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The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut helps Tennessee Prepare for Earthquakes

ATLANTA – In two days, more than 2.5 million people are expected to participate in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut earthquake drill.

The ShakeOut will be held Thursday, February 7 at 10:15 a.m. local time. It is a multi-state earthquake drill for millions of people to simultaneously practice the recommended response to earthquake shaking:

DROP to the ground
Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and
HOLD-ON to it until the shaking stops

Although people living in this part of the country haven’t experienced many earthquakes, scientists estimate that there is a 25-40 percent probability of a damaging earthquake occurring in the central U.S. within a 50-year timeframe.

Thursday’s drill marks the anniversary of the last of the powerful New Madrid earthquakes, a series of at least three magnitude 7-8.0 quakes that struck in the winter of 1811-12 and affected many parts of this region. If it happened today, an earthquake would cause injury and loss of life, and widespread damage and disruption to the nation’s economy and built environment.

Anyone can sign up to participate in Thursday’s drill at shakeout.org/centralus. The website offers many resources for participants to use including:

Drill Manuals
Audio and Video Drill Broadcasts
Earthquake Scenarios and more

The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut is coordinated by the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium, its Member and Associate States, FEMA, the U.S. Geological Survey and many other partners. States participating include Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

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

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The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut helps Tennessee Prepare for Earthquakes

The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut helps Alabama Prepare for Earthquakes

ATLANTA – In two days, more than 2.5 million people are expected to participate in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut earthquake drill.

DROP to the ground
Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and
HOLD-ON to it until the shaking stops

“The only way to be prepared for an earthquake is to practice,” says Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Art Faulkner. “This ShakeOut drill is the perfect opportunity for families, schools and churches to review and practice their plan of action if an earthquake occurs.”

Anyone can sign up to participate in Thursday’s drill at shakeout.org/centralus. The website offers many resources for participants to use including:

Drill Manuals
Audio and Video Drill Broadcasts
Earthquake Scenarios and more

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The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut helps Alabama Prepare for Earthquakes

Resolve to be Ready in Mississippi, Commit to Emergency Preparedness in 2013!

Resolve to be Ready in Mississippi, Commit to Emergency Preparedness in 2013!

ATLANTA — This year was characterized by extremely active and devastating weather events across the country; flooding in the Southeast as a result of Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricane Isaac, wildfires across the Midwest, and Hurricane Sandy which devastated parts of the Northeast and was the second-largest Atlantic storm on record.

As 2012 comes to a close and people make resolutions for the new year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) are encouraging everyone to Resolve to be Ready in 2013 by committing to emergency preparedness.

MEMA’s goal for the new year is for every Mississippian to be prepared for any type of disaster, whether natural or man-made.

“The events of the past year prove that preparedness is the most important aspect of disasters,” said MEMA Director Robert Latham. “Preparedness begins with individuals and families, but should include the whole community. When everyone is prepared, residents will have to depend less on local, state and federal government to recover after a disaster.”

As we have seen in 2012, including the recent severe weather affecting many parts of the country during the holidays, disasters can strike anytime, anywhere, and being prepared is one of the most effective things we can do to protect our homes, businesses and loved ones. Resolve to be Ready in 2013 is a nationwide effort to increase awareness and encourage individuals, families, businesses and communities to take action and prepare for emergencies in the new year.

“Resolve to be Ready is one new year’s resolution you’ll want to keep,” said FEMA Region IV Administrator Phil May. “There are simple steps you can take to prepare for emergencies, such as putting together an emergency supply kit and creating a family emergency plan. Taking these steps will help keep you and your family safe, and could be the most important pledge you make.”

By making a resolution to take a few simple steps in advance, people can minimize the impact of an emergency on their families, homes and businesses. To take the pledge, visit www.ready.gov/resolve or www.listo.gov, which includes free information, checklists and guidelines about how to put together a kit and make a plan.

Here are a few important tips to get you started:

Be informed. Know the hazards and risks in your area and learn what you need to do to get ready for them. One way you can do this is by signing up to receive information on your mobile device. Here are a few agency websites that offer timely information:

Make a family emergency plan so you know how you would communicate with and find your loved ones when a disaster strikes. Think about how you would reach your kids at school or your spouse at work. If you had to evacuate, where would you go? Thinking this through in advance will make a big difference.

