FEMA Mitigation Specialists to Answer Questions in Northeast Florida Cities

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Outreach staff of the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be at a motorcycle festival in Starke, a bead and jewelry show in Jacksonville and a home improvement store in Orange Park beginning this week.

The mitigation specialists will provide information on cleaning up and rebuilding homes after Tropical Storm Debby.

FEMA specialists will be in Bradford County to answer questions at the 2012 Starke Bikefest on Friday, Aug. 24, and Saturday, Aug. 25, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Sunday, Aug. 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The festival will take place near 100 E. Call St. in Starke.

In Duval County, the specialists will be at the Intergalactic Bead and Jewelry Show on Saturday, Aug. 25, and Sunday, Aug. 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The show will be at the University Center of the University of North Florida located at 12000 Alumni Drive in Jacksonville.

Specialists will also be available in Baker County to answer questions at Lowe’s from Wednesday,

Aug. 22, to Sunday, Aug. 26, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Monday, Aug. 27, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The address is 2285 Kingsley Ave. in Orange Park.

Sign up for Tropical Storm Debby recovery updates via email by going to www.fema.gov/Disaster/4068 and clicking the subscription link. It’s a simple process that only requires a valid email address. During signup, subscribers can choose to receive updates immediately, daily or weekly.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or www.floridadisaster.org. On Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/FloridaSERT. To receive Twitter updates: www.twitter.com/FLSERT or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

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

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

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

###

Source article: 

FEMA Mitigation Specialists to Answer Questions in Northeast Florida Cities

FEMA Teams up with Fed, State and Local Partners to Support Tropical Storm Irene-damaged Fish Habitats in Vermont

ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt.  – The Federal Emergency Management Agency is collaborating with state, federal and community partners to support Tropical Storm Irene-damaged fish habitats in Vermont, a state where fishing annually generates at least $63 million.

Trout populations were significantly impacted by Irene in some areas, and are as historically and culturally important to Vermonters as they are economically.

“Equally important to your average Vermonter is the heritage and culture of fishing,” said Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department Commissioner Patrick Berry. “The most popular sport fish in Vermont is the brook trout, a fish that often lives in the kinds of rivers and streams that were most directly impacted by the tropical storm. When you have miles and miles of stream that are affected, that hurts not only the state’s pocket book, but it hurts your average Vermonter who wants to get out on a weekend with his kids and go catch their favorite fish, the brook trout.”        

Berry represents the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, one of several organizations working alongside FEMA to support Tropical Storm Irene-damaged fish habitats in Vermont. The White River Partnership; the town of Rochester; Green Mountain National Forest; Vermont’s Department of Fish and Wildlife; the U.S. Forest Service; Trout Unlimited; and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Fish Passage Program are also part of the unique collaboration. 

The White River Partnership, a South Royalton-based non-profit, has worked with the town of Rochester to secure funding to enhance culverts that clogged and failed during Tropical Storm Irene. The culverts will be rebuilt stronger and larger to allow more storm debris to pass. What’s more, the culverts will be reconstructed using sand, rocks and other elements to mimic natural, more eco-friendly passages for the fish. This modern approach of stream reconstruction and restoration creates a more balanced, natural stream system that, among other benefits, provides a more seamless transit for fish.   

The first of the culverts was ordered in mid-July. The culvert is scheduled to arrive in mid-August to be installed on North Hollow Road. As many as three culvert installations may be completed during the 2012 season; the remaining four will likely be completed in 2013.

One creative approach will be to replace a culvert that was damaged at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Rochester with a discarded bridge unearthed from a salvage yard by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Reclaiming and repurposing the discarded bridge will cost just $8,500. This is just one example of how recycled materials are being repurposed in the reconstruction process.

FEMA has produced a video highlighting much of the work these organizations are accomplishing together. To view the video, visit: https://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/9347.

Originally from: 

FEMA Teams up with Fed, State and Local Partners to Support Tropical Storm Irene-damaged Fish Habitats in Vermont

FEMA Grants Nearly $4.6 Million To North Carolina To Update Flood Maps And Flood Risk Data

ATLANTA – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that a grant of nearly $4.6 million will be awarded to the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program in support of its efforts to update flood risk information throughout the state.

