Severe Storm Safety: What You Need to Know

CHICAGO – Severe storms can happen anywhere, anytime in Illinois.

Last spring, extensive flooding throughout the state of Illinois resulted in more than $166 million in federal assistance to individuals for essential home repairs and clean-up. Then in November, severe storms and tornadoes left more than 1,000 homes severely damaged or destroyed throughout Illinois.

Disasters such as these show us how unexpected weather can be. But that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare for it. Hazardous weather is a risk everyone should be ready for.

March 2 – 8, 2014 marks the third annual National Severe Weather Preparedness Week – a partnership between FEMA and NOAA to encourage all Americans to learn their weather risks and take steps to prepare.

The first step is to know your risk – understand the types of hazardous weather that can affect your community, and the impact it may have on you and your family. Check the weather forecast regularly and sign up for alerts from your local emergency management officials. Consider purchasing a NOAA weather radio to get the latest updates on severe weather in your area.

Understand the hazards for which you are at risk for and then take action: Develop an emergency plan based on your local weather hazards and practice how and where to take shelter before a severe weather event. Post your plan in your home where family and visitors can see it. Create or refresh an emergency kit for needed food, supplies and medication—make sure to keep a kit in your car, at the office and at home, so you are protected regardless of where you may be. For a list of items to include in your emergency kit, visit www.ready.gov/build-a-kit.

Don’t forget to consider pets when making emergency plans, and also take into account any unique needs you or your family might have so you’re best prepared for unforeseen emergencies.

It isalso important to take the time now to assure you are fully insured. Contact your insurance agent to review your insurance coverage so your home is financially protected from the impacts of severe weather.

“Many Illinois residents were impacted by costly floods and dangerous storms in 2013” said FEMA Region V Administrator Andrew Velasquez III. “Taking steps now to prepare will ensure you are ready if severe weather threatens your area this year.”

“It’s been a long, hard winter in Illinois and everyone is looking forward to warmer weather,” said IEMA Director Jonathon Monken. “Warmer weather can bring with it the threat of dangerous weather, such as tornadoes, severe storms and flooding. We’re working to help Illinois citizens understand these hazards and providing information that will help them be better prepared for the unexpected.”

For even more readiness information follow FEMA Region V at twitter.com/femaregion5 and facebook.com/fema. Individuals can always find valuable severe weather preparedness information at www.ready.gov/severe-weatheror download the free FEMA app, available for Android, Apple or Blackberry devices.

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 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.

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

 

 

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Severe Storm Safety: What You Need to Know

FEMA, NOAA To Launch Third National Severe Weather Preparedness Week

LINCROFT, N.J. — The third annual National Severe Weather Preparedness Week, led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, will be held March 2-8, 2014.

This year’s theme is “Be a Force of Nature: Take the Next Step.” The nationwide effort is designed to increase awareness of severe weather and encourage individuals, families, businesses and communities to know their risk, prepare ahead of an event, and be an example to others wherever they may be.

Every year, people are injured or killed due to natural disasters. There were seven weather and climate disasters in the United States in 2013 that had losses of more than $1 billion. Overall, 109 people were killed in these events, which included five severe weather and tornado events, a major flood, and the drought/heat wave in the western United States.

A family emergency plan lays the groundwork for you and your family to protect itself if a disaster strikes without warning. Collect information from FEMA and your local emergency management offices and gather your family members to create your plan. After the plan is in place, you and your family should exchange contact information and make sure that it remains current. Putting together a disaster supply kit also is essential to making sure that your family has the provisions needed for each individual. Some kits may need additional items if there are seniors or infants in the house or those with access and functional needs.

The “Take the Next Step” theme has two focuses. The first is getting people to be proactive and understand their risks so they can be prepared to take the appropriate action before, during and after severe weather events. The second is to improve the way people respond to severe weather threats. NOAA service assessments and social science studies have shown that people are more likely to take preparedness measures and actions for an event if they have observed others take similar actions.

To that end, NOAA suggests that everyone not only be prepared but inspire others to do the same. NOAA’s “Be a Force of Nature” toolkit offers a variety of ways you can help spread the word among your friends and neighbors to always be prepared for severe weather. Visit ready.gov/severe-weather or noaa.gov/wrn to learn more about severe weather and to be better prepared.

