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Faith-Based Organizations Host Disaster Recovery Volunteers

ANCHORAGE, AK – Faith-based organizations in Anchorage and Fairbanks are welcoming hundreds of volunteers with open arms, providing them food, transportation and shelter as they prepare for the final leg of a journey to help rebuild communities hit by last year’s flooding and ice jams along the Yukon River. Armed with a wide range of construction skills, men and women from across the country began arriving in Fairbanks on the first of June and more arrived in Anchorage starting the first of July.

The host groups are partnering with the State of Alaska and Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure the volunteers have a local base where they receive training and orientation before heading out to the affected communities. Many are returning to continue the repair efforts they supported last summer.

“I feel really good about the volunteers coming in,” said FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaison Susie Calvert. “The churches are prepared to host them in ways that will be a pleasant transition. I feel we have the staff to support them and spent the whole winter preparing for their arrival.”

Where volunteers stay prior to their departure depends on which community they will assist. About 55 volunteers from Disciples of Christ and Mennonite Disaster Service stationed in Emmonak or Alakanuk are scheduled to connect in Anchorage throughout the summer.

The majority of volunteers, around 210 from the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission, Samaritan’s Purse and Mennonite Disaster Service aiding Galena or Circle will arrive in Alaska via Fairbanks.

“This year, eight different churches in Fairbanks have stepped up to the plate to share the hosting responsibility,” said Disaster Response Coordinator Debbie Ervin for the Alaska Methodist Conference. “We’re all taking turns and helping one another to make sure that this goes as smoothly as possible to help Galena and the other communities return to where they were before the flood happened.”

Churches and other faith-based organizations hosting volunteers in Fairbanks include the Fairbanks Native Chapel, Fairhill Community Church of God, Friends Community Church, First United Methodist Church, University Community Presbyterian Church, Monroe Catholic School, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Bible Baptist Church, True Victory Baptist Church and the Salvation Army.

Participating organizations in Anchorage include the First Presbyterian Church, Prince of Peace Mennonite Church, Trinity Christian Reform Church, Anchorage Lutheran Church, the Presbytery of Yukon, St. Patrick Catholic Church Parish and First Christian Church Disciples of Christ.

“I think there’s been a good collaboration between state and federal government and the voluntary agencies,” said Anchorage pastor John David Thacker with the Mennonite Disaster Service and chairperson of the Alaska Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster. “We all have a common goal in mission: serving Alaskans who have been affected by the disaster, and if we all work together, great things can happen.”

Follow the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management on Twitter @AlaskaDHSEM and on Facebook. You can also follow the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Twitter @femaregion10.

FEMA recovery photos and videos can be found online by visiting www.fema.gov/disaster/4122, selecting “Blog, Newsroom, Videos and Photos,” and clicking on either “Photos” or “Videos” under the Multimedia Library section.

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Faith-Based Organizations Host Disaster Recovery Volunteers

Stay in Touch with FEMA

JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency remind survivors who registered for disaster assistance to stay in touch with FEMA.

Especially important is updating contact information. Registrants may contact the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 to check the status of the application, find out about the appeal process, or provide insurance information after a settlement. Disaster survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability can call TTY 800-462-7585. Helpline hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Applicants who registered but who discover that their insurance has not covered all losses have up to a year to submit their insurance settlement to FEMA. FEMA help may be available for some items that insurance policies don’t cover.

Applicants receiving rental assistance or occupying a temporary housing unit are periodically required to recertify their need for continuing assistance. The registrant’s permanent housing plan should be kept current and any recertification forms received should be returned promptly.

Survivors should not hesitate to contact the FEMA helpline with questions or concerns about disaster assistance. Questions about the U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loan application should be directed to SBA at 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339), or email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

For more information on Mississippi disaster recovery, go to fema.gov/disaster/4175. Visit the MEMA site at msema.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/msemaorg.

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.

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-FEMA (3362). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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Stay in Touch with FEMA

Whole Community Disaster Recovery Takes Many Hands

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – While the public may know the Federal Emergency Management Agency as the government entity that offers financial resources following disasters, FEMA is but one member of a team that brings much more.

Supporting the recovery is the coordinated effort of many federal, state and local partners, who together provide a wealth of programs and services to impacted communities and their residents.

