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Recovery on Pine Ridge – One Year Later: Oglala Sioux Tribal Members Aiding Efforts

PINE RIDGE, S.D. – Hundreds of people from all over the country have contributed to recovery efforts at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservations following severe storms and flooding in May 2015. The response triggered the largest permanent housing construction effort in FEMA’s history. As part of that effort, the agency has hired 25 local tribal members to assist in that effort, and their role has been vital.

On all disasters, FEMA tries to hire people from the impacted area to provide important local knowledge. At Pine Ridge, this process was even more important, as the local hires also served to bridge the cultural gap and assisted more seasoned FEMA individuals in dealing with disaster survivors.

Glenda Red Feather performs clerical work and has served as a guide, traveling with FEMA staff around the reservation and helping to explain to disaster survivors the assistance they are receiving. Being part of positive change in her community is what attracted her.

“The reason I wanted to work with FEMA was the fact that they were providing safety and security for our people throughout the reservation,” she said. “FEMA has had such a huge impact and brought much change to the lifestyles in numerous areas around the Pine Ridge Reservation. Things like that don’t come around too often so I found it hard not to want to be able to participate in that!”

Besides assisting the disaster survivors, the local hires have also helped other FEMA staff acclimate to the reservation, as many were unfamiliar or had never been on one previously. Staff have held numerous potlucks and informal lunches, serving as a meeting of different cultures.

“Throughout our time with FEMA we were able to teach our colleagues our cultural beliefs, customs and values,” said Red Feather. “All of that now comes across when we are meeting with the disaster survivors.”

For the local hires, like all the FEMA staff, the rewards coming in assisting those impacted by the disaster. But that has extra meaning when those people are neighbors, friends and family.

“The highlight of working with the FEMA agency would most definitely have to be seeing the look on the applicants face when their keys were being handed over to them,” said Red Feather. “Some didn’t know how to express their feelings while others weren’t able to control it. It’s an amazing feeling knowing you’re a part of such a program that is changing ones’ life (or many for that matter) for the better. This job has been such an overwhelming yet remarkable job.”

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Recovery on Pine Ridge – One Year Later: Oglala Sioux Tribal Members Aiding Efforts

Partner Summit at Pine Ridge

Bringing to light the disaster recovery needs of the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe was the focus of a summit hosted by the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) and the South Dakota Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD). The Summit, held on March 11 at the Prairie Winds Casino on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, brought together more than 70 individuals representing 37 agencies seeking to learn how they can assist this community in need.

The reservation is located in remote southwestern South Dakota and is among the most poverty-stricken areas of the country.In May of 2015, a series of storms left flooding and wind damaged to hundreds of homes, many in already stressed conditions. The Oglala Sioux requested a federal disaster declaration, which was granted by President Obama in August.This was the first time FEMA’s Individual Assistance program was made available directly to a tribe, rather than through a state.

FEMA has been on the ground at Pine Ridge for eight months, and is repairing or replacing more than 300 homes as part of its efforts. However, the overall need is much greater. Additional storms later in the year created a great deal of damage that is not covered by the federal disaster declaration. In fact, only one in five of the households that registered for FEMA aid were eligible for federal assistance programs. That leaves a sizable group with unmet needs.

That’s where the South Dakota VOAD and CDP have stepped in. Because the Oglala Sioux disaster did not initially garner a great deal of media coverage and cultural reluctance to accept help from outside the reservation, many local agencies were not aware of the level of need. FEMA’s voluntary agency liaisons reached out to voluntary agency partners in and attempt to bridge that gap and a new team was born.

One of the biggest challenges is that there was not a strong relationship between most members of the South Dakota VOAD and with organizations within in the reservation. FEMA has hired two tribal members to serve as VALs and that is creating some capacity within the tribe. A collaboration was also established with Re-Member, an organization that has spent nearly 20 years working on Pine Ridge, assisting residents with basic housing needs.Re-Member has the local know-how and relationships needed to break the ice with tribal members in need.

