More than $159 million Obligated for Safe Rooms from Katrina

BILOXI, Miss.– In the last 10 years, FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program has obligated more than $159 million from Hurricane Katrina recovery to build community safe rooms throughout Mississippi to protect people during storms. HMGP provides grants to state, local and tribal governments to implement long-term mitigation measures to reduce the loss of life and property from a disaster.

Safe rooms can be built as multipurpose shelters to protect communities from tornadoes, hurricanes and floods. These community safe rooms are built to FEMA 361 specifications, which include hardening of walls and roofs to withstand 200 mph winds.

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency officials have made the construction of safe rooms a priority since Katrina. A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control found that safe rooms are the best option to reduce the number of deaths during tornadoes.

“We always tell folks to get out of mobile homes and manufactured homes, and to consider going to a more substantial structure to wait out the storm,” said Robert Latham, executive director of MEMA. “By providing a secure place for them to go, we make our communities safer. Citizens need to incorporate safe room locations into their plans, or know where a substantial structure is located.”

“In so many cases, the death toll would be much higher were it not for safe rooms for people to take shelter in,” said Acting Director of FEMA’s Mississippi Recovery Office, Loraine Hill.

To date, 42 public safe rooms have been added to schools; 34 have been built as stand-alone structures for general use, and 9 constructed for first responders. Populations served by these safe rooms include approximately 44,000 students and staff; 28,000 citizens in the general population, and 3,500 first responders.

During the threat of an outbreak of tornadoes in the state earlier this year, 70 residents sought shelter; in a community safe room in Rankin County, built to FEMA 361 standards.  

Another $205 million in HMGP funding was made available to Mississippi for mitigation projects, such as elevating buildings, flood control, sirens, generators and grants to individuals to retrofit areas of their home or build stand-alone safe room units.

For more information on building a public safe room to FEMA 361 specifications, go to http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/3140.

A video on community safe rooms in Mississippi.

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

 

 

 

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More than $159 million Obligated for Safe Rooms from Katrina

FEMA Outlines a Decade of Progress after Hurricane Katrina

WASHINGTON – August 2015 marks the tenth year since the devastating 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season.  According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Hurricane Katrina was one of the strongest storms to impact the coast of the United States, causing widespread devastation and affecting an estimated 90,000 square miles along the central Gulf Coast states. Less than a month later, Hurricane Rita and then Hurricane Wilma in October made landfall compounding an already catastrophic situation.

Ten years into the recovery, FEMA continues to support communities and families, working side-by-side with state, local, and tribal partners to finish the job of rebuilding communities that are the economic engines and lifeblood of the Gulf Coast. To date, FEMA has provided $6.7 billion to more than one million individuals and households.  FEMA provided more than $131 billion to the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida for public works projects in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to assist with recovery efforts.  

“Today, FEMA has the authority necessary to lean forward and leverage the entire emergency management team in response and recovery efforts,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.  “This team includes not only government but also the private sector, non-profits, and citizens themselves.  We support survivors and this holistic approach emphasizes the importance of working as a team to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.”

Since 2005, FEMA has significantly improved its ability to assist communities in responding to and recovering from disasters. With the support of Congress, FEMA was provided additional authorities and tools to become a more effective and efficient agency, one that is focused on putting survivors first.  Specifically, the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA) of 2006, gave FEMA clear guidance on its mission and priorities, and provided the legislative authorities needed to better partner with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments before, during, and after disasters.  These improvements include:

