Free Legal Services Available to Eligible Georgia Survivors Affected by Matthew

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Free legal assistance is now available to low-income Georgia disaster survivors who need help with home repair contracts and contractors, counseling on landlord-tenant issues or assistance with life, medical and property insurance claims.

Disaster often brings chaos, which can result in disagreements. Legal help is available to survivors in Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh and Wayne who can’t afford to hire a lawyer to deal with disaster-related issues. Damage must have occurred from Oct. 4-15.

Legal assistance can include:

  • help securing FEMA and other government benefits available to disaster survivors

  • replacement of wills and other important legal documents lost or destroyed in the disaster

  • assistance with consumer protection issues such as price gouging and avoiding contractor scams in the rebuilding process

  • counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems

The toll-free legal hotline to connect disaster survivors affected by Hurricane Matthew with legal aid providers is 866-584-8027. Local residents may call 404-527-8793. The lines are open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Individuals who qualify for assistance will be matched with Georgia lawyers who have volunteered to provide free, limited legal help. Assistance is not available for cases that will produce a fee; for example, those cases in which attorneys are paid part of the settlement by a court. Such cases are referred to a local lawyer referral service.

Consultations with attorneys are confidential.

Legal services are provided by FEMA partners, including the State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, Georgia Legal Services Program and Atlanta Legal Aid Society.

For updates on Georgia’s Hurricane Matthew response and recovery, follow @GeorgiaEMA and @FEMARegion4 on Twitter and visit gemhsa.ga.gov and fema.gov/disaster/4284. 

# # #

 

 

Read the article – 

Free Legal Services Available to Eligible Georgia Survivors Affected by Matthew

Advice for Survivors on Lessening Storm Damage in Pasco County

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Survivors of Hurricane Hermine can visit the Lowe’s store in Pasco County for free advice on reducing property damage from future natural hazards.

Specialists with FEMA will be available from October 27 to November 1:

WHERE:       Lowe’s

8312 Little Rd.

New Port Richey, FL 34654

 

WHEN:        Thursday and Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

                     Monday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

                     Tuesday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FEMA Mitigation specialists will be on hand to answer questions and offer home-improvement tips to reduce damage in future disasters. Information is geared to both homeowners and general contractors on topics such as flood proofing a home, how to elevate utilities and removing and replacing wet drywall.

FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has a call center to answer policyholder questions, service claims, provide general information and offer technical assistance. To speak with a flood insurance specialist, call 800-621-3362 (voice, 711 or video relay service/VRS).  Hours are between 9 a.m. and

7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Multilingual operators are available (Press 2 for Spanish). TTY users please call 800-462-7585.
For more information on the Florida recovery, visit the disaster webpage for Hurricane Hermine at fema.gov/disaster/4280 or visit the Florida Division of Emergency Management website at floridadisaster.org Follow us on Twitter @femaregion4.

From:  

Advice for Survivors on Lessening Storm Damage in Pasco County

Help Remains for Hermine Disaster Survivors after Disaster Recovery Centers Close in Citrus, Dixie, Hernando and Leon Counties

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The disaster recovery centers operated by the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Citrus, Dixie, Hernando and Leon counties will close on Thursday, October 27, at 6 p.m.

The centers are located at:

Citrus County

West Citrus Center

1540 N. Meadowcrest Blvd.

Crystal River, FL 34429

Dixie County

Lumber Yard Parking Lot

63 NE 132nd Ave.

Cross City, FL 32628

Hernando County

Westside Government Center

7405 Forest Oaks Blvd.

Spring Hill, FL 34607

Leon County

Leroy Collins Library

200 W. Park Ave,

Tallahassee, FL 32301

Disaster Survivor Assistance teams will continue to canvass Hurricane Hermine affected counties until Saturday, October 29, with information on available assistance. They can answer questions and support you in on-the-spot registration.

Those who have not yet registered can do so by visiting www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

They may also access many of the services available at centers by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. Those who use 711/Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Survivors may use the helpline to stay informed. They can:

  •  Ask questions about FEMA determination letters.
  •  Learn how to appeal FEMA determination letters. All applicants may appeal.
  •  Inquire about the status of a registration.
  •  Provide change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information to avoid disaster assistance processing delays.
  •  Receive information about FEMA home inspections.
  •  Get other questions answered about federal disaster assistance.

