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Federal Aid Programs Available for the State of West Virginia Declaration

Release date:

May 21, 2015

Release Number:

HQ-15-028-FactSheet

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

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

Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for emergency protective measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health. Emergency protective measures assistance is available to state and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)

How to Apply for Assistance:

Application procedures for state and local governments will be explained at a series of federal/state applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders and 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.

Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts available at www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema ; follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fema and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fema.

Last Updated:

May 21, 2015 – 22:20

State/Tribal Government or Region:

West Virginia

Related Disaster:

West Virginia Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

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Federal Aid Programs Available for the State of West Virginia Declaration

FEMA Announces 2015 Youth Preparedness Council Members

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is pleased to announce the members of the 2015-2016 National Youth Preparedness Council (Council).

Created in 2012, the Council brings together youth leaders from across the country that are interested in advocating on behalf of preparedness and making a difference in their communities. The Council supports FEMA’s commitment to involving youth in preparedness-related activities. It also provides an avenue to engage youth by taking into account their perspectives, feedback and opinions. Council members will meet with FEMA staff members throughout their term to provide input on strategies, initiatives and projects.

Preparedness education empowers youth to keep themselves and others safe in an emergency; encourages them to share preparedness information with their families, schools and communities; and reduces anxiety about potential disasters.

The six new members of the Council were selected based on their dedication to public service, community involvement and potential to expand their impact as national advocates for youth preparedness. The members selected in 2015 are:

FEMA Region III: Angelo DeGraff (Maryland)
FEMA Region VI: Ty Zaunbrecher (Louisiana)
FEMA Region IX: Kiahna Lee Espia (Guam)
FEMA Region IX: Divakar Saini (California)
FEMA Region X: Hailey Starr (Washington)
FEMA Region X: Megan Stutzman (Oregon)

The returning Council members are:

Council Chairperson: Obie Jones (FEMA Region VI, Texas)
Vice Chairperson: Weston Lee (FEMA Region VIII, Utah)
FEMA Region I: Bridget Smith (Connecticut)
FEMA Region II: James Collins (New Jersey)
FEMA Region III: Sahara Duncan (Pennsylvania)
FEMA Region IV: Matthew Mayfield (Alabama)
FEMA Region IV: Jonathan Salazar (Florida)
FEMA Region V: Isaiah Garcia (Michigan)
FEMA Region VII: Austin Witt (Iowa)

Each Council member will participate in the Youth Preparedness Council Summit, where they will:

Share their ideas, opinions and questions about youth disaster preparedness with the leadership of national organizations working on this critical priority;
Determine their legacy project; and
Meet with FEMA Community Preparedness staff, who will be their ongoing support contacts and mentors.

To learn more about the FEMA Youth Preparedness Council, please visit: www.ready.gov/youth-preparedness-council.

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

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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FEMA Announces 2015 Youth Preparedness Council Members

Bounce Back Faster from Disaster- Build to Code

CHICAGO – May is Building Safety Month, a public awareness campaign to help individuals, families and businesses understand what it takes to create safe and sustainable structures by increasing awareness about how building codes and code officials improve and protect the places where we live, learn, work, worship and play.

“We’re all at some level of disaster risk,” said Andrew Velasquez III, FEMA Region V administrator. “It is important that we prepare now for the impacts that disasters can have on our homes, our businesses and in our communities.”

The power of natural disasters can be overwhelming. While you can’t stop natural disasters from happening, there are steps you can take to increase your home’s chance of survival, even in the face of the worst Mother Nature can dish out.

1. Reinforce your Residence. Consider retrofitting options, or steps to improve your home’s protection from natural disasters, including high wind events. One of the most common types of wind damage to a structure is called “uplift”— which occurs when a roof lifts and collapses back down on the house causing costly damage. Fortunately, you can minimize the chances of this happening by installing straps connecting the structural members of your roof to the wall studs or columns.

Other risk reduction ideas include:
a. Use shingles rated for 90+ mph wind and use a minimum of four nails per shingle.
b. Make sure windows and doors are properly shimmed and nailed into the framed opening, tying the window and door frames into the adjacent studs, and
c. Install a garage door that is designed for higher wind speeds.

FEMA recommends consulting with a certified home inspector to determine if these are viable options for your home. For even more home strengthening options, click here.

2. Fortify Your Home’s Floors. Homeowners can secure their structure to the foundation by using anchors or metal straps. Your builder should ensure there are properly installed anchor bolt connections between the plate and the foundation at least every four feet to ensure maximum fastening to the foundation.

