Del of Auth

December 04, 2020
SENT VIA E-MAIL TO: requests@muckrock.com
Re: FOIARequest Number 2021-FEFO-00128 Acknowledgment Dear Winter Calvert: This correspondence acknowledges receipt of your Freedom ofInformation Act (FOIA) request to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS),Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), dated December 02, 2020 and receivedin this office on December 02, 2020. Youare seeking copy of all agreements between FEMA and the City of Houston, regarding Delegation of Authority, whereby FEMA takes control of all City of Houston government functions, and the Mayor's Office. This event might be triggered by the President's declaration of a National Emergency, under Executive Order 13603, "National Defense Resources Preparedness," Mar. 16, 2012, or similar. Yourrequest has been assigned the following tracking number 2021-FEFO-00128. Due to current working conditions in response to theCOVID-19 outbreak, please expect a delay in our response. Please be assured that we continue ourcommitment to provide timely FOIA responses and are processing your FOIArequest as soon as possible. Due to the increasing number ofFOIA requests received by this office, we may encounter some delay inprocessing your request. Consistent withthe DHS FOIA Regulations 6 C.F.R. § 5.5(a), FEMA processes FOIA requestsaccording to their order of receipt. Although FEMA’s goal is to respond within 20 business days of receipt ofyour request, FOIA does permit a 10-day extension of this time period incertain circumstances. As your requestseeks documents that will require a thorough and wide-ranging search, FEMA willinvoke a 10-day extension for your request pursuant to 5 U.S.C. §552(a)(6)(B). If you would like tonarrow the scope of your request, please contact our office. We will make every effort to comply with yourrequest in a timely manner. Please be advised that we havequeried the FEMA organizations which may have responsive records. However, we will be in touch with you soonfor more details about the types of documents you are seeking. If you have any questions or would like to discuss this matter, p lease contact the assigned FOIA specialist directly at, may also contact FEMA at juan.vegasandoval@fema.dhs.gov. (mailto:juan.vegasandoval@fema.dhs.gov) For a faster response please contact the FOIA specialist by email. You , (202) 646-3323, or you may contact FEMA’s Public Liaison in the same manner.  Please (mailto:FEMA-FOIA@fema.dhs.gov) FEMA-FOIA@fema.dhs.gov reference FOIA request number 2021-FEFO-00128. Thank you for your interest in FEMA. Sincerely, Disclosure Branch Information Management Division Office of the Chief Administrative Officer Federal Emergency Management Agency U.S. Department of HomelandSecurity