Volunteers

Many volunteer agencies provide for the basic needs of survivors immediately following a disaster – a hot meal, a place to sleep and a change of clothes. Established organizations like the Salvation Army, United Way, Samaritan’s Purse, the American Red Cross and others provide these vital services until they are no longer needed.

Individuals, churches and neighbors also step in. As local governments begin to clean up and address damages, so do homeowners and others begin the task of recovering.

These volunteers assist in clearing debris, a task that can seem insurmountable for survivors. Crews from such organizations such as Mennonite Disaster Service, the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, Samaritan’s Purse and Team Rubicon have all responded to Alabama with experience, the tools and the equipment to begin repairing and rebuilding.

In Alabama, other groups of concerned residents have banded together with the state Emergency Management Agency, federal agencies including FEMA, local governments and volunteer groups to comprise the state’s Volunteer Agencies Active in Disasters (VOAD) to help disaster survivors recover.

VOADs, usually organized on a county-by-county basis, establish and operate what are known as Long Term Recovery Committees. The committees address a wide range of unmet needs that survivors can either not afford or are unable to provide for themselves.

FEMA Corps

FEMA Corps members are volunteers aged 18-to-24 who provides direct aid to survivors in their homes and elsewhere. They volunteer for 10 months and gain on-the-job training in the emergency management field.

Corps members are supplemented with other specialists to make up Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams, all of whom go door-to-door to provide information on registering for federal aid, guide people in the registration process and follow-up on pre- or post-disaster needs. They also coordinate with local, tribal and state governments and other partners. More than 8,000 Alabama homes were visited.

Among those 8,000 homes, the teams aided seniors, shut-ins, and people with disabilities as well as those who do not speak English to obtain federal disaster aid.

Opportunities for Employment

One of FEMA’s top priorities is to provide temporary full-time jobs to the community. In Alabama, these jobs range from human resource specialists, information technology, couriers, engineers, communications, finance and administration.

FEMA has employed 18 local individuals to fill a variety of positions.

Not only do these jobs bring work opportunities for the community, these employees bring local experience and a feeling for the community to the federal government.

Help with Child Care Costs

Childcare costs following a presidential disaster declaration have been added in 2014 as a reimbursable expense in some cases.

To be eligible, survivors must live in a declared county and use a licensed childcare service (center-based, group home, in-home or other provider). The children can be up to age 13, disabled children, as defined by federal law and who need assistance in caring for themselves, may be up to age 18.

They also must be occupants of the household, are listed on the Application for Disaster Assistance and are dependents of the applicant.

Costs per child may be awarded for a total of eight weeks, which may or may not be consecutive.

Helping to Rebuild Stronger and Safer

Lowe’s and Home Depot home improvement stores around the state teamed up with FEMA mitigation specialists to provide advice on how to rebuild homes and other structures in a way that will be less susceptible to flooding, wind damage and other hazards.

The outreach program took place throughout June. In the first five days of operation, more than 300 shoppers stopped to ask questions, with the most frequently asked question — how to build to withstand tornadoes and high winds.

Overall, FEMA mitigation specialists spoke with more than 1,600 shoppers during the month.

The mitigation specialists also can offer advice on cleaning up mold and mildew, how electrical systems, furnaces and other appliances can be protected from flooding, how to build a safe room as well as information on the National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Legal Services

How do you go about recovering important legal documents that have been lost during the disaster? Another group of volunteers has stepped up to provide free legal assistance to survivors.

The Volunteer Lawyers Program of the Alabama State Bar Association offers low-income individuals and families with legal assistance on such topics as assistance with insurance claims, landlord/tenant problems, home repair contracts, consumer protection-foreclosure problems, replacement of important legal documents, drafting powers of attorney, preparation of guardianships and conservatorships, as well as referring individuals to local and state agencies for assistance.

Disaster legal services are available by calling the hotline phone number 888-857-8571 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. In the Huntsville area of Limestone County, call 256-539-2275 and in Mobile and Baldwin counties call 855-997-2857.

Disaster Unemployment

A program that FEMA funds and has been completed in Alabama is Disaster Unemployment. The program, to which 63 individuals applied, is aimed at workers who would not qualify for regular unemployment insurance. It is operated by the state of Alabama.

