OAKLAND, Calif. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today has authorized the use of federal funds to help the state of California combat the Springs Fire in Ventura County.

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Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama's disaster declaration issued for the State of Minnesota.

Assistance for the State and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Minnesota to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe winter storm during the period of April 9-11, 2013.

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NEW YORK — Since Hurricane Sandy struck New York, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved more than $1.19 billion in Public Assistance grants to reimburse local, state and tribal governments and eligible private nonprofits for some of the costs of emergency response, debris removal and repairing or rebuilding damaged public facilities. Approximately 964 grants have been approved so far.

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OAKLAND, Calif. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help the state of California combat the Summit Fire in Riverside County.

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AUSTIN, Texas – Homeowners and renters who sustained property damage as a result of the recent fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas are urged to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as they may be eligible for disaster assistance.
The April 19 emergency disaster declaration for the state of Texas has been expanded to allow eligible individuals and households affected by the explosion in McLennan County access to Individual Assistance grants.

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WASHINGTON -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced a cooperative effort with Premiere Networks and private sector broadcasters that will provide an alternative method for radio stations to receive emergency information during a national emergency.

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WASHINGTON – With just one month until the official start of the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season on June 1, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urges Americans to ensure their families, homes and businesses are prepared for the risks associated with hurricanes and tropical storms.  Individuals and families are encouraged to have a family communications plan and make a kit with essential items like non-perishable food, bottled water, spare batteries, a can opener and specialty items like medical prescriptions and spare eyeglasses and don’t forget your pet’s food. Property owners sh

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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – With just one month until the official start of the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season on June 1, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urges Americans to ensure their families, homes, and businesses are prepared for the risks associated with hurricanes and tropical storms. Individuals and families are encouraged to have a family communications plan and make a kit with essential items like non-perishable food, bottled water, spare batteries, a can opener, and specialty items like medical prescriptions and spare eye

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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – With just one month until the official start of the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season on June 1, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urges Americans to ensure their families, homes, and businesses are prepared for the risks associated with hurricanes and tropical storms. Individuals and families are encouraged to have a family communications plan and make a kit with essential items like non-perishable food, bottled water, spare batteries, a can opener, and specialty items like medical prescriptions and spare eye

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Case Study Demonstrates How Restoring a Stream Can Help Restore a Community

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- The U.S. Geological Survey today released an analysis of the Watts Branch of the Anacostia River in Prince Georges County, Md. and Washington, D.C. that documents how restoration work on this urban tributary has had a substantial impact on the local economy, directly or indirectly accounting for 45 jobs, $2.6 million in local labor income and $3.4 million in value added to the local D.C. metropolitan area in 2011. 

"The USGS study confirms the value of re-greening our urban landscapes around the nation," said David J. Hayes, Deputy Secretary of the Interior. "Restoring one of the most degraded urban streams in the Anacostia watershed while also addressing sewage infrastructure benefited a struggling local economy, provided an improved park and green space for residents, and enhanced wildlife habitat. Restoring a stream is helping restore a community and demonstrates the power of partnerships." 

The Anacostia watershed is one of the priority areas for interagency cooperation in both President Obama's America's Great Outdoors Initiative and the Urban Waters Federal Partnership. 

D.C. and federal agencies formed the Watts Branch restoration partnership in 2010 to restore a segment of one of the most urbanized watersheds in the Chesapeake Bay drainage basin. Completed in 2011, the restoration project was funded largely by the District of Columbia's Department of Environment and also carried out by the Department of the Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service along with the National Park Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington Water and Sewer and several local organizations. 

The partnership has addressed both environmental degradation and sewage infrastructure needs of the Watts Branch, which originates in the Capitol Heights area of Prince George's County, flowing almost 5 miles to the Anacostia, which drains to the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. 

The analysis, conducted by USGS economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Elizabeth Myrick, found that restoring Watts Branch had a substantial impact on the local economy. The restoration directly accounted for 26 jobs and more than $1.5 million in local labor income including salaries, wages and benefits and $1.5 million in local value added (the contribution of expenditures to Gross Domestic Product). Moreover, the restoration indirectly supported an additional 19 jobs, providing an additional $1.1 million in labor income and $1.9 in value added to the local economy. Restoring Watts Branch contributed more than $3 million to a struggling local economy. 

"This restoration project shows the fiscal and transformative power of re-greening urban areas—supporting local jobs, upgrading infrastructure, and helping improve the local economy," said Hayes, noting that the Watts study is one of a number of case studies on the impact of restoration projects in other parts of the country.  "With a roughly $2 trillion backlog in infrastructure needs nationwide, our country has a tremendous opportunity to advance both economic and environmental goals through other restoration projects." 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other partners not only restored the eroded stream channel, which was depositing nearly 1,500 tons of sediment into the Anacostia watershed each year, but also relocated and improved sewer lines to address and prevent future sewage leaks. Infrastructure and environmental restoration improved water quality, increased floodplain storage, reduced erosion and improved in-stream habitat to support fish like American eel, alewife and American shad. Local residents regained a beautiful urban stream, and habitat along the stream also improved for birds such as warblers, barred owls and great blue herons, to name just a few. 

Moreover, local communities have seen utility and street upgrades. A local nonprofit, Washington Parks and People, has begun using Watts Branch as an outdoor classroom to prepare an emerging workforce for jobs in urban and community forestry. 

"The Watt's Branch restoration turned a degraded stream into an urban sanctuary within an underserved community," the analysis concluded. 

