May 6-12 is Arson Awareness Week

May 6-12 is Arson Awareness Week 

Release Date: May 4, 2012
Release Number: R10-12-013

» 2012 Region X News Releases

SEATTLE, Wash. — National Arson Awareness Week is being observed May 6-12. This year’s theme is Prevent Youth Firesetting. According to FEMA Regional Administrator Ken Murphy, we all need to join in a collaborative effort with fire and emergency service departmentsto zero in on the importance of helping reduce the occurrence of fires caused by children playing with fire.

“It’s important to set a good example for our children,” said Murphy. “Use matches, lighters, and fire carefully, as children will imitate adult behavior.”

According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), fires started by children playing accounted for an average of 56,300 fires per year between 2005 and 2009, with associated annual losses of 110 deaths, 880 injuries and $286 million in direct property damage.

To help prevent children in your household from setting fires, never leave matches or lighters within their reach. Keep matches and lighters in high, locked cabinets. In addition, praise your child for practicing responsible behavior and showing respect for fire.

For more information on Arson Awareness Week and youth firesetter prevention, visit the USFA website at www.usfa.fema.gov/aaw/.

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.

Last Modified: Monday, 07-May-2012 14:29:17

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May 6-12 is Arson Awareness Week

May is Building Safety Month

May is Building Safety Month 

Release Date: May 3, 2012
Release Number: R10-12-012

» 2012 Region X News Releases

SEATTLE, Wash. — When you enter a house or building, most likely you assume it is safe and was properly constructed in accordance with building codes. Fortunately, your local safety experts work hard to assure building safety and fire prevention every day. To help raise awareness of building safety, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)proudly celebrates Building Safety Month this May.

Building Safety Month is a month-long celebration of all aspects of building safety to help families, employers, and leaders understand and appreciate the best practices that keep the places where we live, work and play safe. The campaign is presented by the International Code Council and its 50,000 members worldwide, along with a diverse partnership of professionals from the building construction, design and safety community.

“Building codes are meant to protect us,” says FEMA Region 10 Regional Administrator Ken Murphy. “The more people understand and respect building codes, the better we will build and the safer our communities will be.”

In order for residents of a community to qualify for flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the community needs to maintain a minimal level of building code protection and floodplain management. If a community enforces even higher standards, they can participate in the Community Rating System (CRS) program. The CRS provides a reduction in flood insurance premium rates for property owners in communities that implement activities above and beyond the basic requirements of the NFIP. These reduced rates reflect the reduced flood risk.

Countless accidents occur in homes across the U.S. and globally where building codes are poorly understood or used improperly. Building Safety Month is an effort to help bridge these gaps and provide a broader platform to share the sphere of knowledge among architects, engineers and skilled industry veterans so that families, businesses and communities can be safe, strong and sustainable.

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.

Last Modified: Monday, 07-May-2012 14:26:40

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May is Building Safety Month

FEMA Approves $1 Million for Acquisition Project

FEMA Approves $1 Million for Acquisition Project 

Release Date: May 7, 2012
Release Number: R3-12-007

» 2012 Region III News Releases

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today the approval of a grant totaling more than $1million to acquire and demolish six residential structures in the City of Chesapeake, VA .

The proposed grant will acquire and demolish six (6) repetitive loss properties, thereby eliminating damages from future events. Following the demolition and removal of these properties, the land will be deed restricted into open space in perpetuity.

“This grant will provide flood victims and the City of Chesapeake the opportunity to start anew in a community outside the floodplain,” said FEMA Region III Regional Administrator MaryAnn Tierney. “As the Commonwealth of Virginia submits applications for grant funding, FEMA is committed to supporting its efforts to make communities free from the risks of natural hazards.”

FEMA will pay $1,248,724.48. This amounts to75 percent of the total project costs. This grant is available through Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).

The HMGP provides grants to States and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration. The purpose of the HMGP is to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster. The HMGP is authorized under Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

The HMGP grant program process is locally driven. Property owners interested in taking steps to reduce risks from future disasters must express their interest to their municipal or county officials. Local officials applying for an HMGP grant must develop a proposal and submit it to their respective State for review prior to it being submitted to FEMA to be considered for funding.

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

Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion3.

Last Modified: Monday, 07-May-2012 09:48:54

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FEMA Approves $1 Million for Acquisition Project

New Flood Maps Show Updated Flood Risks in Collier County, Florida

New Flood Maps Show Updated Flood Risks in Collier County, Florida 

Maps become effective May 16, 2012 for Collier County, including unincorporated Collier County, Everglades City, Marco Island and Naples

Release Date: May 4, 2012
Release Number: R4-12-014

» 2012 Region IV News Releases

ATLANTA, Ga. — New flood insurance rate maps go into effect for Collier County, Fla. on Wednesday, May 16, 2012. Flood maps show the extent to which areas are at risk of flooding, and they’re used to help determine flood insurance requirements.

