FEMA

Assisting Firefighters By means of Grants – FEMA’s Function For the duration of Wildfires

April 13, 2013 by NASTTPO Editor Leave a Comment

Posted by: Lars Anderson, Director, Public Affairs, FEMA

Over the past few weeks firefighters from local, state, and federal agencies have been tirelessly operating to battle a number of large fires across the country. Most importantly, we want to recognize their sacrifice and determination to protect lives and house. Thousands of very first responders from all levels of government have come collectively to bravely fight the blazes on the front lines.

FEMA continues to coordinate closely with our state, nearby, and tribal partners as the fire fight continues. In ten instances considering that June 1, FEMA has made economic help offered to support the firefighting efforts for fires in Montana, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. This assistance is offered by way of Fire Management Help Grants (FMAGs).

FMAGs provide economic help so firefighters and 1st responders can concentrate all their efforts on decreasing the negative impacts of the fire. An FMAG authorization makes FEMA funding offered to pay 75 percent of the state’s eligible firefighting fees, beneath an authorized grant structure.

Products eligible for FMAGs can contain expenses for field camps equipment use, repair and replacement mobilization and demobilization activities and tools, supplies and supplies.

In case you are interested in the specifics, the program allows for the “mitigation, management, and control” of fires burning on publicly or privately owned forest or grasslands which threaten such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. FMAGs are provided via the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and produced accessible by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to trigger a significant disaster.

A note on FMAGs: These grants do not provide assistance to individual property or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure harm triggered by the fire.

Other federal partners, such as the U.S. Forest Service and Division of Interior, are operating by way of the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) to provide the required assets such as fire engines, helicopters, air tankers and military support to assist suppress the fires. You can find a lot more about the federal government’s part at inciweb.org.

Due to summer season temperatures and dry conditions, the threat of wildfires will probably continue in the coming weeks and months. If you’re in an area that may possibly be impacted by wildfires, keep in mind these safety suggestions:

Generate a emergency kit and plan to ensure your home, family members, or enterprise is prepared for wildfires.
Listen to and stick to the guidance of state and regional officials. If authorities order an evacuation, leave immediately, adhere to evacuation routes announced by regional officials.
Produce an location of “defensible space” around your house. Clear things that will burn from around the property, which includes wood piles, lawn furnishings, barbecue grills, tarp coverings, and so on.
If you’re caught in the open in the course of a wildfire, the ideal temporary shelter is in a sparse fuel location. Clear fuel away from the area although the fire is approaching and then lie face down in the depression and cover your self. Remain down till following the fire passes.

For a lot more suggestions on staying protected before, throughout and after a wildfire, check out Prepared.gov/wildfires and our mobile website (m.fema.gov).

The Blog @ Homeland Safety

Supporting our partners for 2013 Inauguration

January 23, 2013 by NASTTPO Editor Leave a Comment

Posted by: John McGowan, Response Division Director, FEMA Region 3

As you might guess, it takes a high level of coordination and skill to pull off an event where hundreds of thousands of people converge on a small area to watch many of the nation’s political leaders. Yesterday during President Obama’s public Inauguration ceremony, I jotted down some thoughts about FEMA’s role supporting our emergency management partners:

The President’s Inauguration is on the televisions at the front and along the sides of the room as 25 government employees watch attentively and monitor the situation. We’re here in the FEMA Region III Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) in Philadelphia, PA supporting the Inauguration and the surrounding events. The RRCC is where we monitor situations, work with our partners, and coordinate our response efforts.

Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 21, 2013 -- FEMA staff monitor the Presidential Inauguration in the Regional Response Coordination Center.

There were employees here from several government agencies to support the Inauguration.