December4, 2020 SENT VIA E-MAIL TO:requests@muckrock.com Re: FOIARequest Number 2021-FEFO-00129 Acknowledgment DearMr. Winter Calvert: This correspondenceacknowledges receipt of your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to theDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA), dated and received in this office on December 4, 2020.  You areseeking a copy of records that specify the land areas and location, in theState of Texas, that are currently under the control, ownership, or tenancy ofFEMA. Please only include land areas larger than 1 acre. The land area may ormay not have any structures erected on the property. Your request has beenassigned the following tracking number 2021-FEFO-00129. Due to current working conditions in response to theCOVID-19 outbreak, please expect a delay in our response.  Please beassured that we continue our commitment to provide timely FOIA responses andare processing your FOIA request as soon as possible. Inregards to your request for a fee waiver, the DHS FOIA Regulations at 6 CFR §5.11(k)(2) set forth six factors DHS is required to evaluate in determiningwhether the applicable legal standard for a fee waiver has been met:  (1)Whether the subject of the requested records concerns “the operations oractivities of the government;” (2) Whether the disclosure is “likely tocontribute” to an understanding of government operations or activities; (3) Whetherdisclosure of the requested information will contribute to the understanding ofthe public at large, as opposed to the individual understanding  of therequestor or a narrow segment of interested persons; (4) Whether thecontribution to public understanding of government operations or activitieswill be “significant;” (5) Whether the requester has a commercial interest thatwould be furthered by the requested disclosure; and (6) Whether the magnitudeof any identified commercial interest to the requestor is sufficiently large incomparison with the public interest in disclosure, that disclosure is primarilyin the commercial interest of the requestor. Uponreview of your request and an evaluation of the six factors identified above,DHS has determined that it will conditionally grant your request for a feewaiver.  The fee waiver determination will be based upon a sampling of theresponsive documents received from the various DHS program offices as a resultof the searches conducted in response to your FOIA request.  DHS will,pursuant to DHS regulations applicable to non-commercial requestors, providetwo hours of search time and process the first 100 pages at no charge toyou.  If upon further determination that, DHS determines that thedisclosure of the information contained in those documents does not meet thefactors permitting DHS to waive the fees then DHS will at that time either denyyour request for a fee waiver entirely or allow for a percentage reduction inthe amount of the fees corresponding to the amount of relevant material foundthat meets the factors allowing for a fee waiver.  In either case, DHSwill promptly notify you of its final decision regarding your request for a feewaiver. Due to the increasing number ofFOIA requests received by this office, we may encounter some delay inprocessing your request.  Consistent with the DHS FOIA Regulations 6C.F.R. § 5.5(a), FEMA processes FOIA requests according to their order of receipt. Although FEMA’s goal is to respond within 20 business days of receipt of yourrequest, FOIA does permit a 10-day extension of this time period in certaincircumstances.  As your request seeks documents that will require athorough and wide-ranging search, FEMA will invoke a 10-day extension for yourrequest pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(B).  If you would like to narrowthe scope of your request, please contact our office.  We will make everyeffort to comply with your request in a timely manner. Wehave queried the appropriate offices within FEMA for responsive records. If any responsive records are located, they will be reviewed for determinationof releasability.  We will contact you again once our review is completedand/or the search is completed.  Interim responses will be provided asappropriate.  We appreciate your patience as we proceed with your request . Ifyou have any questions or would like to discuss this matter, please contact theassigned FOIA specialist directly at . alexander.yacoubian@associates.fema.dhs.gov For a fasterresponse please contact the FOIA specialist by email. You may alsocontact FEMA at , (202) 646-3323, or youmay contact FEMA’s Public Liaison in the same manner.  Please FEMA-FOIA@fema.dhs.gov reference FOIA request number 2021-FEFO-00129. Thank you for yourinterest in FEMA. Sincerely, DisclosureBranch Information Management Division Office of the Chief Administrative Officer Federal Emergency Management Agency U.S.Department of Homeland Security

