FEMA Bulletin Week of June 1, 2020

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FEMA BULLETIN

Week of June 1, 2020

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In this Edition:

Important Dates & Reminders

June 5

Comment period closes for the draft voluntary agreement under the Defense Production Act.


June 17

Feedback period for NIMS updates ends at 5 p.m.


June 26

Application period ends for High Hazard Potential Dam Grant.

FEMA Holds Webinars on COVID-19 Operational Guidance for Hurricane Season

FEMA released "COVID-19 Pandemic Operational Guidance for the 2020 Hurricane Season" to help emergency managers and public health officials best prepare for disasters, while continuing to respond to and recover from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 

 

To expand awareness and understanding of the guidance, FEMA’s National Preparedness Directorate is holding four webinars. The webinars will allow emergency managers an opportunity to discuss how the guidance can assist jurisdictions review and modify their plans given the constraints and limitations of the ongoing pandemic. To register:

 

 

Download the COVID-19 Pandemic Operational Guidance for the 2020 Hurricane Season on the FEMA website.


FEMA Releases Disaster Housing Guidance

FEMA developed “Planning Considerations: Disaster Housing" to help communities plan for housing recovery after disasters. By helping survivors achieve sustainable housing after a disaster, state and local leaders move their communities toward stability and resiliency for future incidents.

 

The document supplements the “Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101: Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans” by providing guidance on national housing priorities, types of housing, key considerations and housing-specific planning recommendations. The planning document is a tool that can be used along with the six-step planning process described in the CPG 101.

 

The document is all-hazards and many of the concepts, principles and resources can be applied to coronavirus pandemic response and recovery efforts. To view the guide, visit the FEMA website. Contact FEMA for more information.


FEMA Releases Continuity Program Management Guide

FEMA released the “Guide to Continuity Program Management” to provide guidance and templates to assist with the development of a multi-year strategic plan, project plan and multi-year test, training and exercise calendar.

 

The purpose of a multi-year strategic plan is to set the overall goals and objectives for a continuity program. Organizations should develop a continuity focused plan that provides for the development, maintenance and review of continuity programs and plans to ensure they remain viable and successful.

 

To view the guide, visit the FEMA website. Contact FEMA for additional information.


FEMA Extends Comment Period on Voluntary Agreement

The open comment period on developing a voluntary agreement under the Defense Production Act has been extended to midnight ET on Friday, June 5. The draft voluntary agreement will help maximize the effectiveness of the distribution of critical medical resources nationwide to respond to pandemics, specifically to the coronavirus pandemic. Two additional documents have been added to the published Federal Register notice.

 

The draft voluntary agreement and the transcript on the virtual public meeting on May 21 are available for review. All comments can be submitted to the Federal Register Docket ID FEMA-2020-0016 or by email to FEMA.


FEMA Announces Submission Status of FMA and PDM Applications

FEMA has announced applicants that have been selected for further review for the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) programs. This competitive grant funding is provided to state, local, tribal and territorial governments for eligible mitigation activities to strengthen the nation’s ability to reduce disaster losses and protect life and property from future disaster damage.

 

The FMA program selected 26 applicants with 145 sub-applications for further review for planning and projects totaling $209.7 million. Of this, 26 states have received pre-award notifications. The PDM program selected 90 applicants with 448 sub-applications for further review for planning, project and management costs totaling $244.6 million.  In addition, the PDM program selected 39 tribes for planning, project and management costs totaling $13.5 million. The remaining pre-award selection includes 49 states and two territories.

 

FEMA reviewed each submission to ensure eligibility, cost-effectiveness, technical feasibility and alignment with the agency’s identified priorities to reduce the impacts of disasters. Applicants can review the status of applications on the Flood Mitigation Assistance page and the Pre-Disaster Mitigation page. For additional information, grant applicants can contact their FEMA Regional Office. More information about Hazard Mitigation Assistance is available on the FEMA website.


FEMA Released Revised Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide

This week, FEMA published the Fourth Edition of the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide (PAPPG). The latest edition of the PAPPG reorganizes and simplifies language, clarifies FEMA policies and adds animal control services, center-based child-care and food banks to the types of services eligible private nonprofit may be reimbursed for.

 

The Fourth Edition was released in draft form with a 45-day public comment period. FEMA's Public Assistance program received and adjudicated more than 580 public comments while drafting the final version. For more information, contact FEMA

 

The FEMA Public Assistance program supports community recovery from major disasters by providing state, territorial, tribal, and local governments grant assistance for debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures and the restoration of public infrastructure.


FEMA Extends the Filing Deadlines for Some Public Assistance Requests and Appeals

In a memorandum on March 30, FEMA extended the filing deadlines for Public Assistance first and second level appeals, arbitration requests and net small project overrun requests. This is established under 44 C.F.R. 206.204, 44 C.F.R. 206.206, 44 C.F.R. 206.209 and Section 423 Arbitration Fact sheet.

 

FEMA is making an additional final extension to filing deadlines. Applicants and recipients who had original deadlines under any of these provisions from April 1 – May 31 have a new deadline of June 30.  Applicants and recipients who had original deadlines under any of these provisions from June 1 – July 31 will have a new deadline of August 30. All other deadlines will remain unchanged and no additional extensions will be granted.


FEMA and NOAA Host Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool Webinar

The FEMA National Integration Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s (NOAA) National Weather Service will host a 60-minute training webinar to demonstrate how the Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool (RAPT) can be used to plan for severe weather events.

