FEMA Region 5

THANK YOU to our Incident Management Assistance Team which hit the ground in South Carolina just days after Hurricane Helene hit with a force that left nearly 50 people dead across the state. The team had had just a few hours of sleep when they arrived in South Carolina but, they stepped off their planes with a mission to bring hope and resources to survivors who've lost so much. Our team worked closely with the South Carolina Emergency Management Division to coordinate plans that ensured power was restored and that roads were reopened and safe to travel. They're also helping build out recovery centers where survivors can speak face-to-face with a FEMA rep to get the help they need. To date, more than $106 million is in the hands of South Carolinians who are trying to piece their lives back together. We are just one part of this effort. And we are thankful to have a hand in this rebuilding process. To our team - Darrin Ricketts, Natalie Dybsky, Craig Browning, Don Wenschhof III, Daniel F., Warren Daniels, Miguel Ramos, Henry James, Rick Saucedo, Alex Fonteyn, Jenn Brewer, and Rob Cassas - THANK YOU for your unwavering support to this mission and for keeping your eyes on serving with compassion, fairness, integrity, and respect. #WeAreFEMA #WeServe #SupportingSurvivors #WhereIsFEMARegion5

About half of the FEMA Region 5 team is out in the field supporting recovery efforts for disasters that have rocked communities across the nation. From Illinois to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, our teams are focused on making sure storm survivors have access to grant funds that will help them pay for hotels, temporary housing, food, diapers, medication and other necessities. Our Regional Administrator, Thomas Sivak, is leading the team by example. After Hurricane Helene left North Carolina towns and cities in shambles, Tom deployed to support the state and other partners on a mission to assess damage and identify long term needs. Working with Jim McPherson, the goal is to build out a plan that will help North Carolinians put their lives and communities back together over the long haul. FEMA will be with them as long as they need us. This is who we are. This is what we train for. This is the mission we proudly push forward. Thank you, Tom. And to every single person who leaves their own family to serve those who are experiencing their hardest days. THANK YOU. #WeServe #SupportingSurvivors #WhereIsFEMARegion5

Creating a ready nation means working with all communities - including our Tribal Nations, to build strategy and talk about the importance of having a plan. A plan to that will protect families. A plan that will protect sacred lands. A plan that will protect the histories of those who have laid strong foundations before us. We are grateful for the opportunities to invest, educate, and build solid partnerships. Thank you to all who joined us for our Tribal Summit in FEMA Region 5 recently. Collaboration makes us stronger. Special thanks to our National Tribal Affairs Advocate Kelbie Kennedy, our Regional Administrator Thomas Sivak, our Deputy Regional Administrator Mike Chesney, and our Regional Tribal Liaisons Troy Christensen and Cathy Bachhuber for hosting and facilitating the conversations. #TribalNations #BuildingAReadyNation #Prepare #BeforeDuringAndAfter

This year's National Preparedness Month campaign specifically focuses on helping Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities prepare for disasters before they occur. And our teams are meeting them where they’re at. We joined community members and leaders in Madison Heights, MI for a roundtable this week to have open conversations about the barriers that limit preparedness opportunities. From language barriers to cultural differences – our teams are actively working to identify solutions that will help close these gaps and build a ready nation. The conversation was extremely informative, and it underscored the importance of collaboration between community leaders and federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial officials to create a more inclusive and effective preparedness framework. By working together, we can ensure that all communities have the tools and knowledge necessary to respond in the face of disaster. It all boils down to protecting the people we love and making our homes and communities stronger. Thank you to Dan Shulman and Amy Pifine for moderating the roundtable and to all who contributed to the discussion, including Tammy Blackburn with the Michigan State Police, Robert Seeley, from Oakland County Emergency Management, Mika McAskill and representatives from the Office of Global Michigan, Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commissioner Peggy Du, and FEMA Region 5's own Sumayya Menk for organizing the event. #NPM #BePrepared #ProtectYourLovedOnes

