irene - femacontract.com

FEMA Sends $33 Million To State For Repairs At Waterbury State Office Complex

Agency Also Sends $5.3 Million For Vermont’s Irene-Related Administrative Costs

WILLISTON, Vt. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has put $33 million into the state’s coffers to repair damage at the Waterbury State Office Complex caused by flooding from Tropical Storm Irene.

Roughly $33 million of Public Assistance funding represents FEMA’s 90 percent reimbursement of a total eligible cost to the State of $36.3 million to perform work on approximately 40 buildings and tunnels at the Waterbury State Office Complex.

“This is not a case of saying ‘The check is in the mail,’” said Federal Coordinating Officer Mark Landry, the head of FEMA’s operations in Vermont. “The money is in the bank.”

FEMA and the state announced in late August that of the estimated $225 million total price tag for the cleanup, renovation and new construction associated with the Waterbury State Office Complex and Vermont State Hospital, more than $66 million in costs will be eligible for FEMA Public Assistance reimbursement.

“Getting this money so quickly is terrific news for the state,” said Administration Secretary Jeb Spaulding. “This means that we can draw down these funds immediately to pay for the work being done in Waterbury.”

The $33 million of Public Assistance funding represents the bulk of outstanding funds for the Waterbury State Office Complex and Vermont State Hospital projects.

In addition, FEMA sent the state approximately $5.3 million to cover administrative and grant management expenses related to Vermont’s recovery from Tropical Storm Irene.

###

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders and 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.

See original article here –

FEMA Sends $33 Million To State For Repairs At Waterbury State Office Complex

FEMA Extends Case Management Program For Irene Survivors

WILLISTON, Vt. – The program that funneled federal funds through a statewide network of community action groups to help struggling Vermonters recover from Tropical Storm Irene will be extended past the two-year anniversary of the storm.

Officials with the state and Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today that the deadline for using the last of a $2.8 million Disaster Case Management Program grant will be moved from August 31 to November 30.

“The Disaster Case Management Program has proven itself successful in helping Vermonters who are still experiencing difficulties relating to Irene,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Mark Landry, the head of FEMA’s Vermont operations. “It only makes sense to continue doing what’s working.”

“Case management is an important part of helping individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency,” Vermont State Coordinating Officer Ross Nagy said. “It’s an opportunity to focus on all aspects of recovery for these survivors, and continuing the case management process allows the program to maximize the use of available resources at no additional cost.”

Through the program, case managers will assist disaster survivors with developing a goal-oriented plan for their recovery, match survivors’ essential needs to available resources in the area, monitor their progress toward reaching recovery goals and, when necessary, offer survivor advocacy. Services are available to any survivor with disaster-caused unmet needs.

To learn more or access services, call 2-1-1 or contact your local Long Term Recovery Committee. A list of Long Term Recovery Committees is available at http://www.vermontdisasterrecovery.com/

###

View original article:

FEMA Extends Case Management Program For Irene Survivors

FEMA Extends Deadline For Irene-Related Mitigation Grants

ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. – The state and Vermont municipalities and non-profits seeking federal grants for projects to make their communities more resilient in future disasters will have more time to apply for these funds.

Officials with the state and Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today that the deadline for submitting Hazard Mitigation Grant Program applications related to Tropical Storm Irene to FEMA has been extended to September 1, 2013. The state will establish its own deadlines for municipalities and other eligible applicants in order to meet FEMA’s deadline.

The HMGP program provides grant funds in addition to the disaster aid given to individuals and state or local governments after a federally-declared disaster for projects designed to reduce the risks to life and property in future disasters.

“This is an important deadline extension,” said Dave Rapaport, Vermont’s Irene Recovery Officer. “The huge size of this disaster means that we’re receiving more funding through this program than we’ve had the capacity to use before time ran out. The additional time will mean that we’ll be able to avoid leaving money on the table and formulate more eligible projects to prevent damage from future storms.”

The amount of money available is a percentage – 15 percent – of the total disaster aid provided by FEMA, and the program is administered by the Vermont Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Only state, municipal, or tribal governments and certain non-profits can apply and are responsible for a 25-percent match.

Projects can include flood-proofing structures or making them resistant to hurricanes or tornadoes, or buying out flood-prone properties as Vermont has chosen to do.

“FEMA has already obligated about $13 million in HMGP funds to Vermont, and there could be as much as $21 million more coming,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Mark Landry, the head of FEMA’s Vermont operations.

