RACES Logger by KB3HIY

BILOXI, Miss. – Mississippi residents who applied for assistance from FEMA after sustaining damage from Hurricane Zeta will receive a letter from FEMA in the mail or via email.

The letter will explain your application status and how to respond. It is important to read the letter carefully because it will include the amount of any assistance FEMA may provide and information on the appropriate use of disaster assistance funds.

Applicants may need to submit additional information or supporting documentation for FEMA to continue to process an application for financial assistance. Examples of missing documentation may include:

• Proof of insurance coverage
• Settlement of insurance claims or denial letter from insurance provider
• Proof of identity
• Proof of occupancy
• Proof of ownership
• Proof that the damaged property was the applicant’s primary residence at the time of the disaster If you have questions about your letter go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or call the disaster assistance helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585). A FEMA inspection may be required to determine whether a home is safe, accessible and functional. Currently, such inspections are being conducted remotely, by telephone or via Zoom or Facetime, following COVID-19 precautions. FEMA considers the following factors in the home inspection:
• The exterior of the home is structurally sound, including the doors, roof and windows.
• The electricity, gas, heat, plumbing and sewer or septic systems function properly.
• The interior’s habitable areas are structurally sound, including the ceiling and floors.
• The home is capable of functioning for its intended purpose.
• There is safe access to and from the home.

FEMA assistance is not the same as insurance. FEMA assistance only provides funds for basic work to make a home habitable, including items such as toilets, a roof, critical utilities, windows and doors.

Appealing FEMA’s Decision Applicants who disagree with FEMA’s decision, or the amount of assistance, may submit an appeal letter and documents supporting their claim, such as a contractor’s estimate for home repairs.

FEMA cannot duplicate assistance provided by another source, such as insurance settlements. However, those who are underinsured may receive further assistance for unmet needs after insurance claims have been settled by submitting insurance settlement or denial documents to FEMA. FEMA does not provide assistance for insurance deductibles.

Appeals must be in writing. In a signed and dated letter, explain the reason(s) for the appeal. It should also include:

• Applicant’s full name
• Disaster number (DR-4576 for Mississippi)
• Address of the pre-disaster primary residence
• Applicant’s current phone number and address
• The FEMA registration number on all documents

If someone other than an applicant or co-applicant writes the appeal letter, that person must sign it and provide FEMA with a signed statement authorizing the individual to act on behalf of the applicant. Letters must be postmarked within 60 days of the date of the determination letter. Appeal letters and supporting documents may be submitted to FEMA by fax or mail or via a FEMA online account. To set up an online account, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, click on “Apply Online” and follow the directions. By mail: FEMA National Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville MD 20782-7055 By fax: 800-827-8112 Attention: FEMA For more information about Hurricane Zeta recovery in Mississippi, visit the FEMA disaster webpage at https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4576 or the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency webpage at https://www.msema.org/zeta/.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Disaster survivors affected by Hurricane Zeta may receive a letter from FEMA stating they are ineligible for assistance. This may not be the final word. Applicants who disagree with FEMA’s decision can file an appeal with FEMA.

You will need to read your determination letter carefully to understand why FEMA decided the application was “ineligible.” Many times, the solution is as simple as providing missing documents or information.

Documents to Include with an Appeal Letter

Often, applicants need only submit extra documents for FEMA to process their application. FEMA may find an applicant ineligible if the following documents are missing:

• Insurance letters: Documents from your insurance company that show your policy coverage and/or settlement is not enough to make essential home repairs, provide a place to stay, or replace certain contents. FEMA cannot provide benefits to homeowners or renters who already received those same benefits from their insurance carriers.
• Proof of occupancy: A copy of utility bills, a driver’s license or lease that proves the damaged home or rental was your primary residence.
• Proof of ownership: Mortgage or insurance documents, tax receipts or a deed. If your documents were lost or destroyed, visit www.usa.gov/replace-vital-documents for information on replacing lost documents.

