Now Open: FY 2019 Grants Application Period. October 2019

October 8, 2019 -  Subscribe

In This Issue: Now Open: FY 2019 Grants Application Period Webinars about FY 2019 Grants Application Cycle Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Stakeholder Input Webinar Series 2019 Now Available Online National Mitigation Investment Strategy (NMIS) Launch DRRA Section 1231 Fact Sheet: Acquisition of Property for Open Space and Policy Clarification Dates For Your Calendar

Now Open: FY 2019 Grants Application Period The application period for FEMA’s Fiscal Year 2019 Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants under the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) programs is now open. Eligible applicants must apply for funding through the FEMA Mitigation eGrants system on the FEMA Grants Portal. All applications must be submitted no later than 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on January 31, 2020. For FY19, a total of $410 million in funding is available through HMA’s two competitive grant programs, FMA and PDM. For the FMA program, FEMA’s predetermined funding priorities include flood mitigation planning and efforts for repetitive as well as severe repetitive loss properties. In this application cycle, $160 million in funds are available. View the FY19 FMA Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and Fact Sheet for more information: www.fema.gov/flood-mitigation-assistance-grant-program. The PDM program is designed to implement a sustained pre-disaster natural hazard mitigation program with the goal of reducing overall risk to the population and structures from future hazard events. For FY19, FEMA has set aside $20 million of the $250 million in PDM funding for federally-recognized tribes. View the FY19 PDM NOFO and Fact Sheet for more information: www.fema.gov/pre-disaster-mitigation-grant-program. FEMA’s two competitive mitigation grant programs provide states, tribes, and territories funding for eligible mitigation activities to strengthen our nation’s ability to build a culture of preparedness by reducing disaster losses and protecting life and property from future disaster damages. The Fiscal Year 2019 hazard mitigation funding cycle represents a critical transition year for pre-disaster mitigation grants. One of the most substantive provisions of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 is Section 1234, which authorizes FEMA to develop a new pre-disaster mitigation program that is funded by a 6 percent set-aside from federal disaster assistance for each major disaster declaration. This new program, Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), will allow FEMA to support states and communities to undertake new and innovative infrastructure projects that reduce the risks they face from disasters. FEMA is already using the BRIC funding mechanism to advance its objective of increasing the nation’s resilience by making $250 million available for the FY19 PDM Program. Back to Top Webinars about FY 2019 Grants Application Cycle Throughout October, FEMA will continue to offer a series of webinars on the FY 2019 PDM and FMA grant programs. Upcoming sessions are listed below. You can also view the complete webinar schedule here. eGrants for Beginners Join this webinar to learn how to use Mitigation eGrants, the system that FEMA uses to accept and process all grant applications. This webinar will be offered twice and prospective FY19 applicants may attend either session. The webinar will cover how to access the system, where to go for help, and include a question and answer period. The webinar is primarily intended for subapplicants and new users. For the online portion, please join via the Internet: https://fema.connectsolutions.com/beginnersegrants/. For audio, please call 1-800-320-4330 and enter conference code 338559.      Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time  Monday, October 21, 2019 at 9 a.m. Eastern Time  Avoiding Application Pitfalls  FEMA will offer a webinar on common PDM grant application errors and how to avoid them. This webinar will be offered twice and applicants may attend either session. For the online portion, please join via the Internet: https://fema.connectsolutions.com/application-pitfalls/. For audio, please call 1-800-320-4330 and enter conference code 338559. Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time Back to Top Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Stakeholder Input Webinar Series 2019 Now Available Online FEMA and its partners are working on the development and implementation of BRIC. A series of four webinars held in June 2019 provided an overview as the BRIC program is being developed and facilitated an open conversation with stakeholders through the chat platform webinar tool. Participants were encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas in real-time during these webinars or had the option to provide comments on a dedicated idea sharing platform known as IdeaScale. You can access recordings of the four webinars at https://www.fema.gov/drra-bric. FEMA continues to monitor a dedicated email box for any comments or suggestions about the development of BRIC at buildbric@fema.dhs.gov. Back to Top National Mitigation Investment Strategy (NMIS) Launch Following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) identified a need for a coordinated, federal and national investment strategy for mitigation that reduces the nation’s exposure to future losses from disasters. In response, the Mitigation Framework Leadership Group (MitFLG) produced a National Mitigation Investment Strategy. The Investment Strategy establishes a vision to save lives and money nationwide by investing in mitigation resources and activities such as: Building to disaster-resistant codes or standards Collecting and sharing data that identifies disaster risk Aligning funding requirements and incentives to make mitigation doable Identifying weaknesses that increase disaster risk Sharing expertise and advice on how to mitigate  The Investment Strategy’s national vision is for the whole community, which includes individuals, families, communities, the private and nonprofit sectors, faith-based organizations, and state, local, tribal, territorial, and federal governments. Back to Top DRRA Section 1231 Fact Sheet: Acquisition of Property for Open Space and Policy Clarification Through its Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs, FEMA funds the voluntary acquisition of hazard-prone properties from private owners. Property acquisition is not new for FEMA; however, DRRA Section 1231 contains new requirements for the project notification process and emphasizes a community’s responsibilities regarding acquired land. The newly released DRRA Section 1231 Fact Sheet outlines these new requirements for state, tribal, territorial and local governments and supplements existing FEMA guidance on property acquisition projects per the DRRA. FEMA also released a policy clarification on the Eligibility of Hazard Mitigation Assistance Applications with Pre-Award Demolitions. This policy clarifies that when private individuals have demolished damaged structures using private funds or other non-federal funds prior to application for HMA funding, the properties will now be eligible for inclusion in HMA project applications if the demolition is not connected to the project. The demolition costs cannot be included in the project application.  Back to Top

