Mississippi has made a huge step in the right direction. Gov. Phil Bryant has signed into law significant reform of our bidding and procurement laws.
http://northsidesun.com/opinion-columns/real-progress-fight-good-state-government Press releases
MEMA REQUESTS JOINT PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS FROM FEMA
PEARL – Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Executive Director Lee Smithson sent a formal request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for joint preliminary damage assessments following the severe storms and tornado outbreak on April 30th, 2017. The teams would conduct assessments for individual assistance in Holmes and Montgomery counties and public assistance for Calhoun, Holmes, Montgomery and Yazoo counties. The results of the assessments would determine if the areas may qualify for federal assistance.
Additional counties could be added as local damage assessments are completed. “Having FEMA representatives on the ground in the counties will not only help speed up the process of damage assessments, but it will allow us to gain more clarity on the amount of damage caused by the storms of April 30th,” said Director Smithson. “These assessments will ultimately be the deciding factor on whether we meet the threshold for a federal declaration from the President, which would allow federal assistance to deploy into the affected areas.”
28 counties have reported damage because of the April 30th severe weather event. Several state agencies, along with numerous nonprofit and faith-based organizations have been assisting with recovery since the storms began.
Gov. Phil Bryant signed a State of Emergency on Monday, May 1, which is an administrative tool that allows local governments to request state assistance for response and recovery associated with the storms.
Holmes County is now accepting monetary donations through its Long-Term Recovery Program. Those donations can be sent to the following address:
Holmes County Long Term Recovery
P.O. Box 29
Durant, MS 39063
As of Thursday morning, the National Weather Service in Jackson had confirmed 26 tornadoes from the April 30th severe weather outbreak. NWS surveys are ongoing.
MEMA is working with FEMA and will provide additional information as it becomes available. The best way to get up-to-date information during this event is to “Like” MEMA on Facebook and “Follow” us on Twitter @msema.
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Interior Announces Share the Experience 2016 Photo Contest Winners Citizen Photographers Compete for Photo Placement on National Public Lands and Waters Pass WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Interior today, along with the National Park Foundation and other participating federal recreation land agencies, announced the winners of the 2016 Share the Experience photography contest on the agency’s popular
Instagram account and launched the 2017 contest.
This annual contest invites amateur photographers to submit their favorite views, moments, and adventures from America’s national parks and public lands. The winning picture, captured by Craig McIntyre of Rockport, Texas, will be featured on the annual National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.
“These incredible photos represent some of America's best recreation, wilderness and wildlife, and I'm happy to have the opportunity to share them with the nation,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. “Expanding access for hunting, fishing, motorized recreation, hiking and more is a cornerstone of my agenda for America's public lands. From riders kicking-up dirt at the White Ridge Trail System in New Mexico to the amazing sunset behind Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam, the photos showcase that these places are truly for ‘the benefit and enjoyment of the people.' Hopefully they inspire some young people to get outside and enjoy it.”
More than 16,500 photos were submitted with more than 710,000 photo views over the course of the contest, which ran from April 28, 2016, through Dec. 31, 2016. The contest saw a 50 percent increase in new users and almost a 10 percent increase in overall photo submissions from the previous contest year.
“Photos have the power to inspire curiosity about our national parks and public lands,” said Will Shafroth, president of the National Park Foundation. “This contest motivates people to get out, find their park, and enjoy these treasured places.”
Dabbling in wildlife photography since the early 1970s, grand prize winner Craig McIntyre of Rockport, Texas and his wife make weekly visits to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge during the summer months.
“I like photographing the frogs because they’re artistic – little reptiles and amphibians are gorgeous to me. I’ve been studying them for 60 years now – patterns, designs, and their behavior all fascinate me,” said McIntyre. “Public lands are very important to me, especially places like Big Bend National Park, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, and South Padre Island National Seashore. These places and the habitat need to be protected.”
Second place went to Gary Hamer of Robins, Iowa, for the serene shot of his friends paddling off on a morning adventure surrounded by calm water and rising fog in Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, part of Superior National Forest, in northeastern Minnesota.
Third place went to Christopher Regala of Mililani, Hawaii, for the photo he snapped of his son experiencing The Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah.
The grand prize for the winning image is $10,000, followed by $5,000 and $3,000 for second and third place. Winners also receive outdoor gear provided by Celestron and Osprey Packs, hotel packages courtesy of Historic Hotels of America® and an annual National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. Prizes are awarded for fan favorites and the following six category winners:
- Adventure and Outdoor Recreation
- Historical and Cultural
- Scenic, Seasons, and Landscapes
- Family, Friends, and Fun
- Wildlife
- Night Skies
The 2017 Share the Experience photo contest, sponsored by the National Park Foundation in partnership with the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and Recreation.gov, is now accepting entries through December 31. All entries have the chance to be featured on the Interior Department’s popular
Twitter,
Instagram and
Facebook accounts.
Share the Experience is the official photo contest of America’s national parks and federal recreational lands, showcasing the more than 500 million acres of federal lands and drawing entries from all across the United States. For a full listing of prizing and rules, or to submit a photo, please visit
www.sharetheexperience.org.
Share the Experience is a great example of the countless ways there are to #FindYourPark/#EncuentraTuParque — a public awareness and education movement to inspire people from all backgrounds to connect with, celebrate, and support America’s national parks and community-based programs. #FindYourPark invites people to discover and share their own unique connections to our nation's natural landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history.
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