news - femacontract.com

Federal Aid Programs for the State of Maryland Emergency Declaration

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s emergency disaster declaration issued for the State of Maryland.

Assistance for the State, Tribal and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

FEMA is authorized to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the designated areas.
Specifically, FEMA is authorized to provide emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent Federal funding.

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 http://blog.fema.gov, 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 are provided for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

Federal Aid Programs for the State of Maryland Emergency Declaration

Readout of Secretary Napolitano and FEMA Administrator Fugate’s Calls to Governors and Mayors as Preparations for Hurricane Sandy Continue

WASHINGTON—Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate today reached out to the governors of Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and the mayors of New York and Washington, D.C., to make sure the governors’ and mayors’ teams had the support they need as they continue to prepare for Hurricane Sandy.

“At the direction of the President, DHS and FEMA continue to work closely with our state and local partners to identify and address needs early as communities prepare for this storm,” said Secretary Napolitano. “FEMA and other federal partners are already sending teams and resources into potentially impacted areas to support state and local preparedness efforts, and Administrator Fugate and I continue to urge those along the East Coast to closely monitor the progress of Hurricane Sandy and continue to follow the guidance and direction of their state and local officials.”

Earlier today, President Obama convened a call with Secretary Napolitano, Administrator Fugate, National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Rick Knabb, and Homeland Security Advisor John Brennan to receive an update on ongoing federal actions to prepare for Hurricane Sandy as it moves toward the United States mainland. The President reiterated his direction to Administrator Fugate to ensure that federal partners continue to bring all available resources to bear to support state and local responders in potentially affected areas along the Eastern seaboard as they prepare for severe weather.

Residents in potentially impacted states are encouraged to listen to the directions of state and local officials and have an emergency plan, including local evacuation routes, places to evacuate or seek shelter, family contact information and important paperwork. For more information, visit Ready.gov (Listo.gov para español) for tips on creating a family emergency plan, getting an emergency kit and taking other steps to prepare.

For more information, visit www.ready.gov.

Continue reading –

Readout of Secretary Napolitano and FEMA Administrator Fugate’s Calls to Governors and Mayors as Preparations for Hurricane Sandy Continue

FEMA Urges Residents to Follow the Directions of Local Officials and Take Steps to Prepare for Hurricane Sandy

WASHINGTON – At the direction of President Obama, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and our federal partners, through our regional offices in Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston, continue to closely monitor Hurricane Sandy. FEMA is prepared and ready to support state, local and tribal partners in responding to potential impacts of Hurricane Sandy. FEMA Regional Administrators and other senior officials in FEMA’s regional offices have been in close contact with their state counterparts in potentially affected states along the East Coast to ensure coordination for any emergency response.

Earlier today, President Obama was briefed by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Rick Knabb, and Homeland Security Advisor John Brennan on Hurricane Sandy and ongoing federal actions to prepare for the storm as it continues to move toward the United States mainland. The President directed Administrator Fugate to ensure that all available federal resources are being brought to bear to support state and local responders in potentially affected areas along the eastern seaboard as they prepare for the severe weather.

In advance of the storm, and in coordination with the states, FEMA is proactively deploying Incident Management Assistance Teams to Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont to assist states and local partners as they prepare for potential impacts. Liaison officers are also being deployed to emergency operation centers in Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey to help coordinate if additional support is needed.

“Tropical storms can bring high winds, heavy rains and dangerous surf. Those along the eastern seaboard should prepare now, monitor local forecasts and follow the instructions of local officials,” urged FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “This is a big storm with potential impacts beyond coastal areas – know your risks, have a plan, and be prepared. Now is the time to update your family communication plans, check your supplies, and stay informed.”

According to the NOAA National Weather Service 2 p.m. advisory, tropical storm watches and warnings remain in effect in many parts of the East Coast from Florida to North Carolina. Additional watches and warnings are anticipated in the coming days.

At all times, FEMA maintains commodities, including millions of liters of water, millions of meals and hundreds of thousands of blankets, strategically located at distribution centers throughout the United States and its territories, including Atlanta, Ga. and Frederick, Md., if needed and requested.

