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Public Assistance added to Disaster Declaration in California

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance program has been added to the presidential disaster declaration for Calaveras and Lake Counties.

Eligible applicants under FEMA’s Public Assistance program include state and local governments, tribal governments and certain private nonprofits. Applicants may be eligible for reimbursement for debris removal, emergency protective measures, repairs to roads and bridges, water control facilities, city-and county-owned buildings and equipment, utilities, parks and recreational facilities.

Under the program, FEMA obligates funds to California for 75 percent of eligible costs, with the state and local governments sharing the remaining 25 percent of costs. The state forwards the federal funds to the eligible local governments or organizations that incurred costs.

For information on the Public Assistance process go to: https://www.fema.gov/public-assistance.

Today’s announcement adds to a growing list of important actions already taken by the state and federal government to assist those impacted by these devastating wildfires.

On September 10 and September 13, FEMA provided Fire Management Assistance Grants to help pay for firefighting response costs for the Butte and Valley fires.

On Sept. 11 and Sept. 13, 2015, California Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. proclaimed States of Emergency in Calaveras and Lake Counties, due to impacts from the Butte and Valley fires, respectively.

On Sept. 22, 2015, President Barack Obama declared a major disaster making federal disaster aid available for both fires.

On Oct. 2, 2015, Gov. Brown also issued an Executive Order to accelerate the process of installing emergency housing in Lake and Calaveras Counties for fire victims.

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

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). 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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Public Assistance added to Disaster Declaration in California

Louisiana Recovery Update: Katrina and Rita by the Numbers

BATON ROUGE, La. – Nearly a decade after hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated Louisiana, hard-hit communities are coming back stronger than ever. To date, assistance to Louisiana’s residents and communities from the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency totals more than $19.6 billion.

“Louisiana is more prepared today than ever before,” said GOHSEP Director Kevin Davis. “That’s a tribute to the local, state and federal partnership we have created in Louisiana, focused on preparedness and resiliency.”

The more than $19.6 billion in federal disaster assistance has made its way to Louisiana cities, parishes and citizens through FEMA’s Individual Assistance, Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation grant programs.

That includes nearly $5.8 billion in Individual Assistance grants provided to nearly 916,000 individuals and families affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Louisiana. More than $5.5 billion of the total was provided within a year of the storms, giving residents a helping hand in rebuilding their lives and restoring livelihoods.

The total also includes nearly $12.4 billion obligated in Public Assistance reimbursements to the state and local governments, and eligible private nonprofit organizations; and more than $1.4 billion obligated for mitigation projects to build stronger, safer, more resilient communities. FEMA continues to reimburse the State of Louisiana for 100 percent of the costs for projects under the Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant programs.

To date, nearly 80 percent of the currently projected repair and replacement costs under the Public Assistance program for Katrina have been disbursed to applicants. Under Hurricane Rita’s Public Assistance program, 90 percent of the repair and replacement costs have been disbursed.

Separately, the state and FEMA provided more than $321.5 million in Disaster Unemployment Assistance to nearly 185,000 survivors who lost jobs as a result of the hurricanes, and $17.9 million in Relocation Assistance so more than 10,000 families could return home to their communities.

In addition, FEMA funded one of the largest crisis counseling programs ever – providing more than $68.5 million to Louisiana Spirit to help adults and children identify ways to deal with the trauma and stress of surviving and recovering from the hurricanes. Louisiana Spirit is a federally-funded crisis counseling and stress management program for individuals, families and groups affected by presidentially declared disasters across the state of Louisiana.

In addition to the $19.6 billion in grant program funding, the FEMA-administered National Flood Insurance Program paid more than $16.2 billion in claims to more than 215,000 policyholders in the state, while the U.S. Small Business Administration provided nearly $6.9 billion in low-interest disaster recovery loans to help homeowners, renters and businesses rebuild.

