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Local Residents Wanted for Hurricane Matthew Disaster Recovery Jobs

RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolinians looking for temporary work now have an opportunity to be part of the team to help their state recover from Hurricane Matthew, and to learn first-hand about the recovery process. North Carolina Works, in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is advertising open temporary positions.

If interested in working with FEMA, you can visit the NC Works workforce office serving your area or visit www.ncworks.gov to find available job opportunities. You also may call 919-560-6880.

Positions are posted as the need arises. FEMA will be here to help the people of North Carolina recover for as long as needed.

If seeking a job with FEMA, you must be a U.S. citizen 18 years of age or older and have a valid government identification card, such as a driver’s license or military ID. Before hiring, candidates will be subject to a complete background investigation and fingerprinting.

FEMA is committed to employing a highly qualified workforce that reflects the diversity of our nation and the people we serve. The federal government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, political affiliation, non-disqualifying physical handicap, sexual orientation and any other non-merit factor.

For more information on the North Carolina’s recovery, visit the disaster webpage at fema.gov/disaster/4285; or visit the North Carolina Emergency Management website at ncdps.gov/.

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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 800-621-3362 or TTY at 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow FEMA on twitter at @femaregion4. Download the FEMA app with tools and tips to keep you safe before, during, and after disasters.

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Local Residents Wanted for Hurricane Matthew Disaster Recovery Jobs

Louisiana Flooding Survivors Receive FEMA Rebuilding Advice at Area Home Improvement Stores

BATON ROUGE, La. — As Louisianans repair and rebuild their homes damaged by August’s floods, FEMA and local home improvement stores have teamed up to provide free information, tips and literature on making homes safer and stronger.

FEMA mitigation specialists will be on hand at area home improvement stores from Sept. 12 through Sept. 24. They will be available to answer questions, offer tips and discuss proven methods for preventing and mitigating damage from future disasters. Most of the information is intended for do-it-yourself work and general contractors.

FEMA advisors will be on hand at information points in the following stores from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The advice stand is closed on Sunday.

THE HOME DEPOT at the following locations:
3721 Ambassador Caffery Blvd.
Lafayette, La. 70501

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18139 Highland Rd.
Baton Rouge, La. 70810

143 N. Shore Blvd.
Slidell, La. 70460

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5000 Masonic Drive
Alexandria, La. 71301

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LOWE’S
2700 Charity St.
Abbeville, La. 70510

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STINE LUMBER COMPANY
29200 Walker Rd. South
Walker, La. 70785

Free reference booklets, in English and Spanish, with information on protecting your home from flood damage, will be available at all locations.

More information about mitigation can be found at http://www.fema.gov/louisiana-disaster-mitigation. Additional information on Louisiana’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4277, twitter.com/femaregion6, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA, fema.gov/blog.

Download the FEMA mobile app for disaster resources, weather alerts, and safety tips. The app provides a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, maps of open shelters and weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations across the nation. The latest feature of the app allows you to send notifications to your device to remind you to take important steps to prepare your home and family for disasters. Go to Ready.gov for more detail.

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Louisiana Flooding Survivors Receive FEMA Rebuilding Advice at Area Home Improvement Stores

Want to Help Your Community Recover? Come Work for FEMA!

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana residents looking for temporary work have an opportunity to lead in their communities’ recovery process by working with the Federal Federal Emergency Management Agency.

FEMA is advertising through the Louisiana Workforce Commission to fill open positions at its disaster recovery offices in Louisiana. These are full-time jobs, but of temporary duration, with benefits including health insurance, sick leave and holiday pay. Job duration varies, but some may last as long as FEMA is locally involved in the recovery. Benefits end when the job ends.

To apply, visit www.laworks.net, the website for “Louisiana Workforce Commission – Helping Individuals Reach Employment.”

Click in the “DISASTER RELIEF WORK” box at the top of the screen.
The list may be longer than the screen shows, so scroll to the bottom. It also may extend over multiple pages.
Click on a job description to open detailed requirements and a link to apply.

FEMA is seeking a wide variety of skilled workers, including administrative assistants, construction cost estimators, construction tradespersons, drivers, environmental experts, facilities workers, historic preservation specialists, travel agents and workers in many other specialties. Once hired, applicants will receive appropriate on-the-job training.

Candidates must be U.S. citizens, 18 years or older and have a valid government identification card such as driver’s license or military ID. Candidates will be subject to a complete background investigation.

