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 New Hampshire.

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 New Hampshire to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe winter storm and snowstorm during the period of February 8 - 10, 2013.

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DENTON, Texas – More than $1 million was recently awarded to the state of New Mexico by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for debris removal in Lincoln County in the aftermath of last summer’s flooding.

The FEMA funding covers the hauling away of debris and the clearing of roads in order to allow for public access, the safety of the population and the protection of property, as well as direct administrative costs.

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DOVER (March 18, 2013) – To encourage water conservation and promote wise use of it throughout the state, DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship is again offering rain barrels at a discounted price to Delaware residents in April at pickup locations in each county. Having a rain barrel provides an innovative way to capture rainwater from your roof and store it for later use. Water collected from rain barrels can be used to wash cars and to water lawns, gardens and indoor plants.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States.  Recently there have been more frequent severe weather events, like Hurricane Sandy that ravaged the East Coast.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) manages the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) which provides flood insurance policies that give millions of Americans a defense against flooding.  But flood insurance policies are only one component of the program and just part of the protection that the NFIP provides to individuals and the American public.

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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States.  Recently there have been more frequent severe weather events, like Hurricane Sandy that ravaged the East Coast.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) manages the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) which provides flood insurance policies that give millions of Americans a defense against flooding.  But flood insurance policies are only one component of the program and just part of the protection that the NFIP provides to individuals and the American public.

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DOVER (March 18, 2013) – The judges’ decisions are in, with five top entries chosen for the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife’s 2012 Delaware Hunting Photo Contest. First place was awarded to Robin James of Middletown for “Three Generations,” showing her father, Michael Sethman, her 2-year-old nephew Zach Sethman, and her brother, Nicholas Sethman, with waterfowl decoys and calls at Augustine Wildlife Area near Delaware City.

SAN JUAN, PR – They are young, enthusiastic and prepared to respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards in their school and communities. A few weeks ago a group of teenagers in Humacao, led by Gabriela Rodriguez-Boria, completed their Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training as part of Gabriela’s project as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region II Youth Council Representative.

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SAN JUAN, PR – Every year approximately 800 seismic events occur in the Puerto Rico region. While some of them are imperceptible, others remind us of the urgency to prepare ourselves better to survive no notice emergencies, such as earthquakes and tsunamis. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) emphasizes the role of prepared communities that become stronger and smarter by planning and practicing what to do to survive and recover faster from this type of events.

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Last year, Puerto Rico endured numerous severe weather events including flooding, heavy rains and storm surges which affected families and businesses in various degrees, but were not extensive enough to justify a federal disaster declaration. However, more than half a million dollars were paid to flood affected business owners, renters and families who own flood insurance policies from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

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PRIME HOOK (March 18, 2013) – The winning entries of the 2013 Delaware Junior Duck Stamp Competition will be judged at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 23 at the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 11978 Turkle Pond Road, Milton. The entries will be displayed at the center until Saturday, March 30.

A new rapid water-quality test may prevent beaches from being closed by providing accurate same day results of bacteria levels, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey.

With increasing outbreaks of waterborne illnesses, beaches have been at the forefront of recent research on human health risk. This new rapid water-quality test, developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will help managers across the country determine whether beaches are safe for swimming in order to keep the public from getting sick. Previous tests could not provide same-day results, so managers had to decide whether to close a beach based on findings from the day before.

USGS scientists analyzed the accuracy of EPA’s rapid test by looking at past water quality data from five beaches along Lake Michigan to determine what the outcomes would have been if the rapid test was used. These findings were then compared to two older methods of testing which require 24 hours for results.  Scientists discovered that results from the rapid test met EPA’s safe swimming criteria more often than the older tests. If this method had been used during the study period examined, the summers of 2009 and 2010, it may have prevented hundreds of beach closure days and possibly significantly decreased incidences of waterborne illnesses. The full report is available online.

“This study provides beach managers with a virtual “test drive” of this tool; it gives them an idea of what they can expect in terms of beach monitoring decision making,” said USGS scientist Meredith Nevers. “Our research shows that EPA’s rapid test can be an effective tool for beach managers to help keep their recreational beach goers happy and safe.”

Beach closures not only impact recreational users in the summertime, but they also create huge losses for the local economy. Studies have found that the value of a beach trip is between $20-$36 per person per day — revenue which may be lost to local economies when beaches are closed. 

The new rapid test, called quantitative polymerase chain reaction for enterococci, is recommended by the EPA, but it is not a requirement. The test has been included in the 2012 EPA guidelines for safe levels of indicator bacteria, including: Escherichia coli (E. coli) and enterococci. The test can be used at both freshwater and marine beaches. To learn more about EPA’s recreational water quality criteria, visit their webpage.

 

PURVIS, Miss. – State and federal recovery officials are urging Mississippians to obtain any necessary building permits before starting new construction or repairs to property damaged by the recent tornadoes and flooding.

“Getting building permits is necessary for those with homes or businesses damaged by the storms,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Terry Quarles. “Residents need to know that permits are based on local ordinances enforced by their communities.”

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NEW YORK – New York renters may be eligible for additional grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. To find out if renters qualify, they must complete and submit their disaster loan application from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

No one has to accept an SBA disaster loan. But information provided on that loan application may be used to help determine eligibility for a variety of FEMA programs that can help renters rebuild their lives.

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DOVER (March 15, 2013) – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement agents made 574 contacts with the public, including 23 boating safety checks, in which all vessel operators were found to be in compliance. Agents also responded to 20 complaints and issued 14 citations between March 6 and 13.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are partnering to improve public awareness for National Flood Safety Awareness Week, March 18-22, 2013.  The agencies’ goal is to improve understanding about flood risk among individuals, families, businesses and communities.  Knowledge and the right precautions can protect families, homes and finances.

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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are partnering to improve public awareness for National Flood Safety Awareness Week, March 18-22, 2013.  The agencies’ goal is to improve understanding about flood risk among individuals, families, businesses and communities.  Knowledge and the right precautions can protect families, homes and finances.

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NEW YORK — Disaster assistance to New York survivors of Hurricane Sandy:

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WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are partnering to improve public awareness for National Flood Safety Awareness Week, March 18-22, 2013.  The agencies’ goal is to improve understanding about flood risk among individuals, families, businesses and communities. Knowledge and the right precautions can protect families, homes and finances.

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DENTON, Texas –   The Region 6 office of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is joining its federal, state and local partners in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas to commemorate Flood Safety Awareness Week from March 18-22, 2013.  

The week-long campaign provides an opportunity for emergency management experts to work together in sharing information about the dangers related to flooding, how to prepare for flood events and ways to prevent future damage from floods.

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