SECRETARY OF DEFENSE HAGEL TELLS CONGRESS HELPING OTHERS IS CRITICAL

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Hagel Tells Congress Friendship Is Worth Funding
By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2013 - Spending defense money on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the United States and overseas is a critically important part of U.S. foreign policy that clearly in the national interest, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told Congress today.


Appearing before the Senate Budget Committee with Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hagel noted the National Guard, Army Reserve and Air Force Reserve, in particular, have resources devoted to aiding in disasters. Around the world, he added, U.S. defense funding for such programs will continue.

"We ... have had over the years a significant capacity to help countries during these disasters," Hagel said. "It's clearly in our interests around the world, and it's humanitarian. Where we can help, we will continue to help."

National security is the Defense Department's foremost mission, the secretary said. "But that unfolds into many areas," he added.

"When you're making friends around the world, when you're developing partners and allies, you're developing the next generation of global citizens who see America helping [them]," the secretary said. "I'd say that cuts right directly to the international interest and security of our country. And we can do that, and we have been doing it. We do it better probably than anybody does, in the military."

FEMA MAKES DISASTER AID AVAILABLE FOR NAVAJO NATION AFTER SEVERE FROST

FROM: FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANGEMENT AGENCY
President Declares Major Disaster for the Navajo Nation
Release date:
March 5, 2013
Release Number:
HQ-13-019

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for the Navajo Nation and ordered federal aid to supplement the Tribe’s efforts in the area affected by a severe freeze during the period of December 15, 2012 to January 21, 2013.

Federal funding is available to the Navajo Nation and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe freeze.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the Tribe.

Mark A. Neveau has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area. Neveau said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the Tribe and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

 

RESTORING POWER AFTER A DISASTER AND KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON

FROM:  FEMA

SALEM, Ore. -- In 2006, severe winds and falling trees took out a huge segment of a heavily-wooded transmission line. This wasn’t the first time, and it wouldn’t be the last. But with help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the West Oregon Electric Cooperative (WOEC) found a way to end the cycle.

WOEC was facing its most expensive project ever: $6.2 million. Fortunately for the small utility, FEMA was able to cover a large portion using two types of hazard mitigation grants. It took time for the approvals and more than six months of construction, but by December 2009 the newly undergrounded line was fully energized.

Perhaps the greatest system test came during the January 2012 storms.

“The line has not faulted once since it was installed,” said Steve Scott, WOEC’s Operations Manager. “We accomplished exactly what we planned.”

This small power co-op serves 4,300 customers in the remote, timbered lands of Northwest Oregon. It’s a beautiful but a challenging terrain. “We call the trees the blessed curse,” said Marc Farmer, WOEC’s General Manager.

As a nonprofit agency providing essential services, WOEC is eligible for federal disaster assistance during a presidentially declared disaster.

After commissioning a study, WOEC was able to show that undergrounding the line was not only highly cost-effective, it was the most sensible solution to the never-ending problem.

“People expected to be out of service,” said Farmer, “but they weren’t.” In fact, Farmer got only one complaint. “One customer grumbled that he never even had a chance to use his brand new generator.”

FEMA hazard mitigation money has helped the co-op in other ways as well. During a 2007 flood, the co-op offices and substation were inundated. After agreeing to a property “buyout,” the agency moved its headquarters to higher ground. Congress also approved separate money to move the substation out of the flood zone.

Experience has also taught the co-op important lessons about record-keeping. Darlene McLeod, WOEC’s Finance Manager is in demand these days, explaining to other agencies what data FEMA will require after a disaster.

According to McLeod, one of the most important things is to keep track of the county where the work is located since FEMA declarations are always county specific. In addition, McLeod recommends noting the time spent and the equipment used for each job.

“The more documentation you have, the better,” said McLeod. That can be difficult when you’re “in the throes of an emergency,” so McLeod has redesigned their time sheets to reflect the information that FEMA will require for reimbursement.

Other helpful records can include running outage reports, emails, mutual aid agreements and service contracts.

“Your memory will never do it,” said Scott. “You think you’ll never have a FEMA event and the next day it happens,” he said. “That’s why it’s important to be prepared.”

Just ask McLeod. “As soon as the lights flicker we start accounting for our time,” she said.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.