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FEMA Awards $1.1 Million to Arkansas for 2012 Christmas Day Storm

DENTON, Texas – More than $1.1 million is being awarded to the state of Arkansas by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reimburse Saline County for debris removal costs from a 2012 Christmas Day winter storm.

The FEMA grant was approved after it was determined that the project for removing debris, including hanging limbs in the county required additional funding. The federal share of the $1,100,760 is 75 percent of the project’s total of $1,467,681. FEMA awards funding for projects directly to the state of Arkansas; the state then forwards the grant to the eligible applicant.

To date, FEMA has awarded more than $8.5 million to Arkansas for the Dec. 25-26, 2012 storm that received a presidential declaration on Jan. 29, 2013. The majority of the public assistance funding was for emergency work totaling more than $6.3 million, while the remaining $2.1 million paid for permanent work.

The mission of FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program is to provide assistance to state, tribal and local governments, and certain types of private nonprofit organizations so that communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies declared by the president.

Through the PA Program, FEMA provides supplemental federal disaster grant assistance for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged, publicly owned facilities and the facilities of certain private nonprofit (PNP) organizations.

Learn more about FEMA’s Public Assistance program online www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit.

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

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FEMA Awards $1.1 Million to Arkansas for 2012 Christmas Day Storm

FEMA supports recovery efforts in Evans

DENVER – Since the September 2013 floods, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided nearly $6.6 million in Individual Assistance to Evans residents and obligated more than $1.4 million in Public Assistance to the City of Evans. At the same time, the U.S. Small Business Administration has provided more than $3.6 million in low-interest loans to 46 Evans homeowners and nine business owners.

As a part of its outreach to the citizens of Evans, FEMA Individual Assistance has provided:

Transitional Sheltering Assistance for 65 households
More than $1 million in Other Needs Assistance for nearly 200 households
Nearly $4.9 million in repair and replacement money for 248 households
More than $634,000 in rental assistance for 336 households
Manufactured housing units for 25 households
Maximum grants of $31,900 to 133 households

FEMA Public Assistance has obligated $1,437,928 for seven projects in Evans, including major road repairs and emergency measures to protect lives and property. The state and local share is $479,309, bringing the total of $1,917,237.

Projects that have been obligated include:

Repairs to sections of Brantner Road, Industrial Parkway, 40th Street, 49th Street, Trinidad Street, Salida Court, and several other roads
Overtime pay for city workers during the flooding, and salaries and lodging for a city-hired team of disaster response experts

Six additional City of Evans project worksheets are in process for a total of $2,967,313. (Federal share: $2,223,579) This includes

Repairing extensive damage to the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and at least $1 million for debris removal and repairs to Riverside Park

Funding for repairs to the Riverside Park athletic fields, playground equipment, walking trail, parking area and other facilities

In addition to the monetary assistance offered to the City of Evans:

FEMA Public Assistance meets weekly with Evans Public Works employees and has set up an office in the Evans City Hall.
FEMA National Flood Insurance Program specialists as well as the state NFIP coordinator and state mapping coordinator met with the City of Evans to discuss floodplain management and the city’s recent adoption of the Weld County Preliminary Maps. The State and FEMA will continue to work with city officials by providing additional training and technical assistance to support their floodplain management program.
FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaisons are working with Recovery Groups such as Weld Recovers to address the unmet needs of not only the citizens of Evans, but Weld County as well.
FEMA senior leadership held meetings with the City of Evans to discuss the Riverside Recreation area, a landfill discovered in the Riverside area, and two mobile home parks within the city.

Although not all of the city’s needs can be addressed by FEMA programs, Tom McCool, FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer, said in a letter addressed to Evans City Manager Aden Hogan, “I regret I do not have the authority to support all of Evans’ needs, but that does not mean every member of the FEMA team here in Colorado is not fully invested in bringing every resource the Stafford Act authorizes to bear in support of Evans.”

