officer - femacontract.com

FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer to host live Twitter chat

Release date:

February 8, 2013

Release Number:

NR-165

NEW YORK – To continue the conversation with New Yorkers about Hurricane Sandy recovery, Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne will host a Twitter chat on Monday, Feb. 11, 2-3 p.m. EST.

During the session, Mr. Byrne will be answering questions live from the official Twitter handle @FEMASandy, using the topic hash tag #NYFEMAchat. Using this hash tag will allow users to follow and participate in the conversation.

Similar to the previous live tweeting session, each of Mr. Byrne’s tweets will be signed -mb.

Survivors can register with FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) should call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. EST, seven days a week until further notice.

Last Updated:

February 8, 2013 – 12:30

State or Region:

New York

Related Disaster:

New York Hurricane Sandy

Link to article:

FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer to host live Twitter chat

FEMA Awards $9 Million to Two Louisiana Agencies for Hurricane Isaac Expenses

BATON ROUGE, La. – Two State of Louisiana agencies will receive a combined $9 million to reimburse expenses incurred protecting residents during Hurricane Isaac, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said Monday.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development will receive $7,087,544 in Public Assistance grant funds to help cover the costs of transporting evacuees to shelters, as well as other emergency protective measures taken during the hurricane and its aftermath. The Louisiana National Guard will receive $2,025,996 to reimburse it for overtime costs incurred for personnel carrying out emergency protective measures.

“The National Guard and Transportation Department provided essential services for Louisianians in harm’s way before, during and after Hurricane Isaac,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar of FEMA. “The Public Assistance grants will help these agencies fulfill their missions to protect the safety and well-being of Louisianians.”

The newly awarded funds are a portion of the $195.5 million in total Public Assistance recovery dollars approved for the state since the Aug. 29, 2012, disaster declaration.

Once FEMA reimburses the state of Louisiana it is the state’s responsibility to manage the funds, which includes making disbursements to local jurisdictions and organizations that incurred costs.

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.

Continue at source:

FEMA Awards $9 Million to Two Louisiana Agencies for Hurricane Isaac Expenses

President Declares Disaster for Arkansas

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 State of Arkansas to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe winter storms during the period of December 25 to December 26, 2012.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged in Garland, Grant, Hot Spring, Lonoke, Perry, Pulaski, and Saline counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Sandy Coachman has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Coachman said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Follow FEMA online at 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.

Originally from:

President Declares Disaster for Arkansas

Hurricane Sandy Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation for Cameron County

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Hurricane Sandy Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation briefings for designated counties in Pennsylvania began this week, according to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

A briefing for Cameron County officials will be held on Friday, Jan. 25 in Emporium.

DATE:

Friday, Jan. 25

TIME:

10 a.m.

LOCATION:

Cameron County Courthouse

20 E. Fifth St.

Emporium, PA 15834

All seven categories of Public Assistance (A-G) are now available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for eligible expenditures. Projects may include emergency work, debris removal and repair or replacement of damaged roads, bridges and other elements of the infrastructure. Public Assistance funding also covers partial or complete repair of schools and other critical functions such as public water tanks or sewer systems. Projects will be approved only if they are necessary as a direct result of Hurricane Sandy during the time period from Oct. 26 to Nov. 8, 2012.

In cases where small improvements may reduce the risk of future disaster damage, FEMA may pay for cost-effective mitigation measures. For example, FEMA may cover the cost of such projects as increasing the size of a culvert if the increase could prevent future flooding. Otherwise, FEMA generally pays only to bring facilities back to pre-disaster condition.

Category A: Debris Removal

Removal of obtrusive items on public property, including trees, woody debris, sand, mud, silt, gravel, building components, wreckage, vehicles and personal property to eliminate an immediate threat to lives, public health and safety. An example of an eligible project is the removal of debris from a street or highway to allow the safe passage of emergency vehicles. An example of an ineligible project is the pre-disaster sediment from engineered channels.

