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The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant sub-applications are due to DEMA by February 01, 2024. This is a hard deadlines. There will be no applications accepted after this date.
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2023 NFIP/SHMO Conference
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November 28th to November 30th, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)/State Hazard Mitigation Officer (SHMO) Regional Conference was co-hosted by DEMA and DNREC at Rehoboth Beach. The 2023 theme was Advancing Mitigation in the changing times.
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NFIP administrators, SHMOs, and FEMA representatives from across Region 3 met during the three-day conference to discuss hazard mitigation, shared practices, and plans for the upcoming year. Special guests included FEMA Region 3 Administrator, MaryAnn Tierney, Secretary of Homeland Security, Nathaniel McQueen, DNREC Secretary, Shawn Garvin, as well as local officials.
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Each state presented on their successes, challenges, new tools, implemented programs, and current mitigation projects. A powerful interactive demonstration was given which exhibited the life cycle of a grant from beginning to end.
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The highlight for many was the tour of several locations across Delaware showcasing current mitigation projects. The tour included a stop at the Woodland Beach where attendees learned about an experimental permeable road that the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) built to help reduce flooding on the single access road for the Woodland Beach community.
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Guests were also welcomed at Slaughter Beach by town officials and Danielle Swallow from Delaware Sea Grant. Of the topics discussed were mitigation projects, plans, and challenges faced as a small community located within an important coastal ecosystem.
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The last stop on the tour was the Indian River Inlet Sand Bypass Plant. There, DNREC employees explained the operation and importance of the sand bypass system in order to preserve our beaches and the inlet. Thank you to all the partners who participated in this great meeting! To see more, visit the DEMA Facebook Page.
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Public Assistance Announcement
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The State PA Administrative plan outlines the processes, resources, and internal controls that DEMA has put in place to ensure the appropriate management of federal assistance following a declared disaster, as well as compliance with Delaware State regulations. The revisions this year brought the plan in line with the indicators of eligibility updated by FEMA last October. The revised plan will fulfill FEMA’s requirement to maintain up-to-date plans and will serve as a reference for potential applicants when they need assistance with their PA application process.
For fiscal year July 01, 2022 to June 30, 2023, DEMA and Delawareans continued efforts to recover from three declared disasters: Hurricane Ida (DR-4627), Tropical Storm Isaias (DR-4566), and the wrap-up of COVID-19 (DR-4526).
DEMA’s Recovery Section has assisted sub-recipients with securing close to $36,300,830.00 over these disasters, and 200 projects are in progress and/or completed.
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Public Assistance Grant Program Resources For All Disasters
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Delaware Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (DEVOAD) Donations
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The DEVOAD serves as an umbrella organization to encourage collaboration, communication, and cooperation of volunteer organizations in response to State disasters. If you are thinking of donating to a worthy charity, consider donating to the Delaware VOAD this year. Natural disaster events are not going away any time soon, and your donation would help fuel the engine of disaster response across Delaware.
If you would like to donate to the DEVOAD, visit www.devoad.org and locate the "Donate" button at the bottom of the page. Any donation is appreciated. Thank you!
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Date: Monday, 22 January 2024
Time: 10AM - 2PM
Location: (Hybrid) Virtual on Zoom
DEMA: 165 Brick Store Landing Rd, Smyrna
The next DEVOAD Quarterly Meeting will be held on Monday, January 22nd, 2024 from 10AM to 2PM. The meeting will be offered hybrid, both virtually through Zoom, and onsite in DEMA's Training Room. This Quarterly Meeting is also the Annual meeting as required in the DEVOAD Bylaws. It is important that members attend to facilitate official business.
The first two hours (10-12PM) will be a topical session, with The Role of Volunteers in Disaster as the theme. Lunch will then be provided courtesy of the DEVOAD. From 1PM to 2PM the meeting will shift to focusing on DEVOAD business which includes the election of the new Executive Board. DEVOAD members can expect an email with details regarding the election, a Zoom link, and also a detailed agenda of the meeting.
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DEVOAD Wind Event Cleanup Effort
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Volunteers from the DEVOAD as well as from the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware helped in the ongoing Severe Wind Event cleanup effort in the Newark area. The weather was excellent and much work was achieved. Thank you to all the volunteers that took the time to help restore this community, particularly those who drove long distances to do so.
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If you or your organization wishes to volunteer, please email Vice Chair, Marty Brett, at mbrett5@verizon.net and the DEVOAD will arrange work to fit the skills and number of volunteers available.
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Type Of Work:
- Yard and alley cleanup with debris removal
- Removal of drywall, insulation, and carpets
- Replacing molding and baseboards
What You Need:
Long pants, sturdy shoes, and safety glasses. Depending on the work, heavy work gloves and a respirator mask (P100 Recommended) may also be needed.
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Volunteers are needed to help distribute food at our large monthly distribution! Spend a few hours helping our neighbors in need.
Sussex County
When: Mon, December 18 at 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Where: 5 Linstone Lane, Milford, DE 19963
Sign up to volunteer: Here
If you are unable to attend the distribution, please visit www.fbd.org/get-help to learn about other ways the Food Bank and network partners can help you!
