Beware, and Be Aware, When Contracting for Disaster Repairs
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA -- After a disaster, contractors play a major role in rebuilding an affected community. They can also give the local economy a major boost as they construct new homes and businesses.

FEMA Denial Letters: Not Always the Final Word
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA, -- Disaster survivors, after registering for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), sometimes receive a FEMA denial letter in the mail stating "ineligible."

FEMA Funds Disaster Case Management Program in Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missourians with disaster-related unmet needs even after receiving state and federal disaster assistance now can access disaster case management services.

FEMA Funds Project to Remove Orphan Drums From Park
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- At the request of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR), The Federal Emergency Management Agency will fund the Environmental Protection Agency to assist with the retrieval of orphan drums from Big Oak Tree State Park.

FEMA Obligates $1 Million for Northwest Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance program has obligated $1 million to the state of Missouri for reimbursements of disaster related expenses and damage in local communities caused by flooding in Northwest Missouri between June 1 through Aug. 1, 2011.

FEMA Public Assistance Reaches More Than $21 Million
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The state of Missouri, Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance program has obligated $23,062,105 to the state of Missouri for reimbursements of disaster-related expenses and damage in local communities caused by severe storms, tornados and flooding April 19 through June 6, 2011.

Hazard Mitigation Disaster Advice is Crucial After a Flood
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA -- In the wake of a flood, information becomes as important as food and water to disaster survivors, as well as aid needed to recover.

Helping Kids Cope With Disasters
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA -- Children can be particularly vulnerable to the stressful effects of a disaster. Parents, teachers and caregivers need to be alert to signs.

Iowa Disaster Assistance Registration Deadline Extended Two Weeks
Kansas City, Mo. -- Iowans in five western counties impacted by severe flooding from May 25 to August 1, 2011 will have two more weeks to register for disaster assistance, state and federal recovery officials announced Monday.

Missouri School Gets "A+" for Earthquake Mitigation; Becomes Model for Other Schools
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Today, as we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the first of three devastating earthquakes that struck the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) in 1811-12, Bloomfield Elementary School unveils how funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are helping protect its students against similar devastation today.

One Week Left to Register for Flood Aid From FEMA
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Residents of Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Holt, Lafayette and Platte counties have one week left to register for federal disaster aid, recovery officials announced Monday.

Pettis County Embraces Social Media Preparedness Effort
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- When a destructive tornado bore down on the town of Sedalia, Mo. only days after a devastating twister struck Joplin, Pettis County residents were fortunate to have a forward thinking emergency manager who sent out warning messages by way of non-traditional communication methods such as email, Facebook and Twitter.

Regional Stakeholders Meet to Discuss Disaster Recovery Framework and Transformation Of Emergency Management
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Region VII office facilitated a day-long event for stakeholders in emergency management yesterday. Similar events have been and will continue to be hosted by FEMA regional offices throughout the United States in an effort to spread the word about concepts and principles of the National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF), which was launched in September 2010.

Residency of FEMA Temporary Housing Units Drop Below 500
JOPLIN, Mo. -- On February 6, households residing in Federal Emergency Management Agency mobile homes in Joplin dropped below 500, recovery officials said today.

Two Weeks Remain to Register for Flood Aid From FEMA
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Residents of Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Holt, Lafayette and Platte counties have two weeks left to register for federal disaster aid, recovery officials announced Wednesday.