Collier County, Fla. property owners and renters who do not have flood insurance are encouraged to buy coverage now to get the best possible premiums before the new maps go into effect.

By law, federally regulated or insured mortgage lenders require flood insurance on properties that are located in areas at high risk of flooding. Even people living outside of high-risk areas can experience flooding, which is the most common and costly natural disaster in the U.S. That’s why everyone, regardless of their flood zone, should take steps to financially protect themselves from a disaster which affects far too many communities each year. The primary way to do that is by purchasing flood insurance. It’s available at affordable rates through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a voluntary program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Those who purchase flood insurance prior to the May 16, 2012 effective date of the new maps may be able to obtain a preferred risk policy or be grandfathered into the current flood zone, thereby saving money on flood insurance. It’s important that people talk with an insurance agent to see what options are available to them.

Standard homeowner’s, business owner’s, and renter’s insurance policies don’t cover flood damage, so flood insurance is an important consideration for everyone. NFIP policies can be purchased from any state licensed property and casualty insurance agents who people already deal with for other property insurance needs. When that isn’t possible, NFIP can put people in touch with another agent. Visit www.floodsmart.gov for more information about flood insurance and to locate a local agent.

The new flood maps were produced through a partnership between Collier County and FEMA. They are more precise than older maps because better flood hazard and risk data and the latest science available have been applied to make the maps more accurate, with the ultimate goal of protecting property owners and the community from the risks associated with flooding. Additionally, flood risks change over time due to construction and development, environmental changes, floodplain widening or shifting, and other factors — which is why it’s important that maps are updated periodically.

If you have questions about where your property is located on the new flood insurance rate maps, contact your local floodplain manager.

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.

Last Modified: Friday, 04-May-2012 11:40:15

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New Flood Maps Show Updated Flood Risks in Collier County, Florida

FEMA Approves Fire Management Assistance Grant for Fire in Jeff Davis County, Texas

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FEMA Approves Fire Management Assistance Grant for Fire in Jeff Davis County, Texas

FEMA Region 6 Prepares For Leadership Transition

FEMA Region 6 Prepares For Leadership Transition 

Regional Administrator Tony Russell Will Depart for New Post

Release Date: April 25, 2012
Release Number: R6-12-079

» 2012 Region VI News Releases

DENTON, Texas — The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region 6 Office is preparing for a transition in leadership.

On May 6, current Regional Administrator Tony Russell will become the new Superintendent of FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Russell was appointed as FEMA Region 6 Administrator in December 2009, and has been responsible for the oversight of FEMA operations in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas. He previously served as the

Acting Director of FEMA’s Louisiana Recovery Office (LRO) and as a Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) for FEMA Region 8.

“It is very difficult to leave a job that is so meaningful and rewarding,” said Russell. “I am honored to have served with our federal, state, local, tribal, non-governmental and private sector emergency partners and look forward to working with them further, but now, on a national level.”

Russell’s accomplishments while serving as FEMA Region 6 Administrator include the streamlining and reinvigoration of recovery efforts from hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike in Louisiana and Texas.

He also oversaw many federal disaster and emergency declarations for events such as flooding, tornados and severe winter storms in all five of the region’s states.

FEMA Region 6 Deputy Administrator Tony Robinson will assume the duties of Acting Regional Administrator upon Russell’s departure.

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.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 25-Apr-2012 11:34:39

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FEMA Authorizes Funds To Help Fight Colorado’s Lower North Fork Fire

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FEMA Authorizes Funds To Help Fight Colorado’s Lower North Fork Fire

FEMA: Nearly $12 Million In Hazard Mitigation For Puget Sound

FEMA: Nearly $12 Million In Hazard Mitigation For Puget Sound 

Release Date: March 26, 2012
Release Number: R10-12-008

» 2012 Region X News Releases

SEATTLE –The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that in FY2011, FEMA Region X provided $11,909,572 funding to the State of Washington to implement 19 new Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) projects in the Puget Sound Watershed.

FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) provides grants to State and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration. The purpose of the HMGP is to help communities prepare for future disasters by providing grants to implement long-term solutions for preparedness and protection against property damage and loss of life.

A primary eligible project type for FEMA’s five Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs is acquisition and demolition of flood prone structures. This results in the acquisition and conversion of developed land into permanent open space, in the form of native vegetation/wildlife habitat, active-use parks, and multi-use greenways.

