Sunday, June 30, 2013

NYC Rebuild Housing Forum Staten Island (ID: 66896)

Staten Island, N.Y., June 26, 2013 -- FEMA is on hand to provide flood plain management information to Staten Island residents during NYC Rebuild's "Build it Back" Staten Island South Shore Open House Forum. FEMA mitigation teams are collaborating with the NYC Recovery group's efforts to inform and assist homeowners seeking to repair and rebuild their homes in a more resilient way in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Andre R. Aragon/FEMA

CDP Opens Doors to Junior Law Enforcement Academy (ID: 66899)

Anniston, Ala., June 26, 2013 --Sara Welch, age 15, from Jacksonville, and a student with the Junior Law Enforcement Academy sketches a simulated explosion scene and marks the area for evidence. The CDP hosted 13 teenagers from the 2013 Junior Law Enforcement Academy recently. CDP staff members provided instruction regarding active shooter scenarios in their schools and how to preserve and collect evidence and triage survivors in a mass casualty event.

Friday, June 28, 2013

Edison International: Pressroom: SCE Urges Customers to Conserve as High Temperatures Continue

FPL inspects one-millionth pole as part of storm and reliability preparations - 06/27/13

Statement by CEO of NextEra Energy on Nomination of Ron Binz as Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman - 06/28/13

Planned Maintenance Scheduled for Braidwood Station

pr_20130628_nuclear_Braidwood Unit 2 Maintenance

Sandia Labs names three fellows

Sandia Labs News Releases

June 28, 2013

Sandia Labs names three fellows

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sandia National Laboratories researchers Jerry Simmons, Ed Cole and John Rowe have been named Sandia Fellows.

That status — stellar at Sandia and nearly as rare as hen’s teeth — is reserved for those who are nationally or internationally recognized pioneers in their fields. It is considered a promotion to the highest level of Research and Development staff, equivalent to the level of management immediately below Sandia’s vice presidents.

Newly appointed Sandia Fellows Jerry Simmons, left, Ed Cole, middle, and John Rowe gather outside Sandia’s Joint Computational Engineering Laboratory.(Photo by Randy Montoya) Click on the thumbnail for a high-resolution image.

There have been only six previous fellows in Sandia’s history, five of whom are retired.

“The three new fellows have histories of sustained and equally distinguished accomplishments in their fields,” said Sandia President and Labs director Paul Hommert in announcing the appointments.

Simmons made notable discoveries in the physics that examines electron tunneling — how an electron can turn up where by rights it shouldn’t be. He is well-known for linking fundamental scientific understanding with engineering impact and has demonstrated leadership in helping to advance solid-state lighting, terahertz sources and detectors and quantum qubits.

Said Simmons, “I am honored to be recognized and thank colleagues I’ve worked with over the years. Almost everything I’ve done has been a team effort with very talented people. As a fellow I hope to spend more time working with others to explore new ideas, and then build new teams to bring those ideas closer to reality.”

Cole is internationally recognized for his widely used work in failure analysis and reliability physics. His pioneering work and leadership in applying failure analysis techniques to the most challenging national security problems has led to methods for finding almost entirely hidden defects.

Said Cole, “I am honored and excited by the Sandia Fellow appointment and the opportunity it affords to work with staff, leadership and external partners in Sandia’s national security mission.”

Rowe’s expertise and technical leadership in space-based multispectral remote sensing systems have helped shape U.S. capabilities and are widely recognized in national security fields. His deep technical understanding of national sensing and detection systems makes him a highly regarded and sought-after expert in the Department of Defense and intelligence communities.

Said Rowe, “It is a huge honor to be appointed a Sandia Fellow and I look forward to continued collaboration with my colleagues and labs leadership as we work to address current and future challenges to our national security.”

Fellows are chosen from fields that coincide with areas in which Sandia intends to maintain or grow its presence. Fellows are expected to bring the very best science and engineering to Sandia and the U.S., shape the future of Sandia’s science and engineering enterprise, expand the breadth of their influence, mentor others and maintain extensive professional networks.

Sandia’s last promotions to fellow took place in 2002 and 2003, when Gordon Osbourn (retired), Jeff Brinker and Jim Gosler (retired) were selected for their pioneering work in strained layer superlattices; sol-gel processing of ceramics and self-assembling nanostructures; and information security, respectively.

The first fellow appointment was made in 1986.

Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin company, for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. With main facilities in Albuquerque, N.M., and Livermore, Calif., Sandia has major R&D responsibilities in national security, energy and environmental technologies and economic competitiveness.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Duke Energy board elects Gray as chair, Good as vice chair - Duke Energy

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Edison International: Pressroom: SCE Begins Notification Process to Eliminate 600 Nuclear Plant Jobs

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

FirstEnergy Utilities Offer Hot Weather Tips

FirstEnergy Press Release:

FirstEnergy Utilities Offer Hot Weather Tips

AKRON, Ohio, June 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- This week is bringing the first stretch of hot, humid weather to FirstEnergy's (NYSE: FE) service areas for the summer of 2013. Customers should consider taking steps to stay cool and make sure their friends and family remain safe during the intense heat.

"With the summer heat comes heavy electricity usage as our customers try to keep cool," said Charles E. Jones, president of FirstEnergy's utilities. "There are many steps customers can take to increase both their own comfort level and their wise use of electricity as the hotter weather continues throughout the summer."

Some common-sense hot weather tips include:

During sunny weather, close drapes or blinds on the sunny side of your home to prevent the sun from directly heating the inside of your home.
Set your air conditioner's thermostat to as high a temperature as is comfortable. Every degree you can increase the temperature in your home will result in using about 3 percent less energy during the hottest summer days.
Use fans – moving air cools your skin faster, resulting in greater comfort on hot days.
Use a programmable thermostat to keep the temperature in your home warmer during the work day then set it to be cooler by the time you arrive home.
For window air conditioners, only operate the unit while someone is in the room.
Keep your refrigerator and freezer as full as you can. Frozen or cold items in the refrigerator help keep other items cool, reducing the amount of work your refrigerator has to do to maintain a lower temperature.
Close rooms you don't use regularly during the summer, and close the air conditioning vents in those rooms, as well.
Try to avoid using heat-producing appliances in your home during the hottest hours of the day. The less heat you produce in your home, the less work your air conditioner will have to do.
Consider investing in ENERGY STAR® appliances or HVAC systems. Your utility company may offer rebates on these purchases, and tax deductions may apply, as well.
Check your furnace filter and, if necessary, change it. Clogged filters waste energy and money by forcing your HVAC system to work harder than necessary.

For a variety of important information regarding energy usage, FirstEnergy customers are urged to visit www.firstenergycorp.com. The operating companies also will provide updates via Twitter:

Toledo Edison: @ToledoEdison
The Illuminating Company: @IlluminatingCo
Ohio Edison: @OhioEdison
Mon Power: @MonPowerWV
JCP&L: @JCP_L
Penn Power: @Penn_Power
Penelec: @Penelec
Met-ED: @Met_Ed
Potomac Edison: @PotomacEdison
West Penn Power: @W_Penn_Power

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. Its generation subsidiaries control more than 20,000 megawatts of capacity from a diversified mix of scrubbed coal, non-emitting nuclear, natural gas, hydro, pumped-storage hydro and other renewables. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

2013/06/25 Improved Water Purification Technology Reduces SWaP Logistics Burden

New York Federal Coordinating Officer Willie Nunn Tours Staten Island Hospital Facilities (ID: 66862)

Staten Island, N.Y., June 21, 2013 -- Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro, FEMA NY Federal Coordinating Officer Willie Nunn, Staten Island University Hospital President Anthony Ferreri, and Director of Intergovernmental Relations for NY Senator Charles Schumer's office Nicholas Martin, on a tour of Staten Island University Hospital, discussed ways to improve the infrastructure in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. K.C.Wilsey/FEMA

Monday, June 24, 2013

Has a FEMA Housing Inspector Assessed Damage to Your Dwelling?

FEMA Press Release:

Has a FEMA Housing Inspector Assessed Damage to Your Dwelling?

Main Content

Release date:

June 24, 2013

Release Number:

4116-IL NR-065

AURORA, Ill. – A FEMA-contracted housing inspector must visit your damaged dwelling before a determination can be made that you are eligible for an Individual Assistance grant to help repair damage caused by the storms of April 16 to May 5.

The first step is to register with FEMA, which must be done before the July 9 deadline. Within a few days after registration, the applicant will receive a call from an inspector assigned to check the damage. The inspector will make an appointment to visit the dwelling.

FEMA does its own inspections. It does not receive information from flood insurance adjustors, SBA, or other sources.

It you do not receive a call from a FEMA inspector within two weeks after registration, you should call the FEMA helpline to verify your registration, 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362.

