One Month After the Typhoon

SAIPAN – The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) was deployed to Saipan days prior to Typhoon Soudelor making landfall.

After Typhoon Soudelor impacted Saipan, President Obama issued a major disaster declaration on August 5, 2015 for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, making federal assistance available to aid individuals and communities in the recovery efforts for damages that occurred August 1-3, 2015 and appointed a Federal Coordinating Officer to lead the Federal team.

FEMA immediately started to mobilize its federal partners in support of recovery efforts.

Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) personnel and equipment supported the Commonwealth with secure and non-secure voice, video and information services to support emergency response communications needs.

Representatives from the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Preparedness, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) assessed public health needs and were prepared to support if necessary.

The US Coast Guard was on the ground in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to perform port condition assessments.  The Ports in CNMI are open to commercial vessel traffic and cargo operations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was tasked with the assessment of water systems (potable, non-potable and wastewater) for protection of public health, preparation of a debris monitoring plan, and addressing non-industrial hazardous waste issues.   At the request of FEMA and CNMI, EPA has collected over 350 damaged transformers for eventual recycling.  EPA has set up a household hazardous waste drop off station and will be hosting weekend residential drop offs for household hazardous waste and white goods in upcoming weeks. 

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) was mission assigned to deploy the following ESF#3 cells: the Temporary Power Planning and Response Team (PRT) and Advanced Contracting Initiative (ACI), the 249th Prime Power Alpha Company, the 249th Delta Company and USACE debris subject matter experts (SMEs) to conduct rapid assessments of critical infrastructure for temporary power requirements and assist FEMA with debris management technical support.

In just one month 7,934 homeowners and renters have been registered for assistance and over $12 million approved in individual aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) since Typhoon Soudelor impacted the small island of Saipan.

The Disaster Recovery Center located at the Pedro P Tenorio Multi-purpose Center in Susupe has received over 3,500 visitors seeking assistance with their FEMA and Small Business
Administration (SBA) applications.

FEMA continues to provide resources through air and sea transportation including, commodities and power restoration needs such as generators and power poles.  To date: 99,359 liters of water, 71,136 meals, 396 cots, and 1,734 tarps of FEMA commodities have been distributed to the
CNMI government and survivors.

Commonwealth Utility Corporation (CUC) power restoration crews, USACE 249th Prime Power Battalion Delta Company Team, CNMI and Guam Power Authority are working diligently to restore power everywhere throughout the island. 

The Saipan International Airport and the seaport have both resumed 24/7 operations.

65 wells are currently operable with 5.3 million gallons of potable water being pumped into the system daily brining the distribution system to 51% capacity.  Intermittent water distribution is now available to 80% of the population.

Over 12,273 cubic yards of debris has been cleared from public right-of-ways.

Nine of the 14 Private Sector drinking water/bottling companies are producing over 75,000 gallons of drinking water per day, and that number continues to increase as additional Private
Sector companies get back on line.

USACE has installed 68 generators and is continuing additional assessments, installations, and de-installations as power is restored.  USACE has power experts from the 249th Prime Power
Battalion and Delta Team supporting critical infrastructure power requirements.

FEMA and CNMI are working closely together forming a unified effort in support of the citizens of Saipan. 

SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, most private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters.  To date the SBA has approved 24 loans totaling over $1.6 million dollars.

“Without the full cooperation of all our federal, commonwealth, private sector partners and the volunteer agencies, we could never accomplished as much as we have in this short period of time.”  Federal Coordinating Officer Stephen M. DeBlasio Sr. stated, “We will continue to work together as a team helping the residents of Saipan recover from the effects of Typhoon Soudelor.”

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

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One Month After the Typhoon

Concrete Utility Poles Installed on Saipan

SAIPAN – Concrete poles are being installed around Saipan, in a joint mutual aid effort between the Guam Power Authority (GPA) and the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC). These poles will assist in power restoration for the island and will be more resilient and disaster resistant.

The 90 concrete poles arrived on Saturday August 22nd and through today, most were installed throughout the island, including along the feeder to the airport. An additional 110 concrete poles are scheduled to be delivered within the next few days which will continue to support the overall power authority restoration capabilities.

GPA has provided the poles to CUC, and are working together to install them on Saipan as part of a mutual aid program. FEMA is assisting in the transport of these poles, which falls under Category F of FEMA’s Public Assistance program. This includes the permanent restoration and repair of utilities for water treatment and delivery systems; power generation facilities and distribution facilities; sewage collection and treatment facilities; and communications.