It's WELCOME WEDNESDAY and today, we're putting JUSTIN WOODS in the spotlight. Justin joined FEMA Region 5 in May as a Historic Preservation Specialist. He has an SOI Archaeologist specialty and, while he's on the clock, he reviews public assistance projects to make sure they are compliant with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and other environmental protection laws. He focuses primarily on archaeological resources that are below ground. As a Chicago native, Justin says he is looking forward to making a difference in his own back yard. He was born in Chicago and raised in the Mt. Greenwood neighborhood. Justin is extremely passionate about making music when he is not at work. He also enjoys hitting up local museums, exploring local hiking trails, and keeping up with the Chicago Blackhawks. We are proud to serve with Justin. If you see him around the office, be sure to stop, say hello, and welcome him to the team. #FEMARegion5 #EmergencyManagement #WelcomeWednesday #Careers

Make your emergency supply list and check it twice to make sure you have all you need to keep your family safe if a disaster hits near your home. This National Preparedness Month, we're encouraging families to take steps to increase awareness and plan ahead. Our very own Alexander Bui, has a few items on his list that can help you #StartAConversation as you build a plan with your family. For more preparedness tips, visit www.Ready.gov/Start. #NPM #BePrepared #ProtectYourLovedOnes

It's WELCOME WEDNESDAY and we're putting the spotlight on Angela Williams, one of our newest FEMA Region 5 team members. Angela joined our Public Assistance team in July and is a primary point of contact for applicants, providing customer service and guidance throughout the grant process. She's looking forward to developing her professional capabilities and strengthening the Agency's commitment to customer service and consistent grant development. Angela is from Chicago so working in region is home for her. But, when she is not on the clock, Angela enjoys taking trips to New York City to catch a Broadway show. This summer, she saw The Wiz on stage. When you see Angela around the office, be sure to say hello and offer a few words of encouragement as she navigates her new role. Again - welcome to the team, Angela. We're glad to have you! #FEMARegion5 #EmergencyManagement #WelcomeWednesday #Careers

We recognize the strength of the 36 Tribal Nations in FEMA Region 5 and we proudly partner with their emergency managers, who lead the charge in making sure Tribal communities are prepared before emergencies occur. This National Preparedness Month, we're encouraging everyone to jumpstart the conversation about increasing resilience and supporting the well-being of themselves and their loved ones. Our National Tribal Affairs Advocate, Kelbie Kennedy, and our Regional Administrator Thomas S. offer a few tips on how to prepare in advance. For additional preparedness tips and to sample preparedness plans, check out Ready.gov.

Join a great team in FEMA Region 5! We've got a few openings that have application deadlines approaching soon. Check them out and, if you think one of the roles fits your capabilities - we encourage you to apply. We're looking for a Environmental Protection Specialist who will supervise a team in on our Hazard Mitigation Division. As part of the job, this person will oversee environmental and historic preservation compliance reviews for FEMA Public Assistance disaster grants, conduct training at the local, state, Tribal, and regional levels, provide technical assistance to FEMA to staff when projects are being formulated, and more. The application deadline is Wednesday, September 18. See more details and apply: https://lnkd.in/eXHZ4mUH Our Hazard Mitigation team is also looking for a Grants Management Specialist who can resolve complex issues that involve coordinating both inside and outside the agency. This person will provide technical assistance to state or local organizations, review and evaluate grant applications and more. The application deadline is Wednesday, September 18. See more details and apply for this job: https://lnkd.in/eSz-8sJs

It's National Preparedness Month (NPM) and our teams are working every day to educate communities and help them see the benefit of preparing before a disaster strikes. Studies show that less than 40% of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities see the value in preparing ahead. For this year's NPM campaign, we're focusing our NPM efforts on reversing this trend by engaging communities, sharing resources, and encouraging everyone to plan ahead to protect their loved ones. Members of our FEMA Region 5 team will be sharing tips all month on how they prepare. Meet Celine Carus and see how her weather radio brings peace of mind for her. For more tips, be sure to check out Ready.gov. #NPM #BePrepared #ProtectYourLovedOnes