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Race the Wave 5K fun run/walk to practice tsunami evacuation routes.

September 2, 2014
News Release

Race the Wave 5K fun run/walk to practice tsunami evacuation routes.

Cannon Beach, OR – September is National Preparedness Month and Pacific Northwest coastal communities are leading by example. Cannon Beach, Oregon will host Race the Wave, their first hazard-themed fun run designed to blend awareness and action into a single activity.

Race the Wave is a 5k tsunami fun run/walk that follows an actual tsunami evacuation route in Cannon Beach. On September 28, participants will learn about earthquake and tsunami hazards so they can make informed decisions and take actions to be better prepared, creating a more resilient community. The race route begins on the beach and finishes at the higher ground of one of the community’s evacuation meeting points, where Cannon Beach will host a preparedness fair with interactive booths for all to learn more about how to prepare for emergencies and disasters.

Cannon Beach, OR is a community long committed to ensuring its citizens and visitors are prepared for a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami. Race the Wave uses the National Preparedness month themes of being disaster aware and taking action to prepare and makes those themes relevant for their community.

Know the Plan: Make a plan with your family about where you will meet. Know if you need to pick your kids up from school. Know where you need to go and what to bring with you.
Take the Route: Become familiar with signage in your area. Learn the evacuation route from where you live, work, and play. Evacuate on foot and avoid traveling by car if possible.
Race the Wave: Natural warnings are the best sign of a tsunami. If you feel the ground shaking, move quickly inland or to a higher elevation. Listen to the radio to learn of tsunami warnings originating from non-local causes.

The Community of Cannon Beach, Clatsop County Office of Emergency Management, Oregon Office of Emergency Management, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI), Oregon Office on Disability & Health at Oregon Health & Science University and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region X office are coming together to support Race the Wave.

FEMA is encouraging everyone to take steps to become better prepared for an emergency. Whether it’s at home, at work, at school, or in the community, there’s a lot that you can do to be ready and help others be ready too. This September, take time to get disaster prepared and take action to prepare.

For more information and to participate in Race the Wave visit the community Facebook page.

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion10, 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

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Race the Wave 5K fun run/walk to practice tsunami evacuation routes.

FEMA awards Public Assistance grants for Sandy recovery projects

NEW YORK – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded Public Assistance grants for debris removal, emergency protective measures and permanent work for Hurricane Sandy recovery projects.

Recent awards include:

• Nearly $12.2 million to Nassau County for waterway debris removal in Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Long Beach, Atlantic Beach, Cedarhurst, Freeport and Island Park.

• Nearly $10 million to City of New York Department of Citywide Administrative Services for emergency protective measures, including labor, communications, light towers, generators and fuel truck rental.

• More than $6.1 million to New York City Department of Parks and Recreation for citywide debris removal.

• More than $4.5 million to New York Health and Hospitals Corporation to provide a temporary facility for the Ida Israel Community Health Clinic.

• More than $2.1 million to Nassau County Police Department for emergency protective measures, including evacuations, patrols and identification of public hazards.

• More than $1.6 million to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for permanent repairs to portions of John F. Kennedy International Airport fencing.

For Hurricane Sandy, FEMA’s Public Assistance program reimburses local, state and tribal governments and eligible private nonprofit organizations 90 percent of eligible costs for emergency and permanent work. So far, FEMA has awarded $2.4 billion in Public Assistance grants to eligible New York applicants.

Not included in this total is recent approval of $1.4 billion to Long Island Power Authority for repairs, restoration and hazard mitigation. FEMA and LIPA agreed on that amount in a pilot program, Public Assistance Alternate Procedures, in which grants are determined on the basis of fixed estimates, with applicants accepting responsibility for any actual costs that exceed the estimates. If actual costs are less than the fixed estimate amount, the applicant may use the excess funds for certain other purposes that mitigate damage from future disasters.[

To learn more about FEMA Public Assistance in New York, visit: fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit and dhses.ny.gov/oem/recovery.

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FEMA awards Public Assistance grants for Sandy recovery projects

More Than $10 Million Approved for Mississippi Disaster Survivors

JACKSON, Miss. – Federal assistance approved for disaster survivors in 12 Mississippi counties has reached more than $10 million.

