State of Alaska, PA, Hazard Mitigation, & Grant Management

Case Study Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation Plan, and Grant Administration | State of Alaska

Solution

Key Highlights • Assisted with 11 federal and eight state declarations • Managed over $1.5 billion in projects and cases • Developed standardized training methodology • Successful closeout of over 300 projects and three events • FEMA Public Assistance Program – PDA through event closeout • Technical assistance staffing • Program office, field operations, and administration • Project worksheet formulation, process automation and optimization • Resource development • Obligation of over 600 PWs and more than $900 million • Disaster assistance to over 12,000 survivors DR-4585, and DR-5282. We developed over $140 million in project applications and are assisting in managing over $40 million in mitigation projects. AK-236, AK-237 and AK-238 Changed the State IA program, increasing the funding available to individuals and reducing the overall cash outlay of the State. The changes to the program procedures proved more efficient and cost effective for both the sub-recipients and the State. DR-4054-AK Severe Storm Assisted 30 sub-recipients to document 113 PWs totaling an estimated $3.2 million in damages. DR-4122-AK Flooding Assisted 23 sub-recipients to document 96 PWs totaling more than $16 million in damages and to distribute nearly $3.5 million in IA funding. DR-4162-AK Severe Storms Assisted 20 sub-recipients to quantify approximately $11.5 million in damages. DR-4413-AK Cook Inlet Earthquake Currently assisting the State in recovering from the largest declared disaster in their history. Assisting 51 sub-recipients document 136 PWs (to date) totaling an estimated $33 million in damages. Total damages for this disaster are estimated to be $309 million.

Tidal Basin has provided staff for registering, planning, verifying, and estimating damages, as well as applicant case management. Additionally, we furnished personnel for all aspects of FEMA PA program office, field operations, and administration. Many of Alaska’s sub-recipients were in rural areas, with limited population and capacity. Tidal Basin currently has three full-time HMGP staff members augmenting DR-4413 who are reviewing over 50 intent-to-applies for feasibility and eligibility. Once determinations are made, the three FTE’s will work the eligible applications throughout the whole review process to closeout. Tidal Basin also has 15 full-time PA staff members augmenting staff for various current and legacy federal and state declared events, as well as 10 full-time IA staff members augmenting staff for three state declared events.

Resillience Delivered

All Hazards Incident Management Team Training Developed and delivered DHS-approved All Hazards Incident Management Team training consisting of Type 3 Position-Specific Training for All-Hazards Incident Commander, Operations Section Chief, Planning Section Chief, Logistics Section Chief, Finance/ Admin Section Chief, Safety Officer, Liaison Officer and Public Information Officer to the Kenai Peninsula Borough. All eight courses were taught simultaneously within a three-week period to meet budget and schedule requirements. Closeout Team In 2013, the State engaged a team of Tidal Basin consultants to assist with the backlog of PA projects dating back to 2006. We completed the closeout in three years. Additionally, we assisted the State in supporting high risk sub-recipients by following the State procedures for working with various type of organizations, implementing different approaches for reimbursement and closeout. Disaster Recovery Framework Developed the State Disaster Recovery Framework and a new IA field guide, providing programmatic and operational framework for structuring and implementing long-term disaster recovery assistance to local governments for community restoration. Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Assisting on application development, grants management, benefit cost analysis, financial reimbursement, procurement, and closeout for DR-4413. Our role has expanded to include DR-4533.

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