FEMA Bulletin Week of January 11, 2021

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FEMA BULLETIN

Week of January 11, 2021

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In this Edition:

Important Dates & Reminders

Jan. 25

Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101 national engagement period concludes. 

FEMA is Accepting Youth Preparedness Council Applications

 

The FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Division is accepting applications for the Youth Preparedness Council. The online application process will open on Jan. 18, and students must complete their applications by 11:59 p.m. PT on March 7. 

 

FEMA is looking for a high-quality selection of applicants in the 8th through 11th grades who reflect the diverse make-up of the nation. The council offers young leaders who are interested in supporting disaster preparedness efforts the opportunity to lead and champion causes that make a difference in their communities.

 

The FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Division seeks self-motivated, preparedness-minded students to join the council to work on national and local preparedness projects. You can help expand the applicant pool by broadcasting information about the application period to your network of youth, community members and partner organizations. Students who are eligible can apply online at Ready.gov

 

If you know a teen interested in preparedness and community service, encourage them to apply. 

 

To learn more about the Youth Preparedness Council, visit Ready.gov.


FEMA Releases 2020 National Preparedness Report

 

FEMA released the 2020 National Preparedness Report, which deals only with actions taken in 2019. In its ninth year, this report presents an updated, risk-focused approach to summarizing the state of national preparedness.

 

The next National Preparedness Report, to be released late in 2021, will explore the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and evaluate the response to it, reflecting the data that becomes available as the incident continues.

 

As an annual requirement of Presidential Policy Directive 8 and consistent with the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act reporting responsibilities, the National Preparedness Report has assessed the nation’s preparedness posture since 2012. This report provides partners across the nation with insights into risks, vulnerabilities and capabilities to support decisions about program priorities, resource allocations and community actions.

 

The report presents a discussion of the risks the nation faces and how those risks drive the nation’s capability requirements, the nation's capabilities to manage risks, including a high-level overview of the nation’s current capabilities. Also, the report includes initial results for the National Risk and Capability Assessment. The assessment meets requirements of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018, which involves tiered, capability-specific performance objectives to assess national preparedness.

 

The 2020 report found that affected communities may not be fully prepared to respond to nationally catastrophic incidents. However, an analysis of shared national capabilities indicates as a whole the nation is closer to achieving its national goals, despite some remaining capability gaps.

 

The report also highlights some of the persistent challenges the nation faces, how the nation is working collectively to solve those challenges and what the nation must continue to do to build on those successes. It also provides a deeper assessment of four identified focus areas: cascading impacts, public-private partnerships, vulnerable populations and housing.


FEMA Announces Firefighters Grant Application Open

 

The funding notice for the Department of Homeland Security/FEMA fiscal year 2020 Assistance to Firefighters Grant program is available. The application period for nearly $320 million in funding will remain open until 5 p.m. ET on Feb. 12.

 

The program enhances the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and fire-related hazards. The program provides direct financial assistance to eligible fire departments, nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations and state fire training academies. The funds provide critically needed resources that equip and train emergency personnel to recognized standards, enhance operational efficiencies, foster interoperability and support community resilience.

 

The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2020 (Pub. L. No.116-93) includes $355 million for the AFG Program and the Fire Prevention and Safety Grant program. Of that amount, $319.5 million will be awarded to assist first-responder organizations that need support to improve their capability to respond to fires and emergencies of all types. The remaining $35.5 million will be awarded under the to-be-announced fiscal year 2020 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant program.

 

FEMA released the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program on Dec. 29. The notice and technical assistance documents for this program are available at Grants.gov and on FEMA.gov. Additional information about upcoming webinars to assist applicants is also available on FEMA.gov.

 

Any applicants requiring assistance should visit that website, send an email to the FEMA AFG Program Help Desk or call (866) 274-0960.


FEMA Approves $3.7 Billion to Rebuild PRASA Facilities in Puerto Rico

 

FEMA recovery operations in Puerto Rico reached another milestone. Over $3.7 billion was obligated to the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority to repair and rebuild over 3,000 facilities. Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator José Baquero Tirado met with Puerto Rico officials on Jan. 5 to make the historic announcement.

