Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation Plan, and Grant Administration 

Challenge

Tidal Basin has provided staff for registering, planning, verifying, and estimating damages, as well as applicant case management. Whether or not a federal disaster declaration is implemented, the State of Alaska has its own state-led IA/Public Assistance (PA) programs. Tidal Basin reviewed the state’s IA/PA administrative plans and incorporated those into the overall strategy, ensuring compliance with both federal and state programs. This process maximized the dollar amount the state received.

Solution

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.

Resilience 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

Tidal Basin ensures payments are made only to eligible applicants, avoiding duplication of benefits and within the expenditure deadline assigned by the U.S. Treasury. For example, Tidal Basin coordinates with counties and cities with direct allocations from the Treasury to prevent duplicative payments throughout the state.  

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, grant management, benefit cost analysis, financial reimbursement, procurement, and closeout for DR-4413. Our role has expanded to include DR-4533.

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 2 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.