Consult with your local building code official as well as a certified home inspector to determine the best options for you. For more information on wind-resistant home construction techniques, click here.

3. Trim & Tighten. High velocity winds from thunderstorms and tornadoes can turn patio furniture, grills and tree branches into destructive missiles. In addition, if the area immediately surrounding your house contains trees, outbuildings, trash cans, yard debris, or other materials that can be moved by the wind, your house will more likely be damaged during a tornado or windstorm.

All storage sheds and other outbuildings should be securely anchored, either to a permanent foundation or with straps and ground anchors. The straps and ground anchors used for manufactured homes can be used as anchoring systems for outbuildings, such as garden sheds, which are not placed on a permanent foundation. Outdoor furniture and barbecue grills can be secured by bolting them to decks or patios or by attaching them to ground anchors with cables or chains. Trees should also be trimmed so they’re at a safe distance away from your home.

4. Elevation is a Smart Renovation. Flooding is a real risk, and elevating your home and its critical utilities can significantly reduce the risk of water damage. Elevating your home may even reduce your flood insurance premiums. Contact your local floodplain manager to learn the flood risk and elevation requirements for your residence. For more information on elevation techniques to protect your home from flood damage, click here.

5. Assure You’re Fully Insured. Take the time to review your insurance coverage. Are you adequately insured for the risks your community faces? Are you covered for wind, flood and sewer backup? Has your policy been updated to reflect the value of your home? For a list of questions to ask your insurance agent, click here. Many homeowners find out too late that their insurance coverage has not increased with the value of their home. Contact your insurance agent to get these questions answered and ensure your home is financially protected.

To learn more about Building Safety Month and how you can protect your home, business and valuables, visit www.iccsafe.org. For even more readiness information follow FEMA Region V at twitter.com/femaregion5 and facebook.com/fema. Individuals can always find valuable preparedness information at www.Ready.gov or download the free FEMA app, available for Android, Apple or Blackberry devices.

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 twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at 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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Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, (312) 408-4455

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Bounce Back Faster from Disaster- Build to Code

Callaway Energy Center 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 state of Missouri, along with the counties of Callaway, Gasconade, Osage, and Montgomery, will participate in a one-day exercise on May 5, 2015, in support of the Callaway Energy Center located near Reform, Missouri. The routine exercise will test the abilities of the state of Missouri, the utility, and the participating counties to protect the health and safety of the public living and working in the vicinity of the Callaway Energy Center.

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. Callaway Energy Center on-site performance will be observed and evaluated by officials from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

On Thursday, May 7, 2015, 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 10:00 a.m. (CDT) in the Auditorium of the State Emergency Management Agency, located at 2302 Militia Drive, Jefferson City, Mo.

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.

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Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Find regional updates from FEMA Region VII at www.twitter.com/femaregion7. 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 post:

Callaway Energy Center Exercise Process to be Discussed at Public Meeting

Federal Aid Programs for the Commonwealth of Kentucky Declaration

Main Content

Release date:

April 30, 2015

Release Number:

HQ-15-021-FactSheet

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

Assistance for the Commonwealth and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for emergency protective measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health. Emergency protective measures assistance is available to state and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis. (Source: FEMA funded, commonwealth administered.)
Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities. (Source: FEMA funded, commonwealth administered.)
Payment of not less than 75 percent for snow assistance, for a specific period of time during or proximate to the incident period. Snow Assistance may include snow removal, de-icing, salting, snow dumps, and sanding of roads. (Source: FEMA funded, commonwealth administered.)
Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, commonwealth administered.)

How to Apply for Assistance:

Application procedures for commonwealth and local governments will be explained at a series of federal/commonwealth applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the commonwealth from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.

Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts available at www.fema.gov/media-library and www.youtube.com/fema; follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fema and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fema.

Last Updated:

April 30, 2015 – 20:53

State/Tribal Government or Region:

Kentucky

Related Disaster:

Kentucky Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

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Federal Aid Programs for the Commonwealth of Kentucky Declaration

America’s PrepareAthon! National Day of Action Set for Thursday

DENVER – Thursday, April 30, is America’s PrepareAthon! National Day of Action, a grassroots campaign for action to get families, organizations and whole communities better prepared for emergencies. The campaign offers easy-to-use preparedness guides, checklists, and resources to help individuals prepare for common natural hazards and to take action, including downloading alerts and warnings, holding a drill, or safeguarding critical documents.