President Obama's America’s Great Outdoors Initiative is a conservation agenda for the 21st century. It underscores how urban parks and community green spaces can contribute to the social, physical, economic and emotional health of America's communities.  The Anacostia is one of the priority areas chosen under America’s Great Outdoors. 

The Anacostia River Watershed also is one of the original pilot project areas of the interagency Urban Waters Federal Partnership led by EPA. Through this partnership, the Interior Department and 10 other federal departments work to reconnect urban areas—particularly those that are overburdened or economically distressed—with their waterways through improved collaboration. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that, in line with the request from the Governor of Texas, the emergency disaster declaration for the State of Texas, declared on April 19, 2013, has been expanded to allow individuals and households affected by the explosion in McLennan County, access to Individual Assistance grants. 

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USGS The National Map Topographic Data are now available on mobile devices that are using the Android or iOS operating system

Android and iPhone users can now use their mobile devices as digital topo maps, leveraging USGS maps together with the power of GPS to zoom in on their precise location while hiking, biking, running, or any other activity that benefits from precision navigation. The type of data that are available includes USGS imagery and topographic maps from The National Map, as well as road and contour layers.  

Currently, two Android applications are using USGS data, OruxMaps (http://www.oruxmaps.com/index_en.html) and AlpineQuest (http://alpinequest.psyberia.net/). These apps include USGS services in the list of available online maps.

For users that may be navigating in an area that is outside of cell phone coverage, Mobile Atlas Creator (http://mobac.sourceforge.net/) is allowing users of this desktop application to build small "mobile atlases" with USGS data. These "mobile atlases" can be built over any area of interest at multiple scales, and when completed, the small file is moved to the phone. The "mobile atlases" enable GPS applications on both iPhone and Android mobile devices. By storing this small amount of data on the phone, these "mobile atlases" ensure the topographic data is available even when cell coverage is not.

Users of mobile devices can use USGS data on their GPS-enabled phones to track their adventure or workout. This capability is new, and promises to increase awareness and use of USGS data and services, as well as increase demand for US Topos.

To use TNM data on your Android device:

1. Install either OruxMaps or AlpineQuest via Google Play App Store. 
2. USGS TNM data is available through these two applications as a dynamic, online layer. 
3. Switch map sources to view either TNM Topo or Satellite data through the application. 
4. OruxMaps manual available online in PDF format.
5. More information on Alpine Quest is available online.

To use TNM data on your iOS device:

1. Install Galileo on your iPhone or iPad via iTunes App Store.
2. Build offline map file(s) on MOBAC (instructions below).
3. Move files to iPad or iPhone.

To build map files that will allow an Android or iPhone to use USGS TNM data when data connectivity is not available:

1. Download the MOBAC desktop application (Mobile Atlas Builder). 
2. Unzip the downloaded file, and activate the "Mobile Atlas Creator.exe" file. 
3. Users can then indicate the mobile application they are using (Galileo, AlpineQuest, etc) , and highlight an area of interest to build an offline map file. 
4. Select the appropriate scales.
5. Select "Create Atlas", and move resulting folder (and map data) to the appropriate folder on the mobile phone.
6. More information on using MOBAC is available through the "Quick Start Manual".

The USGS National Geospatial Technical Operations Center (NGTOC) is continuing to work with mobile developers, to ensure our data are available to the public.

Disclaimer: Any use of trade, firm or product names does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.  No warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS or the U.S. Government as to the accuracy and functioning of the commercial software programs cited in this Technical Announcement, and the U.S. Government shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the USGS National Map Topographic Data employing these software programs.

USGS TNM Topographic Data as viewed in AlpineQuest. (Larger image) USGS TNM Topographic Data as viewed in OruxMaps. (Larger image) Mobile Atlas Creator (MOBAC) about to create a USGS TNM Topographic "atlas" of various scales. (Larger image)

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) today released an updated oil and gas resource assessment for the Bakken Formation and a new assessment for the Three Forks Formation in North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana.

TRENTON, N.J.--The remaining four New Jersey FEMA-State disaster recovery centers will transition Saturday, May 4 and reopen as Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Outreach Centers Monday, May 6.

The DRCs transitioning are the Brick Township Civic Center in Brick, the Bell Crest Plaza Store Front 4C in Toms River, the Union Beach Municipal Building in Union Beach and the DRC adjacent to the Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing.

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TRENTON, N.J.—New Jersey survivors of Hurricane Sandy who have been turned down for disaster assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency have the right to appeal that decision.

Before appealing, be sure to read your determination letter carefully. FEMA may only be asking that you provide additional information. If this
is the case, include as much documentation as possible to support your losses and document their value.

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TRENTON, N.J. — Superstorm Sandy survivors who have storm-related damages in New Jersey have just two days left to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Residents must register for disaster assistance by midnight (EDT), May 1.

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TRENTON, N.J. — Disaster assistance to New Jersey survivors of Superstorm Sandy by the numbers as of April 29:

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TRENTON, N.J. — In the six months since Superstorm Sandy hit the shores of New Jersey, survivors have been rebuilding their communities with more than $1.1 billion in federal funding.

The picture is vastly different from the days following landfall on October 29, 2012.  Many homes have been repaired or are in the process of being rebuilt.  Businesses have re-opened and the boardwalks are already teeming with weekend tourists.

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FEMA Corps team Gold 4 participated in the Seattle Mariners ‘Salute to Volunteers’ night Thursday, April 25th, 2013. The Gold 4 team talked to baseball fans about the importance of disaster preparedness. FEMA Corps members gave out information on how to create a disaster kit, start thinking about a disaster plan, and information on what to have on hand for pet owners in times of natural disaster.

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