 

The tool now includes several real-time weather forecast layers, including five-day Tropical Cyclone/Hurricane Outlook, eight-day Severe Weather Convective Outlook, three-day Excessive Rainfall Outlook, and a Significant River Flooding Outlook. RAPT users can identify the at-risk populations and infrastructure based on these outlooks to inform implementation of emergency plans and public messaging.

 

This webinar will be held at 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 9. To participate:

 

  • Join the webinar via BlueJeans on your chrome web browser or mobile device.
  • Download the BlueJeans App to participate in the webinar.
  • The event ID: syabgpws
  • Join via FEMA teleconference: +1 (415) 466-7000, PIN 1472234#

 

Visit the FEMA website or contact FEMA for more information.


FEMA Continues Rent Suspension for Survivors

To continue to ease the financial burden on survivors created by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, FEMA will extend the temporary suspension on rent for disaster survivors in California, Florida and Texas who are living in FEMA temporary housing. Rent collection is now suspended for the months of July and August, in addition to the previous suspension for April, May and June. The suspension applies to rent only. With this suspension, rent collection is expected to resume September 1.

 

FEMA will mail a letter to all affected occupants to inform them of the rent suspension. Survivors with questions may call their local FEMA representative they have been working with directly or the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call 800-621-3362.


FEMA Announces National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Updates

On May 26, FEMA published the funding notice for Cooperative Agreements under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program. The grants focus on providing individual state earthquake assistance to high and very high-risk states that choose to participate in the program. This Cooperative Agreement replaces the previous Earthquake Direct State Assistance funding opportunity. 

 

A change this year limits participation to those states and territories determined to have a high or very high earthquake risk. Similar to last year, eligibility is further limited to those states and territories that can provide the required 25 percent non-federal cost share.

 

FEMA also published the Multi State and National Earthquake Assistance funding notice on May 26. Formerly known as Earthquake Consortia and Partner Support, this new competitive grant will provide funding to non-profit organizations and institutions of higher education that possess the critical skills necessary to develop and implement regional (multi-state) and/or national earthquake risk mitigation activities. 

 

The Notice of Funding Opportunities for both grants can be found on Grants.gov. Additional information about the grant program can be found on the FEMA website


FEMA Highlights Community Efforts

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, nonprofit and voluntary organizations are working together with the federal, state, local, and tribal governments and the private sector to address needs of those communities most affected. FEMA is highlighting stories from our partners on innovative solutions during the pandemic.

 

Disruption in the food supply chain is challenging farmers, restaurants and food banks. Through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture partnered with multiple contracted suppliers and distributors to purchase and distribute $3 billion in produce, dairy and meat products for schools, food banks and households.

 

Table to Table, an Iowa-based food rescue organization, is collecting excess food from farms, grocery stores, food distributors and producers in Johnson County and distributing it to hunger relief organizations. Table to Table ran 30 food rescue routes per week and responded to 40 additional calls which increased food resources by 30% since March. This resulted in helping feed more than 5,000 households per week.

 

Feed the Children has sent more than 480 shipments, totaling over 6.6 million pounds of food, and distributed essential items to its community partners across the U.S. Together with the private sector and local governments, Feed the Children has provided food and essential supplies to approximately 2,300 families in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, Ohio and Florida.

 

Visit the FEMA Best Practices page to read more stories about communities making a difference.

feed the children

Feed the Children has worked with the private sector, local governments, and non-profit organizations to bring food and essential supplies to approximately 2,300 families in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, Ohio and Florida communities.


Upcoming Deadlines and Reminders

FEMA Releases Revised NIMS Training Program

FEMA released the revised National Incident Management System (NIMS) Training Program, which provides a structure for national training and strengthens the nation's ability to manage incidents, events and emergencies. The training program establishes the roles and responsibilities of FEMA and members of the NIMS stakeholder community. The document and webinar information is available on the FEMA website.

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FEMA Seeks Feedback on NIMS Update

FEMA is seeking public feedback for an update of the 2009 National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation Objectives for federal departments and agencies. National engagement provides an opportunity for interested parties to comment on the draft implementation objectives to ensure they are relevant for all implementing partners. The national engagement period will conclude at 5 p.m. ET on June 17. For more information on the webinars and to review the draft objectives, visit the FEMA website.

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FEMA Accepts Applications for High Hazard Potential Dam Grants

The application period is open for the Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dam Grant Program. The grant program provides technical, planning, design and construction assistance in the form of grants for the rehabilitation of eligible high hazard potential dams. Eligible applicants must be non-federal sponsors which include non-federal governments and non-profit organizations. Applicants can apply on Grants.gov by the June 26 deadline. For more information about the Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams Grant Program, visit the FEMA website.

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FEMA Accepting Applications for Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grants

FEMA released the Notice of Funding Opportunity for $10 million in funding for the Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program. The program provides funding to eligible states and local governments to close known preparedness capability gaps, encourage innovative regional solutions to issues related to catastrophic incidents and build on existing regional preparedness efforts, including pandemic preparedness. Changes to the 2020 funding include regional pandemic preparedness as a program objective with specific focus on pandemic planning activities.

 

The application period closes 5 p.m. ET on July 15. Submissions must be made through Grants.gov. The funding notice and additional information is available on the FEMA website as well as on Grants.gov, under Assistance Listings Number 97.111.