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Delaware Winter Weather Awareness
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The Delaware Emergency Management Agency, Delaware Department of Transportation, National Weather Service, and county emergency agencies are teaming up to share important information to help residents and visitors to prepare and stay safe in the coming months.
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Delaware Driving Restrictions
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If there is a declared State of Emergency (SOE) due to weather, officials can issue driving restrictions statewide or in one or more counties under Delaware Code. Driving Restriction Levels, include:
Level 1 Driving Warning: Motorists are to exercise extra caution in the operation of their motor vehicle and are encouraged not to operate a motor vehicle, unless there is a significant safety, health, or business reason to do so.
Level 2 Driving Restriction: Travel on Delaware roads is restricted to “essential personnel” such as public or private snow removal operators and those necessary to maintain the core functions of a government body or entity, and to maintain the health and safety of the people in Delaware including health-care services, and food and fuel deliveries during a state of emergency, regardless of whether they are employed by a public or private entity.
Level 3 Driving Ban: No person shall operate a motor vehicle on Delaware roadways except those persons designated as first responders and essential personnel, including public utilities and operators of snow removal equipment employed or contracted by a public or private entity.
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The National Weather Service-Mount Holly (NWS) issues the latest weather conditions and forecasts for Delaware as well as official winter storm watches, warnings, and advisories. NWS also has a Winter Weather Dashboard that shows the short-term forecast for winter weather conditions in the three-state region that includes Delaware. Get to know the following winter weather terms and what they mean:
- Freezing Rain – Rain that freezes when it hits the ground: covering roads, trees, and power lines.
- Sleet – Rain that turns to ice before reaching the ground.
- Hypothermia – Illness caused when body temperature drops below what’s needed to be healthy.
- Frostbite – A medical condition when skin or body tissue is damaged from freezing.
- Frost/Freeze Warning – Below freezing temperatures are expected.
- Winter Weather Advisory – Cold, ice, and snow are expected.
- Winter Storm Watch – Severe weather such as heavy snow or ice is possible in the next day or two.
- Winter Warning – Issued when snow or sleet is expected in the next few hours or the next day.
- Blizzard Warning – Heavy snow and strong winds will produce a blinding snow, near zero visibility, deep drifts, and life-threatening wind chill.
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Partnerships in Planning for Coastal Resilience
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Date: Thursday, December 14
Time: 1:00-2:00 PM EST
Location: Virtual
Register: Here
Coastal areas across the country are highly vulnerable to natural disasters, which have become more frequent and severe. Through partnerships, communities can leverage new resources to help address their unique coastal hazard risks. This webinar will discuss how FEMA’s updated state and local mitigation planning policies support the need to plan for coastal hazards. It will show how efforts at both the state and local level are growing partnerships to drive coastal action. Join us to learn about the importance of building partnerships in planning to reduce risk from coastal hazards.
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RASCL Summit: Leading The Charge
Empowering Our Communities For A Sustainable Delaware.
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Date: January 17th, 2024
Time: 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Location: Del-One Conference Center, Dover, DE
Register: Here
Each year, RASCL hosts a statewide summit that brings together resilience practitioners, elected officials, government agencies, and community members to discuss the issues that matter to Delawareans. This year's theme is "Leading the Charge: Empowering Our Communities for a Sustainable Delaware." Discussions will address your community's role in renewable energy transitions, debunk myths share examples of where this work has been done, and provide resources.
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WEBINARS, TRAINING, & CONFERENCES
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Connecting Funding Opportunities to Mitigation Actions
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Date: January 24, 2024
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST
Register: Here
Mitigation actions are one of the most important parts of a hazard mitigation plan. They help to assign responsibilities, create timelines, and set criteria for success. FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Grant Program provides funding for eligible mitigation measures that reduce disaster losses. This webinar will explore various funding opportunities, the projects they can support, and mitigation alternatives. FEMA Region 3 Coffee Break Eventbrite.
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December
- December 13: DEMA WebEOC Upgrade Training via Microsoft TEAMS (For Current WebEOC Users Only)
- December 15: DEMA WebEOC Upgrade Training via Microsoft TEAMS (For Current WebEOC Users Only)
- December 18: DEMA WebEOC Upgrade Training via Microsoft TEAMS (For Current WebEOC Users Only)
- December 21: DEMA WebEOC Upgrade Training via Microsoft TEAMS (For Current WebEOC Users Only)
- December 27: DEMA WebEOC Upgrade Training via Microsoft TEAMS (For Current WebEOC Users Only)
- December 29: DEMA WebEOC Upgrade Training via Microsoft TEAMS (For Current WebEOC Users Only)
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Stay Connected & Share With Your Networks!
Want to add someone to the distribution list, have a story to share, or are experiencing issues receiving this newsletter because of firewalls or spam filters, please add Stephanie Swisher (Stephanie.Swisher@delaware.gov) to your email contact lists. You can review any past newsletter editions here.
We Hope You Are Well & Thank You For Reading!
Brought to you by the Recovery and Outreach Team at the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), in partnership with Delaware Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (DEVOAD).
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