Applicants should have their nine-digit FEMA registration number and zip code on hand and available if they want to discuss their application.

For information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4280, https://twitter.com/femaregion4, www.facebook.com/FEMA, and www.fema.gov/blog.

Credit – 

Help Remains for Hermine Disaster Survivors after Disaster Recovery Centers Close in Citrus, Dixie, Hernando and Leon Counties

FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Hoke and Tyrrell Counties

RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina residents who suffered losses and damage as a result of Hurricane Matthew can now get information about state and federal assistance at Disaster Recovery Centers in Hoke and Tyrrell counties opening October 27.

 

Location:                   Tyrrell County

                Tyrrell Hall

906 US Hwy 64 East 

Columbia, NC  27925

 

Hoke County

City of Raeford Civic Center
220 College Drive
Raeford, NC 28376

 

 Regular hours:         Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

Disaster recovery centers are staffed with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, North Carolina Emergency Management and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Survivors can receive help applying for federal assistance, learn about the types of assistance available, learn about the appeals process and get updates about applications. 

If you have phone and/or internet access, you may register in one of the following ways:

  • Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
  • Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. It is the same number if you use 711 or Video Relay Service
  • Call 800-462-7585 if you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY 

Survivors requiring a reasonable accommodation such as American Sign Language interpreting, Braille, large print, etc. while visiting a disaster recovery center may call the Helpline number for support. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Help is available in most languages, and information on the registration process is available in ASL at http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assests/veideos/111546

FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

Survivors should register even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims have been settled.

FEMA and the state also have DRCs open in additional counties. To locate a DRC near you, call

1-800-621-3362 or download the FEMA mobile app.  If you have access to a computer, you can go online to ncdps.gov.

For more information on the North Carolina recovery, visit the disaster webpage at fema.gov/disaster/4285; or visit the North Carolina Emergency Management website at ncdps.gov/.

###

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 or TTY at 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow FEMA on twitter at @femaregion4. Download the FEMA app with tools and tips to keep you safe before, during, and after disasters.

Dial 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162 to speak with a trained call specialist about questions you have regarding Hurricane Matthew; the service is free, confidential and available in any language. They can help direct you to resources. Call 5-1-1 or 877-511-4662 for the latest road conditions or check the ReadyNC mobile app, which also has real-time shelter and evacuation information. For updates on Hurricane Matthew impacts and relief efforts, go to ReadyNC.org or follow N.C. Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook. People or organizations that want to help ensure North Carolina recovers can visit NCdisasterrelief.org or text NCRecovers to 30306.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

Link to original:  

FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Hoke and Tyrrell Counties

Many Services Still Available for Survivors at Disaster Recovery Centers

BATON ROUGE, La. — Every Louisiana flood survivor has unique needs that arise along the road to recovery, so FEMA’s disaster recovery centers and their staffs are still available to meet as many of those needs as possible.
While each disaster recovery center provides services to fit the needs of its community, most disaster recovery centers are staffed by representatives who can help with:

  • Registering for FEMA disaster assistance
  • Applying for a loan with the U.S. Small Business Administration
  • Determining the current status of disaster assistance applications
  • Appealing a determination letter for FEMA or SBA assistance
  • Finding volunteer or charitable organizations that provide disaster assistance
  • Crisis counseling
  • Disaster-related legal advice

All services may not be available at every disaster recovery center. To find the services you need at a disaster recovery center near you, call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or text DRC and your zip code to 43362. You can also find a center near you by downloading the FEMA mobile app or going online to fema.gov/drc.

The SBA has also established business recovery centers and disaster loan outreach centers to assist Louisiana businesses and residents with their SBA-specific needs. To locate a center near you, contact the SBA at 800-659-2955 or online at www.sba.gov/disaster.

find a disaster recovery center. Visit FEMA.gov/DRC. Install the FEMA App. Meet one-on-one with FEMA staff at a recovery center or call us at 800-621-3362 (711 or Video Relay Service) and TTY 800-621-3362.

This graphic explains two ways survivors can look up disaster recovery center locations in their area online: visit FEMA.gov/DRC or use the FEMA app.

