mexico - femacontract.com

Know Your Evacuation Routes For Emergency Departures

Eatontown, N.J.– When an incident reaches the point that it’s unsafe for people to remain in the immediate area, getting everyone evacuated as safely and quickly as possible becomes crucial. One of the most – if not the most – important part of an evacuation is figuring out how to get out of the affected area.

Coastal Evacuation Route Signs Are Posted Along the RoadwayCoastal Evacuation Routes exist in states that border the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. They are often denoted by signs featuring some combination of blue and white. In New Jersey, they are white signs with a blue circle on them, filled with white text. Because of New Jersey’s small size and its proximity to water on three sides, many of the state’s major highways also serve as coastal evacuation routes. Most of New Jersey’s routes come from the shore (south and west) and move inward, mainly westbound.

The Garden State Parkway in Cape May County, for example, is the main evacuation route out of the county to the north, along with Routes 47 and 50. Also in Cape May and Atlantic counties, the barrier islands have multiple access points connecting the towns on those islands with the Parkway and other roads headed inland.

The Atlantic City Expressway is the main east-west route through the southern part of New Jersey. When Hurricane Sandy arrived in New Jersey, state officials reversed traffic on the Atlantic City Expressway, forcing all traffic on the highway to go west, away from the coast.

Unlike the barrier islands in Cape May and Atlantic counties, there is only one way on and off of Long Beach Island – Route 72. Route 37 serves the southern half of the Barnegat Peninsula in Ocean County, and Route 35 leads to access to inland roads in the northern half, including Routes 88 and 34, as well as Routes 36 and (indirectly) 18 in Monmouth County.

Getting to the main routes can sometimes involve traveling through residential areas and on lower-capacity streets and roads that can get crowded. www.ready.gov recommends keeping your car’s gas tank at least half full in case you have to leave immediately.

Once an evacuation order has been issued, leave as soon as possible to avoid traffic congestion and ensure access to routes. Have a battery-powered radio to listen for emergencies and road condition changes. During Sandy, not only was contraflow lane reversal (alteration of traffic patterns on a controlled-access highway so all vehicles travel in the same direction) implemented on the Atlantic City Expressway, but the southbound Garden State Parkway was closed to traffic.

During evacuations, people should follow instructions from local authorities on which roads to take to get to the main evacuation routes. Don’t take shortcuts, as they may be blocked. Know more than one nearby evacuation route in case the closest or most convenient one is blocked or otherwise unpassable. Don’t drive into potentially hazardous areas, such as over or near other bodies of water during a hurricane or other flood event. Barrier island residents should take the quickest possible route to the mainland.

Emergency evacuations are stressful moments. But knowing where you’re going and how to get there can help make the whole experience a little easier to handle.

Evacuation routes for the state of New Jersey are posted on the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management website. Go to http://ready.nj.gov/plan/evacuation-routes.html to find the route for your region.

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.

Originally posted here:

Know Your Evacuation Routes For Emergency Departures

Preliminary Flood Maps in Otero County, New Mexico Ready for Public View

Knowing flood risks allows for more informed decisions

DENTON, Texas –Homeowners, renters, and business owners in Otero County, New Mexico are encouraged to look over newly released preliminary flood maps in order to determine their flood risks and make informed decisions.

Local officials from Otero County, the state of New Mexico, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are presenting the preliminary maps to communities in order to help leaders and residents identify known flood risks and use that information to make decisions about buying flood insurance. The data also helps the community move forward with any future development.

“As we work together with our state and local partners to bring this critical information to the county, we ask that everyone review the maps to understand what flood risks are involved,” said R6 Regional Administrator Tony Robinson. “The role of the community as an active partner in the flood mapping process is very important.”

To view the new flood maps, please contact your local floodplain administrator (FPA) or follow the links below:

To view the preliminary maps online visit: http://maps.riskmap6.com/NM/Otero/

To use a live chat service visit 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.

Once a flood risk is identified, the next step is to consider the purchase of a flood policy from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP is currently undergoing a thorough modernization. Meanwhile, contacting a local insurance agent is the first step to gather information about insurance. Folks can visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531 to locate an agent in their area.

###

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.

Read this article:

Preliminary Flood Maps in Otero County, New Mexico Ready for Public View

FEMA Awards $1.9 Million to New Mexico’s Pueblo of Santa Clara for 2012 Flooding

DENTON, Texas – Federal funding totaling more than $1.9 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is making its way to the Pueblo of Santa Clara in New Mexico. It is the first in a series of reimbursements that are critical to the future recovery of the Santa Clara Canyon.

