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Local, State, Tribal and Federal Partners Assessing Flood Damage in New Mexico

DENTON, Texas – The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region 6 office, the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and county, local and tribal officials are assessing damage in the aftermath of recent severe storms and flooding in the state.

Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments are the first step for a state or tribe in determining whether or not to request a presidential declaration. Assessments were already conducted for storms that hit the state in late July where teams looked at public infrastructure damage only. The current assessments include review of damages to both residences and community infrastructure from September storms.

During the assessments, the teams collect estimates of the expenses and damages such as the following:

• Amount and type of damage;
• Threat to public safety and people’s health;
• How many people may be displaced and for how long;
• Extent of insurance coverage;
• Extent of business losses;
• Extent of infrastructure damages;
• Impact to critical facilities;
• Cost of emergency workers’ overtime;
• Need for debris removal;
• Damage to roads, bridges or public facilities;
• Additional data from the American Red Cross or other local voluntary agencies may also be reviewed.

The governor’s office and tribal leaders review the results of the joint assessments and then decide whether the damage is beyond state, tribal and local recovery capabilities. The findings could then be used by Governor Susana Martinez or the tribal leaders to support a request for a Presidential declaration. The request for a presidential declaration is then submitted in writing by the governor to the president through FEMA’s regional office. In this request, the governor or tribal leader certifies that the combined local, county, tribal and state resources are insufficient to meet the emergency situation and that the situation is beyond the state’s recovery capabilities.

The request is reviewed at FEMA’s regional and national level. A number of factors are considered:

• Local response efforts, including labor and state/local assistance programs;
• Assistance from other sources – federal, state, charitable, volunteer, private sector;
• Private insurance availability;
• Impact on public health and safety;
• Impact on state and local financial resources;
• State and local involvement in recent disasters;
• Implementation of hazard mitigation and other corrective measures.

FEMA provides the president with an analysis of the situation and a recommended course of action.

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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 us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the R6 Preparedness website at www.fema.gov/region-vi/region-6-preparedness

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Local, State, Tribal and Federal Partners Assessing Flood Damage in New Mexico

Latest Approved Funding for Debris Removal Brings Total for Oklahoma Recovery to Nearly $75 Million

OKLAHOMA CITY – An additional $4.6 million has been approved in federal funding for debris clearance in Oklahoma following the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred from May 18 – June 2, 2013. This figure, along with additional amounts from Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), brings State and federal assistance for Oklahoma to nearly $75 million.

The latest amount covers eligible debris removal costs under a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance Alternative Procedures Pilot Program. The accelerated debris removal program was initiated in Oklahoma following the devastating spring storms. The program funds expenses such as debris removal and debris recycling from public property and right-of-ways.

“Clearing debris is the first step in long-term recovery. This pilot program is assisting Oklahoma communities as they continue the rebuilding process,” said State Coordinating Officer and Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management Deputy Director Michelann Ooten.

A fundamental element of the pilot program is the provision of financial incentives for applicants for accomplishing timely removal of debris and for developing a pre-incident debris management plan.

“Not only is the pilot program helping with debris clearance, but it is also offering financial incentives that are helping with the recovery process. That’s a win-win for all,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Sandy Coachman.

Meanwhile, more than $14.4 million in disaster assistance for housing and disaster-related expenses has been approved for qualified homeowners and renters. This includes more than $9.8 million in rental costs and house repairs, and more than $4.5 million for medical expenses, replacement clothing, vehicle repairs, funeral and burial costs, and other needs generated by the storms.

As of September 18, more than one million cubic yards of disaster debris had been cleared in Oklahoma, roughly 96 percent of the estimated total of 1,242,890 cubic yards generated by the storms.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $45.4 million in low-interest disaster loans for qualified homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations in Oklahoma.

For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click fema.gov/disaster/4117 or visit the OEM site at oem.ok.gov.

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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) prepares for, responds to, recovers from and mitigates against emergencies and disasters. The department delivers service to Oklahoma cities, towns and counties through a network of more than 350 local emergency managers.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of funding for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339).

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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Latest Approved Funding for Debris Removal Brings Total for Oklahoma Recovery to Nearly $75 Million

FEMA Obligates $2 Million Towards VT Department of Children & Families’ Temporary Relocation Costs

WILLISTON, Vt. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has obligated $2 million for temporary relocation costs to re-establish essential community services provided by the Department for Children and Families (DCF) that were displaced from the Waterbury State Office Complex by flooding from Tropical Storm Irene.