For more information on New Jersey’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/SandyNJ, twitter.com/FEMASandy, facebook.com/FEMASandy and fema.gov/blog.

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 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.

Original source – 

FEMA, NOAA To Launch Third National Severe Weather Preparedness Week

FEMA Region 6 Supports National Severe Weather Preparedness Week

DENTON, Texas – Spring storm season is just around the corner, so now is the time to prepare. With that in mind, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region 6 office is proud to support National Severe Weather Preparedness Week which runs from March 2-8, 2014.

National Severe Weather Preparedness Week is sponsored by FEMA and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Agency (NOAA). It is designed to increase awareness of potential severe weather events and to encourage people and communities to know their risks, take action and be an example.

“Region 6 states – Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas – see a variety of spring weather threats from tornadoes to flooding,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “That’s why it’s so important to be prepared ahead of time on an individual and family basis, as well as at the community level.”

Know Your Risk: The first step to becoming weather-ready is to understand the type of hazardous weather that can affect where you live and work and how the weather could impact you and your family. Check the weather forecast regularly, get a NOAA Weather Radio and learn about Wireless Emergency Alerts.

Take Action: Before storms strike, develop a family communication plan, create or buy an emergency supplies kit and participate in a local event on April 30 through America’s PrepareAthon!

Be an Example: Share your preparedness story with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter. Letting others know that you’re prepared could prompt them to prepare as well. Studies show that many people use social media in the event of a disaster to let relatives and friends know they are safe.

Learn more at www.weather.gov, www.ready.gov/severe-weather, www.fema.gov/americas-prepareathon or the Spanish-language web site www.listo.gov. Follow the National Weather Service @nws and FEMA @readygov on Twitter.

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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FEMA Region 6 Supports National Severe Weather Preparedness Week

FEMA Continues to Support Response Efforts to Severe Winter Weather

Residents Urged to Continue Following Guidance from Local Officials

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to closely coordinate with impacted and potentially impacted states in the path of a severe winter storm, through its National Response Coordination Center in Washington D.C. and its regional offices in Atlanta, Boston, New York City and Philadelphia.

Today, President Obama declared an emergency for all counties in the State of South Carolina, at the request of Governor Nikki Haley, authorizing FEMA to support the state in its efforts to respond to the storm. The declaration comes in addition to the President’s Emergency Declaration for 91 counties in the State of Georgia yesterday, at the request of Governor Nathan Deal.

FEMA has deployed an Incident Management Assistance Team to the Georgia Emergency Operations Center in Atlanta, along with liaisons to the state emergency operations centers in Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia to facilitate close coordination with the states. FEMA has activated its Regional Response Coordination Centers in Atlanta and Philadelphia, and continues to be in close contact with state, tribal and local partners in impacted and potentially impacted areas and stands ready to support its partners, if requested and needed.

FEMA has also established an Incident Support Base in Augusta, Georgia where additional federal teams are on the ground. Commodities including generators, meals, water, blankets, and cots are being moved to that location. At all times, FEMA maintains commodities, including millions of liters of water, millions of meals and hundreds of thousands of blankets strategically located at distribution centers throughout the United States and its territories, including Atlanta, Ga. and Frederick, Md., if needed and requested.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration is helping facilitate the expedited movement of utility trucks and personnel in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina which includes bypassing weigh stations as long as they are under the legal weight requirements.

According to the National Weather Service, dangerous ice and snow and is expected to intensify this evening as the storm moves up the Eastern Seaboard, affecting locations across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. More than one inch of ice accumulation is possible from central Georgia into South Carolina through Thursday morning. Residents along the path of the storm can find their local forecast at www.weather.gov.

When natural disasters like severe weather strike, the first responders are local emergency and public works personnel, volunteers, humanitarian organizations, and private organizations who provide emergency assistance required to protect the public’s health and safety and to meet immediate human needs.