Making a flood insurance claim does not register you with FEMA. If you do not register with FEMA within the 60-day registration period ending July 9, you will not be eligible for FEMA assistance later if your flood insurance does not fully cover your loss. However, if you are registered, you have up to a year to request FEMA assistance if insurance coverage falls short.

FEMA registration is available online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov, in addition to the telephone numbers listed above.

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate's activities at twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.
Media Contact: 571-408-1835

Last Updated:

June 24, 2013 - 15:54

Coburn and McCaskill Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Means-Test Medicare Premiums

Senator Claire McCaskill Press Release:

Coburn and McCaskill Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Means-Test Medicare Premiums

June 24, 2013

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK), and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) introduced The Medicare Fair Share Act, a bill that lowers expenditures for Medicare by increasing the premiums wealthier seniors pay for Medicare Part B (physician visits) and Medicare Part D (drug coverage). Currently, seniors with annual income above $85,000 or more pay higher premiums for their Medicare coverage. The Medicare Fair Share Act would create a new income bracket for income-related premiums from $50,000 to 85,000, as well as adjust premiums upward accordingly. Under the Medicare Fair Share Act, wealthier seniors would pay 10 percent more of program costs.

"Lawmakers have a moral duty to work together to save Medicare and make it work for present and future recipients," Dr. Coburn said. "This bill represents one of many commonsense and bipartisan solutions that, even when considered as a stand-alone provision, can be an integral component building towards comprehensive Medicare reform. Seniors currently pay, on average, one dollar into the Medicare program for every three dollars they receive in benefits. This, combined with an aging population, means the status quo of Medicare is heading toward bankruptcy - jeopardizing the millions of Americans that rely on the program. I am proud to join Senator McCaskill to introduce legislation that sets Medicare on a path towards solvency by increasing the premiums wealthier seniors pay for their Medicare. This concept is supported by both Democrats and Republicans in Congress, as well as the President, and demonstrates Congress can work to confront our health care entitlement crisis."

"Anyone being honest about America's national debt knows that we can't balance the budget through cuts in discretionary spending, or tax hikes, alone," Senator McCaskill said. "We also need to be willing to address the unsustainable growth of our critical social safety net programs, with modest adjustments that won't pull the rug out from under our most vulnerable seniors, but will protect them for our kids and grandkids. Hopefully, this bill can help kick-start that conversation."

###

FirstEnergy Accepting Grant Applications from Educators

FirstEnergy News Release:

FirstEnergy Accepting Grant Applications from Educators

AKRON, Ohio, June 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) is offering education grants of up to $500 for creative classroom projects planned for the 2013-2014 school year.

The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Classroom Grants are awarded for creative, individual classroom projects for grades pre-kindergarten through 12. The grants are available to educators and youth group leaders located in communities served by FirstEnergy's 10 electric operating companies, and in communities where the company operates generating plants or does business.

"Our goals are to encourage innovative classroom learning in the STEM subjects; to support professional development for educators in these critical areas; and to expose both students and teachers to the wide variety of career possibilities in the STEM fields of study," saidDelores Jones, manager, Community Initiatives. "The students who benefit from these programs could someday work at FirstEnergy as engineers, scientists, accountants, analysts, information technologists and electricians."

STEM grant applications must be submitted by September 16, 2013. The application and more information about grant criteria are available on FirstEnergy's website: www.firstenergycorp.com/community/education/educational_grants.html.

Grants will be awarded based on the recommendations of the FirstEnergy Education Advisory Council. Winners will be notified by October 7, 2013. More than 1,000 STEM grants have been awarded to educators and youth group leaders since 1986.

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. Its diverse generating fleet features non-emitting nuclear, scrubbed baseload coal, natural gas, hydro and pumped-storage hydro and other renewables, and has a total generating capacity of more than 20,000 megawatts. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.

JCP&L Offering Education Grants for the 2013-2014 School Year

FirstEnergy News Release:

JCP&L Offering Education Grants for the 2013-2014 School Year

MORRISTOWN, N.J., June 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) is offering education grants of up to $500 for creative classroom projects planned for the 2013-2014 school year.

"Our goals are to encourage innovative classroom learning in the STEM subjects across our New Jersey service territory; to support professional development for educators in these critical areas; and to expose both students and teachers to the wide variety of career possibilities in the STEM fields of study," said Elaine Vincent, FirstEnergy's New Jerseymanager of community involvement. "The students who benefit from these programs could someday work at JCP&L as engineers, scientists, accountants, analysts, information technologists and electricians."

