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October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This is an annual, national campaign to increase awareness and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities.
This year's theme, "America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion," encourages us to commemorate the many contributions people with disabilities made during the nation’s ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. National Disability Employment Awareness Month is also an opportunity to reflect on the importance of fostering a community that is inclusive for all and to reassure FEMA’s commitment to dignity and respect in the workplace.
FEMA is one of the leaders in the Department of Homeland Security for employing individuals with targeted disabilities. FEMA values the diversity, unique experiences and abilities our employees bring to FEMA and the people we serve.
Visit FEMA's YouTube page for a video from a disability integration specialist who helps FEMA do what it takes to serve the needs of people with disabilities.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month is led by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy but is observed at the grassroots level across the nation every year. Employers and employees can learn more about how to participate in National Disability Employment Awareness Month during October and throughout the year by going to dol.gov/NDEAM
Do you know what to do when an earthquake occurs?
Earthquakes can happen anywhere, which is why everyone should know how to protect themselves should an earthquake occur. Join the emergency management community on Oct. 21 to participate in International ShakeOut Day.
Every year, ShakeOut Day is the third Thursday in October and is a day of individual and community events featuring the largest earthquake drill ever, organized to inspire others to get ready for big earthquakes and to prevent disasters from becoming catastrophes.
What we do to prepare now before the next big earthquake will determine how well we can survive and recover. ShakeOut will occur in houses, workplaces, schools and public spaces at 10:21 a.m. local time on Oct. 21.
Visit the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills YouTube page for resources designed specifically for:
- Those with a mobility disability.
- If you are in bed.
- If you are near the shore.
Register at ShakeOut.org/register and be sure to include your family, friends and colleagues. Registered participants will receive information on how to prepare for earthquakes and what actions to take during and after the shaking, as well as other ShakeOut news and updates. You can also see who else is participating in your community at ShakeOut.org/whoisparticipating.
For additional earthquake preparedness information, visit Ready.gov/earthquakes.
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FEMA recently updated the Fiscal Year 2022 per capita indicator amounts.
These amounts regulate the minimum and maximum awards amounts for various grants through the agency’s Individual Assistance and Public Assistance programs. They also outline the amounts used to calculate disaster declarations for local, state, tribal and territorial governments.
The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act prescribes that FEMA adjust these limits annually. FEMA based the adjustments on a Sept. 14 increase in the U.S. Department of Labor Consumer Price Index.
For any single emergency or major disaster declared on or after Oct. 1:
- Maximum amount of Individuals and Households Program financial assistance for Housing Assistance: $37,900.
- Maximum amount of Individuals and Households Program financial assistance for Other Needs Assistance: $37,900.
- Maximum amount for Small Project Grants under the Public Assistance Program: $139,800.
- Minimum amount that can be approved for any Project Worksheet under the Public Assistance Program: $3,500.
- Statewide per capita impact indicator: $1.63.
- Countywide per capita impact indicator: $4.10.
Each year, FEMA assesses the Nation’s progress in building a culture of preparedness by using the National Household Survey (NHS). In 2021, FEMA used phone and web-based surveys, gathering responses in English and Spanish, to garner responses from over 7,000 individuals. The NHS assists FEMA to review the perceptions and experiences that influence people to take steps to become more prepared.
FEMA is excited to share key findings with the public, as well as to continue sharing hazard-specific key messages throughout the next year. FEMA encourages everyone to use the information below and incorporate it into any preparedness-related publications or stakeholder outreach.
Based on the 2021 National Household Survey, the agency has identified four opportunities for ways that federal, state, local, tribal and territorial governments can all work together to create a more prepared and resilient nation. They are to:
- Help build preparedness confidence while awareness and disaster experience are high.
- Use recognition of risk to motivate preparedness for climate-driven disasters.
- Consider the differing needs of historically underserved communities.
- Promote low-cost ways to bridge the preparedness gap for the socioeconomically disadvantaged.
Join the NHS Webinars to learn more about the results of the 2021 National Household Survey. Click the links below to sign up.
2021 NHS Summary Part I – Key Findings and National Overview
2021 NHS Summary Part II – Hazards and Demographic Summaries
Additional resources:
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FEMA’s National Exercise Program is accepting applications for the next round of exercise assistance. To be considered for the Fall 2021 round of the National Exercise Program, submissions are due by Nov.1.
Visit FEMA.gov for instructions on how to request support. Sponsors should email completed support request packages to NEP@fema.dhs.gov by the deadline. For jurisdictions not ready to submit a request at this time, the National Exercise Program will hold additional exercise support rounds in spring and fall of 2022.
The National Exercise Program is a two-year cycle of exercises across the nation that examine and validate capabilities in all preparedness mission areas. The National Exercise Program offers state, local, tribal and territorial jurisdictions no-cost assistance for exercise design, development, conduct and evaluation to validate capabilities across all mission areas.
For questions, contact the National Exercise Division.
FEMA celebra el Mes Nacional de la Herencia Hispana –Los Nuevos Materiales en Español
En reconocimiento al Mes Nacional de la Herencia Hispana, FEMA está proporcionando varios materiales recientemente traducidos por la División Nacional de Ejercicios (NED, por sus siglas en ingles) en español. FEMA y NED reconoce la importancia de comunicarse más con las comunidades de habla hispana sobre los servicios proporcionados tanto por el Programa Nacional de Ejercicios (NEP, por sus siglas en inglés) como por el Programa de Evaluación y Ejercicios de Seguridad Nacional (HSEEP, por sus siglas en ingles). NED se esfuerza para que todos los ejercicios sean accesibles para todos los que deseen apoyo para planificar y realizar los ejercicios, así como para aquellos que están listos para planificar y realizar los ejercicios por su cuenta.