The Public Assistance funding represents FEMA’s 90 percent reimbursement of a total eligible cost to the State of $2.3 million to relocate staff and provide call center facilities through completion of the rebuilding process at the Waterbury State Office Complex.

FEMA and the state recently announced that of the estimated $225 million total price tag for the cleanup, renovation and new construction associated with the Waterbury State Office Complex and Vermont State Hospital, more than $66 million in costs will be eligible for FEMA Public Assistance at the 90 percent reimbursement rate.

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders and 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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FEMA Obligates $2 Million Towards VT Department of Children & Families’ Temporary Relocation Costs

FEMA Specialists to Provide Historic and Environmental Preservation Information at Upcoming Missouri Preservation Clinic

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.–On September 6, 2013, President Obama declared a major disaster for 18 counties in the State of Missouri. In addition to Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program funding for state and eligible local governments, qualifying private non-profit organizations many be eligible for assistance as a result of the declaration.

To help private non-profit organizations understand federal disaster assistance eligibility and the grant application process, Historic and Environmental Preservations specialists from the Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) will participate in a Preservation Clinic hosted by Missouri Preservation this Friday, September 20, 2013.

Missouri Preservation Conference Preservation Clinic

Isle of Capri Hotel
100 Isle of Capri Blvd.
Booneville, MO 65233
September 20, 2013
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Free of charge and open to the public, the Clinic is organized as part of Missouri Preservation’s annual Statewide Preservation Conference and will feature demonstrations of various hands-on techniques to restore and preserve historic building materials as well as short one-on-one sessions with experts in the preservation field.

During the Clinic, FEMA representatives will also provide information on a variety of preservation topics including:

Integrating Historic Property and Cultural Resource Considerations into Hazard Mitigation Planning

Federal Funding for Cultural Institutions: Before and After Disasters
Heritage Emergency Task Force

For more information on the Missouri Preservation Conference and Preservation Clinic, contact Missouri Preservation at 660-882-5846 or email Preservemo10@yahoo.com.

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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.

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FEMA Specialists to Provide Historic and Environmental Preservation Information at Upcoming Missouri Preservation Clinic

FEMA Awards Nearly $1.3 Million for St. John Parish School Repairs

DENTON, Texas – Nearly $1.3 million was recently awarded to the state of Louisiana by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for repairs to the interior of the East St. John High School Main Building in St. John Parish.

Hurricane Isaac flooded the school with eight inches of water, damaging flooring, drywall and baseboards, as well as the electrical and alarm systems. The building’s air conditioning units were also damaged by the flooding, causing temperatures and humidity levels to rise inside the school, allowing for significant mold growth.

To date, FEMA has obligated more than $18.8 million in Public Assistance funding for St. John Parish Schools.
“Hurricane Isaac caused major devastation in St. John Parish last year,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “We are proud of the successful recovery efforts there so far, and pledge to continue our successful collaboration with parish and state leaders as even more progress is made.”

FEMA’s contribution, made possible by a Public Assistance grant, represents a 75 percent federal cost share. FEMA awards funding for projects directly to the state of Louisiana; the state then forwards the grant to the eligible applicant.

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

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FEMA Awards Nearly $1.3 Million for St. John Parish School Repairs

Get Tech Ready

PHILADELPHIA – When most people prepare for an emergency, they assume they won’t be able to use technology as a resource; the power will probably be out, so technology won’t be able to help. With effective planning, it’s possible to take advantage of technology before, during and after a crisis to communicate with loved ones, manage your financial affairs, and get important information.

“Information and communication are two of the most important aspects of successfully getting through an emergency,” said Regional Administrator MaryAnn Tierney, “they can get you in touch with loved ones, alert you to where resources are, and let you know when it’s safe to be outside. By using technology as a resource, you can improve your ability to communicate and receive information.”

Getting tech ready means not only preparing your devices to be easy access resources for you and your family, but also planning for ways to keep your devices powered. Get a solar-powered or hand crank charger and a car charger for your phone to keep it powered throughout the emergency.

Follow important officials and organizations on social media channels, doing so will help you receive important information if you can’t access television or radio. By identifying these accounts now, you won’t have to search for them in the middle of an emergency or drain your battery during the search. Key accounts include emergency management agencies, Governors, local officials, and local media. Another good way to keep in touch with officials is to see if they offer text message updates; FEMA has a text message program which includes preparedness tips and other resources, get more information by texting INFO to 43362 (4FEMA) or visiting fema.gov/text-messages.