Dates For Your Calendar Webinars eGrants for Beginners Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time  Monday, October 21, 2019 at 9 a.m. Eastern Time  Avoiding Application Pitfalls Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time Mitigation Training Hazus for Flood December 2-5 Emmitsburg, Maryland Benefit-Cost Analysis: Entry-Level October 16-17 Emmitsburg, Maryland Managing Floodplain Development through the NFIP October 7-10 Rocky Mount, North Carolina October 7-10 Las Vegas, New Mexico October 21-24 Lewiston, Idaho October 28-31 Doral, Florida Managing Floodplain Development thru the NFIP   December 2-5 Emmitsburg, Maryland HMA: Application Review and Evaluation October 28-29 Anchorage, Alaska HMA: Project Implementation and Programmatic Closeout October 30-31 Anchorage, Alaska National Flood Insurance Program/Community Rating System October 7-10 Downers Grove, Illinois Introduction to Environmental and Historic Preservation Compliance November 13-15 Anniston, Alabama December 16-18 Anniston, Alabama ArcGIS for Emergency Managers January 13-16 Emmitsburg, Maryland Executive Order 11988 and 11990: Floodplain Management and Wetlands Protection October 16-18 Anniston, Alabama More information on upcoming training and registration.

Is Homelessness Recovery Housing? A change in semantics to accelerate the solution.

New Publication Recovery Housing: Best Practices and Suggested Guidelines Recovery housing is an intervention that is specifically designed to address the recovering person’s need for a safe and healthy living environment while supplying the requisite recovery and peer supports. This report identifies ten specific areas, or guiding principles, that will assist states and federal policy makers in defining and understanding what comprises safe, effective, and legal recovery housing. National organizations have contributed significant and valuable work in developing policies, practices, and guidance to improve recovery housing as an integral model of care. The guiding principles in this document are meant to provide an overarching framework that builds upon and extends the foundational policy and practice work that had guided the development of recovery housing to date. SAMHSA recommends following these Ten Guiding Principles to guide recovery house operators, stakeholders, and states in enacting laws designed to provide the greatest level of resident care and safety possible.  View the Guidelines

Nonprofit Essentials Certificate. September 2019

Nonprofit Essentials Certificate Professional Effectiveness

Ready to build your skills, enhance your resume, and increase your impact? Then don’t miss this 100% free, assessment-based DisasterReady certificate on Nonprofit Essentials.   Developed in collaboration with experts from across the nonprofit sector, in this certificate program you will learn:  How nonprofits operate How nonprofits raise money How you can build a successful career After completing these short courses and passing an exam, you will earn the certificate to add to your resume or LinkedIn profile. Get started today and strengthen the impact you and your organization can make by understanding the essential principles and practices of nonprofits.

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Managing and Reducing Risk. September 2019

Managing Risks Safety and Security

Humanitarian and development organizations and staff often experience heightened risks, and while we cannot eliminate every risk, we CAN enhance your knowledge about managing and reducing them. Take 10 minutes to strengthen your knowledge on how to identify, assess, rate, and mitigate risks of all types. This interactive guide was developed in partnership with AHT, a full-service insurance brokerage and consulting firm committed to helping International Aid and Development Organizations manage risks and protect personnel around the world.  It is specifically designed for mobile devices (smartphones and tablets) to support learners on the go and is available in English with Arabic and French coming soon.

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DisasterReady’s Ready to Go Mobile Guides were created by experts from across the humanitarian and nonprofit sectors and cover essential topics such as leadership, security, protection, emergency response, health, and much more. Explore the entire collection here.

Cybrary: CISO Course.

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

TIME

3 hours 54 minutes

DIFFICULTY

Advanced

CEU/CPE

4

Course

CREATE FREE ACCOUNT

Upcoming Flood Insurance Webinars for Agents Presented by the National Flood Insurance Program September 2019

