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Millions to Participate in Earthquake Drill Next Week

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — On October 18, 2012 at 10:18 a.m. EDT, more than one million people across five states and the District of Columbia are scheduled to take part in the first ever Great SouthEast ShakeOut. The ShakeOut is a regional earthquake drill in which participants simultaneously practice the recommended action during an earthquake. This action is known as “Drop, Cover, and Hold On”, which means:

DROP to the ground
Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and
HOLD-ON to it until the shaking stops

The states of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia are encouraging their schools, businesses, organizations, government agencies, communities, and households to participate in this historic event. These states are being supported by the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC, www.cusec.org), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA, www.fema.gov), and many other local, state, federal and volunteer partners. CUSEC coordinates a similar drill across nine Central U.S. states, which had more than 2.4 million participants in February, 2012.

This regional earthquake drill comes on the heels of the one year anniversary of the August 23, 2011 M5.9 Mineral, Virginia earthquake. Last year’s earthquake caused significant damage in Louisa County, Virginia, and also millions of dollars in damages in Washington, D.C. The event is free and open-to-the-public, and teaches easy to do, yet potentially life-saving information.

FEMA Region III Acting Regional Administrator Robert Welch is encouraging individuals and organizations to register and join the Great ShakeOut “We were reminded last year that earthquakes can and do happen anywhere. Everyone should make plans and take actions to ensure that disasters do not become catastrophes and this drill is an excellent start.”

Collectively, there are more than 10.5 million people worldwide who are expected to participate in the ShakeOut drills October 18, which makes this the largest safety drill ever held. Interested citizens, schools, communities, businesses, etc. are encouraged to visit www.shakeout.org/southeast to pledge their participation in the drill. On the website, many resources are available for participants to use to plan their drills including drill manuals, videos, audio drill broadcasts, earthquake scenarios, and more.

There are many ways for individuals, businesses, schools, faith-based organizations, community groups, scouts, and others to participate in the ShakeOut, to get prepared for earthquakes, and to share activities with others. For more information on the ShakeOut or how to participate in the drill, visit www.shakeout.org.

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.

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Millions to Participate in Earthquake Drill Next Week

FEMA Encourages Participation in the Great SouthEast Earthquake Drill

WASHINGTON – FEMA is encouraging families, schools, businesses, tribes and state and local governments to participate in the first ever Great SouthEast ShakeOut, a regional earthquake drill in which participants – from the District of Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia – simultaneously practice the recommended action to take during an actual earthquake.

Earthquakes strike suddenly, without warning, and can have disastrous and far-reaching effects. While earthquake hazards vary from region to region, the Southeast is prone to this dangerous hazard.

The regional earthquake drill comes on the heels of the 2012 National Preparedness Month in September and the 1-year anniversary of the 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Mineral, Virginia. That earthquake was felt as far north as New England and as far south as Georgia, and caused widespread light to moderate damage from central Virginia to southern Maryland and Washington, DC, including millions of dollars in damage to area landmarks such as the Washington Monument and the National Cathedral.

“It is vitally important for people to have a plan and know what to do during an earthquake,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “The Great SouthEast ShakeOut provides a timely and relevant opportunity for all levels of government, non-profit and faith-based organizations, the private sector, individuals and families to review preparedness plans and practice what to do during an actual event.”

When an earthquake happens, you only have seconds to react, so it’s important to know what to do when the ground starts shaking. The action you need to take is known as “Drop, Cover and Hold On.”

DROP to the ground;
Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table; and
HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.

If it’s not possible to get to the floor to safely take cover, before the exercise, identify an inside corner of the room near your work station or the other locations you may be in, away from windows and objects that could fall on you. The Earthquake Country Alliance advises getting as low as possible to the floor. People who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices should lock their wheels and remain seated until the shaking stops. Protect your head and neck with your arms, a pillow, a book, or whatever is available. To learn more about what to do before, during and after an earthquake, including information for seniors and those with disabilities, visit http://www.ready.gov/earthquakes.