FEMA and the SBA have also provided assistance to the rest of Weld County. Including the assistance to Evans, Weld County has received:

More than $10 million in Individual Assistance, including nearly $7.5 million for repair and replacement money for 757 households
Maximum grants of $31,900 to 146 households in Weld County.
Transitional Sheltering Assistance for 106 households
Manufactured housing units for 30 households
More than $1.1 million in rental assistance for 636 households
Nearly $1.5 million in Other Needs Assistance for 342 households
Nearly $10 million from the SBA including more than $8.7 million in low-interest home loans and nearly $1.2 million in business loans in Weld County
Nearly $4.5 million in obligations from FEMA Public Assistance, including:
- More than $3.2 million in road and bridge repairs
- More than $900,000 in protective measures
- More than $240,000 in public utility repairs
- More than $22,000 in debris removal

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FEMA supports recovery efforts in Evans

FEMA Disaster Assistance is Available for Illinois Tornado Survivors but Deadline to Register Less Than a Week Away

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Nov. 17 tornado survivors have less than a week to register for federal disaster assistance.

Survivors must register by Monday, Jan. 27, to be considered for FEMA grants and SBA low-interest disaster loans to help cover eligible disaster-related expenses, including:

Temporary housing for homeowners and renters;
Home repairs and rebuilding;
Repair or replacement of lost personal property, including vehicles; and
Other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs.

No FEMA applications can be accepted after the deadline, but FEMA will continue to approve disaster assistance for eligible survivors who applied. To date, more than $14.8 million in federal disaster assistance has been approved FEMA and SBA for homeowners, renters and businesses in Illinois.

Registration is quick and easy:

SBA low-interest disaster loans are a major source of federal rebuilding funds.

Homeowners, renters and businesses can apply online through SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants can get more information by calling SBA’s hotline at 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339 or by visiting sba.gov.

Survivors with insurance should register and keep FEMA updated.

Applicants who have insurance should register with FEMA and submit their insurance settlement documentation to FEMA once they receive it. Anyone with questions about how to obtain this documentation should contact their insurance agent or call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362.

If applicants think their insurance company may be delaying a settlement, they should contact the Illinois Department of Insurance with questions or information about filing a complaint against the insurance carrier. The toll free number is 866-445-5364. For more information, consumers may also visit the department’s website at Insurance.Illinois.gov.

The FEMA helpline isn’t just for registration.

After the Jan. 27 registration deadline, the FEMA helpline 800-621-FEMA (3362) remains available to assist survivors from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week.

Applicants should call FEMA if they have questions relating to any of the following issues:

The status of an application for FEMA assistance;
Appealing a decision by FEMA;
Submitting insurance settlement information;
Updating contact information;
Continuing need for rental assistance;
Available disaster assistance programs; and
Discovery of additional property damage.

For the latest information on Illinois’ recovery from the Nov. 17 storms, visit FEMA.gov/Disaster/4157. Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, facebook.com/fema and youtube.com/fema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of funding for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339).

NEWS DESK: 217-522-2080

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FEMA Disaster Assistance is Available for Illinois Tornado Survivors but Deadline to Register Less Than a Week Away

Web Resources and Social Media Focus on Colorado Recovery

DENVER – Those following Colorado’s recovery from severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides can draw upon a variety of Web and social media resources from the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The president’s major disaster declaration of Sept. 14, 2013, authorized funding for FEMA’s Individual Assistance and Public Assistance programs. Although registration is now closed for both programs, survivors can still contact FEMA’s Helpline at 800-621-3362 with questions. Also, many online resources are available for information and updates.

Individual Assistance for homeowners and renters in 11 designated Colorado counties included grants for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs. In addition, low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration covered residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.

Public Assistance helps state and local governments in 18 designated Colorado counties with critical infrastructure repair, as well as aiding certain types of private nonprofit organizations. FEMA reimburses 75 percent of the cost of eligible projects.