FEMA is committed to employing a highly qualified workforce that reflects the diversity of our nation. The federal government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, political affiliation, non-disqualifying physical handicap, sexual orientation or other non-merit factor.

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Want to Help Your Community Recover? Come Work for FEMA!

Be Prepared—Download FEMA Smartphone App

ATLANTA, Ga – Take steps now to prepare your family for disasters by downloading the FEMA smartphone app.

Much of the region has been under heat advisories from the National Weather Service over the past few weeks. While it has cooled down in recent days, summer continues for several more weeks. The FEMA app lets you receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations across the nation, making it easy to follow severe weather that may be threatening your family and friends.

To help you stay safe during extreme heat, take the following actions when your area is under a heat advisory:

Postpone outdoor games and activities and limit exposure to the sun.
Drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine; limit alcoholic beverage intake.
Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing.
Spend the warmest part of the day in temperature-controlled buildings such as libraries, schools, movie theaters, shopping malls, or community facilities.
Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.

Download and use the free FEMA app, which provides valuable safety tips to help you prepare for and recover from more than 20 natural and man-made hazards. The app also provides family communication plans, a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, and maps of open shelters and disaster recovery centers. The app is available on the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

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Be Prepared—Download FEMA Smartphone App

Recovery on Pine Ridge – One year later: A Holistic Approach – Partners Working Together

PINE RIDGE, S.D. – Hundreds of families’ lives were turned upside down and were severely affected after the devastating storms and floods hit Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Many homes were beyond repair. Families and friends were forced to find other places to live, doubling and tripling up in homes that were habitable, at a time when there was already a significant housing shortage on the Reservation.

Dirt and gravel roads took a heavy beating, with washouts numerous and culverts damaged. This limited access for individuals to basic needs, including food and medical attention.

Even before the storms, resources within the Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST) were already stretched to the limits. Recovery was going to take time… and take many partners working as one.

Housing and roads were among the priorities identified by Oglala Sioux Tribal President John Yellow Bird Steele. Two task forces with leaders and members from the tribe, OST organizations, and federal agencies, were established to confront these challenges head on. Their task is to identify the issues, and work to make things better not only now, but for the future.

Housing

The OST Housing Task Force, is co-chaired by the Oglala Sioux Lakota Housing and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The focus has been on “One Nation – One Number” – OST’s initiative to document unmet housing needs and capture a comprehensive number of people living on the reservation. The hard numbers can better tell the story of overcrowding and cramped living conditions than anecdotal details alone. And while some numbers are currently available, there is no uniformity in how they are compiled or methodologies used. Consistency and accuracy of the numbers is vital for all the various funding opportunities for tribal programs.

Another initiative is underway to combat the high energy bills on the reservation by delivering a simple weatherization program outlining ways in which homeowners can improve energy efficiency in their homes. It focuses on providing information about no-cost and low-cost ways of saving energy – things that individuals can do themselves.

Roads

The OST Roads Task Force, is co-chaired by the Oglala Sioux Tribe-Department of Transportation (OST-DOT) and the Federal Highways Administration. As with the Housing Task Force, many tribal federal partners have come to the table. And like the Housing Task Force, the Roads Task Force found the lack of data documenting tribal roads and conditions can contribute to inadequate funding and opportunities for road construction, repairs, equipment and personnel.

For two months, assessment teams traveled the reservation, collecting information on location, construction, and condition on 1720 tribal roads totaling 466 miles to be entered into the OST-DOT data base. It will be included in the Geospatial Information System (GIS) mapping of Pine Ridge Reservation, as part of the OST “One Nation – One Map” project.

Estimates of repair and maintenance costs are also being developed to demonstrate funding needs and support prioritization of tribal road improvement projects and maintenance. This will also provide a baseline for the future by detailing the current condition of all roads.

Preparing for the Future

Building capability within the Tribe has also been a priority focus. Education, training and other initiatives provide opportunities for the tribe to enhance their ability to plan for and respond in the future.

