historic - femacontract.com

Best Practice: Daytona Beach Museum of Arts & Sciences

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In May of 2009, Florida’s northeast coast was drenched by five consecutive days of rain. One of the worst hit areas was Daytona Beach, where more than 20 percent of the streets were underwater and nearly a thousand buildings reporting some kind of flood damage.

One of those structures was the West Wing of the Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS), which contained a range of exhibits from prehistoric fossils and historic weapons to Cuban art and African artifacts. Located on a low-lying plot about three feet lower than the rest of the museum campus, the 22,416-square-foot wing gradually filled with three to four inches of flood water.

According to Jenelle Codianne, the museum’s director of marketing and public relations, there was damage to the floors, walls, interior walls, electrical, doors and office furniture. No collections were lost, but several exhibits were damaged including the Center for Florida History, which displayed the museum’s giant ground sloth skeleton. It took several days to disassemble, but the prehistoric skeleton was moved to another wing and avoided water damage. Meanwhile, museum employees were busy moving artworks into other galleries.

As one of Daytona Beach’s leading cultural institutions, it was imperative the wing be rebuilt. But museum authorities were adamant that reconstruction should eliminate the potential for future flooding.

In order to fund the reconstruction, MOAS applied for a Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and financial aid from the Volusia County Environmental, Cultural, Historic and Outdoors (ECHO) Program. The FMA program is one of the Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) programs funded by FEMA and managed by the State of Florida.

The FEMA grant provided more than $4 million of the $5.4 million reconstruction price, with an additional $1.3 million coming from local sources including an ECHO grant and the museum’s own funding. The Orlando office of global architects VOA Associates Inc. won the competition to design the new structure, while locally based Hall Construction handled the fabrication.

After demolishing the flood-damaged structure, construction began on its replacement – on the same footprint but slightly larger than the previous building. The new wing was built on a concrete spread foundation with concrete masonry stem walls backfilled with earth and overlaid with a concrete slab. The floors of the new wing were elevated 2.5 feet above the old level and 2.2 feet above Base Flood Elevation – or roughly six inches above the maximum water level of the 2009 flood.

Unveiled in October of 2015, the new West Wing is a state-of-the-art museum space that features five exhibit galleries as well as a planetarium. In addition to being a huge success with the press and public, the resurrected building also passed its first weather test with flying colors.

“Happy to report NO FLOODING!” Stephanie Mason-Teague, the museum’s director of development, declared via email the week after Hurricane Matthew stormed up Florida’s Atlantic coast. The new West Wing held up perfectly to Hurricane Matthew. Water didn’t even get close to the building, let alone enter it. The mitigation measures incorporated at the time of the rebuilding did the job of preventing repetitive flood loss.

“We had a lot of tree debris,” Mason-Teague added, “and were without power, phones, internet.” But that was the extent of the hurricane’s impact. The museum was able to get back online, clean up the tree debris and open its doors to the public again within a week of Matthew striking Daytona Beach.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery visit fema.gov/disaster/4280, fema.gov/disaster/4283, twitter.com/femaregion4, facebook.com/FEMA, and fema.gov/blog, floridadisaster.org or #FLRecovers. For imagery, video, graphics and releases, see fema.gov/Hurricane-Matthew.

For more information on FMA/HMA programs, visit Floridadisaster.org or www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-assistance.

View original article:

Best Practice: Daytona Beach Museum of Arts & Sciences

Local employees wanted for disaster recovery jobs

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia residents looking for temporary work following the June 22-29 severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides have an opportunity to learn firsthand about the recovery process. Workforce West Virginia, in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is advertising open temporary positions in Kanawha, Greenbrier and Raleigh counties.

Interested applicants can visit the Workforce West Virginia website at http://workforcewv.org/. To find the available jobs, click on Job Seekers, then Find A Job, then complete the enrollment form.

The following positions are currently being advertised:

Environmental Specialist
Historic Preservation Specialist
Environmental Floodplain Specialist
Administrative Assistants
Training Specialist/Instructor
Voluntary Agency Liaison (Kanawha)
Voluntary Agency Liaison (Greenbrier)
Housing Support Specialist
Logistics Specialist (Beaver)
Logistics Specialist (Belle)
Mitigation Writer-Editor Specialist
Mitigation Community Planner
Administrative/Planning Specialist
GIS Specialist
External Affairs Writer
Public Assistance Debris Monitor

More positions may be posted on the website as disaster recovery continues.

