Hurricane Contracting Information Center (HCIC) NEWS

June 28, 2006

eNewsletter from the Governor’s Office of Recovery and Renewal

Important information has been listed on the State of Mississippi's eNewsletter, such as:

• Congress recently passed and President Bush signed into law a bill providing much-needed relief to states affected by Hurricane Katrina.  The bill contains $19.8 billion in hurricane relief for Gulf Coast states, including $5.2 billion for Community Development Block Grants and $400 million for a temporary housing pilot program to replace travel trailers with cottages.

• Governor Haley Barbour recently announced that a draft action plan has been published detailing how the state will administer $500 million in federal grants for building new water and sewer infrastructure in the Gulf Region after Hurricane Katrina.

• The Federal Emergency Management Agency has agreed to extend the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mission to finish debris removal along the hardest hit areas of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. 

For more information, click here for the eNewsletter.

June 9, 2006

FEMA Release Number 1604-380: Biloxi and Gulfport Disaster Recovery Centers Transition To SBA

The Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Gulfport and Biloxi in Harrison County will transition to Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan assistance centers on Monday, June 19, 2006.

"Residents and businesses will be able to get information at these disaster loan assistance centers about SBA low-interest loans," said Jesse Munoz, acting director of the Transitional Recovery Office for the Mississippi Hurricane Katrina recovery. "Those who need disaster assistance after June 17 may call FEMA or visit the DRCs in Waveland or Ocean Springs."

For more information, click here for press release.

May 24, 2006

FEMA Release Number 1603-483: FEMA Awards Maintenance And Deactivation Contracts For Louisiana

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently awarded 16 maintenance and deactivation contracts for Louisiana’s travel trailer and mobile home program.

The 16 new contractors will conduct maintenance on occupied trailers as well as remove units when families are finished using them. The new contractors are phasing-in under FEMA’s three main installation contractors to learn the processes, define their areas of responsibility and make a smooth transition.

“While housing people is still our first priority, we realize that some of those we have already housed are finishing up repairs to their homes and moving on with their lives,” said James Stark, acting director of FEMA’s Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office. “We appreciate patience as we work to get our new contractors trained, and we anticipate they will be operational in the near future.”

For more information, click here for press release.

May 12, 2006

FEMA Release Number LTR-06-026: Take Steps Now To Make Your Business Disaster-Ready

The small business that suffers damage from a disaster, such as Hurricane Wilma, has a greater chance of returning to pre-disaster operating levels if it prepares in advance. For that reason, business owners should take time now to plan ahead for a disaster, according to officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

"A disaster-ready business will be able to recover faster and with less financial loss," said Scott R. Morris, FEMA's director of Long-Term Recovery in Florida. "A quickly recovered business is good for the viability of the local economy and enables employees to return to work as soon as possible."

Though each situation is unique, any organization can be better prepared if it plans carefully, puts emergency procedures in place, and practices for emergencies of all kinds. Disaster preparation includes four critical steps:

• Reduce the vulnerability of the company's physical plant by implementing mitigation measures.
• Back up business data, such as sales records, customer lists and tax information, at an off-site location.
• Purchase adequate insurance coverage. Consider business interruption insurance, which would cover lost profits should the business be unable to operate, and flood insurance because standard business policies may not cover damages from flooding.
• Formulate a contingency plan to maintain operations if the company's location is heavily damaged or destroyed.

For more information, click here for press release.

April 19, 2006

Gutierrez and Powell announce participants of Gulf Coast Business Investment Mission

U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez and Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding Donald Powell today announced the participants that will join them on the U.S. Small Business Administration Gulf Coast Business Investment Mission to Louisiana and Mississippi May 4-5, 2006.

The companies selected for the mission represent a diverse mix of industry sectors and sizes ranging from major Fortune 500 companies to small- and medium-sized enterprises. During the mission, the delegation will meet with local, state and federal officials involved in Gulf Coast reconstruction to discuss opportunities for investment in the region

For more information, click here for press release.

For a list of participants, click here.

April 3, 2006

FEMA Release Number 1603-424: One Week Left to Apply for Disaster Assistance

The deadline to apply for disaster assistance is quickly approaching. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is encouraging those affected by either Hurricanes Katrina or Rita to register for assistance by April 10.

If you are waiting for an insurance settlement, you should register now for disaster assistance. After your settlement, you may still have unmet needs which are eligible for federal, state or local programs

For more information, click here for press release.

March 31 , 2006

FEMA Release Number HQ-06-049: Hurricane Katrina Recovery Contracts to Small and Minority-Owned Businesses

The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced the awarding of approximately 36 contracts with a value up to $100 million each. The five-year contracts, which are part of FEMA’s previously announced plans to open contracting opportunities to competitive bidding, are being awarded to small and small disadvantaged businesses registered with the Small Business Administration (SBA) for temporary housing maintenance and support for Gulf Coast hurricane recovery.

Many of the 36 awards are being announced starting today with additional award announcements following in coming days. All awards will be available and updated at Fedbizopps (www.fbo.gov) under the following solicitation numbers: HSFEHQ-06-R-8A for small and disadvantaged businesses and HSFEHQ-06-R-SB for small businesses

For more information, click here for press release.

March 21 , 2006

FEMA Release Number 1604-293: Consider Making Your Business Disaster Ready

The small business that prepares in advance of a disaster like Hurricane Katrina has a greater chance of returning to pre-disaster operating levels if it suffers damage from the event. There is no better reason for a business owner to look seriously at being prepared for a disaster, says the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

"A disaster-ready business will be able to recover faster and with less financial loss," said Michael Bolch, federal coordinating officer for FEMA. "Small business owners can suffer water or wind damage even if the event does not warrant a federal disaster declaration."