December4, 2020 SENT VIA E-MAIL TO:requests@muckrock.com Re: FOIARequest Number 2021-FEFO-00129 Acknowledgment DearMr. Winter Calvert: This correspondenceacknowledges receipt of your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to theDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA), dated and received in this office on December 4, 2020.  You areseeking a copy of records that specify the land areas and location, in theState of Texas, that are currently under the control, ownership, or tenancy ofFEMA. Please only include land areas larger than 1 acre. The land area may ormay not have any structures erected on the property. Your request has beenassigned the following tracking number 2021-FEFO-00129. Due to current working conditions in response to theCOVID-19 outbreak, please expect a delay in our response.  Please beassured that we continue our commitment to provide timely FOIA responses andare processing your FOIA request as soon as possible. Inregards to your request for a fee waiver, the DHS FOIA Regulations at 6 CFR §5.11(k)(2) set forth six factors DHS is required to evaluate in determiningwhether the applicable legal standard for a fee waiver has been met:  (1)Whether the subject of the requested records concerns “the operations oractivities of the government;” (2) Whether the disclosure is “likely tocontribute” to an understanding of government operations or activities; (3) Whetherdisclosure of the requested information will contribute to the understanding ofthe public at large, as opposed to the individual understanding  of therequestor or a narrow segment of interested persons; (4) Whether thecontribution to public understanding of government operations or activitieswill be “significant;” (5) Whether the requester has a commercial interest thatwould be furthered by the requested disclosure; and (6) Whether the magnitudeof any identified commercial interest to the requestor is sufficiently large incomparison with the public interest in disclosure, that disclosure is primarilyin the commercial interest of the requestor. Uponreview of your request and an evaluation of the six factors identified above,DHS has determined that it will conditionally grant your request for a feewaiver.  The fee waiver determination will be based upon a sampling of theresponsive documents received from the various DHS program offices as a resultof the searches conducted in response to your FOIA request.  DHS will,pursuant to DHS regulations applicable to non-commercial requestors, providetwo hours of search time and process the first 100 pages at no charge toyou.  If upon further determination that, DHS determines that thedisclosure of the information contained in those documents does not meet thefactors permitting DHS to waive the fees then DHS will at that time either denyyour request for a fee waiver entirely or allow for a percentage reduction inthe amount of the fees corresponding to the amount of relevant material foundthat meets the factors allowing for a fee waiver.  In either case, DHSwill promptly notify you of its final decision regarding your request for a feewaiver. Due to the increasing number ofFOIA requests received by this office, we may encounter some delay inprocessing your request.  Consistent with the DHS FOIA Regulations 6C.F.R. § 5.5(a), FEMA processes FOIA requests according to their order of receipt. Although FEMA’s goal is to respond within 20 business days of receipt of yourrequest, FOIA does permit a 10-day extension of this time period in certaincircumstances.  As your request seeks documents that will require athorough and wide-ranging search, FEMA will invoke a 10-day extension for yourrequest pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(B).  If you would like to narrowthe scope of your request, please contact our office.  We will make everyeffort to comply with your request in a timely manner. Wehave queried the appropriate offices within FEMA for responsive records. If any responsive records are located, they will be reviewed for determinationof releasability.  We will contact you again once our review is completedand/or the search is completed.  Interim responses will be provided asappropriate.  We appreciate your patience as we proceed with your request . Ifyou have any questions or would like to discuss this matter, please contact theassigned FOIA specialist directly at . alexander.yacoubian@associates.fema.dhs.gov For a fasterresponse please contact the FOIA specialist by email. You may alsocontact FEMA at , (202) 646-3323, or youmay contact FEMA’s Public Liaison in the same manner.  Please FEMA-FOIA@fema.dhs.gov reference FOIA request number 2021-FEFO-00129. Thank you for yourinterest in FEMA. Sincerely, DisclosureBranch Information Management Division Office of the Chief Administrative Officer Federal Emergency Management Agency U.S.Department of Homeland Security

