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FEMA

Texas Fire Safety

1-12-2012 Acccording to FEMA advisories: AUSTIN, Texas -- More than 80 percent of wildfires in Texas now strike within two miles of suburban communities. What’s more, the desire to live closer to nature has driven many Texans out of major cities and into areas where neighborhoods meet and mix with undeveloped, natural landscapes.

In these areas, called the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), homes press against and sometimes blend with wild expanses of explosively flammable plants, shrubs and trees.

Texans living in the WUI often enjoy the luxuries associated with wildland living, including beautiful views and a close proximity to wildlife and the outdoors. However, with this move to the WUI come new and dangerous fire risks.

With the state’s relentless drought conditions forecast to continue well into next year, it is important that Texans be aware of wildfire vulnerabilities in their area, and that they take steps to protect their homes and families – creating safer, stronger and smarter communities that are ready in the event of a wildfire.

Now, more than ever, is the time to educate Texans and build more “firewise” communities, say officials with the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“Living in the Wildland Urban Interface is much like living in a floodplain,” said Kevin L. Hannes, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer for two wildfire recovery missions in Texas. “Texans should know what risks exist related to their location and they should adopt safety measures to protect their families and their homes.”

TDEM and FEMA encourage homeowners and residents to stay up-to-date with fire situations in their area and take necessary precautions to prepare for and mitigate against the risk of future wildfires.

Here are five helpful mitigation tips to protect homes from wildfires:

1. Wooden fences and decks act like a fuse during a wildfire. Consider replacing them with less combustible material.

2. Fine fuels like dead grass and leaves can act as kindling. Remove them from the area directly around your home.

3. Embers are the primary source of home ignition. Make sure vents are adequately screened to prevent access.

4. Trim all the dead branches from trees in the yard and prune low hanging limbs to prevent fire from climbing to the crowns of the trees.

5. Replace the combustible components of homes with less flammable material like masonry or stone. Use fire-resistant roofing material, such as ceramic or slate tile, or standing-seam metal roofing.

Alert FEMA 

6-27-2011 Governor Dalrymple Asks President to Provide Additional Help in Statewide Flood Recovery Efforts June 27, 2011 BISMARCK, N.D. – Governor Jack Dalrymple today spoke by phone with President Obama about North Dakota’s need for expanded federal assistance to recover from unprecedented flooding.

Dalrymple asked the President to have the Federal Emergency Management Agency provide Individual Assistance more equitably so that flood victims in one county are treated the same as victims of the same flood in an adjacent county. North Dakota has experienced major flooding along the Red River, the Missouri River, the Souris River, as well as in the Devils Lake Basin. Within each of the flood areas, affected residents and businesses should be treated the same, regardless of the county they reside in, Dalrymple said.

Dalrymple told the President that statewide flood damages will exceed the federal government’s threshold to trigger a 90-percent FEMA cost-share, and he asked the President to provide that level of funding to help the state recover from record flooding.

President Obama told Dalrymple that he will take both requests into consideration and that he will meet with FEMA’s top officials to discuss them. Dalrymple also invited the President to visit North Dakota where he could see first-hand the extent of flooding.

“If the President could see the devastation with his own eyes he would instantly understand that we are experiencing a major disaster,” Dalrymple said.

Tornadoes in Missouri

5-26-2011Information provided by Public Affairs Office personnell.The administration, through FEMA, is committed to bringing all of the resources of the federal family to bear to support Missouri and the other states devastated by the deadly tornadoes and storms last weekend.

Regional offices in Kansas City, MO and Chicago, IL, has been in close contact and coordination with the states since the storms first struck, and has already deployed staff and resources to the impacted areas in Missouri to help with response needs.Since the deadly tornadoes first struck parts of the country last week, the federal government has been in constant contact with all of the impacted states as they responded to and began recovery efforts from these devastating storms.

One Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is open in Joplin, Missouri. It is staffed by state, voluntary agency and federal personnel to help those whose homes or businesses were affected by recent storms and tornadoes. This center is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, until further notice. At the DRC, representatives from FEMA, state and other agencies meet one on one with disaster survivors, explain assistance programs and help survivors apply for disaster aid.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its federal partners continue to work closely with state and local officials in Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and other states impacted by the deadly tornadoes and severe storms that struck the Midwest over the weekend and last night.

