FEMA Region IV (Southeast) HAZUS Technical Team (R4HTT)

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Rick Burgess
HAZUS Program Manager
FEMA Region IV
p: 770.220.5426
e: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

What We Do

Since April, 2004, FEMA Region IV (Southeast) HAZUS Technical Team has put the groundwork in building HAZUS capabilities in the Southern United States. Through these efforts, the , FEMA Region IV (Southeast) HAZUS Technical Team has now established the Center of HAZUS Expertise to support the rapid needs assessments and response operations for land falling hurricanes.

HAZUS-MH has been used extensively for supporting the Region IV Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) and the National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) for the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons. In the first quarter of 2007, the Region IV Center of HAZUS Expertise assisted FEMA Region VI to examine a potential scenario if Hurricane Dean had made landfall in southern Texas. Following this exercise, Region IV was granted by the FEMA Headquarters Program Office the authority to use HAZUS-MH for supporting NRCC and Hurricane prone regions and states.

Region IV activities go beyond support for disaster operations. Relying on in-house expertise, knowledge, and experience, Region IV has a vast portfolio of services that can be provided to nationwide HAZUS-MH users in government, the private sector and academia.

Mission

The mission of the FEMA Region IV (Southeast) HAZUS Technical Team is to:

Implement FEMA’s HAZUS-MH loss-estimation software in all eight FEMA Region IV states

Develop partnerships with national research laboratories, universities, corporations, utilities, and nonprofit organizations as well as federal, state and local governments

Understand the steps required for implementing the HAZUS-MH

Use results generated from HAZUS-MH pilot projects for mitigation planning to meet the requirements of mandatory Disaster Mitigation Act (DMA) 2000 mitigation plan development

Organize the SEHUG to use HAZUS and share results from scenario exercises and response situations

Share project successes nationwide

Goals

Reduce the loss of life and property of natural and manmade hazards in the Southeastern United States by utilizing HAZUS-MH software for all phases of emergency management.

Objectives

Create comprehensive multi-hazard risk assessments using HAZUS-MH

Network all levels of government, emergency management professionals, GIS professionals, and private industry

Train all levels of government, emergency management professionals, GIS professionals, and private industry in HAZUS-MH. Provide the knowledge, tools, and resources for members to run HAZUS-MH independently.

Improve the databases with HAZUS-MH to allow SEHUG to run HAZUS-MH Level 2 analyses within each state.

Integrate HAZUS-MH in each state

News from Region IV

Beware of Scammers Pretending to be Disaster Workers
Beware of Scammers Pretending to be Disaster Workers

Beware of Scammers Pretending to be Disaster Workers

ATLANTA– Survivors should be aware that con artists and criminals may try to obtain money or steal personal information through fraud, scams or identity theft. In some cases, thieves try to apply for FEMA assistance using names, addresses and Social Security numbers they have stolen from survivors.

Survivors should keep the following information in mind while FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams, housing inspectors and other officials are on the ground.

  • Don’t trust anyone who asks for money. Federal and local disaster workers do not ask for or accept money. FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration representatives never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or help in filling out applications.
  • Don’t believe anyone who promises a disaster grant in return for a large cash deposit or other payments in full.

 

  • Be wary of unexpected phone calls or visits to your home from people claiming to be FEMA housing inspectors or people claiming they work for FEMA. The person might ask for your Social Security number and income or banking information. FEMA representatives will have a laminated badge and your FEMA application number.

 

  • Protect the privacy of your nine-digit FEMA case/application number. Legitimate FEMA housing inspectors will NOT ask for this information.

 

  • Don’t give your banking information to a person claiming to be a FEMA housing inspector. FEMA inspectors are never authorized to collect your personal financial information.

 

Fraudulent building contractors

  • Use licensed or verified local contractors with reliable references.

 

 

  • Don’t pay more than half the costs of repairs in advance.

 

  • Demand that contractors detail the job you expect them to do and ask them to give you a written estimate.

 

Report the Scam. Reporting helps protect others. Based on the type of scam you may see, contact the appropriate agency.