Candidates must be U.S. citizens 18 years of age or older. They must have a valid government identification card, such as a driver’s license or military ID. Before hiring, selected candidates will be subject to a complete background investigation.

FEMA is committed to employing a highly qualified workforce that reflects the diversity of our nation. The federal government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, political affiliation, non-disqualifying physical handicap, sexual orientation and any other non-merit factor.

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/femaregion3, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA, fema.gov/blog and the flood information pages at http://wvflood.com/Pages/default.aspx.

Original link:

Local employees wanted for disaster recovery jobs

Local Employees Wanted for Jobs in Louisiana Disaster Recovery from March Floods

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana residents looking for temporary work following the March severe storms and flooding have an opportunity to learn firsthand about the recovery process. The Louisiana Workforce Commission, in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is advertising open positions at the disaster recovery offices in Baton Rouge, Pineville (Rapides Parish) and West Monroe (Ouachita Parish). These are temporary, full-time jobs.

Interested applicants can visit the Louisiana Workforce Commission – Helping Individuals Reach Employment (HiRE) website at laworks.net. To find the available jobs, click on HiRE, then Additional Search Options under Job Seeker Services. Under Job Search by Employer, enter Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The following positions are currently advertised:

Administrative Support Assistant
Community Education and Outreach Specialist
Courier
Data Integration Specialist
Digital Communications Specialist
Environmental Specialist
External Affairs Program Liaison Specialist
Geospatial Information System (GIS) Specialist
Hazard Mitigation Floodplain Management Specialist
Hazard Mitigation Insurance Specialist
Historic Preservation Specialist
Human Resources Assistant
Media Analysis Specialist
Receptionist/Switchboard Operator
Research & Writing Specialist
Training Specialist
Travel Specialist
Voluntary Agency Liaison

More positions may be posted on the HIRE website as disaster recovery continues.

Visit fema.gov/disaster/4263 and gohsep.la.gov/ for news and information about Louisiana’s recovery.

###

We urge everyone to continue to use caution in areas where floodwaters remain. Monitor DOTD’s 511la.org website for updated road closure information. Look for advisories from your local authorities and emergency managers. You can find the latest information on the state’s response at emergency.la.gov. GOHSEP also provides information at gohsep.la.gov, Facebook and Twitter. You can receive emergency alerts on most smartphones and tablets by downloading the new Alert FM App. It is free for basic service. You can also download the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide and find other information at getagameplan.org.

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 are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability 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 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 us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at blog.fema.gov.

Originally posted here:

Local Employees Wanted for Jobs in Louisiana Disaster Recovery from March Floods

FEMA Helps Mississippi Preserve Important Architectural Properties

BILOXI, Miss. — As part of an innovative agreement between federal, state, local and tribal officials, 29 historic properties lost during Katrina have been commemorated with cast aluminum markers.

“We thought it especially important to have sketches of the destroyed buildings on the markers,” said Kenneth P’Pool, deputy state historic preservation officer of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. “It gives people an appreciation of what was lost. Some of these illustrations are the last examples of architectural styles on the Coast.”

The wooden Church of the Redeemer was a prime example of the Carpenter Gothic style. The engraving of a bell tower in front of it depicts one from a newer church built in 1891. The bell tower was the only part of that structure to survive Hurricane Camille in 1969.

It is a challenge for communities to protect historic properties during and after a disaster. They need to protect the health and safety of citizens – for example, by removing large amounts of disaster debris in a timely manner – while preserving the integrity of a historic site.

The National Historic Preservation Act requires federal agencies to consider the effects their projects may have on historic properties. The agencies must review background information and consult with the State Historic Preservation Officer, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer and other knowledgeable sources. In many cases, further surveys and studies are needed to make a final determination on how or if to proceed. The review process can take several weeks—even months, which may not be in the interest of public safety.

To expedite removal of massive amounts of debris after Hurricane Katrina for public health and safety, FEMA entered into an agreement with several agencies to streamline the process. Partners included the Mississippi State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO); Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI); Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).

