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Disasters

Whatever the disaster, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, leads the federal government’s response as part of a team of responders.

  • DHS Statement on Safety and Enforcement During the 2020 Wildfire Season

    On July 2, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued the following statement on Safety and Enforcement During the 2020 Wildfire Season:

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are concerned about the potential impact of the 2020 wildfire season to western and southwestern portions of the United States, including the current wildfires in Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. Our highest priority remains the preservation of life and safety.  In consideration of these circumstances, there will be no immigration enforcement initiatives associated with evacuations or sheltering related to the wildfires, except in the event of a serious public safety threat.

  • Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons

    The Department of Homeland Security is finalizing guidance to recipients of Federal financial assistance regarding Title VI’s prohibition against national origin discrimination affecting persons with limited English proficient persons. This guidance is issued pursuant to Executive Order 13166 and is consistent with government-wide guidance previously issued by the Department of Justice.

  • Guidance to State and Local Governments and Other Federally Assisted Recipients Engaged in Emergency Preparedness, Response, Mitigation, and Recovery Activities on Compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

    The United States Departments of Justice (DOJ), Homeland Security (DHS), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Health and Human Services (HHS), and Transportation (DOT) are issuing this guidance to assist recipients of federal financial assistance engaged in emergency management (e.g., state and local emergency management agencies, law enforcement, healthcare service providers, housing and transit authorities). This ensures that individuals and communities affected by disasters do not face unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin (including limited English proficiency) in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI).

  • Reference Guide: Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities in the Provision of Disaster Mass Care, Housing, and Human Services

    The Reference Guide was originally developed in response to the requirement of H.R. 5441 (PL 109-295), Section 689: Individuals with Disabilities, to develop disability related guidelines for use by those who serve individuals with disabilities in emergency preparedness and disaster relief. This Guide is not intended to satisfy all of the guidance requirements contained in Section 689. Additional guidelines to accommodate individuals with disabilities will be issued in the future.

  • DHS Statement on Safety and Enforcement During Tropical Depression Imelda

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued the following statement on safety and enforcement during Tropical Depression Imelda:

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are concerned about the flooding caused by Tropical Depression Imelda to southeast Texas. Our highest priority remains the preservation of life and safety. In consideration of these circumstances, there will be no immigration enforcement initiatives associated with evacuations or sheltering related to the storm, except in the event of a serious public safety threat.

  • DHS Statement on Safety and Enforcement During Hurricane Dorian

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are concerned about the potential impact of Hurricane Dorian to portions of the East Coast.  Our highest priority remains the preservation of life and safety. In consideration of these circumstances, there will be no immigration enforcement initiatives associated with evacuations or sheltering related to the storm, except in the event of a serious public safety threat.

  • DHS Statement Regarding Safety and Enforcement During Hurricane Michael - Translations

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are concerned about the potential impact of Hurricane Michael to southern and southeastern portions of the United States, where Florida and Alabama are under states of emergency. The following are versions of the statement translated into various languages.

  • Civil Rights Listening Sessions with Disability Stakeholders

    The purpose of these listening sessions was to hear about concerns and experiences related to the impact of the disasters on individuals with disabilities.  Participants also shared effective practices for serving individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.  By better understanding these experiences, and in partnership with state and local entities, including non-profit organizations, DHS can work to improve preparedness, response, and recovery for persons with disabilities in future disasters

  • DHS/FEMA/PIA-052 Grants Management Modernization (GMM)

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Grant Management Modernization (GMM) program owns and operates the GMM Streamlined Platform for Agile Release and Transformation Acceleration (SPARTA) system. Through the development and deployment of the GMM SPARTA system, GMM seeks to streamline grants management across the Agency’s 40-plus grant programs through a user-centered, business-driven approach. The GMM SPARTA system will consolidate the functionalities of FEMA’s ten legacy IT systems (listed in Appendix C) into a single grants management IT platform.

  • DHS/FEMA/PIA-050 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) PIVOT System

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) owns and operates the NFIP PIVOT (not an acronym; formerly called Phoenix) system. The NFIP PIVOT system is a web-based system designed to help facilitate and consolidate in one system the NFIP’s core business processes including, but not limited to: validation of insurance policies, claims, and data; complex modeling; website hosting (including www.floodsmart.gov); claims administration; policy management; claims review; approvals; and status inquiries. FEMA is conducting this new Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) because NFIP PIVOT collects, uses, maintains, retrieves, and disseminates personally identifiable information (PII) about individuals who purchase flood insurance policies from NFIP, those who process insurance policies, and individuals requesting access to the system.