  • If you believe you or a loved one are the victim of a scam or identity theft, report it immediately to your local police or sheriff’s department, or contact the North Carolina Department of Justice online at ncdoj.gov/file-a-complaint/ or toll-free by calling 1-877-5-NO-SCAM .
  • If you suspect fraudulent activity involving FEMA, you can report it to the FEMA Fraud Branch at: Email:StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov, Fax: (202) 212-4926 or write to: FEMA Fraud and Internal Investigation Division 400 C Street SW Mail Stop 3005 Washington, DC 20472-3005
  • If someone is using your personal information to open new accounts, make a purchase or get a tax refund, report it at IdentityTheft.gov.

 

  • You can file a complaint with the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors if you have been scammed or have a dispute with a business regarding a transaction.

 

  • Reporting to the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker can help others become aware of scams in your local area.

For more information on North Carolina’s disaster recovery, visit www.ncdps.gov/ and www.fema.gov/disaster/4617. You may also follow FEMA on www.facebook.com/fema and Twitter @FEMARegion4.

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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.

brianasummer.fentonMon, 09/13/2021 - 20:16
North Carolina Survivors Affected by Tropical Storm Fred Can Apply for FEMA Assistance
North Carolina Survivors Affected by Tropical Storm Fred Can Apply for FEMA Assistance

ATLANTA – Residents of Buncombe, Haywood, and Transylvania counties who were affected by the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred from Aug. 16 – 18, 2021, may apply for FEMA disaster assistance.

Call 800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585) to apply. The toll-free telephone lines are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time, seven days a week. Those who use a relay service such as a videophone, InnoCaption, or CapTel should update FEMA with their specific number assigned to that service.

You can also apply by smartphone or tablet using the FEMA App, or at www.disasterassistance.gov. When you apply for assistance, have the following information readily available:

  • A current phone number where you can be contacted.
  • Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying.
  • Your Social Security number.
  • A general list of damage and losses.
  • Banking information if you choose direct deposit.
  • If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name.

If you have homeowners, renter’s or flood insurance, you should file a claim as soon as possible. FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance. If your policy does not cover all your damage expenses, you may be eligible for federal assistance.

Take photos to document damage and begin cleanup and repairs to prevent further damage. Remember to keep receipts from all purchases related to the cleanup and repair.

Disaster assistance may include financial help with temporary lodging and home repairs, along with other programs to assist those recovering from the flooding.

For more information about Tropical Storm Fred recovery in North Carolina, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4617. Follow the FEMA Region 4 Twitter account at https://twitter.com/femaregion4.

neily.chapmanFri, 09/10/2021 - 20:09
Panama City, FL Strengthens Critical Infrastructure for Future Disasters
Panama City, FL Strengthens Critical Infrastructure for Future Disasters

PENSACOLA, Fla – FEMA has approved grants of more than $4.7 million for two hazard mitigation projects for the city of Panama City to reduce its risk of critical facility failure during future disasters. Funding from FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) was approved in response to a proposal by the city after Hurricane Michael in 2018.

Millville Wastewater Treatment Plant: $2,653,956 for the purchase and installation of twin permanent generators to support the critical operations of the plant. They will be connected to the main electrical transfer system by a switchgear and an underground duct bank, which provide a protected pathway for electrical transmission and allow the city to provide continued service to the community during future power outages.

Sanitary Sewer Lift Stations: $2,052,265 for Phase One in a proposed project to provide flood protection and improvements to 13 sanitary sewer lift stations within the city, including surveying, engineering, design, plan preparation, permitting and the bidding for Phase Two approval. If approved, the project proposes different mitigation actions depending on the needs and assessment of each of the 13 sites to include relocation, elevation or strengthening against storm surge and wave-action hazards.

The HMGP provides funding to help communities eliminate or reduce disaster-related damage. Following a major disaster, a percentage of a state’s total federal recovery grants is calculated to help develop more resilient communities. Florida has an Enhanced Hazard Mitigation Plan that allows more funding to be available for post-disaster resilience projects. States with the enhanced plan receive HMGP funds based on 20% of their total estimated eligible federal disaster assistance.

Kimberly.KippThu, 09/09/2021 - 19:32

Last updated: March 28, 2024 - 2:57 PM

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