 

Besides water treatment plants and thousands of linear feet of sewer and water lines, the island’s main water testing lab will also be rebuilt with a portion of the funds. Likewise, seven facility-owned dams and four reservoirs will be repaired, including drainage systems and sediment removal, among other necessary work.

 

This is the third multibillion-dollar project this year for Hurricane María recovery efforts. In September 2020, $9.5 billion and $2.06 billion were awarded to rebuild the island’s power grid and public schools, respectively. This brings total obligations for Puerto Rico under the Public Assistance program to over $23 billion.

 

For more information on Puerto Rico's recovery from Hurricane Maria, visit FEMA.gov

 

PRASA BTN

FEMA Releases Addendum for the Community Rating System Manual

 

FEMA recently released the Community Rating System 2021 Addendum, a companion guide for the current Coordinator’s Manual. Together, these documents establish and explain various elements of the Community Rating System program including an official description, how the program operates, and how class ratings (Class 10 to Class 1) are determined. The documents will remain effective until a fully revised edition of the Coordinator's Manual is issued in the future.

 

The program provides incentives to encourage local jurisdictions to implement floodplain management best practices that exceed the minimum community-based floodplain management requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. In return, NFIP flood insurance policy holders can receive reductions in their flood insurance premium.

 

With the 2021 Addendum, FEMA incorporates three new opportunities for communities to earn credit for a reduction in NFIP policy premiums. These include:

  • Protecting threatened and endangered species.
  • Mitigating substantial damage.
  • Promoting flood insurance.

In addition, new prerequisites allow for both new credit opportunities and simplification for communities. These prerequisites include:

  • A plan for managing floodplain-related construction certificates (including elevation certificates) to reach Class 9.
  • The implementation of 1-foot of freeboard to reach Class 8. 

For more information, view the 2021 Addendum on the Community Rating System on the FEMA website


FEMA Issues Flood Insurance Annual Reinsurance Placement

 

FEMA completed its 2021 placement of reinsurance to continue the National Flood Insurance Program’s support of resiliency and protection against flood losses. The agency transferred $1.153 billion of the program's financial risk to the private reinsurance market throughout 2021.

 

For this placement, 32 reinsurer companies agreed to indemnify FEMA for flood losses from individual flood events or a named storm. FEMA paid a total premium of $195.8 million for the coverage. The agreement is structured to cover:

  • 9.43% of losses between $4 billion and $6 billion.
  • 28.084% of losses between $6 billion and $8 billion.
  • 20.168% of losses between $8 billion and $10 billion.

To date, FEMA has transferred $5.155 billion of the program's flood risk to the private sector.

 

FEMA would receive qualifying payments only if a named storm event is large enough to trigger both traditional and capital market reinsurance placements. Should a named storm event result in flood insurance claims exceeding $10 billion, FEMA would receive the full $2.353 billion of reinsurance coverage from the private markets.

 

FEMA contracted with Guy Carpenter and Company, a subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies, and Aon Reinsurance Solutions to provide broker services to assist in securing the reinsurance placement.

 

Reinsurance is an important risk management tool used by insurance companies to protect themselves from large financial losses. Public entities also secure reinsurance. Examples of other reinsurance programs include the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation of Florida, the California Earthquake Authority and the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association.

 

 For more information, visit the NFIP Reinsurance Program webpage on FEMA.gov.


DHS Webinar: Preventing Exploitation and Human Trafficking Among Youth in a Pandemic

 

The President issued a proclamation designating January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. To commemorate the month, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives is hosting a webinar from 2 to 3:15 p.m. on Jan. 28.

 

Youth have been impacted by the COVID pandemic in multiple ways, and to help prevent further harm, we are sharing youth prevention strategies and resources to counter the detrimental effects of exploitation and/or modern-day slavery in all of its forms.  