In Oklahoma, FEMA staff on the ground, including a Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO), tour damages with Oklahoma Emergency Management (OEM) Director and Oklahoma Governor Fallin. The FCO has been embedded with state officials at the Oklahoma Emergency Operations Center since last night.

FEMA deploys a regional Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) to Oklahoma to coordinate with state and local officials to identify needs and shortfalls impacting disaster response and recovery.

In Arkansas, FEMA has staff on the ground, including a Federal Coordinating Officer, working closely with the Governor and the Arkansas Emergency Management team.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman, Oklahoma is forecasting a high risk of severe thunderstorms for portions of the Mid-Mississippi Valley into the Lower Ohio Valley today and tonight, including areas around St. Louis, Mo., Little Rock, Ark. and Memphis, Tenn. These storms have the potential to produce large hail, strong winds, and torrential rainfall.

FEMA, through its regional offices in Kansas City, Missouri, Chicago, Illinois, Denton, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia, continue to stay in constant contact with our state and local counterparts as we monitor additional severe weather.

FEMA Administrator Fugate continues to tour affected areas in Missouri and meet with disaster survivors, state and local officials, first responders and representatives of voluntary organizations to ensure the state has what they need as response efforts continue.

5-9-2011 DRCs are located at the following addresses:

Bartow County

Clarence Brown Conference Center

5450 Highway 20

Cartersville, GA 30120]

Catoosa County

Catoosa County Learning Center

36 Muscogee Trail

Ringgold, GA 30736

Dade County

Dade County Board of Commissioners Room

71 Case Ave.

Trenton, GA 30752

Floyd County

Hamler Gym

300 W. 3rd St.

Rome, GA 30161

Greene and Morgan counties

Morgan County Recreation Gym

1253 College Drive

Madison, GA 30650

Lamar and Monroe counties

Lamar County Service Center

118 Academy Drive

Barnesville, GA 30204

Meriwether County

Callaway Community Center

Kersey Park

121 Perry St.

Manchester, GA 31816

Pickens County

Pickens County Admin/EOC

Jasper, GA 330143

Polk County

EMA/Fire Department

55 Cline Ingram Jackson Road

Cedartown, GA 30125

Rabun County

Clayton City Hall

837 Highway 76 West

Clayton, GA 30525

Spalding County

Voter Registrar's Office

819 Memorial Drive

Griffin, GA 30223

Troup County

Mike Daniel Recreation Center

1220 LaFayette Parkway

LaGrange, GA 30241

Walker County

Walker County Agricultural Center

10058 N. Highway

For more information on Georgia's disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or www.gema.ga.gov or www.ready.ga.gov/ or twitter.com/GeorgiaEMA or twitter.com/femaregion4.

Cameron Parish Schools in New Orelans

11-8-2010 NEW ORLEANS – The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently announced more than $19.2 million in federal aid for two schools in Cameron Parish.

This recent FEMA funding includes approximately $17 million to rebuild Johnson Bayou High School in Cameron, La. Storm surge flooding associated with Hurricane Ike destroyed the K-12 school. The new permanent facility, which is currently under construction, is expected to have 100 students once finished.

Additionally, approximately $2.1 million will go toward repairs at Hackberry High School in Hackberry, La., which is attended by 210 students. The K-12 school suffered damages in both hurricanes Rita and Ike. This amount funds repairs to the school’s rodeo facility and damages to its main classroom building. FEMA has obligated a total of approximately $5.6 million to Hackberry High School for hurricanes Rita and Ike.> 

Illinois FEMA Awards

11-8-2010 Illinois residents: Tell your neighbors who had damage from the severe storms and flooding of July 19-Aug. 7 that Nov. 17 is their last chance to apply for federal help by telephone or online.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), more than 138,000 residents in Carroll, Cook, DuPage, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties have already applied for FEMA assistance. More than $303 million has been approved for housing assistance, essential home repairs and/or other disaster-related needs.

10-17-2010 DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — Nearly $263 million has been approved in disaster assistance grants for Illinois residents recovering from the severe storms and flooding of July 19 - Aug. 7.