Just three weeks after tornadoes ripped through Mississippi, FEMA’s National Mobile Disaster Hospital opened Monday in Louisville, Miss. and is being operated by the staff of the Winston Medical Center, which was severely damaged by a tornado April 28. The temporary facility will remain in place until the medical center is rebuilt. About 85 percent of the medical center staff is employed to operate the mobile hospital.

The opening, attended by Governor Bryant and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, was the culmination of coordination and teamwork by MEMA, the Mississippi Department of Health, the State of North Carolina, Winston County, the city of Louisville, North Carolina Baptist Men and Women, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and FEMA. This is the first time the National Mobile Disaster Hospital has been used as a fully operational hospital.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is leading a joint Long-Term Housing Task Force, which includes FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department, along with state and local officials, volunteers and the private sector to assess and provide assistance to families with housing needs.

Here is a summary through Thursday, May 22, of all federal assistance to individuals and households in the 12 counties designated for FEMA Individual Assistance as a result of the April 28 through May 3, 2014, severe storms, tornadoes and flooding.

More than $10 million in total federal disaster assistance has been approved by FEMA and SBA.
More than $6.3 million in low-interest disaster home loans has been approved by SBA for 89 homeowners and renters.
More than $3.9 million in FEMA Individual Assistance grants has been approved to help Mississippi disaster survivors recover, including:
- More than $3 million approved for housing grants, including short-term rental assistance and home repair costs.
- Nearly $935,000 approved to help cover other essential disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses and household possessions. Included is approval of assistance with funeral expenses for two disaster-related deaths. Other funeral expense requests are pending.

More than 4,400 people have contacted FEMA for help or information regarding disaster assistance.
- In addition to FEMA grants for individuals and families, other forms of disaster assistance are provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration and other partner agencies such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. FEMA refers some survivors to those agencies.
- All businesses that contact FEMA are also referred to the SBA.
- Others may be interested in other programs such as disaster unemployment assistance and disaster legal services.
2,279 home inspections completed.
More than 3,700 visits to disaster recovery centers by people affected by the disaster.
8 disaster recovery centers are open across the affected areas.
FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance crews have visited 7,577 dwellings and assisted 5,209 survivors.

Disaster survivors in Itawamba, Jones, Leake, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Montgomery, Rankin, Simpson, Warren, Wayne and Winston counties may be eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.

Individuals and households in those counties can register for FEMA Individual Assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone or tablet at m.FEMA.gov or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362). People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY should call 800-462-7585. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (central time) and assistance is available in multiple languages.

For additional information about SBA low-interest disaster loans, contact the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339, emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or visiting sba.gov/disaster. SBA representatives are available at ALL disaster recovery centers. Disaster recovery center locations can be found online at FEMA.gov/DRCLocator.

For more information on Mississippi disaster recovery, go to fema.gov/disaster/4175. Visit the MEMA site at msema.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/msemaorg.

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 childcare, medical, dental expenses and/or funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, those who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, transportation, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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More Than $10 Million Approved for Mississippi Disaster Survivors

Resources Available For Sandy Survivors

LINCROFT, N.J. — When Superstorm Sandy struck and thousands of New Jersey residents were left looking for assistance, public agencies and private entities created resources and programs designed to help them. Nearly 18 months after the storm, the status and scope of these programs have changed, but many of them are still active and available.

Survivors facing urgent safety issues should call 911 or the New Jersey Emergency Response Hotline (800-JERSEY-7). The hotline’s backup numbers are 609-775-5236 and 908-303-0471.

For non-emergency issues and updated news and bulletins, survivors can call the New Jersey 2-1-1 help line or visit www.nj211.org. For emergency-related news, they can also follow @nj211 on Twitter.

FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s website, www.fema.gov/sandy, has the latest news and information on the disaster in New Jersey. Also, ‘like’ the FEMA Facebook page, and/or follow @FEMASandy on Twitter. www.DisasterAssistance.gov has links to community resources, government directories and alerts.

NEW JERSEY STATE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management’s website, www.ready.nj.gov, contains links to the Department of Community Affairs’ Block Grant plan and the state Public Assistance program. Search facebook.com/READYNEW JERSEY on Facebook to find the OEM’s page, and @ReadyNJ on Twitter for news update. The NJOEM also published a blog, which can be accessed at http://readynj.wordpress.com/

The New Jersey State Police can be found at www.njsp.org; @NJSP on Twitter; and at “New Jersey State Police” on Facebook.