Although recovery from the storms has been a top priority, FEMA and local jurisdictions also considered the safety of residents in the future. With more than $23 million in FEMA assistance, Louisiana increased the number of jurisdictions with FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plans from just four to 68, including all 64 parishes in the state. Mitigation plans form the foundation of a community’s long-term strategy to reduce disaster losses and break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction and repeated damage.

While monetary assistance is vital to Louisiana’s recovery, it does not tell the full story of the state and federal family’s commitment to survivors since Katrina and Rita struck in 2005.

Through collaborative efforts, FEMA and GOHSEP conducted the largest housing operation in our nation’s history, providing temporary housing to nearly 74,000 families displaced by Katrina and another 11,000 families displaced by Rita. As of three years ago, all of these survivors had returned to longer-term housing.

“The success of Louisiana’s recovery so far has been all about solidifying and strengthening partnerships. It’s about coming together, finding common ground and focusing on rebuilding communities that are stronger and more sustainable for the future,” said Mike Womack of FEMA, director of the Louisiana Recovery Office.

For more information on Katrina and Rita recovery, including project highlights, photos, video and fact sheets, visit https://beta.fema.gov/katrina10. For further recovery information, photos and a calendar of Katrina and Rita anniversary events around Louisiana, visit GOHSEP’s Katrina 10th anniversary Web page at www.gohsep.la.gov/RECOVER/KATRINA-RITA-10-YEARS-LATER. Also visit FEMA on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 and on Facebook at facebook.com/FEMA for further Katrina and Rita anniversary content in the coming days.

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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 sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

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Louisiana Recovery Update: Katrina and Rita by the Numbers

New Mexico Awarded More than $3 Million for Road Repairs in Lincoln County

DENTON, Texas – On Oct. 6, 2014, at the request of Governor Susana Martinez, President Obama declared a major disaster for the state of New Mexico. In June 2015, the state of New Mexico was awarded more than $3 million in federal disaster assistance for repairs to roads in Lincoln County following severe storms and flooding in July and August 2014. The New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management continues to administer the funds and provide support to the county as it recovers.

The severe weather and floodwaters washed away a total of 15 roads. The funding covers the excavation of the roads; the hauling and replacement of gravel; the shaping and grading of the roads; and hazard mitigation measures to reduce the risk of future storm damage.

The funding is made possible by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance program. To date, FEMA has obligated more than $5.9 million in relation to the last year’s severe storms and flooding.

The funding represents a 75 percent federal cost share. FEMA awards funding for projects directly to the state of New Mexico; the state then disburses the grant to the eligible applicant.

It is important that citizens take appropriate measures to protect themselves and their families. There are actions that should be taken before, during and after an event that are unique to each hazard. Identify the hazards that have happened or could happen in your area and plan for the unique actions for each.

Local emergency management offices can help identify the hazards in your area and outline the local plans and recommendations for each. Share the hazard-specific information with family members and include pertinent materials in your family disaster plan.

For additional information, visit www.ready.gov. Some basic protection actions are similar across many different hazards. They include:

Physical safety is a concern for all hazards and may involve sheltering or evacuating.
Develop a family communications plan.
Make an emergency supply kit to be prepared for any type of disaster.
Learn about emergency alerts and local emergency plans for shelters and evacuations, local emergency contacts and local advance alerts and warnings.
When recovering from a disaster, safety as well as mental and physical well-being must be considered.

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New Mexico Awarded More than $3 Million for Road Repairs in Lincoln County

Louisiana Receives More Than $1.4 Million for Repairs to Touro Infirmary in New Orleans

DENTON, Texas – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded more than $1.4 million to Louisiana for repairs to Touro Infirmary in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac.

Wind and rain from the storm damaged multiple buildings and structures in the hospital system: the main hospital; the Quaife building; the St. Charles garage; the Gumbel building; the Medical Arts Building; and the Buckman Building/Garage.

The Public Assistance funding pays for repairs to the roofs of many of the buildings, as well as structural components associated with those buildings.