Despite the devastation that tornadoes, wildfires, and other natural disasters have caused in recent years, nearly 60 percent of surveyed Americans have not participated in a preparedness drill or exercise at their workplace, school, or home in the past year. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Denver-based regional office joins the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming in encouraging the whole community to participate in the America’s PrepareAthon! campaign by performing one of these simple preparedness actions:

Sign up for local text alerts and warnings and download weather apps to your smartphone.
Stay aware of worsening weather conditions. Visit ready.gov/prepare and download Be Smart: Know Your Alerts and Warnings to learn how to search for local alerts and weather apps relevant for hazards that affect your area.
Gather important documents and keep them in a safe place.
Have all of your personal, medical, and legal papers in one place, so you can evacuate without worrying about gathering your family’s critical documents at the last minute. Visit ready.gov/prepare and download Be Smart: Protect Your Critical Documents and Valuables for a helpful checklist.
Create an emergency supply kit.
Bad weather can become dangerous very quickly. Be prepared by creating an emergency supply kit for each member of your family. Visit ready.gov/kit for information on what to include in your kit.
Develop an emergency communication plan for your family.
It’s possible that your family will be in different locations when a disaster strikes. Come up with a plan so everyone knows how to reach each other and get back together if separated. Visit ready.gov/make-a-plan for communication plan resources.

Every state in FEMA Region VIII has shown support for America’s PrepareAthon! this spring by aligning a variety of preparedness activities with the campaign. The National Weather Service in North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming held statewide tornado drills to prepare residents for severe spring and summer weather; nearly one million Utahns participated in earthquake drills during the Great Utah ShakeOut; and communities throughout Colorado and Montana will hold wildfire preparedness events on May 2 for Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, an America’s PrepareAthon! partner event.

For more information about America’s PrepareAthon!, visit ready.gov/prepare. Follow America’s PrepareAthon! on Twitter using the handle @Prepareathon and #PrepareAthon.

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America’s PrepareAthon! National Day of Action Set for Thursday

In Anticipation of Severe Weather, FEMA Monitors and Encourages Residents to Prepare Now

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – With the potential for severe weather across the plains and several Midwestern states this week, staff at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region VII office are coordinating with state and local officials in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska and urge the public to be prepared and stay informed.

“As the threat of severe weather develops, we urge residents to listen to NOAA Weather Radio and local newscasts, monitor digital media feeds for updates and follow the instructions provided by local emergency officials,” said FEMA Region VII Administrator Beth Freeman. “This severe weather threat is a reminder that everyone needs a family emergency plan as we can’t always anticipate when or where a disaster might strike.”

For more information on creating your family’s emergency plan, visit http://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan.

Preparing for Severe Weather Now

To prepare for power outages and the disruption of essential services, FEMA urges families to prepare an emergency supply kit for their homes and cars. For more information, visit http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit. When preparing a kit, remember water, medications, and items needed for the well-being of your pets.

Staying informed is equally important when preparing for any emergency, particularly severe weather threats. In addition to monitoring the guidance and reports of local emergency and weather officials, monitor social media before, during and after emergencies. Consider following the Facebook, Twitter or Instagram handles of your local emergency management office as well as hospitals, schools and voluntary organizations that serve your community. More information on building your own preparedness list is available from @FEMARegion7 on Twitter, using the hashtag #preplist, or by visiting www.twitter.com/femaregion7/lists.

Responding to Severe Weather

If you have severe weather in your area, keep in mind these safety tips:

Become familiar with the terms used to identify a severe weather hazard and discuss with your family what to do if a watch or warning is issued. Terms used to describe weather hazards include the following:

Watch: Meteorologists are monitoring an area or region for the formation of a specific type of threat (e.g. flooding, severe thunderstorms, or tornados).

Warning: Specific life and property threatening conditions are occurring and imminent. Take appropriate safety precautions.

Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes and should be abandoned. A mobile home can overturn very easily even if precautions have been taken to tie down the unit. Residents of mobile homes must plan in advance and identify safe shelter in a nearby building.

While community safe rooms offer significant reassurance and protection during a severe weather event, always make the safe and certain choice about where to seek shelter – particularly if there is little time to travel to the location of the community safe room. It is always best to seek shelter in your basement or in the lowest possible structure in your residence if time and warning are limited when severe weather hits.

Know your surroundings and your structures if you’re planning to attend an event, take vacation, visit family, or if you are staying in a location other than your home like a hotel, campground or cabin. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the facility’s emergency plans including sirens and warnings, how to shelter in place, and steps to be taken in the event of an evacuation.