  • Improved ability to provide support to states and tribes ahead of a disaster. Since 2005, FEMA gained statutory authority to surge resources to states, tribes, and territories ahead of a disaster should the capacity of states, tribes or territories become overwhelmed.  This authority expedites FEMA’s ability to respond to disasters if and when a state, tribe or territory requests support and a disaster is declared by the President. 
  • Development of a National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF). PKEMRA required FEMA, along with its partners, to develop a national disaster recovery strategy to guide recovery efforts after major disasters and emergencies. The NDRF clearly defines coordination structures, leadership roles and responsibilities, and guidance for federal agencies, state, local, territorial, and tribal governments, and other partners involved in disaster planning and recovery.
  • Establishment of Incident Management Assistance Teams.  These full time, rapid response teams are able to deploy within two hours and arrive at an incident within 12 hours to support the local incident commander. The teams support the initial establishment of a unified command and provide situational awareness for federal and state decision makers crucial to determining the level and type of immediate federal support that may be required.
  • Improved Search and Rescue capability.  Since 2005, FEMA has better integrated search and rescue assets from across diverse Federal agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of the Interior. 
  • Establish the Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Working Groups (RECCWGs) to serve as the primary focal points for interoperable communications coordination among federal, state, local, tribal and territorial emergency responders. The statute charges these RECCWGs with coordinating effective multi-jurisdictional and multi-agency emergency communications networks for use during disasters and emergencies.
  • Enhanced partnerships with the private sector. As part of this effort, FEMA established the National Business Emergency Operations Center that serves as a clearinghouse for two-way information sharing between public and private sector stakeholders in preparing for, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating disasters.
  • Support for the inclusion of people with access and functional needs. The Office of Disability Integration and Coordination was established to provide technical assistance and guidance for a wide range of emergency management activities, including equal access to emergency programs and services and meeting the access and functional needs of the whole community. This includes: preparedness, exercises, emergency alerting, accessible transportation and shelter accessibility guidance, assistive technology devices for accessible communication, accessible housing and grant guidance to states for accessibility, and partnership and stakeholder outreach.

For more information on FEMA’s continued work to support communities and families along the Gulf Coast, visit our Hurricane Katrina: A Decade of Progress through Partnerships website.

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

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

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

View original article – 

FEMA Outlines a Decade of Progress after Hurricane Katrina

FEMA, New York State & New York City Sign Off on 78 Hurricane Sandy Public Assistance Recovery Agreements

Agreements Total $9.9 Billion in Recovery Funding Since 2013; Funding Provided Under New Public Assistance Pilot Program

NEW YORK – Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, New York State, and New York City announced they have reached final agreements for 78 Public Assistance projects in New York City and Long Island since 2013. The agreements, known as Letters of Undertaking (LOUs), support repair and restoration work totaling $9.9 billion. This includes 33 LOUs for the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) which support $2.9 billion of work at more than 250 buildings.

The funding for these projects was made possible by FEMA’s Public Assistance Alternative Procedures Pilot Program for Permanent Work (Section 428) – a new authority provided by the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013. The pilot program allows FEMA to improve the delivery of public assistance funds by providing financial incentives for timely and cost effective completion of projects. The pilot program also provides FEMA with increased flexibility in the administration of public assistance while streamlining support to state, local, tribal governments or nonprofit groups.

“These agreements are a major step forward in helping our region recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy,” said Region II Administrator, Jerome Hatfield. “This new authority has improved FEMA’s ability to support our state, local and tribal partners as we work together to not only help New York recover from this disaster but also build back safer and stronger than ever before. Our working relationship with New York State and New York City has been invaluable.”

“The vital support provided to New York City through the 428 program is allowing us to rebuild stronger and more resiliently across the five boroughs — from our public housing and hospitals to our boardwalks and open spaces,” said Bill Goldstein, Senior Advisor to Mayor de Blasio for Recovery, Resiliency, and Infrastructure. “The flexibility provided by the program has been a huge help to the City and the New Yorkers who rely on this critical infrastructure. Thank you to FEMA for their continued partnership.”

Some key highlights:

·         The 78 LOUs represent an estimated $9.9 billion, with an anticipated $8.9 billion in federal share funding. To date, FEMA has obligated $5.7 billion of its federal share.

·         Of the 78 LOUs, 63 represent New York City projects for an estimated $5.9 billion with an anticipated $5.3 billion federal share funding. To date, FEMA has obligated $2.2 billion of the federal share for these NYC projects.

·         33 LOUs pertain to New York City Housing Authority developments and represent an estimated $2.9 billion with an anticipated $2.6 billion in federal share funding. To date, FEMA has obligated $10.2 million of the federal share.