U.S. Northern Command is deploying Regional Defense Coordinating Officers (DCO), and portions of the Defense Coordinating Element (DCE), in advance of the storm, to validate, plan and coordinate potential Department of Defense (DOD) support of FEMA’s response operations and to facilitate DOD support of life-saving and response operations.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is working closely with FEMA and in support of state and local officials is planning to deploy emergency response personnel to FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center in Boston, New York and Philadelphia over the weekend as well as putting additional personnel on standby to assist. DOE is taking steps to support state and local authorities, who are responsible for coordinating with local utility companies, as utilities begin the process of pre-mobilizing storm and field personnel to assist in power restoration efforts. The Department will provide up to twice daily Hurricane Sandy Situation Reports as appropriate once the storm hits. These reports will be available to the public and will detail the storm’s impacts and the restoration activities being taken by the energy sector. The situation reports will be located at: http://www.oe.netl.doe.gov/emergency_sit_rpt.aspx

FEMA urges those along the East Coast to monitor the progress of Hurricane Sandy. Individuals in the region should continue to monitor NOAA Weather Radio and their local news for severe weather updates, warnings and watches, and follow instructions of local officials. While the exact track of the storm is uncertain, according to the National Weather Service, storm conditions associated with Hurricane Sandy may impact East Coast states throughout the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast as early as tomorrow in some areas.

Everyone should familiarize themselves with the terms that are used to identify a severe weather hazard. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours. A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within 48 hours. The potential for heavy rains can also lead to flooding, or flash flooding in some areas. Driving through a flooded area can be extremely hazardous. Remember – turn around, don’t drown.

More information about what to do before, during and after a disaster can also be found visiting ready.gov and listo.gov. The FEMA mobile site (http://m.fema.gov), smartphone app (http://www.fema.gov/smartphone-app), and text messages (http://www.fema.gov/text-messages) also provide regular updates. Sharing information using social media tools is also a good way for residents to stay informed. Follow FEMA online at http://blog.fema.gov, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.

Visit site –

FEMA Urges Residents to Follow the Directions of Local Officials and Take Steps to Prepare for Hurricane Sandy

AmeriCorps — and New FEMA Corps — Are Assisting Hurricane Isaac Recovery

BATON ROUGE, La. – Dozens of AmeriCorps and FEMA Corps members are doing double duty in response to Hurricane Isaac— helping Louisiana survivors with their recovery efforts and assisting their communities plan for future disasters.

Along with scores of local voluntary agencies, some AmeriCorps teams were in Louisiana before Hurricane Isaac struck, and other members have arrived regularly in the eight weeks since the storm. The newest group is from FEMA Corps, a program in which young adults serve alongside FEMA’s existing workforce to perform a variety of disaster response, recovery and mitigation tasks.

“FEMA relies on volunteer-based organizations and the service groups like AmeriCorps and now FEMA Corps to provide critical help for survivors,” said Gerard M. Stolar, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer. “These folks are getting right into the communities affected by Isaac and helping them with their recovery effort.”

The FEMA Corps members are working with FEMA specialists in the Joint Field Office in Baton Rouge and across southern Louisiana. Some of them have been integrated into operations at Disaster Recovery Centers, where they have met with survivors and helped connect them to resources and information. Others are helping compile Project Worksheets, which document applicant costs for Public Assistance reimbursements.

FEMA Corps members also have been working in the southern parishes to learn how to assess homes for private property debris removal. Still others have joined Community Relations teams, going door-to-door to meet survivors and provide information about FEMA registration.

Meanwhile, some AmeriCorps members are in St. John Parish where they are managing local volunteers and assisting in setting up a long-term recovery group for the area. The teams also are helping the parish begin tracking volunteer hours which can be used to offset the local cost share required in some FEMA grants. In Plaquemines, St. John and St. Tammany, AmeriCorps has helped set up Volunteer Reception Centers (VRCs).

Other members are assisting the Louisiana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster with a temporary roof repair pilot project in eight parishes. They are helping collect data about the efforts of voluntary agencies to provide temporary roof repairs and tarps to damaged homes.

“I think these projects can be very helpful tools for future disasters,” said AmeriCorps St. Louis Team Leader, Abby Simons, whose teams are working on the roofing pilot project and the VRCs. “Knowing that we’re helping increase the effectiveness of local community groups now – and maybe influencing others years down the road ¬– is worthwhile service.”

AmeriCorps is one of dozens of agencies FEMA has partnered with to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters like Hurricane Isaac. A national service program, AmeriCorps offers real-world experience in public service in exchange for low pay, long hours, sparse lodging, student loan forgiveness and the rewards of helping people in need.

AmeriCorps, through its parent agency the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), has deployed more than 300 members to Hurricane Isaac-affected areas since the beginning of the storm.

