Tag Archive: FEMA

When you’re researching flood vents, you’ll see that some manufacturers (many, in fact) advertise their flood vents as “FEMA approved” or “FEMA certified.” The truth is that no company can really make those claims. In fact, FEMA does not “approve, endorse, certify or recommend any products.”

Here’s exactly what FEMA states on their website under FAQs – Building Science:

While a product may be in compliance with FEMA design guidance, any language from manufacturers stating their product is ‘FEMA approved’ or ‘FEMA certified’ is incorrect.

What FEMA does provide is guidance on interpreting NFIP requirements for foundation wall openings. This guidance is written up in FEMA’s Technical Bulletin 1 – August 2008.

Therefore, while no company can claim that its flood vents are FEMA approved or certified, a company could state that its flood vents are compliant with NFIP regulations and FEMA’s guidelines for those regulations.

At Flood Solutions, we’re proud to state that all Flood Solutions flood vents are FEMA compliant. Every flood vent we manufacture and sell has an engineered opening that complies with FEMA Technical Bulletin 1-08.

To prove it, when you install a Flood Solutions flood vent, we’ll provide you with an “engineered certificate” for your state. We have 26 of these certificates online. If you need a certificate for a state not listed, simply contact us.

FEMA recently added a photo-sharing feature to the FEMA app. With “Disaster Reporter,” people can upload GPS tagged photos from a disaster area and submit them to a public map. This feature allows people, including first responders and community members, to share real-time disaster-related information.

According to an article in Mashable, all submitted photos will go through an approval process to ensure images are relevant, authentic and don’t disclose any personal information.

The FEMA app is free and currently available for download in the Google Play store or the iTunes App store. You can view FEMA’s disaster reporter map on the FEMA website.

Of course you hope to never see a photo of your home (or anyone’s home!) on the FEMA disaster map. However, if disaster should strike your community, there are preventative steps you can take to mitigate flood damage, such as installing flood vents. Flood vents can help reduce structural damage to your home by equalizing internal and external floodwater pressure. To learn more about our FEMA compliant flood vents, contact us.

If your home has suffered property damage from Hurricane Sandy or other declared disaster, you can apply to FEMA for housing assistance. You can apply by phone, online, via a mobile device or by visiting a disaster recovery center.

Once FEMA receives your application, they may contact you to schedule a housing inspection. The purpose of the housing inspection is to assess and verify damages. Inspections take about 30-40 minutes, and you’ll need to show identification and proof of home ownership. The inspector will submit a report to FEMA, and FEMA will provide you with a written response to your application.

There’s no fee for the inspection. Beware of scam artists who take advantage of disaster-struck homeowners by posing as inspectors and collecting fees or banking information. FEMA inspectors will never ask for this type of information or collect fees. They also carry an official identification badge, which you can ask to see.

One thing FEMA inspectors look for during an inspection is structural damage. Structural damage can be devastating, with high repair costs (when repairs are possible). Flood vents can help to minimize structural damage. They allow flood waters to flow through, which helps equalize pressure inside and outside your exterior walls. You may sustain some water damage, but the structural integrity of your home is more likely to remain sound.

Flood Solutions manufactures and sells only FEMA compliant flood vents, manufactured in the U.S.A. For more information about our flood vents, give us a call at 800-325-9775 or email info@floodsolutions.com.

Hurricane coverage on local news programs can sometimes leave children feeling vulnerable and afraid. Sometimes the best way to overcome these fears is to empower children with information and ways to help.

To that end, FEMA recently introduced a new blog category specifically for children. Two FEMA mascots, “Flat Stanley” and “Flat Stella,” blog about disaster preparation and recovery for a younger audience.

The two mascots recently visited the American Red Cross, and they describe how people are working together to help those in need. They also suggest ways for children to get involved, such as volunteering or raising money for volunteer groups.

Another blog post covers the importance of emergency supply kits and suggests items to include in their family’s kit, such as food, water, a flashlight, first aid supplies, a weather radio and games.

If you have younger children at home, this can be a great way for them to learn about disaster preparation and response in a positive way.

When you take a look at the Stanley and Stella blog, be sure to consider including flood vents in your flood mitigation plans. Our FEMA compliant flood vents can help maintain the structural integrity of your home should floods occur. For more information about our many flood vent sizes and styles, contact us.

How will you get information if your home or community is threatened with severe weather or flooding? This is something to plan for before emergencies arise. Here are a few ideas on where to get up-to-the-minute information of floods, severe weather and other threats. Take the time to bookmark, subscribe, download or follow these information sources now.

The National Weather Service

Part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Weather Service provides weather forecasts and warnings for all of the United States. The National Weather Service website has maps and forecasts, including winter storm watch, flood watch and hazardous weather outlooks. You can sign up for NOAA email alerts and RSS feeds for weather warnings. You can specify the types of weather warnings you’d like to receive – everything from tsunami warnings to automated flood warning systems.

NOAA also operates the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards. This nationwide network of radio stations broadcasts continuous weather and emergency information. You must purchase a special radio receiver or scanner to pick up their broadcast signals.

The Weather Channel

The Weather Channel also has weather alert services. You can get information from their website or sign up for email alerts, SMS alerts and even voice alerts.  They also have apps for mobile and tablet devices.

Local News Channels

Local radio and television news channels are another good source of weather and emergency information. Take a look at each channel’s website and see if they have email alerts or Twitter feeds for weather related news. For example, WMUR in New Hampshire has email and SMS alert services for hurricane warnings.

State and Local Officials

Responsibility for local flood and severe weather warnings lies with states and local communities. FEMA has an interactive map that can help you see what state and local community resources are available.

