Floods

Federal Assistance Will Help Prepare for This Year's Floods, says Delegation

March 15, 2010 -- Washington – Congressman Earl Pomeroy and Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan said Sunday that President Barack Obama has approved the request from the State of North Dakota for an expedited major disaster declaration to address expected severe spring flooding.

The decision allows state and local governments access to federal resources for emergency measures to protect against the spring flooding that is expected across much of the region.    » read more »

March 15, 2010 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As one of the snowiest winter seasons in many years yields to warmer weather and the promise of rain and snowmelt, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) FloodSmart Campaign and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that they are again working together during Flood Safety Awareness Week (March 15-19) to raise awareness of the dangers associated with flooding and steps to protect against damage.    » read more »

FEMA urges South Dakotans to be prepared

March 4, 2010 -- DENVER - As spring approaches, South Dakota communities are once again preparing for the possibility of flooding. FEMA Mitigation experts have several recommendations to help people get ready for flood waters.

First and foremost on the list is to get flood insurance. In South Dakota, the average cost of flood insurance is about $685 a year. Since 1978, state residents have collected almost $17 million in insurance reimbursements.

It’s the first thing to do because there is a 30-day waiting period before a policy can take effect. If the waters are rising, it may be too late to file a flood insurance claim.

Other steps you can take to protect your family and your property include:    » read more »

January 8, 2010 -- NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Residents of Virginia who sustained flooding damages from the November nor’easter / the remnants of Tropical Depression Ida and who had insurance policies backed by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) have an additional 15 days to file their proofs of loss. This extension is being granted in recognition of the difficulties that NFIP policy holders may have encountered while trying to schedule meetings with adjusters and contractors during the Holiday Season.    » read more »

December 16, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley on Wednesday declared a state of emergency for four counties due to the significant rainfall which began on December 12.

Numerous homes and businesses have suffered damage and more severe weather is expected in the state later this week.

By declaring a state of emergency, the Governor authorizes the Alabama Emergency Management Agency to assist communities, make the appropriate assessments of damage and seek state and federal assistance for the affected areas.

"The state will do everything it can to help our citizens and our communities,” said Governor Riley.

The affected counties are: Covington, Crenshaw, Dale and Escambia Counties.    » read more »

December 03, 2009 -- President Obama today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Arkansas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on October 29, 2009, and continuing.    » read more »

Congressman Higgins Announces Relief for Local Farmers

December 4, 2009 -- Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Erie County as a primary natural disaster area due to losses caused by excessive rain, flooding, flash flooding, high winds, and hail that occurred during several weather events beginning May 16, 2009.

In addition, Chautauqua County was designated a contiguous disaster county. This announcement came in response to a letter sent to the USDA requesting the designation and a review of the damage assessment reports for the New York counties impacted.    » read more »

Dec 01, 2009 -- BATON ROUGE - Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal issued a letter to the President and FEMA requesting a major disaster presidential declaration for Louisiana as a result of severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that affected some northern and western areas of the state from October 29 to November 3, 2009

Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, D.C.

Through:

Gary Jones
Acting Regional Administrator
FEMA Region VI
800 North Loop 288
Denton, TX 76209-3698

Dear Mr. President:    » read more »

November 28, 2009 -- Pago Pago, AS -- Monday, Nov. 30, is the final day for American Samoa residents to apply for disaster assistance and return a completed U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan application for damages or losses caused by the Sept. 29 earthquake, tsunami and flooding. Registration ends at 5 p.m. today, Nov. 30, 2009 at the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). Registrations cannot be accepted after the deadline. The registration Helpline is 633-3720.

Although FEMA will not be accepting registrations after the Nov. 30 deadline, a Service Center at the Convention Center in Utulei will open on Dec. 7, 2009 to answer questions and accept outstanding documentation. SBA representatives will also be located at the Service Center.    » read more »

Requests Federal Funds to Repair N.C. 12 on Outer Banks

11/16/2009 -- Raleigh -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue today will sign an emergency declaration to help Dare County recover from the heavy rain and flooding that saturated the area last week as Tropical Storm Ida moved through North Carolina.

The declaration of a State of Emergency is the first step in seeking federal funds to help clear debris and repair N.C. 12, as it enables the N.C. Department of Transportation to request funding assistance from the Federal Highway Administration.    » read more »

Programs to help impacted businesses and landlords, provide additional help for homeowners

November 12, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver today announced four new disaster assistance programs for small businesses and landlords impacted by the 2008 storms and floods, as well as improvements to the duplication of benefits policy for homeowners, at a press conference in Cedar Rapids.

The new business assistance programs will be funded by $85 million of the state’s nearly $800 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).    » read more »

Nov 13, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe has added Saline County as the 13th county where storm and flood victims may be eligible for limited State aid from the Governor's Disaster Fund. Beebe earlier authorized the assistance for Arkansans with uninsured damage to their primary residences in Columbia, Franklin, Grant, Johnson, Lincoln, Logan, Lonoke, Ouachita, Pulaski, Scott, Union and White Counties.    » read more »

Nov 11, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe has authorized $2,000,000 from the Governor's Disaster Fund to provide limited individual assistance for flood and storm victims in 12 Arkansas counties. Arkansans with uninsured damage to their primary residences may be eligible for State aid in Columbia, Franklin, Grant, Johnson, Lincoln, Logan, Lonoke, Ouachita, Pulaski, Scott, Union and White Counties.

"While we will request a Presidential Disaster Declaration for flooding damage to infrastructure in Arkansas, we don't believe we will meet the federal requirements for individual assistance," Beebe said. "The State can provide limited funds to help uninsured homeowners in the counties hardest hit start toward recovery."    » read more »

November 06, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota Governor John Hoeven today announced that President Obama has approved the state’s request for the federal government to reimburse 90 percent of the eligible costs for public emergency measures, debris removal, and repair of publicly owned infrastructure damaged by the severe storms and flooding last spring. Hoeven requested the increased aid on October 28 when the state’s disaster reimbursements surpassed the threshold for additional federal funding.    » read more »

October 26, 2009 -- ATLANTA, Ga. -- Just as every home should have a smoke alarm, every home should have an emergency supply kit packed and ready. And being prepared doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.

While emergency preparedness is ongoing at the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), it's also an individual responsibility.

“You should be prepared to take care of yourself and members of your family for the first 72 hours – that’s three days – following a disaster such as a hurricane or the September flooding across Georgia,” said GEMA Director Charley English. “A big part of disaster preparation is knowledge and the state has developed a comprehensive disaster preparedness guide that is available online.”    » read more »