The Nevada Office of Emergency Management (NV OEM) hosted a presentation for National Preparedness Month and gave an update on what federal relief could be coming to Hawk Fire victims.
Gov. Lombardo applies for SBA declaration
Governor Joe Lombardo is now in the process of applying for assistance through the Small Business Administration.
This would make disaster loans available to Hawk Fire victims. Fire victims would need to pay the assistance back, but no payments are due and no interest will accrue for the first 12 months. After that the interest rate maxes out at 4%, according to the SBA.
If the application is approved, federal funding would be added to Hawk Fire recovery, which did not come from the governor's previous request.
“With the emergency declaration, we actually requested two different types: debris removal and emergency protective measures,” says Brett Compstom, Chief of NV OEM. “The president only approved the emergency protective measures, which basically translated to predominantly advice and assistance from the federal government and did not translate to actual dollars."
The assistance was mainly advice on how to remove debris - especially hazardous materials - and burn scar assessment to prevent future disasters like mudslides.
“FEMA brought in their debris management specialist who actually worked on the Lahaina fire in Maui as well as the LA fires,” Compston says. “So, they were able to provide guidance to both the state and, more importantly, Washoe County."
If approved, the SBA assistance would come in addition to other relief programs offered by the state.
“The Nevada Division of Housing has created a program in conjunction with Washoe County and the City of Reno to provide rental assistance to those that were affected,” Compston says.
Lombardo signed an executive order two weeks ago making those resources available.
Currently, there is no timeline for when the SBA would approve this latest application. If it gets approved, fire victims who qualify can apply online.
NV OEM launches new campaign for National Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month.
To celebrate, NV OEM launched its 30 Days Ready campaign. The goal is to prepare folks to both shelter in place and evacuate in case of emergency and lose critical infrastructure for up to 30 days.
NV OEM hosted a presentation demonstrating a properly equipped go bag — step one of preparing for disasters.
Step one of preparing for any disaster is having a properly equipped go bag.
"Even if it’s small,” says Kieran Dazzo, Senior Public Information Officer for NV OEM, “you can start with just the essentials. You can start with preparing your important documents, having copies of everything, having physical hard copies, a little bit of food, water, extra clothes, anything of important value."
It should be personalized as well: pack a glasses case or contact solution, medication, and extra support needs for your family if needed.
Don’t forget about your pets either — bring food, bowls, and whatever else your furry friends might need.
As we saw during the latest round of fires, you can get stuck at home with no power. So having a "stay kit" is crucial as well.
“Do you have things that aren't refrigerated since you don't want to open your fridge?” Dazzo says. “And then making sure that you have flashlights, generators, a hand-crank radio, all of these things that could be in your go kit are just as important to have at home."
But preparedness doesn't stop at what to pack.
“Having a family communications plan, this is something we always stress,” says Dazzo. “So having a plan for who your family's going to call. The phone lines locally may be blocked, so you may have to call someone far away.”
These are just some of the important steps NV OEM is urging you to take.
In the wake of the Hawk, Bug, and Stallion Fires, defensible space is paramount. And as longtime residents know, earthquakes, floods, and severe winter weather are all in the realm of possibility.
NV OEM has set up a 30-day checklist to get you and your family prepared for anything.
“It can seem like a big, daunting task,” Dazzo says. “You don't even have to check one off every day. But if you're doing one a week or something just to have that baseline so that you can go on a moment's notice.”
National Preparedness Month started in 2004 and runs every September. With that in mind, every month is the perfect month to get ready and prepared for a disaster.