FOOD ASSISTANCE

End Hunger NJ (www.endhungernj.org) has a statewide food bank database.

Community Food Bank of New Jersey: www.cfbnj.org; “Food Bank of NJ” on Facebook; @CFBNJ on Twitter.

Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties: 732-918-2600; www.foodbankmoc.org; “foodbankmoc” on Facebook.

Food Bank of South Jersey: www.foodbanksj.org; “Food Bank of South Jersey” on Facebook; @foodbankSJ on Twitter.

Ocean City, New Jersey C.A.R.E. Project: 855-622-2730; www.ocnjcare.org; “OCNJCARE” on Facebook.

GENERAL HEALTH AND WELFARE

The Department of Health and Human Services has a Hurricane Sandy Recovery Page: www.phe.gov/emergency/events/sandy/Pages/default.aspx. Search for “State of New Jersey EMS Taskforce” on Facebook, and @NJEMSTF on Twitter.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a page for hurricane preparedness and response at: www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes. Search for “CDC” on Facebook and follow @CDCEmergency on Twitter.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a hotline accessible by calling 800-321-OSHA (6742). www.osha.gov/sandy has information on keeping workers safe during recovery and cleanup operations.

The Jersey Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross has its own website at: www.redcross.org/nj/tinton-falls. Follow “Red Cross” on Facebook and @RedCross on Twitter.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

The New Jersey Directory of Mental Health Services is online at www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dmhs/news/publications/mhs in three parts.

For children/youth services through the State of New Jersey’s Department of Children and Families, visit www.nj.gov/dcf/families/csc or call 877-652-7624 for questions or to apply for services for developmentally disabled children.

New Jersey Mental Health Cares (www.njmentalhealthcares.org) has updated listings of public mental health providers in the state. Call hotline at 877-294-HELP (4357).

CHILDREN

The non-profit New Jersey Association of Child Care Resources and Referral Agencies is an organization representing child care groups serving New Jersey. Call the hotline at 800-332-9227; visit www.njaccrra.org; or find and like “NJ Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies” on Facebook.

Contact the state Department of Education at 609-292-2070 if you have not been able to enroll your child in school in the town where you are currently living or if you have not been able to return to your home school district.

SENIOR CITIZENS

The Division of Aging Services administers federal and state-run services for senior citizens. It also oversees the 21 Area Agencies of Aging in each county in the state, which develop coordinated community-based systems. Call 877-222-3737 or www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas/home.

AARP: www.aarp.org; “AARP” on Facebook, @AARP on Twitter.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid services provides up-to-date information about natural disasters, extreme weather and emergencies for those with Medicare and Medicaid. http://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/Emergency/index.html

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES OR ACCESS AND FUNCTIONAL NEEDS

The State of New Jersey has several agencies that deal with different groups of people who are disabled or have access and functional needs:

Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Call 877-685-8878 or visit www.state.nj.us/humanservices/cbvi/home.

Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Call 800-792-8339 or visit http://nj.gov/humanservices/ddhh/home.

The Division of Developmental Disabilities places its main focus on people with mental disabilities, including conditions such as cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, and spina bifida, as well as those who have suffered traumatic brain injuries: Call 800-832-9173 or visit http://nj.gov/humanservices/ddd/home for updated information on programs and to apply for assistance.

The Division of Disability Services focuses on people who became disabled as adults. Call 888-285-3036 or visit http://nj.gov/humanservices/dds/home.

Good Neighbors, Community Living For People with Disabilities is the New Jersey Department of Human Services’ public education program. Call 877-DHS-LINE (347-5463) or visit http://www.nj.gov/humanservices/clients/disability/goodneighbors/ for program information.

The New Jersey Statewide Independent Living Council is a separate entity under the New Jersey Department of Labor. It has locations serving all 21 counties in New Jersey and the cities of Camden and Newark. Visit www.njsilc.org to find contact information for a CIL (Center for Independent Living) near you.