Synchronize your contacts across all your devices and all your channels so that way you have many ways to get ahold of people. By having access phone numbers, social media accounts, and email addresses, you can get in touch with your loved ones even if one system or channel is down. Often when phone calls are difficult to make, you can send text messages, social media messages, or emails to pass along important information.

Make sure you program “In Case of Emergency” (ICE) contacts into your cell phone so emergency personnel can contact those people for you if you’re unable to use your phone. Let your ICE contacts know that they’re programmed into your phone and inform them of any medical issues or other special needs you may have. If something should happen to you, that action will help you receive the care you need and let your loved ones know where you are.

Download resource apps for your smartphone, they often have important information like phone numbers, first aid tips, and other resources. The FEMA App contains disaster safety tips, an interactive emergency kit list, emergency meeting location information, and a map with open shelters and open FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs). There may be other apps available from your state or local emergency management agency, ask them to see what resources you can access.

While these are just a few examples of how you can turn technology into a valuable resource during an emergency, visit ready.gov/get-tech-ready to get more tips.

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 fema.gov/medialibrary and youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion3.

Media Inquiries: FEMAR3NewsDesk@fema.dhs.gov or 215-931-5597

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Get Tech Ready

President Obama Signs Colorado Emergency Declaration

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal emergency aid has been made available to the State of Colorado to supplement state and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides beginning on September 11, 2013, and continuing.

The President’s action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the counties of Boulder, El Paso, and Larimer.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.

William J. Doran III has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal response operations in the affected area.

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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President Obama Signs Colorado Emergency Declaration

Colorful Insect Threatens to Decimate Missouri’s Ash Tree Population–Debris Clean-up Practices Impact Infestation

Kansas City, Mo – Last spring, a series of storms caused extensive tree damage in many communities throughout Missouri. As clean-up continues, proper debris management will impact the fate of Missouri’s Ash trees by helping to stop the spread of a small but invasive pest making its way across the state.

A native of Asia, as of June, 2013, the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) had been found in 20 states and two Canadian Provinces. In a report published on the University of Missouri Extension website, Missouri’s EAB infestation was discovered in 2008 in a campground at Wappapello Lake in Wayne County. Since then ten counties have been placed under quarantine to prevent the accidental spread of the beetle by regulating the movement of potentially-contaminated wood products, including firewood and mulch from storm debris.

The importance of proper wood management is magnified when one considers that approximately 14 percent of trees in the State’s towns and cities are Ash, and the figure reaches as high as 30 or 40 percent in some neighborhoods and parks. The EAB is 100 percent fatal to Missouri’s native ash trees — blue, green, and white — of any size, age, or health, according to the University of Missouri Extension.

On its own, the beetle will only fly a few miles. However, it is easily and quickly transported to new areas when people inadvertently move Ash infected with EAB larvae. Wood waste from pruning, storm damage, or tree removal may seem like a readily available fuel source, yet State officials warn that moving firewood, whether ash from quarantined areas or otherwise, is the primary avenue for the spread of the EAB. Many of the places where it has been found are parks and campgrounds where people unknowingly carried EAB with them when they brought firewood on a picnic or camping trip.

Missouri Department of Conservation Forest Entomologist Rob Lawrence emphasizes the importance of not moving woody debris from the immediate vicinity when cutting trees and limbs that have been storm damaged or need trimming. “The debris can be allowed to decay or burned any time before spring when the adults emerge, but to reduce the possibility of spreading EAB or any other pest, the main thing is not to move it from the immediate vicinity,” he said.

The EAB larva is the source of destruction as it spends its life inside ash trees, feeding on the inner bark where it cannot be seen. According to Jodie Ellis of Purdue University, the eggs females deposit on the surface of ash bark, in its crevices and cracks, hatch in 1-2 weeks. The tiny larvae bore through the bark and into the phloem, the tissue layer that spreads nutrients throughout the tree, creating S-shaped tunnels or galleries. As the larvae feed and grow, the galleries get larger, disrupting the transport of nutrients and ultimately killing the tree.

The ten counties currently under EAB quarantine are Bolinger, Carter, Clay, Iron, Madison, Platte, Pulaski, Reynolds, Shannon and Wayne. According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the results of this summer’s EAB infestation survey may add more regions of the State to the quarantine area.

