management - femacontract.com

Louisiana Observes National Severe Weather Preparedness Week

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisianians know severe weather. In the last six months alone, the state has experienced two federally declared disasters, Hurricane Isaac and the January severe storms and floods.

The week of March 3-9 marks National Severe Weather Preparedness Week, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urges Louisiana residents to add to their existing knowledge as they make themselves, their families and their homes storm ready.

FEMA and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have joined together to increase awareness of severe weather and to motivate individuals, families, businesses and communities to take actions that will prepare them to face severe weather. “Be a Force of Nature” is the slogan for this year’s campaign.

“FEMA’s mission includes supporting the nation in bettering its capability to prepare for severe weather and other disasters,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar of FEMA. “Initiatives like Severe Weather Preparedness Week help people everywhere learn how they can prepare for the sorts of weather-related hazards they face in their communities.”

Louisiana experiences tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, extreme heat, thunderstorms and hail. Residents can take steps now to reduce the impact of these events on their families, including:

Take a “Pledge to Prepare” at www.ready.gov/severe-weather.
Put together an emergency kit for your family.
Get a NOAA weather radio.

LaHouse Resource Center at Louisiana State University showcases more ways people can safeguard their homes. Click on http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/11415.

To learn more about severe weather, click www.weather.gov and http://www.nws.noaa.gov/com/weatherreadynation/. For resources in Spanish, click www.listo.gov. Disaster preparedness is featured on www.flash.org.

More information on Louisiana disaster recovery is available online at www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. FEMA is also on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA.

This article is from:

Louisiana Observes National Severe Weather Preparedness Week

Greene, Perry, Counties Designated for Disaster Assistance

PURVIS, Miss. – Two additional counties have been designated for disaster assistance to households and businesses as part of Mississippi’s federal disaster declaration, according to officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The latest counties are Greene and Perry, bringing the total number of counties to seven that have been designated eligible for disaster assistance.

Counties previously designated are Forrest, Jefferson Davis, Lamar, Marion and Wayne.

The first step in recovering from the recent tornadoes, storms and flooding is to register, which is a simple process. There are several ways:

Online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by mobile device at m.fema.gov any time day or night.
By phone or video relay at 800-621-FEMA (3362) daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time. Help is available in many languages.
By TTY at 800-462-7585.
C-Spire Wireless customers can register by calling #362.

Homeowners and renters can register for federal disaster assistance that may include:

Temporary housing.
Home repairs.
Other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs.
Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration that may cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.

People in the newly designated counties who have already registered for federal disaster assistance do not need to do so again. If they have any questions about their applications for disaster assistance, they should call 800-621-3362.

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

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.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

###

See more here:

Greene, Perry, Counties Designated for Disaster Assistance

Don’t Miss Out on FEMA Help

PURVIS, Miss. – Homeowners, renters and businesses in Forrest, Jefferson Davis, Lamar, Marion and Wayne are eligible for federal disaster assistance. But not everyone affected by the storm’s destruction has registered for FEMA aid.

“There are many misconceptions about getting help,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating OfficerTerry Quarles. “Often people who would qualify for assistance miss out because they don’t understand how the process works.”

Some people believe that since they have already cleaned up and made whatever repairs were needed that they can’t apply for assistance. Some are worried that accepting money from FEMA might have an impact on their Social Security checks or would be taxed as income by the IRS. Others might feel hesitant in accepting FEMA money because “my neighbor needs it more than I do.”

A few disaster survivors think that when they collect their insurance claims, even if the amount they receive falls short of covering repair or replacement costs, they aren’t qualified to get any federal help.

The most common reason that people don’t register for assistance is the idea that having alerted local, county or state officials – or even such organizations as the American Red Cross – about the damages and other losses they suffered that they automatically get registered with FEMA.

But these assumptions are not based on fact.

“It’s perfectly logical to think that once you talk to any emergency official, the process has started,” said Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Director Robert Latham. “But that is not correct. The thing to do is call the FEMA registration line at 800-621-3362 and let them decide if you qualify for help.”

FEMA registration is simple and can be completed several ways:

Online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov any time day or night.
By phone or video relay at 800-621-3362 daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time. Help is available in many languages.
By TTY at 800-462-7585.
C-Spire Wireless customers can register by calling #362.
By web-enabled mobile devices at m.fema.gov. Select “Disaster Survivor” then “Apply Online for FEMA Assistance.”

“FEMA is here to support the state of Mississippi’s efforts to come to the aid of area residents,” Quarles said. “We want to make sure everybody who is eligible for assistance gets the help he or she needs and deserves.”