FEMA will provide $4,591,847 in federal funds toward projects to improve existing flood insurance rate maps and flood risk data, which will strengthen local communities’ ability to understand and communicate their flood risk and make informed decisions about flood risk reduction.

The North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program will update flood maps and develop watershed reports for the Lower Yadkin Watershed including portions of Rowan, Stanly, Montgomery and Randolph counties; the Lynches Watershed including Union County; the Lumber Watershed including portions of Montgomery and Richmond counties; the Rocky Watershed including portions of Anson, Cabarrus, Iredell, Rowan, Stanly and Union counties; the South Yadkin Watershed including Davie, Iredell and Rowan counties; and the Upper Pee Dee Watershed including portions of Anson, Montgomery, Randolph, Richmond, Stanly and Union counties.  This funding will also help the following communities identify areas at risk for flooding and solutions for reducing that risk: the Chowan, Upper Yadkin, South Yadkin and Broad River Basins including portions of Chowan, Gates, Hertford, Northampton, Davidson, Forsyth, Surry, Wilkes, Yadkin, Cleveland, Polk and Rutherford counties.

Flood maps and flood risk data are being updated for communities across the country with the ultimate goal of protecting property owners and the community from the risks associated with flooding. This is a collaborative process, during which FEMA works closely with states and local communities to incorporate the latest and most accurate information into flood risk products.

Flood risks can change over time due to factors such as construction and development, environmental changes, floodplain widening or shifting, and other natural or manmade changes—which is why it’s important that flood maps and flood risk data are updated periodically to reflect these changes. Additionally, the information developed for these projects will be more precise because the latest science available is applied in gathering flood risk data and creating flood maps.

Updated flood maps and flood risk data will ultimately assist local area governments in planning for future development and rebuilding efforts.

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.

###

View this article:

FEMA Grants Nearly $4.6 Million To North Carolina To Update Flood Maps And Flood Risk Data

FEMA Authorizes Funds to Help Fight Wyoming’s Arapahoe Fire

See original article here: 

FEMA Authorizes Funds to Help Fight Wyoming’s Arapahoe Fire

Fact Sheet: FEMA Individual Assistance in the Souris Valley

Fact Sheet: FEMA Individual Assistance in the Souris Valley 

Release Date: June 11, 2012
Release Number: 1981-AFS002

» More Information on North Dakota Flooding

» 2012 Region VIII News Releases

Individual Assistance Programs

  • Residents of nine North Dakota counties and one reservation were able to register for individual assistance with FEMA;
  • Statewide 10,286 individuals or households registered for assistance in the IA designated counties;
  • In total, more than $95 million has been provided; $93.4 million for rental assistance or home repair, and $2.1 million in other needs assistance;
    • In the three Souris Valley counties (McHenry, Renville and Ward), there were 8,256 applications, with $89 million for rental assistance or home repair and $2 million for other needs assistance for a total of $91 million;
  • The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) approved $256.4 million in low-interest loans. $212.9 million was approved for individuals and $43.5 million for businesses;
    • In the Souris Valley, SBA approved $240.9 million in low-interest loans. $198.1 million was approved for individuals and $42.8 million for businesses;
  • Disaster Recovery Centers were in 11 communities and received 14,921 separate visits from applicants while in operation
    • DRCs were located in six Souris Valley area communities and received 12,477 visits;
  • SBA Business Recovery Centers in Minot and Bismarck received a total of 2,929 visits;
  • The Disaster Unemployment Assistance program, managed by Job Service North Dakota and funded by FEMA, provided $2.4 million in benefits.
  • $3.3 million was provided to fund crisis counseling grants ;
  • The transitional sheltering assistance program ended 12/26/2011 at a total cost of $3,196,962.94. This program allowed displaced residents to stay in hotel rooms until more permanent housing became available.

