The scale and
severity of disasters is growing and straining the capabilities of all levels
of government. The 2017 disaster season demonstrated that FEMA must work
closer with its government partners to build capabilities to deliver faster,
more tailored assistance directly where it is needed.
Beginning
this week, North Carolina is the first state participate in the FEMA
Integration Team (FIT) program. FEMA currently provides on-site and virtual
technical assistance to SLTT partners through the FEMA Regions across program
areas, but most staff are not co-located with the customers they serve. The FIT
program, as outlined in the FEMA 2018-2022 Strategic
Plan,
gives FEMA the opportunity to rethink the way it employs the Agency’s
workforce.
The FIT program will embed FEMA
staff with emergency management
partners to enhance the customer experience, build more resilient communities,
and increase state, local, tribal, and territorial capabilities to prepare for, mitigate against, respond to,
and recover from disasters.
FIT
staff members will be arriving in Raleigh, North Carolina this week to begin
their work with the state of North Carolina.
On
April 11, FEMA released the “Public Assistance Alternative Procedures Guide for
Permanent Work (Section 428)” document specifically for permanent work projects
in Puerto Rico. Using
these procedures, FEMA will develop fixed-cost project estimates in
collaboration with Puerto Rico and applicants. All projects will be funded at a
90 percent federal cost share and the projects must be identified and estimates
agreed to within the next 18 months.
Puerto Rico Gov.
Ricardo Rossello elected to participate in alternative procedures for all
permanent work resulting from Hurricane Maria in order to expedite assistance
and provide maximum flexibility during the recovery effort. Applicants will
have the flexibility to use funding across all eligible projects to best meet
their recovery needs, and alternate projects will not be subject to cost-share
reductions that occur under the traditional Public Assistance program.
Additionally, applicants will be allowed to use any excess funds towards
eligible mitigation projects or other activities to improve future Public
Assistance operations or planning.
Alternative procedures
were first implemented following Hurricane Sandy as part of the Sandy Recovery
Improvement Act that Congress passed in January 2013. Since then, $10.8 billion
has been estimated and obligated for 259 eligible recovery projects across 28
states using the procedures.
In
Puerto Rico, an independent expert panel will review all fixed estimates that
are more than $5 million, or at the applicant’s request for review. Both FEMA
and Puerto Rico will have representatives who serve on the independent panel.
For more information on Hurricane María
recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4339.
On April 17, FEMA released
an Affordability Framework for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP),
which for the first time provides data-driven analysis of the cost burden borne
by flood insurance policyholders and potential policyholders, identifies the
populations most burdened by the cost of flood insurance, and provides options
for policymakers to consider to help close the flood insurance gap across the
nation by reducing the cost burden of flood insurance.
Through the Biggert-Waters
Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 and the Homeowner Flood Insurance
Affordability Act of 2014, Congress directed FEMA to examine options to aid
individuals so they could afford risk-based premiums under the National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP), and to develop a framework to help policymakers
consider how to provide targeted assistance to policyholders and potential
policyholders.
In the Affordability
Framework, FEMA proposes several options based on income and offers descriptive
models of the cost of each option. The following tasks were
considered:
- Understand the
affordability of the current NFIP portfolio as a baseline to better understand
the impact of changes going forward.
- Begin the process of
building the affordability framework.
- Complete the process of
building an affordability framework.
As part of FEMA’s 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, FEMA is
working to close the insurance gap with the assistance of both public and
private insurers. As the largest provider of flood insurance in the United
States, the NFIP is working to double the number of properties covered by flood
insurance from the current 4 million to 8 million by 2023.
The Affordability
Framework is available online at www.FEMA.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-publications.
FEMA’s National Continuity Programs will host a webinar on
Thursday, April 19 to highlight the updates made this year to the Continuity Guidance Circular
(CGC), as
well as the importance of having a continuity plan. The webinar, “The
Continuity Guidance Circular: Continuity Planning Guidance for the Whole Community,”
will feature the Continuity of Operations Coordinator for Texas Department of Transportation Jamie Hahn, discussing his agency’s continuity plans and how
continuity principles from the CGC are integrated into continuity programs; and the Continuity of Operations Administrator for the Nebraska
Department of Administrative Services Troy A. Paisley, sharing a real-world activation of the
Nebraska Department of Insurance’s continuity plan.
