FEMA In Focus

Fort Travis, Texas

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:19:11 +0000

In 1898, along with federal development of the Port of Galveston, construction on the present Fort Travis was begun. The fort was completed in 1899 and heavily damaged during the 1900 storm. Repairs included the present 15 foot sea wall. During World War I Fort Travis garrisoned troops defending the Port of Galveston and its approaches. In 1942, the fort was enlarged and 2,500 troops were stationed there. When the war ended, Fort Travis was declared surplus property, dismantled, and in 1949 sold to private interests. The 60 acre park was acquired through a Moody Foundation grant in 1976 and is operated by the Galveston County Beach and Parks Department. Hurricane Ike in 2008 destroyed much of the promenade, sidewalks, and portions of the caretaker's house originally used to house Generals serving at Fort Travis. The collaborative effort of several FEMA components are displayed in this video as they begin repairs to restore and protect against future damage from storm at this historic landmark.

A Historic Recovery

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:00:45 +0000

FEMA protects cultural resources by performing an archaeological study before housing construction begins. Archaeologist Charles Bello guides us through the process.

Iowa Theater Takes a Bow

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:13:20 +0000

In 2008, the Cedar River rose to 32 feet -- 20 feet above flood stage-- and tried to close the Iowa Theater Building for good. FEMA through its public assistance program obligated more than $4 million to the state of Iowa for replacements, restoration and repairs at the Iowa Theater Building. The Iowa Theater re-opened Friday, Feb. 26, with the stage production of "The Producers".

Craig Fugate at Harvard

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:44:50 +0000

Administrator Craig Fugate makes comments after participating in a panel at the 2010 Harvard Social Enterprise Conference.

Iowa's Community Organizations - Key Pieces In Recovery

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:06:50 +0000

All disasters begin locally and end locally. Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) can help a community make the best use of its resources in a disaster. The mission of a COAD is to organize and deploy resources, in an effective and timely manner, in response to the needs of disaster survivors. This is the story of FEMA's assistance to Iowa communities organizing their own COAD in the wake of the flooding of 2008.

ICS in American Samoa, Governor and FEMA

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:27:17 +0000

Shortly after the tsunami struck American Samoa on September 29, 2009, recovery began from Hawaii where Gov. Togiola Tulafono was conducting territorial business. He contacted FEMA's Kenneth R. Tingman, who is based in Honolulu and together they guided a major disaster declaration through the White House that same day. Then they flew overnight to American Samoa with personnel and supplies to begin the task.

ICS in American Samoa, USCG

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:06:04 +0000

The U.S. Coast Guard lost its headquarters in American Samoa to the tsunami of September 29, 2009. The three-man detachment was in separate locations that morning, but able to escape the waves and regroup to begin responding using the Incident Command System.

ICS in American Samoa, NPS

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:17:28 +0000

The Incident Command System (ICS) helped the National Park Service respond after its headquarters in American Samoa was destroyed by the tsunami on September 29, 2009.

Mapping New Territory

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:19:44 +0000

David Vaeafe, executive director of the American Samoa Visitors Bureau, and Jonathan Colwell, FEMA GIS specialist, tell us the story of how FEMA made a detailed map of island of Tutuila for the American Samoa Visitors Bureau.

Community Cornerstone

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:34:38 +0000

Hurricane Katrina damaged Andrew H. Wilson Charter School in the community of Broadmoor. FEMA obligated $28 million to help the school and the neighborhood rebuild.

Galveston Railroad Museum

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:50:01 +0000

Galveston depends a great deal on tourism in order to survive. When Hurricane Ike hit in September 2008, many of the main attractions of Galveston were damaged and have been closed since. The recovery from such a disaster is an ongoing arduous process, but worthwhile for the communities depending on the revenue and in this case, keeping the rich history of our country alive.

Acadian Closing

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:18:10 +0000

Temporary Housing Units provide a short-term solution for disaster survivors whose homes or apartments are destroyed. Hurricane Ike hit Texas in September of 2008. The first Community Site named the Acadian Annex was opened by FEMA in January 2009 in response to housing needs in Bridge City, Texas. Originally housing 40 units, the Acadian Annex Community Site has now closed one year and one month later. The residents there have all found more permanent housing solutions for their families. The homes have all been removed and the site has been returned to the original owner of the property.

Temporary House To Home

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:43:56 +0000

Hurricane Ike survivor, Jeanne Leslie, has been living in a FEMA provided Temporary Housing Unit since the storm destroyed her house in San Leon, Texas. After a little more than a year of residing in this unit while deciding whether to repair, rebuild or replace her damaged home, FEMA gave Leslie the option of purchasing this mobile home for her permanent use. Jeanne shares her experience and thanks in this short video of a survivor's success story.

Volunteers Help Rebuild American Samoa

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:47:25 +0000

Mennonite volunteers help families in American Samoa rebuild after September's devastating tsunami. Volunteer Donald Horst guides us through their efforts.

Virginia Mitigation Best Practices

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:20:38 +0000

Gloucester County, Virginia, homeowner Bain Schultz talks about how effective her home elevation has been.

Flood Insurance Door to Door

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:59:43 +0000

FEMA and VDEM organized a door to door outreach campaign in the Ocean View neighborhood of Norfolk, Virginia, to educate renters on the availability of flood insurance.

Rebuilding Dillard University

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:10:45 +0000

Flooding from Katrina inundated Dillard University. FEMA obligated more than $61 million to help the school reconstruct its campus.

Flood Preparedness PSA

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:20:13 +0000

60 second PSA on ways to prepare for flooding.

Iowa Community Builds It Safe

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:20:44 +0000

The Waverly Shell Rock Community School was destroyed by the 2008 floods. To better prepare for future disasters, the school board was granted FEMA Hazard Mitigation funding to design their new auditorium as a certified safe room. The rebuilding of the school and the safe room was funded, in part, by a grant of 9.375 million dollars from FEMA.

Craig Fugate at Microsoft

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:27:57 +0000

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate talks about speaking at the Microsoft Public Safety Symposium.

Newport News and Hampton Home Depot Outreach

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:18:09 +0000

FEMA, The Virginia Department of Emergency Management, and local emergency managers hosted a flood mitigation and flood insurance outreach event in Newport News and Hampton, Virginia, on January 23 and 24, 2010.

Palo Updates and Mitigates

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:52:48 +0000

For years, residents of Palo, Iowa worried about heavy rains causing sewage to enter their basements. After the 2008 flood, FEMA funded projects in Palo that have mitigated the possibility of future flood damage.

Family Elevates Home to Protect It

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 22:29:12 +0000

After a devastating flood in September 2009, an Atlanta family took a dramatic step. By raising its home by eight feet, the family hopes to protect its home against future flood damage.

Long-Term Community Recovery in Georgia

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:53:38 +0000

FEMA recovery specialists are helping Georgia community leaders identify and resolve long-term issues that stem from the historic floods of 2009.

EPA Cleans Up HAZMAT in American Samoa

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 05:06:20 +0000

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency returned to American Samoa in January to complete the clean-up and removal of hazardous waste from the tsunami. The agency also neutralized and removed pre-existing HAZMAT conditions.