Plan now to invest in safety for 90 seconds on Thursday, October 18 at 10:18 am, your local time. Drop, Cover and Hold On, as part of the 2012 ShakeOut earthquake drill. There are many ways for individuals, households, businesses, schools, faith-based organizations, community groups, and others to participate in the ShakeOut. For information about the drill and how to pledge to participate, please visit http://www.shakeout.org/ or http://www.shakeout.org/southeast/.

In addition to the areas participating in the Great SouthEast ShakeOut, similar drills will also be held on October 18 in California, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Guam, Puerto Rico, Alaska and Arizona. For details on U.S. earthquake information by state and territory, visit http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/.

Follow FEMA online at http://blog.fema.gov, 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 .

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FEMA Encourages Participation in the Great SouthEast Earthquake Drill

Washington Parish Disaster Recovery Centers Close Tuesday

BATON ROUGE, La. — Time is running out for Hurricane Isaac survivors in Washington Parish to visit the State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers in Franklinton and Bogalusa. The centers close at 6 p.m. on Oct. 9.

Although the centers will close, Hurricane Isaac survivors can still contact FEMA online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Survivors may also contact the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) after the center closes at 1-800-659-2955 or www.sba.gov.

The centers are located at:

Sweet Home of Christ Church
2200 Greenlaw Ave.
Franklinton, LA 70438

Elizabeth Sullivan Memorial Methodist Church
510 Ave. B
Bogalusa, LA 70427

Hours are: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Tuesday. Closed Sunday but open on Columbus Day.

Recovery centers have opened in many affected parishes to assist homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained uninsured or underinsured losses to their home or personal property as a result of Hurricane Isaac. For a list of open centers in Louisiana go to www.fema.gov/disaster/4080.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, visit online at www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

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Washington Parish Disaster Recovery Centers Close Tuesday

FEMA Adds Three Parishes For Individual Assistance

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisianians in three more parishes – Allen, Morehouse and St. Martin – can now apply for federal and state disaster assistance, as they were added Monday to the major disaster declaration for Hurricane Isaac.

Homeowners, renters and business owners in the parishes may now register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for assistance and report their uninsured or underinsured property damage or destruction from the storm.

“We urge residents in these three parishes to register with FEMA if they had damage from Hurricane Isaac,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall. “We want to help eligible survivors as soon as we can, and registration is the first step in that process.”

Disaster assistance for individuals may include:

Grants to help pay for temporary housing and emergency home repairs to make a home habitable;
Grants for serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance;
Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration

Survivors can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. If you use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Residents of the parishes affected by the hurricane should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if the person has registered with another disaster-relief organization or local community or church organization. FEMA registrants must use the name that appears on their Social Security card. Applicants will be asked to provide:

Social Security number
Address of the damaged home or apartment
Description of the damage
Information about insurance coverage
A current contact telephone number
An address where they can get mail
Bank account and routing numbers if they want direct deposit of any financial assistance.

The latest addition brings to 24 the total number of parishes for which Individual Assistance has been made available in Louisiana: Allen, Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Morehouse, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington and West Feliciana.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow FEMA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

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FEMA Adds Three Parishes For Individual Assistance

FEMA Announces 2012 Community Resilience Innovation Challenge

WASHINGTON — Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that the application period is open for a new funding opportunity to build local resilience, through a Whole Community approach, in communities across America: the Community Resilience Innovation Challenge.

Though National Preparedness Month comes to a close at the end of September, FEMA and its partners know that preparedness must continue in communities year-round. This new opportunity is designed to continue to move community preparedness forward and assist local areas in building and revitalizing community-based partnerships to advance the nation’s resilience to disasters.

“The best resiliency ideas originate in our states and communities – not from Washington, DC,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “The goal of this program is to empower communities to collaborate and develop innovative ways to effectively respond to disasters.”

The opportunity is provided through the Rockefeller Foundation and FEMA and will be administered by the Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Foundation who will act as a third-party intermediary to encourage local communities to engage in creative activities that enhance disaster resilience. Funding levels will range, with a maximum award of $35,000, and applications are open to most local, state, and tribal agencies and governments; business entities; associations; organizations and groups. Submissions will be accepted through October 26.