Direct Housing Mission

  • Due to housing shortages because of the economic boom, a direct housing mission was initiated:
    • Group housing site construction totaling $40 million is ongoing by USACE.
    • More than 2000 Temporary Housing Units (THUs) delivered and installed.
  • There are currently 1,471 occupied THUs.
    • DeSour Valley Heights – located in Burlington, this 50-unit site was filled in October. The park is currently housing 44 households.
    • Virgil Workman Village – located just east of Minot, this is comprised of three parks containing 200 homes each. It is currently housing a combined total of 532 households.
    • Recovery Village – located on the northeast edge of Minot, this was the final group site to come online. The site did support nearly 200 homes and is currently housing 47 households.
    • Private Sites – FEMA placed housing units at 1,118 private sites allowing residents to be closer to their damaged homes while making needed repairs. There are currently 635 THU’s still on private sites.
    • Commercial Sites – FEMA leased space and is currently housing 213 households at the following commercial sites: Holiday Village, Gulli’s, Burlington, Jefferson and Gold Nugget.
  • Multiple weather/climate challenges were overcome by completing $13 million in winterization processes, such as: foam insulation, use of heat tape and arctic room shelter construction.
  • The housing mission in Minot is expected to last at least 18 months.

Last Modified: Monday, 11-Jun-2012 10:02:01

Credit:

Fact Sheet: FEMA Individual Assistance in the Souris Valley

Fact Sheet: FEMA Public Assistance in the Souris Valley

Fact Sheet: FEMA Public Assistance in the Souris Valley 

Release Date: June 11, 2012
Release Number: 1981-AFS001

» More Information on North Dakota Flooding

» 2012 Region VIII News Releases

Overview

  • Of the nearly $235M in funding for 2011 flooding statewide, more than 80 million has been obligated in the Souris Valley.
  • Among the larger applicants are:
    • Ward County $9.8 M
    • City of Minot $7.2 M
    • City of Burlington $1.6 M
    • Minot Public Schools $46.7 M (more than 20% disaster total statewide)
    • North Dakota State Fair $4 M
    • Minot Park District $2.5M
    • Additionally, $1.9 million has been provided in Bottineau County, $5.5 million in McHenry County and $1.2 million in Renville County.
  • Established three task forces to address high priority projects involving schools, critical facilities and debris removal.

Schools

  • Both Erik Ramstad and Lincoln schools were deemed eligible for replacement based on 50% repair justification; $25M Federal Share replacement funds for Ramstad and $5M for Lincoln.
  • Provided more than $8.4M to the schools for activities ranging from emergency protective measures to building repairs and temporary classrooms.
  • Approved and funded installation of temporary school facilities allowing classes to start within 10 days of the scheduled start date. This was accomplished through proactive evaluations and rapid resolution of environmental concerns in advance of applicant identified requirements.

Emergency Work

  • Removed over 69,000 tons of debris totaling over $2.6M through mission assignment to USACE.
  • Debris removal missions allowed for the accomplishment of private site housing of over 1,000 eligible applicants; 100% of eligible applicants housed before Christmas 2011.
  • Funded safety inspections of over 4,000 Minot buildings (including private residences).
  • Mission assigned OSHA to provide partnerships in mishap prevention and eliminating the need for compliance and enforcement inspections.
  • Mission assigned EPA to remove over 6,000 units of white goods, 80,000 small containers of HAZMAT, 15,000 gallons of gasoline, 215 lead-acid batteries and over 550 cubic yards of electronic waste (most of which was recycled).

Statewide

  • To date, 4438 projects have been obligated, with nearly $235 million in federal cost-share funds provided to the state of North Dakota.
  • To date more than $9 million in federal cost-share funds have been provided to state agencies for 2011 disaster response activities, including:
    • North Dakota National Guard $5 M
    • ND Dept. of Transportation $2.2 M
    • ND Dept. of Emergency Services $1.1 M

Last Modified: Monday, 11-Jun-2012 10:01:48

Continue reading here: 

Fact Sheet: FEMA Public Assistance in the Souris Valley

Making History … And Preserving It

Making History … And Preserving It 

Release Date: June 11, 2012
Release Number: 1981-ANF002

» More Information on North Dakota Flooding

» 2012 Region VIII News Releases

Ward County’s hub of history itself became the site of historic flooding last June.

Pioneer Village, the home and showcase of the Ward County Historical Society located next to the state fairgrounds, suffered devastating losses in the flood.