Strategic Planning and Management Training was offered to Tribal leadership and agency staff teaching the importance of planning and walking through a step by step planning process and create a plan for the area they were responsible for. This will augment the work of an OST Planning Office, which is in development.
Tribal officials and employees attended FEMA’s “Emergency Management Framework for Tribal Governments” course. This training provides tribal leaders a basic understanding of emergency management and their role in leading and directing their tribe in implementing comprehensive emergency management systems.
Tribal leaders and members representing multiple tribal agencies received training on FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program projects, what could be considered eligible and requirements to apply.
In coordination with FEMA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and the Oglala Sioux Tribe, an in-depth assessment of all GIS activities on the reservation is underway. This assessment will analyze current staffing levels, equipment, IT infrastructure, and data needs. In addition, BIA will offer their “Principles of GIS” course to the tribal staff responsible for GIS activities.
One of the needs identified for the Pine Ridge Reservation is a structural fire suppression and prevention program, which currently is not available. Federal and tribal partners are taking steps to solve this issue and funding opportunities are being explored.

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Recovery on Pine Ridge – One year later: A Holistic Approach – Partners Working Together

Disaster Recovery Progress at Pine Ridge, One Year Later

PINE RIDGE, S.D. – August 7 will mark one year since President Obama’s disaster declaration for the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, kicking off the largest housing effort in the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s history. To support this effort, FEMA continues to have staff deployed to the reservation and office space at Ellsworth Air Force Base.

To address the severe housing need on the reservation following the disaster, FEMA initiated a permanent housing construction program used for the first time in the continental United States. Under the effort, more than 300 households were identified as eligible for either repairs to their damaged home, or replacement with a new manufactured home. A total of 196 new manufactured homes were turned over to tribal residents with the final closing occurring on July 11. The manufactured homes were staged at Ellsworth Air Force Base prior to their final delivery and installation on the reservation. As of August 2, 85 additional homes have been repaired by contractors funded by FEMA. The remaining 23 homes are expected to be repaired by early September.

In addition to the housing construction program, FEMA has provided more than $435,000 in direct financial aid to tribal members. Of that, more than $217,000 was for home repairs and $219,000 was for personal property losses and other emergency needs as a result of the May storm. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $943,000 in low-interest loans to 58 tribal residents and businesses.

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds will also be made available to the tribe, with the amount available based on total disaster response and recovery costs. This program will allow the tribe to develop and undertake projects that will minimize the impact of future disaster events. Projects will be based on priorities established by the tribe, can be done reservation wide, and do not have to be directly related damages caused by the May 2015 storm event.

A federal interagency disaster recovery coordination team has partnered with the (OST) Government to support long-term recovery. Joining FEMA and the tribal government are the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Agriculture Rural Development, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the Federal Highway Administration.

The recovery coordination team has task forces dedicated to two primary issues, roads and housing. On the housing front, the goal is “One Nation – One Number”, and initiative to get a comprehensive count of both housing structures and their condition as well as the number of occupants. An accurate total will give a true picture of the scope of need and bolster requests for funding to address it.

A similar tack is being taken on the roads side, with “One Nation – One Map” being the result of a months-long survey of all roads within reservation boundaries. The survey is being converted into GIS data to provide the tribe with comprehensive information on all roads and their current maintenance.

Disaster Recovery Progress at Pine Ridge, One Year Later

FEMA Hiring Local Employees for South Carolina Disaster Recovery Offices

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency is hiring South Carolinians for full-time, temporary jobs at offices in Blythewood, Florence and North Charleston.

The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce and FEMA are working together to advertise job opportunities. To apply for open positions, create an account on the jobs.scworks.org website.

The following positions are needed:

Administrative assistant
Logistics management specialist
Courier
Program liaison
Speakers bureau specialist
Digital communications specialist
Writer/editor
GIS specialist
Environmental specialist
Environmental floodplain specialist
Historic preservation specialist
Switchboard operator

More positions may be posted on the SCworks website as disaster recovery continues.

Candidates must be U.S. citizens 18 years of age or older. They must have a valid government identification card, such as a driver’s license or military ID. Before hiring, selected candidates will be subject to a complete background investigation.

FEMA is committed to employing a highly qualified workforce that reflects the diversity of our nation. All applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, political affiliation, nondisqualifying physical handicap, sexual orientation and any other nonmerit factor. The federal government is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4241 and http://www.scemd.org/ for news and information about South Carolina’s recovery.

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FEMA Hiring Local Employees for South Carolina Disaster Recovery Offices

President Declares Disaster for Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and ordered federal aid to supplement recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of May 8-29, 2015.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to the affected members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

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

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov. Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (MDT) seven days a week until further notice.

Gary R. Stanley has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Stanley said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and additional areas may be designated for assistance after the assessments are fully completed.

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.

