RACES Logger by KB3HIY

DENVER – While the operation of a COVID-19 vaccination site is unlike other FEMA activations, it is absolutely in keeping with FEMA’s mission of helping people before, during, and after disasters. The agency was honored to partner with the State of Colorado to help vaccinate the Pueblo Community.

FEMA wrapped up the federal Community Vaccination Site at the Colorado State Fairgrounds on June 14, 2021, after nine weeks of operation, one week longer than the original eight-week planned partnership with the state. The main mission of the site was to reach socially vulnerable populations in southern Colorado and was the only federal pilot site in FEMA Region 8, which includes Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

“From the first day of our presence at the pilot vaccination site our goal was to make the vaccine available to everyone who wanted it,” said Nancy Dragani, acting regional administrator for FEMA Region 8. “Making the site accessible to those without a car, not requiring appointments, having extended evening and weekend hours, and taking vaccine out into the community, are all efforts that reduced barriers to vaccine access.”

The main site at the Colorado State Fairgrounds was supported by Department of Defense soldiers, which included medics and other personnel from the 3rd Cavalry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Carson, with support from Task Force Center West and the Michigan National Guard. Centura Health and Covid Check Colorado provided additional clinical and non-clinical support. More than 25,000 vaccinations were administered at the Pilot site in Pueblo.

In cooperation with the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment, Centura Health, Covid Check Colorado, volunteers, and many local community based organizations, the main site was supplemented by a Joint Vaccination Circuit (JVC) and a Mobile Mission designed to reach those with the greatest barriers to vaccine access. The JVC visited schools, churches and community centers in Pueblo and Fremont counties, providing two Pfizer doses over a six-week circuit, administering nearly 2,000 additional doses. The Mobile Mission vaccinated over 1,000 home-based individuals, migrant farm workers, jail inmates, and visitors to the Pueblo Rescue Mission and the Pueblo Soup Kitchen.

While the Community Vaccination Site at the fairgrounds has closed, there are numerous locations in Pueblo providing first and second vaccine doses. Individuals can visit www.vaccines.gov or https://covid19.colorado.gov/ to search for a provider, or call Colorado’s Vaccine Hotline at 1-877-CO VAX CO (1-877-268-2926) for assistance.

Additional information about FEMA’s Public Assistance programs can be found at www.fema.gov/assistance/public.

U.S. Virgin Islands – Last week, FEMA, VITEMA, VING and a variety of GVI agencies gathered in-person at the V.I. National Guard’s Lt. Col. Lionel A. Jackson Armory, Estate Bethlehem Compound on St. Croix and VITEMA’s Emergency Operations Center in St. Thomas, as well as virtually, for a Response Capstone Event which included five days of workshops focused on improving the joint response to potential tropical storms impacting the territory this year.

“Even as thousands of Virgin Islanders continue to take their best shot against COVID-19 by getting the vaccine, the Government of the Virgin Islands is fully engaged in preparations for hurricane season,” said Governor Albert Bryan Jr. “Last week, GVI and its agencies joined with VITEMA, VI National Guard and FEMA for a series of workshops and discussions to improve coordination before the first tropical storm of the season arrives on our shores.”

“From transporting commodities around the territory to distributing food to people in need and from supporting vaccinations to directing traffic post storm, the soldiers of the Virgin Islands National Guard are ready, willing and able to assist the territory whenever it needs us,” said Major General Kodjo S. Knox-Limbacker, the Adjutant General of the Virgin Islands National Guard.

“For many years, FEMA has committed time, energy and resources to help VITEMA and Virgin Islanders before, during and after a disaster,” said Mark A. Walters, FEMA Caribbean Area Office Coordinator. “From our efforts to recover from Irma/Maria to our ongoing support of the COVID-19 vaccination mission, this Capstone event is just the latest example of FEMA’s commitment to support the USVI.”

This five-day series of workshops and discussions served as one of the major milestones for the territory’s 2021 hurricane preparedness efforts. It is well known that preparedness is an ongoing process and last week’s discussions provided opportunities to integrate lessons learned from the Irma/Maria response efforts, address any gaps with territorial or National Guard resources and then identify any federal resources necessary to respond to destructive storms in the territory.

