Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

EVALUATING SNOWFALL EVENTSPerspectives From FEMA Region I

Tim Barnett,FEMA Region I

MAY 25, 2011

Tim Barnett May 25, 2011

Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

SNOW ASSISTANCE POLICYRecord Snowfall a snowfall that meets or exceeds the highest record snowfall

within a county over a 1, 2, or 3 day or longer period of time

Near Record Snowfall a snowfall that approaches, but does not meet or exceed, the historical record snowfall within a county. FEMA generally considers snowfall within 10 percent of the record amount to be a near record snowfall

Snowstorm an event in which a State has record or near record snowfall in one or more counties…and that overwhelms the capability of the affected State and local governments to respond to an event. While snowstorms will normally only receive Snow Assistance, other categories of supplemental Federal Assistance may be designated for a snowstorm declaration as warranted

Severe Winter Storm an event that occurs during the winter season that includes one or more of the following conditions: snow, ice, high winds, blizzard conditions, and other wintery conditions; and that causes substantial physical damage or loss to improved property

Tim Barnett May 25, 2011

Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

WEATHER DATANational Climatic Data Center – http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html

If NCDC data are not available or do not reflect snowfall records through the previous year’s snow season, data should be obtained from regional NWS offices

For counties that do not have NCDC or NWS historical record snowfall data, the historical record from the nearest NWS Cooperative Network Station in an adjacent county, even if located in an adjacent State, may be used for determining historical snowfall records

Tim Barnett May 25, 2011

Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

1. One day event? Two day event? Two day event?a. NWS needs to take the lead and make the decision as to how

the event is describedb. FEMA needs to update our policy to memorialize that NWS is

the decision maker on character of the eventc. NCC records must be accepted at face value

2. Reinforce in policy that a Major Disaster declared for Snow Assistance highlights the word “assistance”a. FEMA Policy: “The assistance is intended to open emergency

access and to help restore critical services. It is not intended to cover the entire cost or even a significant portion of the long term snow removal operations…”

b. States and communities will look to FEMA to cover all eligible costs

ISSUES

Tim Barnett May 25, 2011

Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

3. NWS & FEMA needs to provide all concerned with guidance on what is considered “snowfall measurements from other sources that have been verified by the NCDC or NWS”a. States applied enough political pressure to NWS that they

“concluded” that there were “other verifiable sources”b. NWS needs to come up with a criteria for “other sources”

4. Near Record Snowfall should mean within 10% of the record, not generally within 10% of the record

5. Snowfall total for the eventa. Can totals be for the duration of the event (eg 0800 Tuesday

– 1600 Wednesday) instead of by day (snowfall for Tuesday)

ISSUES

Tim Barnett May 25, 2011

Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

County name Station name 1-Day Snowfall 2-Day Snowfall 3-Day Snowfall NYRS

BARNSTABLE CHATHAM WSMO 16.0 17.0 19.0 29BARNSTABLE HATCHVILLE 10.0 10.0 10.0 33BARNSTABLE HYANNIS 13.0 13.0 13.0 53BERKSHIRE ADAMS 11.3 14.0 14.3 32

BERKSHIRE GREAT BARRINGTON ARPT 18.0 32.0 34.0 22

BERKSHIRE HOOSAC TUNNEL 19.5 19.5 19.5 41BERKSHIRE LANESBORO 12.0 12.0 12.0 24BERKSHIRE PERU 13.5 15.0 19.0 24

BERKSHIRE SOUTH EGREMONT 14.0 15.0 18.0 48

BERKSHIRE STOCKBRIDGE 14.0 17.5 18.5 49BERKSHIRE WASHINGTON 2 18.0 22.0 22.5 18BERKSHIRE WEST OTIS 16.5 20.0 21.0 65BRISTOL FALL RIVER 18.0 18.0 18.0 70BRISTOL NEW BEDFORD 15.0 15.0 15.0 80BRISTOL TAUNTON 17.0 18.0 20.0 61DUKES EDGARTOWN 16.0 23.0 23.0 40ESSEX HAVERHILL 16.5 18.1 22.0 84ESSEX IPSWICH 18.0 21.0 24.0 71ESSEX LAWRENCE 21.0 22.0 22.0 86ESSEX MIDDLETON 28.0 28.0 28.0 68ESSEX NEWBURYPORT 19.0 20.0 23.0 64ESSEX PEABODY 24.0 24.0 28.0 29ESSEX ROCKPORT 1 ESE 26.0 28.0 29.0 64FRANKLIN ASHFIELD 17.0 25.0 27.0 27FRANKLIN COLRAIN 12.0 15.5 15.7 20FRANKLIN HEATH 15.0 18.0 18.0 69FRANKLIN NEW SALEM 13.5 19.5 20.0 38FRANKLIN SHELBURNE FALLS 12.0 18.0 19.5 40FRANKLIN SUNDERLAND 11.4 12.5 13.9 28FRANKLIN TURNERS FALLS 18.0 18.0 18.0 46

MASSACHUSETTSRecord 1-Day, 2-Day, and 3-Day Snowfall for January for stations sorted by county.

Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

County name Station name 1-Day Snowfall 2-Day Snowfall 3-Day Snowfall NYRS

HAMPDEN BORDEN BROOK RESERVOIR 13.5 15.0 15.5 25

HAMPDEN CHESTER 13.0 13.0 15.0 27HAMPDEN CHESTER 2 16.0 18.0 21.5 24HAMPDEN HOLYOKE 12.0 16.0 16.5 73HAMPDEN SPRINGFIELD 13.5 15.0 15.0 40HAMPDEN WESTFIELD 12.0 13.0 15.0 38HAMPSHIRE AMHERST 18.0 18.0 18.0 94HAMPSHIRE BELCHERTOWN 12.0 16.0 16.0 64HAMPSHIRE CHESTERFIELD 15.0 19.0 20.0 73HAMPSHIRE CUMMINGTON HILL 15.0 16.0 16.0 31HAMPSHIRE KNIGHTVILLE DAM 12.0 14.0 15.0 40HAMPSHIRE PELHAM 14.0 18.0 18.5 36HAMPSHIRE PLAINFIELD 14.0 14.0 20.0 40HAMPSHIRE WARE 13.0 16.0 16.0 50MIDDLESEX ASHLAND 16.5 16.5 16.5 48MIDDLESEX BEDFORD 20.0 25.8 25.8 49MIDDLESEX DUNSTABLE 16.0 18.0 18.0 20MIDDLESEX FRAMINGHAM 14.0 15.0 15.3 74MIDDLESEX GROTON 21.0 23.0 23.0 48MIDDLESEX LOWELL 15.0 18.0 18.0 67MIDDLESEX NATICK 20.0 22.0 22.0 27MIDDLESEX READING 18.2 25.7 25.7 47MIDDLESEX SPOT POND 17.5 18.0 19.5 57MIDDLESEX WESTON 14.3 14.4 14.4 48

NANTUCKET NANTUCKET FAA AIRPORT 10.9 10.9 10.9 25

NORFOLK BEECHWOOD 12.0 14.8 14.8 28NORFOLK BLUE HILL 19.0 20.5 20.5 79NORFOLK FRANKLIN 16.0 19.5 21.0 70NORFOLK WALPOLE 14.0 18.2 18.4 23NORFOLK WALPOLE 2 18.5 21.2 21.2 34NORFOLK WEST MEDWAY 14.0 18.0 19.0 47PLYMOUTH BROCKTON 15.8 24.8 24.8 59PLYMOUTH EAST WAREHAM 13.5 18.5 20.0 74PLYMOUTH HINGHAM 18.0 20.0 21.7 46PLYMOUTH MIDDLEBORO 19.0 30.0 30.0 81PLYMOUTH PEMBROKE 12.0 12.0 12.5 32

PLYMOUTH PLYMOUTH-KINGSTON 17.0 24.3 24.3 96

PLYMOUTH ROCHESTER 24.0 25.0 25.0 41

MASSACHUSETTSRecord 1-Day, 2-Day, and 3-Day Snowfall for January for stations sorted by county.

Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

County name Station name 1-Day Snowfall 2-Day Snowfall 3-Day Snowfall NYRS

SUFFOLK BOSTON WSFO AP 20.0 22.5 22.8 77

SUFFOLK CHESTNUT HILL 15.0 18.5 19.0 68

WORCESTER ASHBURNHAM 22.0 24.0 24.0 65

WORCESTER BARRE FALLS DAM 14.0 16.0 16.0 45

WORCESTER BIRCH HILL DAM 20.0 20.0 20.0 54

WORCESTER BOYLSTON 19.0 19.0 19.0 68

WORCESTER BUFFUMVILLE LAKE 15.0 28.5 28.5 38

WORCESTER CLINTON 18.0 18.0 18.0 55

WORCESTER EAST BRIMFIELD LAKE 14.0 15.0 16.5 43

WORCESTER FITCHBURG 4 SE 19.5 26.0 26.0 64

WORCESTER GARDNER 17.0 21.5 21.5 66

WORCESTER HARDWICK 16.0 16.0 16.0 46

WORCESTER HUBBARDSTON 14.0 14.0 17.0 42

WORCESTER MILFORD 17.0 20.5 23.5 71

WORCESTER NORTHBRIDGE 2 21.2 33.2 33.8 40

WORCESTER PETERSHAM 3 N 16.0 19.0 19.0 58

WORCESTER QUABBIN INTAKE 12.0 15.0 15.0 39

WORCESTER SOUTHBRIDGE 3 SW 18.0 18.0 18.0 64

WORCESTER STERLING 20.0 20.0 20.0 56

WORCESTER TULLY LAKE 13.0 18.0 18.0 55

WORCESTER WINCHENDON 2 14.0 15.0 15.4 21

WORCESTER WORCESTER WSO AP 18.1 24.1 24.1 38

MASSACHUSETTSRecord 1-Day, 2-Day, and 3-Day Snowfall for January for stations sorted by county.

Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

PDADisaster

EventGovernor’sRequest Declaration

Submissionof Request

Kick-offMeeting

Formulationof Projects

ProjectReview

Grantee

Approval

Funding Subgrantee

ApplicantBriefings

THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROCESS

Tim Barnett May 25, 2011

Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

DECLARATION NUMBER: FEMA-1959-DR-MA

DECLARATION DATE: March 7, 2011

STORM INCIDENT PERIOD: January 11-12, 2011

DISASTER ASSISTANCE: (Category A-Debris Removal) and (Category B-Emergency Protective Measures, including Snow Removal Assistance) under the FEMA Public Assistance Program.

DECLARED COUNTIES: Berkshire, Essex, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, and Suffolk

Disaster assistance will be provided for a 48-hour period for the counties of Essex, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, and Suffolk. The assistance for Berkshire County will be provided for a period of 72-hours.

FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARATION

Tim Barnett May 25, 2011

Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

State And Local Government Municipalities, Regional School Districts, Special Districts, Public Authorities

Indian Tribal Government

Certain Private Non-Profits (PNP)

Refer to FEMA Policy 9521.3 for definition of critical/non-critical PNP facilities.

============================================================================================================

A “Grantee” is a State or Tribal Government that is responsible for

administering Public Assistance Grants.

A “Sub-grantee” is an eligible applicant that receives a Public

Assistance Grant as reimbursement for performing eligible

disaster work.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Tim Barnett May 25, 2011

Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

Must be required as a direct result of the declared major disaster

Be located in the designated disaster area

Be the applicant’s legal responsibility for performance of eligible emergency work at the time of the disaster

WORK ELIGIBILITY

Tim Barnett May 25, 2011

Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

Category A – Debris RemovalCategory B – Emergency Protective MeasuresCategory B - Snow Removal AssistanceEssex, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk Suffolk Counties (48-Hour Period)Establish start time between 12:01 a.m. January 11, through 11:59 p.m. January 13

Berkshire County (72-Hour Period)Establish start time between 12:01 a.m. January 11, through 11:59 p.m. January 14

All departments within a city/town/organization establishes same start and end time when submitting actual costs.

TYPES OF ELIGIBLE WORK

Tim Barnett May 25, 2011

Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

TYPES OF ELIGIBLE WORK

• Overtime (but not the straight time cost of the applicant’s regularly-employed personnel)

• Cost of Contract Labor (including temporary hires who perform eligible emergency work)

• Costs for equipment and materials used in the performance of eligible work

Tim Barnett May 25, 2011

Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

TYPES OF ELIGIBLE WORK• Snow Removal

• Snow Dumps

• De-Icing

• Salting

• Sanding of roads and other Facilities essential to eliminate or lessen immediate threats to life, public health, and safety

• Activities related to the snowstorm such as:o Search and Rescueo Shelteringo Other Emergency Protective Measures

• Other categories of work where appropriate

Tim Barnett May 25, 2011

Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

Project formulation is the process of identifying the scope of work and estimating project costs.

A Project Worksheet (PW) is the primary Form used to document the location, damage description and dimensions, scope of work, and cost estimate for each project. $1,000 minimum per project Loss of revenue or increased operating

expenses are not eligible under the FEMA PA

Program.

FORMULATION OF THE PROJECT WORKSHEET

Tim Barnett May 25, 2011

Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

The Commonwealth’s four major highway systems were impassible for 24 hours

Over 600 schools were closed

Downed power lines left 227,087 people without power for over 24 hours

Boston

Photo by essygie on flickr.com

FEMA 1595-DR-MA

Tim Barnett May 25, 2011

Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

Designated Counties

Tim Barnett May 25, 2011