FEMA encourages residents and visitors in the track of the storms to follow the instructions of state, local and tribal officials, and monitor NOAA Weather Radio and their local news for updates and directions provided by local officials. Residents can find trusted sources for weather and preparedness information via Twitter on FEMA’s Social Hub here: http://www.fema.gov/social-hub

Wireless Emergency Alerts are currently being sent directly to many cell phones on participating wireless carrier networks. These alerts are sent by public safety officials such as the National Weather Service about imminent threats like severe weather. They look like a text message and show the type and time of the alert, any action you should take, and the agency issuing the alert. More information on Wireless Emergency Alerts is available at http://www.ready.gov/alerts.  Individuals can check with their cellular carrier to determine if their phone or wireless device is WEA-enabled. 

FEMA encourages all Americans to visit www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov to learn more about how to be better prepared and how to protect your family during emergencies.

Generator Safety

Carbon monoxide or CO is a colorless and odorless gas that is emitted from fuel burning appliances, like generators, or machines that are not working or venting properly. Breathing in high levels of Carbon Monoxide can be fatal and kills more than 150 Americans annually. FEMA recommends the following steps to protect your family from the dangers of carbon monoxide:

  • Install and maintain CO alarms inside your home to provide early warning
  • Install CO alarms in a central location outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of your home
  • Use portable generators outdoors in well-ventilated areas away from all doors, windows and vents
  • Make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace are clear of snow and other debris, and
  • Remove vehicles from the garage immediately after starting.

For more information and winter preparedness tips, please visit: www.usfa.fema.gov to find out more on carbon monoxide and fire safety.

Preparing for Severe Winter Weather

Get to know the terms that are used to identify winter storm hazards and discuss with your family what to do if a winter storm watch or warning is issued.

  • A Winter Weather Advisory means cold, ice and snow are expected.
  • A Winter Storm Watch means severe weather such as heavy snow or ice is possible in the next day or two.
  • A Winter Storm Warning means severe winter conditions have begun or will begin very soon.
  • An Ice Storm Warning is when freezing rain produces a significant and possibly damaging accumulation of ice.
  • Freezing Rain creates a coating of ice on roads and walkways.
  • Sleet is rain that turns to ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet also causes roads to freeze and become slippery.

Avoid traveling by car, but if you must, make sure you have an emergency supply kit in the trunk of your car. FEMA encourages families to maintain an emergency supply kit both at home and in the car to help prepare for winter power outages and icy or impassable roads.

An emergency supply kit should include a three-day supply of food and water, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio and extra flashlights and batteries.  Thoroughly check and update your family’s emergency supply kit and add the following supplies in preparation for winter weather:

  • Rock salt to melt ice on walkways;
  • Sand to improve traction;
  • Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment; and
  • Adequate clothing and blankets to help keep you warm.

Ensure your family preparedness plan and contacts are up to date. Learn about the emergency plans that have been established in your area by your state and local government, and ensure your home and car are prepared for the winter weather.

For more information and winter preparedness tips, please visit: www.ready.gov/winter-weather or www.listo.gov  to find out how you can prepare your family for winter storms and other disasters.

 

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 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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FEMA Continues to Support Response Efforts to Severe Winter Weather

Review and Update Your Insurance Policies In New Year

LINCROFT, N.J. — With a new year upon us, now is an ideal time for people to review their insurance policies. Understanding the details of what specific policies cover and what the policyholder is responsible for after a disaster is important as both clients’ needs and insurance companies’ rules change.

Insurers’ decisions and legislative changes have the biggest effect on changes in policies. Consumers should make themselves aware of possible changes in these areas and know what to look for while reviewing their policies.

What’s Covered

The first check is the most obvious: the actual coverage. Policyholders should look at the specifics of which property is covered and the type of damage that is covered. Property owners should know that floods are not covered by standard insurance policies and that separate flood insurance is available. Flood insurance is required for homes and buildings located in federally designated high risk areas with federally backed mortgages, referred to as Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). Residents of communities that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are automatically eligible to buy flood insurance. According to www.floodsmart.gov, mortgage lenders can also require property owners in moderate to low-risk areas to purchase flood insurance.

There are two types of flood insurance coverage: Building Property and Personal Property. Building Property covers the structure, electrical, plumbing, and heating and air conditioning systems. Personal Property, which is purchased separately, covers furniture, portable kitchen appliances, food freezers, laundry equipment, and service vehicles such as tractors.

