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FEMA released the 2022 National Preparedness Report, revealing the impacts that climate change and associated natural disasters continue to have on emergency management capabilities and communities across the country.
The report focuses on:
- The nation’s changing risk environment, including physical and technological vulnerability and inequity exacerbated by climate change.
- Preparedness indicators and measurements of national capability levels.
- Management opportunities that can assist communities in managing risks and addressing capability gaps.
The report identifies the challenges that emergency managers face in addressing a changing risk environment and how they can meet those challenges to help achieve a more prepared nation.
Emergency managers and whole community partners across the nation can look to this year’s report to help support decisions about program priorities, resource allocations, and community actions.
President Biden issued a 2023 proclamation to mark National Human Trafficking Prevention month stating that agencies across the federal government are working to combat human trafficking, conducting research to better address its root causes and strengthen survivors’ access to services, including affordable housing and trauma-informed care.
Every year, millions of men, women and children are exploited by human trafficking worldwide. To raise awareness around human trafficking, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) encourages everyone to participate in its national public awareness Blue Campaign.
#WearBlueDayis recognized each year on Jan. 11. DHS and FEMA encourage the public to take photos of themselves, friends, family and colleagues wearing blue clothing and share them on social media – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram – and post along with the #WearBlueDay hashtag. Why blue? Blue is the international color of human trafficking awareness.
Anyone can participate, all you need is a piece of blue clothing!
The DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships works alongside the faith community and social service organizations, law enforcement and other partners to help address the needs of people who are traumatized by human trafficking. The center supported the development of Blue Campaign resources, the Faith-Based and Community Toolkit in English and Spanish and general awareness training videos.
The DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood partnerships is hosting webinars about human trafficking throughout January:
To learn more about the indicators of human trafficking, the Blue Campaign and ways to help, visit dhs.gov. For additional social media materials to show your support, visit: Social Media Shareables | Homeland Security (dhs.gov).
Twenty-three FEMA grant programs are now subject to the “Buy America” preferences under the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA).
This is part of FEMA’s “Buy America Preference in FEMA Financial Assistance Programs for Infrastructure, FEMA Interim Policy #207-22-0001.” This policy document provides guidance on FEMA’s implementation of the domestic preference requirements outlined in BABAA, which is part of President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The Act requires that any infrastructure project receiving federal funding must source its iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials from the United States.
The BABAA requirements went into effect Jan. 2, 2023, following the expiration of FEMA’s General Applicability Public Interest Waiver. Any new awards and any new obligations to existing awards or renewal awards FEMA makes going forward for covered programs will be required to follow the BABAA requirements unless another waiver is requested and approved. Per the guidance, “[t]his means that agencies must include a Buy America preference in awards issued on or after [Jan. 2, 2023], even if Notices of Funding Opportunities for those awards did not include a Buy America preference.”
A series of external briefings on the BABAA policy will be listed on the Procurement Under Grants Training Webpage and will be sent via grant recipient distribution lists, where interested participants can register for the respective trainings.
Frequently Asked Questions, additional guidance, resources and contact information can be found on FEMA’s “Buy America” Website.
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Beginning Feb. 1, FEMA will accept applications for the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund grant program.
For the first year of the program, FEMA makes $50 million available in capitalization grants to eligible entities to fund low-interest loans to local governments to mitigate the effects of drought, intense heat, shoreline erosion, severe storms, wildfires, floods, earthquakes and other natural hazards. Eligible entities are states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 15 federally recognized tribes. These Tribal Nations are eligible because they received a major disaster declaration between Jan. 1, 2016, and Jan. 1, 2021.
Loans will also be available to help local governments satisfy non-federal cost share requirements under FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs, update building codes adoption and enforcement and make zoning and land use changes.
The Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund complements and supplements FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant portfolio. The portfolio has multiple grant programs that support projects at the local government level to increase the nation’s resilience to natural hazards and climate change.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—invests $500 million in the program over five years.
Initial funding will focus on both increasing public understanding of the program and working with participating communities to learn how to enhance the program in future iterations.