Category B: Emergency Protective Measures

Emergency Protective Measures are actions taken by applicants before, during and after a disaster to save lives, protect public health and safety, and prevent damage to improved public and private property. Emergency communications, emergency access and emergency public transportation costs may also be eligible. These can include such projects as search and rescue, sandbagging and removal of health and safety hazards.

Category C: Roads and Bridges

Roads (paved, gravel, and dirt) are eligible for permanent repair or replacement, unless they are Federal-aid roads. Eligible work includes repair to surfaces, bases, shoulders, ditches, culverts, low water crossings and other features, such as guardrails. Damage to the road must be disaster-related to be eligible for repair. Eligible work includes repairs to such elements as piers and approaches.

Category D: Water Control Facilities

Water control facilities include such elements as dams and reservoirs, levees and engineered drainage channels. Restoration of the carrying capacity of engineered channels and debris basins may be eligible, but maintenance records or surveys must be produced to show the pre-disaster capacity of these facilities.

Category E: Buildings and Equipment

Buildings, including contents such as furnishings and interior systems such as electrical work, are eligible for repair or replacement. FEMA may also pay for the replacement of library books and publications. Removal of mud, silt, or other accumulated debris is eligible, along with any cleaning and painting necessary to restore the building.

If an insurance policy applies to a facility, FEMA will deduct from eligible costs the amount of insurance proceeds, actual or anticipated, before providing funds for restoration of the facility.

Category F: Utilities

Typical utilities include

• Water treatment plants and delivery systems

• Power generation and distribution facilities, including generators, substations and power lines

• Sewage collection systems and treatment plants

• Telecommunications

Category G: Parks, Recreational Facilities and Other Items

Repair and restoration of parks, playgrounds, pools, cemeteries and beaches are eligible. This category also is used for any work or facility that cannot be characterized adequately by Categories A-F. Other types of facilities, such as roads, buildings and utilities, that are located in parks and recreational areas are also eligible and are subject to the eligibility criteria for Categories C, D, E and F.

Natural features are not eligible facilities unless they are improved and maintained. This restriction applies to features located in parks and recreational areas. Specific criteria apply to beaches and to trees and ground cover.

The Commonwealth begins the Public Assistance process by announcing the schedule of briefings through which potential applicants are guided through the application process. During the briefings, specialists will describe the application process. After the general applicant briefing, each applicant will meet one-on-one with an assigned Public Assistance Coordinator (PAC) at a scheduled kick-off meeting. The PAC will contact their assigned applicants within one week after a request for Public Assistance is submitted. Applicants should contact their State Public Assistance Officer to arrange the first meeting if they have not heard from their PAC within two weeks.

Here’s what to expect at a kick-off meeting:

A PAC will provide a detailed list of required records and can recommend ways of organizing them.

Applicants should be prepared to bring documents with them to their kick-off meeting, including a list of damage and a description of intended repair or replacement projects.

Applicants should try to identify circumstances that require special review, such as insurance coverage, environmental resource issues and historic preservation. The earlier these conditions are known, the faster they can be addressed, and they must be addressed before funding can be approved.

After the meeting, applicants will be able to contact their PAC with any questions or requests for assistance.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for Hazard Mitigation measures for all counties within the Commonwealth.

Applicants are responsible for maintaining records of completed work and work to be completed.

For more information about the Public Assistance process, including a list of frequently asked questions, see http://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-frequently-asked-questions.

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. FEMA Region III’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion3.

View this article:

Hurricane Sandy Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation for Cameron County

Hurricane Sandy Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation for Potter County

A briefing for Potter County officials will be held on Thursday, Jan. 24 in Coudersport.

DATE:

Thursday, Jan. 24

TIME:

6 p.m.

LOCATION:

Gunzburger Building

1 N. Main St.

(Water St. entrance)

Coudersport, PA 16915

Public Assistance categories

Category A: Debris Removal

Category B: Emergency Protective Measures

Category C: Roads and Bridges

Category D: Water Control Facilities

Category E: Buildings and Equipment

If an insurance policy applies to a facility, FEMA will deduct from eligible costs the amount of insurance proceeds, actual or anticipated, before providing funds for restoration of the facility.