Some 35 AmeriCorps members assisted with earlier evacuations from St. Charles Parish and supporting a call center to provide information to survivors. In New Orleans, AmeriCorps members have been at a call center, a shelter and in the neighborhoods helping with damage assessment, debris removal and home repair.

Others have been in Baton Rouge, assisting with shelter operations and the Louisiana 2-1-1 call center and yet another team was in Hahnville in St. Charles Parish helping collect and distribute donated items to survivors.

FEMA Corps is the result of a new, innovative partnership between FEMA and CNCS. The program aims to enhance the nation’s ability to assist disaster survivors while expanding career opportunities for young people.

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.

Jump to original:

AmeriCorps — and New FEMA Corps — Are Assisting Hurricane Isaac Recovery

Disaster Recovery Center Opens Today in Metairie

BATON ROUGE, La. — A State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opened today in Jefferson Parish to assist homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained uninsured or underinsured damage to their home or personal property as a result of Hurricane Isaac.

Specialists from the state of Louisiana, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are on hand to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors.

The center is located at:

East Bank Regional Branch Library
4747 W. Napoleon Ave.
Metairie, LA 70001

Hours are: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, until further notice. Closed Sundays.

Survivors may register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. They may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

SBA offers federal low-interest disaster loans to residents and businesses. After registering with FEMA, visit any Disaster Recovery Center where SBA representatives will answer questions, explain the application process and help each resident or business owner apply to SBA. For SBA information or to apply online, visit www.sba.gov or call 1-800-659-2955. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call 1-800-877-8339.

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

Excerpt from:

Disaster Recovery Center Opens Today in Metairie

Orphan Drum Removal to Begin in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. – Barrels, drums and other potentially hazardous containers scattered on Louisiana’s coastal and inland areas after Hurricane Isaac will be collected and removed under a partnership funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the state of Louisiana.

Called “orphan drums,” the containers may contain chemicals, industrial products or unknown substances. Their owners are not identifiable.

Specialists from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard, in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, will begin inspecting six parishes where drums have been reported: Jefferson, Lafourche, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany and Terrebonne. Other parishes could be added to the mission if orphan drums are reported there. The mission is expected to last no more than 60 days.

“This is one way the state and federal government are ensuring the safety of Louisianians after the hurricane,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar. “Getting these containers picked up and properly disposed of is another step in the state’s recovery.”

Following hurricanes, orphan drums commonly are found scattered throughout the affected area. They may be in yards, fields and alongside roadways and coastlines. Orphan drums may be leaking unknown substances and contaminating local air, water and soil.

Anyone who discovers an orphan drum should report it to parish officials. Residents should not touch, move or open the containers as the contents may be under pressure.

Once a drum is retrieved, specialists will assess the containers to determine whether the contents are hazardous. Orphan drums containing hazardous materials will be shipped to hazardous waste facilities.

See the original post –

Orphan Drum Removal to Begin in Louisiana

New Orleans Disaster Recovery Center Closes Thursday

BATON ROUGE, La. — Time is running out for Hurricane Isaac survivors in Orleans Parish to visit the State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center on Loyola Avenue in New Orleans. The center closes at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

Although the center will close, Hurricane Isaac survivors can visit any of the other three recovery centers that remain open in New Orleans branch libraries. They are located at the Algiers Regional Branch, East NOLA Branch and the Robert E. Smith library.

Survivors can contact FEMA online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Survivors may also contact the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) after the center closes at 1-800-659-2955 or www.sba.gov.

The center is located at:

Main Library3
219 Loyola Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70112

Hours are: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Thursday, Oct. 25.

Recovery centers have opened in many affected parishes to assist homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained uninsured or underinsured losses to their home or personal property as a result of Hurricane Isaac. For a list of open centers in Louisiana go to www.fema.gov/disaster/4080.

See the original article here:

New Orleans Disaster Recovery Center Closes Thursday

Call 2-1-1: Voluntary Agencies Can Help Survivors with Unmet Needs

BATON ROUGE, La. – As Louisianians continue to recover from Hurricane Isaac, they may have needs not met by state or federal grants and loans. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has partnered with more than 150 voluntary agencies that are providing a wide range of crucial assistance to survivors.

Voluntary agencies provide services such as debris cleanup, tree removal, counseling, home repairs and reconstruction. They also are instrumental in collecting and distributing donated food, clothing, cleaning supplies and other items needed by survivors as they begin their road to recovery.