“Saipan is well under way to recovery” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Stephen M. DeBlasio Sr., “The installation of these concrete poles as well as additional treated wood utility poles is a clear sign of recovery and the ongoing partnership of the whole community.”

This is a great Mitigation effort here on the island provided through Mutual Aid between the GPA and Saipan CUC, and the FEMA Public Assistance Program.

FEMA also mission assigned power experts from the United State Army Core of Engineers (USACE) 249th Prime Power Battalion Delta team to assist CNMI in installing the hardwire and electrical wiring on the utility poles.

Through the PA Program, FEMA provides supplemental Federal disaster grant assistance for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged, publicly owned facilities and the facilities of certain Private Non-Profit (PNP) organizations. The PA Program also encourages protection of these damaged facilities from future events by providing assistance for hazard mitigation measures during the recovery process.

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

 

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Concrete Utility Poles Installed on Saipan

CNMI, Red Cross and FEMA Announce Enhanced Aid for Typhoon Soudelor Survivors

SAIPAN, CNMI – The government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI), the American Red Cross (ARC) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced an expansion of enhanced resource assistance for Saipan residents affected by Typhoon Soudelor. Using FEMA supplies, the ARC, which has already provided assistance to some 3,000 residents, will make the aid available.

Residents already registered with the ARC and are considered to have the greatest need will be processed first, said the ARC’s Operations Director, Denise Everhart.

ARC has a list of more than 3,000 individuals who have called into the chapter looking for assistance and is calling those with greatest need to do one-on-one casework.  ARC will then supply Client assistance Cards with some money for fuel, phone, and laundry as well as tarps, water, buckets, hygiene supplies, food and other supplies.  This will be continued, until the list is complete.

If there are limiting factors, where people cannot get to the designated ARC Chapter, located at 1 Airport Road, please call the ARC at 670-234-3459, and the ARC will work with FEMA and CNMI to accommodate those individuals on a case-by-case basis.

“Working through the CNMI Government and the American Red Cross is the best and fastest way to get the basic life sustaining supplies into the hands of the residents of Saipan that need them most,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer, Steve DeBlasio.

“These supplies will go a long way in allowing the government of CNMI and the rest of our federal and private sector partners to create solutions to problems.” DeBlasio also thanked the US Navy and the US Marine Corps for their assistance in supporting the humanitarian mission on Saipan, and praised the resilience and patience of the citizens of the CNMI.

Additional supplies to what FEMA already had on the ground in CNMI were transported from Guam on the USS Ashland last Saturday. That cargo contained generators of various sizes, as well as large amounts of food, drinking water, tents, and vital heavy equipment needed to move the larger generators. The USS Ashland is expected to off-load Guam Power Authority heavy equipment on Saipan this morning.This equipment will help to expedite the restoration of electrical infrastructure here in Saipan.

“The residents of Saipan have been resilient, patient, and extremely hospitable under very trying and austere circumstances,” DeBlasio said. “They deserve our thanks and our help.”

DeBlasio also encouraged disaster survivors on Saipan to continue to register for FEMA assistance by calling 1-800-621 FEMA (3362), adding that more than 2,500 households had already done so.

Original article: 

CNMI, Red Cross and FEMA Announce Enhanced Aid for Typhoon Soudelor Survivors

FEMA and Partners Exercising Earthquake Scenarios

BOTHELL, Wash. – Why is there so much activity right now at the FEMA Region 10 office in Bothell?

Partners from the American Red Cross to the Bonneville Power Administration to the U.S. Army, and many others, are joining FEMA for what is known as a table-top exercise, planning for a larger full-scale exercise in March.

A table-top is an exercise in which field and logistics movements are “simulated” – not actually performed – while planning and decision-making proceed as if they are. A similar scenario will play out in late March when many of the same partners participate in a full-scale exercise with real field and logistical activity.

The table-top brings more than 100 people to the Region 10 Response Coordination Center in Bothell through Thursday.

The scenario involves a magnitude 9.2 earthquake and resulting tsunami. Such a quake would be the second strongest in known history, and the largest in known U.S. history. In fact, that largest-ever U.S. quake inspired the scenario; the upcoming full-scale “Alaska Shield” exercise coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Great Alaska Earthquake of 1964.