The New Jersey Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters (NJ GAINED) is an advisory board to the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management and to the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. Call 609-963-6818 or visit www.state.nj.us/njoem/plan/special-needs-njsnap.html for information on NJ GAINED projects and the organization’s strategic plan.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences provides documents and resources in English, Spanish and Vietnamese that address emergency preparedness in hurricane and flood situations. Links are at http://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/index.cfm?id=2472.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has a Sandy Resources page (http://www.state.nj.us/dep/special/hurricane-sandy) with fact sheets and information on the buyout program, home elevations and beach replenishments.

The Environmental Protection Agency has a Sandy section on its website: www.epa.gov/sandy. Find “EPA” on Facebook, follow @EPAgov on Twitter or call 888-283-7626.

LEGAL SERVICES

Legal Services of New Jersey (www.lsnj.org) provides free civil legal assistance to low-income New Jersey residents. They have a special New Jersey Hurricane Sandy Hotline at 888-222-5765.

VOLUNTEER SERVICES

Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Hudson, Cumberland, Bergen and Union counties have established Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), which is an organization of volunteer groups, and/or Long Term Recovery Committees (LTRC), which coordinate volunteer and private sector efforts to help residents recover from disasters.

http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4086/updates/sandy-one-year-later

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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Resources Available For Sandy Survivors

New York University, NYU Langone Medical Center, SUS-Mental Health receive FEMA grants

NEW YORK – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved Public Assistance grants to New York University, NYU Langone Medical Center and Services for the UnderServed (SUS)-Mental Health Program to reimburse costs for damage caused by Hurricane Sandy.

New York University has been awarded more than $1 million in funding. The grant covered a variety of needs including ensuring students’ safety, protection of campus data, temporary generators and a fuel oil tank.

NYU Langone Medical Center has been awarded $2.8 million to repair or replace damaged equipment that supported research functions for the Smilow Research Center.

Services for the UnderServed-Mental Health Program, Inc., an eligible private nonprofit human services agency, received more than $2 million in Public Assistance grants to repair a 71-bed residence facility that supports rehabilitative services for people who have a mental health condition and a history of homelessness.

To learn more about FEMA Public Assistance in New York, visit: fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit and dhses.ny.gov/oem/recovery.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/sandyny, twitter.com/FEMASandy, facebook.com/FEMASandy and fema.gov/blog.

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New York University, NYU Langone Medical Center, SUS-Mental Health receive FEMA grants

A Year After Hurricane Sandy: New Jersey Recovery By The Numbers

Sandy facts

October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy strikes with a storm surge weather experts had never seen before
37,000 primary residences destroyed or damaged
8.7 million cubic yards of debris left behind
2.7 million New Jerseyans without power

The first 48 hours

548 FEMA specialists on the ground in New Jersey
Three mobile disaster recovery centers open
3 States responded with Emergency Medical Services – 385 people
8 Disaster Medical Assistance Teams and U.S. Public Health Strike Teams arrive
October 31, 2012, the first FEMA Individuals and Household Program disbursement of $155,027

Response milestones at one year

More than $5.67 billion in total federal assistance approved for Individual Assistance grants, SBA low-interest disaster loans, National Flood Insurance Program payments and Public Assistance grants.

Individual Assistance

More than $413 million approved for individuals and households including:
- Nearly $356 million for housing assistance
- More than $56.6 million for other needs, including clothing, household items, disaster-related damage to a vehicle, and disaster-related medical and dental expenses
More than 261, 000 people contacted FEMA for help or information
127,046 housing inspections completed
36 disaster recovery centers opened
90,000 visits to disaster recovery centers
5,546 individuals and families housed temporarily in hotel rooms under the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program
3,410 survivors received disaster unemployment assistance

U.S. Small Business Administration

More than $819.8 million in SBA low-interest disaster loans approved for homeowners, renters and businesses

National Flood Insurance Program

More than $3.5 billion paid on all claims in flood insurance payments made to policyholders

Public Assistance

More than $926 million was approved in FEMA Public Assistance grants to communities and some nonprofit organizations that serve the public
4,959 projects approved so far