Download Original

See original article: 

Many Services Still Available for Survivors at Disaster Recovery Centers

Palm Beach County Designated for Emergency and Permanent Infrastructure Work, Four More Counties Now Eligible for Permanent Repairs

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – State, local and tribal government agencies and certain private nonprofits in Palm Beach County can now request funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance grant program to help pay for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair or rebuilding of roads, bridges, water-control facilities, buildings, equipment, utilities, parks and recreational facilities.

Brevard, Duval, Flagler and St. Lucie counties, which had been previously designated for reimbursement of costs of debris removal and emergency protective measures, can now also request assistance to cover eligible repair or rebuilding of critical infrastructure. These additional designations will help pay for Florida’s recovery from Hurricane Matthew.

For more information on the Florida recovery, visit the disaster webpage for Hurricane Matthew at fema.gov/disaster/4283 or visit the Florida Division of Emergency Management website at floridadisaster.org. Follow us on Twitter @femaregion4.

Link:

Palm Beach County Designated for Emergency and Permanent Infrastructure Work, Four More Counties Now Eligible for Permanent Repairs

FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams Continue to Support Hurricane Hermine Survivors in Eight Counties

TALLAHASSEE, Fla – Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams (DSATs) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continue to support survivors in eight counties affected by Hurricane Hermine, even after Disaster Recovery Centers begin to close.

As the centers close this week, state and federal officials have made it a priority to reach all survivors who need help, including people with disabilities and/or access and functional needs, senior citizens and people with limited English proficiency.

The teams are continuing outreach to communities in Citrus, Dixie, Leon, Levy, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties with information on available assistance. They are there to answer questions and support survivors for on-the-spot registration.

The teams are expected to remain at or near the closing centers through close of business Saturday,   Oct. 29, but will have a presence in all of the eight counties until the registration deadline in late November.

Help is still available to survivors who may need to register or follow up on their applications in the following ways:

  • Online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

  • Call the FEMA helpline at 800- 621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. If you use 711/Video Relay Services (VRS) call 800-621-3362. are 7 to 10 p.m. a until notice. If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY call 800-462-7585.

  • Download the FEMA Mobile App ( https://www.fema.gov/mobile-app) and apply.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4280, twitter.com/FEMAregionIV, facebook.com/FEMA, and fema.gov/blog.

Original link:

FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams Continue to Support Hurricane Hermine Survivors in Eight Counties

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Flagler County for Hurricane Matthew Survivors

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —A Disaster Recovery Center is open in Flagler County to help survivors affected by Hurricane Matthew’s storms and flooding that affected the state beginning October 3.

The location of the center is:

                    Palm Coast Library

2500 Palm Coast Parkway NW

Palm Coast, FL 32177

Open Monday – Saturday

9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Closed Sundays

Disaster Recovery Centers serve as one-stop shops for eligible storm survivors seeking one-on-one help. Representatives from the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and various state agencies will be at the center to answer questions Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The center is closed on Sundays.

FDEM and FEMA officials continue to work closely with local officials in hard-hit areas to identify possible sites for additional centers. Survivors can also locate the center by visiting the  DRC locator on fema.gov. 

Downloading the FEMA App (available in English and Spanish) to their mobile device will allow survivors to:

  • Apply for disaster assistance
  • Get directions to the nearest Disaster Recovery Center
  • Get weather alerts
  • Subscribe to disaster safety tips

Many services available at disaster recovery centers are also available by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Survivors with questions regarding the application or the appeals process, or who need to register for assistance, may visit online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone (voice, 711 or video relay service/VRS) at 800-621-3362. (TTY users should call 800-462-7585.) The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available, (for Spanish press 2).

Survivors requiring a reasonable accommodation (ASL interpreting, Braille Large Print, etc.) while visiting a disaster recovery center may call the appropriate Helpline number above to receive support.

FEMA encourages survivors to register as soon as possible. Those who may have registered with their county emergency management office, the American Red Cross or other community organizations are reminded to also register with FEMA. If you pre-registered with FEMA before the presidential disaster declaration for Hurricane Matthew, there is no need to register again. However, you should call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 (voice, 711 or video relay service/VRS) TTY users can call 800-462-7585 to update your information. 

