FEMA Bulletin Week of August 7, 2017

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FEMA BULLETIN

Week of August 7, 2017

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In this Edition:

Important Dates & Deadlines

August 14

Regulatory Reform Open Comment Period Deadline

August 15: 2018 National Emergency Management Executive Academy Application Deadline

2018 National Emergency Management Executive Academy Application Deadline

August 23: Draft Policy on Floodplain Development Open Comment Period Deadline

Draft Policy on Floodplain Development Open Comment Period Deadline

August 29: FEMA Tribal Outreach and Consultation Period Deadline on FEMA Tribal Consultation Policy

FEMA Tribal Outreach and Consultation Period Deadline on FEMA Tribal Consultation Policy

Last Call for Comments on Regulatory Reform

In accordance with Executive Order 13777, “Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) formed a Regulatory Reform Task Force. The Task Force is reviewing existing regulations, policies, and information collections across the Department.


To inform this review, FEMA is seeking public input on regulations, policies, and information collections that may be appropriate for repeal, replacement, or modification. FEMA requests commenters be as specific as possible in their remarks. Preferred details would include how, for example, a particular regulation, policy or information collection, imposes costs that exceed benefits or is otherwise unnecessary or ineffective.


Public comments may be made until August 14, 2017, at www.regulations.gov, Docket ID FEMA-2017-0023.


One Year Later: $5 Billion Assists Louisiana Flood Recovery

One year ago torrential rains devastated Louisiana communities and tens of thousands of homes and businesses. A presidential disaster declaration made federal help available to individuals and businesses in 22 parishes, and to state and parish government agencies and certain private nonprofits in 26 parishes.


Since then, the state of Louisiana and survivors of the flooding received $5 billion in federal disaster assistance for recovery and rebuilding. This includes FEMA disaster assistance of $772 million to help more than 83,000 households; more than $436 million to the state of Louisiana to reimburse parish and state government agencies and private nonprofits for eligible emergency response activities and infrastructure projects; and $2.4 billion paid out for more than 29,600 National Flood Insurance Program claims. More than $2.4 million in disaster unemployment assistance went to workers whose employment was affected by the flood.


FEMA, the state, parishes, volunteer agencies, and other federal recovery partners continue to coordinate solutions to overcome many recovery challenges after the August 2016 flood. Louisiana communities created long-term recovery committees comprised of nonprofit groups and FEMA liaisons to create recovery solutions and fill in gaps. More than 200 private sector entities in Louisiana coordinated with FEMA to provide information to more than 625,000 people, such as how to apply for FEMA assistance and tips on rebuilding safer, stronger and smarter.


To learn more about the Louisiana Flood Recovery, visit www.fema.gov/archive/disaster/4277 or http://gohsep.la.gov/.


FEMA Hosts Voluntary Organization Partnership Day

FEMA hosted more than 30 non-profit organizations at its headquarters for Voluntary Organization Partnership Day to promote and recognize the services that voluntary, community and faith-based organizations provide to disaster survivors. Throughout the day, dozens of voluntary organizations from across the country and groups from within FEMA participated in an exhibit showcase, open to the public, to provide a forum for FEMA and its whole community partners, enhancing mutual understanding of disaster assistance resources and capabilities.

 

Participants had the opportunity to meet with FEMA subject matter experts to improve communication, raise disaster awareness, and enhance education. Discussion panels focused around the mission and capabilities of voluntary organizations and highlighted how FEMA integrates with them to prepare for, mitigate against, respond to, and recover from disasters.

 

Panel discussions spanned several areas, to include disaster case management, hazard mitigation, individual assistance, housing, individual and community preparedness, disability integration and coordination, philanthropic engagement, public assistance, and transitional shelter assistance.

FEMA VOAD Event
FEMA Administrator Brock Long speaks at the start of Voluntary Organization Partnership Day July 26. The event, hosted by FEMA, promoted and recognized the services voluntary, community and faith-based organizations provide to disaster survivors. Photo: Raymond Piper (FEMA).

Community Planning and Capacity Building Recovery Support Function Supports Joint FEMA-HUD Regional Housing Workshop

FEMA Region VII and U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) recently hosted a first-of-its-kind housing workshop in Kansas City. The workshop brought together 70 members from academia, non-profits, private sector, and city, county, state and federal government from Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Illinois to engage in strategic planning for all phases of housing recovery – short-term, intermediate and long-term. Both the Community Planning and Capacity Building (CPCB) and Housing Recovery Support Functions (RSF) benefit from this type of event that highlights the intersection of local planning and capacity with other aspects of disaster recovery.