Build two emergency supply kits – one for home and one for the car – that include water, food and first aid supplies to help you survive if you lose power or are stranded in your car. This is especially important for dealing with icy roads and snowstorms this winter.

Get Involved. Be an advocate and educator for safety and emergency preparedness within your community. Contact your local Citizen Corps.

Spread the word to your loved ones and encourage them to Resolve to be Ready in 2013. Anyone can learn more by visiting Ready.gov or Listo.gov.

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Resolve to be Ready in Mississippi, Commit to Emergency Preparedness in 2013!

Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station Exercise Process To Be Discussed At Public Meeting

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Region VII, announced today the state of Iowa, Clinton County, Iowa, and Scott County, Iowa, will participate with Exelon Corporation in a one-day exercise on December 5, 2012, then host a public meeting to explain exercise processes on December 7, 2012, in support of the Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station.

The routine exercise will test the ability of the state of Iowa, the utility, and the participating counties to protect the health and safety of the public living in the vicinity of the Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, located on the east side of the Mississippi River, near Cordova, Illinois.

The exercise is a biennial requirement to determine the adequacy of the state and local radiological emergency preparedness and response plans. It will require the activation of emergency facilities by the participating state and local officials. The activities of the state, county and local units of government will be observed and evaluated by the FEMA Region VII Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program. The Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station on-site performance will be observed and evaluated by officials from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

On Friday, December 7, 2012, a public meeting will be held at 11:00 a.m. (CST) in the Scott County Emergency Management Agency facility, located at 1100 East 46th Street, Davenport, Iowa. The purpose of the meeting is to describe and explain the full-scale response exercise process. However, because the process of evaluating the full-scale response exercise will take months, only preliminary findings which are very limited in scope can be shared during the meeting.

Representatives from FEMA Region VII will chair the meeting and explain the exercise process.

EDITOR’S NOTE: For information about the Illinois public meeting for this exercise, please contact Patti Thompson, Communications Manager, Illinois Emergency Management Agency, at 217-557-4756.

Visit FEMA Region VII online, at http://www.fema.gov/region-vii-ia-ks-mo-ne Follow FEMA on social media, at www.twitter.com/femaregion7, 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.

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Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station Exercise Process To Be Discussed At Public Meeting

Nearly $28 Million in Federal Assistance to Mississippi for Hurricane Isaac

CLINTON, Miss. – In the more than two months since Hurricane Isaac struck Mississippi, $28 million in state and federal aid has been approved to help those affected.

MEMA and FEMA provide the following snapshot of the disaster recovery effort as of Nov. 5:

More than 6,400 households have received FEMA grants that assist with housing and personal property loss.
More than $13 million has been approved for housing grants, including short-term rental assistance, home repair and replacement costs.
More than $2.4 million has been approved to cover other essential disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses and lost personal possessions.
Nearly $7.5 million in low-interest disaster loans has been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration to assist homeowners, renters and businesses.
Nearly 20,500 home inspections have been completed.

Those who received money from FEMA must keep the receipts or bills for which the money was used. The records document that the assistance was used to meet disaster-related needs and must be saved for three years. For more on what should be kept, consult the “Help After a Disaster” guide, which was mailed to each applicant. Information is also available online at fema.gov/help-after-disaster.

Survivors with any questions can go online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by mobile device at m.fema.gov. Or call the FEMA toll-free Helpline at
800-621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Nearly 26,000 survivors in designated counties have contacted FEMA for help or information regarding disaster assistance. Many people sought housing assistance from FEMA because their primary homes were unlivable or inaccessible.

Although the registration period has closed, those who have applied for disaster assistance should stay in contact with FEMA if they change their mailing address, phone number or e-mail address, if they receive an insurance settlement, or discover additional damage by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

The Helpline also is available for Mississippians who have needs not met by federal assistance. It is a good source of information referring survivors to state and local organizations and partner agencies such as the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Survivors also may call 2-1-1 to be connected to volunteer or faith-based organizations that may be able to help them with resources and needs.

Businesses that need help may contact the SBA directly at the SBA Disaster Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (TTY) 800-877-8339, send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or go to https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ to apply.