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance helps communities increase resilience to extreme heat waves, drought, wildfires, flood and hurricanes by funding transformational projects that reduce risk to multiple hazards, support adaptation to future conditions and lessen the impact of all disasters on our nations most underserved residents and disadvantaged communities.
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The Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund funding notice is available at Grants.gov. Eligible entities must apply for funding using the Non-Disaster Grants Management System. Applications must be received by 3 p.m. ET on April 28. Visit fema.gov for more information.
Often, people who don’t have flood insurance will say they don’t need a policy because they don’t live near the ocean, their mortgage doesn’t require it, or they don’t need to worry more than they have to.
The unfortunate truth is that extreme weather is becoming more common due to climate change, and the reality is that flooding can happen to anyone anywhere. FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has seen a 40% increase in flood insurance claims coming from areas that are not considered at high risk for flooding.
The risk is rising, so protecting the life you’ve built with flood insurance is even more important. This was the case in the Manville Borough and Hillsborough Township areas of Somerset County, New Jersey, which faced severe flooding and damage after dramatic rainfall caused by Hurricane Ida in 2021.
Residents who have lived in Manville for more than 15 years said the local river was like their neighbor— tranquil. Stories of a once in a lifetime flood seemed so far from reality. But then everything changed. In just a few hours, several feet of water accumulated and caused damage to many homes and businesses.
A new video from FEMA is available on YouTube, in both English and Spanish, sharing the story of one area resident and his process of rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida flooding.
After experiencing that kind of disaster, the community looks out for each other a little more now by educating others about flood insurance and everyday mitigation efforts. Flood insurance and mitigation steps, such as storing important documents above ground-level, can bring a little peace of mind and security for the future.
Everyone’s home is unique, and we all take different steps to protect the lives we’ve built, but one universal truth is that when it comes to protecting your home, no one can do it alone.
Visit Floodsmart.gov to learn more about flood insurance and how to contact an agent near you.
FEMA has released a new policy, FEMA Policy #207-22-0002, Prohibited or Controlled Equipment under FEMA Awards. This policy goes into effect Jan. 1, and implements Executive Order (EO) 14074, Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety and applies to all FEMA grants.
The policy prohibits grant recipients and subrecipients from purchasing certain types of equipment, setting forth requirements and procedures by which recipients and subrecipients may potentially purchase controlled equipment with FEMA federal financial assistance. The policy spells out prohibited items, exceptions, controlled equipment and requirements necessary for recipients and subrecipients wanting to purchase excepted or controlled items.
For a complete list of the prohibited and controlled equipment, including the new policy, visit FEMA.gov.
FEMA has opened the application period for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG). Applications are being accepted until 5 p.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 10.
The purpose of AFG is to enhance 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 available funding for FY 2022 AFG is $324 million. The total amount appropriated under the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2022, Pub. L. No. 117-103 is $360 million. However, to meet the statutory requirements of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act, $36 million (10%) of these available grant funds will be awarded later this year under the FY 2022 Fire Prevention and Safety program.
FEMA released the FY 2022 AFG Notice of Funding Opportunity on Jan. 3, 2023. The funding notice is available at grants.gov. It’s also available, along with technical assistance documents and information about upcoming webinars to assist applicants, by visiting Assistance to Firefighters Grants | FEMA.gov.
FEMA Accepting Volunteers for the BRIC Review Panel
FEMA is soliciting panelists for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program for Fiscal Year 2022. The agency is also convening a virtual National Review Panel to score subapplications.
FEMA is accepting Expression of Interest forms Dec. 1, through Jan. 15, 2023. The review panels help increase transparency in decision-making while building mitigation capability and partnerships.
To learn more about this opportunity and apply to be a panelist please visit FEMA.gov. Panelists will be announced by late February. FEMA anticipates hosting the virtual panels from March 13 - April 7.
If you or someone you know is interested in serving on these panels and meets the panel participant criteria, complete an Expression of Interest form which can be found on the FEMA's BRIC webpage. FEMA will announce the selected panelists by late February 2023.
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