Topics covered during the week of discussions included food/water distribution, patient movement, route clearance, debris removal, temporary power and power restoration, emergency responder communications as well as public information and warning.

“As much as it is important for VITEMA, the GVI and FEMA to prepare to respond to a possible storm or hurricane, it is just as important that Virgin Islanders prepare themselves and their loved ones,” said Director Daryl Jaschen, VITEMA. “We at VITEMA are doing our part to prepare and we encourage you to build a kit, make a plan and stay informed.”

Virgin Islanders should prepare to be self-sufficient in the immediate aftermath of a hurricane and take steps to protect their property. Those with disabilities and others with access and functional needs may have additional considerations.

Build a kit. Families should be prepared to shelter in a secure and safe location for up to 10 days after a disaster. Remember roads may be impassable, gas stations and grocery stores could be closed, power may be out, and communications could be interrupted.

• Store a gallon of water for each person per day for 10 days, for drinking and sanitation.
• Gather a 10-day supply of non-perishable food and medications.
• Have enough antibiotic ointment, hygienic products, diapers and wipes available.
• Store supplies to meet the needs of individual family members, including infants and young children, seniors, persons with disabilities, and pets or service animals.
• The Virgin Islands Department of Health has recommended people include additional items in their kits to help prevent the spread of coronavirus or other viruses and the flu, items can include:
  • Cloth face coverings (for everyone ages 2 and above), soap, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes to disinfect surfaces.
• Protect important documents such as vital records, insurance policies, medical information and property and financial records, by storing copies in a safe deposit box or another location separate from your home. These items may be necessary for survivors who could be eligible to apply for disaster assistance.
  • Keep your home and vehicle insured against wind and flood damage. Also, remember to update your property insurance to cover current construction costs and be aware that a property insurance policy does not offer coverage for flood damage. For more information about getting flood insurance, visit floodsmart.gov.

Make a Family Communications Plan. Identify alternate ways of staying in touch with loved ones.

• Choose an out-of-town friend or relative as a point of contact.
• Ensure children have emergency contacts memorized or saved in a secure place.
• Determine a safe, familiar place the family can go for protection or to reunite.
• Make sure the location is in a central and accessible location for all family members, including family members with disabilities.
• If you have pets or service animals, make sure the location is animal-friendly.

For more information on making a family communication plan go to Family Communication Plan.

Stay Informed. Listen to local officials’ bulletins for the most up-to-date information before, during and after a disaster. It’s a good idea to have a battery or solar-powered radio to receive disaster notices and updates.

Follow VITEMA on Facebook, Twitter (@readyusvi) and on TikTok (vitema_usvi) to receive up-to-date preparedness and emergency information.

Also, sign up for emergency alerts and notifications on AlertVI. You can get emergency alerts delivered to you via text message, email or fax.

Download the FEMA app on your smartphone and receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations nationwide. Check the settings on your mobile phones to make sure you can receive Wireless Emergency Alerts, which require no sign-up.

Don’t Delay. Register Today! One Week Left to Apply for Disaster Assistance and SBA Disaster Loans

Clanton, Ala. – Homeowners and renters in Bibb, Calhoun, Clay, Hale, Jefferson, Perry, Randolph and Shelby counties with uninsured damage or losses from the March 25-26, 2021 severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes, still have one week left to apply to FEMA for federal disaster assistance and to the U.S. Small Business Administration for low interest disaster loans.

The deadline for both is Friday, June 25, 2021

After registering with FEMA, most residents are automatically referred to SBA to apply for a low-interest disaster loan. SBA’s disaster loans are the largest source of long-term federal disaster recovery funds for residents, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations funds for residents, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations.

Don’t Delay. Register Today!

• Online at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/
• By phone at the disaster assistance helpline: 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585).
• Lines are open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. central time.
• Operators are multilingual and those who use a relay service such as a videophone, InnoCaption or CapTel should update FEMA with their specific number assigned to that service. If you need accommodations for language or a disability, let the operator know.

To apply for a low-interest, long-term SBA disaster loan, call 800-659-2955 (TTY:800-877-8339) or complete an online application at https://disasterloan.sba.gov  SBA calls are answered daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. central time.

There is no obligation to take an SBA disaster home loan or cost to apply.  Residents that are declined for an SBA loan will be referred to FEMA for grant consideration.