FEMA had already granted Vermont two extensions of three months each from the normal one-year deadline, Landry said, and utilized a little-known provision of the Stafford Act – the law named after former Vermont Senator Robert Stafford that helped create FEMA – to give the state another six months.

An HMGP application can be downloaded from DEMHS’s website at http://vem.vermont.gov/mitigation, or interested parties may contact the State Hazard Mitigation Officer, Ray Doherty, at 800-347-0488 or ray.doherty@state.vt.us for an application or assistance in applying for funds. He will be providing additional detailed guidance for applicants shortly.

HMGP funds are awarded on a competitive basis and all applications are reviewed and selected by the state mitigation project selection committee, then subject to approval by FEMA.

Continue reading:

FEMA Extends Deadline For Irene-Related Mitigation Grants

One Year After Tropical Storm Irene, FEMA, State and Locals Continue to Support Recovery of Vermont’s Covered Bridges

ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. – One year after Tropical Storm Irene, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the State of Vermont and local communities continue to support recovery of Vermont’s Irene-battered covered bridges.

“The devastation to so many of Vermont’s covered bridges, which are such important remnants of the past, is heart-wrenching,” said FEMA Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer Steve Ward. “FEMA is honored to be involved in the process of restoring eligible covered bridges to as close to their pre-storm conditions as possible.”

FEMA will cover 90 percent of eligible recovery costs for qualifying bridge projects. Under the federal Public Assistance cost-share program, storm-impacted towns will fund five percent of the nonfederal share of recovery costs; as part of Vermont’s Emergency Relief and Assistance Fund, the state of Vermont will contribute five percent.

After nearly one year since Irene, some of Vermont’s storm-ravaged portals to the past have reopened, and many are scheduled to reopen.

Bowers Bridge, Brownsville

On Saturday, August 4, a celebratory crowd gathered at Bible Hill Road on Mill Brook in West Windsor. The group watched as a reconstructed Bowers Bridge, a beloved local relic, reclaimed the spot it had occupied for 92 years before Tropical Storm Irene.

During the storm, Irene-powered flood waters thrashed hay bales against the wall of the single-lane timber truss bridge, uprooting it from its historical location and washing it about 150 yards downstream to where it came to rest in a field. Rushing water eroded the south abutment of the bridge, including the foundation base.

Built 45-feet-long in 1919, Bowers Bridge is an example of English engineering known as tied arch construction. The technique involves butting two low, wooden arches, one on either side of the bridge. Steel rods drilled through the arches support the bridge’s roadbed.

To view a FEMA video about the Bowers Bridge, visit: http://home.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/7006.

Brown Covered Bridge, Shrewsbury

Irene caused a high velocity flow of the Cold River in Shrewsbury, where the Brown Covered Bridge had carried Upper Cold River Road traffic over the river since 1880. River overflow caused extreme erosion to the bridge’s 131-year old cedar plank siding.

A FEMA video titled “It is Our Bridge” tells the bridge’s story, including first-hand accounts from residents like Shrewsbury’s Department of Emergency Management Director Irene Gordon.

“I was impressed with the background and knowledge of the FEMA people that came here,” Gordon said. “The engineer was quite knowledgeable and very thorough in her investigation. She made sure she saw everything that needed to be seen – even crawling under the bridge to make sure she knew what the abutments were, what different materials would be needed and what needed to be done to restore the bridge to its pre-storm condition.”

To view “It is Our Bridge,” visit: http://twzr.info/medialibrary/media_records/7486.

Bartonsville Bridge, Rockingham

Reconstruction of Bartonsville Bridge is expected to continue into November. Fast flood waters of the Williams River during Tropical Storm Irene clobbered the Bartonsville Bridge, which was once one of the world’s oldest and longest.

The lattice-style bridge was built 15-feet-wide and 157-feet-long in 1870 to carry Pleasant Valley Road over the Williams River. It was one of the longest town lattice-style covered bridges in Vermont before Tropical Storm Irene.

To raise funds to help cover some of the recovery costs, the town of Rockingham will host a barbecue at the site where Bartonsville Bridge stood before Irene. The event, which will be held on August 28, will also mark the one-year anniversary of the storm.

To learn more about the Bartonsville Bridge fundraiser and other Tropical Storm Irene anniversary events, visit: http://www.vermontdisasterrecovery.com/events/ireneanniversary.

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

###

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/fema, 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.