Staff members have been communicating with their federal and state partners and other FEMA employees throughout the day so they know what’s happening in DC and if there are any unmet needs. They’re talking to coworkers who are in the Washington, DC Emergency Operations Center, with the Secret Service, and with the FBI. They’ve spent months planning for this, for any scenario that could pop up, whether it includes consequence management, food, water, transportation, security or a myriad of other factors and scenarios. Team members include logisticians, planners, response, finance, media monitors and more. Because we train and plan together, serving together is easier.

Now that the preparations have all been made, everyone is able to pay attention to the televisions and listen in as the President is inaugurated and begins his address. One thing that seems to really hit home for everyone here is the President’s quote, “Together, we resolved that a great nation must care for the vulnerable, and protect its people from life’s worst hazards and misfortune.”

It’s a statement that resonates throughout this room because that, too, is why we’re all here; to care for the vulnerable and protect the population from life’s worst hazards. A lot of people here have only recently returned home, many were deployed to help respond to Hurricane Sandy. These are staff members that have just returned from assisting the people of the affected states.

Upon hearing the President’s statement, we’re reminded that the sacrifices we make, the long hours we work, and the time away from home is worth it; we are here for the disaster survivors, not for ourselves, and we do it together. We have so many of our partners working with us today: federal agencies, state and local emergency management agencies, and all of our citizens. We truly are working to protect our citizens together.

FEMA Blog

Saving $1 Million on the Waterfront

January 6, 2013 by NASTTPO Editor Leave a Comment

Posted by: Michael Byrne, Federal Coordinating Officer, NY

Brian Robbins grandfather, Harry, began producing paper bags with a folding machine in his garage in 1935. As a youngster, Robbins’ father would ride his bicycle to hand out flyers to promote business. In 1940, Harry had the great fortune to meet a wooden pail maker – an individual who produced wooden shipping crates – who introduced him to corrugated boxes.

A lot of years later, the household operation went onto to turn into Cornell Paper &amp Box Firm, a $ 14 million-a-year enterprise positioned on Brooklyn’s historic waterfront in Red Hook. Even on a cloudy day, a single can see the Statue of Liberty in the distance, raising her torch in the mist.

The organization no longer manufactures paper items, but buys and distributes corrugated boxes throughout the U.S. Brian has been operating the business for the last 15 years with his father and for significantly of that time has watched nervously as the water, which in some areas is about 15 feet from his 150-year-old brick warehouse, eroded the shoreline. In early 2000, the pier outdoors the warehouse ultimately collapsed.

Brian stated he knew it was a matter of time prior to the erosion would make the building vulnerable to a massive storm, like a Nor’easter. He was concerned that a single of the walls would simply be knocked proper out with the force of a surge.

When Hurricane Sandy inundated Red Hook with floodwaters in October, Robbin’s warehouse took a massive hit – but not as bad had he not initiated a significant mitigation project. 4 years earlier, trucking in 1,500 cubic yards of armored stone, Robbins spent half a million dollars to construct riprap, an embankment of huge stones to stop erosion, and a retaining wall to protect his home. Even though the low-lying land was covered in about five feet of water following Sandy, flooding the warehouse, Robbins says items would have been a lot worse. He had no doubt the outer wall would have been knocked out had he not prevented the erosion from continuing.

Brooklyn, N.Y., Dec. 4, 2012 — Brian Robbins, owner of Cornell Paper and Box Organization, Inc., stands next to his company which abuts Upper New York Bay. Robbins took the initiative to mitigate his house by building a bulk head wall to protect his home from storm surge. Though Robbins building was flooded due to Hurricane Sandy, he said that without having the mitigation measures, he would have lost his complete building.

Brooklyn, N.Y., Dec. 4, 2012 — Brian Robbins, owner of Cornell Paper and Box Company, Inc., stands subsequent to his company which abuts Upper New York Bay. Robbins took the initiative to mitigate his property by constructing a stone wall to shield his house from storm surge. Despite the fact that Robbins developing was flooded due to Hurricane Sandy, he said that with no the mitigation steps, he would have lost his complete creating.