The deadline for applying for an SBA disaster loan for physical damages is also June 25, 2021.

For additional online resources, as well as FEMA downloadable pamphlets and other aids, visit www.disasterassistance.gov and click “information.”

For referrals to Alabama’s health and human service agencies as well as community organizations, dial 211, text 888-421-1266, or chat with referral specialists via www.211connectsalabama.org.

For more information on Alabama’s disaster recovery, visit ema.alabama.gov, AlabamaEMA Facebook page, www.fema.gov/disaster/4596 and www.facebook.com/fema.

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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.

DENVER – FEMA has provided more than $5.9 million in additional Public Assistance funding for the COVID-19 response in North Dakota. The assistance was made available under a major disaster declaration issued April 1, 2020. FEMA has provided a total of $107.5 million for the North Dakota COVID-19 response to date.

The $5.9 million was approved for the North Dakota Department of Health for emergency protective measures.  The funds were used to open community-based testing sites and expand laboratory services.  Medical and emergency staff were hired to support the testing sites, expand laboratory testing capabilities, and fill gaps at long-term facilities.  Testing kits and supplies were also purchased, warehoused, and distributed.

This funding is authorized under Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Act.

For the COVID-19 response, FEMA has simplified the Public Assistance application and funding process to address the magnitude of this event and to allow local officials to receive eligible funding more quickly. These reimbursements play a critical role as state, local and tribal officials work tirelessly to assist their communities during this response.

Additional information about FEMA’s Public Assistance program can be found at www.fema.gov/assistance/public.

DENVER – Unincorporated Jefferson County and the Cities of Lakewood, Edgewater and Wheat Ridge flood insurance rate map updates for Sanderson Gulch and Sloan’s Lake Drainageway and its Tributaries are nearing completion. The new maps will provide these areas with more accurate flood risk information that can help local officials and residents make informed decisions about reducing flood risks and purchasing flood insurance.

The mapping project is a joint effort between Unincorporated Jefferson County, the Cities of Lakewood, Edgewater, and Wheat Ridge, and the Mile High Flood District (MHFD). It is part of a nationwide effort led by FEMA to increase local knowledge of flood risks and support actions to address and reduce those risks.

Before new flood insurance rate maps become effective, there is a 90-day appeal period during which local residents and business owners can provide additional data for consideration before the maps are final. This appeal period starts on June 24, 2021, and ends September 22, 2021.

Officials encourage residents and business owners to review the proposed flood insurance rate maps to learn about local flood risks, potential future flood insurance requirements, and any concerns or questions about the information provided.

Appeal packages may be submitted during the 90-day appeal period. The sole basis of the appeal must include the possession of knowledge or information indicating that the proposed flood hazard determinations are scientifically and/or technically incorrect.

For further details on this process, contact information, and to view the preliminary mapping, visit https://mhfd.org/services/floodplain-management/2018-pmr/2018-jefferson-county-pmrs/. Preliminary mapping also may be viewed on FEMA’s Map Service Center by visiting https://hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/prelimdownload/. For questions, please contact the MHFD or your local floodplain administrator.

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FEMA's mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.

Follow us on twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion8

WASHINGTON -- Today, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell delivered a speech on hurricane and disaster preparedness at the National Hurricane Conference in New Orleans. Other speakers were Ken Graham, Director, National Hurricane Center, Miami;  James Waskom, Director, Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Baton Rouge, La.;  and Kevin Guthrie, Director, Florida Division of Emergency Management, Tallahassee, Fla.

Below is the administrator’s speech as prepared for delivery.

Good afternoon. It is a pleasure to be here – in person – with all of you today.

I am so proud of this community because you embody the resilience this nation demonstrated during the last 18 months. We all know how difficult the last year and a half has been for everyone as we carried out our “normal” responsibilities AND simultaneously navigated the pandemic.

All of us have personal stories of how this pandemic affected our families, our friends, and our communities.

However, I have also seen this pandemic bring out the best in our communities; people adapting to new technologies to stay in contact with one another, and helping their family, friends, and neighbors through a situation none of us could have envisioned a year ago.