Visit source:

One Year After Tropical Storm Irene, FEMA, State and Locals Continue to Support Recovery of Vermont’s Covered Bridges

Time Running Out to Bid on FEMA Housing Units Now Up For Auction

Release Date: June 18, 2012
Release Number: 4031-110

» More Information on New York Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee
» More Information on New York Hurricane Irene

ALBANY, N.Y. — Time is running out for interested members of the public to bid on the current round of excess Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) manufactured housing units now up for auction on a U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) website.

Twenty five used housing units that have been deactivated by FEMA and turned over to GSA for disposal are currently up for auction at www.GSAauctions.gov. All the units for sale in New York State are located at a staging area in Cobleskill, Schoharie County, and can be viewed by prospective bidders by appointment. The last day to place bids is Wednesday, June 20^th.

FEMA brought the units to New York State to help with unmet housing needs in the wake of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. The used models up for auction have all been inspected, but they are no longer intended for residential use. Suggested uses include hunting or fishing camps, tool sheds, workshops or storage buildings.

The 25 “Park Model” units being offered are the smaller of two styles of manufactured housing units employed by FEMA. Under the GSA process, excess federal property like these used trailer models are first offered to other federal agencies, then state and local government agencies. Auctioning off the remaining used models allows the federal government to recover much of the cost of the units.

To make an appointment to see the units now up for auction, call 518-234-4825. The units cannot be viewed without an appointment.

Although the current auction of Park Models ends June 20, another round of THU auctions is expected in August, FEMA officials said.

Last Modified: Monday, 18-Jun-2012 16:22:51

Original post:

Time Running Out to Bid on FEMA Housing Units Now Up For Auction

FDNY and National Guard to Receive FEMA Funding

Release Date: June 13, 2012
Release Number: 4031-108

» More Information on New York Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee
» More Information on New York Hurricane Irene

ALBANY, N.Y. — The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced over $4.6 million in additional Federal grant funding to the State of New York for expenses associated with the State’s recovery from Hurricane Irene. This recent funding was granted to the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) and New York State National Guard.

FEMA approved $2,353,702 for costs incurred by the FDNY during its response to Irene. FEMA also approved $2,249,804 for costs incurred by the National Guard during its response to Irene. This Federal funding represents 75 percent of the total cost of the projects.

“FEMA is pleased to approve these important projects in support of New York State’s recovery from Hurricane Irene,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Philip E. Parr.

In the wake of Irene, the FDNY took emergency protective measures to ensure public safety, including responding to emergency callouts, re-routing traffic, barricading due to downed trees and power lines and assisting other New York City agencies with opening roadways for emergency response. FDNY also incurred expenses for sandbagging, sump pumps to combat flooding, electrical parts for generators and actively engaging in pre-storm assistance for evacuations. During the storm, the FDNY responded to all hurricane-related emergencies via both Fire and EMS personnel. This project captures the eligible costs for overtime labor, equipment and materials for emergency protective measures performed for Kings County.

FEMA also approved an application by the New York State National Guard for reimbursement for overtime, meals, rented equipment, fuel, water supplies and meals for rescued persons during the Guard’s response to Irene. The project’s cost totaled $2,999,739, and FEMA recently approved $2,249,804 in reimbursement to the Guard for the extraordinary costs they incurred during its response to Irene.

Last Modified: Thursday, 14-Jun-2012 09:33:53

Excerpt from:

FDNY and National Guard to Receive FEMA Funding

FEMA Approves $1.1 Million for Commonwealth Property Acquisitions

Release Date: May 16, 2012
Release Number: 4025-140

» More Information on Pennsylvania Tropical Storm Lee
» More Information on Pennsylvania Hurricane Irene

HARRISBURG, Pa. — More than $1.1 million in federal funding has been approved for property acquisitions that will permanently remove flood-prone properties from harm’s way. Additional projects will be approved as the application process continues and program requirements met.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the funds were being obligated through its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). Fourteen properties in one Pennsylvania County will be demolished from this program. Property owner participation in the program is voluntary with sponsorship through their local municipality.

A summary of the projects and the federal cost share follows:

Wyoming County: $1,187,000
Tunkhannock Township, 6 properties
Tunkhannock Borough, 5 properties
Meshoppen Township, 3 properties

HMGP funding is made available to encourage states and municipalities to take steps that will reduce the impact of future disasters. The funding represents 15 percent of the total federal cost of the response and recovery. An estimated $66 million is expected to be available to Pennsylvania for the property acquisition program as a result of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.

