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FEMA Bulletin Week of February 24, 2020

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FEMA BULLETIN

February 24, 2020

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In this Edition:
feb 25

Webinar on Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program Revisions at 3 p.m. ET


feb 26

Webinar on National Exercise Program Changes at 9 a.m. ET.


feb 26

Webinar for America Saves Week at 1 p.m. ET.


feb 26

Webinar for Faith Community on Nonprofit Security Grant Program at 2:30 p.m. ET.


February 26 calendar icon

Webinar on Nonprofit Security Grant Program at 2:30 p.m. ET.

FEMA Enters Three-Year Reinsurance Agreement

On Feb. 21, FEMA entered into a three-year reinsurance agreement with Hannover Re (Ireland) Designated Activity Company, which transferred $400 million of the program’s financial flood risk to qualified investors of capital markets. The company did this by issuing a catastrophe bond.

 

As part of the agreement, FEMA will pay $50.28 million in premiums for the first year of reinsurance coverage. Additionally, the agreement will cover 3.33 percent of losses for any single flood event with losses between $6 and $9 billion, and 30 percent if that same flood event has losses that rise to $9 to $10 billion.

 

This placement builds on existing transfer of the program flood risk to capital markets investors in August 2018 and April 2019, which transferred $500 million and $300 million, respectively, in flood risk for three years each. These capital market placements complement the program’s existing traditional reinsurance coverage, allowing FEMA to grow the reinsurance program that protect against future flood losses. Combined with two capital market placements and the January 2020 traditional reinsurance placements, FEMA has transferred $2.53 billion of flood risk to the private sector ahead of the 2020 hurricane season.

 

Congress granted FEMA authority to secure reinsurance from the private reinsurance and capital markets through the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 and the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014.

 

Additional information about this FEMA reinsurance program is available on the FEMA website


FEMA Hosts Webinar for America Saves Week

During “America Saves Week,” (Feb. 24 – 29), FEMA is partnering with America Saves, a campaign coordinated by the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America.  As part of the annual celebration and call to action to commit to saving successfully, FEMA and America Saves will be co-hosting a webinar.

 

The free webinar, “Emergencies and Disasters: Save for the Unexpected” will be held from 1-1:45 p.m. ET on Wed., Feb. 26 and is open to the public. The webinar provides financial tips, tools, and resources for individuals, communities, and community organizations. Attendees will learn strategies on how to save for unexpected events.

 

To participate, register on FEMA Adobe Connect.  For more information on America Saves Week, visit the America Saves Week website


FEMA Offers “Coastal Construction” Training

On April 6-7, FEMA will sponsor a free two-day residential coastal construction course at the National Hurricane Conference in Orlando, Fla. The course is designed to train participants on FEMA’s “Coastal Construction Manual.”

 

This manual is the primary reference for planning, designing, and constructing residential structures in various coastal environments. The target audience is engineers, architects, and building code officials; as well as floodplain management, hazard mitigation, planning, and building officials with building science knowledge. University students with a major in civil or structural engineering and/or architecture may also apply.

 

If you are interested in attending the class, please register via the conference website by March 6. At least 20 participants must be registered for this course to be held.


FEMA Releases PrepTalk “Why People Underprepare for Disasters”

Today, FEMA released the PrepTalk “Human Biases: Why People Underprepare for Disasters” by Dr. Howard Kunreuther.  Dr. Kunreuther is the co-director of University of Pennsylvania Wharton Risk Management Center and the co-director of James G. Dinan Professor Emeritus of Operations, Information and Decisions.

 

Dr. Kunreuther explores why disaster damages and fatalities from disasters increased globally through the early twenty-first century despite advances in forecasting and warnings. He identifies six human biases behind the underinvestment in protection against disasters and explains that understanding these biases can help us design strategies to improve preparedness.

 

Dr. Kunreuther’s PrepTalk video and additional resources will be available on the FEMA website.