 

Presentations will include:

  • An overview and clinical perspective of youth vulnerability in a COVID environment.
  • Prevention strategies and cultural sensitivities in supporting youth impacted by trauma.
  • A panel discussion with three non-profit youth prevention educational programs.
  • Resources from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Trafficking in Persons youth prevention education program.
  • Resources from the DHS Blue Campaign youth prevention guide.


How to Join the Webinar: 

 

A recording of the webinar will be sent by email to all registered participants in case they are unable to attend or wish to share it.

TVPA Webinar Graphic

FEMA Issues Modification of Allocation Order on Exports of Scarce Health and Medical Resources

 

FEMA published a Temporary Final Rule in the Federal Register on Dec. 31 that allocated certain scarce and critical health and medical resources for domestic use to ensure needs are met for the American public during the COVID-19 pandemic. This modifies a rule that was published in the spring and updated in the summer of 2020 to reflect changing circumstances of supply and demand. This rule will remain in effect, with certain modifications, through June 30.  

 

Changes were made to the types of exports of Personal Protective Equipment that FEMA will review and may hold for domestic use.  Specifically, FEMA narrowed the scope of the surgical masks subject to the order. Additionally, the agency added certain types of syringes and hypodermic needles – those that may be needed specifically for COVID-19 vaccinations.

 

The following health and medical resources are now subject to this rule:

  • Surgical N95 Respirators.
  • Surgical masks, specifically PPE surgical masks that meet fluid barrier protection standards pursuant to specific industry standards.
  • Nitrile gloves and exam gloves.
  • Surgical Gowns and Surgical Isolation Gowns.
  • Syringes and hypodermic needles.
  • Piston syringes.
  • Hypodermic single lumen needles with a safety feature.

 

FEMA’s Export Cargo Review Working Group, which includes representatives from Customs and Border Protection, the Department of State, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration, will review shipments regularly and continue to evaluate the categories of health and medical resources to be included in the rule every two weeks. As needed, the working group will submit requests to the Unified Coordination Group and White House Task Force to make modifications to the Temporary Final Rule.

 

For more information, please review the rule published in the Federal Register or go to the FEMA Fact Sheet.

 

Questions about a specific shipment should be directed to Customs and Border Protection.  

 

Questions about the allocation order and Notification of Exemptions in the Federal Register may be directed to FEMA National Business Emergency Operations Center at NBEOC@max.gov. 


FEMA 2021 Preparedness Calendar Now Available

Ready

 

The Ready 2021 Preparedness Calendar is a planning tool that marks preparedness activities and provides customizable resources to help promote preparedness throughout the year. These materials are free and can be adapted to address hazards that can impact your local area.

 

To download the calendar, visit the FEMA website. For more information on how you can resolve to be ready for the new year, visit the FEMA Blog.


FEMA Seeks Feedback on Incident Complexity Guide

 

The FEMA National Integration Center is seeking feedback on the 2021 NIMS Incident Complexity Guide: Planning, Preparedness and Training. This national engagement period will conclude at 5 p.m. ET on Feb. 12. National engagement provides an opportunity for interested parties to comment on the draft document ensuring that it is relevant for all implementing partners.

 

The National Incident Management System is a key component of U.S. incident management efforts and enables organizations nationwide to work together during incidents of all kinds and sizes. Implementing the National Incident Management System across the nation is a fundamental part of building our national preparedness. FEMA identified the need to construct the 2021 NIMS Incident Complexity Guide to be used for the purpose of planning, preparedness and training and not as a decision-making tool during a response. This guide assists incident and emergency management personnel in identifying the complexity level for an incident or event. Knowledge of the complexity level helps in the management of a disaster, incident or event that requires deployable mutual aid.

 

To provide comments on the drafts, complete the feedback form and submit the form to the FEMA National Integration Center.

 

To review this document, visit FEMA.gov.

 

The National Integration Center will host a series of 60-minute webinars to discuss the NIMS Incident Complexity Guide and answer related questions. All webinars are open to the whole community.

