FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Wisconsin to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe winter storm and flooding from Jan. 10-12, 2020.
PA ID# 153-03950-00; City of Bellevue
Conclusion: The Applicant did not document its work such that FEMA can separate the costs of eligible work along the improved trail from the ineligible debris removal performed in Lot 473. Accordingly, the appeal is denied.
Headnote 1: 44 C.F.R. § 206.224 permits Public Assistance funding for debris removal when it is necessary to: 1) eliminate immediate threats to life, public health, and safety, or 2) eliminate immediate threats of significant damage to improved public or private property. Debris removal from natural, unimproved land, such as heavily wooded areas and unused areas, is not eligible. The Applicant removed all vegetation from Lot 473. The Applicant’s work removing hanging limbs and trees leaning over the improved Daniel Trail is potentially eligible, but its documentation does not distinguish between this eligible work and ineligible work removing debris from unimproved areas of Lot 473. Therefore, because FEMA cannot distinguish between eligible and ineligible work, FEMA cannot fund the debris removal work in Lot 473.
Link: https://www.fema.gov/appeal/356206
PA ID# 013-UVZOO-00; Blackhawk Geologic Hazard Abatement District
Date of Appeal: January 10, 2020
Conclusion: The Applicant does not have the legal responsibility to perform the work. The Applicant also failed to obtain prior approval from FEMA for private property debris removal. Additionally, the work performed does not meet eligibility requirements for emergency protective measures on private property. Accordingly, the Applicant’s second appeal is denied.
Headnote 1: Section 407 of the Stafford Act authorizes FEMA to fund the removal of debris from private property, if specific criteria and requirements are met, including pre-approval. The Applicant did not request or obtain prior approval from FEMA, as required.
Headnote 2: 44 C.F.R. § 206.223(a)(3) states that for an applicant to be eligible for PA funding, it must be legally responsible for the work. The Applicant does not own any property within its boundaries and has not demonstrated legal responsibility for permanent repairs.
Headnote 3: The PAPPG states the applicant must demonstrate a widespread threat to the general public’s health and safety to receive funding for emergency protective measures on private property. The Applicant demonstrated a limited threat to certain private properties rather than a widespread threat to the general public’s health and safety.
Link: https://www.fema.gov/appeal/356211
“After Harvey, some appraisal districts gave exemptions for damaged or destroyed homes, but others did not. House Bill 492 requires all appraisal districts to make an ad volorem…exemption after a disaster declared by the governor.”
“Bexar County Emergency Services District 5 officials say a planned 2,200-acre annexation by the City of San Antonio could hinder their ability to provide fire and emergency medical services, KSAT reported.”
Follow this link to read more: https://texasmonitor.org/bexar-county-emergency-services-district-fighting-san-antonio-annexation/?fbclid=IwAR2QQbNX8SQ7Ue7TVhXa4SvsKqmAiVVUI_gEmIGt-PXe_rd_HzctmJW0-rU
Texas Senate Bill 7 goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020 providing a rainy day fund to help local governments with matching federal funds.
Did you know that Texas has a sales tax holiday specifically for Emergency Preparedness Supplies? It does! It is designed to mirror the School Supplies Tax Holiday that has been in effect for many years. However, this hasn’t always been the case.
State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa from McAllen, Texas authored the bill in March 2015 and was passed in June 2015 by signature of the Governor. A review of the legislative history of SB 904 (the bill that then turned into Tex. Tax §151.3565) shows a very easy path with relatively no opposition to the bill.
Since 2016 will be the first ever “Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday” there might be some confusion on what exactly is tax free from 12:01 am on Saturday, April 23, and ending at midnight on Monday, April 25, 2016. If you are interested in reading the full statute, you can find what is covered at Tex. Tax Code § 151.3565(b) (West 2016). The great part about this whole process is that–like the School Supplies Sales Tax Holiday–you don’t need to show an exemption form to be exempted from sales tax and there’s no limit to the number of items you can purchase! Keep in mind though, if there is shipping, handling or any other charges on the item when it is purchased, that is considered part of the sales price.
Here’s the list:
As a review, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) recommends individuals and families have the following in their basic emergency supplies kit:
The Texas Comptroller’s website has an announcement speaking about this tax holiday at: http://comptroller.texas.gov/taxinfo/taxpubs/tx98_1017.html.
Patriot Act Sunset Date Approaching
A little known fact to many is that the Patriot Act is set to expire on June 1st, 2015 if it does not get reauthorized. Granted this is not a direct Emergency Management topic, it does effect the field when it comes to warning of an attack. There are a ton of issues and strong feelings on both sides of the law, it’s repeal would create a void that may have trickle down effects on Warning plans in Emergency Management.
Read the full article here: http://www.emergencymgmt.com/safety/Anti-Terror-Law-Approaches-Expiration-Date.html
Map it or Else?
Eric Holdeman’s post about the use of mapping in Emergency Management is spot on! Emergency Managers need to ensure that they use all the tools that they can at their disposal. I realize that we are all busy and having to do many different things all at the same time while riding a unicycle that’s on fire.
In the military, we live and die by our maps. While I was advising an Afghan Army Brigade Operations Staff, Maps were power. The afghans viewed it as “If you had maps, you had power”.
Let’s take a look at it from this from a legal perspective. If you get hauled into court after a disaster for some reason, you can bet that the lawyer on the other side of the isle is going to use every tool they have, including a map.
-Will
Read Eric’s Full Article Here: http://www.emergencymgmt.com/emergency-blogs/disaster-zone/ignorehazardmappingatyourownperil.html