There are four critical parts to disaster preparation:

• Make your company's physical plant less vulnerable.
• Ensure your business data (sales records, customer lists, tax information, etc.) is backed up offsite.
• Purchase adequate insurance coverage.
• Formulate a contingency plan to help you keep operating even if your company's location is heavily damaged or destroyed.

For more information, click here for press release.

February 16, 2006

U.S. Department of Energy Student Diversity Partnership Program selects Four Students Impacted by Hurricane Katrina for Internships within the Department

Four students displaced to Howard University as a result of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina have been selected as interns in the DOE Student Diversity Partnership Program during the spring and summer academic semesters. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Student Diversity Partnership Program, managed by the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity and sponsored by various DOE Program offices, recruits highly qualified students from the nation’s minority educational institutions for summer internships at the Department and its national laboratories, and for potential filtration into other DOE programs or career positions.  This summer, in addition to the four students displaced, the Program will sponsor over 40 summer internship assignments within the Department and its national laboratories.

For more information about DOE’s Student Diversity Partnership Program, click here.

January 26, 2006

U.S. Department of Energy Sponsors Free Rebuilding Workshop in  Biloxi, MS for Hurricane Victims

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) will sponsor a free, two-day home rebuilding workshop this weekend in Biloxi, Mississippi to offer hurricane-affected residents expert advice on using the latest energy efficiency products and techniques as they seek to rebuild their homes and communities.  This workshop is the second of three in the Gulf Region.  Last weekend approximately 2,500 homeowners and consumers visited the workshop outside New Orleans, Louisiana, each day.

For more information, click here for press release.

For more information about the workshops, go to Calendar of Events Archives.

January 25, 2006

U.S. Department of Energy Supercomputers to Analyze Hurricane Coastal Surges, Help Plan Rebuilding in Louisiana, Gulf Coast

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science has allocated 400,000 processor hours of supercomputing time at its National Energy Research Scientific Computing (NERSC) Center to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District to run a series of simulations of hurricane protection projects within coastal Louisiana.

For more information, click here for press release

January 20,2006

DOE Announces Two Projects to Help the Gulf Coast Recover and Rebuild

Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman today announced two Department of Energy (DOE) activities to help the people in the Gulf coast region recover from the hurricanes in 2005, as well as prevent loss of life and damage in the future.  During his speech to the Energy Leadership Forum, the secretary announced that DOE will donate 400,000 hours of supercomputing time at its National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NRESC) to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assist with the rebuilding of levees.  DOE is also offering hurricane-affected residents free rebuilding workshops providing expert advice on the latest energy-efficient products and techniques, in addition to donating approximately 200 pieces of used furniture to a Louisiana school.

For more information, click here for press releases

December 5, 2005

HUD ANNOUNCES MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE FOR DISASTER VICTIMS

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a $200 million initiative designed to rebuild lives and communities. Under the Mortgage Assistance Initiative, HUD will make mortgage payments for up to one year for disaster victims with FHA-insured mortgages who want to start living in their homes again.

For more information, click here for the press release.

December 9, 2005

U.S. Labor Department Opens New Temporary Wage and Hour Offices In the Gulf Region

The U.S. Department of Labor announced the reopening, at new temporary locations, of the Wage and Hour Division's New Orleans district office and Biloxi, Miss., field office. Following Hurricane Katrina both offices were damaged and closed.

For more information, click here for the press release.

November 30, 2005

U.S. Department of Labor Launches Pathways to Construction Employment Initiative in Louisiana and Mississippi

The U.S. Department of Labor launched the Pathways to Construction Employment Initiative to support economic revitalization in Louisiana and Mississippi in the aftermath of recent hurricanes. A partnership between each state's workforce agency and community college system will use their respective $5 million grants to establish and operate two construction career pathways.

For more information, click here for the press release.

November 29, 2005

U.S. Labor Department Acts to Improve Access of Hurricane Victims To 401(k) Loans and Withdrawals.

The U.S. Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), announced guidance for employers and plan officials relating to changes in the law that increase the amount of loan distributions permitted through 401(k) and similar employer-sponsored plans to participants affected by Hurricane Katrina.

For more information, click here for the press release.

November 8, 2005

SBA Launches program to expedite loans for small Gulf Coast firms.

U.S. Small Business Administration announced the Gulf Opportunity Pilot Loan Program aimed at giving small companies expedited loans to help recover and rebuild Gulf Coast communities. SBA will guarantee loans up to $150,000 for small businesses that are located in or moving to areas that have been declared major disaster zones as a result of the hurricanes.

For more information, click here for the press release.

November 8, 2005

SBA Administrator Hector V. Barreto's Statement Before the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts

U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Hector V. Barreto submitted a statement on the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Disaster Assistance (ODA) continuing efforts to provide relief to the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

For more information, click here for the press release.

November 4, 2005

FEMA Approves First Round of Community Disaster Loans.

FEMA announced it has approved the first round of Community Disaster Loans (CDLs) to help devastated areas maintain esential services as they work to recover from Gulf Coast hurricanes. This initial round provides funds directly to eight communities, including $120 million for the city of New Orleans.

For more information, click here for the press release.

November 3, 2005

FEMA, SBA to Award Recovery Contracts to Small and Minority-Owned Businesses.

FEMA announced the opening of competition for 15 contracts with a value up to $100 million each. The five-year contracts will be awarded to local, small and small disadvantaged businesses for temporary housing maintenance and support for Gulf Coast hurrican recovery.

For more information, click here for the press release.

October 26, 2005

U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao issued the following statement on the lifting of the Davis-Bacon Act suspension.

"In response to the unprecedented devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, the President temporarily suspended the Davis-Bacon Act as part of an administration-wide effort to remove as many barriers as possible to aid the recovery efforts in the impacted areas." (Press release)