State of Colorado flood recovery information is available online

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management uses www.COEmergency.com to share current updates on disasters and events.
Information specific to the Colorado floods is located at www.ColoradoUnited.com.
The Colorado DHSEM’s main Web page, dhsem.state.co.us/, contains information about emergency management and disaster preparedness, as well as helpful recovery resources.
The DHSEM’s Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/COEmergency offers flood assistance updates and links to news products that may be useful to disaster survivors.
The DHSEM Facebook page at www.facebook.com/COEmergency provides recovery updates and also weather, preparedness and mitigation information.
Information on how to help those affected by flooding in Colorado is available at www.helpcoloradonow.net/.
The READYColorado Web page at www.readycolorado.com offers all-hazards preparedness resources, including information for people with disabilities.
The READYColorado Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/READYColorado informs survivors about Colorado’s citizen preparedness campaign.
The READYColorado Facebook page at www.facebook.com/READYColorado provides information about citizen and community preparedness.

FEMA disaster recovery resources also are available online

FEMA’s main Web page, www.fema.gov, provides a general overview of the agency’s programs and links to other important sources of information. For those with a tablet or smartphone, go to m.fema.gov.
The disaster-specific Web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4145 contains Colorado flood recovery news, blogs, photos and statistics. Disaster-specific information in Spanish can be found at www.fema.gov/es/disaster/4145.
The FEMA Region VIII Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/femaregion8 offers frequent updates with links to news products and other valuable flood recovery information.
The FEMA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FEMA provides detailed posts with material useful to disaster survivors, including a number of Colorado response and recovery photos.
Information and guidance for homeowners rebuilding after a disaster can be found at www.disasterassistance.gov/disaster-information/moving-forward/your-home.
Survivors can locate information about resources for people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, help for children and older Americans, moving forward after a disaster and other community resources at http://www.disasterassistance.gov/disaster-information.
Background information on the presidential disaster declaration process is available at www.fema.gov/rebuild/recover/dec_guide.shtm.
FEMA provides facts about the Individual Assistance program at www.fema.gov/disaster-assistance-available-fema and the Public Assistance program at www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit.
The U.S. Small Business Administration provides disaster assistance information at www.sba.gov/disaster. Small businesses and most private nonprofits without physical losses still have until June 16, 2014, to apply to SBA for Economic Injury Disaster Loans only.

The National Weather Service’s website at www.weather.gov/ provides weather alerts and forecasts.

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Web Resources and Social Media Focus on Colorado Recovery

FEMA Provides Federal Funding to Combat Colby Fire in Los Angeles County, California

OAKLAND, Calif. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to assist the state of California combat the Colby Fire currently burning in Los Angeles County.

On January 16, 2014, the State of California submitted a request for a fire management assistance declaration for the Colby Fire. The authorization makes FEMA funding available to reimburse up to 75 percent of the eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling the fire.

At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 500 homes in the areas of Glendora and San Dimas with a combined population of 100,000. All of the homes threatened are primary residences. The fire is also threatening Little Canyon Reservoir, potable water supplies, secondary power lines, and wilderness preserves. Mandatory evacuations are taking place for approximately 7000 people. The fire started on January 16, 2014, and has burned in excess of 1700 acres of State and private land.

The President’s Disaster Relief Fund provides funding for federal fire management grants made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible costs covered by the grant can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; tools, materials and supplies; and mobilization and demobilization activities.

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FEMA Provides Federal Funding to Combat Colby Fire in Los Angeles County, California

Illinois Tornado Recovery News: Capsule of Illinois tornado recovery news for weekly newspapers

Springfield, Ill. – This capsule of recent disaster recovery information is provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Don’t let misinformation keep you from registering for disaster assistance.

Sometimes unexpected, uninsured expenses arise weeks or even months after a disaster. For example, you might identify additional damage to your home in the spring when temperatures rise and contractors are able to conduct a more comprehensive inspection. If your insurance settlement is delayed, you may qualify for temporary rental assistance if your home is uninhabitable. Or you may exhaust the additional living expenses provided by your insurance company. FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration disaster assistance may help cover some of these expenses.