A whole community response

507 voluntary agencies were involved in recovery
More than 1.6 million meals and 1.4 million liters of water were distributed
21 languages were used to communicate assistance information to survivors
More than 1 million multilingual fliers were distributed
Nearly 8.7 million cubic yards of debris was removed
At peak, more than 2,429 people were deployed to New Jersey by FEMA and other federal agencies
36 federal agencies assisted FEMA during Hurricane Sandy in New York
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers received 335 requests for generators – 106 installed at peak
Approximately 300,000 pounds of food was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Defense Logistics Agency delivered 2.3 million gallons of fuel to distribution points in New York and New Jersey
The Port of New Jersey was closed to incoming and outgoing vessel traffic because of Superstorm Sandy, according the U.S. Coast Guard

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A Year After Hurricane Sandy: New Jersey Recovery By The Numbers

A Year After Hurricane Sandy: New York Recovery By The Numbers

Oct. 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy strikes with a storm surge weather experts in New York had never seen before.

The first 48 hours

1,200 FEMA specialists on the ground in New York
Five mobile disaster recovery centers open
350 ambulances deployed from around the country to New York
11 disaster medical assistance teams and U.S. Public Health Service officers arrive
Oct. 31, 2012, the first FEMA Individual Assistance grants approved for $1.7 million
U.S. Department of Transportation authorizes $10 million for repairs to roads, bridges and tunnels

Response milestones at one year (as of Oct. 15)

More than $8.3 billion in total federal assistance approved for Individual Assistance grants, SBA low-interest disaster loans, National Flood Insurance Program payments and Public Assistance grants.

Individual Assistance

More than $1 billion approved for individuals and households including:
- More than $857 million for housing assistance
- More than $145 million for other needs, including clothing, household items, disaster-related damage to a vehicle, and disaster-related medical and dental expenses
272,045 contacted FEMA for help or information
185,208 housing inspections completed
65 disaster recovery centers opened
183,145 visits to disaster recovery centers
5,944 individuals and families housed temporarily in hotel rooms under the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program
5,592 survivors received disaster unemployment assistance

U.S. Small Business Administration

More than $1.5 billion in SBA low-interest disaster loans approved for homeowners, renters and businesses

National Flood Insurance Program

More than $3.7 billion in flood insurance payments made to policyholders

Public Assistance

More than $2.1 billion approved in FEMA Public Assistance grants to communities and some nonprofit organizations that serve the public
2,712 projects approved so far
More than 21,000 families were able to remain in their homes while repairs were made because of the Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power and the New York City Rapid Repairs programs

A whole community response

500 voluntary agencies involved in recovery
More than 3.2 million meals and 2.4 million liters of water distributed
26 languages used to communicate assistance information to survivors
More than 1 million multilingual fliers distributed
Power restored for 2.1 million New Yorkers
Nearly 6.4 million cubic yards of debris removed
At peak, more than 4,150 deployed to New York by FEMA and other federal agencies
42 federal agencies assisted FEMA during Hurricane Sandy in New York
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers drained 149.7 million gallons of water from the New York City metro area, equivalent to 227 Olympic-sized swimming pools
The Corps supplied 211 generators that produced power equivalent to meeting the requirements for 50,000 single-family homes
Approximately 1.1 million pounds of food provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Defense Logistics Agency delivered 2.3 million gallons of fuel to distribution points in New York and New Jersey
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration assigned navigation response vessels to survey the Port of New York for navigation hazards

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A Year After Hurricane Sandy: New York Recovery By The Numbers

Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee And Martin County Residents Invited To See Preliminary Flood Maps

Attend an Open House and Learn about Flood Risks in Your Community

ATLANTA – If you live in Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee and Martin counties or incorporated municipalities you are invited to look at newly revised preliminary digital flood insurance rate maps at a series of public open houses Monday through Thursday, Sept. 16-19 from 4 to 7 p.m. Flood maps show the extent to which areas are at risk for flooding, and are used to help determine flood insurance and building requirements.

At the open houses you will be able to see the preliminary maps, learn about your risk of flooding and ask questions about what the new maps will mean for your property. You can meet one-on-one with a variety of specialists who will be available to talk about flood insurance, engineering, building permits and more. You are encouraged to attend the open house in your county where local officials will be available to answer county-specific questions.

The open house dates and locations are:

Monday, Sept. 16 4 to 7 p.m.

Glades County Public Open House

Doyle Conner Building

900 US Highway 27

Moore Haven, FL 33471

Tuesday, Sept. 17 4 to 7 p.m.

