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FEMA, and its partners
continue the response to Florence. The risk of rain, winds,
and flash flooding continues through the middle of the week as the system
progresses.
President Donald J. Trump
declared a Major Disaster Friday, Sept. 14 for North Carolina as a result of Florence,
making disaster assistance available to affected individuals in 18 counties. Assistance is also available to state, tribal and local governments and certain non-profit organizations.
A Major Disaster was also declared for South
Carolina on Monday, Sept. 17 making federal funding available to state, tribal, and
eligible local governments and
certain non-profit organizations. Both states are eligible for hazard mitigation
grant assistance. Additional counties may be added to both states following
additional damage assessments.
The response to these storms requires the collective efforts of all levels of government, voluntary agencies, and the private sector. FEMA has captured much of this coordination to date in its FEMA moments.
Due to the ongoing response to Hurricane
Florence, the nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System
and Wireless
Emergency Alerts will now be conducted on the backup date of Oct. 3,
2018.
Oct. 3 was
the previously scheduled back-up date for the test, which was
originally set for Thursday, September 20. A backup date is always planned
in case of widespread severe
weather or other significant events on the primary test date. The WEA
portion of the test will start at 2:18 p.m. EDT on Oct. 3, and the
EAS portion will follow at 2:20 p.m. EDT. The test, being held in
coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will assess the
operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national
message and determine whether technological improvements are needed.
For further information on the test, go to www.fema.gov/emergency-alert-test.
The theme for week three of National Preparedness Month is Check Your Coverage. Consider buying or reviewing insurance coverage that protects you, your family
or business during a disaster.
Review
all of your insurance policies to make sure you’re covered against floods,
earthquakes, tornadoes, or high winds in hurricane-prone areas. Review the Document
and Insure Property guide.
Flood insurance allows communities and families to recover more
quickly and more fully. Visit Floodsmart.gov to
learn more about flood insurance and how to protect your home or business. Remember, flood insurance
takes 30 days to take effect, so act now to protect your family. Keep coverage
for flood insurance,
even if you are no longer making mortgage payments.
FEMA appreciates the support of the Members of Congress who are
serving as 2018 co-sponsors for National Preparedness Month. Throughout
September, the FEMA Bulletin will feature statements
from these members.
Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Chairman, Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Homeland
Security
“While
many of the emergencies and disasters we face are unpredictable, what we do
know is that the risk to lives, livelihoods, and property are even greater if
we are unprepared for these kinds of events. Whether it’s flooding in West
Virginia, fires in California, or hurricanes along the Gulf Coasts, our
communities must be ready to act—including government officials at the federal,
state, and local levels. I’m proud to raise awareness and support efforts to
help ensure we are ready to respond to any situation that may arise.”
Representative Kevin Yoder, Chairman, Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Homeland
Security
“As we saw
in the wake of the devastating events of the past year, citizens are often the
first responders in the wake of a disaster. Across the United States,
we’ve seen hurricanes, and wildfires, and just this last year in the Third
District of Kansas there was flooding that left residents stranded and killed
one of my constituents. This month is National Preparedness Month, a good
reminder that we all must prepare ourselves and our families for floods,
tornados, and other disasters that may occur. Take steps now to be ready for future
disasters: create an emergency plan, learn basic lifesaving skills, and
maintain emergency savings.”
Senator Jon Tester, Ranking Member, Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on
Homeland Security
“Just like
harvest season rolls around every year, you can count on emergencies being a
constant in our lives. And while we can’t prevent every disaster, it just makes
sense to prepare for them now.”
Representative Maxine Waters, Ranking Member, Committee on Financial Services
“In 2017,
for the first time on record, three Category 4 hurricanes made landfall in the
United States and as we enter the peak of the 2018 hurricane season, American
families must be prepared for the economic, social, and physical costs of
increasingly catastrophic weather. As Ranking Member of the House Committee on
Financial Services, I am committed to ensuring that families and businesses are
well-equipped for the devastating impact of natural disasters as I continue to
push for a long-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program
(NFIP). NFIP was created to provide accessible and affordable flood insurance
for millions of families and I’m pleased to participate as a 2018 National
Preparedness Month Congressional Co-Chair to raise awareness of the importance
of flood insurance and other forms of emergency and disaster preparedness.”
Hazard Mitigation Assistance External Stakeholder Working Groups Applications: FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Division membership application for the HMA External Stakeholder Working Group (ESWG) are due Sept. 28, 2018. The purpose of the ESWG is to gain insight, share information, and understand HMA priorities and issues from external stakeholders. FEMA encourages external stakeholders to share their perspectives on HMA priorities, issues, and program resources. The ESWG serves as a bridge between FEMA HMA staff and state, local, tribal, and territory stakeholders. Members act as points of contact for other external stakeholders by gathering inputs, requests, ideas, and suggestions for HMA. HMA is seeking applications for the following vacant membership positions: two FEMA HMA Regional staff representatives; one state / territory representative; one local / regional representative; and one federally recognized tribal representative. Interested applicants should complete and submit an application via email to FEMA-HMA-GRANTS-POLICY@fema.dhs.gov. The application is available for download at www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/126699. Feel free to pass this message along to others who may also be interested and would like to submit an application.
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