The funding is 75 percent of the total project cost of $2.5 million. It pays for the architectural and engineering costs associated with the structural and hydrological redesign and/or replacement of four earthen dams and spillways damaged during summer flooding in 2012. Additional funding approval to cover the cost for repair or improved projects is in process.

There are four main retention ponds in the upper Santa Clara Canyon. During heavy rain and flooding in late June and early July 2012, the ponds filled with debris and the spillways of each pond suffered severe damage from erosion and debris impact. The earthen dams of each pond also suffered severe erosion.
The flooding incident resulted in a major disaster declaration, not only for the Pueblo of Santa Clara, but also for the Mescalero Apache Tribe and Lincoln, Sandoval and Los Alamos counties. The same areas in the Santa Clara Canyon have flooded twice since the 2012 declaration.

To date, FEMA has awarded more than $10 million in Public Assistance funds to eligible applicants under the declaration, with $6.6 million of the funds paid for emergency projects and the remaining $3.4 million awarded for permanent work.

The mission of FEMA’s Public Assistance 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 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.

###

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.

This article is from:

FEMA Awards $1.9 Million to New Mexico’s Pueblo of Santa Clara for 2012 Flooding

New Mexico Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Funds Deadline Approaching

SANTA FE – Officials with the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency remind communities, tribal entities, and state agencies that March 21, 2014, is the deadline for submitting a Notice of Interest to participate in the statewide Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Interested communities, tribal entities or state agencies need to submit a Notice of Interest before the March 21 deadline. This form is available at www.nmdhsem.org/Grants.aspx. After the Notice of Interest is received, the eligible applicants will be contacted for a review of the formal application process.

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding is a 75 percent federal and 25 percent non-federal grant program. The local jurisdiction, tribe or state agency is required to provide the 25 percent non-federal match, which can be in-kind or cash.

In order to be eligible for mitigation project funding, the community or tribe must have a FEMA approved Hazard Mitigation Plan. Creating a plan or updating an existing plan can also be funded with Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding.

Editors’ note: The counties and tribal entities designated under the disaster declarations are:

DR 4148 – Bernalillo, Colfax, Luna, Sandoval, Sierra, and Socorro counties as well as Cochiti, Sandia, Kewa (Santa Domingo), San Felipe Pueblos, and the Navajo Nation.

DR 4152 – Catron, Chaves, Cibola, Colfax, De Baca, Dona Ana, Eddy, Guadalupe, Harding, Lincoln, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Otero, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, and Torrance counties as well as Isleta, Sandia and Taos Pueblos, and the Navajo Nation.

The New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) is the state’s homeland security and emergency management agency. The agency works to identify and lessen the effects of emergencies, disasters and threats to New Mexico by developing effective prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery actions for all disasters and emergencies.

Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://fema.gov/blog.

###

Original post:

New Mexico Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Funds Deadline Approaching

NM Officials face Dec. 27 Deadline For Requests For Public Assistance

SANTA FE – Severe storms and flooding that took place Sept. 9th through 22nd damaged public facilities and roads in15 New Mexico counties. President Barack Obama signed a disaster declaration for 15 New Mexico counties on Oct. 29.

On Nov. 27, De Baca, Dona Ana, Harding, Lincoln, Otero, Rio Arriba, San Juan counties, and the Isleta, Sandia, and Taos Pueblos and the Navajo Nation were added to the declaration.

Now, state agencies, local governments, tribal entities, community ditch associations and certain private nonprofit agencies must file Requests for Public Assistance (RPA) with the State of New Mexico for reimbursement under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program. Officials in these counties and pueblos who have not already done so must file their RPAs with the State of New Mexico no later than Close of Business on Dec. 27.

Filing such a request with the state is the first step in the process of applying for federal reimbursements under FEMA’s PA Grant Program.

These grants are obligated to the state in order to reimburse eligible applicants for expenses incurred while taking emergency measures to protect lives and property. These measures include cleaning up downed trees, power poles and other debris and repairing public infrastructure, including roads, bridges and public utilities. Under a cost-sharing formula, FEMA reimburses the state for 75 percent of the total costs, while the state and/or applicant pay the remaining 25 percent.

This deadline does not apply to counties not included in this declaration. Officials in these counties who have questions about Requests for Public Assistance should contact Brian Williams at 505-476-9601.

“Recovering from such widespread flooding takes a lot of effort and can be expensive,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Nancy Casper. “The process of getting reimbursed for these expenses starts with filing an RPA.”

Although the program is oriented to public entities, certain private nonprofit organizations may apply directly to FEMA via the RPA for uninsured costs of debris removal and emergency protective measures. Additionally, nonprofits may qualify for FEMA assistance to make infrastructure repairs if they provide critical services, such as fire and emergency rescue; medical treatment; power, water and sewer resources and communications systems.