What’s Not Covered

Policy exclusions describe coverage limits or how coverage can be purchased separately, if possible. Property owners should know that not only is flood insurance separate from property (homeowners) insurance, but that standard policies may not cover personal items damaged by flooding. In these cases, additional contents insurance can be purchased as an add-on at an additional cost. Some policies may include coverage, but set coverage limits that will pay only a percentage of the entire loss or a specific dollar amount.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Standard Flood Insurance Program (SFIP) “only covers direct physical loss to structures by flooding,” FEMA officials said. The SFIP has very specific definitions of what a flood is and what it considers flood damage. “Earth movement” caused by flooding, such as a landslide, sinkholes and destabilization of land, is not covered by SFIP.

Structures that are elevated must be built up to Base Flood Elevation (BFE) standards as determined by the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). There may be coverage limitations regarding personal property in areas below the lowest elevated floor of an elevated building.

Cost Impact of Biggert-Waters

The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 extends and reforms the NFIP for five years by adjusting rate subsidies and premium rates. Approximately 20 percent of NFIP policies pay subsidized premiums, and the 5 percent of those policyholders with subsidized policies for non-primary residences and businesses will see a 25 percent annual increase immediately. A Reserve Fund assessment charge will be added to the 80 percent of policies that pay full-risk premiums. Un-elevated properties constructed in a SFHA before a community adopted its initial FIRMs will be affected most by rate changes. Congress is still debating the implementation of Biggert-Waters.

Other Conditions

The General Conditions section informs the consumer and the insurer of their responsibilities, including fraud, policy cancellation, subrogation (in this case, the insurer’s right to claim damages caused by a third party) and payment plans. Policies also have a section that offers guidance on the steps to take when damage or loss occurs. It includes notifying the insurer as soon as practically possible, notifying the police (if appropriate or necessary) and taking steps to protect property from further damage.

“FEMA’s top priority is to provide assistance to those in need as quickly as possible, while also meeting our requirements under the law,” FEMA press secretary Dan Watson said. “To do this, FEMA works with its private sector, write-your-own insurance (WYO) company partners who sell flood insurance under their own names and are responsible for the adjustment of their policy holders’ claims.”

Policyholders should speak with their insurance agent or representative if they have any questions about coverage. For further assistance with Sandy-related flood insurance cases in New Jersey and New York, call the NFIP hotline at 1-877-287-9804. Comprehensive information about NFIP, Biggert-Waters and flood insurance in general can be found at www.floodsmart.gov.

http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4086/updates/sandy-one-year-later

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 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.

Continue reading here: 

Review and Update Your Insurance Policies In New Year

Web Resources and Social Media Focus on Colorado Recovery

DENVER – Those following Colorado’s recovery from severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides can draw upon a variety of Web and social media resources from the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The president’s major disaster declaration of Sept. 14, 2013, authorized funding for FEMA’s Individual Assistance and Public Assistance programs. Although registration is now closed for both programs, survivors can still contact FEMA’s Helpline at 800-621-3362 with questions. Also, many online resources are available for information and updates.

Individual Assistance for homeowners and renters in 11 designated Colorado counties included grants for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs. In addition, low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration covered residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.

Public Assistance helps state and local governments in 18 designated Colorado counties with critical infrastructure repair, as well as aiding certain types of private nonprofit organizations. FEMA reimburses 75 percent of the cost of eligible projects.

State of Colorado flood recovery information is available online

  • The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management uses www.COEmergency.com to share current updates on disasters and events.
  • Information specific to the Colorado floods is located at www.ColoradoUnited.com.
  • The Colorado DHSEM’s main Web page, dhsem.state.co.us/, contains information about emergency management and disaster preparedness, as well as helpful recovery resources.
  • The DHSEM’s Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/COEmergency offers flood assistance updates and links to news products that may be useful to disaster survivors.
  • The DHSEM Facebook page at www.facebook.com/COEmergency provides recovery updates and also weather, preparedness and mitigation information.
  • Information on how to help those affected by flooding in Colorado is available at www.helpcoloradonow.net/.
  • The READYColorado Web page at www.readycolorado.com offers all-hazards preparedness resources, including information for people with disabilities.
  • The READYColorado Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/READYColorado informs survivors about Colorado’s citizen preparedness campaign.
  • The READYColorado Facebook page at www.facebook.com/READYColorado provides information about citizen and community preparedness.