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Nearly $28 Million in Federal Assistance to Mississippi for Hurricane Isaac

Nearly $23 Million in FEMA Assistance to Mississippi for Hurricane Isaac

CLINTON, Miss. – In nearly eight weeks since Hurricane Isaac struck Mississippi, $23 million in state and federal aid has been approved to help those affected.

MEMA and FEMA provide the following snapshot of the disaster recovery effort as of Oct. 29:

Nearly 6,400 households have received FEMA grants that assist with housing and personal property loss.
Nearly $13 million has been approved for housing grants, including short-term rental assistance, home repair and replacement costs.
More than $2.4 million has been approved to cover other essential disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses and lost personal possessions.
Nearly $7.6 million in low-interest disaster loans have been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration to assist homeowners, renters and businesses.
Nearly 20,300 home inspections have been completed.

Survivors have just two days to register for disaster assistance. Registration ends midnight Oct. 31. Survivors should register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by mobile device at m.fema.gov. If online or mobile access is unavailable, applicants should call the FEMA toll-free Helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers
are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

More than 25,200 survivors in designated counties have contacted FEMA for help or information regarding disaster assistance. Many people sought housing assistance from FEMA because their primary homes were unlivable or inaccessible.

Those who have already registered for disaster assistance should stay in contact with FEMA if they change their mailing address, phone
number or e-mail address, if they receive an insurance settlement, or discover additional damage by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

The Helpline is also available for Mississippians who have needs not met by federal assistance. It is a good source of information referring survivors to state and local organizations and partner agencies such as the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Survivors may also call 2-1-1 to be connected to volunteer or faith-based organizations that may be able to help them with resources and needs.

Businesses that need help may contact the SBA Disaster Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (TTY) 800-877-8339, send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or go to https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ to apply.

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Nearly $23 Million in FEMA Assistance to Mississippi for Hurricane Isaac

Hurricane Isaac Survivors Should Submit Insurance Settlements

CLINTON, Miss. – Hurricane Isaac survivors who registered with FEMA in Mississippi and indicated they had insurance coverage should send in their settlement information for review.

The insurance settlement documents allow FEMA to determine if survivors have uninsured or underinsured losses that may be eligible for federal assistance. Decisions on FEMA assistance are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

To submit insurance documentation, here’s what applicants can do:

Gather insurance documents and any settlement information.
Write the applicant’s name, FEMA registration number and DR-4081-MS on each page.
Send a copy of these documents to FEMA by:
Fax: 800-827-8112
Mail: National Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055

Call FEMA with questions at 800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 800-462-7585. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and assistance is available in many languages.

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Hurricane Isaac Survivors Should Submit Insurance Settlements

Hurricane Isaac Demonstrates the Need for Flood Insurance

CLINTON, Miss. – Slow-moving Hurricane Isaac sat on the Mississippi coast for two days dumping rain, totaling up to 20 inches in places, and battering coastal areas with a 10-foot storm surge. Rivers reached near-historic flood levels. Flooding damaged or destroyed nearly 3,000 homes, according to state officials.

“Flooding is the most common disaster we see in our state each year,” said Mississippi Emergency Management Agency State Coordinating Officer Bill Brown. “Many who flooded during Isaac were not in high-risk flood zones. Having a flood insurance policy from the National Flood Insurance Program won’t keep the water out of your house, but it will protect the investment you have in it.”

Flood insurance is important regardless of your flood zone. In fact, people outside high-risk areas file more than 20 percent of NFIP claims. In Mississippi, 86,000 households have flood insurance. About 39,000 of those policies were bought by consumers living outside a high risk flood zone.

“Here are two important points people need to understand. First, homeowners’ policies do not cover flooding. Second, flood insurance policyholders can file a claim for flood damage even if a storm doesn’t trigger a federal disaster declaration,” said Terry L. Quarles, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer. “Flood insurance is available to homeowners, business owners and renters in communities that participate in the NFIP and enforce their local flood damage prevention ordinances.”

By law, federally regulated or insured mortgage lenders require flood insurance on properties that are located in areas at high risk of flooding, called special flood hazard areas. An interactive guide to determine your flood risk is available online at FloodSmart.gov.