Details of the PA program are on FEMA’s website at www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/index.shtm.
More information on New Mexico disaster recovery is available online at www.nmdhsem.org/.

The Dec. 27 deadline does not affect the original 15 counties: Catron, Chaves, Cibola, Colfax, Eddy, Guadalupe, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Sandoval, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, and Torrance counties, since their RPA deadline was Nov. 28.

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.

Link –

NM Officials face Dec. 27 Deadline For Requests For Public Assistance

FEMA Region 6 Urges People to Get Ready Now for Potential Severe Winter Weather

DENTON, Texas – People living in parts of New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma are urged to get ready now for potential severe winter weather over the next few days in the form of freezing rain and possible ice accumulation.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region 6 office continues to monitor the situation and stands ready to support state and local partners as needed and requested in the affected areas.

“We encourage people to keep listening to their local and state officials for updated instructions and information. The safety of people is the first priority,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “We also encourage people to have an individual or family emergency plan in place, practice that plan and put together a winter weather emergency kit.”

In addition to items normally found in an emergency preparedness kit, the winter weather kit should include:

• Rock salt or other more environmentally safe products to melt ice on walkways;
• Sand to improve traction;
• Sufficient heating fuel in case you lose power in your home; and
• Adequate clothing and blankets to keep you warm.

You will also want to minimize travel; keep a disaster supply kit in your vehicle; and bring pets inside.
More tools and resources are available online to help you prepare for, respond to and recover from any type of disaster. Visit www.Ready.gov or the Spanish language site www.Listo.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. Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

More here:

FEMA Region 6 Urges People to Get Ready Now for Potential Severe Winter Weather

Local, State, Tribal and Federal Partners Assessing Flood Damage in New Mexico

DENTON, Texas – The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region 6 office, the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and county, local and tribal officials are assessing damage in the aftermath of recent severe storms and flooding in the state.

Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments are the first step for a state or tribe in determining whether or not to request a presidential declaration. Assessments were already conducted for storms that hit the state in late July where teams looked at public infrastructure damage only. The current assessments include review of damages to both residences and community infrastructure from September storms.

During the assessments, the teams collect estimates of the expenses and damages such as the following:

• Amount and type of damage;
• Threat to public safety and people’s health;
• How many people may be displaced and for how long;
• Extent of insurance coverage;
• Extent of business losses;
• Extent of infrastructure damages;
• Impact to critical facilities;
• Cost of emergency workers’ overtime;
• Need for debris removal;
• Damage to roads, bridges or public facilities;
• Additional data from the American Red Cross or other local voluntary agencies may also be reviewed.

The governor’s office and tribal leaders review the results of the joint assessments and then decide whether the damage is beyond state, tribal and local recovery capabilities. The findings could then be used by Governor Susana Martinez or the tribal leaders to support a request for a Presidential declaration. The request for a presidential declaration is then submitted in writing by the governor to the president through FEMA’s regional office. In this request, the governor or tribal leader certifies that the combined local, county, tribal and state resources are insufficient to meet the emergency situation and that the situation is beyond the state’s recovery capabilities.

The request is reviewed at FEMA’s regional and national level. A number of factors are considered:

• Local response efforts, including labor and state/local assistance programs;
• Assistance from other sources – federal, state, charitable, volunteer, private sector;
• Private insurance availability;
• Impact on public health and safety;
• Impact on state and local financial resources;
• State and local involvement in recent disasters;
• Implementation of hazard mitigation and other corrective measures.

FEMA provides the president with an analysis of the situation and a recommended course of action.

###

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 R6 Preparedness website at www.fema.gov/region-vi/region-6-preparedness

Link:

Local, State, Tribal and Federal Partners Assessing Flood Damage in New Mexico

$28 Million in FEMA Region 6 Preparedness Grants Awarded in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas

DENTON, Texas – A total of 180 local fire departments, emergency medical service (EMS) agencies and state training facilities for fire departments in five Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 6 states are sharing more than $28 million in preparedness grants this year.

The funding is part of FEMA’s 2012 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) and includes financial assistance for equipment, vehicles, wellness and fitness programs, modifications to facilities, personal protective equipment, fire prevention projects, and the hiring, recruitment and retention of firefighters in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

There are three grant categories under this program – Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG), Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) and Fire Prevention & Safety Grants (FP&S). The AFG awards are designed to enhance the ability of eligible entities to protect the public and fire service personnel from fire and related hazards; SAFER awards provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase the number of trained, front line firefighters available in their communities; and FP&S grants support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and related hazards.