Eligible workers included the self-employed who lived or worked in affected areas during the storm, those who are unemployed as a result of the storm, workers who were unable to reach their jobs as a result of the storm and those who were to begin employment but were unable to work because the business was damaged as a result of the disaster.

Individuals who became the primary or major wage earner due to the disaster-related death of the head of the household also may be eligible, as may workers who could not work because of an injury caused as a direct result of the storm.

Albie Lewis, federal coordinating officer for the Alabama disaster, said recovery needs to be inclusive of all disaster survivors.

“FEMA and all recovery partners work together to mitigate the tough, long-term whole community inclusive issues to make sure everyone gets information and access to recovery programs they need in an appropriate manner.”

All of these programs are available because FEMA, its state and federal partners and volunteer agencies are committed to providing help to those in need. In Alabama, these agencies will continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder to recover as long as needed.

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FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for childcare, medical, dental expenses and/or funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, those who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, transportation, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

For more information on Alabama’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or http://www.ema.alabama.gov/. For the joint Facebook page, go to www.facebook.com/AlabamaEMA. To receive Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/AlabamaEMA or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

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Whole Community Disaster Recovery Takes Many Hands

Only One Week Left for Alabama Disaster Survivors to Register With FEMA

MONTGOMERY, Ala., — Just one week remains to register for federal disaster assistance for those who sustained damage from the April 28 through May 5 severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding. The last day to register is Tuesday, July 15.

Residents who suffered damage should register as soon as possible. Here is how to register with FEMA:

Go online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Visit m.fema.gov from a Smartphone.
Dial 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585.
For those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services, call 800-621-3362.

The toll-free numbers are operated from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Those who already have registered can track their claims and should notify FEMA of changes of their mailing addresses, phone numbers or email addresses and if they receive insurance settlements or discover additional damages.

July 15 also is the deadline to return an application for physical damage to the Small Business Administration.

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Only One Week Left for Alabama Disaster Survivors to Register With FEMA

FEMA Rebuilding Specialists to Provide Advice in Madison

JACKSON, Miss. – Rebuilding or repairing property damaged from the recent severe storms? Residents in the Madison area can get advice on building safer and smarter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Mitigation specialists from FEMA will be at Home Depot in Madison to offer information on rebuilding after a disaster. The advisers can answer questions about protecting homes from future disaster-related damage and offer tips to build hazard-resistant homes.

FEMA officials estimate that every dollar spent on mitigation saves almost four dollars if another disaster hits.

Homeowners and contractors can learn more at:

Home Depot

211 Colony Way

Madison, Miss. 39110

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tues., July 8 – Sat., July 12

For more information on Mississippi disaster recovery, go to FEMA.gov/Disaster/4175. Visit the MEMA site at msema.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/msemaorg.

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FEMA Rebuilding Specialists to Provide Advice in Madison

Mississippi Storm Recovery on Target at Two Months

RIDGELAND, Miss. — After a disaster, it takes many partners working together to rebuild communities. Two months after tornadoes and storms swept across the state on April 28, public, private and nonprofit organizations have made significant progress in responding to the needs of communities created by the disaster.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individual Assistance section has reached out a second time to the more than 5,000 people who registered with FEMA for help. The outreach, dubbed “100 percent touch,” is making sure registrants understand the application process, submit timely documentation and works to find solutions to unmet needs.

To date, nearly $19 million in total federal assistance has been approved for Mississippi disaster survivors. This includes more than $5.3 million for temporary housing and home repairs and other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral costs. And the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved just over $13.6 million in low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private nonprofit organizations.

During the 60-day registration period that ended June 30, FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance crews visited more than 12,000 homes and interacted with more than 9,000 disaster survivors, helping them register with FEMA and making referrals to other agencies and organizations for specific needs outside of FEMA.

More than 4,000 disaster survivors made one or more visits to the 10 disaster recovery centers established in the disaster areas. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency/FEMA centers in Brandon, Canton, Columbus, Laurel, Louisville, Mantachie, Tupelo and Waynesboro offered face-to-face contact with program representatives knowledgeable about disaster assistance and rebuilding.

FEMA mitigation representatives at the recovery centers and at home improvement stores in the disaster areas have met with more than 8,000 people, providing advice on how to rebuild stronger. Three teams will be at locations in or near the disaster area until mid-July.

