FEMA approved $53.7 million in low-interest
Community Disaster Loans (CDL) to 12 municipalities in Puerto Rico. The funds
will be used to assist these communities with providing necessary services and
perform essential municipal functions as they recover from the aftermath of
hurricanes Irma and María.
On
Oct. 26, 2017, President Trump signed supplemental appropriations funding
permitting the transfer of up to $4.6 billion to FEMA’s Community Disaster Loan
Program. CDLs help local governments continue to provide
essential operating services after a major disaster. These funds will
help Puerto Rico municipalities continue performing essential government
functions as they recover from hurricanes Irma and Maria.
To date, the municipalities that will benefit
from the Community Disaster Loan Program are: Bayamon, Caguas,
Humacao, Juncos, Ponce, Río Grande, Sábana Grande, Salinas, San Lorenzo, Toa
Baja, Trujillo Alto and Yabucoa. Another 65 municipalities are in different
stages of the application process.
For more information on Hurricane
María recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4339.
A young boy carries the Puerto Rico flag up a dirt road near the Arecibo River to his home in the Rio Abajo region of Utuado. Photo by Andrea Booher.
FEMA updated the Threat and Hazard
Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA)/Stakeholder Preparedness Review
(SPR) methodology for the 2018 submission cycle. Fiscal Year 18 (FY18) Tribal Homeland Security
Grant Program (THSGP) recipients will be required to complete both the THIRA
and SPR, but only for eight core capabilities in 2018.
Communities use the THIRA to better
understand their risks and determine the level of capability needed to address
those risks. Communities use the SPR to estimate their current capabilities,
identify capability gaps and their intended approaches for addressing them, and
report the impact of FEMA grants on building and sustaining their capabilities.
Communities can use their THIRA and SPR data to support a variety of emergency
management efforts, including planning, training, exercises, and response and recovery
operations.
FEMA is hosting two webinars to help
Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP) recipients understand the new
methodology and reporting requirements. These webinars will also include an
opportunity for participants to ask questions about the updated methodology and
reporting cycle. The conference line and Adobe Connect information are below:
WHAT: FEMA Webinar on Changes to the THIRA and SPR for Tribes
WHO: FEMA National Preparedness Assessment Division
WHEN: Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at
4:00 PM EDT
or
Thursday, April 12, 2018
at 12:00 PM EDT
PARTICIPANT
INFORMATION
Dial
in:
800-320-4330
Participant
passcode: 671556
Adobe Connect: https://fema.connectsolutions.com/rer0n9ep6t3e/
Please sign in as a “Guest” and remember to mute your line if not speaking.
Test
your Adobe Connect connection prior to the meeting by clicking here.
In the meantime, please feel free to reach out
to the THIRA/SPR Helpdesk by email (FEMA-SPR@fema.dhs.gov)
or by phone (202-786-9576) if you have any questions.
FEMA is
pleased to announce the release of the 2017 Annual
Report of the Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate (OFIA). The report is
intended to increase transparency, and to support the ongoing improvements to
the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) with the goal of reducing its
complexity. A copy of the Annual Report and Summary can be found on FEMA’s
website at www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-flood-insurance-advocate.
In 2017, the OFIA identified
eight primary policyholder and property owner challenges, which include
recommendations that present opportunities for reducing the complexity of FEMA:
- Challenges to customer communication during the claims process;
- Effectiveness of map change communications;
- Misunderstandings regarding
Zone A;
- Lack of premium reduction following a lower-level abandonment of a building;
- Basement determination made at
the time of loss;
- Lack of refunds for duplicate coverage with private insurance;
- Severe repetitive loss mitigation; and,
- Lenders requiring coverage where a claim would not be paid.
New to this year’s
report is the identification of two external trends (affordability and the complexity of the NFIP) that may require legislative or funding action
solutions to resolve. The issues
identified in this report are based on the observations of the roughly 500
inquiries the Office received, about 25 percent more than last year’s total.
OFIA's mission is to advocate for
the fair treatment of policyholders and property owners by providing education
and guidance on all aspects of the NFIP, identifying trends affecting the
public, and making recommendations for program improvements to FEMA leadership.
Policyholders and property owners who are confused and frustrated may seek
assistance from the OFIA by visiting their webpage and clicking on “Ask the Advocate”.
FEMA launched the first
phase of the new FloodSmart.gov website.
The updates to FloodSmart.gov
incorporates social science and website usage research as well as best
practices for a streamlined and customer-centric experience. The next phase of
the website launch will include insurance agent toolkits, social media templates,
marketing tools, and flood map change toolkits.
FEMA’s National
Integration Center released for public feedback a number of National
Incident Management System (NIMS) Resource Management component documents
that will enhance interoperability and the effectiveness of mutual aid. This National Engagement
Period will conclude at 5 p.m. EDT on May 9, 2018. The National Engagement
Period provides an opportunity for interested parties to comment on newly
developed supplemental guidance.