A significant portion of eligible FEMA funding for NYCHA projects will be applied toward mitigation measures to help disaster-damaged buildings better withstand future disasters, including dry flood-proofing of structures and certain utilities, elevating equipment and providing backup power generators to certain damaged facilities.

Traditionally, Public Assistance funding is provided based on estimates and reimbursed at actual cost of completed projects. Under the Alternative Procedures Pilot Program for Permanent Work, eligible applicants may request this fixed cap grant funding for repair, restoration, reconstruction, or replacement of the disaster-damaged facility.  The grant amount is capped once FEMA, the State and the applicant agree on the damage, scope of work and estimated cost. Work must be finished within the established time period, including approved time extensions, and managed by the applicant to ensure it is completed for the capped amount.  Additional funding is not available if an applicant spends more than the fixed estimate. If the completed project is finished for less than the capped amount, the applicant may use the excess funds for other eligible Public Assistance projects.

The Alternative Procedures Pilot Program for Permanent Work is just one of several Public Assistance initiatives authorized by the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act; more information can be found at FEMA.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.

 

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Originally from – 

FEMA, New York State & New York City Sign Off on 78 Hurricane Sandy Public Assistance Recovery Agreements

FEMA Reminds Residents to be Ready for the 2015 Hurricane Season

WASHINGTON – Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urges residents across the nation to prepare for the 2015 Atlantic Hurricane season, which begins today and runs through November 30. 

Hurricanes and tropical systems can cause serious damage on both coastal and inland areas. Their hazards can come in many forms including: storm surge, heavy rainfall, inland flooding, high winds, and tornadoes. To prepare for these powerful storms, FEMA is encouraging families, businesses, and individuals to be aware of their risks; know your sources of reliable information; prepare your home and workplace; and be familiar with evacuation routes.

“One hurricane hitting where you live is enough to significantly disrupt your life and make for a very bad hurricane season,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “Every person has a role to play in being prepared – you should know if you live or work in an evacuation zone and take time now to learn that route so you’re prepared to protect yourself and your family from disaster.”

This year, FEMA is placing an emphasis on preparing communities to understand the importance of evacuations, which are more common than many people realize. When community evacuations become necessary, local officials provide information to the public through the media. In some circumstances, other warning methods, such as, text alerts, emails, or telephone calls are used. Information on evacuation routes and places to stay is available at www.ready.gov/evacuating-yourself-and-your-family.

Additionally, knowing and practicing what to do in an emergency, in advance of the event, can make a difference in the ability to take immediate and informed action, and enable you to recover more quickly. To help communities prepare and enhance preparedness efforts nationwide, FEMA is offering two new products.

  • FEMA launched a new feature to its App, available for free in the App Store for Apple devices and Google Play for Android devices. The new feature enables users to receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations anywhere in the United States, including U.S. territories, even if the mobile device is not located in the weather alert area. The app also provides information on what to do before, during, and after a disaster in both English and Spanish.
  • The Ready campaign and America’s PrepareAthon! developed a social media toolkit that you can download and share with others at www.ready.gov/ready2015. The kit contains information on actions communities can take to practice getting ready for disasters.

While much attention is often given to the Atlantic Hurricane Season, there are tropical systems that can affect other U.S. interests as well. The Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season runs from May 15 through November 30. The Central Pacific Hurricane Season runs from May 15 to November 30. To learn more about each hurricane season and the geographical areas they may affect, visit www.noaa.gov.