JCP&L is a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE). JCP&L serves 1.1 million New Jersey customers in the counties of Burlington, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex,Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren.

Follow JCP&L on Twitter@JCP_L, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JCPandL, or online at www.jcp-l.com.

Sandia honors young women for outstanding achievement in math and science

Sandia Labs News Releases

June 24, 2013

Sandia honors young women for outstanding achievement in math and science

LIVERMORE, Calif.— Sandia National Laboratories in California recently presented its annual Math and Science Awards to 22 young women from area high schools. The event celebrates the academic accomplishments of the recipients and their great potential as they prepare for the next phase of their lives.

“Science, technology and engineering are so important for this country as we move forward,” said Bob Carling, director of Sandia’s Transportation Energy Center. “We hope every one of these award recipients continues to have the same enthusiasm they’ve already shown for these subjects.”

Christine Xu, a student at Amador Valley High School, receives an award from Sandia National Laboratories' Bob Carling in the science category. The annual Math and Science Awards are sponsored by the Sandia Women's Connection. (Photo by Jeff McMillan) Click on the thumbnail for a high-resolution image.

Now in its 22nd year, the Math and Science Awards program is sponsored by the Sandia Women’s Connection. The event was held once again on the Sandia campus, in the Combustion Research Computation and Visualization (CRCV) building at the Livermore Valley Open Campus (LVOC).

Teachers from 11 high schools in Livermore, Dublin, Pleasanton, Tracy and Manteca, Calif., each nominated two students, one for outstanding achievement in math and one for outstanding achievement in science. The award is given to young women in their junior year of high school so they can include it on their college and scholarship applications.

Before the recognitions began, the awardees and their families met their Sandia hosts, women with careers in math and science. Sandia researcher Donna Djordjevich-Reyna shared her Ground Truth Homeland Security training video game platform, which seeks to immerse first responders in an interactive gaming environment depicting high-risk, high-threat situations.

To start off the awards ceremony, mechanical engineer Patricia Gharagozloo and software engineer Karla Morris shared their personal stories. While their paths were quite different, they started with something in common — in high school, neither saw herself becoming an engineer.

Cathy Branda, the event chairwoman, explained another reason for recognizing high school juniors. “Studies show that high school is a time when many girls decide not to pursue math and science in college and in their careers,” she said. “So many doors are open to you now. You have no idea what you can accomplish by excelling in math and science.”

The words of the speakers resonated with many of the young women in attendance. “I think for high school juniors who are full of angst about choosing the right college and major, this is a good message to hear — that you don’t have to have it all figured out right now,” said Jocelyn Mork, mother of Granada High School science award recipient Kirsten Mork.

“The speakers were inspiring and entertaining,” said Ariana Mancieri, math award recipient from Livermore High School. “It is reassuring that they didn’t know exactly what they wanted to do in high school.” She thinks she wants to become a pediatrician – or maybe not. What Ariana does know is that she loves science, and that is a good place to start.

The winners of the 2013 Sandia Math and Science Awards:

Outstanding Achievement in Mathematics

Jennifer Tao, Amador High School
Kimberli Zhong, Dublin High School
Victoria Vezaldenos, East Union High School
Annie Pan, Foothill High School
Tatiana Jansen, Granada High School
Ariana Mancieri, Livermore High School
Ashleigh Quynh-Trang Nguyen, Livermore Valley Charter Preparatory High School
Anna Kepa, Manteca High School
Harmanjit Kaur Sodhi, Merrill F. West High School
Fabiola Lopez, Sierra West High School
Inyoung Hong, Tracy High School

Outstanding Achievement in Science

Christine Xu, Amador Valley High School
Ming Yin Kwong, Dublin High School
Brooke Niendorf, East Union High School
Diane Frances Hadley, Foothill High School
Kirsten Mork, Granada High School
Mariah Mathat, Livermore High School
Julia DiSimone, Livermore Valley Charter Preparatory High School
Poonam Dehal, Manteca High School
Arianne Coleto, Merrill F. West High School
Leonor Borges, Sierra West High School
Sarah Bai, Tracy High School

New Jersey's First Lady Hammers Last Nail Into Seaside Heights Boardwalk (ID: 66851)