Robbins began the project in early 2008 and completed by September of 2010. Robbins joked that he had to get approvals from every government agency in existence. In the middle of it, the economic markets crashed and he spoke with his father about no matter whether it was the best time to go forward. But he decided it HAD to be accomplished or he’d be in worse shape, if a significant storm hit.

Even with the mitigation work, one wall of the warehouse sustained a huge crack that will price about $ 270,000 to repair. Cleanup will run one more $ 400,000. In addition, the flooding inundated about $ 900,000 worth of soggy boxes. His flood insurance coverage will cover $ 500,000 to repair the developing and yet another $ 500,000 for damaged inventory. (Flood insurance coverage coverage for organization is various than coverage for individual homeowners, which tops out at $ 250,000 for structures and $ one hundred,000 for contents).

Brooklyn, N.Y., Dec. 4, 2012 -- Workers at local Red Hook business Cornell Paper and Box Company, continue cleanup of boxes inside the warehouse that was flooded during Hurricane Sandy. Business impacted by the storm may contact the Small Business Administration (SBA) for low-interest disaster loans at all New York State/FEMA disaster recovery centers and 18 SBA business recovery centers.
Brooklyn, N.Y., Dec. four, 2012 — Workers at nearby Red Hook enterprise Cornell Paper and Box Organization, continue cleanup of boxes inside the warehouse that was flooded throughout Hurricane Sandy. Company impacted by the storm may speak to the Tiny Company Administration (SBA) for low-interest disaster loans at all New York State/FEMA disaster recovery centers and 18 SBA company recovery centers.

Brooklyn, N.Y., Dec. 4, 2012 -- Local Red Hook business, Cornell Paper and Box Company, continues cleanup of boxes at the warehouse that was flooded during Hurricane Sandy. Business impacted by the storm may contact the Small Business Administration (SBA) for low-interest disaster loans at all New York State/FEMA disaster recovery centers and 18 SBA business recovery centers.
Brooklyn, N.Y., Dec. 4, 2012 — Local Red Hook company, Cornell Paper and Box Company, continues cleanup of boxes at the warehouse that was flooded for the duration of Hurricane Sandy. Company impacted by the storm may make contact with the Small Organization Administration (SBA) for low-interest disaster loans at all New York State/FEMA disaster recovery centers and 18 SBA company recovery centers.

To make up the distinction, he will have to take out a half a million dollar low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Modest Company Administration (which also supplies low-interest loans to home owners to repair disaster harm). It will take a handful of months for Cornell to be in a position to residence the paper inventory needed to bring company back to the way it was. In the meantime, Robbins is trying to make up the loss by renting out emptied areas of his warehouse for storage space, (one particular client is storing his motorcycles exactly where stacks of cardboard typically sit).

Even so, Robbins estimates that if he had not taken the mitigation measures, it would have expense him an additional million dollars out of pocket. Now the program is to bring in yet another 400 tons of armored stone to replace what Sandy took away.

Robbins says that immediately after generating the repairs he’ll be even better protected for an additional storm. And save another million dollars – or far more.

After a presidentially declared disaster, FEMA offers funding to the state for mitigation grants. For far more information on applying for 1, right here is a link to HMGP FAQs.
FEMA Weblog

New York, One Month After Sandy

December 1, 2012 by NASTTPO Editor Leave a Comment

Posted by: Michael Byrne, Federal Coordinating Officer

I am a native New Yorker.

I was born in New York City. I grew up in the city’s Public Housing developments in East Harlem and my Mom and Dad, brothers and sisters still live here. I worked for the New York Fire Department for 20 years, eventually serving as a Captain. I worked at the New York Office of Emergency Management and then I joined FEMA.

I’m a proud New Yorker and today, I’m honored to be part of the federal team that is working hard to assist my home city and state.

Coney Island, N.Y., Nov. 12, 2012 — Aerial view of damage and debris on Coney Island, New York. Storm surge from Hurricane Sandy caused flooding and power outages throughout the island.