FEMA disaster recovery resources also are available online

The National Weather Service’s website at www.weather.gov/ provides weather alerts and forecasts.

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Web Resources and Social Media Focus on Colorado Recovery

Federal Disaster Aid for Colorado Flooding Tops $245 Million

Federal Disaster Aid for Colorado Flooding Tops $245 Million

Main Content

Release date:

January 14, 2014

Release Number:

NR-108

Federal Disaster Aid for Colorado Flooding Tops $245 Million

(Editor: Cuts of disaster response and recovery are available at

www.flickr.com/photos/coemergency or www.go.usa.gov/DeK9.)

DENVER – Since heavy rains brought flooding in September 2013, Colorado survivors have received more than $245 million in federal recovery assistance.

More than $214 million has come from disaster grants, flood insurance payments and low-interest disaster loans. More than $31 million has been obligated under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance program to repair and rebuild critical infrastructure and restore vital services.

To date:

  • FEMA has granted $54.5 million for housing assistance in 11 designated counties and more than $4.6 million in other needs assistance, such as disaster-related medical expenses or personal property loss. Flood survivors have also received disaster unemployment assistance and disaster legal services.
  • FEMA has obligated $31.3 million to publicly owned entities and certain nonprofits in 18 designated counties. Through its Public Assistance cost-share program, FEMA reimburses 75 percent for eligible, disaster-related costs for debris removal, emergency measures and permanent work to repair and replace disaster-damaged public facilities. The remaining 25 percent nonfederal share comes from state and local sources. The state manages the grants for all projects.
  • The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved $96 million in federal disaster loans to Colorado homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofit organizations that sustained damage from the severe storms and flooding.
  • The National Flood Insurance Program has approved $59.3 million to settle 1,973 claims.
  • FEMA is providing manufactured housing units for 44 households who have no other suitable housing available.

Last Updated:

January 14, 2014 – 12:09

State/Tribal Government or Region:

Colorado

Related Disaster:

Colorado Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

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Federal Disaster Aid for Colorado Flooding Tops $245 Million

Colorado Flooding – 100 Days Later

(Editor: Cuts of disaster response and recovery are available at www.flickr.com/photos/coemergency or www.go.usa.gov/DeK9.)

DENVER – In the 100 days following the catastrophic floods that hit much of Colorado, more than $204 million has gone to individuals and households in recovery assistance, flood insurance payments and low-interest disaster loans.

In addition, more than $28 million has been obligated to begin to repair and rebuild critical infrastructure and restore vital services.

Initially, the State, federal and local objectives were to save lives, bring aid to the affected areas, provide temporary safe housing, clear debris and to make immediate repairs to damaged infrastructure to put communities on the path to recovery.

President Obama signed a major-disaster declaration for Colorado Sept. 14 after severe and unremitting rains that began on Sept. 11 inundated much of the northeast portion of the state. The flooding killed 10 people, forced more than 18,000 from their homes, destroyed 1,882 structures and damaged at least 16,000 others.

Progress by the Numbers:

  • Under the Individuals and Households Program, FEMA has granted $53,816,716 for housing needs and $4,572,871 to help survivors who suffered damage to their homes. Under the Public Assistance Program, FEMA has obligated $28,338,878 to publicly owned entities and certain nonprofits that provide vital services. (See below for county-by-county breakdowns.)
  • The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved 2,274 low-interest disaster loans for over $90 million to Colorado homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations. Of that amount, $73 million was in loans to repair and rebuild homes and replace personal property and $17 million was in business and economic-injury loans. Approved loan amounts for some of the most impacted areas include $55.2 million to Boulder County, $14 million for Larimer County and $9.4 million for Weld County.
  • More than 50 national, State and local volunteer organizations pitched in to help in the recovery efforts, involving the work of 28,664 people giving their time and energy to both short- and long-term healing and to address any unmet needs. Volunteers provided donations-coordination, home repair, child and pet care, counseling services, removal of muck and mud from homes and much more. In-kind donations amounted to $3,187,564. Valuing a volunteer hour at $22.43, the 275,860 hours of time represents a contribution of $6,162,725.
  • The National Flood Insurance Program approved more than $55.7 million to settle 1,910 claims.
  • More than 36,500 survivors registered for disaster assistance.
  • FEMA housing inspectors in the field have looked at nearly 26,000 properties in the 11 counties designated for Individual Assistance in the president’s major-disaster declaration.
  • FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams canvassed hundreds of neighborhoods, visiting more than 62,000 homes and 2,741 businesses to provide information on a vast array of services and resources available to eligible applicants and made follow-up contacts in hundreds of cases.
  • More than 21,500 survivors were able to visit 26 State/federal Disaster Recovery Centers to get one-on-one briefings on available assistance, low-interest loans and other information.