Flood insurance, with the average premium running about $600 per year, can save homeowners thousands of dollars in repairs. Just 3 inches of floodwater in a home will require replacing drywall, baseboards, carpet, furniture and other necessary repairs can cost an estimated $22,590.

The deeper the floodwater, the more it will cost – 24 inches of water means repairs to the electrical system and the heating and cooling system. It also means replacement of doors, appliances and cabinetry, which could add another $40,000 to the bill.

Homeowners can insure their homes for up to $250,000 and contents for up to $100,000. Renters can cover their belongings for up to $100,000. Nonresidential property owners can insure a building and its contents for up to $500,000 each.

There is normally a 30-day waiting period when purchasing a new policy so now is the time to get your policy, before the next disaster strikes. The NFIP is administered by FEMA, which works closely with nearly 90 private insurance companies to offer flood insurance to property owners and renters.

NFIP policies can be purchased from state licensed property and casualty insurance agents who already deal with other property insurance needs. NFIP can also put people in touch with agents. Visit www.floodsmart.gov for more information about flood insurance and to locate a local agent.

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Hurricane Isaac Demonstrates the Need for Flood Insurance

Nearly $22 Million In Fema Assistance For Hurricane Isaac

CLINTON, Miss. – In nearly seven weeks since Hurricane Isaac struck Mississippi, $21.9 million in state and federal aid has been approved to help those affected.

MEMA and FEMA provide the following snapshot of the disaster recovery effort as of Oct. 22:

More than 6,200 households have received FEMA grants that assist with housing and personal property loss.
Nearly $12.6 million has been approved for housing grants, including short-term rental assistance, home repair and replacement costs.
More than $2.3 million has been approved to cover other essential disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses and lost personal possessions.
Nearly $7 million in low-interest disaster loans have been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration to assist homeowners, renters and businesses.
Nearly 20,000 home inspections have been completed.

Survivors have just over a week to register for disaster assistance. Registration ends Oct. 31. Survivors should register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by mobile device at m.fema.gov. If online or mobile access is unavailable, applicants should call the FEMA toll-free Helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

More than 25,000 survivors in designated counties have contacted FEMA for help or information regarding disaster assistance. Many people sought housing assistance from FEMA because their primary homes were unlivable or inaccessible.

Those who have already registered for disaster assistance should stay in contact with FEMA if they change their mailing address, phone number or e-mail address, if they receive an insurance settlement, or discover additional damage by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

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Nearly $22 Million In Fema Assistance For Hurricane Isaac

Mississippi Damage from Isaac Being Identified for Repair

CLINTON, Miss. – The rebuilding of Mississippi public infrastructure in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac is underway, with more than $55 million in damage identified as potentially eligible for federal assistance.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are assisting local governments and certain non-profits in the 48 designated counties and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians with identifying eligible projects, and requesting funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance program. There are 12 teams helping to develop project worksheets on each project to be repaired.

“Through our Public Assistance program, we partner with the state and local governments to identify facilities with eligible damages,” said Terry Quarles, FEMA federal coordinating officer. “Our goal is to assist them in getting the funds to restore critical infrastructure within the state.”

FEMA assigns public assistance coordinators who work with applicants in evaluating damages and determining estimated costs of repair.

“The Public Assistance program is a very important part of helping our state, local governments and private nonprofits recover,” said State Coordinating Officer Bill Brown. “The faster we get them back on their feet, the faster our residents will also be able to recover from a disaster.”

Public Assistance projects are categorized as small projects, with costs less than $64,200, and large projects, with costs above that threshold. There are 479 small projects identified in Mississippi, and 79 large projects, according to federal officials.

For approved projects, FEMA will pay 75 percent of eligible costs. The state and the applicant are responsible for 25 percent.

Only damage that occurred as a result of the storm is eligible for reimbursement.

Public Assistance projects may include debris removal, emergency response, and repair or replacement of damaged culverts, roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure.

Certain private nonprofits may also receive Public Assistance funding if they provide services of a public nature, such as hospitals, utilities and schools, but they are responsible for the full 25 percent
cost share.

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Mississippi Damage from Isaac Being Identified for Repair

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