Long Beach, N.Y., Nov. 7, 2012 — Cars were buried in sand from Hurricane Sandy. The storm surge created widespread flooding, power outages and devastation on Long Beach, New York. FEMA is working with state and local officials to assist residents who were affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Even before the storm, FEMA was preparing. We prepositioned food, water and blankets at two incident support bases in New York. FEMA Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMAT), trained to quickly coordinate federal resources to support the state were on the ground days before landfall. We also started calling in the cavalry, everyone from the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. We even had the Marines land on the beach in the Rockaways.

In the response phase of a disaster like this, it is critical that we focus on what I like to call the “four Ps” – “People, Power, Pumping and Pick-it-up.”

People always come first. The very first thing we did was get life-saving commodities out to the people. Within 24 hours we supplied more than a million liters of water and more than a million shelf ready meals to the New York National Guard and Voluntary Agencies throughout the city – who quickly distributed them to the New Yorkers in need. The third day after the storm, we were set up in all the affected areas.

New York is an amazing place, made up of different people from all over the world. Every neighborhood is distinctly unique, with different traditions, dialects and sense of community. But most of all, New York is made up of neighborhoods.

For example, you look on a map and see the Rockaways. But there are really four different Rockaways. You have Far Rock, Rockaway Beach, Belle Harbor and Breezy Point. Each neighborhood is different.

We set up Disaster Recovery Centers, where people can meet and talk about assistance face-to-face. I was out at the center in Rockaway Beach and there were tons of people waiting to be seen. Everyone had a number and I talked to a guy that had number 245. The center was on number 150. I told him we had heated buses that would take people to the Breezy Point center, but he wanted to stay with his neighbors and wait. That’s New York.

Today, we have 34 centers throughout damaged areas, covering the neighborhoods that have had the most damage. Over 56,000 New Yorkers have visited these centers. And we plan to open more.

Far Rockaway, N.Y., Nov. 10, 2012 –FEMA Corps personnel assist disaster survivors at a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Far Rockaway, New York. FEMA and the State set up the center to assist the needs of hurricane survivors.

Far Rockaway, N.Y., Nov. 10, 2012 — FEMA Community Relations specialist, Teisha Jeeter draws pictures with young disaster survivor, Luna Natalia Voss at a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Far Rockaway, New York. The center was set up to assist the needs of Hurricane Sandy survivors.

The New York metropolitan area has over 15 million people and this is a city that is built vertically. We knew immediately that having enough people would be a huge challenge. We had over 1200 people out in the field, going door-to-door in the damaged areas. We had to activate the Department of Homeland Security surge capacity force to have enough people to do these sweeps. This “surge force” consisted of over 1,100 employees from the agencies that make up DHS, such as Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Transportation Security Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard. They are spending the nights on Merchant Marine training ships so we don’t take hotel rooms from survivors. I have been out to the ships and the sleeping conditions are austere, but the food is good.

A little over a week after the storm, on Nov. 6^th, FEMA had received over 135,000 applications and approved almost $ 185 million in housing assistance to disaster survivors. We also had over 1,000 housing inspectors in the field who had completed over 17,000 inspections.

Long Beach, N.Y., Nov. 9, 2012 — FEMA Housing Inspector, Bill Gay inspects a home in Long Beach for Hurricane Sandy related damages. The FEMA Individual Assistance program provides financial assistance for temporary housing and minor housing repairs.

In addition, we have employed a diverse outreach approach to make sure the word gets out amidst New York’s multicultural mosaic. When our community relations members come in contact with people who are have limited English proficiency, we have translators and materials in 21 different languages to ensure they get assistance.

Coney Island, N.Y., Nov. 25, 2012 — FEMA Community Relations Limited English Proficiency (LEP) specialists, Eric Phillipson and Rossy Rey assist Russian hurricane survivor, Knana Letner with her special disaster related needs. The LEP strategic strike team was assigned to the Russian community in Coney Island, New York in response to Hurricane Sandy.