“Southern Louisiana continues to struggle with the recovery of critical infrastructure damaged in Katrina and a number of subsequent disasters over the past nine years, to include Hurricane Isaac. We appreciate the partnership with FEMA to continue to address our recovery needs,” said Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Director Kevin Davis.

“Hospitals are a necessary element of any community, so it’s important to ensure medical facilities like Touro Infirmary are fully operational,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “We are committed to assisting our state and local partners in Louisiana as they continue to repair and rebuild.”

The Public Assistance funding represents a 75 percent federal cost share. FEMA awards funding for projects directly to the state of Louisiana; the state then disburses the grant to the eligible applicant.

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Louisiana Receives More Than $1.4 Million for Repairs to Touro Infirmary in New Orleans

Vallejo Disaster Recovery Center to Close Nov. 25, But Help is Still Available

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – After serving more than 283 homeowners, renters and business owners who had damages from the South Napa Earthquake, the Disaster Recovery Center at 1155 Capitol St. in Vallejo will end operations at 6 p.m. on Tue., Nov. 25. But help is still available in person, online and over the phone.

To apply for disaster assistance, register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or VRS may call 800-621-3362.

Phone lines remain open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (PT) seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual operators are available to answer questions about disaster assistance and assist applicants who want to check on the status of their applications. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

Officials with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and FEMA urge anyone who still needs help to register now, well before the deadline—Dec. 29, 2014.

For face-to-face assistance, applicants may choose to visit the Napa Earthquake Local Assistance Center at 301 First Street in Napa to meet with specialists from FEMA, Cal OES and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The Napa center remains open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays until further notice. The center will be closed Nov. 27-28 for Thanksgiving.

Disaster assistance includes grants to help homeowners and renters with temporary housing, essential home repairs and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other sources.

Low-interest disaster loans are also available from the SBA for homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations that had damage or losses from the South Napa Earthquake. 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 about disaster loans, applicants may call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or (TTY) (800- 877-8339, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may go to https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela to file an electronic SBA loan application.

For those with unmet disaster-related needs, the United Way operates 2-1-1 that covers Napa and Solano Counties. Available 24/7 in 150 languages, the Bay Area 211 helpline connects callers with hundreds of programs to help people find food, housing, healthcare, senior services, childcare, legal aid and more.

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The Cal OES protects lives and property, builds capabilities and supports our communities for a resilient California. Cal OES achieves its mission by serving the public through effective collaboration in preparing for, protecting against, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating the impacts of all hazards and threats.

The 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 non-profit 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. 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.

Originally posted here:

Vallejo Disaster Recovery Center to Close Nov. 25, But Help is Still Available

Napa, Solano County Residents to Receive Federal Individual, Household Aid Following South Napa Earthquake

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that the Major Disaster declaration for the South Napa earthquake will also include the Individuals and Households Program under the Stafford Act. This amendment makes assistance available to help homeowners and renters recover from the earthquake.

“This is a very welcome announcement for those individuals that had their daily lives changed by this earthquake,” said Cal OES Director Mark Ghilarducci. “Additional federal resources like this program will be a huge help to everyone impacted, especially those struggling with major damages and limited personal resources.”

Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. and local, state and Congressional officials requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration as damages caused by the 6.0-magnitude earthquake that shook through most of Northern California mounted. In response, President Barack Obama declared a Major Disaster on Sept. 11. The Major Disaster Declaration allowed for public assistance to be available to state, tribal and eligible governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged during the earthquake. The Individuals and Households Program will provide assistance to residents in Napa and Solano Counties.

“We are glad to be able to assist individual households as well as state and local governments in recovering from this earthquake,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Stephen De Blasio. “We ask those Californians who sustained earthquake damage to get registered as quickly as possible.”

Gov. Brown declared a State of Emergency shortly after the earthquake, whose epicenter was near American Canyon and the City of Napa, and issued an executive order to provide additional financial assistance to local agencies and non-profit organizations.

Individuals who are interested in finding out more information about eligibility for the Individual and Households Program should call or register at 800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 800-462-7585 or visit DisasterAssistance.gov.