Registering with FEMA is quick and easy. You should register even if you have insurance and regardless of your income level or the level of damage your home sustained. Register online at DisasterAssistance.gov, with a mobile device by using the FEMA app or going to m.fema.gov, or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362). People who are deaf or hard of hearing and use a TTY can call 800-462-7585.

SBA low-interest disaster loans are a major recovery funding source for Illinois.

If you apply for assistance with FEMA and are referred to the SBA, it’s important to submit a low-interest disaster loan application to assure that the federal disaster recovery process continues. You are not obligated to accept a loan, but failure to complete and submit the application may stop the FEMA grant process. Homeowners may be eligible for loans up to $200,000 for repairs. Homeowners and renters may be eligible to borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property. For businesses, loans are available up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged real estate, and other business assets. Eligible small businesses and non-profits can apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster.

You can apply online at DisasterLoan.SBA.gov/ela. For additional information about SBA low-interest disaster loans, contact the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339, emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or visiting sba.gov/disaster.

Rental assistance is available if you have been displaced as a result of the storms.

If you are making repairs to or rebuilding your home, you may be eligible for assistance from FEMA to cover temporary rental expenses if your home is uninhabitable – but you must register with FEMA to be considered. Call 800-621-FEMA (3362) or visit a Disaster Recovery Center if you have questions or need help finding a rental property. You can also go Nestrent.com or IlHousingSearch.org to identify available rental properties.

FEMA decision letters are not the end of the line for disaster assistance.

After registering with FEMA, you will receive a letter explaining the status of your application. The letter may state that you’re ineligible for assistance, but this isn’t necessarily a final decision. It is important to read the entire letter carefully because it states exactly what needs to be submitted for potential federal assistance. If you have insurance, you must submit all of your insurance information for FEMA to review your eligibility. Sending your insurance declaration page is not sufficient. You need to submit actual insurance settlement information. If you are unsure of how to obtain this document, contact your insurance company, call the FEMA helpline (800-621-FEMA) or visit a Disaster Recovery Center. Insurance documents will be reviewed, then an inspector may arrange a visit to the damaged home or apartment to determine if there are uninsured, eligible losses. Federal disaster assistance may assist in covering some expenses not covered by insurance. You can appeal FEMA’s decision. Appeals must be filed within 60 days of the date of the determination letter. More information is available by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or by taking the letter to a Disaster Recovery Center. You can locate the nearest center by going to fema.gov/drclocator.

Help is available to repair damaged vehicles.

If you had a vehicle damaged or destroyed in one of the counties affected by the Nov. 17 Illinois tornadoes, you may be eligible for federal disaster assistance. Even if you are not a resident of one of the designated counties, you may still be eligible for this assistance if you were working or visiting one of the counties. You must register with FEMA to be considered for eligibility. In addition to FEMA assistance, homeowners and renters may be eligible to borrow up to $40,000 through SBA’s low-interest disaster loan program to repair or replace personal property, including automobiles damaged or destroyed in the disaster.

Illinois recovery photos and videos available

Visit fema.gov/disasters/4157 to access FEMA’s online library of photos and videos documenting response and recovery efforts to the Nov. 17 storms and tornadoes in Illinois. The page also includes updated information and important messages regarding Illinois’ recovery.

NEWS DESK: 217-522-2080

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Illinois Tornado Recovery News: Capsule of Illinois tornado recovery news for weekly newspapers

Federal and State Infrastructure Aid For 2013 Flood Events Tops $18.6 Million

BISMARCK, N.D. – Today the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and North Dakota Department of Emergency Services announced that federal and state assistance funding for public infrastructure repairs following the 2013 winter and spring floods has surpassed $18.6 million.