Hendry County Public Open House

John Bay Auditorium

100 Sugarland Park Drive

Clewiston, FL 33440

Wednesday, Sept. 18 4 to 7 p.m.

Okeechobee County Public Open House

Okeechobee County Health Department Auditorium

1728 NW 9th Avenue

Okeechobee, FL 34972

Thursday, Sept. 19 4 to 7 p.m.

Martin County Public Open House

Blake Library Branch

2351 Southeast Monterey Road

Stuart, FL 34996

Martin County residents can find more information about their county’s maps at www.mcflood.martin.fl.us. There is also an “interactive” mapping application which allows query by name and address where you can view the “existing” vs. the “proposed” zones at http://geoweb.martin.fl.us/flood/.

You may also visit your local community’s office to view the maps in person, or call your local floodplain manager with questions about where their property is located on the preliminary maps.

The preliminary maps in each of these counties have not yet been officially adopted and will become effective for flood insurance rating purposes only after a public comment period. This allows time for property owners and local officials to submit comments and appeals if they can show that any part of the maps is in error. Specialists will be available at the open houses to address questions that residents may have about this process. Once all comments are received and addressed, the counties may adopt the maps.

The new maps were produced through a partnership between each county and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). They are more precise than older maps because better flood hazard and risk data and the latest science available have been applied to make the maps more accurate. Additionally, flood risks change over time due to construction and development, environmental changes, floodplain widening or shifting, and other factors—which is why it’s important that maps are updated periodically. The ultimate goal of new maps is to provide better information to protect property owners and the community from flood risks.

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Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee And Martin County Residents Invited To See Preliminary Flood Maps

Colorful Insect Threatens to Decimate Missouri’s Ash Tree Population–Debris Clean-up Practices Impact Infestation

Kansas City, Mo – Last spring, a series of storms caused extensive tree damage in many communities throughout Missouri. As clean-up continues, proper debris management will impact the fate of Missouri’s Ash trees by helping to stop the spread of a small but invasive pest making its way across the state.

A native of Asia, as of June, 2013, the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) had been found in 20 states and two Canadian Provinces. In a report published on the University of Missouri Extension website, Missouri’s EAB infestation was discovered in 2008 in a campground at Wappapello Lake in Wayne County. Since then ten counties have been placed under quarantine to prevent the accidental spread of the beetle by regulating the movement of potentially-contaminated wood products, including firewood and mulch from storm debris.

The importance of proper wood management is magnified when one considers that approximately 14 percent of trees in the State’s towns and cities are Ash, and the figure reaches as high as 30 or 40 percent in some neighborhoods and parks. The EAB is 100 percent fatal to Missouri’s native ash trees — blue, green, and white — of any size, age, or health, according to the University of Missouri Extension.

On its own, the beetle will only fly a few miles. However, it is easily and quickly transported to new areas when people inadvertently move Ash infected with EAB larvae. Wood waste from pruning, storm damage, or tree removal may seem like a readily available fuel source, yet State officials warn that moving firewood, whether ash from quarantined areas or otherwise, is the primary avenue for the spread of the EAB. Many of the places where it has been found are parks and campgrounds where people unknowingly carried EAB with them when they brought firewood on a picnic or camping trip.

Missouri Department of Conservation Forest Entomologist Rob Lawrence emphasizes the importance of not moving woody debris from the immediate vicinity when cutting trees and limbs that have been storm damaged or need trimming. “The debris can be allowed to decay or burned any time before spring when the adults emerge, but to reduce the possibility of spreading EAB or any other pest, the main thing is not to move it from the immediate vicinity,” he said.

The EAB larva is the source of destruction as it spends its life inside ash trees, feeding on the inner bark where it cannot be seen. According to Jodie Ellis of Purdue University, the eggs females deposit on the surface of ash bark, in its crevices and cracks, hatch in 1-2 weeks. The tiny larvae bore through the bark and into the phloem, the tissue layer that spreads nutrients throughout the tree, creating S-shaped tunnels or galleries. As the larvae feed and grow, the galleries get larger, disrupting the transport of nutrients and ultimately killing the tree.

The ten counties currently under EAB quarantine are Bolinger, Carter, Clay, Iron, Madison, Platte, Pulaski, Reynolds, Shannon and Wayne. According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the results of this summer’s EAB infestation survey may add more regions of the State to the quarantine area.

