Klarides-Ditria shares info about disaster assistance in response to flooding

Friends and neighbors,

A major disaster declaration has been approved in response to the August 18 extreme flooding in our area. 

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance by clicking the button below, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA app. 

Disaster Assistance Federal assistance could include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners. The state, FEMA and SBA are currently identifying locations in the impacted counties to open disaster recovery & business recovery centers that will provide in-person support to help affected individuals apply for assistance. SBA Opens Business Recovery Centers The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has opened Business Recovery Centers (BRC) in Oxford, at the Oxford Town Hall, and in Monroe, at the Monroe Police Department, to assist businesses with losses due to severe storm, flooding, landslides and mudslides. The disaster declaration covers Fairfield, Litchfield and New Haven counties which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA.  SBA’s Customer Service Representatives can assist business owners complete their disaster loan application, accept documents, and provide updates on an application’s status. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment at an SBA Business Recovery Center in advance.   Application Filing Deadlines: Physical Damage: November 19, 2024 Economic Injury: June 20, 2025 What Types of Disaster Loans are Available? Business Physical Disaster Loans – Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible. Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period. Home Disaster Loans – Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and personal property, including automobiles. What are the Credit Requirements? • Credit History – Applicants must have a credit history acceptable to SBA. • Repayment – Applicants must show the ability to repay all loans.

Sincerely,

Ansonia mayor urges residents to report property damage from storm

ANSONIA - Mayor David S. Cassetti wants to ensure that our residents report any and all property damage to our Emergency Management Director, Jared Heon.

This will help the City as it prepares to submit damage estimates to FEMA for reimbursable expenses for storm damage that may have occurred on Aug. 18, 2024.

Please note this is ONLY FOR PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE CITY OF ANSONIA. Include your address, nature of the damage and contact information along with any pictures of the damage that you may have.

Please submit your information to EMD Director, Jared Heon at jheon@ansoniact.org

This is shared from the City of Ansonia Facebook page.

Sharing Facebook post from FEMA on emergency alert test today

IMPORTANT: On Wednesday, Oct. 4th at 2:20 p.m. ET, there will be a nationwide emergency alert test on cell phones, wireless devices, radios, and TVs.

This is a standard test that occurs at least once every three years. No action is needed.

Info & FAQs: http://fema.gov/.../integrated-public.../national-test-2023

FEMA, FCC to conduct nationwide test of emergency alert system Oct. 4

Dear Friends, FEMA and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4. The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones. The test message will display in either English or in Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset. The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. The purpose of the Oct. 4 test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level. In case the Oct. 4 test is postponed due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the back-up testing date is Oct. 11.  All wireless phones should receive the message only once. The following can be expected from the nationwide WEA test: Beginning at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving the test message.  For consumers, the message that appears on their phones will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” Phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display: “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”

Sincerely,

4th graders at Bungay School in Seymour learn emergency preparedness

Bungay School students and teacher Chris Cummings pose with Seymour Schools Security Director Richard Kearns and Security Officer Ron Barnard./ Contributed photo

 

SEYMOUR - Fourth graders at Bungay Elementary School took part Sept. 23 in the Federal Emergency Management Administration’s “Students Tools for Emergency Planning” program, also known as STEP.  

September is National Preparedness Month.

 

This is the 13^th year Seymour students have participated in the “STEP Program,” which was piloted in Seymour in 2008.  

Seymour Public Schools Director of Security Rich Kearns received national recognition from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and FEMA when FEMA modeled Seymour’s adaptation of the program nationally.  

The “STEP Program” is sponsored by FEMA and the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. 

 

Seymour School Security Officers Ron Barnard and Officer Kevin Pimpinelli have joined Kearns in teaching students the steps on how to prepare their families in the event an emergency or disaster was to strike. 

Each student was given a backpack to take home.  

The backpacks contained items to help start building their own family emergency kit that included an emergency blanket, flashlights, whistle, activity books, and information to share with their families to better prepare them in the event of an emergency or disaster. 

It is found that if people are better prepared to deal with a crisis before it strikes, the outcomes and recovery process will be that much easier for them. 

 

For questions or information on how to prepare your family for a disaster or emergency you may contact Kearns at 203-888-2561 ext. 1003.

This is a press release from Rich Kearns.

Rochelle: FEMA approves funding for crisis counseling in CT

 

HARTFORD -The State of Connecticut has received approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide crisis counseling to those who have been impacted by COVID-19. 

The program will be administered by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services in cooperation with the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. 
The $669,404 grant will provide the following services:

• Crisis counseling to persons experiencing homelessness who are in shelters, hotels, and in the community, as well as staff in these facilities;
• Crisis counseling to senior citizens in congregate care settings and the community; and
• Enhancement of crisis counseling call-line services provided through United Way 2-1-1.

This information is from a press release from state Rep. Kara Rochelle, D-Ansonia.

Echo Hose Ambulance in Shelton to host Hurricane Awareness class

Free FEMA/DHS funded program for First Responders, Healthcare Providers, Government officials, Public Works, CERT Teams, community volunteers, Emergency Managers, and members of the private business sector. 
To register for this class, or to see a full list of our free FEMA/DHS courses, please visit www.echohose.com.

Elementary school students in Seymour learn emergency preparedness

Bungay School fourth grade teacher Cindy Botti pictured with her students and CERT Bob Wilson./ Photo by Rich Kearns

Chatfield-LoPresti School fourth grade teachers Kyle Mullaney and Jara Ciocca pose with Police Officer Jack Harkins and students./ Photo by Rich Kearns

SEYMOUR - On Aug. 31 a proclamation was issued by President Barack Obama declaring September as “National Preparedness Month.” 

Last week all Seymour Public Schools fourth grade students participated in the Federal Emergency Management Administration’s “Students Tools for Emergency Planning” program, also known as STEP.  
This is the 10th year Seymour students have participated in the STEP Program, which was piloted in Seymour in 2008.  

Seymour Public Schools Director of Security Rich Kearns received national recognition when FEMA modeled the program nationally after the Seymour program.  The STEP Program is sponsored by FEMA and the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.  
Kearns has been presenting the program for the last 10 years to all fourth grade students at Bungay Elementary School and Chatfield-LoPresti Elementary School.  
Seymour Police Department Community-School Resource Officer John Harkins and Seymour Citizens Emergency Response Team President Robert Wilson assisted Kearns this year showing students the steps on how to prepare student's families in the event an emergency or disaster was to strike. 
Each student was given a backpack to take home that contained items to help start building their own family emergency kit along with information to share with their families to better prepare them in the event of an emergency.  
The goal of STEP Program is to provide some resources to families in the community to better prepare them for emergencies as it is found that if people are better prepared to deal with a crisis the outcomes and recovery process will be that much easier for them.  
Throughout September Kearns, Seymour Fire Marshal Tim Willis, Seymour Emergency Management Director Tom Eighmie, Seymour Police Department Community-School Resource Officer Jack Harkins, as well as other first responders conducted emergency response drills district-wide with all students K-12.  

All Star Transportation Safety Supervisor Brenda Bass and school bus safety team members also joined Kearns in conducting school bus evacuation drills for students in the district who ride the bus to school.  
All of these programs and drills are part of a continuous effort by Seymour Public Schools and Seymour Emergency Services Personnel working together to better prepare our schools and families in the event an emergency were to occur and to help make our schools a safer place.   

This is a press release from Rich Kearns, Director of Security, Seymour Public Schools.