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| Vol. 23, No. 12 |
| July 1, 2001 |
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FEMA Satellite Office in Texas Medical Center Assists with Flood Recovery Efforts By RONDA WENDLER Texas Medical Center News The rains have stopped, the water has receded, and the bayous are within their banks, but three weeks after the onslaught of Tropical Storm Allison, Texas Medical Center institutions, with a combined damage estimate totaling more than $2 billion to date, are just beginning to realize the enormity of the money and manpower required to return to normal. To assist in this effort, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has established a satellite office at 2450 Holcombe, a Texas Medical Center-owned building and former home of the Nabisco bakery. "We're here, and we'll be here until the job is done," state of Texas public assistance administrator Ben Patterson told a group of CEOs, risk managers and financial officers from Texas Medical Center institutions at a June 19 meeting held at the Edwin Hornberger Conference Center. About 20 FEMA and state of Texas representatives will staff the satellite office, working with Texas Medical Center hospitals, universities and other TMC institutions to assess the flood damage and restore institutions to functioning order. Founded in 1979, FEMA is an independent agency of the federal government and reports directly to the U.S. president. Through its Public Assistance Program, FEMA provides assistance to states, local governments, and selected nonprofit organizations, including educational institutions and hospitals, to alleviate hardship from major disasters declared by the president. "When natural disasters occur, it is the responsibility of the local community and then the state to respond. When their combined efforts are not sufficient to effectively cope with the results of the disaster, federal assistance through FEMA is available to supplement the state and local efforts," Patterson explained. The federal share allocated for a repair project will always be at least 75 percent of the eligible costs, while the party that sustained damage covers the remaining 25 percent, sometimes with assistance from local governments or nonprofit agencies. President Bush has the authority to raise the FEMA share higher than 75 percent if he deems it necessary. The program is administered by the state, in that FEMA transfers its share of the repair estimates for approved projects to the state, and the state disburses the money to the institutions involved in repair projects. When President Bush declared Harris County and 27 other Texas counties major disaster areas on June 9, his declaration made all Texas Medical Center institutions affected by Tropical Storm Allison eligible to receive FEMA funding. Federal and local funds cannot pay for what is covered by insurance. However, deductibles are eligible for FEMA reimbursement. Sometimes, an institution's total loss may exceed its insurance limits, or the institution may suffer certain types of damage not covered by insurance. This is where FEMA can help. How do institutions take advantage of this offer? This step-by-step description is somewhat simplified, and is designed to provide you with a "thumbnail" description of the steps required. 1) First, a Request for Public Assistance Form (FEMA form 90-49) must be filled out and returned to FEMA within 30 days of the date the presidential disaster declaration was made. In this case, the declaration was made June 9 so the deadline for submitting the form to FEMA is July 8, Sunday. Weekends are always counted, because FEMA officials work around the clock. The Request for Public Assistance form is simple and short, with easy-to-follow instructions. By filing the form, you are requesting a public assistance grant. The sooner your Request for Public Assistance Form is submitted, the sooner the system will begin to work for you. Fax the completed form to (832) 513-4498 or (832) 513-4432. Next, fill out a Designation of Applicant's Agent Form (this form lists the person/s who will represent your institution to FEMA) and a Direct Deposit Authorization Form (allows disaster relief funds to be deposited directly into your institution's account). Mail these two forms to FEMA's Greenspoint Disaster Field Office, 12300 North Freeway, Suite 200, Houston, TX 77060. The Greenspoint office was established to help the Houston area recover from the effects of Tropical Storm Allison, and is staffed by FEMA and state officials from various locations. 2) Once the Request for Public Assistance Form is turned in, you will be assigned a Public Assistance Coordinator (PAC, also referred to as PACMAN, a takeoff on the popular computer game). Your PAC will serve as your customer service representative assigned to work with you from declaration to funding approval. As needed, your PAC can help you to document your damage, determine eligible repair work, estimate costs, develop work projects, and identify issues such as insurance coverage and environmental resources which require special attention. Your PAC maintains and manages your Case Management File containing all information necessary for your FEMA assistance. Expect to be contacted by your PAC shortly after you submit your Request for Public Assistance Form. 3) The first meeting with your PAC is called a Kickoff Meeting, where your damages will be discussed, your needs assessed, and a plan of action will be put in place. At the Kickoff Meeting, you will also meet your Applicant Liaison, the state's customer service representative assigned to work with you and your PAC. The Applicant Liaison will provide the state's perspective on the recovery process and will explain any state-specific reporting requirements. Compile a list of all your damages and take that list with you to the Kickoff Meeting. Be sure to invite those knowledgeable of the repairs needed, as well as your risk manager who is familiar with your insurance coverage, to the meeting. 4) When the PAC reviews your damages list at the Kickoff Meeting, your project will be identified by dollar amount as either a small project or a large project. A small project cannot exceed $50,600. Most Texas Medical Center institution projects will be identified as large projects - those with damage costs over $50,600. A Project Officer, or PO, will be assigned to work with you. It will be the responsibility of the PO to prepare a comprehensive Project Worksheet for each large project at your institution, taking advantage of FEMA's nationwide network of infrastructure and cost-estimating specialists. 5) Based on the Project Worksheet, an initial cost estimate is prepared. Funds are transferred from FEMA to the state, which initiates payment to you. As the project proceeds, the state periodically doles out money to you, enabling you to pay contractors and meet other expenses. 6) When the project is complete, inspections and audits are performed by the state and FEMA, and the grant is closed. Realistically, the entire process involves more forms, meetings, site visits, etc. Always, your PAC and Applicant Liaison are available to guide you through, from beginning to end. For more information about FEMA's Public Assistance Program or to download forms, visit the Web site at http://www.fema.gov/r-n-r/pa007.htm.
©2006 Texas Medical Center E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/07_01_01/page_01.html |