On May 29 President Obama issued a major disaster declaration for the winter snowmelt flooding. On July, 12, a second declaration was made in response to flooding caused by a series of heavy rainfall events. Both declarations activated the Public Assistance program, providing assistance for emergency work, debris removal, and repairs to or replacement of infrastructure, including roads, bridges and schools.

FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) Program provides funding to local government jurisdictions and eligible private non-profits for the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged infrastructure as well as costs incurred for disaster cleanup or emergency actions taken to protect lives or property. The federal share of recovery costs is 75 percent. The remaining share is the responsibility of the state and local government or private non-profit organization.

To date, $16.4 million in federal funding has been obligated for 349 infrastructure projects. Of that amount, $9.2 million is for roads and bridges throughout the state, $3.7 million is for emergency protective measures, $850,000 is for debris removal and $2.5 million is for other projects. The state is providing an additional $2.2 million as its cost-share toward all projects.

PA projects fall broadly into two categories, small projects (total project cost of $67,500 or less) and large projects (total project cost greater than $67,500). Applicants receive funding for small projects as soon as funding is obligated and receive funding for large projects when receipts and cost documentation for work completed is provided to the state. FEMA provides funding to the state and the state in turn awards the funds to the applicant.

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Federal and State Infrastructure Aid For 2013 Flood Events Tops $18.6 Million

DR-4086-NJ NR-241 Acquisition: Rebuilding Homes and Lives on Safer Ground

LINCROFT, N.J.– In New Jersey, Superstorm Sandy destroyed or damaged 40,500 primary residences. Two years ago, in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, FEMA granted nearly $152 million to New Jersey for housing assistance. After Hurricane Floyd, just over a decade before Irene, FEMA issued Disaster Housing Assistance Grants to more than l72,700 households.

New Jersey is no stranger to the loss of life and property caused by coastal storms, nor to the time, money and energy it takes to rebuild in the days and months that follow. Many residents of low-lying coastal regions have found their living situations unsustainable as storm after storm devastates houses, neighborhood and communities. But some communities have made a way out of the damage cycle with the use of acquisition or buyout grants.

One of New Jersey’s main priorities after major storm damage is to acquire land where repetitive flood loss is common and convert it to open space, thereby reducing the loss of life and property. This process is called acquisition.

FEMA, through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, has granted $55,249,816 to the state so far for the acquisition of properties in the aftermath of Sandy, and plans to award $100 million total.

Homeowners do not apply directly to FEMA for acquisition. Instead, the state and local communities work together to identify areas where buyouts make the most sense. Local officials then get input from the community and those homeowners with destroyed or severely damaged properties, as well as from the state and FEMA, to ensure that the acquisition applications are environmentally sound and cost-effective. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, instituted by FEMA, covers 75 percent of the costs, and 25 percent is matched by non-federal sources.

After the state, (the grantee) decides its priorities in terms of funds usage, FEMA Hazard Mitigation Program Guidance allows the subgrantee to offer homeowners pre-disaster fair market value for their homes. Buyouts are always voluntary, and homeowners may opt out of participation.

All properties acquired by communities for mitigation are then converted to open land.

Acquisition Success Stories

More and more New Jersey communities are recognizing acquisition as a permanent solution to a recurring problem.

In 2005, two successive flooding disasters destroyed six homes in Harmony Township in Warren County. At the request of Harmony Township, Green Acres and FEMA provided funding for acquisition. Those six properties have been cleared to prevent further property damage and now provide access points to the Delaware River for visitors to the area.

Even without FEMA’s 75 percent cost share, state organizations like the Green Acres Program successfully convert properties throughout New Jersey into safe and accessible open areas, such as parks and wildlife habitats, which by law must remain open land forever through deed restriction.

Green Acres and the State Agriculture Development Committee converted 1,900 acres in central New Jersey using open space funds, creating a 512-acre State Wildlife Management Area, and a 500-acre addition to Monmouth County public greenways.

