FEMA Activates in Support of Bering Sea Storm
SEATTLE, Wash. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency is closely monitoring storm conditions in Alaska, and encourages residents to follow the advice of local officials. According to the National Weather Service, winter storm, blizzard and coastal flood warnings remain in effect along the Bering Sea and west coast of Alaska. Conditions are expected to worsen as this storm makes landfall.

FEMA Authorizes Funds to Help Washington State Fight Monastery Complex Fire
SEATTLE, Wash -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today authorized the use of federal funds to help Washington State fight the Monastery Complex Fire burning in Klickitat County. FEMA Regional Administrator Ken Murphy said the state's request for federal fire management assistance was approved after it was confirmed that the fire had burned 18 structures and forced the evacuation of 225 primary residences and 75 secondary homes. The fire, which started 7 September, had consumed more than 2,000 acres at the time of the request.

FEMA Funds North Idaho Correctional Facility Retrofit
BOISE, Idaho -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced Pre-Disaster Mitigation Competitive (PDM-C) grant awards totaling $1,085,617 to the State of Idaho to retrofit the North Idaho Correctional Facility located near the town of Cottonwood, in Idaho County. According to FEMA Regional Administrator Ken Murphy, the retrofit is designed to mitigate multiple hazards facing the facility, including severe storms and wildfires.

FEMA Funds Port Townsend Seismic Retrofit
SEATTLE, Wash. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced Pre-Disaster Mitigation Competitive (PDM-C) grant awards totaling $1,199,250 to the State of Washington and the City of Port Townsend to seismically retrofit City Lake Reservoir’s water transmission lines. According to FEMA Regional Administrator Ken Murphy, the retrofit is designed to mitigate seismic threats to the reservoir and downstream communities.

Federal Aid Programs For State Of Alaska Disaster Recovery
Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s major disaster declaration issued for Alaska.

Federal Aid Programs for the State of Alaska Disaster Recovery
Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama's major disaster declaration issued for the State of Alaska.

Gifting Peace of Mind
SEATTLE, Wash. -- Every year millions of American lives are disrupted by natural disasters ranging from earthquakes and severe storms to floods and wildfire. But all disasters—large or small—share a common theme, focusing attention on the importance of disaster preparedness and the critical need to take action before disaster strikes. The trick is to convert good intentions into good deeds, and according to FEMA Regional Administrator Ken Murphy, there’s no time like the holidays.

Low-Risk Doesn't Mean No Risk
SEATTLE, Wash. -- Wildfire experts and weather specialists have predicted a low-risk, late-starting wildfire season for the Pacific Northwest this summer, but emergency managers caution against complacency. As tall grasses and foliage dry out -- the likelihood of brush, range and timber fires increases, and according to FEMA Regional Administrator Ken Murphy, even a mild wildfire season -- and there are never any guarantees -- begs the question: What if it's your woods that are burning?

National Fire Prevention Week 2011
SEATTLE, Wash. -- National Fire Prevention Week 2011 will be observed from October 9-15. This year’s theme is: Protect Your Family from Fire, and according to FEMA Regional Administrator Ken Murphy, the 2011 campaign is all about keeping ourselves, our families, and our communities safer from fire.

President Declares A Major Disaster For Alaska
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to Alaska and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe winter storms and flooding during the period of November 8-10, 2011.

President Declares Disaster for Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Alaska to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe storm during the period of November 15-17, 201

Reconciling the Endangered Species Act and NFIP in Puget Sound
SEATTLE, Wash. -- A 2008 NOAA biological opinion on the effects of the National Flood Insurance Program on Pacific NW salmon dramatically changed how that program will be implemented for 122 Puget Sound communities. According to FEMA Regional Administrator Ken Murphy, the opinion listed Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPA) that could reconcile the NFIP with the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

September is National Preparedness Month
SEATTLE, Wash. -- September is National Preparedness Month, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has joined with more than 6,000 federal, tribal, state and local coalition members from across the country to encourage Americans to prepare their homes, businesses, schools and communities for disasters of all kinds. According to FEMA Regional Administrator Ken Murphy, this year marks the eighth annual observance of National Preparedness Month, and the ten year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Seattle To Host Risk Assessment Technology Experts
SEATTLE, Wash. -- What would happen if a 9.0 earthquake struck the Seattle region? Approximately two hundred emergency managers, geologists, Geographic Information System (GIS) specialists and federal, state and local preparedness planners from around the world will meet at the Jackson Federal Building in downtown Seattle 10-12 August to discuss this and other risks at the 5th Annual Hazus Conference. According to FEMA Regional Administrator Ken Murphy, Hazus is a multi-hazard risk assessment software tool that combines science, engineering, mathematical modeling and GIS technology to estimate potential loss of life and property damage from natural hazards.

When Wildfires Rage: Stay Informed and Evacuate if Directed
SEATTLE, Wash. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is monitoring a spate of wildfires across the Pacific Northwest and encouraging residents in potentially impacted areas to stay informed on local conditions. In addition to urging compliance with burn bans and exercising extreme caution with campfires, grills and other heat sources, FEMA Regional Administrator Ken Murphy encourages all who live on wooded lots and within woodland/urban interface areas to stay in the loop with local emergency management officials and pay close attention to developing fire hazards.