A good example of a floodway buyout conversion into open space can be seen in King County, along the Cedar River in Maple Valley. This project was completed in 2008. In this project, called the Rainbow Bend Floodway Acquisition project, five residences on 6 parcels were purchased (see attached photos). The flood-prone houses were removed, and the vacant lands returned to their natural state. Now, where a row of houses stood too close to the river, there is riparian habitat.

In FY2011, six flood prone properties similar to the Rainbow Bend Acquisition project have been purchased for acquisition and demolition to be converted into permanent open space. When these projects are finished, six families will be spared the pain of repeated flooding, and the stretches of riverside where these homes once stood will be permanent open space.

Over the past three years, FEMA Region X has provided funding to the State of Washington to implement 101 new Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) projects in the Puget Sound Watershed. A total of 25 have been for acquisition/demolition of flood prone properties for conversion to permanent open space use. The total Federal share dollar value of these acquisition projects is $29.6 million, and 87 flood prone structures have been approved for acquisition.

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.

Last Modified: Monday, 26-Mar-2012 14:49:03

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FEMA: Nearly $12 Million In Hazard Mitigation For Puget Sound

New Flood Maps Show Current Risks In Cass County, Texas

New Flood Maps Show Current Risks In Cass County, Texas 

Release Date: March 23, 2012
Release Number: R6-12-067

» 2012 Region VI News Releases

DENTON, Texas — Cass County, Texas homeowners, business and residential renters, and business owners who do not have flood insurance are encouraged to buy coverage now to get the best possible premiums before new flood insurance rate maps go into effect.

The new Cass County flood maps become effective on Tuesday, April 3 giving those who haven’t purchased flood insurance yet, time to get the best possible premiums to protect their property from potential flooding.

“While many people are required by mortgage and lending companies to have flood insurance, FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) strongly recommend that everyone have flood insurance,” said Region 6 Administrator Tony Russell. “The reason is simple: You don’t have to be in a mapped floodplain to flood.”

Current policy holders and those planning to purchase NFIP protection are strongly encouraged to contact their insurance agent or company to ensure that they have adequate coverage for building and contents that accounts for new flood risk data.

Those who purchase flood insurance prior to April 3 may be able to grandfather the current flood zone, saving money on flood insurance. For more information on estimated rates for flood insurance, whether you are eligible for grandfathering, and the Preferred Risk Policy extension, or to locate an agent in your area, visit www.floodsmart.gov.

Anyone who hasn’t had a chance to participate in local flood insurance meetings or to review the new flood maps is encouraged to contact their floodplain administrator to determine if they have been removed from the floodplain and may be able to have their premiums reduced accordingly. The floodplain administrator is most likely located at City Hall or the local courthouse.

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.

Last Modified: Friday, 23-Mar-2012 15:09:07

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New Flood Maps Show Current Risks In Cass County, Texas

New Flood Maps Show Current Risks in Rogers County, Oklahoma

New Flood Maps Show Current Risks in Rogers County, Oklahoma 

Release Date: March 22, 2012
Release Number: R6-12-065

» 2012 Region VI News Releases

DENTON, Texas — Rogers County, Oklahoma homeowners, business and residential renters, and business owners who do not have flood insurance are encouraged to buy coverage now to get the best possible premiums before new flood insurance rate maps go into effect.

The new Rogers County flood maps, which include all of the communities in Rogers County, become effective on Tuesday, April 3 giving those who haven’t purchased flood insurance yet, time to get the best possible premiums to protect their property from potential flooding.

“While many people are required by mortgage and lending companies to have flood insurance, FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) strongly recommend that everyone have flood insurance,” said Region 6 Administrator Tony Russell. “The reason is simple: You don’t have to be in a mapped floodplain to flood.”

Current policy holders and those planning to purchase NFIP protection are strongly encouraged to contact their insurance agent or company to ensure that they have adequate coverage for building and contents that accounts for new flood risk data.

Those who purchase flood insurance prior to April 3 may be able to grandfather the current flood zone, saving money on flood insurance. For more information on estimated rates for flood insurance, whether you are eligible for grandfathering, and the Preferred Risk Policy extension, or to locate an agent in your area, visit www.floodsmart.gov.

Anyone who hasn’t had a chance to participate in local flood insurance meetings or to review the new flood maps is encouraged to contact their floodplain administrator who may be located at City Hall or the county administration offices.

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. 

Last Modified: Thursday, 22-Mar-2012 09:44:11

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New Flood Maps Show Current Risks in Rogers County, Oklahoma

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