That spirit of community, of partnership, and caring for each other are going to be critical as we enter what is slated to be an extremely active hurricane season. It’s critical that the entire emergency management family – federal, state, tribal, local, and territorial - take the lessons we have learned and the innovative ways of delivering our mission during COVID and apply them moving forward.

This professional community of emergency managers is more than just people who help our neighbors during disasters. For many of us here today, our involvement in emergency services goes beyond the title. It represents a calling.

This dedication to our shared calling is an attribute our communities will continue to count on when they need support.

During my Senate confirmation hearing, I shared a goal to elevate and professionalize the field of emergency management by better defining what it means to be an emergency manager and building career paths for the nation's emergency management workforce.

As a firefighter in Colorado, the Commissioner of emergency management in New York City, a member of the Air National Guard, and through my previous work at FEMA, I recognize the diverse skill set necessary to be successful in our profession.

We are perpetual students of our craft, continually learning to be ready for and adapting to new missions.  We demonstrate the value of teamwork, critical thinking, and creative problem solving.  We are civic leaders who remember our past while planning for the future.

Emergency managers and first responders are the foundations of the communities we serve because we value the people in them. During disasters, the people who are impacted are not just survivors; they are our colleagues, our friends, our neighbors, and our families.

While we think through how to better serve our communities, we must also acknowledge where we have opportunities to improve.

We are at a pivotal point where we, as the emergency management community, have the opportunity to address two key priorities: climate change and equity.

In 2020, our nation not only endured one of the most active hurricane seasons in its history – but called on us to perform our duties amid a global pandemic.

We are now getting accustomed to a ‘new normal’ while the world continues to change before our eyes. Many of these challenges are exacerbated because of climate change. Weather patterns are telling us that the 2021 hurricane and wildfire seasons could be busy again. Now is the time to have honest and real conversations about what we can do together to achieve a more resilient and prepared nation.

As FEMA Administrator, I am committed to furthering FEMA’s role in addressing the effects of changing climate.   

To accelerate this process, our resilience and mitigation efforts must be focused at the community and household level. With that in mind, I am excited to highlight two of our newest initiatives for building community resilience through hazard mitigation.

First, I’m pleased to announce a new mitigation funding program to help homeowners. Under the Individuals and Households Program (IHP), homeowners in areas covered by Presidential Disaster Declarations may now repair their homes in ways that will reduce the likelihood of future disaster damage.

These measures – which include enhanced roof repairs and elevating or relocating water heaters, furnaces and electrical panels -- will allow homeowners to recovery and make their homes more resilient to severe weather events, reducing disaster suffering and the likelihood future federal assistance will be needed.

Second, I am also excited that President Biden announced $1 billion in support of our Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program for pre-disaster hazard mitigation projects. This is double the amount of funding provided last year and a portion of these funds are targeted to historically underserved communities.

• I’m thrilled the BRIC program will begin to shift the federal focus from reactive disaster mitigation spending towards a proactive investment in system-wide community mitigation so when the next hurricane, flood, or wildfire comes, communities can better withstand the impacts.

We must also build a culture that understands resilience is a critical part of our day-to-day lives. Together, we can make this a reality by focusing on continuous improvement while striving toward local and national mitigation and preparedness goals.

For example, flooding is the most common and costly type of disaster in the United States. In fact, flooding and coastal storms account for roughly 70 percent of all Presidential Disaster Declarations over the past decade. Where it rains, it floods.

Knowing the true flood risk of a property is critical for homeowners to secure adequate insurance coverage, FEMA has made several improvements to transform the National Flood Insurance Program by reducing complexity and increasing transparency. These changes include a new pricing methodology for a more equitable program called Risk Rating 2.0 - Equity in Action.  

The current rating methodology, while actuarially sound, has not changed since the 1970s. Since then, technology has evolved and so has FEMA’s understanding of flood risk.

Risk Rating 2.0 allows FEMA to provide individuals and communities with information to make more informed decisions on purchasing flood insurance and taking mitigation actions that may help lower rates. This may include elevating a structure on piles, installing flood openings, or moving machinery and equipment such as HVAC units above the first floor.

Risk Rating 2.0 will allow FEMA to distribute premiums more equitably across all policyholders based on the replacement cost vale and individual property’s flood risk.

It is impossible to do the work that FEMA does without our partners – federal agencies; the state, local, tribal and territorial partners; and others in the nonprofit and private sectors.