December4, 2020 SENT VIA E-MAIL TO:requests@muckrock.com Re: FOIARequest Number 2021-FEFO-00129 Acknowledgment DearMr. Winter Calvert: This correspondenceacknowledges receipt of your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to theDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA), dated and received in this office on December 4, 2020.  You areseeking a copy of records that specify the land areas and location, in theState of Texas, that are currently under the control, ownership, or tenancy ofFEMA. Please only include land areas larger than 1 acre. The land area may ormay not have any structures erected on the property. Your request has beenassigned the following tracking number 2021-FEFO-00129. Due to current working conditions in response to theCOVID-19 outbreak, please expect a delay in our response.  Please beassured that we continue our commitment to provide timely FOIA responses andare processing your FOIA request as soon as possible. Inregards to your request for a fee waiver, the DHS FOIA Regulations at 6 CFR §5.11(k)(2) set forth six factors DHS is required to evaluate in determiningwhether the applicable legal standard for a fee waiver has been met:  (1)Whether the subject of the requested records concerns “the operations oractivities of the government;” (2) Whether the disclosure is “likely tocontribute” to an understanding of government operations or activities; (3) Whetherdisclosure of the requested information will contribute to the understanding ofthe public at large, as opposed to the individual understanding  of therequestor or a narrow segment of interested persons; (4) Whether thecontribution to public understanding of government operations or activitieswill be “significant;” (5) Whether the requester has a commercial interest thatwould be furthered by the requested disclosure; and (6) Whether the magnitudeof any identified commercial interest to the requestor is sufficiently large incomparison with the public interest in disclosure, that disclosure is primarilyin the commercial interest of the requestor. Uponreview of your request and an evaluation of the six factors identified above,DHS has determined that it will conditionally grant your request for a feewaiver.  The fee waiver determination will be based upon a sampling of theresponsive documents received from the various DHS program offices as a resultof the searches conducted in response to your FOIA request.  DHS will,pursuant to DHS regulations applicable to non-commercial requestors, providetwo hours of search time and process the first 100 pages at no charge toyou.  If upon further determination that, DHS determines that thedisclosure of the information contained in those documents does not meet thefactors permitting DHS to waive the fees then DHS will at that time either denyyour request for a fee waiver entirely or allow for a percentage reduction inthe amount of the fees corresponding to the amount of relevant material foundthat meets the factors allowing for a fee waiver.  In either case, DHSwill promptly notify you of its final decision regarding your request for a feewaiver. Due to the increasing number ofFOIA requests received by this office, we may encounter some delay inprocessing your request.  Consistent with the DHS FOIA Regulations 6C.F.R. § 5.5(a), FEMA processes FOIA requests according to their order of receipt. Although FEMA’s goal is to respond within 20 business days of receipt of yourrequest, FOIA does permit a 10-day extension of this time period in certaincircumstances.  As your request seeks documents that will require athorough and wide-ranging search, FEMA will invoke a 10-day extension for yourrequest pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(B).  If you would like to narrowthe scope of your request, please contact our office.  We will make everyeffort to comply with your request in a timely manner. Wehave queried the appropriate offices within FEMA for responsive records. If any responsive records are located, they will be reviewed for determinationof releasability.  We will contact you again once our review is completedand/or the search is completed.  Interim responses will be provided asappropriate.  We appreciate your patience as we proceed with your request . Ifyou have any questions or would like to discuss this matter, please contact theassigned FOIA specialist directly at . alexander.yacoubian@associates.fema.dhs.gov For a fasterresponse please contact the FOIA specialist by email. You may alsocontact FEMA at , (202) 646-3323, or youmay contact FEMA’s Public Liaison in the same manner.  Please FEMA-FOIA@fema.dhs.gov reference FOIA request number 2021-FEFO-00129. Thank you for yourinterest in FEMA. Sincerely, DisclosureBranch Information Management Division Office of the Chief Administrative Officer Federal Emergency Management Agency U.S.Department of Homeland Security