As for power, FEMA established a National Power Restoration Taskforce to cut through the red tape, increase federal, state, tribal, local and private sector coordination and restore power and fuel to people as quickly as possible. The Defense Logistics Agency delivered more than 2.3 million gallons of fuel to distribution points in New York and New Jersey. The U.S. Air Force transported equipment and supplies for power restoration efforts, including 69 vehicles belonging to the Southern California Edison utility company. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers installed 177 generators to sites throughout New York including apartment buildings managed by the New York City Housing Authority.

Pumping was a modern technological miracle. We had subway tunnels full of water. The Hugh Carey Tunnel (it will always be the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to me) was full to the roof. I was there and saw it, and I will tell you, I thought it would take months to get those tunnels pumped out. The Army Corps pumped out over 470 million gallons of water in less than two weeks.

The final P is “pick-it-up”. I’m talking about debris. A storm like this one generates a ton of debris and picking it up is always a challenge. The President signed an order saying we could pay for straight time for 30 days for debris pickup. Normally, we just pay for overtime, but being able to pay for all of the hours worked is a huge incentive to get the debris picked up and puts much needed money back into jurisdictions. It also incentivizes them to pick up the debris fast, because we only do this for 30 days. So far, we have picked up over 1.4 million cubic yards of debris.

We’ve done a lot, but, as long as there are people without power and in need of shelter, I am not satisfied. That’s why we came up with an innovative housing program called Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power (STEP). This program is designed for people who have power to the street, but cannot connect it to their houses. These are temporary repairs that are designed to let a family “shelter-in-place” while permanent repairs are made to their homes. We do this by making minor repairs to meters and panels to restore temporary power. The program also pays for other temporary housing repairs, such as covering windows, roofs and exterior doors. These repairs are meant to allow residents to return to safe and livable homes.

If you live in the five boroughs of New York City, call 311 to access information about the program. For those in Nassau County, call 1-888-684-4267 and if you live in Suffolk County, call 2-11. Your county or city will decide what elements of the STEP Program are available for your residence.

Long Beach, N.Y., Nov. 24, 2012 — Electricians installing a heat register as part of the FEMA STEP Program. FEMA in conjunction with state, local and tribal partners, is implementing a Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power (STEP) Program to help people get back into their homes quickly and safely. STEP assists State, local and tribal governments in performing work and services essential to saving lives, protecting public health and safety, and protecting property. The program funds certain necessary and essential measures to help restore power, heat and hot water to primary residences that could regain power through necessary and essential repairs. STEP can help residents safely shelter-in-place in their homes pending more permanent repairs. FEMA is working with many partners including federal, state, local and tribal governments, voluntary faith-based and community-based organizations along with the private sector to assist residents impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

We have more work to do. When President Obama visited New York and toured the damaged areas, he looked directly in my eyes and said “stay on it.”

We’d like the New York Hurricane Sandy page to inform survivors of our future plans. I have over 3,000 staff here and I am working hard to hire locals – New Yorkers – to help with the recovery.
We plan to share stories and updates as the rebuilding process continues. And, of course, you will hear from me. I love to tell stories and I think this recovery might be one of the greatest stories of our time.

FEMA Blog

An Critical Element of the Group and Sandy Recovery: the Division of Housing and Urban Improvement

November 22, 2012 by NASTTPO Editor Leave a Comment

Posted by: Lars Anderson, Director, Public Affairs

CAPTION: Lincroft, N.J., Nov. 16, 2012 — Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan speaks at a press conference concerning Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts, as Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano and Senator stand in the background.