Using GPS data, FEMA’s Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation program surveyed historic districts, properties and archaeological sites in the lower Mississippi counties most affected by Katrina and created a database that will help emergency management officials in future disasters.

They also updated listings for the National Register of Historic Places, and found 58 archaeological sites that had not previously been identified.

“So much damage was done by Katrina that there was a great need to clean up the debris, but little time to enter into the proper consultation required by the National Historic Preservation Act,” said P’Pool.

“We now have a much better handle on the numbers, locations and types of historic properties and

where they’re distributed around the Gulf Coast. Having that knowledge provides us with an opportunity to make a much more rapid response in assessing damage to specific historic properties in the future.”

“It’s very rewarding to be part of an agreement that can be used as a model for other states,” said Cyril Baxter Mann, deputy environmental liaison officer for FEMA’s Historic Preservation program.

For its work after Katrina, FEMA received the Chairman’s Award for Federal Achievement from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, in coordination with SHPO and other partners, for its innovative effort in creating the digitized database of historic properties.

In addition, for the Katrina recovery, FEMA’s EHP program reviewed more than 17,000 recovery projects for potential environmental and historic preservation issues. It also reviewed more than 13,000 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program applications for placement of in-ground shelters.

For more information on this agreement and FEMA archaeological specialists at work: view this video.

###

From:

FEMA Helps Mississippi Preserve Important Architectural Properties

Mississippi Hurricane Katrina: A Decade of Progress through Partnerships

BILOXI, Miss. — It’s been nearly ten years since Hurricane Katrina left widespread destruction along the Mississippi Coast. In the storm’s path, more than 234,000 homes were damaged or destroyed and more than one million people, a third of Mississippi’s population, were affected.

During the ten-years of recovery, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have collaborated with local governments and communities statewide to ensure that Mississippi rebuilds stronger and safer.

“FEMA was there to assist the state of Mississippi days before the storm made landfall and this partnership remains strong today,” said Robert Latham, Executive Director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. “They have continued to support with financial and technical assistance to help rebuild Mississippi and make us more resilient.”

The following is a snapshot of FEMA and state assistance provided throughout the state during the last ten years:

Helping individuals and families:

More than $1.3 billion was spent to help individuals and families meet their basic needs and begin to recover. More than 126,000 families received rental assistance – with more than 45,000 families provided with a temporary housing unit.

Rebuilding Mississippi’s Infrastructure:

MEMA administers FEMA’s Public Assistance funds. To date, FEMA has obligated over $3.2 billion – the amount committed to restore schools, public buildings, roads and bridges, medical facilities, parks and other infrastructure and for debris removal and emergency response during and after the storm.

The current water and sewer infrastructure project underway in the City of Biloxi is the largest Public Assistance project in Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina. FEMA obligated over $363 million for this project.

Historic preservation

In an innovative agreement to preserve historic properties after a disaster, FEMA partnered with several agencies to streamline the process required by the National Historic Preservation Act. Under this agreement – called the Secondary Programmatic Agreement – FEMA’s historic and archaeological specialists used GPS data to survey thousands of historic properties, districts and archaeological sites in the lower Mississippi counties most affected by Katrina. This survey is nearly 94 percent complete.

FEMA has worked with the state of Mississippi to safeguard these treasures in our Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation work through extensive environmental/historical assessments and collaborative decisions.

Preparing for future disasters

FEMA has obligated $314 million for Hazard Mitigation in federal funds for safe rooms, shelters, hurricane-proofing and other projects to reduce the effect of future disasters. This is part of the $364 million available to Mississippi for projects to reduce the impact of disasters on people and property. The balance of the remaining funds to be obligated is just over $50 million. To date, $159 million has been obligated for safe rooms across the state. MEMA manages the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program in Mississippi. It identifies projects and manages them from beginning to closeout.

As we reach the ten year mark and the Hurricane Katrina recovery mission is nearly completed, Mississippi’s new and rebuilt infrastructure will be less vulnerable to future storms than in 2005. “Our strong partnership with the state of Mississippi was the key part in making our recovery efforts a reality for Mississippians,” said FEMA Mississippi Recovery Office Acting Director Laura Hill. “FEMA is proud of having worked with Mississippi in our rebuilding efforts to make the state stronger and better prepared.”

