FEMA

June 22, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein (both D-CA) wrote to President Obama to request a federal disaster declaration for Fresno County to assist the drought-stricken region in obtaining emergency food, job training, crisis counseling, legal services and unemployment assistance.

The federal assistance would help thousands of Fresno County residents who have lost their jobs and are struggling to feed their families because of severe drought conditions. A disaster declaration would also help ensure the long-term vitality of one of the nation’s leading agricultural areas.

The text of the letter follows:

June 22, 2009

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500    » read more »

June 22, 2009 -- CHARLESTON, W.Va. – After extensive flooding in southern West Virginia in 2001, 2002 and 2004 left many West Virginians without safe and adequate housing, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) brought in temporary housing units until homes could be repaired or rebuilt.

Each time the portable housing units were brought in, FEMA also had to find suitable locations on which to place them. Finding or building a temporary housing location that is out of harm’s way and that has public utilities and access can take two to three months. That can seem like a long wait for a family that is without their home, said Larry Puccio, chief of staff for Gov. Joe Manchin and the governor’s designee on the West Virginia Housing Development Fund’s board of directors.    » read more »

June 19, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - After an appeal by Alabama Governor Bob Riley, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster assistance to individuals has been made available to residents of Autauga, Elmore, and Montgomery counties affected by recent flooding.

The announcement is a reversal of FEMA’s original decision denying Alabama’s request for assistance for individuals, and was announced just hours after an appeal was filed by Governor Riley on Friday, June 19.    » read more »

June 18, 2009 -- Washington – U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln and U.S. Representative Marion Berry (AR-01) today announced that Northeast Arkansas will receive federal funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The funds will be used to help with repairs and clean-up from the January ice storm and are allocated as follows:

City of Blytheville, $2,050,289
Clay County Electric Cooperative Corporation, $21,727,435
North Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Inc., $5,300,446
Paragould Light and Water Commission, $2,255,874
Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, $5,824,913
Craighead Electric Cooperative Corporation, $13,598,307    » read more »

All Ike Related Debris Removal Now Eligible for 100% Reimbursement, Public Assistance Federal Costshare Increased to 90%

June 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - Today U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Texas’ senior senator, announced that the Fiscal Year 2009 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill which passed the U.S. Senate included a provision she secured allowing the Texas counties impacted by Hurricane Ike to access millions in additional Debris Removal and Public Assistance reimbursements from the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).    » read more »

Jun 18, 2009 -- BATON ROUGE – Today, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal announced that FEMA has granted Louisiana $177.6 million in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding to support projects to protect the state from future damage following Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

Governor Jindal said, “In the days following two back-to-back hurricanes that devastated many communities in our state last year, we saw the benefits of previous mitigation work, as elevated homes and buildings were largely spared from floodwater. We must now work to elevate even more homes, reinforce more buildings and structures and become better prepared for future storms.”    » read more »

June 18, 2009 -- DES MOINES -- Iowa Governor Chet Culver and Congressman Bruce Braley announced today that more than $8.5 million in federal and state funds have been identified and are in final approval for disaster recovery efforts around the state. These funds are part of the effort to help rebuild infrastructure following the historic floods of 2008.

“I am proud to announce this new funding for the Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District,” said Governor Culver. “This is one more sign that Iowa’s rebuilding efforts are continuing one year after the devastating floods and storms of 2008. Our work is far from finished, and I look forward to working with all Iowans as we build a stronger, safer, smarter Iowa.”    » read more »

June 16, 2009 -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced today nearly $1.8 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) preparedness grants designed to help states, urban areas, tribal governments and non-profit agencies improve their readiness by enhancing protection, prevention, response and recovery capabilities for all disasters. Secretary Napolitano was joined by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate in announcing the grants.    » read more »

June 16, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that Washington state will receive over $30 million in federal Homeland Security Grant funding made possible through the Fiscal Year 2009 Homeland Security Appropriations bill.

The money will be used to help Washington state communities pay for emergency equipment, strengthen border security, improve their emergency coordination efforts, and prepare for a regional catastrophe.    » read more »

June 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded $90,983,282 in preparedness grants to Illinois. Today’s funding is part of a nationwide announcement of $1.8 billion in grants designed to help states, urban areas, tribal governments and non-profit agencies improve their readiness by enhancing protection, prevention, response and recovery capabilities for all disasters. Illinois will receive the following funding:

* Chicago, Illinois: $321, 221 in funding for Metropolitan Medical Response System which will improve regional mass casualty incident preparedness and response capabilities;    » read more »

June 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Daniel K. Akaka and Daniel K. Inouye announced today that Hawaii will receive more than $12.6 million from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to strengthen the State's preparation, prevention, and disaster response capabilities:

* State Homeland Security Grant Program - the State of Hawaii will receive over $6.5 million to further invest in homeland security planning, equipment, and training.
* Urban Areas Security Initiative - the City and County of Honolulu will receive more than $4.7 million to further develop urban homeland security capabilities.    » read more »

June 16, 2009 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today announced that the State of Maine will receive $6,524,500 in State Homeland Security Grant Program funds. The funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) support regional emergency planning, training and exercise programs, as well as maintenance costs for regional response teams and equipment. A portion of these funds is typically made available to communities under a competitive grant program.    » read more »

Governor Jindal Announces $565.5 Million in Federal Aid to Parishes Across State for Recovery from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike

June 15, 2009 -- BATON ROUGE – Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal announced Monday that 53 parishes will share more than $565.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to aid their recoveries from hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which caused widespread housing and infrastructure damage last year.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development notified Louisiana of its second award of disaster recovery funds, meaning the state’s $800 million recovery plan is fully funded.    » read more »

Harkin Announces Nearly $13.5 Million In FEMA Flood Recovery Funds For Benton, Louisa, Des Moines Counties And Cedar Rapids

June 9, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded Benton, Des Moines Counties, and the City of Cedar Rapids a total of $13,341,245.73 in federal grants to reimburse expenses caused by this past summer’s flooding. Today’s announcement is another step in the continuing process of rebuilding in the state.    » read more »

After months of working on the issue with the administration and Louisiana delegation, projects will go forward.

06/02/2009 -- WASHINGTON -- United States Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Disaster Recovery Subcommittee, today announced major progress for Louisiana hurricane recovery projects located in designated High Velocity Flood Zones.    » read more »