MEMA and FEMA created a joint housing task force to address the complex housing needs of the 767 households left homeless in the aftermath of the tornadoes. Survivors have received rental assistance grants and FEMA’s direct housing mission has completed placement of nearly two dozen manufactured homes for the residents of Winston County. Temporary housing is installed in commercial parks for survivor use or on an individual homeowner’s property for use while the primary residence is being repaired or rebuilt.

Projects to repair public infrastructure damaged in the storm are being developed. FEMA reimburses 75 percent of eligible disaster-related repairs through its Public Assistance program administered by the state. At the June 30 deadline for receipt of the official notice to FEMA requesting participation, 53 eligible governments and certain private nonprofits such as utilities had signed up for the program. Applicants will work with MEMA and FEMA to be reimbursed for emergency protective measures, debris removal and permanent work such as road and building repairs.

Among the applicants are the City of Louisville, which seeks to rebuild a building leased to a wood products company and the Winston County Medical Foundation, which lost its Winston Medical Center, nursing home and outpatient clinic to the EF-4 tornado that struck the area. The hospital is operating temporarily out of the National Mobile Disaster Hospital, a FEMA-owned facility composed of 27 modular units that arrived in Louisville May 3.

Through its virtual Business Emergency Operations Center, MEMA is working with employers to stabilize jobs affected in the tornado; partners in recovery have donated equipment and materials for the volunteers to use in cleanup and rebuilding.

When the disaster struck April 28, the American Red Cross opened shelters that eventually provided 678 overnight stays and more than 47,000 meals or snacks. The Salvation Army opened eight mobile kitchens and three fixed feeding sites, serving more than 17,500 meals or snacks. Since then, many other volunteers have stepped up both from the local area and outside the region to clean up debris and begin rebuilding.

MEMA and FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaisons have helped connect unaffiliated spontaneous volunteers with affiliated groups and identify and organize groups that are not part of the Mississippi Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. VALs have also assisted in making referrals to appropriate agencies and helped establish the NE Mississippi Community Based Recovery Committee to address unmet needs of survivors in Lee and Itawamba counties.

Disaster survivors in Itawamba, Jones, Leake, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Montgomery, Rankin, Simpson, Warren, Wayne and Winston counties who registered for assistance may check the status of their applications, update contact information or ask questions via the FEMA helpline, 800-621-3362. The TTY number for those who are deaf or hard of hearing is 800-462-7585.

For more information on Mississippi disaster recovery, go to FEMA.gov/Disaster/4175. Visit the MEMA site at msema.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/msemaorg.

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-FEMA (3362). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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Mississippi Storm Recovery on Target at Two Months

NFIP Extends Flood Claim Period by 30 Days

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The National Flood Insurance Program has extended the time period for filing flood claims for policyholders who experienced flooding during the April 28 through May 5 severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding.

The NFIP normally requires flood claims to be filed within 60 days of the date of loss. However, NFIP is waiving this requirement and extending the deadline by 30 days for the 2014 mid-spring storms that began on April 28. This extension includes policyholders in Alabama.

The waiver applies to Standard Flood Insurance Policies issued directly by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or by private insurance companies participating in the NFIP’s Write Your Own Program.

A policyholder with a flood loss that occurred on April 28, 2014 now has until July 27, 2014 to file a claim.

Please note — the extended deadline to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance and the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest loans remains the same – Tuesday, July 15.

Flood insurance policyholders should contact their agents or insurance companies to file a claim. An adjuster from the insurance company should contact you within a few days of filing a claim. If you do not hear from an adjuster, call your insurance agent or company again.

When calling, make sure to have the following information at hand:

The name of your insurance company.
Your policy number.
A telephone and/or email address where you can be reached at all times.

Remember, a flood insurance policy is usually separate from your homeowner’s policy, which in most cases does not pay for flood claims.

Your adjuster will need to see evidence of the damage to your home and possessions to prepare your repair estimate.

Take photographs of all damaged property, including discarded objects, structural damage and standing floodwater levels.
Make a list of damaged or lost items and include their date of purchase, value and receipts, if possible.
Officials may require disposal of damaged items, so if possible, place flooded items outside of the home.

