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The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) is the lead agency for the support and coordination of emergency preparedness, training, response, recovery and mitigation to save lives, protect property, and reduce the impact of emergencies in Delaware.
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We invite you to check out DEMA's 2023 Year in Review for a snapshot of some of DEMA's biggest accomplishments this last year. Ranging from an assortment of events to impactful engagements and projects, DEMA has many successes from to share with our partners and community. For an inside look at all that was accomplished, click: Here.
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DEMA held two retirement celebrations in February to honor both Edward "Tony" Lee, as well as Shirley Lee for over 20 years of their service to the State of Delaware. Family, friends, and coworkers gathered to pay tribute to both Tony and Shirley's hard work, experience, dedication, and generosity. DEMA wishes both Tony and Shirley the best, and congratulates them both on their well-earned retirements! To view more photos, please visit the: DEMA Facebook Page.
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Recovery and Mitigation Grants
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BRIC Direct Technical Assistance (DTA)
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For the first time, Delaware applied for BRIC Direct Technical Assistance (DTA) for a Sussex County community, and New Castle County community. Under this program, FEMA can provide holistic hazard mitigation planning and project support at the earliest stages for localities requesting it. This non-financial support can reduce disaster damage, build community resilience, and sustain successful mitigation programs.
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Public Assistance Overview Video
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Overview of the Public Assistance Program including eligibility and how to register following a Federal Disaster Declaration. To fill out the our grants portal registration form, visit: DEMA.gov.
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On February 22nd, 2024, the Recovery Team updated and released the Public Assistance Overview video on the DEMA Youtube Channel. This new video, the first of a series of Public Assistance (PA) videos being produced, outlines the PA Grant Program and how it is applied in the State of Delaware. Additionally, the video demonstrates the first few steps potential applicants can take to submit a request for assistance.
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FEMA Region 3 Public Assistance Summit
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On February 27th to the 29th, the DEMA Public Assistance (PA) staff attended the virtual FEMA Region 3 Public Assistance Summit. State PA officers and FEMA Region 3 PA officers covered a variety of topics on the programmatic and fiscal management of public assistance grants. Salim Ghettas, a DEMA Recovery Planner, presented Delaware’s current PA staffing, priorities, and ideas for better management of Category Z projects (management cost projects). Other presentations focused on detailing eligibility matters in management cost projects, climate change, COVID disaster closeout, and options for building state PA grant cost-share support using state recovery funds.
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Damage Assessment Training
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Date: May 14-15
Time: 8:30 AM- 4:30 PM
Location: DEMA (165 Brick Store Landing Road Smyrna, DE 19977)
Register: Here
Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) is a mechanism used to determine the impact and magnitude of damage from a disaster and the resulting unmet needs of individuals, businesses, the public sector, and communities. There are two types of PDAs: initial damage assessments and joint preliminary damage assessments. This course will equip local officials with the knowledge, understanding, and skills needed to be able to conduct rapid and effective damage assessments to save lives, protect property, and to improve the quality and consistency of the damage assessment effort. This course will prepare participants to successfully:
- Define the requirements for assembling PDA Teams
- Accurately identify, asses, and document damages
- Support the assessment for the declaration recommendation
- IA and PA necessary information
- Incorporation and recognition of potential mitigation activities
This course will be followed by an exercise later this spring to help inform the PDA process in Delaware. Invited participants may include county emergency management, public works, and GIS managers, and key state partners.
For more information, to include required prerequisite courses, visit: Course Description. All participants are required to provide proof of completion for each prerequisite by sending their certificates to training.dema@delaware.gov to be eligible to attend the course.
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FEMA Region 3 and DEMA have made debris management a priority for 2024. DEMA staff and partners are currently revising a statewide debris management plan and will be hosting a state level workshop for key partners later this spring. DEMA staff and state partners will be attending the 2024 Debris Summit, a continuation of the FEMA Region 3 Debris Summit series, later this month in preparation.
FEMA Region 3 PA Disaster Operations intends to use this summit as a reset for state and federal debris partners to renew conversations over coordination in challenge areas such as initial state and federal coordination over stream debris, private property debris removal, state-wide debris coordination, and other debris technical challenges. The 2024 Debris Summit will be a one-day event with state partners, FEMA, and representatives from other federal agencies.
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Public Assistance Grant Program Resources
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FEMA Reforming Individual Assistance
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FEMA has collected feedback from disaster survivors, communities, and stakeholders for decades, including public comments the agency solicited in 2021 on improving the Individual Assistance program. State partners and members of Congress have echoed these concerns and pressed for simpler, more straightforward programs to assist individuals across the country as they recover. Those shared experiences serve as the foundation of FEMA’s updates.
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FEMA is establishing new benefits, expanding eligibility, and simplifying the application process for its Individual Assistance Program after a federally declared disaster. Under the changes, eligible households can receive a $750 payment for essential items, displacement assistance for immediate housing needs, and up to $42,500 for home repairs if they are underinsured. FEMA will also no longer require survivors to apply for Small Business Association (SBA) loans before considering them for other assistance. FEMA intends for these changes to take effect starting March 22nd, 2024.