Seaside Heights, N.J., June 21, 2013 -- New Jersey’s first lady, Mary Pat Christie, hammers the last nail into the new Seaside Heights boardwalk to mark its completion after Hurricane Sandy destroyed most of it last fall. FEMA contributed funding to the rebuilding efforts. FEMA/Rosanna Arias

FEMA Corps Specialist assists Survivor (ID: 66811)

Moore, Okla., May 25, 2013 -- FEMA Corps Specialist assists a disaster survivor with her FEMA disaster registration at a Disaster Recovery Center at the 1st Baptist Church in Moore. The Moore area was struck by a F5 tornado on May 20, 2013. Andrea Booher/FEMA

FEMA Officials Coordinate Field Activities (ID: 66726)

Moore, Okla., May 27, 2013 -- FEMA Region VI Administrator, Tony Robinson and Matt Behnke coordinate field activities for FEMA Disaster Assistance Survival Teams (DSAT). The Moore area was struck by a F5 tornado on May 20, 2013. Andrea Booher/FEMA

SBA PIO at Radio Interview (ID: 66698)

Oklahoma City, Okla., June 13, 2013 -- Small Business Administration (SBA) Public Information Officer (PIO) Mark Randle speaks in a radio interview at the Cumulus Group which represents seven different stations. FEMA and partners are here to provide information helpful to survivors of the May 20 and 30-31 tornadoes and flooding. George Armstrong/FEMA

Burned Houses Demolished in Camp Osbourne, New Jersey (ID: 66830)

Camp Osbourne, N.J., June 20, 2013 -- Sixty-eight houses located in Brick Township, New Jersey, that burned as a result of Hurricane Sandy are now being demolished. FEMA is funding the removal of the debris. Robert Kaufmann/FEMA

Demolition Begins of Burned Houses in Camp Osbourne, New Jersey (ID: 66831)

Camp Osbourne, N.J., June 20, 2013 -- Demolition of 68 houses destroyed by fire as a result of Hurricane Sandy has begun at Camp Osbourne in Brick Township, NJ. FEMA is funding the removal of this debris. Robert Kaufmann/FEMA

Development of New Advanced Materials to Get Boost

The Materials Project of Berkeley Lab/MIT will work with Intermolecular Inc. to accelerate innovation.

JUNE 24, 2013

Julie Chao (510) 486-6491 JHChao@lbl.gov

Feature

The Materials Project—an open-access Google-like database for materials research developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)—is working with Intermolecular, Inc. to enhance the tool’s modeling capabilities and thus accelerate the speed of new material development by tenfold or more over conventional approaches. New materials are key to addressing challenges in energy, healthcare and national security.
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy highlighted the news in a releasetoday about the Materials Genome Initiative, a public-private endeavor launched by the President that aims to cut in half the time it takes to develop novel materials that can fuel advanced manufacturing and bolster the 21st century American economy.
“The Materials Project was designed to be an open and accessible tool for scientists and engineers working in both the public and private sectors, and we are pleased that Intermolecular has recognized the power of these computational predictions to accelerate materials discovery,” said Don DePaolo, Associate Lab Director for Energy and Environmental Sciences at Berkeley Lab. “The contribution of experimental data from Intermolecular represents an important step forward for the Materials Project in its utility and service to the broader materials research community. We believe this is a win-win for both industry and science.”

Berkeley Lab scientist Kristin Persson co-founded the Materials Project, to accelerate discovery of new materials. (Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt/Berkeley Lab)

Using conventional approaches, it takes about 18 years to conceptualize and commercialize a new material. The Materials Project is meant to address this bottleneck by using a genomics approach to materials science—it uses supercomputers to characterize the properties of all known materials and thus takes some of the guesswork out of materials design. Intermolecular, based in San Jose, California, will provide data from its proprietary high-throughput combinatorial experimentation and characterization toolset to the Materials Project to enable it to develop better predictive materials models.
“Access to high-quality experimental data is absolutely essential to benchmark high-throughput computational predictions for any application,” said Berkeley Lab scientist Kristin Persson, co-founder of the Materials Project. “We begin every materials discovery project with a comparison to existing data before we venture into the space of undiscovered compounds. This is the first effort to integrate private sector experimental data into the Materials Project, and could form the basis of a general methodology for integrating experimental data inputs from a wide-range of scientific and industrial sources.”
Persson said having experimental data in the Materials Project can help in two ways. First, they will use the data to refine their methodologies if they find their predicted values are off. “It will improve our models,” she said.
Secondly, the experimental data may be displayed side-by-side with the predicted values. “It builds confidence in our predictive models for our users if they can see the values agree,” she said.
The Materials Project has grown rapidly since it was launched in late 2011. The number of materials in its database has doubled from 15,000 to more than 30,700, and it has attracted more than 4,000 users. Just over half of the users are from academia, about 22 percent from industry and about 20 percent from government or other sectors.
What’s more, an increasing number of those users are return users. “We’re starting to see more of a growing community, which is really exciting, and people contributing voluntarily to the code base, as it’s open source,” Persson said.
The team is also working to broaden the scope of the properties it covers, from just bulk properties—such as density, voltage, phase stability—to include surfaces and defects. While bulk properties are key in some applications, such as batteries, surfaces are important in catalysis and defects are important for electronic properties.
The Materials Project is hosted on the supercomputers at the Department of Energy’sNational Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) at Berkeley Lab.