Finally, your adjuster will provide you with a Proof of Loss form for your official claims for damages. This document substantiates the insurance claim and is required before the National Flood Insurance Program or insurance company can make a payment.

You will receive your claim payment after you and the insurer agree on the amount of damages and the insurer has your complete, accurate and signed Proof of Loss form. If major catastrophic flooding occurs, it may take longer to process claims and make payments due to the sheer number of claims submitted.

For general flood insurance questions, call the National Flood Insurance Call Center at 800-427-4661 directly, or through 711 Relay, or contact your insurance company or agent.

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For more information on Alabama’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or http://www.ema.alabama.gov/. For the joint Facebook page, go to www.facebook.com/AlabamaEMA. To receive Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/AlabamaEMA or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

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NFIP Extends Flood Claim Period by 30 Days

Disaster Federal Aid for Alabama Reaches $34.5 Million

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Federal aid provided to Alabama residents affected by the April 28 through May 5 severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding has reached $34.5 million.

The following numbers, compiled July 3, provide a snapshot of the Alabama/FEMA disaster recovery to date:

Funds approved

$15.8 million for Housing Assistance grants to help with recovery rental expenses and home repair costs.
$3.7 million for Other Needs Assistance to cover essential disaster-related needs, such as medical expenses and lost personal possessions.
$13.4 million approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest loans to eligible homeowners, renters or business owners.
$1.5 million for Public Assistance programs. Of that amount, $576,528 has been allocated for debris removal. Another $363,310 will go toward storm response and $401,142 has been obligated for infrastructure repair and replacement.

Survivor Recovery

15,368 damaged homes and property have been inspected (99 percent of requests).
9 counties designated for Individual Assistance.
21 counties designated for Public Assistance.

FEMA works with many volunteer agencies and the private sector to speed the recovery effort. As of mid-May, 3,048 volunteers from numerous organizations throughout the country had donated nearly 22,000 hours to help survivors clean up debris, repair and rebuild their homes following the spring storms.

Alabama residents affected by the disaster now have 11 days to register as the governor-requested extension ends Tuesday, July 15.

County-by-County approved breakdown of Individual Assistance:

County	Approved Registrations	Housing Assistance	Other Needs Assistance
Baldwin	1,975	$7,310,860.69	$1,289,955.57
Blount	26	150,296.00	13,080.03
DeKalb	25	71,001.00	20,674.77
Etowah	57	427,634.13	53,507.05
Jefferson	421	1,082,025.85	202,440.98
Lee	52	267,722.71	54,150.10
Limestone	295	946,749.48	501,038.04
Mobile	3,988	5,294,375.11	1,551,068.46
Tuscaloosa	60	274,814.67	66,951.64
Total:	6,899	$15,825,479.64	$3,752,866.64

No matter the degree of loss or insurance status, survivors are urged to apply for help. They can use the following methods:

By phone, call 800-621-3362 (FEMA) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time. Operators are multilingual. TTY 800-462-7585.
By computer, go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
By smartphone or tablet, use m.fema.gov.

Recovery officials urge all Alabama residents who have registered for assistance to stay in close contact with FEMA throughout the recovery process. This is especially true during the first weeks after registering when FEMA housing inspectors must contact applicants to view damages. Those with mobile phones should provide that number to FEMA during the registration.

Affected survivors and business owners in the nine designated counties may apply for assistance from FEMA and/or the SBA. Those counties are Baldwin, Blount, DeKalb, Etowah, Jefferson, Lee, Limestone, Mobile and Tuscaloosa.

Disaster Loan Outreach Centers, operated by the SBA to assist survivors with questions about federal loans, are located in Baldwin and Mobile counties. These offices are located at:

Elberta Town Hall, 10352 Main Street, Elberta, AL 36540.
Fairhope Civic Center (Delchamps Room), 161 North Section Street, Fairhope, AL 36532.
Old Navy/Marine Corps Reserve Center, 4851 Museum Drive, Mobile, AL 36608.

These facilities, which also are staffed with a FEMA specialist, are open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Tuesday, July 15. Outreach centers will be closed Friday, July 4.