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President Declares Disaster for Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

Make Your Community Safer on National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day

WASHINGTON – Wildfires can occur anywhere in the country with the potential to destroy homes, businesses, infrastructure, natural resources, and agriculture. Last year, the United States experienced over 63,000 wildfires that burned more than three million acres. National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is Saturday, May 2, and people across the nation will dedicate time to making their communities a safer place should a wildfire occur.

Wildfires can start in remote wilderness areas, national parks, or even your backyard. They can start from natural causes, such as lightning, but most are caused by humans, either accidentally—from cigarettes, campfires, or outdoor burning—or intentionally.

“When our citizens prepare and adopt the principles of fire-adapted communities, the loss of life and property from wildland fires is greatly reduced,” said United States Fire Administrator Ernest Mitchell.

Protect your family and community from a wildfire by taking action before one happens. On National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, join your friends, family members, faith-based group or youth organization, and volunteer your time to improve your community’s ability to withstand and recover from a wildfire, which also may improve the safety of firefighters.

There are many ways to help protect homes, neighborhoods, businesses, and entire communities:

Reduce the amount of flammable materials and brush that can burn around your home or business;
Create a fire-free area within the first five feet of your home using non-flammable materials and high moisture-content plantings;
Maintain an area that is clear of flammable materials and debris for at least 30 feet on all sides from your home or business; and
Move wood piles and propane tanks to at least 30 feet from your home or business.

National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is part of America’s PrepareAthon! a grassroots campaign for action to get people better prepared for emergencies through group discussions, drills and exercises. You can take steps to prepare to reduce the devastating effects of any disaster by creating a family communication plan and practicing how you will evacuate and communicate with friends and family members in an emergency. Register your action at www.ready.gov/prepare.

Learn more about National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. Visit the ready.gov and learn how to prepare for a wildfire.

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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 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.

Source:

Make Your Community Safer on National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day

FEMA Launches New Feature to Mobile App Empowering Users to Follow Weather Alerts Across the Country

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) launched a new feature to its free app that will enable users to receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations across the nation. This new feature allows users to receive alerts on severe weather happening anywhere they select in the country, even if the phone is not located in the area, making it easy to follow severe weather that may be threatening family and friends.

“Emergency responders and disaster survivors are increasingly turning to mobile devices to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters,” said Craig Fugate, FEMA administrator. “This new feature empowers individuals to assist and support family and friends before, during, and after a severe weather event.”

“Every minute counts when severe weather threatens and mobile apps are an essential way to immediately receive the life-saving warnings provided by NOAA’s National Weather Service,” said Kathryn Sullivan, Ph.D., NOAA administrator. “These alerts are another tool in our toolbox as we work to build a ‘Weather Ready Nation’ – a nation that’s ready, responsive, and resilient to extreme weather events.”

According to a recent survey by Pew Research, 40 percent of Americans have used their smartphone to look up government services or information. Additionally, a majority of smartphone owners use their devices to keep up to date with breaking news, and to be informed about what is happening in their community.

The new weather alert feature adds to the app’s existing features to help Americans through emergencies. In addition to this upgrade, the app also provides a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, maps of open shelters and Disaster Recovery Centers, and tips on how to survive natural and manmade disasters. The FEMA app also offers a “Disaster Reporter” feature, where users can upload and share photos of disaster damage.

Some other key features of the app include:

Safety Tips: Tips on how to stay safe before, during, and after over 20 types of hazards, including floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes
Disaster Reporter: Users can upload and share photos of damage and recovery efforts
Maps of Disaster Resources: Users can locate and receive driving directions to open shelters and disaster recovery centers
Apply for Assistance: The app provides easy access to apply for federal disaster assistance
Information in Spanish: The app defaults to Spanish-language content for smartphones that have Spanish set as their default language

The latest version of the FEMA app is available for free in the App Store for Apple devices and Google Play for Android devices. Users who already have the app downloaded on their device should download the latest update for the weather alerts feature to take effect. The new weather alerts feature in the FEMA app does not replace Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) function available on many new smartphones. WEAs have a special tone and vibration and are sent for emergencies such as extreme weather, AMBER alerts, or Presidential Alerts.

To learn more about the FEMA app, visit: The FEMA App: Helping Your Family Weather the Storm.

Graphic with a brief summary of a few features in the FEMA app. A brief summary of a few features in the FEMA app.

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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.

Source:

FEMA Launches New Feature to Mobile App Empowering Users to Follow Weather Alerts Across the Country

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