FEMA Administrator Fugate Signs Partnership with UNCF Special Programs Corporation

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and UNCF Special Programs Corporation (UNCFSP) today announced a new partnership to coordinate mutual engagement on job opportunities, preparedness, response and recovery.  FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate and UNCFSP Interim President and Chief Executive Officer Michael J. Hester signed a Memorandum of Agreement and discussed ways that FEMA and UNCFSP, which has a constituency of over 300 minority institutions of higher education, can work to broaden opportunities in emergency management and ensure that disaster preparedness includes the community as a whole. 

 “A key to having a more resilient nation is inspiring a new generation of top-notch emergency managers and UNCFSP is leading this charge,” said Fugate. “This agreement builds on FEMA’s existing successful partnership with this organization and the institutions it serves. We look forward to working together so that every community is engaged in disaster preparedness, response and recovery.” 

The new agreement between the organizations seeks to facilitate greater knowledge, individual participation and career opportunities in emergency management.  Among the terms of the agreement, FEMA will participate in lectures, conferences and other events at minority institutions.  UNCFSP will work with FEMA to distribute messaging, tools, training and other educational and organizational resources available to support community-based disaster preparedness efforts. 

 “The signed agreement with FEMA ensures that future opportunities in emergency management and disaster preparedness are available to HBCUs and their surrounding communities,” said UNCFSP Interim President and CEO Michael J. Hester. “HBCUs have historically been anchors of their communities and will now serve as a natural partner to FEMA and its initiatives.”

The two organizations, through FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute and UNCFSP’s minority serving institutions, have been engaged in emergency management training since 2008. The new agreement stipulates that officials of the two organizations will meet quarterly on the principles of engagement.

UNCFSP works to create connections between the diverse, high-performing workforce of the minority education community and private industry to address the nation’s imperatives. The organization’s minority education constituency includes Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Other Minority Institutions.

Follow FEMA online at 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.

###

Read the article:  

FEMA Administrator Fugate Signs Partnership with UNCF Special Programs Corporation

FEMA Extends Preferred Risk Policies for Homeowners

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, FEMA announced the extension of the Preferred Risk Policy eligibility under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) until further notice, as the Agency completes a study and analysis of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, signed into law by President Obama on July 6, 2012.
 
FEMA announced today that until an implementation plan for the new flood insurance law is put into place, customers holding existing preferred risk policies can continue to renew at the lower cost rate, beyond the previously designated two-year period.
 
“By extending the eligibility period until further notice, home and building owners’ preferred risk policies will continue at a lower cost rate,” said FEMA Federal Insurance and Mitigation Associate Administrator, David Miller. “As we continue to evaluate how best to implement the recent National Flood Insurance Program legislation, we encourage property owners to take advantage of this extended low rate. This way, families and businesses can continue to protect their property financially from one of the most common and costly natural disasters: flooding.”

Beginning with the first renewal effective on or after January 1, 2013, existing preferred risk policies will not be transitioned into full-risk rating. Instead, they will continue to be issued as preferred risk policies at each renewal, until further notice. Additionally, the preferred risk policy discounted rate will be available to property owners and renters whose buildings are found to be in Special Flood Hazard Area following map revisions that became effective on or after October 1, 2008. In order to be eligible for the preferred risk policy, the building must also meet certain loss-history requirements.  If there are two claims, or disaster relief payments for flood of $1,000 or more, or three losses of any amount, the structure is ineligible for a preferred risk policy.
 
Premiums for all preferred risk policyholders are being increased an average of 13 percent to maintain a revenue neutral program that also accounts for the expected increase in participation and policies issued under the preferred risk rate. This increased rate remains below the average full-risk premium that would otherwise be incurred among these policy holders. 
 
For more information on FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program, and to identify your flood risk, visit www.floodsmart.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.

###

View article: 

FEMA Extends Preferred Risk Policies for Homeowners

National Flood Insurance Probation for West Pittston, PA

PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Borough of West Pittston, PA, is scheduled to be placed on probationary status with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) on October 1, 2012, unless the Borough is able to address identified corrective actions prior to that date.  FEMA sent a letter to the Borough on June 5, 2012, that identified floodplain management violations and program deficiencies that must be corrected.

The deficiencies cited in the probation letter include failure to manage floodplain development in accordance with the Borough’s floodplain program, and lack of adequate record keeping.  Direct violations of the community’s flood damage prevention ordinance include lack of enforcement on substantially flood damaged structures following the September 2011 floods.

Property owners will still be able to purchase and renew flood insurance coverage during the probationary period, but a $50 surcharge will be added to each policy sold or renewed in the community beginning on October, 1, 2012.  There are currently 358 flood insurance policies in the Borough.

If the Borough fails to make progress, the Borough could be suspended from the program. The result of suspension is the loss of federally backed flood insurance in the community, meaning that residents will not be able to purchase or renew their flood insurance policies after the suspension occurs.  Additionally, if a flood disaster occurs in a suspended community, most types of federal disaster assistance for structures within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), including federal assistance to individuals and households is not available.  Furthermore, the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 prohibits federal agencies from making grants, loans, or guarantees for the acquisition or construction of structures located in a SFHA.

FEMA remains committed to work with the officials of West Pittston to help the Borough achieve a good standing in the NFIP.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. FEMA Region III’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.  Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema.   Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion3.

# # #

Link: 

National Flood Insurance Probation for West Pittston, PA

Florida Community Recognized for Reducing Flood Risks

Florida Community Recognized for Reducing Flood Risks 

Unincorporated Palm Beach County, Fla. earns Discount on Flood Insurance Premiums

Release Date: July 11, 2012
Release Number: R4-12-019

» 2012 Region IV News Releases

ATLANTA, Ga. — On July 10, 2012, unincorporated Palm Beach County, Fla. was recognized at the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners meeting for its active participation in the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS).

The CRS rewards communities that voluntarily take steps to reduce flood risks beyond the minimum requirements of the NFIP. These steps, which include increasing flood protection and implementing preparedness and mitigation activities, lead to safer communities and ultimately help saves lives and property. As a result, property owners and renters in CRS-participating communities enjoy a reduction in flood insurance premiums.

Policyholders in unincorporated Palm Beach County first began receiving flood insurance discounts under the CRS program in 1991. As a result of additional steps the community has recently taken, the community moved from a CRS Class 6 to a CRS Class 5 effective October 1, 2011, earning an additional five percent savings on flood insurance.

There are more than 74,000 flood insurance policies in force in unincorporated Palm Beach County, representing more than $19 billion in flood insurance coverage. Policyholders located in the high risk areas of flooding, or Special Flood Hazard Areas, can now receive a 25 percent discount on their policy premium, which is an average savings of $112 per policy. Some policyholders in the lower risk areas are eligible for a 10 percent discount. In total, policyholders realize an annual savings of more than $4.2 million because of the community’s participation in the CRS program.

CRS is a voluntary program for NFIP-participating communities. The intended goals of the program are to reduce flood losses, facilitate accurate insurance ratings and to promote the awareness of flood insurance. For more information on the NFIP’s CRS program visit www.fema.gov/business/nfip/crs.shtm. For more information about the NFIP, a program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), visit www.floodsmart.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.

Last Modified: Thursday, 12-Jul-2012 09:16:35

Source article:  

Florida Community Recognized for Reducing Flood Risks

 Page 3 of 3 « 1  2  3