Housing

  • Since Transitional Sheltering Assistance was activated Sept. 22, a total of 1,067 households have stayed in 177 participating hotels. The Transitional Sheltering Assistance deadline was extended five times to Dec. 14, with checkout Dec. 15. To date, 55 manufactured housing units are either in place or being placed in Boulder, Larimer and Weld counties for families unable to secure other housing resources. FEMA has ordered a total of 66 manufactured housing units.

Infrastructure

  • In the 18 counties designated for FEMA’s Public Assistance program, 238 meetings were held to discuss the details of the program and the amounts involved in each recovery project. This component of federal assistance provides at least 75 percent of the costs of repairing and rebuilding public infrastructure, reimbursement for emergency measures, helping critical services conducted by governments and certain nonprofits get back to normal, and in some cases implementing mitigation against future damage and losses. FEMA and the State fielded 237 eligible Requests for Public Assistance. The amount obligated so far: $28,338,878.

Communicating

  • FEMA and the State supplied disaster-assistance information to 33 chambers of commerce, six economic-development centers and 38 schools of higher education.
  • FEMA’s Speakers Bureau received 85 requests from officials and other interested parties and 443 State/federal specialists have spoken at meetings and other venues. Thus more than 8,300 attendees were able to get information on assistance programs, flood insurance and low-interest loans.
  • FEMA mitigation specialists counseled 15,250 survivors during outreach efforts at area big-box hardware and building-supply stores and couseled more than 4,700 at Disaster Recovery Centers.
  • At fema.gov/disaster/4145, the dedicated Colorado-disaster website, there have been more than 103,000 hits – an average of 1,300 daily. The FEMA Region VIII Twitter feed has fielded more than 600 tweets and has increased the number of followers to 9,100. In the last 100 days, the State has sent out 1,025 tweets, has increased to 21,500 @COemergency followers and the COemergency Facebook page garnered 2,182 “likes.” The coemergency.com page has had 234,757 page views.
  • FEMA Corps teams were instrumental in spreading the word about assistance throughout the affected areas and worked alongside FEMA regulars in the Joint Field Office in Centennial. More than 300 FEMA Corps members helped survivors in responding to and recovering from the disaster.

County-by-county Breakdown of State and Federal Grants

Adams County

Housing Assistance

$1,095,674

 

Other Needs Assistance

$127,796

 

Total State/FEMA Assistance

$1,223,470

 

 

 

Arapahoe County

Housing Assistance

$3,141,538

 

Other Needs Assistance

$284,001

 

Total State/FEMA Assistance

$3,425,539

 

 

 

 Boulder County

Housing Assistance

$31,498,946

 

Other Needs Assistance

$2,075,738

 

Total State/FEMA Assistance

$33,574,684

 

 

 

Clear Creek County

Housing Assistance

$200,715

 

Other Needs Assistance

$2,674

 

Total State/FEMA Assistance

$203,389

 

 

 

El Paso County

Housing Assistance

$1,487,676

 

Other Needs Assistance

$180,202

 

Total State/FEMA Assistance

$1,667,878

 

 

 

Fremont County

Housing Assistance

$53,733

 

Other Needs Assistance

$1,950

 

Total State/FEMA Assistance

$55,683

 

 

 

Jefferson County

Housing Assistance

$1,497,170

 

Other Needs Assistance

$34,640

 

Total State/FEMA Assistance

$1,531,810

 

 

 

Larimer County

Housing Assistance

$5,756,594

 

Other Needs Assistance

$354,049

 

Total State/FEMA Assistance

$6,110,643

 

 