Mississippians have until April 15 to apply for assistance, but FEMA urges anyone affected by the storm to register right away.

###

Excerpt from:

Don’t Miss Out on FEMA Help

President Declares Major Disaster for Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and ordered federal aid to supplement the Tribe’s efforts in the area affected by severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides during the period of January 14-17, 2013.

Federal funding is available to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the Tribe.

Michael Bolch has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area. Bolch said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the Tribe and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

# # #

Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts available at www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema ; follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fema and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fema.

See original article:

President Declares Major Disaster for Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

Last Chance to Visit Disaster Recovery Centers in Marion, Wayne Counties – Others Remain Open

PURVIS, Miss. – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency remind those who want to meet with disaster recovery specialists that Saturday, March 2 will be the last day Disaster Recovery Centers in Marion and Wayne counties will be open. Three other centers will remain open.

Wayne and Marion county centers below will serve visitors from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday.

Mount Carmel Church of God, 573 Mount Carmel Church Rd., Foxworth
Waynesboro Fire Station, 710 Wayne St Waynesboro

Survivors can still meet with disaster-recovery specialists at three centers Monday through Saturday,

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Ben McNair Recreation Center, 300 North 12th Ave., Hattiesburg
Petal Civic Center, 712 S. Main St., Petal
Lamar Park, 226 Pinewood Drive, Hattiesburg

Individuals can register for assistance online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. Applicants also may call 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week until further notice. C-Spire customers can register by calling #362.

Federal disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property loss and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

###

Read this article:

Last Chance to Visit Disaster Recovery Centers in Marion, Wayne Counties – Others Remain Open

$2 billion provided to NY survivors by FEMA, SBA

Main Content

Release date:

March 1, 2013

Release Number:

NR-180

NEW YORK — The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration have approved more than $2 billion in direct assistance to homeowners, renters and businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy. This includes:

Nearly $918 million in FEMA grants approved for individuals and households
- More than $793 million for housing assistance
- More than $124 million for other needs
More than $1.1 billion in SBA disaster loans approved for homeowners, renters and businesses

Other assistance:

More than $717 million approved in FEMA Public Assistance grants to communities and eligible nonprofit organizations that serve the public
More than $2.6 billion in National Flood Insurance Program payments made to policy holders
5.3 million cubic yards of debris removed
269,192 people contacted FEMA for help or information
180,406 housing inspections completed
164,194 visits to Disaster Recovery Centers
More than 500 voluntary agencies involved in recovery
25 languages used to communicate assistance information to survivors

Individuals can register with FEMA online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 (Voice, 7-1-1/Relay) or TTY 800-462-7585. The phone lines operate 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST, seven days a week.

Last Updated:

March 1, 2013 – 13:10

State or Region:

New York

Related Disaster:

New York Hurricane Sandy

From:

$2 billion provided to NY survivors by FEMA, SBA

FEMA Awards $3 Million to Louisiana Department of Transportation for Hurricane Isaac Recovery

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development will receive a $3 million federal grant to reimburse the costs it incurred clearing debris, including boats, from public roads after Hurricane Isaac, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said Thursday.

The $3,085,418 grant covers the removal and disposal of debris, including:

77,400 cubic yards of vegetative debris (a cubic yard is about the size of a washing machine)
37,200 cubic yards of construction and demolition debris
55,200 cubic yards of marsh grass
7,000 cubic yards of hazardous household waste
35,000 cubic yards of sediment
47 boats deposited in state roadways

“Debris removal is an essential step in disaster recovery,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar. “By restoring access to schools, businesses and recreation, this work provided Louisianians with an important step in their journey back to normal.”

Between Aug. 26 and Sept. 10, Hurricane Isaac produced high winds, rain and flooding throughout the state. The FEMA Public Assistance grant, totaling $3,085,418, helps reimburse the department during the Hurricane Isaac response and recovery.

The newly obligated funds are a portion of the $222.9 million in total Public Assistance recovery dollars approved for the state since the Aug. 29, 2012, disaster declaration.

Once FEMA reimburses the state of Louisiana it is the state’s responsibility to manage the funds, which includes making disbursements to local jurisdictions and organizations that incurred costs.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow FEMA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

###

See the original article here:

FEMA Awards $3 Million to Louisiana Department of Transportation for Hurricane Isaac Recovery

3 Months Remain Before Ellis Co, TX Flood Maps Become Final

DENTON, Texas –– In three months, on Monday, June 3, 2013, new flood maps for Ellis County, Texas will become effective. Before that date, state, local and federal officials are encouraging everyone to view the maps to understand their flood risk and consider purchasing flood insurance.