Category F: Utilities

Typical Utilities include:

Water treatment plants and delivery systems

• Power generation and distribution facilities, including generators, substations and power lines

• Sewage collection systems and treatment plants

• Telecommunications

Category G: Parks, Recreational Facilities and Other Items

A detailed description of all seven Public Assistance categories is available online at www.FEMA.gov.

Here’s what to expect at a kick-off meeting:

A PAC will provide a detailed list of required records and can recommend ways of organizing them.

Applicants should be prepared to bring documents with them to their kick-off meeting, including a list of damage and a description of intended repair or replacement projects.

After the meeting, applicants will be able to contact their PAC with any questions or requests for assistance.

Applicants are responsible for maintaining records of completed work and work to be completed.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for Hazard Mitigation measures for all counties within the Commonwealth.

For a list of frequently asked questions about the Public Assistance process see www.fema.gov/public-assistance-frequently-asked-questions.

# # #

Link:

Hurricane Sandy Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation for Potter County

FEMA Obligates Nearly $3.3 Million to Louisiana Department of Public Safety for Hurricane Isaac Emergency Measures

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Public Safety will receive a nearly $3.3 million federal grant to reimburse the costs it incurred to provide measures to save lives and property before, during and after Hurricane Isaac, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said Thursday.

“When disasters strike, the men and women of the Department of Public Safety are on the front lines to help protect Louisiana and its residents,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar of FEMA. “This grant helps reimburse the department for its efforts to protect the health, safety and property of Louisianians during Hurricane Isaac.”

Between Aug. 26 and Sept. 10, Hurricane Isaac produced high winds, rain and flooding throughout the state. The department and its divisions provided emergency protective measures necessary to eliminate and reduce immediate threats to life, public health and safety, and public and private property. The FEMA Public Assistance grant, totaling $3,277,030, helps reimburse the department for the costs of equipment, personnel and supplies used during the Hurricane Isaac response and recovery effort.

The newly obligated funds are a portion of the $189 million in total Public Assistance recovery dollars approved for the state since the Aug. 29, 2012, disaster declaration.

Once FEMA reimburses the state of Louisiana it is the state’s responsibility to manage the funds, which includes making disbursements to local jurisdictions and organizations that incurred costs.

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

Source article:

FEMA Obligates Nearly $3.3 Million to Louisiana Department of Public Safety for Hurricane Isaac Emergency Measures

Deadline Extended a Third Time for Isaac-Related Flood Insurance Claims in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana property owners with flood insurance policies whose homes or other structures were damaged during Hurricane Isaac have an additional 30 days to file claims for their flood-related losses. This means most policyholders have until Feb. 21 to complete their proof of loss.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) usually requires claims to be reported within 60 days from the date of loss. Three extensions have been granted, however, because access to NFIP-insured homes and other buildings was delayed due to infrastructure damage and high floodwaters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administers the program.

With the latest 30-day extension on flood insurance claims, Louisianians have 180 days from the date of their insured loss to submit a claim, known as proof of loss. Hurricane Isaac first made landfall in Louisiana on Aug. 28, 2012, with heavy rainfall and flooding occurring within several days before and after it hit. For this reason the date of loss varies for property owners.

“Many Isaac survivors continue to gather information that will help adjusters determine their flood insurance loss,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar of FEMA. “However, we urge folks who haven’t yet filed their proof of loss to do so as soon as possible.”

Failure to submit the proof of loss could cause policyholders to miss out on benefits from their flood insurance policy, NFIP specialists said.

Since Isaac made landfall, the NFIP has paid out more than $416 million on 13,159 claims in Louisiana.

Policyholders with questions about flood insurance or concerns about their claims may contact their local insurance agent, call FEMA program experts at 1-866-331-1679 or 1-866-330-7286, or visit www.floodsmart.gov.