The scenario projects the loss of hundreds of lives. Also, it has thousands displaced in an Alaska winter with no power or heat and possibly tens of thousands of buildings damaged. Other problems would include loss of communications and how to moving relief commodities to survivors despite destroyed roads and bridges.

Region 10 Administrator Ken Murphy said of the table-top, “This exercise is important for all of us to work with all of our partners leading up to Alaska Shield, and to make sure that all of our systems are working together smoothly and seamlessly.”

FEMA regularly tests procedures and practices in this way, together with local, state, tribes, and other federal agencies.

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 the Alaska Shield Exercise at #Akshield and FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion10, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

News Desk: 425-487-4610

 

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FEMA and Partners Exercising Earthquake Scenarios

Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station Exercise Process to be Discussed at Public Meeting

Media Contacts:

Federal Emergency Management Agency news desk (816) 283-7095
Jodie Fawl, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (402) 471-7428
Stefanie Bond, Iowa Homeland Security & Emergency Management (515) 725-3231

FORT CALHOUN NUCLEAR STATION EXERCISE PROCESS TO BE DISCUSSED AT PUBLIC MEETING

Kansas City, Mo. –The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region VII office announced today the states of Nebraska and Iowa, along with Washington County in Nebraska and Pottawattamie and Harrison counties in Iowa, will participate with the Omaha Public Power District in a one-day exercise on Dec. 3, 2013, in support of the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station, located near Fort Calhoun, Neb. The routine exercise will test the abilities of the states of Nebraska and Iowa, the utility, and the participating counties to protect the health and safety of the public living and working in the vicinity of the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station.

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

On Thursday, Dec. 5 a public meeting will be held to describe and explain the full-scale response exercise process. Since the process of evaluating the full-scale response exercise will take months, the preliminary findings are very limited in scope.

Members of the public and the media are invited to attend this meeting beginning at 11 a.m. (CST) in the City Council Chambers of Blair City Hall,
located at 218 S. 16th St., Blair, Neb. Representatives from FEMA Region VII will chair the meeting and explain the exercise process. A representative from the NRC Region IV office, located in Arlington, Texas, will discuss activities conducted on-site at the power plant during the exercise.

Visit FEMA Region VII’s website and follow us on social media, at www.twitter.com/femaregion7, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate on Twitter.  The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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

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Link – 

Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station Exercise Process to be Discussed at Public Meeting

A Year After Hurricane Sandy: New York Recovery By The Numbers

Oct. 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy strikes with a storm surge weather experts in New York had never seen before.

The first 48 hours

  • 1,200 FEMA specialists on the ground in New York
  • Five mobile disaster recovery centers open
  • 350 ambulances deployed from around the country to New York
  • 11 disaster medical assistance teams and U.S. Public Health Service officers arrive
  • Oct. 31, 2012, the first FEMA Individual Assistance grants approved for $1.7 million
  • U.S. Department of Transportation authorizes $10 million for repairs to roads, bridges and tunnels

Response milestones at one year (as of Oct. 15)

  • More than $8.3 billion in total federal assistance approved for Individual Assistance grants, SBA low-interest disaster loans, National Flood Insurance Program payments and Public Assistance grants.

Individual Assistance

  • More than $1 billion approved for individuals and households including:
    • More than $857 million for housing assistance
    • More than $145 million for other needs, including clothing, household items, disaster-related damage to a vehicle, and disaster-related medical and dental expenses
  • 272,045 contacted FEMA for help or information
  • 185,208 housing inspections completed
  • 65 disaster recovery centers opened
  • 183,145 visits to disaster recovery centers
  • 5,944 individuals and families housed temporarily in hotel rooms under the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program
  • 5,592 survivors received disaster unemployment assistance

U.S. Small Business Administration

  • More than $1.5 billion in SBA low-interest disaster loans approved for homeowners, renters and businesses

National Flood Insurance Program

  • More than $3.7 billion in flood insurance payments made to policyholders

Public Assistance

  • More than $2.1 billion approved in FEMA Public Assistance grants to communities and some nonprofit organizations that serve the public
  • 2,712 projects approved so far
  • More than 21,000 families were able to remain in their homes while repairs were made because of the Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power and the New York City Rapid Repairs programs