The goal of the partnership summit was to take team to the next level, combining the local knowledge of Re-Member with the wide variety of resources and expertise that other agencies can bring to the table. There are lots of great ideas out there, and now is the time to begin implementing them, but ensuring that solutions developed are also in harmony with the Oglala people is vital. This is a unique opportunity for all corners of the volunteer community to come together to assist the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

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Partner Summit at Pine Ridge

Oglala Sioux Tribal Members Valuable Part of FEMA Team

PINE RIDGE, S.D. – For six months, FEMA has had a continued presence on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, supporting the Oglala Sioux Tribe in response and recovery efforts following a series of severe storms and flooding in May 2015. As part of that team, FEMA has hired about 20 tribal members to assist in operations. FEMA frequently hires within communities impacted by disasters for the local knowledge and expertise that such individuals can bring, and at Pine Ridge that has been no exception.

Ellen Martinez is a caseworker. In this role, she partners with a FEMA Individual Assistance program specialist and serves as a liaison to tribal members who have applied for disaster aid.

“One of the challenges is that people don’t want to let their damaged home go because of all the family history there,” Martinez said. “They are used to what they have. So we need to talk to them and explain that the new home will be healthier, safer and more secure, because people struggle with letting go of what they have.”

Martinez, like many of the local hires, started as an emergency liaison, going out with FEMA inspectors to view damage of homes. She is also in the unique position of being a disaster survivor in addition to working with FEMA. Her home was damaged in the storm and she received a new manufactured home. She shares her experience with the other applicants that she works with.

“FEMA is changing people’s lives”, Martinez said. “A lot of people didn’t know what FEMA is. They just registered but they didn’t understand the process. I can help explain that to them. I like helping people. I like the look on their face when they receive a new home. They are so grateful.”

Nancy S. Hussman came to FEMA after a lengthy career of service with tribal government. That background gave her a solid understanding of how the tribe works and how to get things done, helpful in her current position as a Voluntary Agency Liaison (VAL). As a VAL, she coordinates with agencies that seek to come on to the reservation and provide aid to tribal members in ways that FEMA can’t.

In addition to supporting the current disaster recovery effort, the experience gained by the tribal FEMA employees will end up serving the community in the future.

“It’s so great that FEMA has hired tribal members”, said Hussman. “When FEMA leaves there will be people who have been trained. We hope to keep a VAL department and we will be prepared to address a new disaster if we have one. And we will have one, whether it be tornado, fires or floods and we want to be better prepared. This is something that FEMA is teaching us.”

The tribal local hires have been able to help bridge the gap between federal government officials and the tribal community.

“We have been able to teach the FEMA people about our culture,” said Martinez. “How people look at things differently on the reservation. We’ve been able to show them how to approach tribal members as someone from off the reservation.”

“I think the FEMA staff have been receptive and they are learning about our culture,” said Hussman. “And that means a lot to our people. Because in general, many people are leery of the government. But FEMA has hired tribal members and because of that people have welcomed us into their homes and we have been able to do inspections and provide assistance.”

The newest members of the FEMA team have played an integral role, serving both the agency and their tribal community.

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Oglala Sioux Tribal Members Valuable Part of FEMA Team

Pine Ridge Disaster Recovery Center to Close

PINE RIDGE, S.D. – The last Pine Ridge Disaster Recovery Center (DRC), located at the SuAnne Big Crow Center, is closing permanently at 5 p.m., MST, on Friday, November 6, 2015.

Oglala Sioux Tribal and federal officials have been paying close attention to how many applicants have been visiting the center. Over the past weeks, the number of individuals seeking help at the Pine Ridge Disaster Recovery Center has dropped, indicating that the information needs of survivors in the area who suffered damages during the May 8-29^th event have mostly been met.

After the center closes, disaster survivors can still call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 800-621-3362 to have questions answered about their disaster assistance registration, check their application status, or update their insurance claim or contact information. A FEMA representative is available at the toll-free number from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., MST, seven days a week.

Anyone with questions concerning a loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) or for information about SBA programs, go to sba.gov/disaster or call (800) 659-2955.

Survivors should complete and return their SBA loan applications as soon as possible. Filing the loan application does not obligate people to accept an SBA loan. However, failure to complete and submit the home disaster loan application may stop the FEMA grant process. Survivors who submit an SBA application and are declined a loan may be considered for other FEMA assistance.

In addition to the Pine Ridge Disaster Recovery Center, which has been open continuously since August 15th, FEMA deployed 13 Mobile DRCs that rotated among 7 different locations across the Pine Ridge Reservation during a 60-day period. Collectively these centers serviced more than 2500 visits by Oglala Sioux Tribal residents.