More information on Louisiana disaster recovery is available online at www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. FEMA is also on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA.

View article:

Deadline Extended a Third Time for Isaac-Related Flood Insurance Claims in Louisiana

No Discrimination in FEMA Disaster Assistance

WINDSOR, Conn. — Storms don’t discriminate and neither does FEMA, federal officials emphasized today.

“Everybody’s circumstances are different and people won’t all be helped the same way. But our promise is to treat everybody equally,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Albert Lewis. “We are not a law enforcement agency; we are a helping agency. That’s why we’re here.”

FEMA has a mission to ensure disaster assistance is made available to all people in the whole community. That means reaching out to everyone, regardless of race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.

Those areas are written into federal law as an equal rights statement of policy that permeates FEMA’s approach to providing fully inclusive disaster recovery services.

FEMA may provide assistance in many ways, not all of them financial, to disaster survivors through connections with its state and local partners. But to help survivors, FEMA needs to know who they are through FEMA registration.

FEMA’s Voluntary Agency Liaison works specifically with voluntary and faith-based organizations, which provide case management support for applicants, whether they are citizens or not.

An applicant’s information is confidential. FEMA does not share anyone’s information with other agencies unless an applicant wants us to do so and that agency’s purpose is to provide assistance to those in need after a disaster.

“Disaster recovery includes everyone,” Lewis added. “The individual, the community, FEMA, the state, voluntary agencies and faith-based partners—everyone has a role. We may not be able to help you directly, but we’ll know what’s available. There may be other programs to get you where you want to go.”

The deadline to register is Jan. 28. Survivors can register online anytime day or night at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or with a smartphone or other Web-enabled device at m.fema.gov. Survivors can also register by phone 24 hours a day at 800-621-3362. Effective at 7 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, hours will be 7 a.m. until 1 a.m. the following day. The TTY number is 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available during the same hours at the close of the English message.

Registering for disaster assistance with other agencies or organizations does not register survivors for FEMA disaster assistance. Having FEMA flood insurance does not register policyholders for disaster assistance, nor does it disqualify anyone from applying for assistance. Flood insurance claims are handled separately.

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. For TTY, call 800-462-7585.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and covers the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Source article:

No Discrimination in FEMA Disaster Assistance

FEMA Outreach to Help Agents Answer Flood Insurance Questions

WINDSOR, Conn. — How can flood insurance agents become better prepared to answer the many questions policyholders ask after a big flooding disaster like Hurricane Sandy?

That dialogue is taking place between FEMA and Connecticut insurance agents as a new outreach effort begun in December continues to expand the knowledge of agents who sell National Flood Insurance Program policies.

During the peak outreach from Jan. 14 – 25, FEMA will provide insurance agents with more in-depth training on National Flood Insurance Program policies, processes and risk management. The initiative will help insurance agents better serve Connecticut policyholders, property owners and renters who have questions about their flood insurance claims.

“It is important that consumers have all the facts about flood insurance so they can make informed decisions to manage risk and take control of their financial security. And it all starts with informed and knowledgeable insurance agents,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Albert Lewis.

FEMA flood insurance specialists expect to make in-person visits to more than 500 insurance agencies statewide during the two-week outreach initiative. They will hand-deliver hundreds of “NFIP Agent Tool Kits,” which include several information brochures and explanatory bulletins.

FEMA has made it a priority to conduct insurance agency visits in all the Connecticut coastal communities hit by Hurricane Sandy. As of Jan. 7, FEMA personnel have visited 69 agencies in 21 hard-hit communities. During this time FEMA will also be offering special NFIP informational webinars and agent training workshops.

The NFIP is a federal program that provides access to affordable, federally backed flood insurance protection for property owners.

Following Hurricane Sandy last year, FEMA kicked off a flood insurance education initiative in partnership with the state of Connecticut and the Independent Insurance Agents of Connecticut, Inc.

In December, FEMA opened a Flood Response Office at 1064 E. Main St., Meriden, CT 06450.

