FEMA

May 15, 2009 -- The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Tennessee and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding on April 10, 2009.

Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding in Benton, McMinn, Rutherford, and Sequatchie Counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Terry L. Quarles has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.    » read more »

May 13, 2009 -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced today her plans to visit Florida on May 22 to see hurricane preparedness efforts underway and law enforcement activities at the Miami port of entry.

She will be accompanied by new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator W. Craig Fugate and new Assistant Secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) John Morton—both confirmed yesterday by the United States Senate.    » read more »

May 6, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management want to remind those with damages from the severe storms and tornadoes of April 9 that loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are not just for businesses. The low-interest loans are also available for residents in the disaster-designated counties of Miller, Polk and Sevier counties.    » read more »

May 4, 2009 -- Secretary Napolitano: First let me explain why we're at FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters]. It's not because of a disaster declaration with respect to the flu. We're here because I had meetings at the White House this afternoon, and in order to accommodate the press's need for time, it was easier to come down here where we had a press availability than to go all the way back up to the NAC [Nebraska Avenue Complex]. So don't read anything into the location other than it was convenient.    » read more »

Apr 28, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe received word Tuesday afternoon that the Obama administration has granted Arkansas's request for a public-assistance disaster declaration in Ashley, Howard, Miller, Polk and Sevier Counties. The declaration brings with it federal money to cover 75 percent of the damages to public infrastructure in the affected counties, including utility systems, roads and bridges, water-control facilities and debris removal.    » read more »

April 24, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D. - North Dakota Governor John Hoeven today said the White House has approved his request for an expansion of the Presidential Disaster Declaration that was issued on March 24. The expanded declaration would include a range of new assistance programs designed to help the state recover from major, severe flooding this spring.

"As the impacts of recent flooding have expanded, so have the needs of our communities, large and small," Hoeven said. "The kinds of aid available in this expanded declaration can help us to address the costs of recovery in addition to the costs we've incurred in the flood fight."    » read more »

April 24, 2009 -- ATLANTA – Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that President Barack Obama approved a Federal Disaster Declaration for 27 counties that the Governor requested aid for following a devastating period of severe weather beginning March 26 and continuing through April 10. Tornadoes, straight-line winds, hail, severe thunderstorms, flash flooding and flooding resulted in widespread residential, commercial and infrastructure damage across South Georgia.

"We have some hard work ahead of us and we appreciate the prompt response by President Obama and Acting FEMA Administrator Nancy Ward," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "It will greatly help the citizens whose lives have been disrupted."    » read more »

April 22, 2009 -- MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Twelve Minnesota counties and a tribal reservation were designated eligible for federal Public Assistance (PA) on Wednesday. That brings the total number of counties to 27 according to officials from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Newly designated include Becker, Beltrami, Chippewa, Clearwater, Douglas, Hubbard, Lac Qui Parle, Lake of the Woods, Pope, Swift, Stevens, and Yellow Medicine counties and the White Earth Tribal Reservation.    » read more »

April 21, 2009 -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced today that $93.6 million for Louisiana public assistance projects have been funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) since her visit to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast on March 5-6. FEMA has obligated a total of $340 million for Louisiana public assistance related to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita projects since January 20.

“We are quickly moving resources to Louisiana to accelerate critical restoration in the areas hit hardest by Katrina and Rita,” said Secretary Napolitano. “I have seen firsthand the continued need for support in the region, and I understand the importance of coordinating with our state and local partners to help these communities rebuild.”    » read more »

April 21, 2009 -- Moorhead – Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty along with Senator Keith Langseth and Representative Morrie Lanning today announced a proposed flood relief and recovery package to help residents and communities in the Red River Valley recover from spring flooding that included a record high crest in the Moorhead area.

“There were some anxious times and incredible efforts by many people when the water was rising and now we need to pitch in to help our neighbors recover,” Governor Pawlenty said. “This package will supplement the federal, state, and local work already underway.”    » read more »

April 14, 2009 -- Saint Paul – Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced today that the Presidential major disaster declaration for Minnesota now includes federal relief and recovery assistance for Roseau, Otter Tail, Pennington, Red Lake, Grant, Lake, Wadena and Mahnomen counties. The eight counties were added by FEMA today after damage assessments were completed last week.

“Flooding may have damaged infrastructure, but not the Minnesota spirit,” Governor Pawlenty said. “This federal assistance will help communities in these counties recover from damage caused by flooding this spring.”    » read more »

Authorizes State Resources to Respond to Wildfires

April 10, 2009 -- AUSTIN – Following severe wildfires that swept across North Texas this week, Texas Governor Rick Perry today reiterated his request to FEMA to issue an emergency declaration for 199 Texas counties based on the threat of wildfires. Perry also authorized additional state resources today to combat the ongoing wildfires across the state.

“The rapidly spreading wildfire threat across North Texas demonstrates how quickly conditions can change and the importance of heeding warnings from local officials,” Gov. Perry said. “I urge Texans, particularly in the northern part of our state, to exercise extreme caution and monitor the situation closely.”    » read more »

Resilient Missourians Recover From Raucous '08

March 26, 2009 -- JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Winter storms, ice, flooding, and tornadoes made 2008 a year like few others in Missouri.

Beginning with the December 2007 ice storms, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) coordinated recovery efforts for seven separate disasters that hit the state last year. More than $181 million in disaster assistance was provided to individuals, businesses and qualifying nonprofit organizations, and to state and local governments.    » read more »

March 25, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D. -- The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and numerous federal and state partners are continuing to join forces to support North Dakota communities facing severe flood threats.

On Tuesday, President Obama declared a major disaster declaration for North Dakota. The President's action made federal funding available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations to help in flood fighting efforts.    » read more »

March 23, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D. - Pursuant to the statewide emergency flood disaster declaration issued by Gov. John Hoeven on March 13, 2009, the N.D. Department of Emergency Services, N.D. National Guard, N.D. Department of Transportation and other agencies are assisting in flood fighting efforts around the state of North Dakota. These actions follow state preparation efforts coordinated with local authorities, as well as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA.

Fargo    » read more »