As we often say at FEMA, successful emergency management requires a team effort. Without question, the importance of teamwork has never been more evident as the recovery to Hurricane Sandy continues. At the direction of President Obama, FEMA continues to coordinate the federal government’s efforts in a coordinated way that reaches disaster survivors. Whether it’s the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers helping with debris removal, the Environmental Protection Agency advising survivors on mold removal, or the Small Business Administration helping affected business owners get their doors open quickly – FEMA continues to leverage the expertise of our federal partners to make a lasting impact.

Another important partner on the team is the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). After many disasters, FEMA works closely with HUD to ensure those impacted by the disaster have safe housing options if their residence was damaged or destroyed.

Last week, President Obama announced that he asked Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan to continue to work closely with Governors, mayors and local officials of New Jersey and New York as they begin the process of identifying redevelopment plans for affected communities. This announcement further links FEMA’s role in disaster recovery with HUD’s role in redevelopment, ensuring the two agencies will continue to work closely together. As long term recovery needs are identified, HUD will lend expertise in translating those needs into solutions that work for disaster survivors.

If you’re a disaster survivor, the President’s announcement does not change the process of applying for assistance from the federal government. FEMA will continue to administer federal disaster assistance, so it’s important to apply through FEMA if you have been impacted by Hurricane Sandy. You can apply for assistance by visiting www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA).

Again, FEMA will continue to lead the federal government’s recovery efforts in response to Hurricane Sandy, and a great way to keep up with the progress is through this blog, the FEMA Sandy Facebook and Twitter accounts, or at www.fema.gov/sandy. You can also follow HUD’s Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts on their website.

meeting at FEMA office in new jersey
CAPTION: Lincroft, N.J., Nov. 16, 2012 — Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and Shaun Donovan, Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, along with members of Congress, greet FEMA employees at the Joint Field Office where Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts are coordinated.

FEMA Blog

FEMA: Operating Closely With State and Nearby Partners

July 4, 2012 by NASTTPO Editor Leave a Comment

Posted by: Michael Moore, Federal Coordinating Officer, Ohio Severe Storms

FEMA continues to work closely with our federal and state partners to meet the needs of all those that have been impacted by the severe storms that moved through much of the Midwest and mid-Atlantic. In Ohio, the President signed an emergency disaster declaration that has authorized FEMA to provide much needed resources to support state and local response and recovery, including generators to support critical infrastructure such as shelters, as well as positioning water in staging areas near the impacted areas. While those resources are critical, the state of Ohio and others of the emergency management team are taking the welfare of citizens very seriously. Here is one example:

Ohio’s “Knock and Talk” Outreach

On July 1, Ohio Governor John Kasich deployed more than 200 Soldiers and Airmen of the Ohio National Guard (ONG) to Franklin and Montgomery counties on a “Knock and Talk” mission. From single-story homes to 20-story high rises, team members are braving the heat and knocking on doors to chat with residents. They provide valuable information on available resources, such as cooling centers, that our local and state partners have made available. Ohioans are also coming together to check on their own, ensuring that everyone has water and knows how to stay cool during the power outages and heat wave.

Sgt. Jessica Cooper (left) and Pvt. Jason Geier, of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 216th Engineer Battalion, talk with John Weese, 60, of Columbus, Ohio, on July 2, 2012. (Ohio National Guard photo by Senior Airman Jordyn Sadowski)

On July 2, the men and women of the ONG teamed up with student volunteers from The Ohio State University and continued the “Knock and Talk” mission to ensure that senior citizens, young children and those with sensitive conditions and medical needs are being served.

As we say at FEMA, it takes each member of the emergency management team coming together to ensure the safety of the American public. The ONG and the students of OSU exemplify the responsibility that each of us has to take care of our friends, neighbors, family and loved ones.

While we continue to assist Ohio, West Virginia and all the states that have been impacted by the recent storms, we want to urge you to exercise caution if extreme heat conditions are expected in your area in the coming days. Forecasts from the National Weather Service are calling for dangerous heat in parts of the U.S. for the remainder of the week, including the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Visit Ready.gov/heat to learn how you can keep yourself and your animals safe, or follow the example of Ohio Emergency Management and the Ohio National Guard.

