Team Norfolk Update 11-30-16 @ 5:15pm

Team,

I trust all is well with you and yours during this holiday season!  Please see the latest updates below…

Hurricane Matthew Update
Since the last Hurricane Matthew update, FEMA reported 422 individuals in Norfolk have registered / received assistance – second to Virginia Beach among the four localities originally included in the FEMA Individual Assistance declaration.  Because the number of people in Norfolk visiting the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at the Workforce Development Center had remained in the single digits for well over a week, and FEMA typically looks to close down DRC operations when such numbers are in the single digits, Norfolk’s DRC had closed operations this past Saturday.  Nonetheless, assistance is still available to anybody who wishes to register online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired.  The toll-free telephone numbers are still operating from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.  Downloading the FEMA app is another way to access DisasterAssistance.gov for federal disaster assistance.

Southside Long-Term Recovery Group
A Southside Long-Term Recovery Group is being established and will meet tomorrow (Thursday) where Southeastern Virginia VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) member organizations, faith-based organizations, private nonprofits, civic groups and private sector business are forming to support the ongoing recovery needs of Southside Hampton Roads.  This group will meet to collaborate and coordinate with local governments in order to fully support the repair/rebuilding efforts of survivors homes.  If you and your organization are interested in participating, please let me know!

On the Public Assistance / Government Infrastructure side, a workshop facilitated by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management was conducted this afternoon.  After the City submits its Request for Public Assistance (RPA) form, FEMA will schedule a kickoff meeting.  The City’s Risk Manager is the lead contact for submitting all City information to the State.  Likewise, he will be coordinating with FEMA on their visit and also conducting Just-in-Time training on documentation needs with the appropriate agencies.  For those who want to take a deeper dive into the Public Assistance process, please review the FEMA Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide.  Herein lies all the answers!

Hazard Mitigation Funding
Today’s workshop also relayed information about post-incident Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) availability, which means there are various projects for which Norfolk (and other localities) can apply.  It is important to maintain realistic expectations however.  The amount of HMGP funding is based on percentage of total eligible Individual Assistance and Public Assistance under the declaration.  The guestimate which will be available through HMGP from Hurricane Matthew is approximately $3M.  Therefore large-scale projects are unlikely.

Recovery Plans
One focus throughout this recovery process, and discussed during the November Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) meeting, is Team Norfolk’s Recovery Plan(s).  Please visit our Plan Review Portal at http://www.norfolk.gov/index.aspx?NID=3422&ART=5363&ADMIN=1.  WE NEED YOUR HELP!!  Please review the DRAFT Short-Term - Intermediate Recovery Strategy and provide us any feedback.  To be clear, along with the Basic Plan Concept of Operations, there are Hazard-Specific Annexes (all soon to be posted as well) which contain material pertinent to the individual nuances for those incidents such as Active Shooter, Winter Storms, Tropical Storms, etc.  This Short-Term – Intermediate Recovery Framework is focused on that phase beyond initial response operations and up through months after any disaster.  Focus is on meeting the immediate needs of the community.  Team Norfolk’s Long-Term Plan is also under development which will address recovery issues for months and years afterward.  This Long-Term plan will be inclusive of Norfolk’s Resilience Strategy, plaNorfolk 2030, Vision 2100 and Hazard Mitigation Plan (2016 update near completion).  In other words, while rebuilding and rebounding from a catastrophic incident, Team Norfolk will not be starting from scratch; rather, we will be doing so in a purposeful and methodical way following a path toward resilience laid down ahead of time with constant community input.

Conclusion
Hurricane Matthew is not over!  While not as flashy as immediate response operations, the recovery component – inclusive of the FEMA reimbursement process – is critical and those folks working to make it happen should be commended.  It requires painstaking attention to detail which can either result in FEMA reimbursement or no reimbursement.  Likewise, this incident, along with that which occurred on the campus of The Ohio State University, and the upcoming winter season, are constant reminders to not only review our plans but update them as well – TOGETHER.  That is our commitment and we’re thankful for all who take the time to help!

Sincerely,

Jim
Director, Norfolk EOC
james.redick@norfolk.gov