A whole community response

  • 500 voluntary agencies involved in recovery
  • More than 3.2 million meals and 2.4 million liters of water distributed
  • 26 languages used to communicate assistance information to survivors
  • More than 1 million multilingual fliers distributed
  • Power restored for 2.1 million New Yorkers
  • Nearly 6.4 million cubic yards of debris removed
  • At peak, more than 4,150 deployed to New York by FEMA and other federal agencies
  • 42 federal agencies assisted FEMA during Hurricane Sandy in New York
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers drained 149.7 million gallons of water from the New York City metro area, equivalent to 227 Olympic-sized swimming pools
  • The Corps supplied 211 generators that produced power equivalent to meeting the requirements for 50,000 single-family homes
  • Approximately 1.1 million pounds of food provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • The Defense Logistics Agency delivered 2.3 million gallons of fuel to distribution points in New York and New Jersey
  • The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration assigned navigation response vessels to survey the Port of New York for navigation hazards

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A Year After Hurricane Sandy: New York Recovery By The Numbers

Protecting A Home From Storms And Flooding Begins On The Inside

TRENTON, N.J. — To protect a home from damage from a flood or a hurricane takes more than just making the outside stronger. The inside of the house can be better protected from wind and water with a little planning and preparation.

Several things can be done to minimize damage inside a structure. Here are some ideas:

Floors:                                                                                                        

  • Consider using one or more area rugs or carpet remnants rather than wall-to-wall carpet; smaller pieces can be rolled up and stored on an upper floor in a heavy rain event.
  • Completely dry subflooring before laying new flooring.
  • Do not use laminate flooring on top of concrete – especially in a basement – where the floor could retain moisture or get wet.

Drains:

  • Install a sewer backflow valve to prevent sewage from backing up into the house.
  • Install a sump pump or pumps in the basement floor to help keep groundwater from entering a structure. Sump pumps are used to remove water from basements and other low areas. Consider choosing a model with a battery backup so that it continues to work if the power goes out.

Electrical System:

  • Raise wiring and electrical components – panel boxes, switches, outlets – at least 1 foot above the Base Flood Elevation. Homeowners who are not in a designated floodplain, should consider raising these components an extra 1 foot above the level required by building codes.
  • Use wire rated for underground use if it has to run into areas that could get wet.
  • Ensure that all junctions are in approved junction boxes.
  • Change all outlets to Ground Fault Interrupters (GFI).
  • Raise electric baseboard heaters above the Base Flood Elevation.
  • Hire a licensed electrician for all wiring work and be sure the work is properly permitted and approved by the local building department.
  • For questions about a home or building’s Base Flood Elevation contact the local building or floodplain management department.

Appliances:

  • Elevate appliances – water heaters, furnaces, washers and dryers.
  • When possible, move them from a basement or lower level to an upper floor. Otherwise, relocate appliances on a masonry or pressure-treated lumber base that’s at least 1 foot above the Base Flood Elevation (or at least 6 inches tall if there is no Base Flood Elevation).
  • Make sure washers/dryers will not vibrate off the platform during use.
  • Hire a licensed contractor when plumbing or electrical changes are needed.

Interior Walls:

  • Wash and disinfect the studs and sills if the drywall and insulation have been removed. Give the studs and sills plenty of time to dry before hanging new drywall.
  • Use a moisture meter to be doubly sure.
  • Cut drywall so that it is one-half to 1 inch off the floor, especially in basements.
  • Concrete floors commonly absorb ground moisture – especially in winter months.
    • That moisture can wick up the wallboard if it’s touching the floor, allowing mold to grow out-of-sight within the walls. (Hide the gap with wood or rubberized floor trim).
    • If greenboard or other moisture-resistant drywall got wet, replace it. These materials can present the same health hazards as regular drywall when soaked with floodwaters.

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.

Original source – 

Protecting A Home From Storms And Flooding Begins On The Inside

New Yorkers honored as White House Hurricane Sandy “Champions of Change”

NEW YORK – Eight New Yorkers were honored Wednesday by the White House as Hurricane Sandy “Champions of Change.”

The White House recognized the individuals for their work in response and recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy. These hidden heroes implemented innovative, collaborative solutions to meet the unique needs of communities and neighborhoods as they worked to rebuild after the devastating effects of this disaster.

“As soon as a disaster hits, we see citizens come together to help those in need,” said Paulette Aniskoff, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement. “Time and again, we have seen the courage and heroism of first responders, organizations and ordinary people in providing relief, recovery and care, and these Hurricane Sandy Champions of Change are no exception.”