“Typically, the funding for home buyouts doesn’t become available until at least 18 months after a major disaster declaration, which in this case, would be around March 2013,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Thomas J. McCool, “but after Irene and Lee, it was obvious many homeowners needed a permanent solution to repeated flooding as quickly as possible.”

“Getting to the point when funding is initially obligated typically takes a great deal longer than the eight months it has this time.” said Commonwealth Coordinating Office John Forr. “Buyouts involve not just the homeowners, but local, state, and federal officials as well. Everyone sensed the urgency and did their part.”

Forr said county and municipal officials involved in this effort should be commended for their timely efforts to have hazard mitigation plans approved and adopted, which helped move the process along that much faster.

An application for a buyout is prepared by local officials with input from the community. The state receives and reviews applications to ensure they meet the acquisition requirements prior to submitting them to FEMA for approval. FEMA then reviews the applications to ensure they are eligible under the program, are environmentally sound, and are a cost-effective use of funds.

Once FEMA gives its approval, the acquisition process begins. The communities purchase the homes, the buildings are removed or destroyed, and the land is cleared. The site is then preserved as open space with no permanent structures in perpetuity.

“The process saves taxpayers the continuing costs associated with repetitive flooding,” McCool said, “and it saves homeowners a lot of heartache.”

The project is funded 75 percent by FEMA, with an additional 22 percent from the Commonwealth and the balance from other non-federal sources.

Last Modified: Friday, 18-May-2012 14:25:25

This article –

FEMA Approves $1.1 Million for Commonwealth Property Acquisitions

FEMA Will Give Vermont 90 Percent Funding for Irene Repair Work

Release Date: May 17, 2012
Release Number: 4022-080

» More Information on Vermont Tropical Storm Irene

ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. — The State of Vermont, municipalities, and some non-profit groups will be getting more federal money to reimburse them for costs incurred during Tropical Storm Irene and the subsequent clean up and repairs.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today that President Obama has approved Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin’s request for the federal government to reimburse applicants for 90 percent of the eligible costs to repair or restore infrastructure damaged by Irene instead of the standard 75 percent.

“This announcement marks a major milestone in our recovery from Tropical Storm Irene,” Governor Shumlin said. “It will mean significant savings for municipal budgets across the state, and for the state budget as well. We are incredibly grateful to President Obama and the Congressional Delegation, and also to FEMA for this welcome news.”

“We hope that this will help the state and its communities in their ongoing recovery,” said Federal Coordinating Officer James N. (Nick) Russo, the head of FEMA’s mission in Vermont. “We know that Vermont and its towns and cities are working as hard as they can to repair damage, and we’re working hard to get them their money.”

The FEMA Public Assistance (PA) program provides funding to repair roads and bridges, put water systems and electric utilities back in order, rebuild libraries and replace damaged books, repair hospitals and emergency services, rebuild schools and universities, and pay for other infrastructure restoration statewide.

It also reimburses communities and certain private non-profits for expenses associated with debris removal, emergency protective measures like search and rescue operations, and the cost of eliminating public safety or health hazards, like removing animal carcasses or demolishing unsafe buildings.

FEMA’s PA program typically reimburses 75 percent of the eligible cost of these projects, with the state and municipality sharing the remainder.

However, according to FEMA’s regulations up to 90 percent reimbursement is permitted if actual federal aid to a state for a disaster, minus FEMA’s administrative costs, meets or exceeds $127 per person.

With a population of 625,741 according to the U.S. Census Bureau, that means if the actual cost of FEMA aid to the state exceeds $79,469,107 the state becomes eligible for 90 percent reimbursement, at the discretion of the president.

So far FEMA has obligated, or paid to the state, approximately $64.7 million in reimbursement for Public Assistance projects related to Tropical Storm Irene, as well as $22 million in Individual Assistance to individuals and families for losses.

The increased reimbursement will be provided to both completed projects and those in process. It will not apply to projects related to the spring 2011 flooding.

To learn more visit: http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/index.shtm

Last Modified: Thursday, 17-May-2012 17:49:03

View post:

FEMA Will Give Vermont 90 Percent Funding for Irene Repair Work

City, State, FEMA Team Up To Offer Post-Irene Housing In Barre

Release Date: April 25, 2012
Release Number: 4022-079

» More Information on Vermont Tropical Storm Irene

» 2012 Region I News Releases

BARRE, Vt. – With limited housing options for some Vermonters displaced by Tropical Storm Irene, local, state and federal officials have unveiled a project that will provide housing through a private-public partnership.

