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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) put out a call for ideas and suggestions from its stakeholders across public and private sectors familiar with or interested in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the DHS' mission.
Input can be submitted in the form of questions, hypotheses or problems focused on any area of the DHS' work.
Contributions made will inform the DHS' selection of priority questions critical to the mission of the agency. Selected priority questions will guide development of specific proposals and plans for research, policy analysis, performance measurement or program evaluation studies DHS will conduct in the next five years.
Submit suggestions by visiting the Federal Register (86 FR 8921).
One year after a damaging earthquake affected Magna, Utah, FEMA and Utah’s Emergency Management Agency released the Wasatch Front Unreinforced Masonry Risk Reduction Strategy. The document addresses the seismic risks posed by unreinforced masonry structures. It is estimated that nearly 140,000 various structures of individual homes, businesses, schools and houses of worship fit this description.
Unreinforced masonry was a common building material throughout Utah until seismic building codes became more prevalent in the 1970s. These brittle brick buildings do not incorporate the reinforcing steel required by modern building codes. During seismic movement, the shaking can cause buildings to crumble and pose a threat to people inside, as well as those in close proximity outside the structure.
This strategy leverages resources and case studies from Utah and other seismically vulnerable areas. Building upon past and current earthquake mitigation successes, this report was developed to be actionable by recommending best practices in identifying unreinforced masonry buildings, designing retrofits and developing and implementing locally appropriate risk reduction programs.
The strategy guide includes several recommendations for implementation by local communities throughout Utah to address unreinforced masonry buildings, including:
- School risk as well as a statewide risk reduction program.
- Retrofit program focused on government-owned unreinforced masonry structures.
- Utah State Construction Code Enhancements and Construction Code – Local Amendments.
The interagency National Mitigation Investment Strategy group, led by FEMA, selected the Wasatch Front Unreinforced Masonry Risk Reduction Strategy as a pilot project for a national effort to reduce seismic risk damage and find solutions to address it. The collaborative approach in this strategy resource is intended to support and guide the development of unreinforced masonry risk reduction programs across the United States. The strategy is written to provide state and local policymakers with a list of actions to take as soon as possible.
Four agencies contributed to this co-branded strategic resource including FEMA, Utah Division of Emergency Management, Utah Seismic Safety Commission and the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program. The full document is available on the Seismic Building Codes webpage on FEMA.gov.
FEMA is now in the award selection process for the Flood Mitigation Assistance and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant programs.
A total of $700 million in funding is available, including $200 million through the Flood Mitigation Assistance grant program. In addition, $500 million of pre-disaster mitigation funding is available for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program, which includes $20 million set-aside for tribal applications.
The interest in these grant programs exceeds the amount of funding available. FEMA received nearly $3.6 billion in applications for Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grants and nearly $400 million for the Flood Mitigation Assistance program. This interest demonstrates the true need for hazard mitigation in the United States.
In addition, the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program has convened national review panels to conduct qualitative reviews of sub-applications that were submitted to a national competition. The virtual panels include more than 400 volunteers from states, local, tribal, territorial governments and other federal agencies. The panels are reviewing sub-applications from March 8 - April 2, 2021. Using established qualitative criteria, the panelists will review and score sub-applications based on the degree to which they meet the six BRIC qualitative evaluation criteria. To review the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Annual Grant Cycle submissions and for more information on the criteria, background, evaluation process and scoring, go to FEMA.gov.
Summary: Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities Sub-Application Submissions
- A new high total of sub-applications received for the pre-disaster mitigation program: 980 sub-applications.
- For this grant cycle, $500 million is available, and FEMA received requests for $3.6 billion in applications, with total proposed project costs exceeding $5.49 billion.
- Tribes submitted 62 sub-applications requesting an estimated $20.2 million in funding.
Summary: Flood Mitigation Assistance Sub-Application Submissions
- A new high total in sub-applications to date for this program: 236 sub-applications.
- For Fiscal Year 2020, $200 million is available. FEMA received requests for $472 million in applications, with total proposed project costs exceeding $393 million.
- One tribal application requesting an estimated $512,460 million in funding.
FEMA updated the online FIRMette Web tool, which provides simple downloads of a Flood Insurance Rate Map which a user can print. The updated tool will have similar capabilities as before but with a modernized and more user-friendly interface. Visit FEMA.gov for instructions on how to use the new tool and to create a FIRMette.
The FIRMette web tool helps FEMA provide digital flood maps to millions of users each year through the Map Service Center. The FIRMette web tool has generated about 20 million FIRMettes since its introduction and continues to be an important application for Map Service Center users.
In 2002, FEMA scanned the entire paper flood map inventory and introduced the first version of the FIRMette Web tool. This early version of the tool allowed users to create an official map that could be printed rather than ordered by mail. In 2018, FEMA introduced the Dynamic Map tool that allows users to create a FIRMette directly from the National Flood Hazard Layer, which ensures that FIRMettes are produced with accurate and up-to-date information. Today, 84% of the FIRMettes are produced directly from the Dynamic Map tool.