# # #

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory addresses the world’s most urgent scientific challenges by advancing sustainable energy, protecting human health, creating new materials, and revealing the origin and fate of the universe. Founded in 1931, Berkeley Lab’s scientific expertise has been recognized with 13 Nobel prizes. The University of California manages Berkeley Lab for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. For more, visit www.lbl.gov.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Baffle wall constructed in Belle Harbor (ID: 66805)

Belle Harbor, N.Y., May 21, 2013 --The New York City Parks Department, with partial funding from FEMA's Public Assistance program, is constructing a baffle wall in the Rockaways, from Beach 126th Street to Beach 149th Street, to replace the older wall damaged during Hurricane Sandy. Workers are installing steel "H" pilings driven to a depth of 25 feet to increase stability. The baffle wall will end up being four feet above street level. K.C.Wilsey/FEMA

Volunteer helps with Clean Up Efforts (ID: 66649)

El Reno, Okla., June 15, 2013 -- Candy Roberts pauses to look at damage on a farm in El Reno. She is one of a group of volunteers that came from Arkansas to help with the cleanup. The El Reno area was struck by a F5 tornado on May 31, 2013. It was the widest tornado in United States history at 2.6 miles across, and was the second F5 tornado to touch down in Oklahoma over a two week period. Andrea Booher/FEMA

Flag on Tree in Moore (ID: 66668)

Moore, Okla., May 31, 2013 -- A flag is hung on a tornado ravaged tree in a Moore neighborhood. The Moore area was struck by a F5 tornado on May 20, 2013. Andrea Booher/FEMA

FEMA Corps Member Registers Survivor for Disaster Assistance (ID: 66752)

Moore, Okla., May 27, 2013 -- FEMA Corps member, Ana Canizales registers a disaster survivor for disaster assistance. The Whispering Oaks area of Moore was struck by a F5 tornado on May 20, 2013. Andrea Booher/FEMA

Friday, June 21, 2013

No Coverage for Damaged Wells and Septic Systems? Try FEMA or SBA

FEMA Press Release:

No Coverage for Damaged Wells and Septic Systems? Try FEMA or SBA

Main Content

Release date:

June 20, 2013

Release Number:

4116-IL NR-061

AURORA, Ill. – Homeowners may be eligible for disaster assistance for repairs to private wells and septic systems damaged or contaminated by the spring storms between April 16 and May 5.

The damaged well must be the sole source of water for the home to be eligible for FEMA assistance. The repairs must also not be covered by insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate benefits.

If additional repairs or replacement prove necessary after a FEMA inspector has visited, homeowners can choose to have the repairs made and get a verifiable receipt, or written estimate of repair costs including parts and labor. The receipt or estimate from a contractor needs to state that the estimate or actual cost paid is not an upgrade and that the repair was necessary to make the home habitable.

Homeowners who recently discovered damage to their well water or septic systems may call the FEMA Helpline, even if a housing inspector has already visited the home, at 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Users of 711 Relay or Video Relay Services should also call 1-800-621-3362.
Multilingual operators are available. Press 2 for Spanish or 3 for other languages.

Applicants also can update information online at www.disasterassistance.gov.

A confirmation inspection may be needed to verify the necessary work. FEMA will determine how much reimbursement will be made to the applicant.

Low interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also cover repairs to septic systems and wells. Disaster survivors with insurance should not wait for an insurance settlement before applying to the SBA. If survivors do not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, the SBA will consider making a loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use the insurance proceeds to reduce or repay their SBA loan.