Officials from the City of Barre, State of Vermont and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as well as congressional representatives, toured a formerly unoccupied apartment building that was recently renovated using almost $70,000 of federal money to provide housing for disaster survivors.

“This was a unique opportunity to leverage federal money to rehabilitate rental stock that is badly needed, not just as temporary housing for persons displaced by a disaster but for the public at large,” said Sue Minter, Vermont’s Irene Recovery Officer.

“FEMA has a number of innovative recovery programs available, and we’re committed to using all of those that apply,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer James N. (Nick) Russo. “The Multi-Family Repair Program was a great fit here.”

The Multi-Family Repair Program (MFRP) provides funds to renovate unoccupied multi-family rental housing units that need to be brought to a habitable standard in areas where existing rental units cannot meet the needs of disaster survivors.

According to Vermont officials, Washington County saw 154 mobile homes as well as 394 stick-built homes destroyed or substantially damaged in Tropical Storm Irene, in an area that was already facing a tight housing market. At least 30 buildings statewide were evaluated for suitability for MFRP use.

The owners of the property used in the MFRP agree to make the repaired rental units solely available to FEMA-identified disaster survivors for up to 18 months from the date of the disaster declaration.

The repair work must be completed by a licensed, bonded contractor within a specified time period after completing the agreement with FEMA, and must bring the property to required standards.

The multi-family rental building chosen in Barre was once located down the block where the new Post Office was built. Now on South Main Street, the apartment building has been renovated to provide five rental units.

“It’s a win, win, win for everyone,” said Steve Mackenzie, Barre City Manager. “It’s a win for the city. It’s a win for the landlord. And it’s a win for the new tenants who are able to take advantage of the program.”

Residents were selected on the basis of need. If a unit is vacated by the initial resident before the 18-month period of assistance is over, additional families may be identified to occupy the units through the end of the period of assistance.

“These funds have also assisted the local economy by providing jobs and economic activity associated with the rehabilitation of the housing units,” Minter said.

The Long Term Recovery Committees (LTRCs) of voluntary agencies have been actively engaged in the MFRP. Each family entering the program has been working with a case manager to identify and effectively find resources for their unmet needs, including the development of permanent housing plans.

Other resources that may be accessed through LTRCs include: financial planning, job placement after disaster unemployment, mental health services and, volunteer labor for clean-up and rebuilding, among others.

Long Term Recovery Committees have been established to assist all those affected by Tropical Storm Irene. To be connected with a committee in your area, please contact 2-1-1, Vermont’s toll-free information referral network.

###

Last Modified: Thursday, 26-Apr-2012 12:59:12

Visit source:

FEMA Urges New Yorkers to ‘Pledge to Prepare’

Release Date: April 23, 2012
Release Number: 4031-099

» More Information on New York Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee
» More Information on New York Hurricane Irene

ALBANY, N.Y. — Last year, more than 1,000 deaths and more than 8,000 injuries were caused by tornadoes, floods, wildfires and other types of severe weather.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is proud to be promoting National Severe Weather Preparedness Week from Sunday, April 22 to Saturday, April 28.

Sponsored by FEMA and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Severe Weather Preparedness Week is a nationwide effort designed to increase awareness of the severe weather that affects everyone as well as to encourage individuals, families, businesses and communities to know their risk, take action, and be an example.

“As Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee showed us last year, severe weather is a real concern for every New Yorker. Everyone must know the risks they face and prepare to meet them before disaster strikes,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Philip E. Parr.

FEMA is asking everyone to “pledge to prepare” and take the following steps:

Know Your Risk: The first step to becoming weather-ready is to understand the type of hazardous weather that can affect where you live and work, and how the weather could impact you and your family. Check the weather forecast regularly, obtain a NOAA Weather Radio, and sign up for localized alerts from emergency management officials. Severe weather comes in many forms and your shelter plan should include all types of local hazards.

Take Action: “Be a Force of Nature” by taking the pledge to prepare at Ready.gov/severe-weather. When you pledge to prepare, you will take the first step to making sure that you and your family are prepared for severe weather. This includes developing a family communication and disaster preparedness plan, keeping important papers and valuables in a safe place, and visiting www.Ready.gov/severe-weather for more on family preparedness for severe weather.

Last Modified: Monday, 23-Apr-2012 15:06:14

Continue reading:

FEMA Urges New Yorkers to ‘Pledge to Prepare’

Page 1 of 2 1 2 »