FEMA

Lawmakers Want Temporary Levees Turned into Permanent Protection

June 2, 2009 -- Washington – With floodwaters receding across North Dakota, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is advocating that temporary dikes be removed completely from communities impacted by spring flooding. However, Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan and Congressman Earl Pomeroy are concerned that removal of the emergency dikes would leave communities with reduced flood protection.

The Congressional delegation today urged FEMA officials to allow federal funds targeted for dike removal to instead be used to upgrade the temporary levees used in this spring’s flood fight to more permanent structures.    » read more »

Take Time To Focus On Personal Emergency Preparedness

June 1, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As Hurricane Season 2009 began yesterday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to work with our state, local, and federal partners to increase preparedness and coordinate response and recovery in the case of a hurricane or disaster. FEMA also urges Americans to use the annual start of hurricane season as a reminder to assess your personal readiness to respond to emergencies.    » read more »

May 29, 2009 -- FEMA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. -- THE PRESIDENT: Well, for all of you who just joined us, I've just received a briefing here at FEMA at the National Response Coordination Center for our preparations for this year's hurricane season, which begins on Monday. And I want to thank Secretary Napolitano, as well as John Brennan, my Homeland Security Advisor. And we've welcomed Craig Fugate, who has hit the ground running and is already doing an outstanding job not just leading this briefing but leading this excellent agency.

And I want to thank all the people here at FEMA who do such an excellent job for their diligence and their commitment for this task.    » read more »

May 29, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today released application guidance for more than $500 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) preparedness grants for fire station construction, port and transit security—funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“These Recovery Act funds will strengthen our economy while improving our ability to prepare for terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies,” said DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano. “The grants announced today will go directly to local projects, revitalizing communities while updating our nation’s infrastructure and enhancing our security.”    » read more »

May 29, 2009 -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate briefed President Obama today on DHS preparedness efforts and the seasonal forecast for the 2009 hurricane season, which begins Monday.    » read more »

May 29, 2009 -- President Barack Obama and Department of Homeland Security Secretary (DHS) Janet Napolitano today attended briefings at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on the nation's preparedness for the 2009 Hurricane Season beginning June 1.

The meeting began with a briefing by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate about the 2009 Hurricane predictions; federal disaster assistance programs; temporary housing; commodity distribution plans; and state and local emergency planning and coordination. The discussion also included new plans and technologies FEMA has for the upcoming hurricane season.    » read more »

May 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- With the beginning of the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season upon us, hurricane prone states across the country are doing their part to help prepare their citizens and communities. From sales tax holidays on hurricane and emergency preparedness equipment in Virginia and Louisiana, to a major hurricane exercise in Florida, states are taking actions to ensure that citizens and the emergency response community are prepared for the 2009 hurricane season.    » read more »

Additional areas can be added as damage assessments continue

May 27, 2009 -- CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has declared three additional southern West Virginia counties eligible for disaster aid following extensive flooding earlier this month.

McDowell and Raleigh Counties have been added for individual assistance and public assistance, and Mercer County for public assistance. Gov. Manchin this past weekend had requested the additional counties be added to the existing declaration for Mingo and Wyoming counties.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- MOORHEAD, Minn. -- One-fourth of all businesses that close because of a disaster never reopen, according to the Institute for Business and Home Safety. But businesses that have a disaster preparedness plan - and implement it - typically have less damage, loss and downtime than those that do not.

The recent flooding in the Red River Valley affected hundreds of Minnesota businesses. With this current disaster risk in mind, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) urge business owners and managers to increase their chance of surviving this or any other type of event by being ready before disasters happen.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D .- Federal aid in housing grants, disaster loans and direct federal assistance mission assignments now stands at $42.7 million, the Federal Emergency Management Agency reported today. As part of the $42.7 million, FEMA has obligated $24.48 million in 46 Mission Assignments to other federal agencies, including $15 million to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for removing temporary flood protection measures, such as earthen levees, sandbags and flood protection products.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- TEXAS CITY, Texas -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has earmarked nearly $5 million to Orange County for emergency protective measures and operations to clean up debris in the Hurricane Ike disaster.

"Because of public health and safety concerns, FEMA has placed a high priority on funding debris-removal operations in the Hurricane Ike disaster," said Federal Coordinating Officer Brad Harris. "Federal assistance will contribute significantly to Orange County’s clean-up efforts."    » read more »

Additional areas can be added as damage assessments continue

May 25, 2009 -- CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin has requested the addition of McDowell, Mercer and Raleigh Counties to the current federal disaster declaration for southern West Virginia, following severe storms, flooding, mudslides and landslides that occurred earlier this month.

The governor has requested the addition of McDowell and Raleigh Counties for both Individual and Public Assistance and he has requested the addition of Mercer County for Public Assistance.    » read more »

2009 Spring Floods One of Worst Seasons on Record

May 25, 2009, Fairbanks, Alaska - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has sent a letter to the federal government officially requesting a federal disaster declaration for the spring floods of 2009. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sent preliminary damage assessment teams into the field last week and they are working their way down the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers village by village.    » read more »

May 21, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – Responding to the flooding on the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers, the State of Alaska has officially requested a preliminary damage assessment (PDA) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to evaluate the losses in residential property, businesses and public infrastructure.

“The state emergency managers have done a terrific job working with local responders to coordinate response and initial recovery to this year’s spring flooding,” Governor Sarah Palin said. “Now we must rebuild our communities and this formal request is the first step in that process.”    » read more »

May 19, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Secretary Napolitano: Good afternoon. The President asked [Federal Emergency Management Agency] Administrator [Craig] Fugate and I to get together with hurricane state governors to discuss preparedness in the upcoming hurricane season. The President wants all of us to be engaged, working together as hurricane season gets underway.

So we just had a great teleconference with governors of the hurricane states, with FEMA regional administrators, and representatives of our many federal partners. As you know, we always book hurricane season as beginning June 1. Preparations actually are ongoing all year long. It's just by this time of the year, those preparations increase.    » read more »