2011-05 OR Issue by The FundBook

OR State Edition Helping communities find the federal funding they need.

The View from Oregon State Disaster! When the tsunami from the Japanese earthquake hit the Oregon Coast on March 11th, it damaged a lot of low lying property, especially the Port of Brookings which sustained $6.7 millions of damage. For the Port and other local governments of the economically depressed region, this was not only a physical disaster but a blow to a major source of local jobs and income. While the tsunami only affected a few counties, the disaster lessons could be useful to local governments anywhere. In fact, this was Oregon’s second 2011 disaster, after the torrential January flooding in Clatsop & Curry Counties. Both received presidential disaster declarations. So what do locals governments need to know?

First, the process: a state governor has to request a presidential disaster declaration, which Governor Kitzhaber did on March 21st. Then the federal government reviews it and a presidential declaration can happen fairly fast, in this case four days later on March 25th. Then the state applies for federal funding, and local governments apply through the state. Simple, right? Are you kidding, this is the federal government. So what should an Oregon locality do after a disaster is declared? The first thing I learned is that there’s better information at the state level than from FEMA, at least on the web. When I went to the FEMA website looking for grants to local government, it looked fairly straightforward – see this link http://goo.gl/tSace and the screenshot below.

Grants and Assistance Programs for Governments Disaster-Specific Assistance Programs Hazard-Related Grants and Assistance Programs National Preparedness Non-Disaster Programs Catalog of Federal Disaster Assistance (CFDA) numbers are provided to help you find additional information on the CFDA website.

Disaster-Specific Assistance Programs Community Disaster Loan Program (CFDA Number: 97.03) Provides funds to any eligible jurisdiction in a designated disaster area that has suffered a substantial loss of tax and other revenue. (Localities)

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

(CFDA Number: 97.039) p. ~ The Fundbook - OR | May 2011

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Provides grants to States and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures

Fire Management Assistance Grant Program (CFDA Number: 97.046) Assistance for the mitigation, management, and control of fires on publicly or privately owned forests or grasslands, which threaten such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. (States, local and tribal governments)

However, problems soon arose. Called the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance the Catalog of Federal Disaster Assistance. Under Community Disaster Loan Program, there is no program number 97.03 (all CFDA numbers have 5 digits XX.XXX). None of the links worked. I encountered similar link and nomenclature problems on other FEMA websites. However, I had better luck on the Oregon Emergency Management website about Public Assistance programs. The website, http://goo.gl/rmViz , had easily accessible information and a downloadable PowerPoint describing the entire process and a form for applying for disaster relief. Two slides are included below. There are also different programs triggered by a presidential disaster declaration: FEMA Public Assistance grants, managed by the state, are to repair infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water facilities, public buildings, etc. More information at http://goo.gl/bytLm A subset of Public Assistance grants are Hazard

Public Assistance (PA) ProcessÉ

This article was contributed by Michael Wells of Grants Northwest. Grants Northwest is very knowledgable of the grants and funding territory in OR and works with local governments and nonprofits on grants-related services there.

Overview of the Recovery Process

Project Worksheet (PW) Development and Approvals Local, State and FEMA personnel write up losses

Mitigation grants to help rebuild facilities that will withstand future disasters. More information at http://goo.gl/ok13i The Small Business Administration offers low interest loans to businesses, residents and some nonprofits affected by the disaster. These have short deadlines, so they must respond fast. The first link is specific to the tsunami declaration and gives contacts. The second one has application information. The first link is http://goo.gl/TK2QP and the second is http://goo.gl/ejrCx The following graphics are from the PowerPoint mentioned above and make the process easier to follow. The first shows the process of disaster is declared and the sequence of responses. §

FEMA PA Emergency Response

State PA PW is entered into EMMIE by FEMA data entry clerk

Final FEMA PA Review

EHP

Disaster March 11, 2011

Insurance

This slide shows how a specific Public Assistance grant flows through the FEMA system. The State is the “grantee” and local governments are “subgrantees.”

List of damages Project Formulation Large Project Management

Presidential Declaration JFO established

Applicant Briefing Request for Public Assistance

Assigned FEMA PAC Kickoff meeting

From FEMA Applicant Briefing PowerPoint FEMA-1964-DR, Oregon © FEMA

YOU ARE HERE

OEM Grantee funding

Subgrantee Request Payment

Request for Declaration

Small Project

Grantee Notifies Subgrantee

Mitigation PW is reviewed by various sections

PW Approved

IDA PDA

There are also pre-disaster grant programs, which were discussed in the Oct 2010 issue of Fundbook, Page 30 of this link: http://goo.gl/vUxIF

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May 2011 | The Fundbook - OR ~ p.

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