Key assessment areas for the awards will be the applicants’ demonstration that their approach to community resilience is innovative, collaborative with community stakeholders, sustainable, repeatable—in that the approach enables other communities to replicate their successful outcomes—and beneficial to the community in measurable ways.

FEMA recognizes that a government-centric approach to disaster management is insufficient to meet the challenges posed by a catastrophic incident. To meet our Nation’s preparedness goals, the Whole Community must be actively involved in all phases of the preparedness, response, and recovery cycle. These awards are designed to invest in and enhance the Whole Community effort.

Additional information on the Challenge program criteria and application process can be found at www.fema.gov and www.ResilienceChallenge.org.

FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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FEMA Announces 2012 Community Resilience Innovation Challenge

President Declares Major Disaster for the State of Washington

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to Washington to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe storm, straight-line winds and flooding on July 20, 2012.

Federal funding is available to state 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 storm, straight-line winds, and flooding in Ferry and Okanogan counties and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

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

Kenneth K. Suiso has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Suiso said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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President Declares Major Disaster for the State of Washington

Federal Aid Programs for State of Washington Disaster Recovery

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

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

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 less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for removing debris from public areas and for emergency measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health. (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 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 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.

Federal Aid Programs for State of Washington Disaster Recovery

Vinton and Wyandot Counties Now Eligible For Federal Aid

Dublin, OH – Vinton and Wyandot counties have been added as part of Ohio’s federal disaster declaration and are eligible for all categories of Public Assistance funding, according to officials from the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Under this announcement, federal funding is available to local governments and some private non-profits only on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work, debris removal and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the storms and straight line winds beginning on June 29-July 2, 2012.

Vinton and Wyandot join 37 other Ohio counties that are eligible for federal aid under the October 13 disaster declaration. They are: Adams, Allen, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Champaign, Clark, Coshocton, Fairfield, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Knox, Lawrence, Licking, Logan, Meigs, Miami, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Putnam, Shelby, Van Wert, and Washington Counties.

October 19 is the deadline for agencies in Vinton and Wyandot counties to apply for federal assistance. Agencies in the original 37 counties had a deadline of September 19^th to apply.

FEMA’s Public Assistance program pays 75 percent of eligible costs. The state of Ohio is contributing 12.5 percent of the 25 percent non-federal share to eligible political subdivisions and the applicant is responsible for the remaining 12.5 percent balance.

Federal, state and local teams have already started to inspect disaster-related damage, examine expenses identified by the state or local representatives and prepare reports that outline the scope of repair work needed and the estimated restoration cost.

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Vinton and Wyandot Counties Now Eligible For Federal Aid

FEMA Authorizes Funds to Help Fight the Table Mountain Fire

SEATTLE, Wash — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Table Mountain Fire burning Kittitas and Chelan counties.

FEMA Acting Regional Administrator Sharon Loper approved the state’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) on September 19, 2012 at 9:49 PM PDT.

The fire started on September 8, 2012, and has burned approximately 20,000 acres of Federal and private land. At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 416 homes.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of Washington eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant 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.

Fire Management Assistance Grants 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.

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 Authorizes Funds to Help Fight the Table Mountain Fire

FEMA Authorizes Funds to Help Fight the Byrd Canyon Fire

SEATTLE, Wash — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Byrd Canyon Fire burning in Chelan County, Washington.

FEMA Acting Regional Administrator Sharon Loper approved the state’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) on September 10, 2012 at 5:00 PM PDT. This is the third FMAG in Washington in 24 hours.

The fire started on September 8, 2012, and has burned approximately 6,500 acres of Federal and private land. At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 135 primary homes near the city of Chelan and was at 0 percent containment. Approximately 170 people had evacuated the area under a mandatory evacuation order.

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FEMA Authorizes Funds to Help Fight the Byrd Canyon Fire

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