Participants tackled issues of short-term, interim, and long-term housing. There was emphasis on state-led disaster housing task forces, community-level disaster housing task forces, noting that existing structures may be adapted to a broader purpose. The greater demand for local permitting and inspections received a lot of attention, as well as the restoration of wrap-around services and available employment. Participants proposed community-based planning to ensure that all stakeholders – individuals, families, business owners, faith-based/civic organizations, nonprofits, schools, local governments, and others – can recover more effectively by considering the others’ needs and interests and coordinating their efforts in pursuit of common vision and goals.


The participants reported on a range of permanent housing solutions: rapid-rebuild and shelter-at-home models, mixed-income and mixed-use development, property/lot swaps, innovative zoning and non-traditional housing options, developer and landlord incentives, public-private development partnerships, income waivers for affordable housing, local recovery fund management, and workforce development/recovery jobs programs.


FEMA Region VII and the CPCB RSF look forward to building upon this initial housing workshop and collaborating with the whole community of stakeholders to improve disaster recovery efforts regionally and nationwide. For more information about Recovery Support Functions, visit www.fema.gov/recovery-support-functions.


Attorney Training Offered for State, Local, County, Tribal, Territorial, or Private Non-Profit Attorneys Working Federal Disasters

FEMA’s Office of Chief Counsel’s (OCC) Procurement Disaster Assistance Team (PDAT) informs agency stakeholders and grantees about procurement law practices. On August 17, 2017, OCC's PDAT will conduct a free training designed exclusively for attorneys focused on federal disaster response and recovery.


This training event offers an attorney-only space where attendees are able to ask questions and discuss issues, strategies, and best practices for disaster response and recovery efforts. This one-day event will be held on August 17, 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia, at the FEMA Region IV offices. The training will include two four-hour sessions – a morning FEMA 101 for Lawyers training, and an afternoon on federal procurement standards. Please see the PDAT website, under the “Upcoming Events” dropdown box, for details.


PDAT is comprised of FEMA attorneys who develop and provide procurement training and guidance materials to local, state, tribal, territorial, and private non-profit officials and governments awarded federal grants as they recover from disaster. PDATs also deploy to active federal disasters and provide localized support, where needed.


Disclaimer: PDAT provides guidance about procurements under federal grants. PDAT’s informational website, and the materials posted on it, should not be considered legal advice.


Emergency Management Institute Hosts Training Forums in August

One link. One bridge. Many voices.

FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) is hosting a series of “One Link, One Bridge, Many Voices” e-forums from 3-4 p.m. ET. E-forums are one hour moderated, webinar discussions that provide an opportunity for EMI and the emergency management community to discuss matters of interest on national preparedness training. The forums showcase community partners and peers, sharing their experiences in panel format that offers opportunities to provide technical assistance in training management by facilitating peer-to-peer sharing of best practices. 


On August 9, the e-forum topic will be "The Emergency Management Professional Program: Bringing the Whole Community Together." This e-forum highlights the Emergency Management Professional Program (EMPP) which is comprised of the National Emergency Management Basic, Advanced, and Executive Academies.  FEMA Regional Training Managers Tom Akins (Region VII) and James Taylor (Region VIII), and Stacie Imuta, Training and Exercise Specialist (Region X), will share how they developed progressive training and education systems through the Basic and Advanced Academies.


Additional August e-forums:

- August 16: Public Information Officers: Training Builds Capacity We Are Proud Of

- August 23: Improving Local Recovery: Training as a Success Maker

- August 30: State Training Officer and State Administrative Agent Training Point of Contact: Working Together Achieves Better Outcomes


Participation link: https://fema.connectsolutions.com/emieforums

Conference call-in: 800-320-4330, PIN 107622

Questions: https://training.fema.gov/contactus/sendcomment.aspx


E-forums on Adobe Connect are mobile device accessible. Click here for more information. Participation does not require pre-registration.


National Preparedness Month Is Coming

National Preparedness Month

This September, National Preparedness Month (NPM) will focus on planning, with an overarching theme “Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead. You Can."


We should all take action to prepare. We are all able to help our family, friends, and neighbors in our community by preparing ahead, training how to respond during an emergency, and knowing what to do when disaster strikes — where we live, work, and visit. The goal of NPM is to increase the overall number of individuals, families, and communities that engage in preparedness actions at home, work, business, school, and place of worship.


Each week has an individual focus:

- Week 1 is Make a Plan for Yourself, Family, and Friends.

- Week 2 is Plan to Help Your Neighbor and Community.

- Week 3 is Practice and Build Out Your Plans.

- Week 4 is Get Involved! Be a Part of Something Larger.


Want to be a part of it all? Use the hashtags #NatlPrep and #PlanAhead on social media next month to show off what you do to recognize the month! Get ideas for how you could get involved at ready.gov/september.


Reminder of Upcoming Deadlines

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. 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 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to update guidance for participating communities on satisfying 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 FEMA's Tribal Consultation Policy. First issued in 2014, the policy 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.