Because of the size of the disaster and the continuing numbers of people applying for disaster assistance, the deadline to apply has been extended to Wednesday, Nov. 17, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). Nov. 17 is also the deadline to return the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) application provided to many applicants.

Disaster recovery assistance is available to homeowners, renters, businesses, and private nonprofit organizations in the seven counties designated for Individual Assistance — Carroll, Cook, DuPage, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago.

As of close of business Oct. 14, 125,101 Illinois residents have applied for assistance and $262,922,050 has been approved in disaster grants under the Individuals and Households Program (IHP). Of this amount:

$218,262,439 has been approved in grants for temporary housing, home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance; $44,659,611 has been approved in Other Needs Assistance (ONA) to repair or replace damaged personal property and pay for other serious, disaster-related expenses. FEMA pays 75 percent of ONA; the state pays 25 percent.

117,935 damage inspections have been completed; 149 inspectors remain in the field.

Below are county figures for applications, Housing Assistance (HA) and Other Needs Assistance (ONA). (Note: Not all applicants are eligible for assistance.)

Carroll County: 177 applicants; $791,739 total (HA $735,633; ONA $56,106)

Cook County: 119,658 applicants; $251,617,905 total (HA $207,875,533; ONA $43,742,372)

DuPage County: 2,680 applicants; $6,076,964 total (HA $5,692,446; ONA $384,518)

Jo Daviess County: 150 applicants; $305,353 total (HA $300,160; ONA $5,193)

Ogle County: 99 applicants; $271,731 total (HA $242,002; ONA $29,729)

Stephenson: 1,623 applicants; $3,544,461 total (HA $3,132,987; ONA $411,474)

The SBA has approved $30,948,800 in low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, and businesses and nonprofit organizations of all sizes. SBA has distributed 82,609 applications, with 7,834 returned to SBA.

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate

10-25-2009 FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said 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 municipalities of Bayamón, Cataño, Guaynabo, San Juan, and Toa Baja.Fugate named Philip E. Parr as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.

Illinois Seniors

Springfield, Ill. -- Illinois senior citizens can feel comfortable knowing that applying for, or receiving federal disaster assistance will not cause them to lose Social Security benefits, pay additional taxes, or give up any benefit programs they may have.

"A federal grant does not add to a senior's taxable income, as long as the grant is given as assistance to recover from a disaster," said FEMA Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer Mark Landry. "This means that senior citizens will not have to sacrifice any part of their Social Security benefits."

Additionally, disaster grants won't affect income levels causing a senior citizen to become ineligible for Medicaid, welfare assistance, food stamps or Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). FEMA grants are not repaid by the recipient.
"Applicants may receive a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan application in the mail," said Michael Peacock, SBA communications specialist. Seniors should fill out and return the loan application even if they think they won't qualify."

If you don't qualify for a loan you may be referred to FEMA's Other Needs Assistance program for additional grant assistance. To apply for federal assistance from the June 1 to July 22 severe storms and flooding call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. CDT. Those who are speech and hearing impaired with TTY equipment call 1-800-462-7585.
Seniors who have questions about their disaster loan application can contact the SBA Disaster Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or visit www.sba.gov/disaster/ They can also go to any of the three Disaster Loan Outreach Centers open in Illinois.

Those locations are:
Hancock County
Dallas City Elementary School
921 Creamery Hill Road
Dallas City, IL 62330
Hours: Monday ? Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Closes: Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 5:30 p.m.

Rock Island County
Milan Municipal Building
405 East 1st St
Milan, IL 61264
Hours: Monday ? Friday, 9 a.m. ? 6 p.m.
Closes: Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 6 p.m.
Winnebago County

Michelsen's Office Furniture
8020 N. 2nd St
Machesney Park, IL 61115
Opens: Monday, August 11 at 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Hours: Monday ? Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closes: Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 6 p.m.

Grants

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- In the first week more than $1.5 million in grant assistance has been approved to date by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as they continue to assist the Illinois Emergency Management Association (IEMA) in the recovery from the severe storms and flooding from January 7 and continuing. President Bush issued the major disaster declaration on March 7.