 

Each stakeholder webinar will cover the same information; choose the session most convenient for you. Advance registration is required due to space limitations. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, click on your preferred webinar session from the list below.

 

 

If you require accommodations to participate in these events, please provide details in the Disability Related Accommodations field on the registration page, or contact the FEMA National Integration Center.

 

Please make accommodation requests as early as possible. Late requests will be accepted, but they may not be possible to fulfill.


FEMA Holds Disability Stakeholder Call on Personal Assistance Services

 

In June 2020, FEMA released the Mass Care/Emergency Assistance Pandemic Planning Considerations Guide to help state, local, tribal and territorial partners provide shelter services and maintain the health and well-being of disaster survivors and workers in a pandemic environment.

 

FEMA recently released a Personal Assistance Service Addendum to the original guidance that will assist state, local, tribal and territorial partners in anticipating and attending to the needs of people with disabilities.

 

Personal assistance services are provided to individuals of all ages with physical, sensory, intellectual, learning and/or other disabilities to help with activities of daily living, such as grooming, eating, bathing, toileting, dressing, taking medication and communicating. Personal Assistance services also help people with disabilities access programs and services.

 

Join the Office of Disability Integration and Coordination call on Jan. 27 at 1 p.m. ET to learn more about how providing personal assistance services at the onset of a disaster sheltering mission can reduce health and safety risks for people with disabilities:

  • Call: 800-289-0459
  • Participant Passcode: 401190

At the start time of the event, please login to the event.

 

Please send questions to be addressed during the call to FEMA by Jan. 25.


Editor's Note: 2020 By the Numbers Correction

 

A previous version of FEMA Bulletin included a graphic that indicated incorrect funds for firefighter grants. To see the updated graphic, visit the FEMA Blog


Upcoming Deadlines and Reminders

 

FEMA Seeks Public Comment on Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101

 

FEMA seeks feedback on the updated “Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101: Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans,” which provides guidance on developing emergency operations plans and promotes a common understanding of the fundamentals of community-based, risk-informed planning and decision making to help planners examine a threat or hazard and produce integrated, coordinated and synchronized plans.

 

FEMA updated this guidance recently to align with new and updated policies and programs, providing additional tools and maintaining the flexibility and scalability of the document while expanding on the role of whole community partners.

 

FEMA will host a series of 60-minute webinar sessions to discuss changes to the updated guide and gather feedback from whole community partners. The sessions will include facilitated discussions with stakeholders to help improve the existing draft. A line numbered version of the CPG 101 is available to allow individuals to provide comments on specific areas within the document.

 

This national engagement period concludes at 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 25. 

 

To review the document and learn more about the webinar sessions, visit the FEMA.gov.

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FEMA Announces $40 million for Flood Mitigation Grants

 

FEMA announced an additional $40 million in funding is available for the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Flood Mitigation Assistance grant program. This increases the funding amount for Fiscal Year 2020 from $160 million to $200 million. The increase in funding is a result of recovered funds – available funds for projects from previous grant cycles that were completed under budget or were not implemented. 

 

The notice of funding opportunity is updated with the new grant amount. Additional details such as eligibility, funding guidelines and evaluation criteria have not changed and are available on FEMA.gov.

 

Eligible applicants must apply for funding using the new FEMA Grants Outcome, or FEMA GO. All applications must be submitted in the FEMA Go Portal no later than 3 p.m. ET on Jan. 29. Applications received by FEMA after this deadline will not be considered for funding.

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National Dam Safety Technical Seminar

 

Registration is open for the 28th Annual National Dam Safety Program Technical Seminar, “Risk Informed Decision Making and Benefit Cost Analysis for Dam and Levee Projects.”  This seminar will be held virtually on FEMA Adobe Connect from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET on Feb. 16 - 19. Participants encouraged to apply include all dam and levee safety professionals, including Public and Private Dam owners/operators, Dam Safety Engineers, Land Use planners and emergency management officials.

 

Visit the Emergency Management Institute website to register for this seminar.

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