 

Logan County

Housing Assistance

$476,822

 

Other Needs Assistance

$42,875

 

Total State/FEMA Assistance

$519,697

 

 

 

Morgan County

Housing Assistance

$77,319

 

Other Needs Assistance

$8,292

 

Total State/FEMA Assistance

$85,611

 

 

 

Weld County

 Housing Assistance

$8,530,529

 

Other Needs Assistance

$1,460,654

 

Total State/FEMA Assistance

$9,991,183

 

 

 

After the Deluge:

The floods triggered a massive combined State and federal effort to support first responders, protect life and property and minimize environmental damage. At the request of Governor John Hickenlooper, President Obama signed the Major Disaster Declaration, authorizing FEMA to support the State and local responses and to begin recovery work.

The State Emergency Operations Center was activated on Sept. 12 to provide support and technical assistance to local communities.

The Colorado National Guard, joined by the Wyoming National Guard and other aviation assets from the Army, evacuated more than 3,700 people and more than 1,000 pets in flooded communities. Access trails were cut around sites made impassable by the floods. The Department of Defense supplied 21 helicopters for search-and-rescue operations staffed by the Colorado National Guard, the 4th Infantry Division from Fort Carson, and the Wyoming National Guard. Hundreds of survivors were airlifted to safety. Buckley Air Force Base opened its gates as a staging area for FEMA equipment and supplies.

Five FEMA Urban Search and Rescue teams under the direction of local public-safety officials walked door-to-door, checking on thousands of residences in the flood zones to assure that those who wanted to be evacuated were given the opportunity and the means to leave.

FEMA dispensed nearly $9 million in federal mission assignments for life-saving and life-sustaining assistance in support of State and local first-responders. 

Other partner agencies used their technology to measure and monitor flood data. The U.S. Geological Survey dispatched flood-response crews to assess and report flood-flow information needed by federal, State and local agencies to forecast the magnitude and timing of the rising waters and to coordinate flood-response activities such as closing dams and identifying evacuation zones. After the event, the USGS flagged high-water marks in hazardous locations and addressed safety concerns in areas where landslides occurred.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, under a mission assignment from FEMA, worked on water systems in the flooded areas to ensure Coloradans had safe drinking water and to maintain the integrity of the wastewater systems.

Long-term Recovery

State and federal entities – including the Colorado Division of Homeland Security  and Emergency Management and FEMA, along with the appropriate mission-dedicated components of the State and federal governments – brought to bear several programs to deal with the aftermath of the event and help Coloradans to get back on their feet.

On the long road to recuperation, the Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator and the State Disaster Recovery Coordinator are working with public and private partners at the federal, State and local levels to identify unmet needs as well as traditional and innovative resources that can be used to support rebuilding. Coordinating agencies represented in FDRC include the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Commerce.

FEMA’s focus is now turning toward seeing that counties and communities adopt full charge of their recovery work as the Agency takes a closer look at long-term needs. To be accomplished effectively, these endeavors will take time, but will ultimately result in a safer and more resilient Colorado. 

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Colorado Flooding – 100 Days Later

Seventeen New Jersey Communities are Recognized for Reducing their Flood Risk through the Community Rating System

LINCROFT, N.J. — Seventeen New Jersey municipalities will be recognized for reducing their flood hazard risk through the Community Rating System in awards ceremonies today and Wednesday, Dec. 18.

Today’s ceremony at 10 a.m. the Long Beach Township Courtroom will honor Bay Head, Beach Haven, Berkeley Township, Hazlet, Lavallette, Long Beach Township, Mantoloking, Middletown Township and Stafford Township. Wednesday’s ceremony at 12:30 p.m. at Sea Isle City Elementary School will honor Avalon, Cape May, Cape May Point, Longport, Margate, Ocean City, Sea Isle City and Upper Township.

The Community Rating System (CRS) is a program administered by FEMA that provides lower insurance premiums under the National Flood Insurance Program. Communities can apply to participate in the CRS, and residents of participating communities pay lower premium reduction rates based on the implementation of floodplain management policies.