In Manchester Township, a joint acquisition effort coordinated between the Green Acres Program and the U.S. Navy added 246 acres to the Manchester Wildlife Management Area in Ocean County, which will also serve as a protective buffer for the Lakehurst Naval Air Engineering Station.

Communities that opt into the acquisition process not only protect their citizenry, but also make it possible to create an even more beautiful New Jersey coast, with open space for community residents and visitors alike.

And for many New Jersey residents, buyout is the opportunity to at least partially recoup an investment in a property that has lost value after multiple storms. It also provides the possibility of safety, peace of mind and a new start.

Homeowners do not apply directly to FEMA to participate in the acquisition process. Instead, they can contact their local emergency management office to learn more about Hazard Mitigation programs available to their community.

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

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

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

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

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

DR-4086-NJ NR-241 Acquisition: Rebuilding Homes and Lives on Safer Ground

Sewerage Authority Mitigation Plan Reduces Risk of Environmental Disaster

LINCROFT, N.J. – Among the most devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey was the storm’s impact on sewage treatment facilities along the coast.

During and after the storm, sewage plants and pump stations along the coast were inundated by flood waters and without power for as long as three days, resulting in the discharge of some two billion gallons of untreated and partially treated sewage into New Jersey waterways (New York Daily News, 4/30/2013).

The environmental damage was unprecedented – and the financial impact was devastating. Total costs to repair and reconstruct the damaged sewage treatment facilities now top more than $100 million.

With the help of Public Assistance Grants, sewerage authorities throughout the state have acted to reduce the risk of a similar disaster through mitigation measures that include constructing flood walls, elevating sensitive equipment, and relocating vulnerable facilities out of the flood zone.

In southern Monmouth County, the South Monmouth Regional Sewerage Authority owns, operates and maintains 11 sewage pump stations in Belmar, Brielle, Lake Como, Manasquan, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights and Wall Township.

The majority of the Authority’s sewage pump stations were constructed and placed into operation in the 1970s. But in Sea Girt, the authority converted an existing facility constructed in the 1900s.

By 2006, that facility had outlived its useful life and the Authority made plans to replace it.

The Sea Girt pump station had been flooded in the past, and the likelihood was high that it would experience repeated flooding.

While the Authority considered relocating the facility, that idea was not feasible because of the cost, permitting restrictions and the lack of available land in the heavily residential community.

Instead, the project team comprising Authority officials and project engineers worked together to design a facility that could remain within the footprint of the old plant but that would be better equipped to function and survive during a major storm.

The plan they decided upon called for a mobile trailer for the pumping station’s most sensitive equipment. The trailer can be moved out of harm’s way when flooding threatens.

Sea Girt, N.J., Oct. 2, 2013– This aesthetically designed portable trailer houses an emergency generator, a successful mitigation project South Monmouth Regional Sewerage Authority (SMRSA) implemented in their Sea Girt pump station before Superstorm Sandy struck. Rosanna Arias/FEMA
The enclosure consists of two rooms, one sound-attenuated room for the emergency generator and another climate-controlled room for the electrical equipment, including controls, alarm systems, variable speed drives, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, and various other components. Electrical and control connections between the enclosure and the pump station and its equipment are made with cables and plugs that can be opened to permit removal of the enclosure.

The trailer can be removed when emergency management officials notify the Authority of an impending storm.

When the trailer is removed, an expendable portable generator and transfer switch is put it in its place, allowing the pump station to operate even when utility power is lost. This secondary, sacrificial electrical and control system, mounted on the site, powers the pumps and other equipment on utility or generator power until destroyed or damaged by flooding.

Once the storm subsides, the mobile trailer can be moved back into place and put back on line.

The mobile trailer plan minimizes any damage to the station’s electrical equipment and significantly reduces downtime for the station.