Upcoming Deadlines and Reminders

FEMA Holds HSEEP Webinars

FEMA will host webinars with information, highlights, and changes associated with the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) Doctrine at the following times and dates:

 

  • 3 p.m. ET on Feb. 25.
  • 9 a.m. ET on Feb. 27.

 

To participate, register on FEMA Adobe Connect.  The FEMA Teleconference line for the webinars is 1-800-320-4330, PIN 504024#.  Webinars will continue until May 15.

 

On Feb. 5, FEMA released revisions to the (HSEEP) Doctrine, which provides a set of guiding principles for exercise programs and a common approach to exercise program management, design, development, conduct, evaluation and improvement planning.

 

Visit the FEMA website for additional webinar dates.

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FEMA Conducts Nonprofit Security Grant Webinars

FEMA is hosting a series of webinars focused on the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) which provides funding support for physical security enhancements to nonprofit organizations and promotes emergency preparedness coordination and collaboration between public and private community representatives and state and local government agencies.

 

Each webinar will present the same content, including an overview of the grant, information on program eligibility and allowable costs and a moderated question and answer session. The FEMA Adobe Connect webinars will be held at 2:30 p.m. ET throughout the next two months. 

 

You can participate by FEMA’s Teleconference line on any of the dates

  • Feb. 26: 1-877-446-3914 PIN: 289309# 
  • March 5: 1-877-446-3915 PIN: 289309#
  • March 12: 1-877-446-3916 PIN: 289309#
  • March 19: 1-877-446-3917 PIN: 289309#
  • March 26: 1-877-446-3918 PIN: 289309#

 

If you have any questions regarding these webinars, please contact FEMA’s Grant Programs Directorate at 1-800-368-6498.  Visit the FEMA website for more information on the NSGP.

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FEMA Hosts Webinar on National Exercise Program Nomination Process

Beginning March 1, FEMA will implement change to the National Exercise Program (NEP) nomination process that is used to request exercise support. In the new process, FEMA will review nomination forms twice a year in March, and again in September. Decisions will be sent to qualifying community partners by May 1 for the spring round and Nov. 2 for the fall round.

 

To learn more about the upcoming changes and program priorities, attend the webinar at 9 a.m. ET on Feb. 26.

 

To participate:

 

For additional information on the NEP, visit the FEMA Website. Questions on the NEP can be directed to the National Exercise Division.

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FEMA Accepts Comments on New Building Code Policy

FEMA is now accepting comments for the new draft policy regarding Section 1206, “Building Code and Floodplain Management Administration and Enforcement” of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act. Comments must be submitted no later than March 6 using the accompanying comments matrix. Comments received during this period will be reviewed and considered for the final version of the guide.

 

The draft policy and accompanying comments matrix is located on the FEMA website. If you have any questions, contact FEMA’s FEMA Office of Recovery.

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FEMA Accepts Youth Preparedness Council Applications

FEMA is now accepting applications through March 8 for its 2020 Youth Preparedness Council from students in grades 8 – 11. The council gives youth the chance to meet peers from across the county to work together on exciting projects. Members will also travel to Washington, D.C. for the annual summit. As part of the council, members can build leadership skills, represent their schools and communities, and share perspectives, feedback and opinions with FEMA.

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FEMA Recruits National Advisory Council Membership

FEMA is seeking qualified individuals for the 2020 National Advisory Council (NAC) membership cycle. FEMA is now accepting applications for up to 13 open positions in discipline areas to include, but not limited to, the following: standards setting and accrediting; non-elected local tribal official; emergency response provider and others. 

 

FEMA requests that those interested in serving on the FEMA NAC submit an application by March 13. Detailed instructions on how to apply can be found on the FEMA website.

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FEMA Seeks Public Comment on NFIP Publication Regulations

On Feb. 12, FEMA published a Federal Register notice for public comments on two proposed changes to the Code of Federal Regulations regarding publication requirements for the National Flood Insurance Program. 

 

Comments for proposed changes are due no later than April 13. Detailed instruction on how to comment can be found on the Federal Register site.


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