Legal Services are Available

Free legal help with filing appeals and other disaster-related legal concerns is available to eligible Hurricane Zeta survivors in Clarke, Dallas, Marengo, Mobile, Perry, Washington and Wilcox counties. Call the disaster legal services hotline at 800-354-6154. Leave a message and a volunteer lawyer will return your call. Hours of operation: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.  Types of assistance may also include help with private insurance claims, consumer protection matters and home repair contractors; replacing important legal documents destroyed in the storm, counseling on mortgage-foreclosure and landlord-tenant problems; and referrals to other attorneys and COVID-19 resources. Disaster legal services are not available for cases that may produce a monetary award. The free legal help program is funded by FEMA.

How to Submit an Appeal

All appeals must be in writing and signed by the applicant. The appeal letter should explain why the applicant disagrees with FEMA’s decision. It is important to include any documentation FEMA requests and/or document that supports the appeal claim, such as a contractor’s estimate for home repairs. If the person writing the appeal letter is not the applicant or a member of the household, applicants must submit a signed statement that the writer is authorized to act on the behalf of the applicant.

IMPORTANT: Be sure to include a copy of the cover letter you received from FEMA when you submit your appeal documents.

Mail, fax or upload documents and your appeal letter within 60 days of the date on your determination letter.

• Mail: FEMA National Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055 
• Fax: 800-827-8112, Attention: FEMA
• To set up a FEMA online account or to upload documents online, visit DisasterAssistance.gov and click on “Check Your Application and Log In” and follow the directions.

Those who submit an appeal will receive a decision letter within 90 days of FEMA's receipt of your appeal.

Those who need help understanding their letter can call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585). Those who use a relay service such as a videophone, InnoCaption or CapTel should update FEMA with their assigned number for that service. They should also be aware that phone calls from FEMA may come from an unidentified number. Multilingual operators are available at the Helpline. (Press 2 for Spanish.) Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Residents of the seven counties that sustained damage from Hurricane Zeta Oct. 28-29, 2020, may apply for FEMA disaster assistance. The deadline to apply is Monday, Feb. 8.

For more information on Alabama’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4573 and www.facebook.com/fema.

BATON ROUGE, La. – Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is now available to certain workers in Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and Terrebonne parishes who lost income as a direct result of Hurricane Zeta. The purpose of DUA is to help workers whose primary incomes are lost or interrupted by a federally declared disaster. DUA may be available if the disaster affected your employment — even if you’re self-employed, a farmer or a farm worker — and you fall under one of the following categories:

• Your workplace was damaged or destroyed by the disaster.
• Transportation to work was unavailable as a direct result of the disaster.
• You could not get to your job because you had to travel through the disaster area.
• The disaster prevented you from starting a new job.          
• Your business suffered because you relied on the disaster area for most of its income
• You cannot work due to an injury caused as a direct result of the major disaster
• You became the breadwinner or major household support because the head of your household died as a direct result of the disaster.
• You became unemployed as a direct result of the disaster.

Applicants in these parishes must apply for disaster unemployment assistance by Feb. 12.

Affected workers must first apply for regular unemployment insurance prior to starting a DUA application. Apply by visiting www.laworks.net, the Helping Individuals Reach Employment portal.

Claimants may also file by telephone by calling the Benefits Analysis Team at 866-783-5567 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

For the latest information on Hurricane Zeta, visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4577. Follow the FEMA Region 6 Twitter account at twitter.com/FEMARegion6.

BATON ROUGE, La. – FEMA is hiring Louisiana residents who live in areas affected by last year’s hurricanes to join our recovery team as temporary employees. Hiring temporary staff locally allows FEMA to diversify the workforce while affording opportunities for Louisianans.

Jobs are available for Voluntary Agency Liaison Specialists in Lafayette, Alexandria, and Lake Charles for temporary positions assisting with disaster response and recovery efforts. These jobs are for local residents to help with FEMA’s work.

Potential applicants can view these positions at https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/588867700. The job posting is open until Jan. 21.

FEMA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Salaries are comparable to local pay rates.