For example, if you select Virginia on FEMA’s map, you’ll find that the Virginia Department of Emergency Management has a Twitter feed dedicated to hazards within the state and local regions.

In addition to signing up for flood and severe weather alerts, installing flood vents is another smart thing to do before floods occur. Flood Solutions’ FEMA compliant flood vents can help preserve the integrity of your home and their heavy-duty aluminum construction means they’ll never rust. Contact Flood Solutions to learn more.

March 12-17 was National Flood Safety Awareness Week. During this week, government and emergency response organizations draw attention to flood hazards and encourage people to take steps now to minimize the impact of future floods.

One of the best ways to protect your family during a flood is to have a family emergency plan. It’s hard to make smart decisions in the midst of an emergency where fear and panic can take over. Developing a plan in advance can you’re your family get through an emergency safely and comfortably.

A family emergency plan details what you and your family will do before, during and after an emergency. FEMA’s Preparing Makes Sense video describes why a family emergency plan is so important.

FEMA also has a downloadable family emergency plan template. It prompts you to select out-of-town contacts, meeting places and evacuation locations as well as record contact information for family members, work locations and schools.

Complete the plan with your family and keep a copy in your emergency kit along with your emergency supplies. Be sure to update the plan periodically.

Although protecting the lives of you and your family is paramount, you can also take steps to protect your home. Flood vents help protect the foundational integrity of your home by allowing flood waters to flow through. Take a look at our complete line of FEMA compliant flood vents. Contact Flood Solutions to learn more.

Flooding and other disasters aren’t just an adult problem – they affect children too. As with all emergencies, the best approach is to involve children (at an age appropriate level) in getting prepared.

There are many resources available online to help children and their families prepare for an emergency, such as flooding. FEMA’s Ready Kids takes children through a step-by-step process to know the facts, make a plan, build an emergency kit and then graduate from “Readiness U.” It provides topics to discuss at family meetings, such as how family members will get in touch with each other if separated during an emergency. The site also includes games and fun activities to initiate discussion and answer questions.

Discovery Education has a site on emergency preparedness for teachers, students and families, complete with a map to track severe weather. It has a downloadable emergency plan worksheet and supply kit checklist and videos classified by grade level about extreme weather and emergency planning.

For younger children, Sesame Street has Let’s Get Ready!, another emergency planning site. It covers important things that even young children should know, such as their parents’ full names, addresses and phone numbers. According to Grover, preparing for a large-scale emergency is no different than preparing for other potentially dangerous activities, like riding a bicycle. If it makes sense to wear a helmet, it makes sense to develop an emergency plan.

Is your family ready for flooding or other disasters? Putting together an emergency plan and kit is a great way to prepare your children (and yourself) for the unexpected.

Make Flood Solutions’ FEMA compliant flood vents part of your flood preparation plans. Contact Flood Solutions to learn more.

Senators and House representatives are deciding the future of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The National Flood Insurance Program is a voluntary program administered by FEMA with over 20,000 communities participating across the U.S. With the objective of reducing the cost of flood damages, participating communities take proscribed steps to reduce possible flood damage and, in return, they get access to federally backed flood insurance. In addition to flood insurance, the NFIP program also covers flood plain management and flood hazard mapping.

The program is not without its critics. It’s currently $18 billion dollars in debt, thanks in large part to claims resulting from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. There have also been numerous complaints about delays in getting claims filled and program inconsistencies.

The NFIP is set to expire December 16, 2011, and it is unlikely Washington will reach agreement on a long-term extension before the program expiry date. As a stop-gap measure, Senators recently agreed to extend the program to May 31, 2012. The bill now goes to the House for review. To check the current status of the bill, S.1958, follow it on the Library of Congress website.

If your community participates in the NFIP program, be sure to subscribe to NFIP email updates. Submit your email address, and you’ll get the latest NFIP news direct to your inbox.

Regardless of the future of the NFIP, it always makes sense to take steps to minimize damage to your home should a flood occur. Our Flood Solutions FEMA compliant flood vents are a proven way to help maintain the structural integrity of your home should flood waters rise. Give us a call at 800-325-9775 or send us a message via our contact page.

FEMA regularly updates flood maps as they gather new data and complete flood mitigation projects. This means you might find your home included in a flood hazard area. This happened recently in Scottsdale, Arizona when FEMA updated their flood maps for that region.

If FEMA flood map revisions put your home in a flood hazard area, FEMA will notify you six months before the change is made official. If you find yourself with a FEAM notification in your mailbox, here are some tips on what you can do:

1. Talk to your insurance agent. If you hold a federally backed mortgage, you’ll be required to purchase flood insurance (if you don’t have some already).  Talk to your insurance agent to make sure you get the right coverage. Even if you’re not required to purchase flood insurance (maybe you don’t have a mortgage, or maybe your mortgage is not federally backed) you should still think about getting insurance. It’s an important way to recover losses should a flood occur.
2. Contact your community flood plain administrator. If your community disagrees with the flood map changes, they can decide to appeal the change. If your community doesn’t plan to appeal, but you disagree with the revised flood maps, you can appeal as an individual. You’ll need to have solid data to support your appeal.
3. Take steps to prepare for a flood. If your home is at greater risk of flooding, you’ll want to prepare. You can minimize flood damage to your home by elevating your furnace and hot water heater, installing values in sewer traps to prevent flood water from backing up into your home, and installing flood vents to minimize pressure damage to your foundation.

Check the FEMA website for more information on flood preparation and flood map changes.

Flood Solutions carries a variety of flood vent sizes and models for installation into existing concrete foundations (and other foundation materials) and for new construction. Contact us to learn more.