The quarantine regulates both the interstate movement of potentially contaminated wood products and movement between these counties and others within the State. In addition to firewood, the quarantine covers ash nursery stock and any part of an ash tree. Firewood from any species of hardwood, including oak, maple and hickory is quarantined as well because, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), once a log has been cut and split, it is extremely difficult to differentiate between ash wood and other hardwood species.

There are opportunities for the timber, wood, and firewood industries to continue interstate commerce through the use of processing options associated with the issuance of a USDA compliance agreement, certificate, or limited permit. Contact the USDA’s APHIS at 573-893-6833 for more information. Permitting and compliance agreements for commercial wood transport within the State of Missouri can be obtained by contacting the Missouri Department of Agriculture at 573-751-5505.

If you suspect the presence of the EAB or other invasive insect or disease, the first step to verify the identity of the pest as many little green bugs look similar. Visit www.eab.missouri.edu for identification aids or call the Missouri Department of Conservation at 1-866-716-9974. Once confirmed, an online report form is available at http://extension.missouri.edu/scripts/eab/forestpestsreport.asp.

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.

View photos of and get more information about the EAB at http://extension.missouri.edu/emeraldashborer/looklike.aspx.

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Colorful Insect Threatens to Decimate Missouri’s Ash Tree Population–Debris Clean-up Practices Impact Infestation

FEMA Awards $90,757 Grant to State of Ohio: Hazard mitigation funds will be used to install 16 residential tornado safe room structures

CHICAGO — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $90,757 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (EMA) for the construction and installation of 16 residential tornado safe room structures.

“The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program enables communities to implement critical mitigation measures to reduce the risk of losing lives and property,” said FEMA Region V Administrator Andrew Velasquez III.“The construction of these safe rooms will protect the lives of residents by providing a secure location to seek shelter from tornados and other high wind events.”

“The Ohio Safe room program is great contribution to our mission of a Safer Ohio”, said Nancy Dragani, Ohio EMA Executive Director. “We applaud the work FEMA has done to support Ohio as we work toward mitigating against disasters.”

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Through HMGP, FEMA will pay 75 percent of the $121,010 eligible project cost.The remaining 25 percent of the funds $30,253 will be provided by the State of Ohio and participating homeowners.

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:

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

OEMA Contact: Tamara McBride, (614) 799-3695

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FEMA Awards $90,757 Grant to State of Ohio: Hazard mitigation funds will be used to install 16 residential tornado safe room structures

Registration Deadline for Disaster Assistance is Quickly Approaching

OKLAHOMA CITY – The deadline to register for state and federal disaster assistance for the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred between May 18 and June 2 is quickly approaching.

Monday, Aug. 19 is the last day that homeowners, renters and business owners can register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Survivors can do so by calling (800) 621-3362, registering online at disasterassistance.gov, or using a smartphone typing in m.fema.gov.

More than 15,000 households have already registered and more than $54.3 million in disaster assistance has already been approved.

Disaster assistance is available in the designated counties of Canadian, Cleveland, LeFlore, Lincoln, McClain, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie for eligible survivors who suffered uninsured and underinsured losses from the spring storms.

Aid may include housing assistance grants to help pay for temporary housing and home repairs, other disaster-related needs for personal property replacement or to pay for other necessary disaster-related expenses, and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations. The deadline for submitting an SBA application is also Monday, Aug. 19.

“If you have storm damage, please register with FEMA before the deadline. We want to ensure that everyone who is eligible receives assistance for their losses,” said Michelann Ooten, State Coordinating Officer and Deputy Director with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.

An SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center remains open at the Moore Norman Technology Center located at 13301 S. Pennsylvania Avenue, Oklahoma City. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Saturday until further notice. SBA representatives are available to provide one-on-one assistance completing applications, answering questions and assisting with loan closings.

Survivors who have already registered with FEMA but have additional questions or need to complete their registration process with more information or documentation should simply stay in touch with FEMA; this support is available even after the Aug. 19 deadline.

“While applying is the first step, you still should follow up on your application and continue to update your contact information,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Sandy Coachman.

Media Note: For interviews with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and FEMA senior officials, please contact the News Desk at (405) 616-2918.

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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

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Registration Deadline for Disaster Assistance is Quickly Approaching

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