Most temporary local hires are employed through a streamlined rather than a competitive process. A local hire’s term of employment is 120 days, though it may be extended in 120-day increments up to one year. Visit USAJOBS.gov for additional information, including job responsibilities and compensation.

Conditions of Employment:

• You must be a U.S. citizen to be considered for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after 12/31/59.

BATON ROUGE, La. – In the aftermath of hurricanes Laura and Delta, volunteers from across the country, state and local communities helped survivors with both response and recovery. However, five months later, many survivors still need assistance as they move forward in long-term recovery.

Assistance with donations and distribution of food, clothing and other immediate items were provided to survivors after landfall. Volunteers also helped survivors with debris removal, mucking out or gutting flooded homes, tree removal, and roof tarping.

To date, non-profits and volunteers have helped survivors affected by hurricanes Laura and Delta receive:

• More than 15.9 million meals by the Louisiana Multi-Feeding Task Force; and
• Thousands of items such as clothing, hygiene products, cleaning kits and other immediate necessities.   

Acadiana, Central, Northeast and Southwest Louisiana Parishes still need volunteers to help with mucking out or gutting flooded homes, roof tarping, tree removal and home repair/rebuild projects. Numerous voluntary agencies and non-profits in these affected regions rely on volunteers and donations to continue recovery efforts in local communities.   

Louisiana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (LA VOAD) is a consortium of voluntary agencies and non-profits dedicated to providing critical help to survivors and their communities throughout recovery. Members include the American Red Cross, Consulting Partners, United Methodist Louisiana Conference, Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response and Samaritans’ Purse. These groups meet regularly to discuss challenges in the community and find creative ways to collaborate to meet survivors’ needs.

FEMA’s Voluntary Agency Liaisons (VALs) help guide and educate local communities and non-profits on donations and volunteer management. The VALs work with these groups to help maximize the value of volunteers, donated items and agencies throughout the recovery process. Major volunteer groups are often associated with National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (NVOAD) and Louisiana VOAD.

How To Get Involved

While all donations are appreciated, cash is best. Cash offers voluntary agencies the most flexibility in obtaining the most-needed resources. Many charities specialize in providing relief in disaster areas, yet they face significant financial barriers to getting their staff, equipment and supplies to impacted areas. Any contributions made are tax-deductible and helps put experienced disaster responders on the ground as well as gives them the tools they need to help survivors recover. Organizations typically prefer cash donations because they allow organizations to:

• Purchase food, water, medicine and equipment from secure and familiar supply chains
• Conserve resources. Money is always necessary and cheap to send, but the cost to ship material supplies can be expensive.
• Material supplies such as used clothing, miscellaneous household items, and mixed or perishable food require helping agencies to redirect volunteer labor away from providing direct one-on-one assistance to sort, package, transport, warehouse, and distribute items that may not meet the needs of disaster survivors.

To ensure your financial contributions are used responsibly, visit Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters to find lists of organizations receiving donations.

VolunteerLouisiana also provides support to non-profit and volunteer groups. Established under the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, VolunteerLouisiana is the state service commission and helps to promote national service and volunteerism throughout the state. Potential volunteers wanting to help can register with VolunteerLouisiana or any volunteer agency, charitable organization or non-profit of choice.

Louisiana 211

Survivors seeking information about disaster-related services and unmet needs related to hurricanes Laura and Delta can call 2-1-1, a statewide referral service, to find resources in their local communities. These may include feeding/food pantry locations, childcare, financial assistance, crisis counseling, case management, transportation assistance, volunteer work, emergency clean-up (muck/gut, debris removal, roof tarping, tree removal) personal property.

For the latest information on Hurricane Laura, visit fema.gov/disaster/4559.For the latest information on Hurricane Delta, visit fema.gov/disaster/4570. Follow the FEMA Region 6 Twitter account at twitter.com/FEMARegion6

DENVER – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided $181 million in additional funding for COVID-19 response efforts in Colorado. To date, FEMA has provided more than $330 million in Public Assistance funding for COVID-19 response in Colorado. The assistance was made available under a major disaster declaration issued April 4, 2020, by President Trump.

