are available for people with disabilities.

A direct telephone hotline is operational to process any requests from survivors who may need additional assistance.

916-381-0330
TTY CALL 711

In addition, to serve the whole community, certain accommodations are available at Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs).

For those who are deaf or hard of hearing, the DRCs are equipped with captioned phones and iPads that can access video remote sign language interpreters. On-site interpreters are also available upon request.
For those survivors who are blind or have low vision, documents are available in large print and Braille.
DRCs have accessible parking, ramps, and restrooms.
If a survivor cannot transport themselves to the DRC, FEMA will arrange a home visit.

The first step for any survivor is to register with FEMA. While one-to-one registration assistance is available at a DRC, survivors may also register online or over the phone.

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by smart phone or tablet at m.fema.gov
The number to register for assistance is 1-800-621-3362
TTY 1-800-462-7585
If you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362
Operators are multilingual and calls are answered seven days a week 24 hours a day.
FEMA representatives can also register survivors at a location of their choosing if needed.

The application deadline is November 23. For those survivors with a disability, and others with additional needs who require assistance, should not hesitate to contact FEMA and ask for help.

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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CalOES and FEMA Serves the Whole Community: Assistance for Survivors with Disabilities

Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Williamsburg, Orangeburg Counties

COLUMBIA, S.C. – New disaster recovery centers are open in Livingston and Kingstree to help South Carolinians who experienced losses from the recent floods.

Representatives from the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Small Business Administration and other public and private agencies are at the centers to discuss disaster-assistance programs and help survivors find resources for recovery.

Locations and hours of the new recovery centers:

Williamsburg County

Williamsburg Recreation Center

2084 Thurgood Marshall Hwy

Kingstree

Seven day a week, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Orangeburg County

Neeses Town Hall

6357 Savannah Hwy

Livingston

Seven day a week, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

It is not necessary to visit a center to register for and receive state-federal disaster assistance. If possible, survivors should register with FEMA before visiting a recovery center. To register go online any time to DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages, and phone lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Low-interest disaster recovery loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are the primary means of federal help for disaster survivors, including homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes. Individuals and businesses should first register with FEMA. For information on SBA disaster recovery loans call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339) or go online to SBA.gov/disaster. An application for an SBA disaster recovery loan may be completed online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Additional disaster recovery centers are open in Charleston, Clarendon, Darlington, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland and Sumter counties. For information on the locations of recovery centers call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or go online to https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4241.

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Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Williamsburg, Orangeburg Counties

FEMA Ineligibility Letters May Not Be the Last Word

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Some disaster survivors affected by the severe storms and flooding in South Carolina may receive a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency saying they are ineligible for disaster assistance.

If that happens, do not be alarmed or discouraged. It may mean that FEMA does not have all the information needed to make a decision regarding an applicant’s disaster assistance.

Several reasons exist for why flood survivors receive ineligibility determination letters and yet may be eligible for assistance. For example, the applicant may still need to:

Return insurance information;
Provide information to prove occupancy or ownership of the damaged property;
Fill out all necessary paperwork; or
Complete and return the U.S. Small Business Administration loan application.

Applicants with insurance should contact their insurance company and ask for a settlement letter detailing exactly what is covered under their claim. They should mail insurance settlement information to FEMA – Individuals and Households Program, National Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055.

Flood survivors have up to 12 months from the date they registered with FEMA to submit insurance information for review. FEMA cannot provide money to individuals or households for losses already covered by insurance.

FEMA reminds applicants to return the completed SBA loan application even if they choose to decline the loan. Completing the loan application is a necessary step if applicants are to be considered for some other forms of disaster assistance.

Applicants who wish to appeal a decision may do so in writing within 60 days from the date the ineligibility letter was received. Guidelines for appeals can be found in the Applicant’s Handbook sent to everyone who registered with FEMA.

Flood survivors who need to update their application information or have any questions about disaster assistance can call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Phone lines are open from 7 a.m. to10 p.m., seven days a week until further notice.

People can apply for FEMA assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

They can call 800-621-3362 toll free from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily until further notice. Multilingual operators are available.

Disaster survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585. If survivors use 711 or VRS (Video Relay Service) or require accommodations while visiting a center, call 800-621- 3362. All disaster recovery centers are accessible and equipped with tools to accommodate survivors who need disability-related communication aids.