Disaster recovery efforts through March 13th include:

• A total of 547 individuals already registered for disaster assistance. There were 352 registrations from Iroquois county and 185 registrations from Livingston County.
• More than $984,573 in Individual Assistance funds was approved for 265 households.
• More than $800,000 ($844,767) in Housing Assistance has been approved to cover rental assistance, temporary lodging, and housing repairs for 193 applicants.
• More than $139,000 ($139,806) in Other Needs Assistance (ONA) has been approved for 72 applicants to cover their personal property loss, medical costs and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance.
• The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has issued application packets for low-interest disaster loans to 324 homeowners and 84 businesses.  The SBA provides low-interest loans to homeowners, renters, non-profit organizations and businesses of all sizes.
• FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are now open in Pontiac and Watseka. These facilities will be open seven days a week from 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. (CST) until March 22. After March 22, DRCs will be open six days a week, from Monday through Saturday.

Residents can register for assistance by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 or visiting www.fema.gov on line. The registration line is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (CST) until further notice.

National Preparedness Month

US Homeland Agency annonces plans to help Americans prepare for crisis. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today joined with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate and the Ad Council to launch a new series of Ready Campaign public service advertisements (PSAs) designed to encourage all Americans to take steps to prepare for emergencies, kicking off September’s National Preparedness Month.

“Preparedness is a shared responsibility that begins with the American people,” said Secretary Napolitano. “These public service advertisements highlight the simple steps everyone can take to prepare for disasters, enhancing the safety and security of our country.”

“Emergency response is a team effort, and the most important member of that team is the public,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “The truth is, the more the public does now to prepare, the better we can respond in the future. That’s why we are launching PSAs, encouraging Americans to visit Ready.gov and learn how they can do their part to prepare.”

Due to Formaldehyde Tests FEMA Moves Katrina Victims Out

FEMA is taking additional steps to expedite the relocation of residents from manufactured housing to apartments or other alternative housing including hotels, motels, and "Katrina cottages." The priority in relocation will be those occupants expressing a health concern and those most susceptible to health risk such as the elderly, households with young children and those with respiratory challenges.

FEMA previously announced a plan to close all group sites and relocate residents by June 1 of this year and will continue this activity as part of our ongoing efforts. FEMA has already moved 105,445 households out of temporary housing units as residents return home or move into long-term housing solutions. During the week of February 6, 2008, 983 households moved out of temporary housing and FEMA continues to move between 800 and 1000 households out, on average, per week.

CDC and FEMA recommend that Gulf Coast families living in travel trailers and mobile homes spend as much time outdoors in fresh air as possible. Residents should open windows to let fresh air in whenever possible, and try to maintain the temperature inside their travel trailers or mobile homes at the lowest comfortable level. Higher temperatures can cause greater release of formaldehyde. Persons who have health concerns are encouraged to see a doctor or another medical professional.

The two agencies have established toll-free hotlines. FEMA employees are available to discuss housing concerns at 1-866-562-2381, or TTY 1-800-462-7585. CDC specialists will respond to health-related concerns at 1-800- CDC-INFO.

You can appply online for assistance by going to http://www.fema.gov

FEMA

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently issued Emergency Lodging Assistance (ELA) guidance that allows assistance to occupants of FEMA-provided temporary housing units who ask to be moved because of health concerns associated with their units. FEMA temporary housing units include travel trailers, park models and mobile homes.

Under the new Emergency Lodging Assistance guidance, FEMA will provide assistance to individuals and households to stay at a hotel or motel for an initial 30 days or until more appropriate housing is located. Extensions can be authorized on a case-by-case basis. The guidance went into effect on August 22, 2007.

The guidance stipulates that residents must be currently registered for assistance, currently living in a FEMA-provided temporary housing unit, and agree to the terms and conditions of the program. These conditions include a signed agreement acknowledging that the hotel or motel rooms are only for the use of the applicant’s household; that the household will not be able to return to the FEMA temporary housing unit; and that they will not be able to purchase the unit under the sales to occupants program should it be reinstated. The conditions also include a requirement that the applicant is responsible for paying for all charges except room and tax, which will be paid by FEMA; and an acknowledgement that FEMA may terminate this assistance with 14 days of written notice.
Occupants of a FEMA-provided temporary housing unit who have a health concern may contact FEMA at the FEMA Formaldehyde information number: 1-866-562-2381; TTY 1-800-462-7585. More information is available at http://www.fema.gov/hazard/hurricane/2005katrina/useful.shtm.