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Napa, Solano County Residents to Receive Federal Individual, Household Aid Following South Napa Earthquake

FEMA Housing Team Concludes Successful Mission in New Jersey

EATONTOWN, N.J. — Nearly two years after Hurricane Sandy, FEMA officials marked the conclusion of their housing mission in New Jersey.

On September 11, 2014, FEMA returned the last of the Fort Monmouth properties that have housed displaced survivors of Hurricane Sandy since December of 2012. All of the 115 families who occupied the apartments and duplexes on the main post and in the Megill Commons area in Tinton Falls had either returned to their own homes or found a suitable housing alternative.

FEMA, the Governor’s Office of Recovery and Rebuilding, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), and long term recovery groups worked diligently to provide one-on-one assistance to help individuals and families who lived in FEMA direct housing to move back home or find temporary housing.

Additionally, DCA staff actively worked with those families who have received rebuilding funds through the DCA’s Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) Program to ensure that they were moving through the program as efficiently as possible. The goal was to make sure everyone still living in FEMA direct housing were able to either return home or had temporary housing in place before the August 31, 2014, deadline that FEMA had set on closing out its direct housing program in New Jersey.

Under the Stafford Act approved by Congress, FEMA is authorized to provide direct housing to disaster survivors for up to 18 months following the date of a declared disaster. During that period, households participating in the housing program pay no rent or other fees.

The 18-month period expired on April 30, 2014. At the request of Governor Christie, the federal government granted a four-month extension of the housing program.

Starting May 1, 2014, the households who remained in FEMA-provided units were required to begin paying rent at the fair market rate for the region as determined by the federal Housing and Urban Development Agency. Those households who could not afford to do so were able to submit documentation of assets and expenses in order to qualify for a reduced rental payment.

In addition to those families housed at Fort Monmouth, FEMA also provided 89 mobile housing units for eligible applicants in New Jersey. With the exception of one mobile home that was placed on private property, the units were installed in 10 commercial mobile home parks in the state’s hardest-hit counties All of the residents of the mobile housing units have also either returned to their own homes or found suitable alternate accommodations.

Each household faced individual challenges that often required creative problem-solving. FEMA caseworkers met with each on a regular basis for assistance in developing a suitable long term housing plan. State agencies collaborated with FEMA as well as community and faith-based charities to help secure housing for the families. FEMA, DCA, long term recovery groups, the NJ Department of Human Services, Catholic Charities, the NJ Department of Banking and Insurance and the NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency regularly held meetings for months to discuss the individual cases of people who were living in FEMA direct housing, to pool resources to triage cases and to identify temporary housing solutions. On a number of occasions, these individuals and families were driven to look at rental opportunities and meet with landlords to see if the housing unit met their needs.

“It’s very important to have good, strong, compassionate people,” to assist survivors experiencing some of the most trying periods of their lives, noted FEMA Individual Assistance Branch Director Annette Monet.

In some cases, age, illness, financial concerns or family size complicated the task of finding appropriate housing.

With extraordinary efforts and advocacy by the housing team on behalf of survivors, however, all the families were eventually able to secure alternative housing or return to their own homes.

“It took a bunch of very experienced people working together who were very knowledgeable about how things should work to find solutions for all of our families,” noted Monet. “They put all of their ideas together and worked as a team. That’s what you need when it gets down to helping the families help themselves.”

The leasing of the units at the former military base marked an unusual chapter in the history of FEMA’s housing program.

Mayor Gerald Tarantolo of Eatontown was among those who championed the idea of housing survivors displaced by the storm at the former army base. Tarantolo contacted the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority to inquire as to whether that would be feasible. The state Economic Development Authority oversees FMERA.

With FMERA support, the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management began discussions with the Army and FEMA, which would fund the lease, and an agreement was formulated.

After four weeks of renovations FEMA contracted with the Army Corps of Engineers, move-ins at two buildings on the main post and in larger units in the Megill Commons area of the fort began on December 21, 2012.