Survivors may be connected to these agencies by calling the Louisiana information helpline at 2-1-1. Operators are available round-the-clock, seven days a week. Additional resources can also be found at www.louisiana211.org. Two parishes have set up hotlines to connect survivors with services. In Plaquemines Parish, the number is 1-504-564-0309. In St. John, the number is 1-985-359-1024.

“FEMA is doing everything we can to help survivors recover from Hurricane Isaac, but we can’t do everything,” said Gerard M. Stolar, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer. “By partnering with these voluntary agencies, we work together as part of the whole community to help survivors get their needs met.”

Calling 2-1-1 is not the same as registering with FEMA. Those with uninsured or underinsured damages who have not registered with FEMA should apply online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Those without Internet access may call 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. For 711 Relay or Video Relay Services, call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

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

Original link:

Call 2-1-1: Voluntary Agencies Can Help Survivors with Unmet Needs

Voluntary Organizations Assist Hurricane Isaac Survivors

BATON ROUGE, La. – Thousands of Louisianians affected by Hurricane Isaac are finding help with their unmet needs through the Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) members — groups that arrived before the hurricane made landfall, that kept coming during the rain and flooding, and that will remain in communities for months to come.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has partnered with more than 150 voluntary, community- and faith-based organizations to provide crucial assistance as Louisiana recovers from the storm. FEMA assists the organizations by providing information about available federal assistance programs, offering technical assistance with volunteer management, donation intake and distribution, and helping with unmet needs for the longer term.

“Voluntary groups work together to help survivors get on the road to recovery and to stay on it in the months to come,” said Gerard M. Stolar, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer for Hurricane Isaac recovery. “Volunteers are the backbone of disaster recovery. They go where the need is. They are the first to arrive and the last to leave when disaster strikes.”

Since Isaac hit, volunteer agencies have worked in survivors’ homes, on the affected communities’ streets and public spaces, and in community institutions to help with the recovery effort. Volunteers have mucked mold and mud out of houses and apartments, and installed tarps on roofs as temporary repairs.

Groups from Louisiana and elsewhere in the country have removed trees and debris from neighborhoods and roadways. Other volunteers have worked at call centers, provided support in offices with data analysis, for example, and staffed emergency operations centers for Louisiana VOAD members.

“Sometimes their work is simple and short term. Sometimes these groups are deeply involved in communities for years,” Stolar said. “Always, the work is appreciated.”

Most importantly, perhaps, volunteers have helped survivors directly first with evacuation before the storm made landfall and then by providing food, water, ice, replacement clothing and household items, and cleaning kits after it passed through. As recovery continues, volunteers are acting as counselors and advisers, staffing crisis and legal hotlines and helping survivors navigate and determine their eligibility for federal programs.

Sometimes the volunteers’ motivation comes from a general sense of wanting to contribute to recovery. Sometimes it’s very personal.

“Unfortunately, sometimes it takes having gone through the experience yourself in order to fully appreciate the sufferings and heartaches of what people are going through at a time like this,” said Father John Tran of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. “There is a mutual understanding of heartache shared between the volunteers who have been there and the residents now dealing with it.”

Volunteer organizations involved in the Hurricane Isaac recovery effort are not funded by the federal government. Voluntary agencies will continue to help storm survivors and to provide disaster relief services in all affected parishes and any other area in need regardless of the federal declaration status.

Also, if disaster survivors sustained uninsured or underinsured damages because of Hurricane Isaac, they should apply for FEMA assistance as soon as possible even if they have already registered with voluntary organizations. Registering with voluntary organizations doesn’t mean that they have automatically registered with FEMA.

Survivors can register online with FEMA at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. For 711 Relay or Video Relay Services call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

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

Visit source:

Voluntary Organizations Assist Hurricane Isaac Survivors

Chalmette Disaster Recovery Center Will Not Reopen

BATON ROUGE, La. — The St. Bernard Parish State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center located in Chalmette and scheduled to reopen on Oct. 22 has closed down permanently.

Although the center has closed, Hurricane Isaac survivors can still contact FEMA online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Survivors may also contact the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) at 1-800-659-2955 or www.sba.gov.

The center was originally located at:

3220 Jean Lafitte Blvd.
Chalmette, LA 70043

Continue reading here:

Chalmette Disaster Recovery Center Will Not Reopen

Page 154 of 183 « First ... « 152 153 154 155 156 » ... Last »