From the smallest rural volunteer fire department to emergency management agencies in our nation’s urban centers, this system of support strengthens our preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts.  

You know your communities best because these are places you call home.

Our ability to partner across the emergency management system helps us do our jobs better and makes our response more effective. 

However, we must also admit where we have more work to do. We cannot be shy about asking the equity question.  It is a fact that disasters exacerbate pre-existing inequities that already existed before these events occur.

The question we have to ask ourselves is what we can do to provide all survivors, not just those who have the means, access to assistance.

Sometimes this inequity happens because certain communities don’t receive as much post-disaster aid. Sometimes it’s because these groups are in areas that are more susceptible to the impacts of climate change. Sometimes these groups have limited access to recovery programs or resources to help them get the assistance they seek.

In order to start addressing these systemic barriers, we are asking for your help. Through the end of July, we have a Request for Information on the FEMA dot gov webpage aimed at collecting your ideas for how to tackle this issue.

We also have to acknowledge our own limitations in this effort. FEMA’s assistance is not designed to solve societal inequities; however, we have an obligation as both stewards of taxpayer dollars, and to our mission of helping people before, during, and after disasters, of making sure that we focus on our historically disadvantaged and underserved communities.

A truly resilient nation can only exist when all communities reap the benefits of the help our emergency management system can provide.

For me, equity is not only about what we do for others, it’s also about the workforce I lead each and every day.

As we execute on our mission, we must also ensure equity across all FEMA operations. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not optional for us, they must be a core component of how we conduct ourselves.

One of the greatest FEMA strengths is our diverse workforce. We understand that to help individuals, we need to create an environment that is welcoming and takes our values beyond abstract concepts.

Just as diversity in our communities strengthens the fabric of our country, diversity in our workforce strengthens our agency. And as we want to hear from the nation through the RFI, we also want to make sure every FEMA employee has a voice and an opportunity to be heard.

We do this through a robust set of Federal Employee Resource Groups which allow staff from across the agency to take part in meaningful discussions and hear about the varied experiences and cultures we have at FEMA. For example:

• With our LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group, I was pleased to be able to take part in this first ever ceremony to display the rainbow flag in FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center to mark the start of Pride Month.
• Our African American Employee Resource Group hosted listening sessions and discussions on the tragic death of George Floyd and the subsequent civil rights demonstrations. On Monday, the agency held a virtual Juneteenth event to help celebrate this important anniversary and African American heritage.
• These resource groups are not only for celebration purposes. In fact, following the tragic shooting and murder of Asian women in Georgia, our Asian American Employee Resource Group hosted listening sessions and discussions, which gave our staff a safe space to discuss their feelings and get support.

Equity is not just a lens for us internally at FEMA; we hope that you will embrace this challenge in your communities as well.

Another key priority is readiness. We know that preparedness is the cornerstone for a resilient community.

And within our communities, it’s also important to remember that preparedness starts at the individual level.

As everyone in this room is aware, there are simple guidelines all of us should follow to ensure our safety and the safety of our family, friends, and neighbors.  But even though these actions are simple, they are worth repeating:

First, get vaccinated: The more people who are vaccinated, the more it will help us face the challenge of another hurricane season with pandemic conditions.

Second, make a plan: We need your help to make preparedness an important part of the conversation. Use your influence to elevate messages that help people learn how to prepare for disasters that might happen where you live, work, or visit.

Every one of us has a responsibility to prepare for disasters that are likely in our communities. No one knows this better than the Gulf Coast region.

Preparing for disasters can take some time to complete. The most important part of this step is that people start the planning process now, well before disasters strike.

Third, stay informed: We live in the most connected time in the history of our nation. We also know that timely and accurate information is critical to promoting the safety of our communities and we must use every tool at our disposal to get information to our communities to help protect them from harm. 

• During COVID-19, FEMA made great strides in promoting accessibility - we provided phone interpretation services in more than 180 languages for non-English speakers who visited vaccination centers.
• While this is just a start, it will help promote our final safety guideline of:

Heeding evacuation warnings from local officials: If you have your community following the first three steps, this one follows naturally. … When told to evacuate – evacuate.