Have your own “Knock and Talk” missions and check on a neighbor during this continued heat wave – make a call, send a text or better yet, walk next door to see that those around you have water, are staying cool and are able to stay in contact with loved ones.

Pvt. Jason Geier (left) and Sgt. Jessica Cooper, of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 216th Engineer Battalion, talk with Gary Rowe, of Columbus, Ohio, on July 2, 2012. (Ohio National Guard photo by Senior Airman Jordyn Sadowski)

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our state and local partners for providing life-saving information and demonstrating care and compassion for their neighbors and fellow Ohioans. For the latest updates, please visit the Ohio Emergency Management website at http://ema.ohio.gov/.

Student volunteers from The Ohio State University assist the Ohio state Emergency Management Agency and the Ohio National Guard on July 3, 2012

FEMA Blog

The Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Companies

March 14, 2012 by NASTTPO Editor Leave a Comment

Posted by: Mary Mullusky, Chief, Hydrologic Providers Branch, NOAA’s Nationwide Climate Service

This week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and FEMA are once again partnering for Nationwide Flood Security Awareness Week. &nbspEach day of Nationwide Flood Security Awareness week, we will give key info connected to flood hazards, and techniques to shield yourself and your residence.

The influences of weather, water and climate on our day-to-day lives and financial properly becoming are manifold, and at occasions profound. A fact highlighted by the devastating and heartrending occasions of the previous couple of many years.

NOAA’s Nationwide Climate Service (NWS) gives weather, water, and climate forecasts and warnings to shield lifestyle and home and increase the nationwide financial system. &nbspTo fulfill this important mission, skilled NWS meteorologists and hydrologists use state-of-the-art science and technology to keep track of and predict climate, water and climate impacts for our nation and its citizens 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Floods are our nation’s most costly natural disaster and, on average, is the top lead to of serious climate-related deaths. &nbspFloods have claimed an common of 94 lives a year and $ 10.two billion in economic damages in the decade 2001-2010 alone. View The Water’s Fury (Quicktime file) to see the energy of water.

Whilst floods are not preventable, the reduction of daily life and property can be reduced substantially with more timely and precise forecasts and warnings. &nbspAn critical signifies by which the NWS generates and distributes flood and water resource forecasts and data is via the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service, acknowledged as AHPS (pronounced A-Haps).

AHPS is an ongoing energy by the NWS to carry on modernizing its hydrologic companies and offers new details and products by means of the infusion of new science and technology. &nbspIt is a net-based mostly suite of precise and info-rich forecast products in graphical type that permits government companies, private institutions, and men and women to make far more informed, threat-based mostly decisions to mitigate the dangers posed by floods and droughts.

Some examples of the products and details from AHPS consist of: hydrographs combining current water level observations from the U.S. Geological Survey with NWS river forecasts extended array (i.e., 90-day) probabilistic forecasts conveying the chance a river will exceed minor, moderate, or major flood amounts inundation maps for water ranges from flood stage via the flood of record, depicting in which and how deep the flood waters will be in a neighborhood or neighborhood thereby enabling emergency managers and other decision makers to preposition folks and sources to most successfully mitigate the impacts of a flood historical floods impacts, and a lot far more.

The broad reach of AHPS extends the range of forecasts from brief-term (up to six hours) to extended-term (out to weeks and months) and gives the public with far more detailed and accurate answers to the following concerns:

How higher will the river rise?
When will the river reach its peak?
Where will the flooding occur?
How lengthy will the flood last?
How prolonged will the drought carry on? and
How certain is the forecast?