All 13 of its buildings received at least some damage. The railroad depot had up to eight feet of water and the warehouse, which held 13 antique automobiles, had seven feet. The entire original contents of the former Immanuel Lutheran Church, nearly a century old, were thrown out. Horse-drawn sleighs and buggies were devastated. Historic contents of the barbershop, dentist’s office, general store and post office were destroyed. Furniture from the first county courthouse, built in Burlington in 1886, was ruined. Schoolbooks and records were flooded, and the state’s first iron lung plus antique pump organs from the church were wiped out.

“So much was lost, it’s hard to comprehend it all,” says current director Sue Bergan. “The losses in the church hurt the worst. I sat down on the steps and cried the day they cleared it out.”

Compounding the devastation caused by the flood, the society then lost its long-time administrator and curator, Reverend David Jones, the pastor of the Dakota Baptist Church. While attending a church conference in Boston, he died of a heart attack on September 28, 2011.

“He was an exemplary person, a wonderful man, and a historian,” says Bergan. “He was from Mobile, Alabama, and had quite the cutest Southern accent. He just worked too many hours between the society and the church. It was a terrible blow to us to have to try to reorganize, knowing what he had accomplished and what still had to be accomplished.”

The historical society was facing a historic crisis.

Volunteers — many facing their own flood-related demands at home and work — stepped up, including outside groups such as Lutheran Social Services and students from Minot State University and Trinity Bible College in Ellendale. The Minot post office donated an antique post office that was collecting dust in a corner of its building. The Stenkjaer Lutheran Church in Simcoe, which was closing, donated all its contents to Pioneer Village. An area farmer who has the first schoolhouse in Ward County still on his property is willing to donate the building and all its contents if the society can find the funds to move it. Other volunteers have “adopted” a Model T and a John Deere tractor, promising to restore the antique vehicles on their own. Bergan hopes additional items can be similarly restored.

Staff from the State Historical Society of North Dakota, the State Historic Preservation Office, the American Institute for Conservation, the Heritage Preservation organization, the University of Utah Preservation Library and FEMA also pitched in with their various specializations, helping inventory contents and deciding what could be saved and how it could be restored.

The Ward County Historical Society (WCHS) is a private, non-profit organization – which can be eligible for FEMA Public Assistance aid if they meet certain qualifications. The historical society was an eligible applicant and received funding for repairs to nine of the buildings, debris removal, and restoration of a portion of the collection. FEMA’s team of environmental and historic preservation experts also provided valuable technical assistance to ensure FEMA funding could be used to maximum effect.

Charles Bello, FEMA Historic Preservation Specialist, who worked closely on this project, states that, “We were able to provide guidance and funding to help ensure that key items in the Historical Society’s collection will live on and be enjoyed for generations to come.”

Bergan herself had her own business hanging and removing wallpaper. She had worked with the historical society in January, 2010, when she and her mother re-wallpapered the upstairs apartment in the century-old Samuelson House at Pioneer Village. The flood wiped out a bridge to her own home, and she and her husband had half-hour walks up and down ladders on river banks to get home until a new bridge was built in October. In the meantime, she had volunteered to help at the society, and after Jones’ death she found herself drafted to be the new director.

“It’s going to be all of two years until everything is restored,” she says. “The immediate projects are to reseed the grass and get the outside of the buildings looking nice. I would like to have a couple of buildings open by the time the state fair opens July 20, but I don’t know if that’s going to happen or not. The log cabin and courthouse, maybe the cook car [a horse-drawn wagon pulled from farm to farm during threshing season], those are the three I’m hoping for, but it’s kind of a far reach.”

“I don’t know how we’ll commemorate the 2011 flood itself,” says Bergan. “Maybe just by winning the battle and reopening. We’re going to have a party then, that’s for sure.”

To learn more about the Ward County Historical Society and how you can be involved in their efforts to preserve the region’s history, visit them online at wchsnd.org.

Last Modified: Monday, 11-Jun-2012 10:00:41

Link – 

Making History … And Preserving It

 Page 11 of 11  « First  ... « 7  8  9  10  11