Those honored were:

Amanda “Mandy” Bickerstaff, UWSLoves (New York, NY)

Mandy Bickerstaff is a Program Director for Do Your Part, a nonprofit organization that supports disaster relief and long-term recovery. After Hurricane Sandy hit New York City, Bickerstaff volunteered with the Red Cross and saw how important good food made with love was in times of disaster. She co-founded UWSLoves, which prepared over 1,500 hot meals and more than 3,000 sandwiches for those in need on the Lower East Side, Rockaway, Coney Island and Red Hook. During this time, Bickerstaff also compiled a cookbook of recipes and stories from the relief effort to support continued fundraising. She continues to work with relief organizations around the New York and New Jersey areas, coordinating fundraisers, large donations and volunteers. Her grandparents are her inspiration, instilling in her the importance of public service and dedication to those in need.

Ariel Creamer, Survivors Silver Lining (Queens, NY)

After evacuating her home during Hurricane Sandy, fourteen-year-old Rockaway resident Ariel Creamer founded the organization Survivors Silver Lining, which matches donors with Hurricane Sandy survivors. The mission of the organization is to help children and families replace items lost in the storm and rebuild their lives. Creamer has worked with other hurricane relief organizations to bring and distribute supplies to the Rockaways. Her hope is to continue her work and to bring awareness that the need in the Rockaways is far from over.

Erin Corcoran Daly, Operation Breezy Gut and Pump (Queens, NY)

Erin Daly sprang into action after Hurricane Sandy struck her hometown of Breezy Point. Daly, a Florida state prosecutor, immediately began her relief efforts by collecting donations of generators, sump pumps, tools, food and water, and arrived at the disaster zone with a truckload full of supplies and gasoline. The next day, Daly and off-duty FDNY firefighter Kevin Adams pitched a tent in a field and offered to pump and gut houses for free. Operation Breezy Gut and Pump was born. Kevin recruited fellow FDNY member Phil Pillet, and soon volunteers began showing up by the hundreds. Over the next 36 days, Daly and her crew worked tirelessly day and night, coordinating the integration of federal, state and local resources and matching victims with volunteer groups and relief organizations. Thanks to Operation Gut and Pump’s efforts, over 600 homes in Breezy Point were pumped, gutted and cleaned out free of charge.

Mike “Loco” Hoffman, Boots on the Ground (Staten Island, NY)

His community devastated after Hurricane Sandy, Mike “Loco” Hoffman has contributed to disaster relief and recovery every day since the storm struck. From rescuing stranded and frightened survivors to providing household needs, heaters and generators to gutting and rebuilding homes, Hoffman has been a one-man powerhouse of recovery. He even brought Christmas gifts and cheer to residents by dressing as Santa Claus and driving a decorated truck playing Christmas music through the streets of storm-ravaged neighborhoods. A lifelong resident of Staten Island, Hoffman founded Boots on the Ground Staten Island to put his local knowledge to use and serve as a resource for the thousands of volunteers who arrived to the area. In this way, he is assisting with the formation of an organized at-the-ready volunteer response network as a resource for future disaster victims.

Adam Marlatt, Global DIRT: Disaster Immediate Response Team (New York, NY)

Adam Marlatt is a Marine Reserve infantry sergeant and the founder of Global Disaster Immediate Response Team (DIRT). Using the skills he learned on the battlefield, on a District Stability Team with the U.S. State Department, and with his local volunteer fire department, Marlatt leads his team into the immediate aftermath of disasters to provide technical solutions, medical assistance and coordination support. Founded after the Haiti earthquake of 2010, Global DIRT has deployed to Haiti, Pakistan, New Zealand, Japan and the tri-state area after Hurricane Sandy.

Walter Meyer, Power Rockaway Resilience (Brooklyn, NY)

Together with a group of designers, sustainability experts, and solar engineers, Walter Meyer, an urban designer based in Brooklyn, New York, helped form the community-based organization “Power Rockaways Resilience.” Days after Hurricane Sandy, while gas generators sat idle due to a fuel shortage, the group began delivering hand-built, shopping-cart-sized solar generators to the hardest-hit blocks of the Rockaway peninsula, a barrier island off New York City that bore the brunt of a 14-foot tidal surge topped by three-story-high waves. This small-scale initial effort grew, and with the help of a nationwide fundraising campaign, Power Rockaways Resilience oversaw the widespread installation of large-scale solar generators at relief centers and volunteer hubs. The use of solar power to keep lights shining and helping hands working throughout the darkest days of the storm has inspired peninsula-wide interest in alternative energy technologies. Power Rockaways Resilience is still on the ground connecting solar suppliers and installers with Rockaway businesses and residents seeking to rebuild for a more sustainable, resilient future.