As emergency managers, it’s up to us to set the example in our communities. Help amplify the message and encourage those who may be hesitant to follow state/local evacuation orders.

Encourage individual preparedness at the local level and share your evacuation plans and other preparedness steps with family, friends, and neighbors and help them craft their own.

While everyone may not be able to keep a tank filled with gas or create “go bags” with emergency supplies it is possible to do some things little by little over time to increase preparedness every day.

The challenges some individuals have with preparedness may stem from how our messages are reaching their communities – if the messages are reaching them at all.

We deployed 18 mobile vaccination units to help reach traditionally underserved and more remote communities. We want to get the message – and help – to those that need it the most.

We also know that there will be times when a “one size fits all” approach doesn’t apply. One of the lessons we learned is that sometimes we need to make an extra effort to meet people where they are.

By working collaboratively with our state and local partners, we are proud to say that almost 58 percent of the vaccines in federal pilot CVCs were delivered to historically underserved populations.

And because we are still operating in a pandemic environment, we all need to be prepared to continue to protect public health during disaster response and recovery operations.

FEMA recently rereleased the Pandemic Operational Guidance based on your feedback in order to provide emergency managers with actionable guidance, resources, and lessons learned to prepare for response and recovery operations amidst COVID-19.

We will continue to adapt our operations and program delivery to expedite services, support, and assistance to your communities while protecting the health and safety of disaster survivors and our workforce.

In closing, COVID-19 challenged the ways emergency managers across the country needed to think, react, and execute. The unprecedented scale of the pandemic produced challenges that we collectively innovated, collaborated, and managed ourselves through.

These lessons must not be forgotten, and we owe it to ourselves and the nation to internalize them in both theory and practice as we strive to build a more holistic emergency management system. Our collective mission is too important not to.

As we continue to persevere, we take solace in coming away from this experience smarter, stronger and more resilient than ever. Our work as emergency managers is the epitome of courage and a shining example of what it means to serve our nation every single day.

Just as you have demonstrated bravery in your work. I challenge everyone here today to be brave in our efforts to address climate change, to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion, and to continue delivering our missions with dignity and respect.

Thank you.

ORLANDO, Fla. – FEMA has approved a grant of $3,327,758 for the State of Florida to help the Town of Hillsboro Beach defray the cost of repairing beach and dune erosion associated with Hurricane Dorian in 2019.

FEMA Public Assistance program funds will reimburse the town for the cost of installing more than 64,000 cubic yards of engineered beach sand along approximately 1.1 miles of beach. The project also included replacement of three vessel exclusion buoys to protect beachgoers from watercraft.

The program provides grants to state, tribal and local governments, and certain types of private nonprofit organizations, including some houses of worship, so communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies. The Florida Division of Emergency Management works with FEMA during all phases of the program and conducts final reviews of FEMA-approved projects.

The federal share for Public Assistance projects is not less than 75 percent of the eligible cost. The state determines how the nonfederal share of the cost of a project (up to 25 percent) is split with subrecipients such as local and county governments.

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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.

BOTHELL, Wash. – FEMA announced the 2021–2022 Youth Preparedness Council members and two are from FEMA Region 10, Miles Butler of Idaho and Shivani Jayaprakasam of Washington. Members are selected based on their dedication to public service, community involvement and their engagement efforts in community resilience throughout the country. FEMA created the council in 2012 to bring together diverse young leaders interested in strengthening disaster preparedness across the nation and within their communities.

The council supports FEMA’s commitment to build a culture of preparedness in the United States and provides an avenue to engage young people by considering their perspectives, feedback and opinions. Council members meet with FEMA staff throughout their term to provide input on strategies, initiatives and projects.

Miles is excited to engage with other youth, “I want youth to know how easy it is to prepare and how much preparedness could do for them and their families. I always remind myself preparedness saves lives.”  

This year, each council member will participate in the Youth Preparedness Council Summit held virtually in late July. During this annual event, members will participate in online preparedness activities; learn from senior leaders in national preparedness; and engage with FEMA community preparedness staff who offer support and mentorship throughout their term.

Shivani is eager for the upcoming summit and to work with teenagers focused on emergency management. “If nothing else, 2020 has shown us that disasters can happen anytime, and we need to be prepared before the next disaster strikes. Preparedness education begins at a young age and creates a future generation of prepared individuals.”