Estos documentos están destinados a ser utilizados por profesionales de ejercicios y administradores de emergencias en todos los niveles del gobierno, el sector privado y organizaciones sin fines de lucro. Al proporcionar estos documentos en español, NED espera involucrar a los planificadores y participantes que anteriormente no han podido participar.
Consulte la tabla a continuación para ubicar los documentos en inglés y español. Si tiene alguna pregunta, comuníquese con nosotros al NEP@fema.dhs.gov.
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English Translation
In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, FEMA is providing several newly translated materials for its National Exercise Division in Spanish. FEMA recognizes the importance of communicating more with Spanish speaking communities about the services provided by both the National Exercise Program and the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program.
The National Exercise Division strives to make exercises accessible to everyone who wants support for planning and conducting exercises, as well as those who are ready to plan and conduct exercises on their own.
These documents are intended to be used by exercise practitioners and emergency managers at all levels of government, the private sector, and nonprofit organizations. By providing these documents in Spanish, FEMA hopes to engage planners and participants who have previously not been able to participate.
To locate each of these translated documents as well as additional information, visit FEMA.gov. For questions, contact FEMA's National Exercise Program at NEP@fema.dhs.gov.
FEMA will host a virtual meeting from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET on Oct. 19 and 20 to solicit public comment about issues to be considered by the Technical Mapping Advisory Council (TMAC). The council will later meet to discuss the draft content for the 2021 TMAC Report.
Members of the public who wish to attend the virtual meeting must register by contacting FEMA-TMAC@fema.dhs.gov no later than 5 p.m. ET on Oct. 14. Please include if services for special assistances are needed.
Visit the Federal Register for additional information.
The Resilient Nation Partnership Network (RNPN), FEMA and NASA are co-hosting a four-part series during the 6th Annual Partnership Forum throughout October.
The virtual Alliances for Climate Action kicked off on Oct. 6, watch the replay on FEMA’s YouTube channel, and takes place every Wednesday from noon to 2 p.m. ET, featuring more than 30 speakers across resilience, climate and environmental justice. Attendees have an opportunity to dive into various perspectives around climate action, engage with industry peers and identify opportunities for collaboration.
The next event, “When Climate Moves Communities”, takes place Oct. 13. Leaders across academia and federal, state and local agencies will discuss climate migration and its impacts on community presence. Featured speakers include:
- Charlie Baker, Governor, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- Kevin Bush, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- Rhonda Haag, Chief Resilience Officer, Monroe County, Florida.
- Commissioner Dennis Knobloch, Former Mayor, Valmeyer, Illinois.
- Eric Letvin, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Mitigation, FEMA.
- Pablo Mendez-Lazaro, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Health, University of Puerto Rico.
- Marissa Ramirez, Senior Community Climate Strategy Manager, People and Communities Program, Natural Resources Defense Council.
- A.R. Siders, Assistant Professor, Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware.
To RSVP and learn more about the complete lineup of speakers please visit the “Alliances for Climate Action” event page. The final two events take place on Oct. 20 and 27.
The RNPN is a unique network of organizations and individuals united to help communities take action and become more resilient against natural disasters. Visit http://www.fema.gov/RNPN or email FEMA-ResilientNation@fema.dhs.gov for more information.
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This September, FEMA’s Ready Campaign, the Ad Council and The Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore teamed up to share important tips to prepare for a variety of disasters.
In these videos, Cantore shares how he plans for a disaster and reminds viewers to build a kit, write down important information like phone numbers and prescriptions, talk with their families and consider the needs of pets. The Weather Channel’s distribution network started airing these videos in August.
The videos can be viewed by clicking the hyperlinks below:
Be sure to share these videos with friends, family and on your social networks using the hashtag #BeReady.
FEMA Offers Exercise Assistance to Stakeholders
FEMA is accepting requests for exercise support through the National Exercise Program. State, local, tribal and territorial jurisdictions can request no-cost assistance for exercise design, development, conduct and evaluation to validate capabilities across all mission areas.
Fall 2021 requests for support are due no later than Nov. 1. To submit a request for exercise support, download the nomination form, then email the completed form with any supporting documentation to NEP@fema.dhs.gov. Awardees will be notified by Dec. 10. FEMA will hold additional exercise support rounds in the spring and fall of 2022. For questions, contact FEMA at NEP@fema.dhs.gov.
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FEMA Updates Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101
FEMA updated the “Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101: Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans.”
To assist with the rollout, FEMA will host a 60-minute webinar session at 2 p.m. ET on Oct. 13 to discuss the update and key changes to CPG 101 with whole community partners. These webinars will highlight the changes in the document and help planners at all levels utilize the principles, concepts, tools and process from the CPG 101. Advance registration is required and on a first-come, first-served basis.
To download the document and learn more about and register for the webinar sessions, visit FEMA.gov.
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FEMA Seeks Public Comments About the Community Rating System
FEMA posted in the Federal Register a Request for Information to gather public feedback about ways the agency could consider modifying, streamlining and/or innovating to improve the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System. The comment period will close Oct. 22.
To submit written comments, use Docket ID: FEMA-2021-0021 in the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions on the page and contact the Regulations.gov Help Desk if you have technical issues.
For additional information on the Community Rating System Request for Information, visit FEMA.gov.
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FEMA Announces Application Period for Hazard Mitigation Grants
On Sept. 30, the application period opened for the Fiscal Year 2021 application period for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities and Flood Mitigation Assistance grant programs. For fiscal year 2021, $1 billion is available for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant and $160 million is available for Flood Mitigation Assistance.
The application period closes on Jan. 28, 2022. Visit FEMA.gov to learn more.
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