# # #

More here:

Mississippi Hurricane Katrina: A Decade of Progress through Partnerships

New Orleans’ Edgewood Park Named to National Register of Historic Places

DENTON, Texas — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in partnership with the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) are pleased to announce the new listing of New Orleans’ Edgewood Park Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places. The listing, approved by the National Park Service in late September, marks a major milestone for the community and those involved in the nomination process.

Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, FEMA surveyed the city of New Orleans to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act which requires FEMA to consider the effects of its program grants on historic properties.

During the process, FEMA collaborated with community members, preservation organizations and the State Historic Preservation Officer to document the richness and cultural heritage of the city. In doing so, it became clear that many neighborhoods and districts might be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. In order to be considered, a property’s significance and integrity are reviewed and evaluated.

During the survey, FEMA identified Edgewood Park as a notable historic neighborhood that clearly met many of the eligibility requirements for consideration. The Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) requested that FEMA officially nominate Edgewood Park to the National Register as one of the mitigation measures specified in the Hazard Mitigation Programmatic Agreement as a public benefit to the neighborhood, the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana.

FEMA conducted extensive research and documentation over several years utilizing a team of historic preservation specialists and historic architects. SHPO provided feedback and input and a final nomination document was prepared and submitted in July 2014 to the state’s national Register Review Committee.

Developed in 1909, Edgewood Park appealed to residents due to its streetcar accessibility, bucolic nature, high natural elevation, new drainage systems, cement sidewalks and a short commute to downtown New Orleans.

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, some buildings in the southern end had floodwaters up to the eaves but the neighborhood, now nine years later, has recovered and retained its historical integrity. Today, Edgewood Park features many early to mid-20th century architectural styles.

“Edgewood Park’s official designation on the National Register of Historic Places is first and foremost, honorary, and it is a great privilege to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places,” said Jessica G. Richardson, National Register Coordinator for the Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation. “Additionally, there are benefits associated with listing on the National Register including eligibility for certain Federal and State tax incentives, a Restoration Tax Abatement Program, and the ability to apply for grants when they are available,” continued Richardson. “Edgewood Park’s listing on the National Register does not restrict the use of a property.”

FEMA continues to collaborate with local and state officials, community members and preservations groups to ensure that all revitalization projects comply with federal and state laws by exploring ways to avoid, minimize and offset any negative effects to properties listed on the National Register.

For more information on this district and the wealth of historic resources in the State of Louisiana, visit SHPO’s website at http://www.crt.state.la.us/cultural-development/historic-preservation/index. or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Louisiana-Office-of-Cultural-Development/….

You can follow FEMA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources. For more information, visit http://www.nps.gov/nr/.

Originally from:

New Orleans’ Edgewood Park Named to National Register of Historic Places

Hurricane Sandy Recovery Resources For Homeowners

LINCROFT, N.J. — The impending arrival of spring will give homeowners with properties affected by Hurricane Sandy time and opportunity to make repairs and begin mitigation projects. The Federal Emergency Management Agency continues to offer assistance programs designed to provide information and financial help to homeowners and renters.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) includes Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) Coverage, which will pay for flood proofing (commercial or historical properties), relocation, elevation, demolition or a combination of those mentioned. If a homeowner has a NFIP insurance policy and the home is in a designated Special Flood Hazard Area, the community has declared the home substantially damaged, or a repetitive loss provision is in their locally adopted flood plain ordinance, the ICC will pay up to $30,000 but will not exceed the federal cap of the NFIP policy. Additionally, a homeowner should consult with the local Floodplain Manager to see if the locally adopted ordinance includes cumulative improvements and/or cumulative loss provisions.

FEMA also has Hazard Mitigation Assistance Programs to reduce future damages. They are:

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) is available after a federal disaster declaration has been made. This program is designed to mitigate future damages caused by natural disasters affecting communities, people and property.
The Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program provides funds to governmental entities for hazard mitigation planning and projects prior to a disaster event to reduce reliance on funding from actual disaster declarations. PDM grants are to be awarded on a competitive basis.
The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program is designed to reduce or eliminate claims under the NFIP.

Homeowners do not apply directly for this aid; that is handled by the municipalities, who apply through the HMGP, FMA and PDM programs.