December4, 2020 SENT VIA E-MAIL TO:requests@muckrock.com Re: FOIARequest Number 2021-FEFO-00129 Acknowledgment DearMr. Winter Calvert: This correspondenceacknowledges receipt of your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to theDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA), dated and received in this office on December 4, 2020.  You areseeking a copy of records that specify the land areas and location, in theState of Texas, that are currently under the control, ownership, or tenancy ofFEMA. Please only include land areas larger than 1 acre. The land area may ormay not have any structures erected on the property. Your request has beenassigned the following tracking number 2021-FEFO-00129. Due to current working conditions in response to theCOVID-19 outbreak, please expect a delay in our response.  Please beassured that we continue our commitment to provide timely FOIA responses andare processing your FOIA request as soon as possible. Inregards to your request for a fee waiver, the DHS FOIA Regulations at 6 CFR §5.11(k)(2) set forth six factors DHS is required to evaluate in determiningwhether the applicable legal standard for a fee waiver has been met:  (1)Whether the subject of the requested records concerns “the operations oractivities of the government;” (2) Whether the disclosure is “likely tocontribute” to an understanding of government operations or activities; (3) Whetherdisclosure of the requested information will contribute to the understanding ofthe public at large, as opposed to the individual understanding  of therequestor or a narrow segment of interested persons; (4) Whether thecontribution to public understanding of government operations or activitieswill be “significant;” (5) Whether the requester has a commercial interest thatwould be furthered by the requested disclosure; and (6) Whether the magnitudeof any identified commercial interest to the requestor is sufficiently large incomparison with the public interest in disclosure, that disclosure is primarilyin the commercial interest of the requestor. Uponreview of your request and an evaluation of the six factors identified above,DHS has determined that it will conditionally grant your request for a feewaiver.  The fee waiver determination will be based upon a sampling of theresponsive documents received from the various DHS program offices as a resultof the searches conducted in response to your FOIA request.  DHS will,pursuant to DHS regulations applicable to non-commercial requestors, providetwo hours of search time and process the first 100 pages at no charge toyou.  If upon further determination that, DHS determines that thedisclosure of the information contained in those documents does not meet thefactors permitting DHS to waive the fees then DHS will at that time either denyyour request for a fee waiver entirely or allow for a percentage reduction inthe amount of the fees corresponding to the amount of relevant material foundthat meets the factors allowing for a fee waiver.  In either case, DHSwill promptly notify you of its final decision regarding your request for a feewaiver. Due to the increasing number ofFOIA requests received by this office, we may encounter some delay inprocessing your request.  Consistent with the DHS FOIA Regulations 6C.F.R. § 5.5(a), FEMA processes FOIA requests according to their order of receipt. Although FEMA’s goal is to respond within 20 business days of receipt of yourrequest, FOIA does permit a 10-day extension of this time period in certaincircumstances.  As your request seeks documents that will require athorough and wide-ranging search, FEMA will invoke a 10-day extension for yourrequest pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(B).  If you would like to narrowthe scope of your request, please contact our office.  We will make everyeffort to comply with your request in a timely manner. Wehave queried the appropriate offices within FEMA for responsive records. If any responsive records are located, they will be reviewed for determinationof releasability.  We will contact you again once our review is completedand/or the search is completed.  Interim responses will be provided asappropriate.  We appreciate your patience as we proceed with your request . Ifyou have any questions or would like to discuss this matter, please contact theassigned FOIA specialist directly at . alexander.yacoubian@associates.fema.dhs.gov For a fasterresponse please contact the FOIA specialist by email. You may alsocontact FEMA at , (202) 646-3323, or youmay contact FEMA’s Public Liaison in the same manner.  Please FEMA-FOIA@fema.dhs.gov reference FOIA request number 2021-FEFO-00129. Thank you for yourinterest in FEMA. Sincerely, DisclosureBranch Information Management Division Office of the Chief Administrative Officer Federal Emergency Management Agency U.S.Department of Homeland Security

Good afternoon Mr. Calvert,

Due to the increasing number of FOIA requests received by this office, we may encounter some delay in processing your request. Consistent with the DHS FOIA Regulations 6 C.F.R. § 5.5(a), FEMA processes FOIA requests according to their order of receipt. Although FEMA’s goal is to respond within 20 business days of receipt of your request, FOIA does permit a 10-day extension of this time period in certain circumstances. As your request seeks documents that will require a thorough and wide-ranging search, FEMA will invoke a 10-day extension for your request pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(B). If you would like to narrow the scope of your request, please contact our office. We will make every effort to comply with your request in a timely manner.
Regards,
Alex

Dear Winter Calvert:
Attached is our final response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request.  If you need to contact our office concerning this request, please email me directly and reference your FOIA tracking number 2021-FEFO-00128. You may also send an e-mail to FEMA-FOIA@fema.dhs.gov, or call (202) 646-3323, and you maycontact our FOIA Public Liaison in the same manner. (mailto:FEMA-FOIA@fema.dhs.gov) For a faster response please contact me directly by email.
Regards,
Disclosure Branch
Information Management Division
Office of the Chief Administrative Officer
Federal Emergency Management Agency
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Telephone: (202) 646-3323
FEMA-FOIA@fema.dhs.gov

Dear Mr. Winter Calvert:
Attached is a response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request numbered 2021-FEFO-00129.  If you need to contact our office concerning this request, please email me directly and reference your FOIA tracking number 2021-FEFO-00129. You may also send an e-mail to FEMA-FOIA@fema.dhs.gov, or call (202) 646-3323, and you maycontact our FOIA Public Liaison in the same manner. (mailto:FEMA-FOIA@fema.dhs.gov) For a faster response please contact me directly by email.
Regards,
Disclosure Branch
Information Management Division
Office of the Chief Administrative Officer
Federal Emergency Management Agency
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Telephone: (202) 646-3323
FEMA-FOIA@fema.dhs.gov