FEMA released the revised CGC on March 22, 2018. The document 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.
Please direct additional inquiries to FEMA-CGC@fema.dhs.gov.
When:
Thursday,
April 19, 2018
Time:
2 p.m. - 3 p.m. ET
How to participate:
- Webinar: https://share.dhs.gov/ncwapril2018/
- Audio Conference: Dial-In Number:
1-800-320-4330 PIN: 810953#
FEMA, in
partnership with the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Financial
Literacy and Education Commission (FLEC), celebrates National Financial
Capability Month by reminding individuals and families that the time to prepare
for the financial cost of unexpected emergencies is long before an emergency
happens.
An
important part of financial planning for natural disasters is having homeowners
or renters insurance coverage that is specific to the risks associated with
your region, such as floods, high winds from tornados and hurricanes, or
earthquakes.
Having
hazard-specific insurance, especially flood insurance, is essential to
recovering quickly from a disaster. Talk with your insurer or agent about your
car, home, or rental insurance coverage. Everyone should know what coverage
they have and if there are any shortfalls.
Be aware that most
homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover flood losses. Also, flood insurance
takes 30 days to take effect, so act now to protect your family. Homeowners or
renters can purchase flood insurance through an insurance agent or an insurer
participating in the National
Flood Insurance Program. Information on flood insurance is available
at FloodSmart.gov.
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 www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness
or MyMoney.gov.
FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Virtual Tabletop
Exercise (VTTX) Program will offer three cyber security breach scenarios June 5,
6, and 7. The
VTTX occurs 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET. To participate, send an email to
Doug Kahn at douglas.kahn@fema.dhs.gov or call 301-447-7645. Also, send a courtesy copy email
to the Integrated Emergency Management Branch at fema-emi-iemb@fema.dhs.gov or call 301-447-1381.
Content is the same each day and
participants would attend only one session. Additional information is available
at https://training.fema.gov/programs/emivttx.aspx.
The VTTX:
- Is designed to examine the ability of federal, state, local,
tribal, and territorial jurisdictions to a respond to a cyber attack
- Involves key personnel discussing simulated scenarios in an
informal setting
- Can be used to assess plans, policies, training, and
procedures during a cyber attack
Each month, EMI conducts a VTTX series using a Video
Teleconference (VTC) platform to reach community-based training audiences
around the country by providing a virtual forum for interactive disaster
training. The VTTX is designed for a group of 10 or more
representatives from state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency management
communities of practice. It provides a unique opportunity for responders across
the Nation to simultaneously participate in a hazard-specific, facilitated
discussion. Participants will need to connect via a site equipped with the
appropriate VTC capability (not Adobe Connect or FaceTime-based), but alternate
ways to participate are also available upon request.
FEMA Invites Whole Community to Participate in Historic National Level Exercise
FEMA
is conducting its 2018
National Level Exercise (NLE) for the whole community, inviting government
agencies, private sector and non-profit organizations, and individuals to
participate in the biennial exercise. The exercise, taking place April 30 – May
11, 2018, represents a key step towards implementing FEMA’s recently released 2018-2022 Strategic Plan.
Hurricanes
Harvey, Irma, and Maria last fall reinforced our need to prepare for
hurricanes, and NLE 2018 provides a well-timed opportunity to apply lessons
from those storms in advance of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season, which
begins on June 1.
There
are many ways for individuals, businesses, and community organizations to
participate in NLE 2018 and get better prepared for hurricanes. If you live or
do business in an area vulnerable to hurricanes, it is important that you
understand your risk, develop a preparedness plan, and take
action. Find resources to prepare for hurricanes, as well as fact sheets and
toolkits, at www.fema.gov/nle.
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.
FEMA Seeks Feedback on National Incident Management System Resource Management Documents
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.
Apply for National Emergency Management Advanced and Executive Academies
FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) is accepting applications until May 15, 2018 for the National Emergency Management Advanced Academy and the National Emergency Management Executive Academy.
For more information and to apply for the Advanced Academy, go to https://training.fema.gov/empp/applytoadvancedacademy.aspx or contact fema-empp-advanced-academy@fema.dhs.gov. For the Executive Academy, go to https://training.fema.gov/empp/applytoexecutiveacademy.aspx or contact fema-empp-executive-academy@fema.dhs.gov.
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