Survivors receiving rental assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development can call 732-345-3771. Homeowners with Federal Housing Administration mortgages can call 800-CALL-FHA (225-5342) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The New Jersey Housing Resource Center also offers information on accessible and affordable housing. Visit www.nj.gov/njhrc or call 1-877-428-8844.

For help finding additional financial assistance, homeowners can contact the FEMA Region II Office at 26 Federal Plaza, Suite 1337, New York, NY, 10278-0002; or by calling 212-680-3600.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is the state coordinator for NFIP, and the Historic Preservation Office of the DEP runs the State Hazard Mitigation Office. Contact both at 401 East State Street, P.O. Box 419, Trenton, NJ, 08625; call 609-984-0859; fax 609-984-1908; or visit the NJDEP website at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/.

Homeowners performing renovations, reconstructions or elevations and seeking technical assistance can call the FEMA Building Science Helpline at 866-927-2104 or email FEMA-buildingsciencehelp@dhs.gov.

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

Source:

Hurricane Sandy Recovery Resources For Homeowners

Commuting Cost Assistance Available For Eligible SR530 Slide Survivors

EVERETT, Wash. – Commuting cost assistance is now available to eligible survivors of the March 22, 2014 SR530 Slide who are faced with long detours around the closed roadway between Arlington/Oso and Darrington.

As a result of the slide, SR530 remains impassible and the use of alternate routes has significantly increased the residents’ commuting distance and cost.

FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program’s ‘Other Needs Assistance (ONA)’ provision will help with the increased cost of commuting. Applicants whose essential commute required travel on SR530 and who are now traveling more than 25 miles one way around the closed portion of SR530, may be eligible. Essential trips include recurring travel for work, school, or recurring medical appointments.

“This program is the first-of-its-kind for Washington disaster response,” said Kurt Hardin, state coordinating officer for the SR530 Slide disaster. “We believe it will provide significant aid to Darrington-area residents who face lengthy commutes to job sites as a result of the SR530 Slide. For those eligible for this new program,” he added, “eligibility is back-dated to March 22.”

Applicants are required to meet FEMA’s eligibility criteria in order to be considered for increased commute cost assistance. Self-employed individuals and small business owners incurring additional business costs due to the increased commute should apply to the Small Business Administration for any economic impact or damage their business received as a result of the slide.

To request commute cost assistance, applicants must first be registered with FEMA. Once registered, applicants will receive a Request for Information (RFI) letter asking for names of individuals in the household who have increased commute times; the number of days per week each individual regularly commutes to work, school, or recurring medical appointments; and how many additional miles over 25 one way their daily commute has increased.

This program is one example of continuing disaster partnerships between federal and state agencies. Nonprofit groups and voluntary agencies’ response, in light of this situation, has been tremendous. The American Red Cross has been providing financial assistance to help with transportation, utilities, and other disaster-related needs. Community Transit now operates Route 231, an emergency bus route, between Darrington and Everett until further notice. For more information on this route, visit www.communitytransit.org/darrington.

“We are working closely with local, state and tribal partners to ensure that all survivors receive the assistance for which they are eligible,” according to FEMA’s Individual Assistance Branch Director Christy Grant. “This assistance will help those impacted by this historic event as they continue in recovery.”

Local, tribal, state, and federal partners will continue working together as long-term recovery continues.

View the original here:

Commuting Cost Assistance Available For Eligible SR530 Slide Survivors

Presentation on Potential Historic District in West Pittston, PA

PHILADELPHIA – FEMA’s Environmental and Historic Preservation division and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission is hosting a presentation on the potential West Pittston, PA Historic District, which may be eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

The presentation is open to the public and will be held Thursday, November 14^th, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) at the Trinity Episcopal Church, 220 Montgomery Avenue, West Pittston, PA 18643.

FEMA will present a brief history on West Pittston, the architectural styles that are present throughout the community, and the boundaries of the potential historic district.

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission will explain the process for formally listing the potential historic district in the National Register, pros and cons of listing, as well as potential financial incentives.

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. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion3.

Media Contact: FEMAR3NewsDesk@fema.dhs.gov

Source:

Presentation on Potential Historic District in West Pittston, PA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

###

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

Liberty State Park – A Gift Worth Saving

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

Morristown Library

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

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

Read this article:

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

Page 1 of 2 1 2 »