Disaster relief

2009 Spring Floods One of Worst Seasons on Record

May 25, 2009, Fairbanks, Alaska - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has sent a letter to the federal government officially requesting a federal disaster declaration for the spring floods of 2009. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sent preliminary damage assessment teams into the field last week and they are working their way down the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers village by village.    » read more »

May 21, 2009 -- Oklahoma City -- Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today requested that President Obama grant public assistance for 17 Oklahoma counties in the aftermath of severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that battered parts of the state between April 25 and May 16.

The counties included are: Alfalfa, Cherokee, Choctaw, Craig, Dewey, Garfield, Garvin, Grant, Jefferson, Love, Major, Mayes, Nowata, Rogers, Tillman, Wagoner and Woods. More counties can be added to the request as additional information becomes available.    » read more »

05/15/2009 -- NASHVILLE – Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen today announced the federal government has approved his request for disaster assistance for Rutherford, McMinn, Sequatchie and Benton Counties following the severe weather, high winds and tornadoes that struck on April 10, 2009. Bredesen requested the federal disaster aid following damage assessments by federal, state and local emergency management officials.

Local governments and public utilities in the four approved counties are now eligible for Public Assistance Program funds from the federal government. The public assistance designation also covers emergency response and recovery costs incurred by state government.    » read more »

Foreclosure protection offered to displaced families in 10 counties

May 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to 10 storm-ravaged counties in Mississippi and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes in March.    » read more »

State-of-the-Art, 51-Foot Rig Joins Company's Large Disaster-Recovery Fleet

May 14, 2009 -- BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - Verizon Business has introduced a new 51-foot mobile command center equipped with the latest highly sophisticated communications equipment. The big rig also provides ample space for company employees, public officials and other emergency responders during natural disasters or human-caused events that affect Verizon's communications network in the U.S.    » read more »

May 7, 2009 -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano unveiled the Department’s $55.1 billion FY 2010 budget request today, focused around five major priorities—counterterrorism; border security; enforcement of immigration laws; disaster preparedness, response and recovery; and Department unification—designed to create a leaner, smarter, more effective agency.    » read more »

April 21, 2009 -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced today that $93.6 million for Louisiana public assistance projects have been funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) since her visit to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast on March 5-6. FEMA has obligated a total of $340 million for Louisiana public assistance related to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita projects since January 20.

“We are quickly moving resources to Louisiana to accelerate critical restoration in the areas hit hardest by Katrina and Rita,” said Secretary Napolitano. “I have seen firsthand the continued need for support in the region, and I understand the importance of coordinating with our state and local partners to help these communities rebuild.”    » read more »

April 21, 2009 -- Moorhead – Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty along with Senator Keith Langseth and Representative Morrie Lanning today announced a proposed flood relief and recovery package to help residents and communities in the Red River Valley recover from spring flooding that included a record high crest in the Moorhead area.

“There were some anxious times and incredible efforts by many people when the water was rising and now we need to pitch in to help our neighbors recover,” Governor Pawlenty said. “This package will supplement the federal, state, and local work already underway.”    » read more »

April 14, 2009 -- Saint Paul – Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced today that the Presidential major disaster declaration for Minnesota now includes federal relief and recovery assistance for Roseau, Otter Tail, Pennington, Red Lake, Grant, Lake, Wadena and Mahnomen counties. The eight counties were added by FEMA today after damage assessments were completed last week.

“Flooding may have damaged infrastructure, but not the Minnesota spirit,” Governor Pawlenty said. “This federal assistance will help communities in these counties recover from damage caused by flooding this spring.”    » read more »

Authorizes State Resources to Respond to Wildfires

April 10, 2009 -- AUSTIN – Following severe wildfires that swept across North Texas this week, Texas Governor Rick Perry today reiterated his request to FEMA to issue an emergency declaration for 199 Texas counties based on the threat of wildfires. Perry also authorized additional state resources today to combat the ongoing wildfires across the state.

“The rapidly spreading wildfire threat across North Texas demonstrates how quickly conditions can change and the importance of heeding warnings from local officials,” Gov. Perry said. “I urge Texans, particularly in the northern part of our state, to exercise extreme caution and monitor the situation closely.”    » read more »

April 10, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D. - North Dakota Governor John Hoeven today said the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide $750,000 in Section 32 funds to assist North Dakota ranchers impacted by severe winter weather and flooding this season. The money is part of a permanent appropriation used for domestic food programs and disaster relief for farmers.

Hoeven asked N.D. Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring to create an expedited plan to distribute the funding to ranchers in dire need of feed, and provide the assistance as quickly as possible.

The news came following a conference call organized earlier today at Hoeven's request with Sec. Vilsack and North Dakota farm and ranch leaders to ask the secretary once more for federal aid for producers.    » read more »

Washington, DC, April 6, 2009 -- The United States and the Republic of the Philippines will co-sponsor the May 4-8 ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Voluntary Demonstration of Response (VDR) in the Philippines.    » read more »

Resilient Missourians Recover From Raucous '08

March 26, 2009 -- JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Winter storms, ice, flooding, and tornadoes made 2008 a year like few others in Missouri.

Beginning with the December 2007 ice storms, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) coordinated recovery efforts for seven separate disasters that hit the state last year. More than $181 million in disaster assistance was provided to individuals, businesses and qualifying nonprofit organizations, and to state and local governments.    » read more »

USDA extending buy-in waiver for those impacted by natural disasters

WASHINGTON, March 17, 2009 - The recently approved American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) allows producers to become eligible for 2008 disaster assistance authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill even if they did not previously obtain otherwise statutorily required crop insurance from the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) or Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage for 2008 by now paying a buy-in fee through May 18, 2009.    » read more »

March 10, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has asked President Obama’s administration to approve individual assistance for qualifying Kentucky residents who suffered severe damages to their homes and property in the January winter storm.    » read more »