U.S. Government

Today And Tomorrow

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 30, 2008 -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to coordinate the operational and support activities of numerous federal agencies in response to continued flooding in the Midwest.

FEMA and its federal partners are working closely with state and local governments as well as with the private sector to support those areas still fighting the floods and to assist those beginning the rebuilding process.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

* Where waters have receded, FEMA disaster assistance workers are providing resources to individuals seeking assistance in the Midwest.    » read more »

MADISON, Wis., June 24, 2008 -- Understanding FEMA's assistance and being prepared for the on-site property inspection can cut the time it takes to get disaster aid, state and local officials said today. Assistance with housing needs and necessary expenses may be available to Wisconsin residents affected by the recent severe storms, tornadoes and flooding.

Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials say that the first step is to register with FEMA. If you live in one of the 22 counties in which President Bush has authorized aid to individuals, you should call, toll-free, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or, for those with speech or hearing impairments, (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. You can also register via FEMA's Web site, www.fema.gov.    » read more »

Madison, Wis., June 24, 2008 -- "Even though valuable photographs and family heirlooms have been damaged by June storms, they can sometimes be saved if certain procedures are followed," says Federal Coordinating Officer Dolph Diemont, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The federal coordinating officer is appointed by the president to lead the federal portion of the federal/state disaster response and recovery efforts.

Photographs may be the only record of special occasions such as weddings, birthdays and graduations. Damaged photographs for which there are no negatives available should receive attention first. Once photographs have stuck together or become moldy, saving them may not be possible.    » read more »

LINCOLN, Neb., June 23, 2008 -- The federal disaster declaration on Friday, June 20, 2008 opens the door for recovery assistance for Nebraskans according to officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

If you live in Buffalo, Butler, Colfax, Dawson, Douglas, Gage, Hamilton, Jefferson, Kearney, Platte, Richardson, Sarpy or Saunders County, there are a number of programs available for eligible applicants.

Disaster assistance may include:    » read more »

MADISON, Wis., June 23, 2008 -- The recent wave of flooding in Wisconsin has prompted two communities in Columbus County to seek - and win -- reinstatement into the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), disaster-management officials announced today.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) removed the towns of Columbus and Fall River from the program earlier this year because they had not developed requisite ordinances adopting their new Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Both communities have now fulfilled this requirement and are now reinstated.    » read more »

Madison, Wis. June 23, 2008 -- Individuals who can't work because of the severe storms, tornadoes and ongoing flooding that began on June 5 may be eligible to receive Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA).

The benefits are funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a 26-week program administered by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (WDWD).

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for DUA, you must meet all the following criteria:

* Live in a county declared for federal disaster assistance (see list below).
* Are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits.
* Unemployment was a direct result of the recent storms.
* Live or worked in the disaster area.    » read more »

MADISON, Wis., June 23, 2008 -- Regardless of where they live, Wisconsin residents with storm damage who have applied for federal disaster assistance may visit any Disaster Recovery Center (DRC).

Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) now have seven DRCs open in storm-damaged southern Wisconsin counties (see attached listing) and will open more in the near future.    » read more »

DES MOINES, Iowa, June 23, 2008 -- The U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) today announced the opening of a Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Cedar Rapids. The center is specifically designed to provide a wide range of services to businesses impacted by the flooding.

“Due to the severe property damage and economic loss these floods inflicted on businesses in Cedar Rapids and surrounding communities, we want to provide every available service to help get them back on their feet,” said Steven Smith, Chief of the Executive Office of Disaster Strategic Planning and Operations. “This center will provide a single one-stop location for businesses to access a variety of specialized help,” he added.    » read more »

ATLANTA, Ga., June 23, 2008 -- Families and individuals in Bolivar, Warren, Washington and Wilkinson counties who suffered damage from severe storms and flooding that began March 20 have two weeks to register for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The deadline is July 7.

Those who have not yet registered should call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The TTY number for the speech- or hearing-impaired is 1-800-462-7585. The registration line is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, including July 4. Online, register anytime at fema.gov.    » read more »

PHILADELPHIA, June 24, 2008 -- The Delaware Estuary has been selected by EPA as one of six estuaries to be case studies for local action to protect sensitive coastal ecosystems and economies from the potential effects of climate change. This is the first step in EPA’s new “Climate Ready Estuaries” effort to build local ability to adapt to climate change.

“EPA’s Climate Ready Estuaries work will help coastal communities understand and adapt to climate change,” said Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles. “Our aim is to build capacity for local decision makers and resource managers to help take pro-active, practical steps for bays at risk.”    » read more »

06/24/2008 -- For the 13th straight year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is recognizing chemical technologies developed by leading researchers and industrial innovators that are making significant contributions to pollution prevention in the United States. The awards will be given out this evening, June 24, at the awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

The Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards are given in five categories: Academic, Small Business, Greener Synthetic Pathways, Greener Reaction Conditions and Designing Greener Chemicals. The 2008 award-winner technologies are:

* A novel method to make complex molecules cleanly and efficiently developed by Professors Robert E. Maleczka, Jr. and Milton R. Smith, III of Michigan State University, Lansing, Mich.    » read more »

Kansas City, Kan., June 23, 2008 -- EPA Region 7 is dispatching two three-person water emergency response groups to Iowa to assist the Iowa Department of Natural Resources with assessing public water treatment facilities damaged in the Iowa floods.

EPA groups will provide technical expertise to assist communities in assessing the need for repair of local drinking water systems and wastewater systems.

The teams will work directly with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to provide technical assessments. The technical assessments allow IDNR and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide assistance to communities with repairs to their water treatment systems.

EPA groups will be working with the IDNR field offices in Manchester and Washington.    » read more »

Kansas City, Kan., June 23, 2008 -- Flood water samples taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency within the city limits of Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Hamburg, and Burlington, Iowa, showed numbers of fecal coliform bacteria exceeding the health-based level of concern. The level of concern is 200 colony forming units (cfu) per 100 milliliters (ml). The sampling results ranged between 270 cfu/100 ml and 68,000 cfu/100 ml. The highest end of the range was found only in the Cedar Rapids area and it is believed to be associated with the fact that the wastewater treatment plant is not operating.    » read more »

PHILADELPHIA, June 23, 2008 -- To protect our nation’s water supply for future use, the Environmental Protection Agency is promoting and enhancing the market for water efficient products through the WaterSense program. The latest is a draft specification for water-efficient new single-family homes. The specification will create standards that new homes must meet to be certified and labeled as WaterSense homes.

“WaterSense is a common sense ethic of efficiency for protecting water, America’s most important liquid asset. WaterSense certified homes will help homeowners save water, money and energy, and communities will have an important new tool for sustainable growth and water efficiency,” said Donald S. Welsh, regional administrator for EPA’s mid-Atlantic region.    » read more »

Boston, Mass., June 23, 2008 -- The pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. has agreed to pay a $975,000 civil penalty to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act at its former manufacturing plant in Groton, Conn., the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today. Today’s settlement is the first of its type in federal court under regulations that are designed to control the emissions of hazardous air pollutants from pharmaceutical manufacturing operations.    » read more »