Some of the larger 2012 grants included a $3.3 million SAFER grant to the Corpus Christi Fire Department in Texas, a $2.7 million communications grant to the McAllen Fire Department in McAllen Texas, a $1.6 million grant to the Albuquerque Fire Department in New Mexico to purchase 50 Automated External Defibrillators, nearly $1 million to the Centerville, Louisiana Volunteer Fire Department for a variety of communications equipment, and a $549,000 SAFER grant to the Rogers Fire Department in Arkansas. In addition, the Louisiana Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigation (IAAI) in New Iberia, the Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation in Stillwater and the Austin, Texas Fire Department each received more than $200,000 for fire prevention programs.

The 2013 application period for SAFER grants has already closed, while the period for AFG and PF&S grants is expected to open soon. For more information on these preparedness grants, visit www.fema.gov/welcome-assistance-firefighters-grant-program. Follow links on the website to see a full list of 2012 grants.

###

Original post:

$28 Million in FEMA Region 6 Preparedness Grants Awarded in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas

Learn to Reduce Storm Damage this Saturday at Home Depot

FEMA joins Home Depot Stores for Hurricane Preparedness Days

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.–With memories of the 2012 hurricane season and Hurricane Sandy’s October wrath still lingering, FEMA is partnering with Home Depot stores to promote hurricane preparedness to help homeowners be safe and reduce their property damage from the next storm.

FEMA mitigation specialists and Home Depot associates will be at the Bellingham, Mass., Home Depot, 229 Hartford Avenue, from 9:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. this Saturday educating concerned homeowners on how to make their homes stronger and safer.

Using a see-through, disaster avoidance model house, FEMA staff will demonstrate the use of hurricane straps and stronger building materials to prepare homes to better withstand the forces of a hurricane.

Subject matter experts will also help customers create an emergency preparedness kit, choose the best generator for their needs, and identify the different types of alerts and wind speeds associated with hurricanes.

Hurricane season begins on June 1 and runs through Nov. 30, but hurricanes have been known to pay no attention to dates. The 2005 season was the most active hurricane season on record with 28 named storms and 15 hurricanes. The last named storm in 2005, Zeta, formed on Dec. 29 before dissipating a week later in 2006.

The National Weather Service has forecast an active hurricane season for 2013, and so far the season is proving them right.

Tropical Storm Andrea made landfall in Florida barely six days into the hurricane season. Right on her heels was Tropical Storm Barry that went ashore near Veracruz, Mexico. Tropical Storm Chantal formed in early July and slammed the Caribbean for two days before losing her strength to wind shear. This year’s fourth named storm, Tropical Storm Dorian, has already formed in the Eastern Atlantic and appears headed for the Caribbean. It may be only a matter of time before Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle or one of the following storms tracks the paths of Irene and Sandy to New England.

More than 700 Home Depot stores along America’s coastlines will be participating in Hurricane Preparedness Days in their areas. For more information on the Hurricane Workshops, go to https://myapron.homedepot.com or email Ashley_townsend@homedepot.com.

Source:

Learn to Reduce Storm Damage this Saturday at Home Depot

March 18-22 is Flood Safety Awareness Week. Do You Know Your Flood Hazards?

DENTON, Texas – The Region 6 office of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is joining its federal, state and local partners in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas to commemorate Flood Safety Awareness Week from March 18-22, 2013.

The week-long campaign provides an opportunity for emergency management experts to work together in sharing information about the dangers related to flooding, how to prepare for flood events and ways to prevent future damage from floods.

“Flooding is the nation’s number one natural disaster and it can happen in any of our regional states,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “We encourage homeowners, renters and business owners to find out if their home or business is at risk for flood and then take steps to address that risk.”

Before a Flood

Avoid building in a floodplain unless you elevate and reinforce your home.
Elevate the furnace, water heater and electric panel if susceptible to flooding.
Build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.

During a Flood

Listen to local officials and monitor your local radio or television for information.
Be aware that flash flooding can occur. If it does, move immediately to higher ground.
Be aware of streams, drainage channels, canyons and other areas known to flood suddenly.
Do not drive into flooded areas. Turn Around; Don’t Drown. Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles.

After a Flood

Avoid floodwaters; water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline or raw sewage. Water may also be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines.
Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded. Roads may have weakened.
Return home only when authorities indicate it is safe.

Find more information on flooding, flood hazards, and flood insurance at www.floodsmart.gov, http://www.ready.gov/floods and www.nws.noaa.gov/floodsafety/.

###

See original:

March 18-22 is Flood Safety Awareness Week. Do You Know Your Flood Hazards?

Page 2 of 3 « 1 2 3 »