AHPS forecast goods and info support selections with regards to the operation and management of flood-control structures. &nbspEmergency management officials at the Federal, state, territorial, tribal and regional and state ranges use these forecasts to fight floods, evacuate residents, and to take other measures to mitigate the impact of flooding. &nbspAlso, these goods are utilized by a broad variety of men and women, this kind of as barge and dam operators, power organizations and municipal water provide officials, recreational consumers, farmers, households, corporations, and environmentalists. Anybody and everyone who makes water-based decisions advantages from AHPS.

Get prepared, be ready and be FloodSmart ahead of the flood begins.

Stay latest with flood threat in your place with the most recent official watches and warnings at climate.gov. For thorough hydrologic circumstances and forecasts, click the “water” tab.

FEMA Blog site

What We’re Viewing: three/9/twelve

March 10, 2012 by NASTTPO Editor Leave a Comment

Posted by: Alexandra Kirin, Public Affairs

At the finish of every single week, we post a “What We’re Watching” weblog as we seem ahead to the weekend and recap events from the week. We inspire you to share it with your pals and household, and have a risk-free weekend.

Climate Outlook

A new storm in the Pacific Northwest will generate valley rain and mountain snow across western Washington. Snow melt resulting from a sturdy warming trend could bring flooding this weekend to considerably of the Northern Rockies and Intermountain West. Winds from 15-30 mph are expected across a lot of Montana, with gusts above 40 mph in the Chinook regions. These robust winds, mixed with reduced relative humidity, will outcome in essential fire climate situations right now across significantly of north-central Montana.

A clipper-like technique in the Midwest is expected to bring snow from the upper peninsula of Michigan off into a lot of the northeastern U.S. A Red Flag Warning is in effect these days for western and north-central Nebraska as a outcome of strong winds and very low relative humidity.

Update on Tornado Response

FEMA continues to help efforts of state, tribal and neighborhood officials in states impacted by severe storms and tornadoes Feb. 28 – March three. President Obama declared a main disaster declaration, on Tuesday, for the Commonwealth of Kentucky making federal disaster aid available assist to supplement commonwealth and regional recovery efforts in the location affected by the recent storms. Residents and company owners in the designated Kentucky counties who sustained losses can apply for support by registering on the internet at www.disasterassistance.gov, by web enabled mobile gadget at m.fema.gov or by calling one-800-621-FEMA(3362) or one-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired.

Joint Preliminary Harm Assessments are ongoing in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia.

National Flood Security Week

We’re teaming up with NOAA once more to bring you Nationwide Flood Security Awareness Week 2012. Starting up following week, March twelve -16 we’ll share information on flood risks, how people, households, and organizations can take precautions to shield their households and households in the occasion of flooding and safety guidelines on what to do ahead of, for the duration of, and after flooding.

Floods are one of the most typical hazards in the United States, but there are basic steps citizens can take today to lessen their danger to all types of floods. Head over to www.prepared.gov/floods for details on floods and make certain to test back following week for the commence of Flood Security Awareness Week.

Clocks Spring Forward on Sunday

Don’t forget, on Sunday we spring forward an hour for Daylight Financial savings – it’s also a fantastic reminder to make sure you have a operating smoke alarm in your home. Smoke alarms considerably increase your chances of surviving a deadly property fire, so we motivate everyone to take these easy methods to be prepared:

Test and clean your smoke alarms nowadays and on the 1st of each month

Substitute the batteries at least as soon as a year

Spot smoke alarms on each level of your residence and in every bedroom

Examine the manufacture/expiration date on the smoke alarm (yes, smoke alarms have expiration dates)

Practice your family’s fire escape strategy

For a lot more data about property smoke alarms and fire sprinklers, check out www.usfa.dhs.gov/smokealarms.

Watches &amp Warnings – What’s the Variation?

As we head into spring, and extreme weather and storms turn into a lot more active, we wished to make sure that absolutely everyone understood the variation in between a serious climate watch and warning. Watch this video from our close friends at NOAA explaining the difference between serious climate watches and warnings.

FEMA Website