FEMA is updating its eligible medical care interim policy and will begin processing eligible projects with a 100 percent federal cost share. This increase in Public Assistance funding further reduces the financial burden placed on states, tribes and territories as they undertake actions to save lives in response to COVID-19.
FEMA is committed to the equitable distribution of pandemic response and recovery efforts. This policy includes provisions necessary to support state, local, tribal and territorial governments by minimizing their cost-share, expanding assistance for medical care and embedding fair practices to demonstrate unburdened access to communities in need. For eligible work performed between January 20, 2021 and September 30, 2021, FEMA is funding the entire cost of the emergency protective measures made eligible by this policy with a 100 percent cost share. For previously awarded projects, FEMA will obligate additional funding to increase the federal funding from 75 percent to 100 percent.
This interim policy is applicable to eligible PA Recipients and Subrecipients only and is exclusive to emergency and major disaster declarations for COVID-19. This revision supersedes the version of this policy issued on May 9, 2020.
FEMA awarded $110 million in supplemental humanitarian funding to the National Board for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.
These funds are for local social services that provided assistance to individuals and families encountered by the Department of Homeland Security at the southern U.S. border. Advance funding may also be available to eligible applicants offering these services.
Local nonprofit, faith-based and governmental entities that have served individuals and families at the southern border with shelter, food and supportive services are eligible to apply. Applications will be completed by local entities and submitted to Emergency Food and Shelter Program local boards. State government facilities that provided eligible direct services will apply through their program state set-aside committee.
Additional information including local board and state set-aside committee contacts is available on the Emergency Food and Shelter Program website. Organizations may also send an email request to suppfund@uww.unitedway.org or call at 703-706-9660 to obtain local board and state set-aside contact information.
All applications will be evaluated competitively. Reimbursements addressing humanitarian needs such as life sustaining food and shelter expenses will be given priority.
FEMA is pleased to announce release of the Five Years of Advocacy Report from the Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate.
The report is available on FEMA.gov. It highlights five years of the National Flood Insurance Program’s progress to provide transparency, reduce complexity and support other improvements.
Highlights include:
- Executive Summary with a COVID-19 Update
- History of the Office
- Highlights and Contributions
- Interview with the Advocate
- Looking Forward
- Program Progress Highlights
The Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate continues to outline topics to improve the customer experience. This year’s topics areas include:
- Installment Plan Options
- Condominium Coverage
- Unnumbered A Zones
- Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Qualification
- Lender Requirements
FEMA Stakeholder Call on Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. It is an opportunity to highlight the contributions and needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Intellectual and developmental disabilities are a broad category of often lifelong disabilities that can be intellectual, physical or both and can negatively affect the trajectory of the individual’s development.
Join the FEMA Office of Disability Integration and Coordination and its partners at 1 p.m. ET on March 24 to learn about the importance of including people with developmental disabilities in emergency preparedness, response and recovery planning efforts.
To attend the stakeholder call, dial: 888-204-4368
Participant Passcode: 2632608
Register in advance for the meeting. Closed captioning services for the event will also be provided.
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FEMA Accepting Spring Nominations for Exercise Assistance
The FEMA National Exercise Division is now accepting Spring 2021 exercise assistance nominations to the National Exercise Program (NEP). Spring nomination submissions are due by April 1 and decisions will be sent by May 3. Submit the nomination form and any supporting documentation to the National Exercise Division. The NEP will hold additional exercise nomination rounds in Fall of 2021 and Spring of 2022.
Watch the NEP Spring Nominations Overview Webinar recording for more information.
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Sign-Up to Make a Difference With FEMA
The FEMA and AmeriCorps partnership program, FEMA Corps, is seeking talented and enthusiastic adults between 18 – 26 years old to serve the country before, during and after disasters.
FEMA Corps is a volunteer service program to give young adults the chance to be exposed to and work in the field of emergency management. Over the course of 12 months, FEMA Corps works to assist communities prepare for and respond to disasters. Members will travel across the country to assist in FEMA’s mission. Many FEMA Corps alumni go on to become professionals at FEMA and other levels of government.
Applications are now open for the summer class of FEMA Corps and will close on April 1 for team lead positions and will close April 15 for member positions.
Go to AmeriCorps.gov or FEMA.gov to learn more. For questions, contact fema-corps-program@fema.dhs.gov.
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FEMA is Participating in Networking Opportunities
FEMA is hosting and participating in free hiring events. Eligible applicants are encouraged to join an event to explore federal career opportunities.
Jewish Council on Aging 50+ Virtual Employment Expos-Montgomery County -
- 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. ET, March 23
US Veterans Chamber of Commerce Job Fair
- 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET, March 24
See a list of upcoming hiring events and learn more by visiting our FEMA Careers web page.
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