NIMS provides a nationwide
approach to resource management, enabling stakeholders to work together to
manage all threats and hazards, regardless of the incident’s cause or size. FEMA developed and released in
May 2017 the National
Qualification System (NQS), which provides a foundational guideline on the
qualification of personnel resources within the NIMS framework, plus supporting
tools. FEMA has now crafted two new NIMS Job Titles/Position Qualifications and
accompanying Position Task Books, 17 EOC Skillsets, and an accompanying NIMS
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Skillsets User Guide.
The NQS supporting tools
for the NIMS Resource Management Component are for use by all levels of
government and organizations – including private-sector entities and non-governmental
organizations – with incident management and support responsibilities.
FEMA will host a series of 60-minute webinars to discuss the NQS
supplemental guidance and answer questions. The first of these webinars is
Thursday, April 12, beginning at 2 p.m. ET. For more information, go to
the NIMS National
Engagement webpage.
Save
for a rainy day because you never know when it may pour.
Begin saving for your financial
future during the second week of National
Financial Capability Month, April 8-14. Learn how to create a rainy day
fund to cover emergency expenses, prepare yourself financially and deal with debt.
FEMA and the U.S. Department of the Treasury will focus on financial preparedness
throughout the month. Share the content in the Financial Preparedness Social
Media Toolkit and use #FinancialFuture2018 to join the conversation. FEMA
will host a Twitter Chat with @Prepareathon
on Wednesday, April 11 at 1 p.m. ET to share ways to prepare for your financial
future.
On Wednesday, April 18 at 3
p.m. ET, join the Facebook
Live – Money: Build it, Grow It, and Secure It to:
- Hear stories of people overcoming financial challenges;
- Discuss practical tips to planning, budgeting, saving, and protecting
assets;
- Highlight what organizations are doing to help community members improve
their financial well-being; and
- Provide resources to help individuals and families improve their
financial future.
Find out more by following
#FinancialFuture2018 and visiting Ready.gov/financial-preparedness
or MyMoney.gov.
Are you interested in spreading
the word about financial preparedness within your community this April? Please
visit Ready.gov/financial-toolkit
to borrow sample messages and graphics.
FEMA released the Continuity Guidance Circular (CGC)
following a
nationwide, whole community effort to review and revise the guidance. The
CGC guides efforts to develop and
maintain the capability to ensure continuity of operations, continuity of government, and
enduring constitutional government during an emergency that disrupts normal
operations. Development and
maintenance of continuity capabilities helps build and sustain a more resilient
nation that is equipped to sustain essential functions and core capabilities
and deliver critical services under all conditions.
Last revised in 2013, the CGC describes federal and non-federal
continuity efforts; outlines whole community continuity roles,
responsibilities, and coordinating structures; and describes the process for
building and maintaining capabilities to ensure the performance of essential
functions and delivery of critical services and core capabilities.
Organizations and governments at all levels can draw upon
the CGC as a reference when creating or revising continuity plans, programs,
and processes. Many jurisdictions and organizations already have an existing
continuity program and plan, and will use the Circular to refine capabilities
and processes.
FEMA
offers training, technical assistance, and outreach to assist organizations and
governments develop and maintain a continuity plan and program and implement
the concepts found within the CGC. The
Continuity Resource Toolkit, found at www.fema.gov/continuity-resource-toolkit,
contains these additional tools, templates, and resources. Please direct
additional inquiries to FEMA-CGC@fema.dhs.gov.
Staffing for Adequate and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants Application Period
The application period for the Fiscal Year 2017 Staffing for Adequate Fire and
Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants is open, with $345
million in funding available to enhance the ability of recipients
to attain and maintain 24-hour fire department staffing and to assure that
their communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards. Applications
are being accepted through 5 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 27, 2018.
Volunteer, career, and combination fire departments
are eligible to apply under the Hiring of Firefighters. Municipalities and fire
districts may submit applications on behalf of fire departments when the fire
department lacks the legal status to do so, e.g., when the fire department
falls within the auspices of the municipality or district. Eligibility for Recruitment
and Retention of Firefighters funding is limited to volunteer and
combination fire departments. National, state, local, or tribal organizations
representing the interests of volunteer firefighters and individual fire
departments (volunteer or combination) may apply for assistance for regional
projects.
Property Acquisition Open Space Collection Comment Period
FEMA recently listed a Federal Register Notice
for public comments about information collection. In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning the
process of property acquisition and relocation for open space as part of FEMA's
mitigation grant programs, monitoring requirements after a receiving a grant,
and a direct grant to property owners for acquisition and demolition of severe
repetitive loss structures. Comments may be submitted through the Federal
Register at www.federalregister.gov/d/2018-03949 until April 30, 2018.
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