On September 16, 2014, the Chief of Staff for the Sandy Recovery Office Chris Hartnett and Carl Kahn of the FEMA acquisitions team presented Lt. Col. John Occhipinti, site manager for Fort Monmouth, with a certificate of appreciation for all his efforts on behalf of Sandy survivors housed at the fort.

In addition to the Direct Housing Mission, FEMA also provided $189 million in Rental Assistance payments to eligible applicants who were displaced by Hurricane Sandy. FEMA also provided 19,321 households with funds for repairs totaling $172.7 million.

In the immediate aftermath of the storm, FEMA provided more than 5,500 families with short-term accommodations in 435 hotels and motels around the state through its Transitional Sheltering Assistance program. The program provided 253,425 room nights for displaced survivors at a cost of $34 million. The TSA program ended on April 30, 2013.

The Rental Assistance program ended April 30, 2014.

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.”

Originally posted here –

FEMA Housing Team Concludes Successful Mission in New Jersey

Michigan, FEMA to Start Damage Assessments This Week

CHICAGO –Beginning Tuesday, August 26, the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD), FEMA, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and local officials in the Metro Detroit area will be conducting joint preliminary damage assessments due to the flooding that occurred the week of August 11.

Six teams will be canvassing Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties to assess and validate damages and disaster impacts against federal assistance eligibility criteria. MSP/EMHSD, FEMA and SBA team members will be wearing shirts with agency names and logos prominently displayed. Personnel will also have their credentials visible.

When considering eligibility for federal individual assistance—or assistance for homeowners, renters and business owners—damage assessment teams consider a number of factors:

Size and scope of damage as well as threat to public safety. Assessment teams are tasked to collect a description and extent of damages and the impact on individuals in the affected areas. To do so, they will try to talk to as many local officials, renters, homeowners and business owners as possible, taking note of details such as water depth, structural integrity of buildings, damage to mechanical components (i.e. furnace, water heater, HVAC, etc.), insurance coverage in place, length of time floodwater has been in a home, and materials used to build the dwelling. It is not necessary for the teams to visit every home in order to complete the assessment.
Number of primary homes requiring extensive repairs or with structural damage. When collecting this data, teams are looking for failure of major structural components in a building and floodwater depths of more than 18 inches in areas of a residence that meet the federal definition of essential living space.
- It’s important to note: if a presidential declaration for individual assistance is made:
  - Floodwater or sewer backup damages in recreational rooms, unoccupied basements or storage spaces generally do not qualify for FEMA assistance programs. However, disaster-related damages to a home’s mechanical components or those in areas of a residence that meet the federal definition of essential living space—regardless of the location in the home—may be considered eligible for federal assistance.
  - Federal grant funding is made available to eligible applicants as a supplement to local and state resources and insurance payments to help survivors return to safe, sanitary and functional housing. It is not meant to return a home and its contents to pre-disaster conditions.
Duplication of benefits. By law, FEMA cannot duplicate benefits—such as those from insurance, local housing authorities, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs. If approved, FEMA individual assistance is always supplemental to that assistance.
Number and length of time people are displaced. This information may include number of homes that are not habitable. Teams also attempt to determine whether the community has adequate housing resources to meet the needs of displaced survivors for the time it takes to repair their home.
Ability of the community to recover. Since disasters affect communities differently, teams will collect and document specific characteristics of each—such as demographic and economic data—that may impact their ability to recover. In addition, it is important for the teams to document critical infrastructure that may be unavailable for an extended period of time—i.e. hospitals, schools, utilities and nursing homes—as this could also significantly affect a community’s ability to recover.
Voluntary agency/state program assistance available. Local non-profit, faith-based and community-based organizations contribute substantially to response and recovery after a disaster. Along with local and state governments, these organizations often help survivors immediately after an emergency and, in some cases, have the capability and resources to meet the recovery needs of the affected areas. During the damage assessment, teams document whether, and to what extent, these organizations may be able to meet the essential needs of survivors.
Extent of the business losses. The Small Business Administration (SBA) is part of the team and assesses damage to businesses in affected communities. In the event of a federal declaration, the SBA can make low interest loans available to assist businesses as well as homeowners and renters with their recovery costs. FEMA also considers whether the loss of critical businesses like grocery stores, gas stations, or stores that sell building materials and supplies in affected communities could impact recovery.