Additional tips and resources:

  • Learn how to prepare for hurricane season at www.ready.gov/hurricanes
  • Talk with your family today about how you will communicate with each other during a significant weather event when you may not be together or during an evacuation order. Download the family communications at www.ready.gov/family-communications.
  • For information on how to create an emergency supply kit, visit www.ready.gov/build-a-kit
  • Consider how you will care for pets during an evacuation by visiting www.ready.gov/caring-animals
  • Use the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) to identify your important documents, medical records, and household contracts. When completing the kit, be sure to include pictures or a video of your home and your belongings and keep all of your documents in a safe space. The EFFAK is a joint publication from Operation Hope and FEMA. Download a copy at www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness.
  • If you own or manage a business, visit www.ready.gov/business for specific resources on response and continuity planning.
  • The National Weather Service proactively sends free Wireless Emergency Alerts, or WEAs, to most cell phones for hurricanes, tornadoes, flash flooding and other weather-related warnings. State and local public safety officials may also send WEAs for severe or extreme emergency conditions. If you receive a Wireless Emergency Alert on your cell phone, follow the instructions, take protective action and seek additional information from local media. To determine if your wireless device can receive WEA alerts contact your wireless carrier for more information or visit www.ctia.org/WEA.

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

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

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

 

Continued here:

FEMA Reminds Residents to be Ready for the 2015 Hurricane Season

FEMA Announces Launch of Hurricane Sandy Flood Insurance Claims Review Process

FEMA Officials Encourage Those With Concerns about Hurricane Sandy Flood Insurance Claims to Call 866-337-4262

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) announced the start of Hurricane Sandy flood insurance claims review. The review is part of a broad process to reform NFIP claims and appeals procedures.       

FEMA opened the Hurricane Sandy claims review process and began mailing letters to approximately 142,000 NFIP policyholders, offering them an opportunity to have their claims from Hurricane Sandy reviewed. In the review, policyholders who have not pursued litigation or already received the maximum amount under their policy will have an opportunity to have their files reviewed. FEMA will contact policyholders and explain how to request this review.

“Flood insurance issues arising from Hurricane Sandy are of great concern to FEMA,” said Deputy Associate Administrator for Federal Insurance Brad Kieserman. “We are committed to administering a program that is survivor-centric and helps policyholders recover from flooding in a fair, transparent, and expeditious way. I encourage anyone who suspects they may have been treated unfairly to call 866-337-4262.”

Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States. Between 1980 and 2013, the United States suffered more than $260 billion in flood-related damages. Flood insurance is a vital service that protects communities from the most common and costly disaster we face, and those who purchase insurance must be able to count on it being there when it is needed to help rebuild their lives.

Policyholders who incurred losses from Hurricane Sandy from Oct. 27, 2012, through Nov. 6, 2012, and want their claim reviewed may contact FEMA by:

  • Calling toll-free at 866-337-4262.
  • Email by downloading an application online and submitting it to FEMA-sandyclaimsreview@fema.dhs.gov.
  • Fax by downloading an application online and submitting it to 202-646-7970.
  • For individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability using 711 or VRS, please call 1-866-337-4262.  For individuals using a TTY, please call 800-462-7585.

As FEMA reviews Hurricane Sandy claim files, the agency will also begin overhauling the claims and appeal process and improving the customer experience. FEMA’s goals are excellent customer experience, responsiveness, transparency, low risk of waste, fraud and abuse, and continuous improvement. While settling these legal matters, FEMA is instituting additional oversight of Write Your Own insurance companies to hold them accountable.

FEMA will continue to work closely with Congress and federal, state, local, tribal, and community officials to ensure policyholders are paid every dollar to which they are entitled and to improve the flood insurance program going forward.

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

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

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

 

View original post here: 

FEMA Announces Launch of Hurricane Sandy Flood Insurance Claims Review Process

Next Meeting of National Advisory Council

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be holding the next National Advisory Council (NAC) public meeting in New Orleans, LA from March 4 – 5, 2015.

WHAT:     NAC Meeting

WHERE:     Jackson Barracks
6400 St. Claude Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70117

WHEN:             March 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (CST)
March 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (CST)
 
During the meeting, the NAC will meet with the FEMA Administrator, Deputy Administrator, and leadership to receive program briefings, and it will review the progress and potential recommendations of its three subcommittees:  Preparedness and Protection, Response and Recovery, and Federal Insurance and Mitigation.  

The NAC will also discuss other topics to include:

•    Hurricane Katrina Recovery
•    FEMA Office of Response and Recovery Activities and Updates
•    Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration Activities and Updates
•    America’s PrepareAthon!