Carolina Salguero, PortSide NewYork (Brooklyn, NY)

PortSide NewYork is a nonprofit in Red Hook, Brooklyn, focused on waterfront issues. Since 2005, the organization has operated from the Mary A. Whalen, an oil tanker on the National Register of Historic Places. After protecting the ship during Hurricane Sandy, they came ashore to help the community of Red Hook. Led by founder Carolina Salguero, PortSide created an aid station that evolved to provide services in response to emerging needs. They provided computer equipment to enable people to apply to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, organized the work of electrician Danny Schneider who donated his services for free, and set up free legal clinics and a small business recovery center. Based on what they learned, they are now planning programs for Red Hook and the New York City government.

Marcie Allen Van Mol, Beach 119th Street Angels (New York, NY)

Marcie Allen is the president of MAC Presents, a New York City-based sponsorship and fulfillment agency. After Hurricane Sandy, Marcie raised over $100,000 in donations and supplies for families on Beach 119th Street in Rockaway Beach, New York. Allen directed the short documentary film Beach 119 about the families of one block in Rockaway and their recovery.

To learn more about the White House Champions of Change program and nominate a Champion, visit www.whitehouse.gov/champions.

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New Yorkers honored as White House Hurricane Sandy “Champions of Change”

Give Your Loved Ones The Gift Of Emergency Preparedness

TRENTON, N.J. — With the holidays fast approaching, New Jersey residents might want to consider giving gifts that will help protect their family members and friends during a future emergency. Supplies for an emergency preparedness kit can make unique — and potentially life-saving — holiday gifts.

Excellent emergency preparedness gifts include:

  • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert.
  • A quality flashlight and extra batteries.
  • Solar-powered cell phone charger.
  • Smoke detector and/or carbon monoxide detectors.
  • First aid kit.
  • Fire extinguisher and fire escape ladder.
  • Enrollment in a CPR or first aid class.
  • Books, coloring books, crayons and board games for the kids, in case the power goes out.
  • Personal hygiene comfort kit, including shampoo, body wash, wash cloth, hairbrush, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant.
  • A waterproof pouch or backpack containing any of the above items, or with such things as a rain poncho, moist towelettes, work gloves, batteries, duct tape, whistle, food bars, etc.

Holiday shoppers might also consider giving a winter car kit, equipped with a shovel, ice scraper, emergency flares, fluorescent distress flags and jumper cables. For animal lovers, a pet disaster kit with emergency food, bottled water, toys and a leash is also a good gift.

The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency urge Garden State residents to give at least one of these practical gifts – either as a present under the  tree or as a stocking stuffer. It might just save the life of a friend or family member. For more information, preparedness tips or other gift ideas, visit www.Ready.gov.

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.

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Give Your Loved Ones The Gift Of Emergency Preparedness

FEMA Awards First of Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power Program Grants

NEW YORK – The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today it is awarding nearly $4 million to two local governments to help pay for costs associated with implementing the Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power (STEP) Program.

STEP funds emergency residential essential and necessary repairs such as restoration of temporary electricity, heat and hot water so that survivors can remain in their homes while permanent repair work continues.

The FEMA Public Assistance program is providing at least 75 percent of the eligible expenses for STEP; the remaining 25 percent will be provided by non-federal funds. FEMA has awarded $2.8 million to Nassau County and $1.1 million to Suffolk County.

“FEMA’s first priority is getting New Yorkers home,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne. “We understand that survivors are hard at work repairing and rebuilding houses. STEP is an emergency program that will enable them to move out of hotels and shelters and safely return to their homes during renovation.”

Under the program, residents of Nassau and Suffolk counties will be able to have the damage to their residences assessed and, where safe and practicable, have electricity restored and other basic repairs made so they can move back into their homes. This may include making temporary repairs to ramps and other related elements needed to make the homes accessible for residents with disabilities and others with physical accommodation requirements.

The STEP program was initiated after Hurricane Sandy to allow New Yorkers who do not have power to shelter-in-place in their homes while permanent repairs are completed. The STEP program is ongoing; these are the first funds awarded through this pilot program. FEMA officials expect that funds to reimburse local governments for STEP will increase in the coming weeks.

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:  

FEMA Awards First of Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power Program Grants

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