The cost savings is also substantial: A generator may cost $60,000 to replace. The cost of reconstructing a pump station and providing emergency generator capacity until power is restored to the site can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“The mobile enclosure saved the Authority an estimated $1.5 million dollars in repair/recovery monies as a result of the fact that there was no substantial damage to the Sea Girt Pump Station during Irene or Sandy,” said South Monmouth Regional Sewerage Authority Engineer Ryan Krause. “There was no loss of sewer service to residents and no sewer service overflows.”

The station is then able to return to normal operation within hours of the passing storm, rather than days, weeks, or months, as required to rebuild or reconstruct the facilities. A faster recovery for the sewer system reduces the public health risk that can result when untreated sewage is discharged into waterways or into the community.

The Sea Girt pump station complements Governor Chris Christie’s goal to make New Jersey’s infrastructure resilient and is considered a model for Best Management Practice for sewerage and water authorities, enabling continuous operation during adverse weather events, thus eliminating or substantially reducing the potential for an environmental disaster caused by the release of untreated sewage.

As a result of the steps the Authority took to mitigate the site, the infrastructure survived and the Sea Girt Pump Facility became operational within hours.

The SMRSA, has recently been awarded a FEMA grant for a “least cost alternative project” which incorporates the mobile enclosure concept for its Pitney Avenue Pump Station in Spring Lake, NJ and is evaluating the feasibility of incorporating this innovative design for its Belmar Pump Station, both of which were damaged during Sandy. The FEMA grant for Pitney Avenue PS is for reimbursement of 90% of the eligible cost(s) up to $1,201, 428.00.

The two mobile concept facilities, developed here in Monmouth County, are the only two in the world.

Because of its success in mitigating damage from Hurricanes Irene and Sandy, the concept is being considered by FEMA as a nation-wide Best Management Practice for mitigation of potential damages to equipment as a result of a flood event.

Additional information on the Sea Girt mobile enclosure can be found at the Authorities website; www.smrsa.org

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

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

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Sewerage Authority Mitigation Plan Reduces Risk of Environmental Disaster

Santa Clara Pueblo in New Mexico and FEMA Region 6 to Sign Disaster Assistance Agreement

ANTA FE– The formal signing of an agreement between the Santa Clara Pueblo and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will mark a first for both the Pueblo and FEMA Region 6.

The Santa Clara Pueblo is the first federally recognized tribe in Region 6, which includes New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas, to go directly through Region 6 to request and receive a federal declaration following the amendment of the Stafford Act earlier this year. The amendment gives tribal governments the option of requesting a major disaster declaration without going through a state government.

It’s beneficial to all parties when we can achieve government-to-government working relationships like this,” said Lt. Governor John Shije. “The tribe is very much in need of this assistance. We are grateful for the support of the President and our partners at FEMA Region 6.”

The Pueblo recently received not one, but two federal declarations. President Obama approved declarations on Sept. 27 for flooding in mid-July and on Oct. 24 for flooding in mid-September.

FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provides supplemental funding to state, tribal and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations to help them recover from disasters. It reimburses eligible applicants for extraordinary costs incurred while responding to a disaster and costs related to restore damaged infrastructure. FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides funds to supplement those of eligible applicants to undertake projects that build resilience and eliminate or reduce damage in future hazardous events.

FEMA’s Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) program integrates the protection and enhancement of environmental, historic, and cultural resources into FEMA’s mission, programs and activities; ensures that FEMA’s activities and programs related to disaster response and recovery, hazard mitigation, and emergency preparedness comply with federal environmental and historic preservation laws and executive orders; and provides environmental and historic preservation technical assistance to FEMA staff, local, State and Federal partners, and grantees and subgrantees.

“Our team of FEMA public assistance, EHP and mitigation specialists is actively engaged with our Santa Clara Pueblo partners,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Nancy Casper. “Our collaborative goal is to document all eligible costs and damages and to make funds available to assist with repairs and improvements as quickly as possible.”

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). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

Taken from:

Santa Clara Pueblo in New Mexico and FEMA Region 6 to Sign Disaster Assistance Agreement

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