Severe storms

Thousands of New Jersey residents affected; various counties to receive state aid

November 16, 2009 -- NEW JERSEY – Today, U.S. Senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg and Congressman Frank LoBiondo (NJ-2) praised Governor Jon Corzine’s swift action in issuing an emergency declaration for the areas hit by last week's Nor'easter.

The Jersey Shore was hit hard, causing beach erosion, destroying beach replenishment projects, flooding homes and businesses and displacing huge mounds of sand that blanketed inland side streets, sidewalks and driveways.    » read more »

November 12, 2009 -- DOVER – Delaware Governor Jack Markell has declared a state of emergency for Kent County and Sussex County to better enable response to the current storm, effective at 6 p.m.

Earlier today, Gov. Markell authorized the Delaware National Guard to position heavy vehicles and personnel in a number of locations in Sussex County to be ready for any needed response to flooding overnight or Friday. In addition, the Guard delivered more than 1,000 sandbags to Sussex County for use by local governments in staving off flooding.    » 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 14, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill announced today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide the state of Missouri with $37,801,428.07 in federal grant money to help repair damage resulting from the severe ice storms that swept through Southeast Missouri in January 2009.

According to FEMA, the state of Missouri is responsible for distributing the funding to the recipients. Specifically, the grants will go to:    » read more »

Actions Defend Levees and Roads During Unprecedented Rainfall

10/13/2009 -- California Governor Schwarzenegger today directed his departments and agencies to take actions to prepare and respond to the needs of Californians during an unusually strong storm that will result in many parts of the state experiencing triple the amount of a typical October rain in one day. The storm is likely to reach its peak intensity in Northern California this afternoon and move towards Southern California tonight.    » read more »

June 3, 2009 -- The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Alabama and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, and straight-line winds during the period of May 6-8, 2009.

Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, and straight-line winds in the counties of Autauga, Bullock, Elmore, and Montgomery.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.    » read more »

Jun 2, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe has sent a letter to President Obama requesting a major disaster declaration for 37 Arkansas counties impacted by storms and flooding throughout the month of May. The letter includes requests for Arkansas, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Clark, Cleveland, Conway, Dallas, Drew, Fulton, Grant, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Lincoln, Little River, Marion, Miller, Monroe, Nevada, Ouachita, Perry, Phillips, Pike, Poinsett, Polk, Prairie, Saint Francis, Saline, Searcy, Stone, and Union Counties.    » read more »

May 28, 2009 -- JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Governor Jay Nixon today sent President Barack Obama a request for additional federal assistance for infrastructure damage in 46 counties impacted by the severe weather and storms from May 8 to May 16. This is in addition to Gov. Nixon's previous request for a disaster declaration from the federal government.

Damages to public property and infrastructure exceeded $48.7 million in the 46 counties canvassed by the federal/state/local joint damage assessment teams. This amount also includes damages to the public utilities and electric cooperatives, estimated at more than $37 million. Power was finally restored to all citizens over Memorial Day weekend, Gov. Nixon said.    » read more »

May 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- With the beginning of the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season upon us, hurricane prone states across the country are doing their part to help prepare their citizens and communities. From sales tax holidays on hurricane and emergency preparedness equipment in Virginia and Louisiana, to a major hurricane exercise in Florida, states are taking actions to ensure that citizens and the emergency response community are prepared for the 2009 hurricane season.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- MOORHEAD, Minn. -- One-fourth of all businesses that close because of a disaster never reopen, according to the Institute for Business and Home Safety. But businesses that have a disaster preparedness plan - and implement it - typically have less damage, loss and downtime than those that do not.

The recent flooding in the Red River Valley affected hundreds of Minnesota businesses. With this current disaster risk in mind, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) urge business owners and managers to increase their chance of surviving this or any other type of event by being ready before disasters happen.    » read more »

RALEIGH (May 26, 2009) -- Although hurricane season doesn't officially begin until June 1, activity in the Tropics this week foretells the possibility of an active year. Progress Energy Carolinas is prepared for whatever Mother Nature brings. The company said last week it has a detailed plan in place to ensure it can respond quickly, safely and decisively to storm damage and power outages.

The company's comprehensive storm plan provides the ability to mobilize thousands of employees and outside resources as needed. And a continuous focus on improvement has reduced restoration time and costs over the last decade.    » read more »

Companies prepared to restore power if major storm hits Louisiana

May 26, 2009 -- Baton Rouge, La. – With the official start of hurricane season just one weeks away, Entergy Louisiana, LLC and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C. last week said they are ready to quickly and safely restore power should a destructive storm hit Louisiana.    » read more »

Additional areas can be added as damage assessments continue

May 25, 2009 -- CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin has requested the addition of McDowell, Mercer and Raleigh Counties to the current federal disaster declaration for southern West Virginia, following severe storms, flooding, mudslides and landslides that occurred earlier this month.

The governor has requested the addition of McDowell and Raleigh Counties for both Individual and Public Assistance and he has requested the addition of Mercer County for Public Assistance.    » read more »

May 20, 2009 -- JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri Governor Jay Nixon today asked President Barack Obama to declare a major disaster for the state of Missouri as a result of the severe storm system that plagued many parts of the state from May 8 to May 16 with high winds, hail, tornadoes, heavy rain, flooding and flash flooding.

The storm system was responsible for seven fatalities, 21 serious injuries, widespread property damage, and, at its peak, more than 150,000 utility customers being without power. Approximately 1,700 customers remain without power in Iron, Madison and Ripley counties as a result of the storm system.    » read more »