Survivors can visit a state/FEMA disaster recovery center. To find the nearest DRC go to http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

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FEMA Ineligibility Letters May Not Be the Last Word

South Carolina Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Darlington and Orangeburg Counties

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Two disaster recovery centers are now open in Darlington and Orangeburg to help South Carolina flood survivors. The centers’ hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Representatives from the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business Administration and other agencies will be at the centers to explain disaster assistance programs and help survivors apply for aid.

The disaster recovery centers are located at the following addresses:

Darlington County

South Carolina National Guard Armory

1764 Harry Byrd, Darlington, SC 29532

Orangeburg County

YMCA Orangeburg

2550 St. Matthew Rd.

Orangeburg, SC 29118

Survivors can visit a state/FEMA disaster recovery center. To find the nearest DRC go to http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

If possible, before going to a disaster recovery center, people with flooding losses should register with FEMA. They can go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages, and lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week until further notice.

Disaster survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585. If survivors use 711 or VRS (Video Relay Service) or require accommodations while visiting a center, call 800-621-3362. All disaster recovery centers are accessible and equipped with tools to accommodate disaster survivors who need disability-related communication aids.

Federal disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for temporary rental assistance and essential home repairs for primary residences not covered by insurance.

Low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration are also available to help with homeowner, renter and business uninsured losses. Survivors and businesses should first register with FEMA and may obtain information on SBA disaster loan applications by calling 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people who are deaf or hard of hearing) or online at www.SBA.gov. They may also apply online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

FEMA wants to ensure that every disaster survivor has equal access to disaster information and assistance – including people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, older adults and people with limited English proficiency. Anyone who needs an accommodation or assistance due to a disability should notify FEMA staff at the time of registration or anytime throughout the assistance process.

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South Carolina Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Darlington and Orangeburg Counties

Leading Cancer Center Weathers Storms in Multiple Ways

FEMA and the state of Texas are highlighting Texas communities that have taken steps to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property.

HOUSTON – For the last 25 years, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston has consistently ranked among the top two cancer care hospitals in the nation, according to a survey published by U.S. News & World Report. The hospital’s staff of more than 19,000 treat an average of 114,000 patients each year from around the world.

The center’s ranking reflects the expertise and accomplishments of the physicians, researchers, nurses, staff and volunteers in treating patients. Safeguarding staff, patients and property is essential and the reason for multiple disaster mitigation and notification initiatives at the facility.

“It’s important that we be here for the patients. We don’t want to close. If there is a significant event, we want to be up and running as soon as possible to minimize down time,” said MD Anderson Executive Director of Environmental Health and Safety Matthew Berkheiser. “Patients wanting their treatment are literally knocking on our door as soon as the storm is over. If you have a broken leg, you could probably wait a few days to get it checked. Our patients are very serious and committed to getting in here.”

In 2001, Tropical Storm Allison caused catastrophic damage to the center. They undertook a major mitigation project to protect the center from another flood. “We came up with a list of things that we felt we could do better. Money was made available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to enhance mitigation already in place.

“We used the funds to enhance our floodgate system,” said Director of Environmental Health and Safety Devina Patel. “Now we have 70-80 floodgates, a combination of different kinds of gates as well as submarine doors.”

FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program helped to fund the flood mitigation project. The work consisted of building interior and exterior flood walls and relocating critical mechanical and electrical life-saving equipment above the 50-year floodplain – floods that have a two percent probability (1 in 50) of being equaled or exceeded in any year. A concrete wall was constructed around the entire facility.

The project also called for the installation of 25 floodgates (located at entrances and drives), submarine doors, and a series of valves and lift stations to isolate the sanitary and storm systems.

“We have annual unannounced drills to test the flood gate system as well as the competency of the people who are installing the gates,” said Patel.

“A lesson learned from Tropical Storm Allison was that we needed a stationary command center,” said Patel. “Depending on who was in charge, the command center kept moving making communication an issue. Now we have one that’s stationary and fully staffed.”

To learn more about how cities and towns across Texas are building stronger, safer communities visit Best Practice Stories | FEMA.gov.

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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.

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Leading Cancer Center Weathers Storms in Multiple Ways

Three Years after Sandy: Most of New Jersey’s Boardwalks Are Rebuilt

EATONTOWN, N.J. — Hurricane Sandy struck a terrible blow to the Jersey Shore in 2012, Up and down the state’s 127 miles of coastline, boardwalks were driven off their foundations and transformed into pil

A shot of Asbury Park boardwalk in February, 2013.