The $181 million was provided to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to fund COVID-19 community testing sites and laboratory contracts in Colorado. Funding for this project is authorized under Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Act.

“This FEMA assistance is making a difference across Colorado,” said FEMA Region 8 Administrator Lee dePalo. “Testing sites ensure that both individuals and health officials have critical information on the level of infections within the state. This helps state and local leaders make critical decisions in the battle against COVID.”

FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provides funding for emergency actions undertaken by communities to protect public safety, providing at least a 75-percent funding share for eligible costs. Remaining costs are the responsibility of the state and local applicants for assistance.

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.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – To help communities recover from Hurricane Zeta, FEMA is working with state agencies and volunteer organizations to make sure survivors with disabilities and those with access and functional needs have equal access to disaster assistance programs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 33.2 percent of Alabama adults age 18 and over have some type of disability. Across the state and throughout the United States, FEMA provides accommodations at each step in the disaster recovery process.

FEMA is committed to providing assistance to everyone in the communities affected by the storm. Assistance may take the form of a grant that does not have to be repaid or it may be through connections or referrals with FEMA’s state and local partners.

Be assured: all affected residents in Clarke, Dallas, Marengo, Mobile, Perry, Washington and Wilcox counties can get answers to their questions and help from FEMA with applications for disaster assistance.

FEMA can provide interpreters, real-time captioning and information in alternate formats such as Braille, large-print, audio and electronic versions. The agency also provides free services to help people communicate with its staff and understand FEMA programs.  Among the aids are:

• Information available in accessible electronic formats on FEMA’s website and social media
• Qualified American Sign Language interpreters
• Qualified multilingual interpreters
• Information written in multiple languages

Newspapers, radio, television, social media, local officials and private sector partners help to spread important recovery information.

The deadline to apply for FEMA disaster assistance is Monday, Feb. 8. There are several ways to apply:

• Download FEMA’s mobile app to a smartphone or tablet
• Visit DisasterAssistance.gov
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585). Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

• 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 disability, let the Helpline specialists know.

• People who are deaf or hard of hearing may review the video, Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance.

Before the next storm, the deaf or hard of hearing community can also review “Preparing Makes Sense for People with Disabilities and Other Access and Functional Needs,” a FEMA video presented in English and sign language. Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLLMDOScE4g.

For more information about Hurricane Zeta recovery in Alabama, visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4573 and www.facebook.com/fema.

FEMA approves $1.8 million for repairs to the villages in Guayama, Maunabo, Mayagüez and San Juan

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico — At about 4 a.m. Christopher McGrath, a commercial fisherman from San Juan, begins to prepare his boat to go out to sea to find fresh fish. That hard work goes on for long hours until the sun goes down, where he then distributes the day’s catch to restaurants and to the public.

Like him, nearly a thousand fishermen live this daily scenario on the coasts of Puerto Rico. For many, the work is more difficult and demanding after Hurricane María destroyed many of their boats, work equipment and even the wharfs where they docked. This is why a $1.8 million allocation from FEMA to the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture represents a boost for the island's fishermen, since it will improve the safety and environment of their places of work.

“Our goal with these obligations is to help the sector recover, allowing it to continue to support the communities and their families. Fishing is a vital link in the food supply chain on the island and the improvements that will be made will provide an opportunity to take advantage of the resources of our coasts”, said Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, José Baquero Tirado.

Four fishing villages where 96 fishermen work will be repaired and rebuilt thanks to these federal funds: La Coal Fishing Village in Old San Juan, with an obligation of about $696,000; Maunabo Fishing Village, located near the historic Punta Tuna lighthouse, with about $347,000; El Maní Fishing Village in Mayagüez, with about $393,000; and Guayama Fishing Village with about $383,000. Of those funds, about $174,000 will go towards the strengthening of the facilities in order to reduce damage to the structures in the event of future disasters.

According to data from the Puerto Rico Planning Board, in 2018 local fisheries contributed about $300,000 to the island’s economy. In terms of local fish production, in 2017 a little over 15,700 quintals of fish and about 8,600 quintals of seafood were reported. National statistics show that commercial activities that depend on the ocean, such as fishing, finance 7 percent of total employment in Puerto Rico, three times as much as the 2 percent average for the continental United States.

“With this obligation from FEMA, aimed for the recovery and reactivation of the fishing villages, we will mitigate one of the sectors that was most affected by past atmospheric events,” said the designated Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture, Ramón González Beiró. “Through these grants the fishing villages facilities will improve, which is an essential tool for the operation and marketing of the products from our fishermen.”

For George Thomas, tugboat captain and vice president of La Coal Fishing Village in Old San Juan established 45 years ago, everything seemed like a war zone after the hurricane. The experience was similar in the Guayama Fishing Village. As shared by Miguel Ortiz, president of this village established in 2001 and also president of the Commercial Fishermen Federation of Puerto Rico, they lost all kinds of equipment and gave away 1,200 pounds of fish to the community so it would not go to waste due to lack of power. “It has been quite an uphill battle to get back to normal. Right now, we are operating at 35 or 40 percent capacity,” added Ortiz.

Ortiz also indicated that before Maria there were some 44 fishing villages, of which today there are approximately 20 operating at a full or part time capacity. He explained that prior to the hurricane the kiosk in the Guayama Fishing Village could generate about $70,000 a year, while it is currently generating a little over half that amount. The expectation is that these funds will help increase the fishing activity in order to generate capital once again.

“This federal obligation represents an important support for the fishing sector of the island, which has great development potential, not only in financial growth but also on the sustainable food industry,” said executive director of COR3, engineer Manuel Laboy Rivera. “This sector has a great impact on local businesses and restaurants, as well as in the tourism industry and our communities. We thank FEMA for their constant assistance in the process of the reconstruction of Puerto Rico.”  

For more information on Puerto Rico’s recovery from Hurricane María, visit fema.gov/disaster/4339 and recuperacion.pr. Follow us on our social networks at Facebook.com/FEMAPuertoRico, Facebook.com/COR3pr and Twitter @COR3pr.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (January 5, 2021) -- FEMA approves $1.8 million for repairs to the fishing villages in Guayama, Maunabo, Mayagüez and San Juan. Of those funds, about $174,000 will go towards the strengthening of the facilities in order to reduce damage to the structures in the event of future disasters.

GUAYAMA, Puerto Rico (January 6, 2021) -- Four fishing villages will be repaired and rebuilt thanks to these federal funds, including Guayama Fishing Village with about $383,000. This allocation from FEMA to the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture represents a boost for the island's fishermen, since it will improve the safety and environment of their places of work.  

BATON ROUGE, La. – If you are a renter in Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard or Terrebonne parish and sustained damage or losses from Hurricane Zeta, you may be eligible for federal disaster assistance. 

These six parishes were named in a disaster declaration signed by President Trump Jan. 12. If the house or apartment you are renting is your primary residence and is in one of these parishes, you should register with FEMA to apply for grants to help with disaster-related expenses, such as:

• Renting a different dwelling when the formerly occupied one is unsafe to live in due to the hurricane;
• Hurricane-related medical and dental expenses;
• Increased cost of child-care expenses;
• Moving and storage fees;
• Replacement or repair of necessary personal property lost or damaged in the hurricane, such as appliances and furniture, textbooks and computers used by students, and work equipment or tools used by independent contractors;
• Repair or replacement of hurricane-damaged vehicles;
• Hurricane-related funeral and burial expenses, and
• Other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other sources.

Rental grants may be used for security deposits, rent and the cost of essential utilities—such as gas or water. The grants may not be used to pay for separate cable or Internet bills. The grants are not loans and don’t have to be repaid. They are not taxable income and won’t affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or other public assistance programs.

If you have renter’s insurance, you should call your insurance agent to start the claims process before you contact FEMA.

There are three ways to apply for federal disaster assistance:

• Visit DisasterAssistance.gov;
• Use the FEMA mobile app, or
• Call the disaster assistance helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY) 800-462-7585 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual operators are available.

Registration deadline is March 15, 2021.       

Renters who face eviction or have been evicted from their storm-damaged apartment complex—whether their unit had damage or not—may be eligible for disaster assistance. Renters who have already registered for federal assistance and were evicted after they registered due to damage to other parts of their complex should call the FEMA Helpline.

Renters may also qualify for long-term, low-interest loans of up to $40,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). These loans may be used to cover the cost of repairing or replacing essential hurricane-damaged personal property.

For information, visit SBA.gov/disaster, call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339) or email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. To apply for an SBA loan, visit disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Renters who are deaf or hard of hearing may view an informational video with American Sign Language at youtube.com/watch?v=yAHSPK_K7tg. Those who use a relay service such as a videophone, InnoCaption or CapTel should alert FEMA as to the specific number assigned to that service.

For the latest information on Hurricane Zeta, visit fema.gov/disaster/4577. Follow the FEMA Region 6 Twitter account at twitter.com/FEMARegion6.

WASHINGTON --  FEMA is actively coordinating with our state, local and federal partners in support of the 59th Presidential Inauguration.

During this historic event, public safety remains FEMA’s highest priority. In light of recent events and the COVID-19 pandemic, we encourage anyone planning to be in the Washington D.C., metro area to follow the guidance of local officials, adhere to public health precautions and report suspicious activity to law enforcement. Experiencing the inauguration from your home by watching on television or online remains your best option to view this event.

FEMA works closely with our federal, state and local partners and synchronizes federal interagency coordination to prepare for and respond to all hazards in the National Capital Region, enhancing homeland security and emergency management operations. FEMA has provided planning, training and exercise support to our federal, state and local partners to promote an enhanced preparedness posture over the past several months leading up to the 59th Presidential Inauguration.

The Department of Homeland Security designated the Presidential Inauguration as a recurring National Special Security Event (NSSE). Events may be designated NSSEs when they warrant the full protection, incident management and counterterrorism capabilities of the federal government. On Jan. 12, Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Pete Gaynor extended the period of the NSSE to begin a week in advance of the Inauguration and run from Jan. 13 – Jan. 21. The Acting Secretary determined the extended NSSE period was necessary to provide for a unified command and control and ensure the safety and security of this special event.

Due to the complex and sensitive nature of this event, different federal agencies are designated to lead certain efforts.

• When an event is designated a NSSE, the U.S. Secret Service assumes its mandated role as the lead federal agency for security planning and response.
• The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the lead federal agency for incident investigation.
• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for incident management.
• FEMA is the lead federal agency for consequence management in situations where a disaster or hazardous event exceeds local response capabilities. The mission of consequence management is to manage emergency response activities in order to ensure a quick and coordinated response to protect public health and safety, restore essential services, and provide emergency relief to all those affected by the consequences of a natural, man-made, or act-of-terrorism incident.

The preparation for any NSSE is a cooperative effort. FEMA has been fully engaged with our federal, state and local authorities before this event, and will remain so during and after the 59th Presidential Inauguration.

President Donald Trump approved the District of Columbia’s request for an Emergency Declaration on Jan. 11. This action allows FEMA to surge public safety resources and response teams to the District of Columbia in preparation for the inauguration. FEMA response teams are already in position at key locations throughout the National Capital Region and are prepared to support our public safety partners in any potential situations that may arise. Additionally, FEMA is deploying a national Incident Management Assistance Team to the area to support the agency's full-time staff who regularly coordinate, exercise and train with first responders and emergency managers in the Washington, D.C., metro area.

While FEMA does not operate in any law enforcement capacity, we are actively coordinating with our federal, state and local partners to ensure public safety throughout the 59th Presidential Inauguration. Our mission remains the same – helping people before, during and after disasters.