Disaster assistance may include grants to help homeowners and renters pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs, personal property replacement, and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

SBA offers low-interest disaster loans for businesses of all sizes, homeowners, renters, and certain private non-profit organizations. SBA disaster loans may cover repairs, rebuilding, as well as the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged real estate and personal property.

For more information about SBA loans, call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster.  TTY users may call 800-877-8339. Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4283, https://twitter.com/femaregion4, facebook.com/FEMA, and fema.gov/blog.

See the article here: 

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Flagler County for Hurricane Matthew Survivors

Advice for Survivors on Lessening Storm Damage in Marion County

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Specialists from FEMA will be available at The Home Depot in Ocala from October 27 through November 1, offering tips and techniques for lessening the impact of disaster-related property damage.

WHERE:     The Home Depot

3300 SW 35 Terrace.
Ocala, FL 34474

WHEN:        Thursday and Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

                    Monday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

                    Tuesday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FEMA Mitigation specialists will be on hand to answer questions and offer home-improvement tips to reduce damage in future disasters. Information is geared to both homeowners and general contractors on topics such as flood proofing a home, how to elevate utilities and removing and replacing wet drywall.

FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has a call center to answer policyholder questions, service claims, provide general information and offer technical assistance. To speak with a flood insurance specialist, call 800-621-3362 (FEMA) and select option 2. Hours are between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability using 711 or Video Relay Service, please call 866-377-4262. Affected residents using a TTY, please call 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available.
For more information on the Florida recovery, visit the disaster webpage for Hurricane Hermine at fema.gov/disaster/4280 or visit the Florida Division of Emergency Management website at floridadisaster.org Follow us on Twitter @femaregion4.

Excerpt from:

Advice for Survivors on Lessening Storm Damage in Marion County

Four More North Carolina Counties Designated for Disaster Assistance

RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina homeowners, renters and business owners in Camden, Chowan, Currituck and Pasquotank counties, adversely affected by Hurricane Matthew and its impact, may apply for federal disaster assistance.

Thirty-one counties already eligible to apply for assistance, under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individual and Households Program, are: Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Harnett, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Martin, Moore, Nash, Onslow, Pender, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson, Tyrrell, Washington, Wake, Wayne and Wilson.

Storm damage and losses from the hurricane and flooding must have occurred, as a result of Hurricane Matthew, beginning on October 4.

If you are a survivor, you are encouraged to register with FEMA as soon as possible even if you have insurance. FEMA is unable to duplicate insurance payments. However, you may find you are underinsured.  If so, you may still receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

 If you have phone and/or internet access, you may register in one of the following ways:

  • Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
  • Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. It is the same number if you use 711 or Video Relay Service
  • Call 800-462-7585 if you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and you use a TTY
  • Download the FEMA Mobile App and apply.

If you do not have access to telephone or internet service, don’t be discouraged.  North Carolina Emergency Management and FEMA are coming to you.  Teams of state and FEMA disaster survivor assistance specialists will soon be moving into affected communities to help you register for assistance.  Additionally, you can visit a Disaster Recovery Center near you.  DRCs are open in Bertie, Craven, Cumberland, Edgecombe, Greene, Harnett, Johnston, Lenoir, Pitt, Wayne and Wilson counties with more planned to open in the near future.

You may be eligible for grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs.

Long-term, low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also may be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

# # #

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 or TTY at 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow FEMA on twitter at @femaregion4. Download the FEMA app with tools and tips to keep you safe before, during, and after disasters.

Dial 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162 to speak with a trained call specialist about questions you have regarding Hurricane Matthew; the service is free, confidential and available in any language. They can help direct you to resources. Call 5-1-1 or 877-511-4662 for the latest road conditions or check the ReadyNC mobile app, which also has real-time shelter and evacuation information. For updates on Hurricane Matthew impacts and relief efforts, go to ReadyNC.org or follow N.C. Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook. People or organizations that want to help ensure North Carolina recovers can visit NCdisasterrelief.org or text NCRecovers to 30306.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

Original link: 

Four More North Carolina Counties Designated for Disaster Assistance

 Page 14 of 386  « First  ... « 12  13  14  15  16 » ...  Last »