The City of Asbury Park began rebuilding its boardwalk in February, 2013. Photo by Liz Roll/FEMA

es of rubble. Planks and pavilions were washed out to sea. Bluffs and dunes were eroded. Stairways and benches were ripped off and carried away.

The cost of all that destruction rose into the hundred millions. But over the three years since the storm, most of New Jersey’s seaside towns have entirely rebuilt their boardwalks. In others, work is progressing on boardwalk and dune projects intended to build in resiliency and protect them from a future storm.

This is good news for the state of New Jersey, where tourism represents a key sector of the economy. As anyone who has tried to find a hotel room or a beach house rental at the Jersey Shore can attest, in a time when it’s possible to fly anywhere in the world on vacation, our state remains an enduringly popular destination.

According to a Tourism Economics report generated by VisitNJ.org, in 2014, the tourism industry accounted for nearly 10 percent of total employment in the state, generating more than $36.4 billion in revenues, an amount that represents 6.6 percent of the entire state economy.

Given those numbers, it’s easy to see why rebuilding the boardwalks was a priority for the state.

As a result of the Disaster Declaration issued by President Barack Obama on October 29, 2012, the state was eligible for Federal Disaster Assistance administered by FEMA’s Public Assistance program to assist in meeting the enormous costs involved in rebuilding and recovery in New Jersey.

And because of the catastrophic nature of the disaster, the state was eligible for reimbursement of 90 percent of the costs of public infrastructure projects under FEMA’s Public Assistance program.

As of October, 2015, the Federal Emergency Management Agency had obligated more than $115 million in Federal dollars for boardwalk and beach restoration and associated projects along the New Jersey shore.

Boardwalk reconstruction in most shore towns began just months after the storm, and many of the boardwalks were complete and open for the start of the summer tourism season in 2013.

A shot of the Asbury Park boardwalk in October, 2013.

FEMA provided a grant of $3.6 million for the Asbury Park boardwalk rebuilding project in October, 2013. Photo by Liz Roll/FEMA

Spring Lake used a composite material that is considered to be more durable than wood to rebuild its boardwalk. The borough significantly reduced the cost of the rebuilding project by using local labor and Force Account Labor (i.e. their own workforce) to do the work. The Federal share of the rebuilding project was $4.9 million, significantly reducing the financial impact of the reconstruction on Spring Lake property owners.

Sea Girt used recycled boards for a portion of its boardwalk repairs. Federal funds obligated for that project totaled $1,616,818.

Atlantic City repaired the damaged northern section of its boardwalk with “ipe” (pronounced ee-pay) wood, a Brazilian hardwood said to be as strong as steel. Atlantic City is also upgrading access ramps and adding more lighting along its boardwalk. The Federal share obligated for repairs to the boardwalk and outbuildings in Atlantic City totaled more than $10.5 million. Another $886 thousand in Federally obligated funds is pending.

By March 2015, Long Branch received $21.7 million from FEMA for the repair of a one-mile section of boardwalk and bluffs. The bluffs will serve as the support system for the boardwalk. The damaged boardwalk and infrastructure will be rebuilt with a new concrete foundation, 95,740 cubic yards of additional material, and 11,489 square yards of dune grass. The project is slated for completion in mid-2016.

Belmar reopened its historic, 1875 boardwalk in May 2013 after a $9.2 million reconstruction. The town is also investing in a $6 million dune building project that is intended to protect the boardwalk from future hurricanes.

A shot of the Asbury Park boardwalk in the summer of 2013.

Approximately 66,000 feet of boardwalk was replaced in the City of Asbury Park by the summer of 2013. Photo by Liz Roll/FEMA

In addition to their importance to the economy, boardwalks hold a magical place in the hearts of New Jerseyans young and old, famous and not so famous.

As Pulitzer Prize-winning New Jersey author Junot Diaz put it, “The boardwalk was where all of New Jersey came together, where New Jersey, for better or worse, met itself.”

Strolling the boardwalks, in every season, is one of the great pleasures of the Jersey Shore. Three years after Sandy, they are once again a part of the New Jersey landscape that belongs to each one of us.

Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/FEMASandy,www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/fema, www.fema.gov/blog, 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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Three Years after Sandy: Most of New Jersey’s Boardwalks Are Rebuilt

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