Members of the public are invited to provide public comments after each subcommittee report- out and between 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST on Wednesday, March 4, 2015. Directions on how to submit public comments can be found on the NAC webpage.

The NAC was established to ensure effective and ongoing coordination of Federal preparedness, protection, response, recovery, mitigation for natural disasters, acts of terrorism and other man-made disasters.  The NAC advises the FEMA Administrator on all aspects of emergency management and incorporates federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, and non-profit and private sector partners’ input into the development and revision of FEMA policies and strategies.   
For those planning to attend in person and for additional information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, please contact the Office of the NAC by email at FEMA-NAC@fema.dhs.gov.  

More information on the NAC is available at www.fema.gov/national-advisory-council.

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.

Continue at source:

Next Meeting of National Advisory Council

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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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 http://twitter.com/femaregion6, and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.
 

Continue at source:

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

FEMA 2014 Funding for Louisiana Tops $554 Million

DENTON, Texas —The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided more than $554 million in 2014 funding to the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and community partners for disaster recovery, mitigation and preparedness.

“FEMA in partnership with GOHSEP, continues to provide funding to assist communities in recovering from and mitigating against future damage,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “We are committed to helping Louisiana residents strengthen their resilience.”

The $554 million includes more than $4 million from FEMA’s Individual Assistance program, $301 million in Public Assistance dollars for repair and replacement of infrastructure, $225 million in Hazard Mitigation funding, and more than $24 million in Preparedness grants for projects to mitigate damage from future disasters.  

“It is exciting to see the progress made over the past year,” said Kevin Davis, GOHSEP Executive Director. “Our team realizes the importance of working with FEMA in order to help Louisiana citizens recover.”

Some highlights from FEMA’s 2014 federal funding in Louisiana for disasters dating back to 2005 include:
•    The city of New Orleans received more than $79 million for road repairs and American with Disabilities (ADA) ramps for damage incurred after Hurricane Katrina.
•    Plaquemines Parish School Board was funded over $3 million for Phoenix High School repairs to campus facilities damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
•    St. John the Baptist Parish received $26.3 million to fund repairs to five East St. John High School buildings and the Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School following Hurricane Isaac.
•    Jefferson Parish received $2 million for the elevation of 16 homes, severely damaged by previous storms and flooding including Hurricane Gustav.
•    GOHSEP’s statewide generator project was awarded $2.1 million from Hurricane Gustav for the purchase and installation of permanent and portable generators at 19 critical facilities, including Covington, East Baton Rouge, and Jefferson parishes’ fire and police departments, lift stations, and Caddo Parish Child & Family Services.

In addition to providing federal funding, FEMA’s Environmental and Historic Preservation team in partnership with the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office helped to facilitate the new listing of New Orleans’ Edgewood Park Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.

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 http://twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA

Original link – 

FEMA 2014 Funding for Louisiana Tops $554 Million

FIRC, Local Organizations Team Up On Long-Term Recovery Efforts

EATONTOWN, N.J. – The process of recovering from a disaster begins almost as soon as the threat has passed and responders have arrived. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people will need help immediately as well as for the foreseeable future. Non-governmental volunteer groups, churches and faith-based organizations are often among the first to step in and help, but also have limited resources to sustain their presence.

In 13 New Jersey counties affected by Hurricane Sandy, many of these organizations came together to form long-term recovery groups (LTRGs), and Federal Disaster Recovery Coordination (FDRC; regionally referred to as Federal Interagency Regional Coordination) connects these groups to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaisons (VAL) support the LTRGs as they address the unmet needs of individuals that they can help with, in contrast to FIRC’s emphasis on communities as a whole.

While a few groups had come into existence after Hurricane Irene struck in 2011, many LTRGs were formed in the immediate aftermath of Sandy. The VALs assisted in getting some of the groups launched, using the VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) manual and other toolkits to bring representatives together.

There are 14 active groups in New Jersey in 13 counties (Atlantic City has its own group separate from Atlantic County). These long-term recovery groups mainly consist of and represent faith-based and nonprofit organizations that have resources to assist survivors.