It is important that anyone receiving an SBA disaster loan application complete and return it. Returning the application does not obligate you to accept an SBA loan; however, it is a necessary step to be considered for other additional forms of federal disaster assistance.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate's activities at twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

Last Updated:

June 20, 2013 - 15:03

US Corps of Engineers at Landfill with City Debris Monitor (ID: 66776)

Oklahoma City, Okla., June 15, 2013 -- At the Southwest Oklahoma City landfill, US Corps of Engineers Subject Matter Expert Wes Trammell, assigned by FEMA, speaks with an Oklahoma City Solid Waste Management representative who is monitoring debris trucks from the disaster areas. FEMA Public Assistance funds are paying a portion of governmental debris removal costs and FEMA consultation and oversight is required. George Armstrong/FEMA

FEMA, Corps of Engineers, and Debris Contractors (ID: 66779)

Moore, Okla., June 15, 2013 -- FEMA Debris Deputy Task Force Leader Tony Furr speaks with US Corps of Engineers Debris Subject Matter Expert Wes Trammell, and two debris contractors. FEMA Public Assistance funds are reimbursing a portion of governmental debris removal cost from the May 20 tornado which requires FEMA oversight and consultation. George Armstrong/FEMA

FEMA, Corps of Engineers, and Debris Subcontractor (ID: 66780)

Moore, Okla., June 15, 2013 -- FEMA Debris Deputy Task Force Leader Tony Furr speaks with US Corps of Engineers Debris Subject Matter Expert Wes Trammell, and debris subcontractor Van Baker. FEMA Public Assistance funds are reimbursing a portion of governmental debris removal cost from the May 20 tornado which requires FEMA oversight and consultation. George Armstrong/FEMA

Applicant Services Interview at Disaster Recovery Center #3 (ID: 66785)

Shawnee, Okla., June 17, 2013 -- FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center(DRC) #3 is open and FEMA Applicant Services Specialist Irene Delavern speaks with a May 19-20 tornado survivor who is applying for disaster recovery assistance. DRC's have many disaster related services available for eligible applicants. George Armstrong/FEMA

Mitigation Display at Home Improvement Store (ID: 66781)

Moore, Okla., June 15, 2013 -- FEMA Hazard Mitigation Specialist Curtis Cooter provides information to May tornado survivors at a local home improvement store. Mitigation helps homeowners rebuild stronger, to be more resistent when the next storm comes. George Armstrong/FEMA

SBA Interview at Disaster Recovery Center #3 (ID: 66784)

Shawnee, Okla., June 17, 2013 -- FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) #3 is open and Small Business Administration (SBA) Customer Services Representative Corey Williams speaks with a May 19-20 tornado survivor who is applying for disaster recovery assistance. SBA has low interest loans and other programs to help eligible applicants. George Armstrong/FEMA

Interior of FEMA Disaster Recovery Center #4 (ID: 66788)

Carney, Okla., June 17, 2013 -- FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) Manager Jose Lucca speaks with Applicant Assistant Specialist Lori Campo as Millie Ryan works nearby. The FEMA/State DRC #4 in Carney High School is open to serve survivors of the May 20 tornado. George Armstrong/FEMA

DRC Manager in Individual Assistance Interview (ID: 66786)

Shawnee, Okla., June 17, 2013 -- FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) #3 is open and FEMA Manager Monte Marsh speaks with a May 19-20 tornado survivor who is applying for disaster recovery assistance. DRC's have many disaster related services available for eligible applicants. George Armstrong/FEMA

Salvation Army Vehicles at DRC #2 (ID: 66789)

Oklahoma City, Okla., June 17, 2013 -- At the FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center #2, Salvation Army feeding vehicles are handing out food, beverages and snacks to survivors of the May 20 tornado. Salvation Army is a partner with FEMA in disaster response. George Armstrong/FEMA

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Sunday, June 30, 2013

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Sandia Labs News Releases

Sandia Labs names three fellows

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Monday, June 24, 2013

Has a FEMA Housing Inspector Assessed Damage to Your Dwelling?

Coburn and McCaskill Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Means-Test Medicare Premiums

Sandia Labs News Releases

Sandia honors young women for outstanding achievement in math and science

The Materials Project of Berkeley Lab/MIT will work with Intermolecular Inc. to accelerate innovation.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Friday, June 21, 2013

No Coverage for Damaged Wells and Septic Systems? Try FEMA or SBA