The quarantine regulates both the interstate movement of potentially contaminated wood products and movement between these counties and others within the State. In addition to firewood, the quarantine covers ash nursery stock and any part of an ash tree. Firewood from any species of hardwood, including oak, maple and hickory is quarantined as well because, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), once a log has been cut and split, it is extremely difficult to differentiate between ash wood and other hardwood species.

There are opportunities for the timber, wood, and firewood industries to continue interstate commerce through the use of processing options associated with the issuance of a USDA compliance agreement, certificate, or limited permit. Contact the USDA’s APHIS at 573-893-6833 for more information. Permitting and compliance agreements for commercial wood transport within the State of Missouri can be obtained by contacting the Missouri Department of Agriculture at 573-751-5505.

If you suspect the presence of the EAB or other invasive insect or disease, the first step to verify the identity of the pest as many little green bugs look similar. Visit www.eab.missouri.edu for identification aids or call the Missouri Department of Conservation at 1-866-716-9974. Once confirmed, an online report form is available at http://extension.missouri.edu/scripts/eab/forestpestsreport.asp.

Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Find regional updates from FEMA Region VII at www.twitter.com/femaregion7. 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.

View photos of and get more information about the EAB at http://extension.missouri.edu/emeraldashborer/looklike.aspx.

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Colorful Insect Threatens to Decimate Missouri’s Ash Tree Population–Debris Clean-up Practices Impact Infestation

FEMA Announces Appointments to National Advisory Council

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announces the appointment of ten new members and the reappointment of five members to the FEMA National Advisory Council (NAC).

The NAC is an advisory committee established to ensure effective and ongoing coordination of federal preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation for natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. Members represent the whole community including public health, tribal government and functional and access needs, and provide recommendations on a variety of issues within emergency management to the FEMA Administrator.

FEMA received over 500 applications for these positions. Each applicant was carefully considered through an intensive review process that included a membership recommendation panel of senior government officials.

“The National Advisory Council provides FEMA with advice and recommendations on how to achieve the Agency’s mission,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “We look forward to continued dialogue on emergency management to support states, strengthen outreach efforts to Indian Country, and engage the whole community to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. Both the new and reappointed members represent a cross section of the emergency management team and their insight is valued.”

The new NAC members are:

Mr. Chris E. Howell, Tribal Liaison/Executive Director, Kansas Native American Affairs (Topeka, KS)

Mr. Bart Johnson, Executive Director, International Association of Chiefs of Police (Alexandria, VA)

Dr. Emily Gayle Kidd, Assistant Professor, University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio (San Antonio, TX)

Chief W. Nim Kidd, Assistant Director/Chief, Texas Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management (Austin, TX)

Ms. Linda Langston, Linn County Supervisor (Cedar Rapids, IA)

Mr. Brian Lugo, Elected Tribal Councilmember, Morongo Band of Mission Indians in Southern California (Banning, CA)

Dr. Suzet McKinney, Deputy Commissioner, Bureau of Public Health Preparedness and Emergency Response and Division of Women & Children’s Health, Chicago Department of Public Health (Chicago, IL)

Mr. Richard Alan Reed, Vice President, Preparedness and Resilience Strategy, American Red Cross (Bethesda, MD)

Mr. Robert Salesses, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Integration and Defense Support of Civil Authorities, U.S. Department of Defense (Washington, DC)

Mr. Dennis Joseph Storemski, Director, City of Houston’s Mayor’s Office of Public Safety & Homeland Security (Houston, TX)

The reappointed NAC members are:

Ms. Elizabeth Armstrong, Executive Director, International Association of Emergency Managers (Falls Church, VA)

Mr. Mark A. Cooper, Senior Director, Emergency Management, Wal-Mart (Rogers, AR)

Ms. Nancy Dragani, Executive Director, Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Columbus, OH)

Ms. June Isaacson Kailes, Disability Policy Consultant (Playa del Rey, CA)

Ms. Teresa Scott, Executive Director, City of Gainesville, Public Works Department (Gainesville, FL)

Additional information on the NAC, including a list of current members, can be found at fema.gov/national-advisory-council.

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. FEMA Region III’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at fema.gov/medialibrary and youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion3.

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FEMA Announces Appointments to National Advisory Council

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