Do not touch downed power lines or objects in contact with downed lines. Report downed power lines and electrical hazards to the police and the utility company.

After a disaster, be aware of possible structural, electrical or gas-leak hazards in your home. Contact your local city or county building inspectors for information on structural safety codes and standards and before going back to a property with downed power lines, or the possibility of a gas leak. They may also offer suggestions on finding a qualified contractor to do work for you.

Injury may occur when people walk amid disaster debris and enter damaged buildings. Wear sturdy shoes or boots, long sleeves and gloves when handling or walking on or near debris.

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In Anticipation of Severe Weather, FEMA Monitors and Encourages Residents to Prepare Now

FEMA Awards $511,153 Grant to Lake County

CHICAGO –The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $511,153 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to Lake County, Minn., for the installation of fire-resistant roofing materials on 65 residential and commercial structures.

“The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program enables communities to implement critical mitigation measures to reduce the risk of loss of life and property,” said FEMA Region V Administrator, Andrew Velasquez III. “The fire-resistant roof installation makes these structures more resilient and greatly reduces the financial impact on individuals, property and the community when future wildfires impact the area.”

“Reducing the effects of all types of natural disasters is a key component of HSEM’s mission,” said HSEM Director Joe Kelly. “Fire-resistant roofing materials is a new project type for Minnesota. With the potential for significant drought this year, we are looking to implement measures that will better protect our residents.”

“Wildfire is our greatest natural hazard risk in Lake County,” says BJ Kohlstedt, Lake County’s Emergency Management Director. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to provide a safety net to homeowners. We’re already working with HSEM, the fire marshal, building officials, licensed installers, homeowners and vendors to develop guidelines and specifications to make this project most effective. Hopefully, these can serve as models for similar projects in future.”

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DPS/HSEM) administers the grants for FEMA. Through HMGP, FEMA will pay 75 percent of the $681,537 eligible project cost. The remaining 25 percent of the funds, $170,384, will be provided by Lake County.

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Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, (312) 408-4455

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FEMA Awards $511,153 Grant to Lake County

Prepare Now: Severe Weather System Threatens the Midwest This Week

CHICAGO – With a potentially volatile midweek forecast that includes severe storms, heavy rains, strong winds and the potential for tornadoes, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency encourages everyone to get prepared.

“Because severe weather can strike with little or no warning, everyone needs to be prepared now,” FEMA Region V Administrator Andrew Velasquez III said. “Learn your community’s emergency alert system and take all warnings seriously. You may only have seconds or minutes to take shelter in an emergency, so always be aware of where you and your family need to go to stay safe.”

Individuals should follow the instructions of state and local officials and listen to local radio or TV stations for updated information related to the storm system. If a warning is issued, get indoors, and move to the center of an interior room (closet, interior hallway) on the lowest level, such as a basement, away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls.
Heavy rains can also trigger localized flash flooding. Do not walk or drive through flood water. Just six inches of water can knock people off their feet or stall a vehicle.

Find valuable tips to help you prepare for severe weather at http://www.ready.gov/severe-weather and or download the free FEMA app, available for your Android, Apple or Blackberry device. Visit the site or download the app today so you have the information you need to prepare for severe weather.

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Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, (312) 408-4455

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Prepare Now: Severe Weather System Threatens the Midwest This Week

Revised Preliminary Flood Maps in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana Ready for Public View

DENTON, Texas – Homeowners, renters and business owners in Morehouse Parish are encouraged to look over newly-revised preliminary flood maps in order to determine their flood risks and make informed decisions.

Parish officials and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are presenting the revised preliminary maps to communities and unincorporated areas in order to help leaders and residents identify known flood risks in their area. Residents and business owners can use this information to make decisions about buying flood insurance and other building decisions. Community leaders can use this information to identify how the community should move forward with any development.

“We have worked with our state and local partners to bring this critical information to the parish and hope that everyone reviews the maps to understand what flood risks are involved,” said Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “It is very important to have the community as an active partner in the flood mapping process.”

To view the revised flood maps, please contact your local floodplain administrator who may be located at City Hall or the local parish government building. You can also visit http://msc.fema.gov/portal or http://maps.riskmap6.com/LA/Morehouse/. To contact a FEMA Map Specialist, call 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or send an email to FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com.

Once a flood risk is identified, the next step is to consider the purchase of a flood policy from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531 to locate an agent in your area.

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 us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6, and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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Revised Preliminary Flood Maps in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana Ready for Public View

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