“Survivors that are still not back in their homes need things like rental assistance, construction assistance and help filling funding gaps, and members of the LTRGs seek to provide those resources and guidance,” said Susan Zuber, VAL for the New Jersey Sandy Recovery Field Office. She also said that one advantage of having religious organizations involved in the LTRGs is “they can reach up to the national level and potentially get funds and resources.”

Along with investigating the issues communities are facing during recovery, FIRC coordinates information and resources to affected survivors, so they can determine where help is available.

“The LTRG disaster case managers strive to make sure various resources get to the people they know need help, and FIRC helps them ensure that there is no duplication of benefits,” Zuber said. “We assist in being the best stewards possible of limited available funds.”

FIRC VAL Lori Ross says that nearly two years after Sandy struck, the LTRGs are still actively helping survivors with some serious issues.

“New Jersey 211 (the state’s resource hotline) is receiving (an average of) 44 new referrals for help every week,” she said. “The Ocean and Monmouth county groups have started receiving requests for rental assistance” as people who had been renting properties while their homes were repaired or rebuilt are in need of more money to pay their rent and mortgage, she added. Mold in homes that wasn’t dealt with properly initially continues to be an issue.

Not all of the problems survivors are facing are of a physical nature, either.

“We’re also seeing more cases where people are asking for mental and emotional assistance,” Zuber said. “We’re getting requests for clergy and mental health treatment. There’s a real emotional and spiritual care element as it relates to the impact of the storm.”

Ross added that even caregivers and case workers are feeling the pressure of what is now a two-year process. “This (the anniversary) is a very critical time,” she said, noting that requests for this type of aid increased at this time last year as well.

Rebuilding after a disaster the magnitude of Hurricane Sandy takes years. FEMA, the FIRC, and the long-term recovery groups of New Jersey are using coordinated teamwork and resources to help people put their lives back together.

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.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.”

Source article: 

FIRC, Local Organizations Team Up On Long-Term Recovery Efforts

Hurricane Sandy: After Two Years, $6.67 Billion, FEMA Continues N.J. Recovery

EATONTOWN, N.J. – Since Hurricane Sandy made landfall Oct. 29, 2012, FEMA, in partnership with the federal family and state and local governments, has been on the scene helping individuals, government entities and eligible non-profits as New Jersey recovers from the storm’s devastation.

FEMA has funded more than 5,185 Public Assistance projects including repairing and restoring hospitals, schools, waterways, parks, beaches, marinas, water treatment plants and public buildings. A roster of services has been restored, including utilities critical to everyday life. Billions of federal dollars have been expended during the past two years. The numbers below tell the story. In the two years since Hurricane Sandy devastated New Jersey:

                                 $6.67 billion      has been provided to the state of New Jersey for Hurricane Sandy Recovery.

 

                               $422.9 million     has been distributed to help survivors get back on their feet via temporary housing assistance, disaster

                                                           unemployment and other needs assistance.

 

                                   $3.5 billion      has been paid to policyholders for flood claims through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program.

 

                                   $1.5 billion      in Public Assistance funds has been obligated to communities and certain non-profit organizations for debris

                                                            removal, emergency work and permanent work.

 

                              $279.5 million      in grants has been provided for projects to protect damaged facilities against future disasters.

 

                              $123.9 million      in funding for property acquisitions, elevation and planning updates has been paid to New Jersey communities

                                                            through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

 

                               $847.7 million     has been approved by the Small Business Administration for SBA disaster loans to 10,726 individuals and

                                                           1,718 small businesses. 

          

To learn more about FEMA Public Assistance in New Jersey visit: fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit and http://www.state.nj.us/njoem/plan/public-assist.html.  For more information, visit http://www.fema.gov/sandy-recovery-office or the New Jersey Sandy Recovery website at http://www.fema.gov/new-jersey-sandy-recovery-0

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.

Original post: 

Hurricane Sandy: After Two Years, $6.67 Billion, FEMA Continues N.J. Recovery

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