Communities earn points toward their rating based on 18 creditable activities in four categories: Public Information, Mapping and Regulations, Flood Damage Reduction and Flood Preparedness. For towns participating in the CRS, flood insurance premium rates are discounted in 5 percent increments. Premium reductions are in the form of CRS Classes, similar to the classifications used for fire insurance. A Class 1 community (the highest level of compliance) would receive a 45% premium reduction.

Ten New Jersey municipalities (Sea Isle City, Avalon, Beach Haven, Bedminster, Brigantine, Long Beach Township, Longport, Mantoloking, Pompton Lakes and Stafford Township) are in Class 5, the highest level currently in the state. The 61 communities in the program have saved a total of $17 million.

Participating communities have better organized and more formal local flood programs, which can be evaluated against a nationally recognized benchmark. The discounted premiums give communities incentive to maintain its programs. Residents are reminded that their towns are working to protect them from flooding and will become more knowledgeable and interested in supporting and improving flood protection measures.

Learn more about the NFIP’s CRS program at http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip/crs.shtm.

http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4086/updates/sandy-one-year-later

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 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

Continued here:

Seventeen New Jersey Communities are Recognized for Reducing their Flood Risk through the Community Rating System

This Holiday Season, Give the Gift of Preparedness

LINCROFT, N.J.– The heavy demands of the holiday season can be a busy time for all. Managing family obligations and handling seasonal preparations alongside regular day-to-day activities can make disaster preparedness less of a priority. In fact, the onset of winter is a critical time for safety preparation, and several items that are critical in emergencies also make good holiday gifts.

A weather radio is a recommended purchase, preferably one developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Consumer Electronics Association. These radios broadcast National Weather Service forecasts and severe weather warnings 24 hours a day on the NOAA’s radio network. They cost between $20 and $200. Portable and handheld radios generally cost less than desktop models. FEMA recommends that the radio has an alarm, can run on batteries, solar power or a hand crank, and has an external or wireless output for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or blind, allowing connection to an alarm or other attention-getting device, such as a personal computer or text printer. Visit www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr for more information and to find a list of frequencies used for weather alerts.

A solar charging unit for charging and powering electronic devices is also recommended. These range in size from pocket-sized units to fold-out panel arrays and are powered by the sun, making them useful on clear days when electricity is unavailable. Prices start at less than $10 and can exceed $200.

A regular car charger can serve the same purpose. Pricing for these is more closely tied to size, starting at $3 and going up to $70 for multiple-device units. For any charger, make sure that it is properly adapted for the devices you will be using. Cell phones, tablets, cameras and computers have different connection points to external power supplies. More than one unit may be necessary.

Generators can serve as backup power sources in emergencies. A generator that produces a minimum of 4,000-5,000 watts of power is recommended. Contact an electrician to find out how much power your home needs. Generators in the 5,000-8,000 watt range can cost as little as $600 and as much as $4,000, and some may require additional accessories which will cost extra. Portable generators cost less than stationary standby models.

To cook food or heat water, pick up a camping stove. These outdoor-only stoves use propane, butane or other solid fuels. Butane- and cartridge-fueled stoves are less expensive ($10 to $50) than their propane-powered counterparts, but they usually only have one burner and those fuels are less effective in cold weather. Dual-burner stoves are more likely to run on propane and cost between $30 and $100. Single-burner propane stoves range from $20 to $60. You’ll also want to have enough fuel on hand for your stove. Small propane tanks cost between $3 and $6, packs of butane cans cost between $6 and $12 depending on the size of the pack, and solid fuel cartridge packs cost between $8 and $20.

Tea kettles are better for boiling water than pots or pans because they are enclosed and the metal interiors allow for more even heating. Most kettles suited for outdoor use are made of stainless steel, enamel or aluminum. These range in price from $15 to $75.

Ready-made first-aid kits can be purchased for use in the home or car. The Red Cross sells its own at www.redcrossstore.org and many retail stores also carry them. A pre-assembled kit with enough supplies for a family costs less than $40. Visit www.ready.gov/build-a-kit for lists of recommended safety kit items.

If you need both hands free to work, search or dig in darkness, consider a head lamp. Most head lamps are mounted on an elastic strap that can be wrapped around a hat or worn directly on the wearer’s head. A consumer-grade lamp can be purchased for less than $100.

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 FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.

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This Holiday Season, Give the Gift of Preparedness

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