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Delaware Disaster Housing Task Force
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DEMA Director A.J. Schall and Cynthia Karnai, recently appointed to be the new Director of the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) addressed the Disaster Housing Task Force (DHTF) at their first meeting on February 22nd in Dover. The goal of the DHTF is to develop a comprehensive strategy to address short-term, interim, and long-term housing following a disaster or emergency. Housing is a critical Recovery Support Function (RSF) and statewide studies and previous disasters underscore why it is a priority area for policymakers. In attendance were over forty local, state, nonprofit, and federal partners including: DEVOAD, American Red Cross, FEMA, HUD, Delaware State Parks, DHSS Office of Preparedness, nonprofits, and local emergency agencies.
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For more photos, click: here
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Recently, a published summary was presented via the Statewide Housing Needs Assessment which provides data on the current housing status in Delaware prior to a disaster. This Housing Needs Assessment drove home the importance of the DHTF project and as such, the DHTF meeting focused on disaster housing goals and objectives, strategies, opportunities and challenges, data coordination, and housing resources for response, recovery, and resilience.
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The DHTF is committed to developing a statewide Disaster Housing Strategy (DHS) to address future emergencies. The DHTF will meet, coordinate, collaborate, and plan throughout 2024 to establish a comprehensive strategy to be used by emergency managers, housing professionals, and other vital partners for housing recovery after a disaster.
If you or another agency or organization would like to participate, please contact Vanessa Cullen, DSHA Emergency Management Coordinator: Vanessa.Cullen@delaware.gov
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Delaware Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (DEVOAD)
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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. If you would like to donate to the DEVOAD, visit www.devoad.org. Click on the "Donate" button at the bottom of the page. Any donation is appreciated!
The DEVOAD is always seeking new members! If you or your organization are interested in joining, please email delawarevoad@gmail.com.
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Regional Conference by the Mid-Atlantic VOADs
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Date: April 8th - April 9th, 2024
Registration Deadline: March 24th
Time: Noon to noon
Location: Cacapon Resort State Park Lodge in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
Conference Fee: $130 (Does not include hotel room)
Register: Here
Conference Brochure: Here
The Mid-Atlantic Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOADs) from Washington D.C., Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia in partnership with FEMA Region III, invite you to join them for this inaugural conference.
The theme of this year’s conference is: How Can VOADs Better Understand the Science Behind and Effectively Respond to the Increasing Number of Undeclared Disasters. The conference will explore the climatology and metrological science and data that provide insight into the increased frequency and intensity of storms and will examine how the VOAD member organizations can effectively respond to the increasing number of disasters that fail to qualify for a federal disaster declaration.
Questions: Should you have any questions, please contact Bruce Morgenstern, Conference Registration Committee, at treasurer@marylandvoad.org
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If you or your organization wishes to volunteer, 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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Delaware Severe Weather Awareness Week
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Delaware's Severe Weather Awareness Week will be observed from March 11th to March 15th. DEMA is partnering with the National Weather Service, University of Delaware, and Delaware Sea Grant to highlight the risks of severe weather and urge households to “Make a plan, build a kit, and stay informed.” Every day, DEMA’s social media will focus on a different topic including: flooding, tornadoes and tornado safety, severe thunderstorms and hail, lightning safety, and preparing for severe weather.
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As recent years have shown, severe thunderstorm hazards can and do occur in Delaware. Severe Weather Awareness Week is a time to plan for thunderstorms (including strong winds and hail), tornadoes, lightning, and flash flooding. Each day during this week will emphasize a different weather hazard and provide you with associated safety tips:
- Monday, March 11th: Flooding
- Tuesday, March 12th: Tornadoes and Tornado Safety
- Wednesday, March 13th: Severe Thunderstorms and Hail
- Thursday, March 14th: Lightning Safety
- Friday, March 15th: Preparing for Severe Weather
Learn about Delaware Severe Weather Awareness week at: National Weather Service
For more information on all preparedness topics for Delaware, visit: PrepareDE.org
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University of Delaware Sustainability and Climate Change
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Date: April 16, 2024
Time: 6:00 to 8:30 pm
Register: Here
Location: Trabant Center, University of Delaware
17 W Main St, Newark, DE 19716
The Office of Sustainability is happy to host a series of seminars and teach-ins to promote the conversations necessary to advance sustainability across disciplines. To learn more and find information and recordings about each UD seminar and teach-in series click here.
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WEBINARS, TRAINING, & CONFERENCES
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DEMA Training and Exercises
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DEMA’s Training Section is working on the following upcoming events: a City of Wilmington recovery workshop, a Sussex County Tanger Outlet evacuation tabletop exercise (TTX), a Kent County EOC Functional Exercise, and a Pea Patch Island active shooter tabletop exercise in coordination with Delaware State Police scheduled for March 12th.
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2024 Flood Insurance Forum
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FACT vs Fiction. Everything You Need to Know About Flood Risks and Insurance
Date: April 3rd
Time: 9am-11:30am
Location: Lewes Library and virtual
111 Adams Ave, Lewes, DE 19958
For more information, call: (302) 645-2733 or visit PrepareDE for updates.
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FEMA Region 3 Coffee Break Webinar
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 Elevating Dam Safety Through Hazard Mitigation Planning
March 27, 2024 - Dam failure can cause flooding risks that may be major threats in some Region 3 communities. These risks require monitoring and planning to help to keep the public safe. This may include safety programs, data collection, and non-localized mitigation measures. This webinar will explore the High Hazard Potential Dam (HHPD) Grant Program, the latest hazard mitigation planning requirements, and effective planning partner outreach.
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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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