The 2021-2022 council members are:

Nyl Aziaya of Alabama.

Nico Bremeau of California.

Isaac Doll of Colorado.

Aubrey Dockins of Florida.

Miles Butler of Idaho.

Devangana Rana of Illinois.

Vishnu Iyer of Indiana.

Beitris Boyreau-Millar of Maryland.

Ranjana Ramesh of Massachusetts.

Hunter Tobey of Massachusetts.

Amanda Hingorani of Nebraska.

Mirika Jambudi of New Jersey.

Megan Cameron of New York.

Amira Seay of Texas.

Shivani Jayaprakasam of Washington.

Each year, 15 teens serve on this distinguished council. The next application cycle will open in early 2022. Teens in the eighth through 11th grades may apply online at https://community.fema.gov/PreparednessCommunity/s/apply-to-ypc

To learn more about FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council, visit: http://www.ready.gov/youth-preparedness-council. 

RALEIGH, N.C. – The State of North Carolina and FEMA have approved $2,480,566 to reimburse the state’s Department of Transportation for the repair of roads in Sampson County damaged by Hurricane Florence in 2018.

Funding from FEMA’s Public Assistance Program partially reimburses the costs for stone and asphalt repairs to road surfaces, as well as replacement of guardrails, headwalls, pipes and culverts and restoration of embankments.

FEMA’s share of the cost for this project is $1,860,424 and the state’s share is $620,142. FEMA covers 75 percent of eligible costs and the remaining 25 percent is paid for by the state. The federal share is paid directly to the state to disburse to agencies, local governments and eligible private nonprofit organizations that incurred costs.

For more information on North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Florence, visit ncdps.gov/Florence and FEMA.gov/Disaster/4393. Follow us on Twitter: @NCEmergency and @FEMARegion4.

REGION 1 – FEMA and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency recently announced two federal grants for feeding Bostonians who experienced food insecurity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Together, the two grants provided over $3.7 million reimbursing the Boston Housing Authority and the City of Boston for their emergency feeding programs. Both grants covered 100% of the eligible costs submitted to FEMA. The Boston Housing Authority is a public agency of the City of Boston.

A $1,773,736 grant was awarded to the Boston Housing Authority to help feed many vulnerable residents from Sept. 1, 2020 through Jan. 31, 2021. The program provided prepared meals to qualified individuals and families, including seniors, low-income families and those social distancing and quarantining.

Boston Housing Authority officials envisioned this program, enrolled participants and oversaw the program. It was created for residents at more than 30 properties who were not being serviced by other meal programs. In partnership with City Fresh Foods, YMCA of Greater Boston, Commonwealth Kitchen and Haley House, prepared meals were distributed to participating families at designated sites. In this part of the program, about 10,000 meals were prepared and delivered per week at full capacity.

A $1,956,060 grant was awarded to the City for groceries bought and distributed to help feed thousands in need from Sept. 14 through Dec. 31, 2020. The program provided nutritious food every week to approved individuals and families in underserved populations.  About 3,000 households per week were served.

The city’s Age Strong Commission staff managed this program’s enrollment of individuals and families, maintained a database of all who received deliveries and detailed any follow-up required. Commission staff coordinated daily with partner About Fresh to purchase, package and deliver groceries.

Both projects were funded through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program, which reimburses eligible applicants for actions taken in the immediate response to and during recovery from a major disaster. Eligible applicants include commonwealths, states, federally recognized Tribal governments, local governments and certain private non-profit organizations.

These Public Assistance Program project applications were submitted by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. FEMA awarded funding for these projects directly to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, which worked directly with the applicants to ensure all terms and conditions of the awards were met before funds were disbursed.

“We are pleased to provide funds to help accomplish the mission of feeding Bostonians who were struggling during coronavirus pandemic,” said Acting Region 1 Administrator and Federal Coordinating Officer Paul Ford, who oversees FEMA’s operations throughout New England. “We will continue to work closely with the City of Boston, the Boston Housing Authority, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as our shared efforts to respond to the pandemic continues.”

As of June 14, FEMA’s Public Assistance Program obligated more than $736.1 million in 293 projects related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts. Additional information about the program is at https://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit.

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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters