Last week, FEMA officially extended the Public
Assistance Alternative Procedures Pilot Program for Debris Removal,
authorized by the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 (P.L. 113-2), for one
year to June 27, 2018. As part of the extension, FEMA is changing the
implementation of the sliding scale provision. FEMA will only authorize
the sliding scale provision in events with significant debris impacts. The other three provisions available under the Pilot remain unchanged.
For disasters declared on or after August 28, 2017,
FEMA is limiting the use of the pilot’s sliding scale provision to high
impact incidents that meet the following criteria: high concentration of
localized damage; large quantities of debris (over $20 million or 1.5 million cubic
yards); and disasters declared very soon after the incident (within eight days) to
incentivize rapid debris removal.
The goal of the sliding scale is to provide a
voluntary incentive for states and tribes to remove debris quickly to support
rapid recovery in communities. In the sliding scale, the federal government
pays an increased cost share along the following sliding scale timeline: Days
1-30 – 85 percent; Days 31-90 – 80 percent; Days 91-180 – 75 percent. FEMA will notify states or
tribes at the time of declaration if the sliding scale is authorized for that
disaster.
Updated
information on the Pilot and sliding scale is in the Public Assistance
Alternative Procedures Debris Pilot Guide at www.fema.gov/alternative-procedures.
FEMA will
host a second virtual disaster housing industry forum on Thursday, July 13, from 2-4 p.m. EDT. The forum is for members of the private sector and academic
institutions that have new and innovative solutions for providing temporary
living facilities following a disaster.
Interested participants should already have a prototype of a fully formed design concept for disaster housing units. Participants
present via a web-based platform and phone call. It is open to both for and
non-profit organizations, trade associations or academic institutions who may
be able to provide temporary living facilities following a disaster. The ideal units could be used anywhere from six to 18
months and in a variety of climates.
Presentations
will be limited to five power point slides and ten minutes or less. The call for
presentations does not imply or guarantee a contract or intent to purchase.
This call is being conducted to identify diverse options that may be unknown to
FEMA.
Those who
are interested in participating or who have questions should contact FEMA-Housing-Assistance-Initiative@fema.dhs.gov.
Many people enjoy picnics, family, and fireworks on July
4. Fireworks are fun and beautiful, but they are also dangerous if not handled properly. In the month
of July, an average 230 people go to the emergency room each day due to
firework related accidents. Sparklers can burn at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit,
which is as hot as a blow torch. The United States Fire Administration urges everyone to stay safe this
Independence Day, and to leave the fireworks to the professionals.
Here are some safety tips for those who decide to legally
purchase and use fireworks:
- Keep a bucket of water or garden hose nearby.
- Never allow young children to play with or light
fireworks.
- Don’t stand over a firework when lighting the fuse.
- Light fireworks one at a time.
- Do not try to relight a firework that isn’t working
properly.
For more information about summer
safety and fireworks, visit www.usfa.fema.gov.
This is
an update to a previously published version of this
article to accurately reflect the exercise scenario.
FEMA's Emergency
Management Institute (EMI) congratulates the State of Rhode Island for
completing their Integrated Emergency Management Course (IEMC), June 19-22,
2017. The four-day course was designed specifically for their jurisdiction,
providing both lecture and exercise-based training.
There were more than 100 emergency
management personnel who participated in the course, representing all levels of
government in Rhode Island, from the Governor’s Office to first responders. The
exercise, emanating from Rhode Island’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC),
simulated a Category 3 hurricane and the impact on residents across the state.
The exercise incorporated simulated response from five local EOCs, ensuring
situational awareness for Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency staff. EMI sent
a training specialist and technician to support the exercise, and FEMA’s
National Exercise Division sent two personnel who served as exercise
controllers. FEMA Region I supported the IEMC providing local expert
instruction on FEMA and FEMA regional policies, local concerns, trends and
equities.
IEMC courses simulate
realistic crisis situations that emergency operations center personnel and
community leadership/elected officials may encounter during disasters or other
events. Also, the course helps enhance the skills of participating officials,
and provides a forum to evaluate the effectiveness of their specific emergency
policies, plans, and procedures that protect life and property. The course’s
target audience includes state, local, tribal, and territorial government
personnel; their elected and appointed officials; supervisory, operations, and
emergency support personnel; nonprofit organizations; the private sector; law
enforcement personnel; firefighters; attorneys; public information officers;
planners; and other whole community stakeholders and partners.
IEMC classes are principally delivered at FEMA’s EMI at the
National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland; however, local
delivery such as this one can also be conducted in a specific jurisdiction.
Questions should be directed to FEMA-EMI-IEMB@fema.dhs.gov. If your
jurisdiction is interested in applying for the program or is seeking more
information on the application process and its timeline, please visit http://training.fema.gov/iemc/.
Peter Gaynor, Director, Rhode Island EMA, speaks at the Integrated Emergency Management Course.
Continuity Guidance Circular Draft Released for National Engagement
FEMA released the draft of an updated Continuity Guidance
Circular for national engagement. The document provides
recommendations on developing and maintaining the capability to ensure
continuity of operations, continuity of government, and enduring constitutional
government. National
preparedness and sustainment of essential functions is a shared responsibility
of the whole community – business, nonprofit and governmental entities. FEMA’s National Continuity Programs developed
the Circular in 2009 and issued its first revision in 2013.
The 30-day
national engagement period includes several 60-minute engagement webinars to
describe the draft document, provide information on how to submit feedback, and
to answer stakeholders’ questions. Feedback from stakeholders will shape the
development of the final document. For more
information and to review the draft documents, visit www.fema.gov/continuity-guidance-circular by July 6, 2017. Submit your completed feedback form to FEMA-CGC@fema.dhs.gov.
$8 Million Available for Homeland Security National Training Program Continuing Grants
FEMA announced that $8
million in Fiscal Year 2017 Continuing Training Grants (CTG) funding is available to develop and deliver
FEMA training to address specific focus areas: Cybersecurity, Economic Recovery,
Housing, and Rural and Tribal Preparedness.
Administered
annually by
FEMA, this competitive program attracts applicants nationwide, including
state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, non-profit local and
national organizations, colleges
and universities, and faith-based organizations. Complete instructions
to
apply are found in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), posted on Grants.gov, listed under Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number
97.005, Continuing Training Grants. FEMA will review, evaluate
and score proposals by applying a methodology that is detailed in the NOFO. The
CTG application period opened on June 26, 2017 and will close at 11:59 p.m. EDT
on July 26, 2017. Awards will be made by September 30, 2017.
For questions regarding
the CTG program, contact FEMA’s National Training and Education Division via
email at FEMA-NTES@fema.dhs.gov or contact Mr. Patrick Cowhey, patrick.cowhey@fema.dhs.gov and (202) 786-0905.
Apply for the 2018 National Emergency Management Executive Academy
FEMA’s
EMI is now accepting application packages for the 2018 National
Emergency Management Executive Academy.
Ideally,
candidates will have experience as senior executives of major emergency
management organizations, served on major commissions and task
forces, or be
responsible for decisions that have a significant effect on homeland
security
and emergency management policies.
Applications will be
accepted through August 15, 2017. There are a limited number of seats and
enrollment is competitive. For more information on the Executive Academy and
the application and selection process, visit www.training.fema.gov/EMPP/executive.asp.
Comments Needed for Draft Policy on Floodplain Development
FEMA
prepared a draft policy for FEMA staff and communities participating in the
NFIP to update guidance for participating communities on satisfying National
Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) floodplain development permit requirements, and
to address questions about floodplain permitting of development activities
occurring in the FEMA designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA). Through
this policy, a community can ensure compliance with NFIP and local floodplain
management regulations, while potentially reducing the administrative burden
associated with permitting certain types of low-to-no impact development in the
floodplain.
This
guidance does not intend to address other permits associated with building
codes, or other federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial permits, and only
applies to floodplain development permitting requirements to enroll in, and
maintain eligibility for, the NFIP. The draft policy is available for review on FEMA’s
website at: https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/131010,
and the public is invited to provide comment and input via FEMA-Floodplain-Management-Division@fema.dhs.gov
until August 23, 2017.
FEMA Tribal Outreach and Consultation Period on FEMA Tribal Consultation Policy
FEMA initiated a 90-day outreach and consultation period
from June 1 to August 29, 2017, to seek input from federally recognized Indian
tribal governments on the update of the agency’s Tribal Consultation
Policy. The FEMA
Tribal Consultation Policy, first issued in 2014, acknowledges the agency’s
nation-to-nation relationship with tribal governments. The policy also guides how FEMA
engages tribal governments in regular and meaningful consultation and
collaboration on policy and actions that have tribal implications.
Tribal officials can submit
comments on the FEMA Tribal Consultation until August 29, 2017,
through:
- E-mail to tribalconsultation@fema.dhs.gov, or
- Mail to ATTN: Margeau Valteau, Office of External Affairs,
DHS/FEMA, 500 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20472-3191.
Visit FEMA’s Tribal Affairs
web page for more information on the tribal consultation period for this
policy.
|