Once the damage assessments are complete, state officials use the damage totals and impact data to determine whether the disaster meets established criteria and can warrant the governor requesting a federal declaration and assistance.

To find more information about FEMA’s declaration process or disaster assistance programs, visit www.FEMA.gov or www.disasterassistance.gov.

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 twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

FEMA Media Contact: Sandy Jasmund, 312-213-5291
Michigan MSP/EMHSD Media Contact: Ron Leix, 517-336-6464

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Michigan, FEMA to Start Damage Assessments This Week

Federal funds authorized to help fight Saddle Mountain Fire

Seattle, WA – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Saddle Mountain Fire, burning in Kittitas County, Washington.

FEMA Region X Regional Administrator, Kenneth D. Murphy determined that the Saddle Mountain Fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Murphy approved the state’s request for federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) on July 19, 2014 at 10:43 a.m. PDT.

On July 19, 2014, the State of Washington submitted a request for a fire management assistance declaration for the Saddle Mountain Fire, burning in Kittitas County. At the time of the request, 5 homes had been burned, 80 homes were threatened and about 90 people had evacuated the area. One shelter in the Kittitas School District was operating around the clock at the time of the request. The fire has reached the Wanapum Dam and Crease Rapids Dam, both hydropower facilities, and three (3) main power transmission lines, which provides power to the City of Yakama, population of nearly 93,000, and to southeast Washington State. The fire is also threatening the Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. The fire has damaged or threatened the Ginko Petrified Forest, multiple cultural resources sites, historical sites, and recreational sites. The fire started on July 18, 2014, and has burned approximately 38,000 acres. The Federal Principal Advisor confirmed the threat to homes, dams, overhead power lines, and rail line. The fire is at zero percent contained.

A state of emergency was declared by the Governor late Tuesday, July 14 in 20 Eastern Washington counties in response to multiple wildfires threatening homes, businesses, public infrastructure, and natural resources in many parts of the state as fire crews face continued severe fire weather conditions.

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

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

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Federal funds authorized to help fight Saddle Mountain Fire

Federal funds authorized to help fight Chiwakum Fire

Seattle, WA – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Chiwaukum Fire, burning in Chelan County, Washington.

FEMA Region X Regional Administrator, Kenneth D. Murphy determined that the Chiwaukum Fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Murphy approved the state’s request for federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) on July 16, 2014 at 11:54 p.m. PDT.

On July 16, 2014, the State of Washington submitted a request for a fire management assistance declaration for the Chiwaukum Fire burning in Chelan County. At the time of the request, 800 primary homes were threatened, but the number increased to 2,000 when the spreading fire began to threaten the Lake Wenatchee area. Approximately 7,200 people have been evacuated, including campgrounds and recreational homes. Two shelters have been opened, one by the County at Cascade High School, and another by the American Red Cross at the Baptist Church. Both are operating around the clock at the time of the request. Highway 2 is closed in directions, as well as local roads and bridges, and railroad lines within the threatened areas. The fire has damaged or threatened electrical distribution lines and substations, with the potential to shut off power to the area. Impacts to irrigation facilities, wildlife and cultural resources are a concern in and around the fire perimeter. The fire started on July 15, 2014, and currently at least 10 fires are burning uncontrolled and have consumed approximately 4,500 acres of Federal, State, and private land. Firefighting resources fighting the fire include: Type 2 Incident Management Team, mixed air platforms, helicopters (although limited because of visibility due to smoke in some areas), engines, water tenders and fire hand crews. The Federal Principal Advisor has confirmed the threat to homes. The fire is currently is uncontained.

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Federal funds authorized to help fight Chiwakum Fire

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