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FEMA awarded $130 million to the Emergency Food and Shelter program's National Board to help fight hunger and homelessness in the United States.
Congress appropriated $130 million through the 2023 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, to FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP). FEMA awarded the funds to the program’s National Board, which will allocate the funds to local organizations dedicated to feeding, sheltering and providing critical resources to people with economic emergencies. These funds are for people with non-disaster related emergencies and can be used for a broad range of services.
The EFSP National Board allocates funds to local boards in qualifying jurisdictions using the most recent national population, unemployment and poverty data. Local boards then advertise the availability of grant funding in the community, review applications and award grants to organizations that provide services to those in need.
Services can include:
- Food, in the form of served meals or groceries.
- Lodging in a mass shelter or hotel.
- Rental or mortgage assistance to prevent evictions.
- Utility payment to prevent service cut-offs.
- Transportation costs associated with the provision of food or shelter.
- Supplies and equipment necessary to feed or shelter people.
The National Board is chaired by FEMA, with representatives from American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, The Jewish Federations of North America, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, The Salvation Army and United Way Worldwide. United Way Worldwide, the National Board’s Secretariat and Fiscal Agent, is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the program.
For more information, visit FEMA.gov.
A new law signed by the president, the Community Disaster Resilience Zones Act, will enhance disaster resilience across the nation. The act will create and designate disaster resilience zones that identify disadvantaged communities most at-risk to natural hazards.
This new law amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Recovery and Emergency Act and uses FEMA’s National Risk Index to identify these communities.
FEMA’s National Risk Index is an online mapping tool that identifies communities most at risk to 18 natural hazards and provides communities with standardized natural hazard risk data. FEMA will update and use the National Risk Index to identify what communities are most in need of assistance for resilience-related projects.
These designated zones will receive targeted support to access federal funding to plan resilience projects that will help reduce damage caused by climate change and natural hazards. The act will also enable communities to work across a range of federal and private sector partners to maximize funding that strengthens community resilience.
The process enables FEMA to better coordinate across the federal government and the private sector to integrate investments in identified zones, including increased federal cost-share for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program. This will lessen the financial burden on communities to perform resilience-related activities.
Zones are expected to be identified later in 2023. For more information, visit FEMA.gov.
FEMA Region 1 is hosting a webinar on general organizational preparedness and the actions you can take to become more resilient. This webinar will feature a tutorial of the agency’s Organizations Preparing Emergency Needs (OPEN) training.
OPEN is a training program for any organization or agency looking to develop an emergency operations plan and foster a culture of preparedness.
This training is also great for individuals and families as the training addresses preparedness actions that anyone can take to become more resilient in the face of a disaster.
The webinar training will be held at 1 p.m. ET on Feb. 9. This training is open to the public and all attendees are welcome. To attend, visit FEMA’s Zoom webpage and use the passcode 842409.
This webinar will highlight the 10 Preparedness Actions to be taken by organizations and individuals and will focus on how to provide this training for your staff, colleagues and family.
In addition, the webinar will cover:
- The importance of community-based organizations.
- Why organizations need to adjust the way they prepare for a changing world.
- How to get started on developing an emergency operations plan.
- The 10 Preparedness Actions.
Individuals requiring accommodations, such as sign language interpreters or Communication Access Real-time Translation services, and other accommodations should contact the FEMA Region 1 Regional Preparedness Liaison Jedidiah Fiato.
FEMA is hiring 10 Federal Coordinating Officers and the position announcement will close on Feb 15 when 300 applications are received. The ideal candidate for this position is an effective communicator with experience building partnerships with diverse stakeholders and coordinating disaster response and recovery. If you or someone you know is interested, visit USAJobs.gov.
FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Myra Shird detailed what it’s like to be an FCO. Visit FEMA’s YouTube page to check out her reasons for becoming a leader in emergency management.
Federal Coordinating Officers are the lead federal representatives during disasters. They coordinate the flow of disaster resources and information that bring together federal, state, tribal and territorial partners to help survivors recover from disasters. The application period is open to join this highly qualified group of professionals the President calls on to lead disaster response and recovery.
FEMA is Accepting Applications for Assistance to Firefighters Grants
FEMA opened the application period for the Fiscal Year 2022 Assistance to Firefighters Grants and applications are being accepted until 5 p.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 10.
The funding notice is available at grants.gov. It can also be found, along with technical assistance documents to assist applicants, by visiting Assistance to Firefighters Grants | FEMA.gov.
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FEMA Seeks Leaders for Youth Preparedness Council
FEMA is accepting applications for the Youth Preparedness Council. The online application process is open, and students must complete their applications by 11:59 p.m. PT on March 6.
If you know a teen interested in preparedness and community service, encourage them to apply. To learn more about the Youth Preparedness Council, visit FEMA.gov.
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Webinars on ‘Buy America’ Preferences for FEMA Grant Programs
FEMA is offering a series of one-hour briefings for all recipients and subrecipients under awards for 23 FEMA grant programs. These programs are now subject on the domestic preference requirements of the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA). The briefings will also cover best practices for documenting compliance with BABAA.
Most disaster financial assistance programs are not subject to BABAA requirements. For a list of FEMA financial assistance programs not subject to BABAA please visit FEMA.gov
Frequently Asked Questions, additional guidance, webinar information, resources and contact information can be found on FEMA’s “Buy America” webpage.
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FEMA is Accepting Revolving Loan Fund Applications
FEMA is accepting applications to the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund grant program. Loans will 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 program has been expanded to give insular areas the same eligibility to apply as states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. As defined by the Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act, insular areas are American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands.
The funding notice is available at Grants.gov. Eligible entities must apply for funding using the Non-Disaster (ND) Grants Management System (ND Grants). Applications must be received by 3 p.m. ET on April. 28.
Visit FEMA.gov for more information.
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FEMA Seeks Review of Revised Information Collection for Public Assistance
FEMA is soliciting public review and comment of its significantly revised information collection process. These changes aim to simplify an applicant’s experience through the Public Assistance program and align the program with the agency’s Strategic Goals.
FEMA revised its information collection (OMB No. 1660-0017) to simplify and streamline the program, reduce administrative burden and incorporate a people-first approach.
The notice is available to view on federalregister.gov. To submit a formal comment on this request for information by Feb. 13, click here.
For more information about the revised information collection process, visit FEMA.gov.
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