Most property insurance policies do not cover the effects of a flood. Floods can place people at risk of uninsured loss to their businesses, homes and personal property if they don’t have either a private flood insurance policy or coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a voluntary protection program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Flooding is the #1 natural disaster in the United States and only flood insurance covers these unexpected, damaging and sometimes fatal events. “Where there is rain, there could be flooding,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “Everyone lives in a flood zone.

To learn if your community participates in the NFIP and to review the new flood maps, residents can contact their local floodplain administrator.

FEMA map specialists and flood insurance experts also are available to answer questions. They can be reached by phone and online chat:

To use the live chat service, visit http://go.usa.gov/r6C. Click on the “Live Chat” icon.
To contact a FEMA Map Specialist, call 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or send an email to FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com.

FEMA encourages communities not currently participating in the NFIP to look at the benefits of joining the program. Participation in the NFIP can assure a faster recovery in the event of a devastating flood. Contacting a local insurance agent is the first step to obtaining information about insurance. Folks can visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531 to locate an agent in their area.

###

Continue reading:

3 Months Remain Before Ellis Co, TX Flood Maps Become Final

New Flood Maps Show Updated Flood Risks Throughout Upper Chattahoochee River Region

ATLANTA – New flood insurance rate maps will soon go into effect in metro Atlanta for communities in the Upper Chattahoochee River Region, specifically in Cobb, Douglas, Forsyth, Gwinnett, DeKalb and Fulton counties.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources have been working with county and municipal governments over the last several years to incorporate the best available data into these flood maps. The ultimate goal of the maps is to protect property owners and communities by showing the extent of flood risk in their areas. Flood maps also help to determine flood insurance rating and building requirements.

Flood maps for Cobb, Douglas, Forsyth and Gwinnett counties will be effective on March 4, 2013; maps for DeKalb County will be effective in May, and maps for Fulton County will be effective in September. Coweta County’s flood maps were effective earlier this month. If you live in an area with a new map, visit www.GeorgiaDFIRM.com to find your flood risk online. You can also contact your local floodplain manager with questions about the new maps, and to learn more about flood risks in your community.

These updated maps are more precise than older maps because better flood hazard and risk data has been incorporated, and the latest science has been used to make them more accurate. Flood risks change over time due to construction, development, environmental changes, floodplain widening or shifting, and other factors. These changes send water flowing in new directions, creating flood risks that didn’t exist previously—precisely why flood maps must be updated periodically.

The historic September 2009 flooding in North Georgia is a reminder of how devastating disasters can be. We may not know when the next one will strike, but we can protect ourselves by knowing what risks exist in our communities, and to prepare for them.

By law, federally regulated or insured mortgage lenders require flood insurance on properties that are located in areas at high risk of flooding. Even people living in lower risk areas can experience flooding, which is the most common and costly natural disaster in the U.S. In fact, about 25 percent of flood insurance claims occur in lower risk flood zones.

Regardless of flood zone, everyone should take steps to financially protect themselves from a flood disaster which affects far too many communities each year. The primary way to do this is by purchasing flood insurance. Since standard homeowner’s, business owner’s, and renter’s insurance doesn’t cover flood damage, flood insurance is an important consideration for everyone.

Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program, a voluntary program administered by the FEMA. You can purchase flood insurance policies from state-licensed property and casualty insurance agents who you deal with for other property insurance needs, or visit www.floodsmart.gov to locate an agent.

New Flood Maps Show Updated Flood Risks Throughout Upper Chattahoochee River Region

Talk to FEMA Mitigation Experts at Spring Home Show in Hartford This Weekend

Main Content

Release date:

February 28, 2013

Release Number:

072

WINDSOR, Conn. — Hazard Mitigation experts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be on hand at the Spring Home Show this weekend at the XL Center in downtown Hartford.

FEMA’s experts can be found at booth No. 624 at the show, which runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday at the XL Center, located at 1 Civic Center Plaza.

Homeowners and builders can get answers to questions about how to undertake home repairs in a more disaster-resistant or resilient way. FEMA’s Mitigation specialists will have several free and accessible publications to offer, and can provide tips on topics including:

Retrofitting utilities;
Flood-resistant building materials;
Retrofitting residential structures;
Basic emergency management and disaster preparedness.

The Spring Home Show will feature more than 800 vendors.

Last Updated:

February 28, 2013 – 14:17

State or Region:

Connecticut

Related Disaster:

Connecticut Hurricane Sandy

Taken from:

Talk to FEMA Mitigation Experts at Spring Home Show in Hartford This Weekend

Page 92 of 129 « First ... « 90 91 92 93 94 » ... Last »