FEMA Offers Free Webinars on Build America, Buy America Act

FEMA Offers Free Webinars on Build America, Buy America Act

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is hosting a series of free one-hour briefings for all recipients and subrecipients under awards for 2023 FEMA grant programs, which are subject to the domestic preference requirements of the Build America, Buy America Act. The briefings provide an overview of the requirements and FEMA financial assistance applicability under the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA), FEMA’s waiver authority and waiver types, and review of additional FEMA resources. The briefing dates and times converted to ChST follow:

Wednesday, February 22, 2023, 2 a.m. – 3 a.m. (ChST)
- Registration is required: https://www.fema.gov/event/documenting-compliance-build-america-buy-america-act-5
Wednesday, March 1, 2023, 6 a.m. – 7 a.m. (ChST)
- Registration is required: https://www.fema.gov/event/documenting-compliance-build-america-buy-america-act-6

The BABAA requires all federal agencies, including FEMA, to ensure that no federal assistance for “infrastructure” projects is provided “unless all iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in the project are produced in the United States.” These requirements only apply to awards or funds obligated on or after January 2, 2023, and do not apply to awards or funds obligated during the waiver period that was from July 1, 2022 to January 1, 2023.

For more information, visit https://www.fema.gov/grants/policy-guidance/buy-america.

For questions and inquiries, contact FEMA Office of External Affairs:

Congressional Affairs at (202) 646-4500 or at FEMA-Congressional-Affairs@fema.dhs.gov
Intergovernmental Affairs at (202) 646-3444 or at FEMA-IGA@fema.dhs.gov
Tribal Affairs at (202) 646-3444 or at FEMA-Tribal@fema.dhs.gov
Private Sector Engagement at (202) 646-3444 or at nbeoc@max.gov

X Flooding is a temporary overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. There are many possible causes of floods including heavy rain, coastal storms and storm surge, waterway overflow from being blocked with debris, or overflow of levees, dams, or waste water systems. Flooding can occur slowly over many days or happen very quickly with little or no warning, called flash floods.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/floods

Wildfire

Regularly clean the roof and gutters.
Maintain an area approximately 30’ away from you home that is free of anything that will burn, such as wood piles, dried leaves, newspapers and other brush.
Connect garden hoses long enough to reach any area of the home and fill garbage cans, tubs, or other large containers with water.
Review your homeowner's insurance policy and also prepare/update a list of your home's contents.

Fire Weather

Turn on your TV/radio. You’ll get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
Know where to go. If you are ordered to evacuate, know the route to take and have plan of where you will go. Check-in with your friends and family.
Keep your car fueled, in good condition, and stocked with emergency supplies and a change of clothes.

Drought

Conserve water

Take shorter showers.

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Run the washer less frequently and only when you have a full load.
Water your lawn less frequently and do so when the temperature is cooler in the early morning or late evening.
When you run the tap to heat or cool water, keep a pitcher to store the water and use it to water plants.
Avoid washing your car.

Practice fire prevention

Don't set off fireworks when conditions are dry.
Deposit cigarette butts in the proper receptacle to avoid starting a
Pour water over camp fires and backyard fire pits to ensure they are completely out before leaving them unattended.

Follow directions from local officials. If there are restrictions on water usage, be sure to heed them.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/wildfires and https://www.ready.gov/drought

X
Typhoons/Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over the water and move toward land. Threats from typhoons/hurricanes include high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, and rip currents.

“Hurricanes” form in the Atlantic Northeast Pacific region and “Typhoons” form in the Northwest Pacific Region. These large storms are call cyclones in other parts of the world.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.