The office provides support to insurance agents and policyholders with questions about NFIP claims. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday. The office can be reached at 203-634-1118.

The Connecticut Insurance Department has a Consumer Helpline at 860-297-3900 or 800-203-3447. Policyholders can also e-mail their questions or complaints to the Insurance Department at cid.ca@ct.gov or visit the Department’s Web site at www.ct.gov/cid.

For accessibility: The recommended font type is sans serif 12 point for regular print and sans serif 18 point when specifically printed for people with vision impairments.

Visit site:

FEMA Outreach to Help Agents Answer Flood Insurance Questions

Answers to the Most Commonly Asked Disaster Aid Questions

NEW YORK – As the Jan. 28, 2012 deadline to register for FEMA assistance approaches in New York, recovery officials want to make sure survivors have all the information they need about disaster aid.

New York’s Federal Coordinating Officer for Hurricane Sandy, Michael Byrne, hosted the first of a series of ‘live’ chats on Twitter this week to address questions and concerns about disaster assistance, tweeting about FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Program, Disaster Unemployment Assistance and housing repair grants in the one-hour session. He will be doing additional chat sessions in the coming weeks. Keep following @FEMASandy for the latest information on the next chat.

Following are some of the most commonly asked disaster aid questions, (in more than 140 characters). For additional Q&As, go to www.fema.gov/SandyNY.

INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE

I submitted my papers for disaster assistance but have not heard anything, how long does it take to hear back?

If you submitted an application for assistance due to damage to your home, a FEMA-contracted inspector should contact you to schedule an appointment within 10 days of registering. If you are seeking other forms of assistance, and you have completed and mailed in your SBA disaster loan application, you should receive an eligibility letter within 10 days of returning your paperwork. If 10 days have passed and you haven’t heard from us, call the FEMA toll-free Helpline 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585.)

If you were asked to provide additional documentation and did so and have not heard back, call the helpline as well.

How can I extend my FEMA rental assistance?

To receive additional temporary rental assistance, you must complete the Continuing Need form with all the applicable information and mail it back to us at the address printed on the form. If you don’t have the form, contact FEMA’s toll-free Helpline.

Answers to the Most Commonly Asked Disaster Aid Questions – Page 2

NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM

What should I do if I’m still waiting on my flood insurance settlement?

Contact your claims adjuster or carrier to see if you may be eligible for an expedited flood insurance payment to cover repairs of your home’s mechanicals damaged in the disaster. You

can call the NFIP Help Center 800-427-4661 to address questions about your flood insurance claim or payment.

Why am I required to build above the minimum elevation requirement?

Each community develops their own local building requirements. You should contact your community’s floodplain manager to discuss elevation requirements for your property. Elevation requirements are meant to protect your home from future flood damages. In general, if your home is located in a high-risk area, the higher you build above the base flood elevation, the lower your premium and potential for flood damage.

To find out how you need to build contact your community’s floodplain manager who can help you walk through the elevation requirements for your property. His/her contact information is usually available on your city government web site.

MITIGATION: REBUILDING BETTER AND STRONGER

Is there money available to elevate/mitigate my home?

There may be assistance available to help you mitigate your home.

If you applied for a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan and it was approved, you may be eligible for additional funds to cover the cost of improvements – such as elevating your home – to protect your property against future damage. Contact SBA at 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339) or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information.
If you already had a flood insurance policy before the storm, and your home was substantially damaged, you may be eligible to receive up to $30,000 in increased cost of compliance coverage to elevate your home after you file your claim. Talk to your insurance agent to determine if you’re eligible.
FEMA provides hazard mitigation grants to states for activities such as structure elevation, property acquisition, and flood proofing. The state determines which activities will be funded with hazard mitigation grants. To learn more about these grants, visit www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-assistance or contact your local floodplain manager for more details.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

Originally posted here:

Answers to the Most Commonly Asked Disaster Aid Questions

Page 18 of 29 « First ... « 16 17 18 19 20 » ... Last »