FEMA REGION II – WEEKLY BULLETIN
R2 –WEEKLY BULLETIN
Volume 1, Issue 5 February 13, 2009
Checking the Alignment,
Part II
By Michael Moriarty, Acting Regional Administrator
As promised, here is an overview of HQ’s
vision and Regional priorities going forward.
Public Assistance-
• HQ is drafting a Comprehensive Disaster
Close-Out Procedures SOP.
• The new credentialing plan will start with
PA DAEs
• RII will engage in a Quality Assurance
Initiative to help build QA/QC metrics for
comparing Regional effectiveness,
focusing on a QA\QC processes for
transitioning disasters back to Region.
Mitigation –
• Deputy Regional Environmental Officer
positions are in development.
• There is a strong desire to integrate
Mitigation Planning with other planning.
Human Capital –
• IMAT is “ready for Ops.” While there are
still four or five IMAT slots vacant, they will
be filled by personnel from other Divisions
on an interim basis.
• Region-wide we have about two dozen
positions for which interviews are
underway or selections have already been
made, pending security reviews. An
additional dozen openings will soon be
announced.
TIP of the Week
Yen Pan
IT Services Branch
The Ironkeys Are Coming, The
Ironkeys Are Coming…
Soon many of you will be receiving your
Ironkey USB flash drives, which will be the FEMA
standard for portable data storage. The devices
will provide data encryption and security that is
compliant with government IT security standards.
Use of any other USB storage devices will not be
authorized.
The Ironkey is an enterprise managed
device that will help minimize loss of sensitive
government data and prevent malicious software
from entering the FEMA network. The unit
features robust data encryption and strong
password protection in a shockproof and
waterproof container.
All users need to be aware that the
devices will self destruct after 10 consecutive
incorrect password entries and the device will
not be recoverable. The device is managed by
Mount Weather and there will be a log of where
and when the devices have been used.

TURN AROUND IS FAIR PLAY
Since so much of this week’s newsletter
concerns getting the Region in line with
Headquarters’ priorities, it seems only fair to note
Region II is leading the way in a new training
model that may be adopted nationally.
Based on an External Affairs exercise of
ESF-15 capabilities that was held in Puerto Rico
in January, the concept is being reviewed by EMI,
with an eye toward replication. Check it out:
http://www.floodmaps.net/eftp/default.asp?op=get
&FName=ESF15%5Ffinal%2Ewmv
,
FEMA REGION II – WEEKLY BULLETIN
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, II
Editor’s Note: Last week’s article explained what
the Public Assistance is and what type of activities
and facilities it covers (broken down in categories
A through G). This week, what happens after a
project is approved.

Public Assistance projects that fall below a certain
threshold are considered "small projects." This
threshold is adjusted for inflation annually. For
fiscal year 2009, the threshold is $64,200. For
small Public Assistance projects, payment of the
federal share of the estimate is made upon
approval of the project, and notification is required
upon completion of the project.
For large projects, payment is made on the basis
of actual costs determined after the project is
completed, although interim payments may be
made as necessary. Once FEMA obligates funds
to the state, further management of the assistance
– including disbursement to sub-grantees – is the
responsibility of the state. FEMA monitors the
recovery progress to ensure the timely delivery of
eligible assistance and compliance with the law
and regulations.
Private non profits (PNP) that are eligible for
Public Assistance include educational, utility,
irrigation, emergency, medical, rehabilitation and
temporary or permanent custodial care facilities
(including those for the aged and disabled), and
other PNP facilities that provide essential services
of a governmental nature to the general public.
PNPs that provide "critical services" (power, water
- including water provided by an irrigation
organization or facility, sewer, wastewater
treatment, communications and emergency
medical care) may apply directly to FEMA for a
disaster grant. All other PNPs must apply to the
Small Business Administration for a disaster loan
first. If the PNP is declined for a SBA loan, or the
loan does not cover all eligible damages, the
applicant may reapply for FEMA assistance.

CHECKING THE ALIGNMENT, II
continued…..
• FEMA does engage in security clearance
reciprocity with other federal agencies and
DOD
Facilities/Work Space – This topic was one of
the primary areas where HQ-Regional alignment
was needed.
The good news is that there is a lot of
support to make improvements in our workspace.
The less-than-good news is that requests for the
requisite funding has to be included in future
budget cycles, and will be contingent upon a long
term plan that can gain the concurrence of HQ.
We have a timely opportunity to include
RII’s Plan in the FY11 budget process if we can
submit it by the end of March. We will work hard to
accomplish this over the next six weeks. I think
our plan has to meet a few simple goals:
• the new space be suitable to house the
entire RII team to facilitate effective
collaboration;
• We have sufficient additional space and
meeting facilities so we can serve as an
integrator for our states and other federal
agencies.
Operations -
• Expect RRCCs to transition to “secure
mode” over the next 18-24 months.
• Emergency Management Information
Management System (EMIMS) roll out and
training will include a push to the State
EOCs.
Regional Organizational Structure – Two new
Divisions to be added to Regions
• Grants Division – additional grant
programs will be transitioned from GPD to
Regions. Additional staff will be added
over time as current staff grows to a
Division.
• Logistics will become a Division at the
Regional level. Two employees are in
place at each Region. They will be joined
by additional staff over the next two years
for final end strength of 11.

FEMA REGION II – WEEKLY BULLETIN