DRCs have been operated by the Oglala Sioux Tribal Office of Emergency Management and FEMA in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA Helpline. Choose Option 3 for other languages. People who have a speech disability or are deaf or hard of hearing may call (TTY) 800-462-7585.

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Pine Ridge Disaster Recovery Center to Close

FEMA Registration Deadline of October 6 Nears

PINE RIDGE, S.D. – The Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are reminding those impacted by the May 8-29 storms that the deadline to register for disaster assistance is right around the corner. The deadline date is October 6.

Registration is the first step to receiving disaster assistance. Individuals can register in person at the Disaster Recovery Center at the SuAnne Big Crow Recreational Center, 1 Positive Pl. – E HWY 18, Pine Ridge. The DRC is open Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Individuals can also register with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-3362 or going online to www.disasterassistance.gov or by smart phone or tablet at m.fema.gov. If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 1-800-462-7585; if you use 711 or VRS (Video Relay Service) call 1-800-621-3362. The registration line is open daily from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. until further notice.

Even if residents previously registered with the tribe, with a voluntary agency, or provided damage reports they must still register with FEMA to access federal disaster assistance programs. It is also important, when registering to provide an accurate count of the number of persons living in the home, so that FEMA can provide appropriate assistance; this includes persons with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. Residents living in tribal housing should also register if they had disaster related damage to personal property.

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FEMA Registration Deadline of October 6 Nears

FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Cornet-Windy Ridge Fire

SEATTLE – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Cornet-Windy Ridge Fire burning in Baker County, Oregon.

FEMA Region X Regional Administrator Kenneth D. Murphy determined that the fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Murphy approved the state of Oregon’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) at 2:24 a.m. PDT on Aug. 13, 2015.

At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 145 homes in and around the communities of Stices Gulch, Black Mountain, Denny Creek and Rancheria Creek and had burned approximately 21,000 acres of federal, tribal, state and private land. Evacuation notices were issued to approximately 145 residences. There are multiple large fires burning uncontrolled within the state of Oregon. The Cornet-Windy Ridge Fire is at approximately 0 percent contained.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state of Oregon’s eligible firefighting costs for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants provide reimbursement for firefighting and life-saving efforts. They do not provide assistance to individuals, homeowners or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

FMAGs are provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

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FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Cornet-Windy Ridge Fire

President Declares Disaster for Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

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 Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and ordered federal aid to supplement recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of May 8-29, 2015.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to the affected members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the Tribal Nation.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov. Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (MDT) seven days a week until further notice.

Gary R. Stanley has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Stanley said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and additional areas may be designated for assistance after the assessments are fully completed.

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.

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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President Declares Disaster for Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

FEMA Rebuilding Specialists Providing Advice in Flowood This Week

JACKSON, Miss. – Rebuilding or repairing property damaged from the recent severe storms? Residents can get advice on building safer and stronger this week from Federal Emergency Management Agency specialists in Rankin County.

FEMA mitigation specialists will be at Lowe’s in Flowood Tuesday through Saturday to offer information on rebuilding after a disaster. The advisors can answer questions about protecting homes from future disaster-related damage and offer tips to build hazard-resistant homes.

FEMA officials estimate that every dollar spent on mitigation can save almost four dollars if another disaster hits.

Homeowners and contractors can learn more at the following location 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. beginning Tuesday, July 15, and ending Saturday, July 19.

Lowe’s

120 Ridge Way

Flowood, MS 39232

For more information on Mississippi disaster recovery, go to FEMA.gov/Disaster/4175. Visit the MEMA site at msema.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/msemaorg.

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FEMA Rebuilding Specialists Providing Advice in Flowood This Week

President Declares Disaster for South Dakota

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 South Dakota to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe winter storm and snowstorm during the period of April 8-10, 2013.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to state, tribal 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 by the severe winter storm and snowstorm in Douglas, Hutchinson, Lincoln, McCook, Minnehaha, Shannon, and Turner counties and the Pine Ridge Reservation located within Shannon County.

In addition, assistance is available to state, tribal and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for snow assistance, for a continuous 48-hour period during or proximate to the incident period in Shannon County and the Pine Ridge Reservation located within Shannon County.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties and tribes within the state.

Gary R. Stanley has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Stanley 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.

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President Declares Disaster for South Dakota