Upcoming Flood Insurance Webinars for Agents Presented by the National Flood Insurance Program September 2019 - Register Now! (Capacity is Limited) Key Fundamentals of Flood Insurance for Agents Parts One and Two Please register for both parts of this webinar. Part One: September 24 - 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM CDT - REGISTER Part Two: September 25 - 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM CDT - REGISTER Insurance agent continuing education course approval and credits vary by state. CLICK HERE for information about your state.  Can't attend these sessions? Watch for more opportunities soon. TWO-PART KEY FUNDAMENTALS WEBINAR This webinar is a two-part course on the National Flood Insurance Program. It includes the topics listed in the Federal Register notice on training and education requirements related to Section 207 of the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004, otherwise known as FIRA 2004. It brings participants the latest information on reform legislation impacting the NFIP as it reviews the key elements that insurance agents need to know about the NFIP and how it works. It also discusses many of the federal flood program’s general rules as well as some more advanced topics. For more information visit our Key Fundamentals of Flood Insurance overview. Attendees must complete both sessions in order to cover all topics required by the Flood Insurance Reform Act (FIRA) of 2004. REGISTRATION INFORMATION To register, please use the links above. These webinars are FREE to attend, but spaces are limited so please register early. Can't attend these sessions? NFIP Training conducts webinars on flood insurance topics regularly. Watch for more upcoming opportunities. If you are not a subscriber to NFIP agent training bulletins, please sign up here. CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS Insurance agent continuing education course approval and credits vary by state.  Click Here for information about your state. Some states (e.g. California, Illinois, Michigan, Oklahoma, Utah and Virginia) require that both parts of the course be successfully completed in the same offering to receive any credit hours. Currently, there are no CE credits available in Puerto Rico or  Guam. Both parts of the course must be completed to meet the FIRA 2004 training requirement. Periodic learning checks will be conducted to measure attendee engagement.  Learning checks must be completed by each registered attendee to earn CE credit. Only registered attendees are eligible to receive CE credits. No exam is required. As the course provider, we will collect agents' license numbers for the purpose of roster submissions. State Mandatory Notifications: Colorado - This two-part course is approved by the Colorado Division of Insurance for Continuing Insurance Education Credit. Connecticut - Approved by the State of Connecticut Insurance Department for insurance producer continuing education credit. Florida - Each part of this course has been approved by the Florida Department of Financial Services for insurance continuing education credit.  FL Provider: H2O Partners, Inc. (#365883); Course: Key Fundamentals of Flood Insurance for Agents - Part 1 (Webinar) (#106200); Course: Key Fundamentals of Flood Insurance for Agents - Part 2 (Webinar) (#106202). New Mexico - This course has been approved by the Insurance Continuing Education Committee as a New Mexico Insurance Continuing Education Course. South Carolina - This course is approved by the South Carolina Department of Insurance for Continuing Insurance Education Credit. Questions? Contact Aaron Montanez at: producer@h2opartnersusa.com  Please do not reply to this email. If you have questions regarding NFIP Training, please write to nfiptraininginfo@h2opartnersusa.com. Sign Up for NFIP Agent Training Bulletins

Cocopah Tribe to bring drinking water facility into compliance. September 17, 2019

For Immediate Release: September 17, 2019

Media Contact: Margot Perez-Sullivan, 415-947-4149, perezsullivan.margot@epa.gov

Cocopah Tribe to bring drinking water facility into compliance

YUMA, Ariz. —The Cocopah Tribe has agreed to bring the Cocopah Bend RV Park and Golf Resort’s drinking water system into compliance with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act as part of a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The resort is located outside of Yuma, Arizona. 

“We are pleased this system will make critical investments to prevent drinking water contamination,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Stoker. “EPA will ensure all requirements of this agreement will be met for the long-term protection of the community.”

During a May 2019 inspection, EPA identified significant deficiencies with the system’s elevated storage tank, including inadequately sealed hatches and tubes that could introduce contaminants into the drinking water. The system serves approximately 1,095 residents with 901 connections. The system's current source of drinking water is groundwater from two wells that serves its customers.
The system is developing a compliance plan for EPA approval and will meet federal standards by Feb. 28, 2020.

For more information on EPA's drinking water program, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/sdwa
Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook and on Twitter.

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Fellowship Opportunity: Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program. Deadline October 15, 2019

APPLY FOR A 2020-2021 FELLOWSHIP!

Deadline for Applications: October 15, 2019 Deadline for Letters of Recommendation: October 22, 2019 The deadline to apply for the Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program has been extended to October 15, 2019. The fellowship is an international exchange program that offers five-month fellowships to leading democracy activists, journalists, civil society leaders, and scholars from around the world to conduct independent projects at the National Endowment for Democracy. During their time in residence at NED's International Forum for Democratic Studies, in Washington D.C., fellows reflect on their experiences and consider lessons learned; conduct independent research and writing; engage with colleagues and counterparts in the United States; and build ties with a global network of democracy advocates.   We encourage qualified candidates to apply or share this call for applications with other democracy advocates! Click here to view our promotional video! Eligibility: The program is intended primarily for practitioners from developing and aspiring democracies, and those from nondemocratic countries. Distinguished scholars from the United States and other established democracies are also eligible to apply. Practitioners include activists, journalists, lawyers, and civil society professionals who have substantial experience in their field. Scholars include professors, researchers, and other writers who have a Ph.D. or academic equivalent at the time of application. A working knowledge of English is required. Support: Fellows receive monthly payments to cover living expenses, plus basic health insurance, travel reimbursement, and research support. Fellowship Dates: Fall Session: October 1, 2020–February 28, 2021; Spring Session: March 1–July 31, 2021. For more information and to apply, visit www.ned.org/fellowships.