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Disaster Federal Aid for Alabama Reaches $34.5 Million

FEMA: Preparedness for Hurricane Arthur Still Essential along Northeast Coast Residents and Visitors Should Follow Direction of Local Officials

WASHINGTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its federal partners continue to monitor Hurricane Arthur’s impact and northward track. The agency encourages those in Arthur’s path to listen to their local officials, monitor storm conditions and take steps to be prepared.

“Residents are urged to continue to listen to the instructions of your local officials,” said Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator. “As the storm continues to move along the east coast, there are a number of areas that can be affected by strong winds, storm surge, inland flooding and tornadoes. If you evacuated and are considering returning home, make sure local officials have deemed the area safe to return.”

Through regional offices in Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York and Boston, FEMA remains in close contact with emergency management partners in North Carolina and potentially affected states and has a liaison in the emergency operations center in Massachusetts. FEMA is also working in coordination with the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center.

In advance of the storm, FEMA had liaisons in the emergency operation centers in North Carolina and South Carolina and an Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) in North Carolina to coordinate with state, tribal and local officials should support be requested or needed. Additional teams from around the country are ready to deploy to impacted states and tribes as necessary.

According to the National Weather Service, Tropical Storm Warnings remain in effect for portions of the east coast as Hurricane Arthur moves northward. The latest storm tracks, local forecasts and warnings are available at hurricanes.gov and weather.gov.

As the first hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season, Hurricane Arthur serves as a reminder for residents in areas prone to tropical storms and hurricanes to refresh their emergency kits and review family emergency plans. Those who do not have an emergency kit or family plan can learn about steps to take now to prepare for severe weather at ready.gov.

The FEMA smartphone app provides safety tips and displays open shelter information at www.fema.gov/smartphone-app. Information on Red Cross shelters is available by downloading the Red Cross Hurricane app or by visiting redcross.org.

Safety and Preparedness Tips

Residents and visitors in potentially affected areas should be familiar with evacuation routes, have a communications plan, keep a battery-powered radio handy and have a plan for their pets. Individuals should visit ready.gov or listo.gov to learn these and other preparedness tips for tropical storms.
Know your evacuation zone and be sure to follow the direction of state, tribal and local officials if an evacuation is ordered for your area.
Storm surge is often the greatest threat to life and property from a hurricane. It poses a significant threat for drowning and can occur before, during, or after the center of a storm passes through an area. Storm surge can sometimes cut off evacuation routes, so do not delay leaving if an evacuation is ordered for your area.
If you encounter flood waters, remember – turn around, don’t drown.
Driving through a flooded area can be extremely hazardous and almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. When in your car, look out for flooding in low lying areas, at bridges and at highway dips. As little as six inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
If your home has flood water inside or around it, don’t walk or wade in it. The water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline or raw sewage.
Hurricanes have the potential for tornado formation. If you are under a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately in the center of a small interior room (closet, interior hallway) on the lowest level of a sturdy building. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside.
Stay off the roads in impacted areas. Emergency workers may be assisting people in flooded areas or cleaning up debris. You can help them by staying off the roads and out of the way.
If your power is out, safely use a generator or candles.
- Never use a generator inside a home, basement, shed or garage even if doors and windows are open.
- Keep generators outside and far away from windows, doors and vents. Read both the label on your generator and the owner’s manual and follow the instructions.
- If using candles, please use caution. If possible, use flashlights instead.
Avoid downed power or utility lines; they may be live with deadly voltage. Stay away and report them immediately to your power or utility company.
When the power comes back on, wait a few minutes before turning on major appliances, to help eliminate problems that could occur if there’s a sharp increase in demand. If you think electric power has been restored to your area but your home is still without power, call your local power company.
Get to know the terms that are used to identify severe weather and discuss with your family what to do if a watch or warning is issued.

For a Tropical Storm:

A Tropical Storm Watch is issued when tropical cyclone containing winds of at least 39 MPH or higher poses a possible threat, generally within 48 hours.
A Tropical Storm Warning is issued when sustained winds of 39 MPH or higher associated with a tropical cyclone are expected in 36 hours or less.

For coastal flooding:

A Coastal Flood Advisory is issued when minor or nuisance coastal flooding is occurring or imminent.
A Coastal Flood Watch is issued when moderate to major coastal flooding is possible.
A Coastal Flood Warning is issued when moderate to major coastal flooding is occurring or imminent.

More safety tips on hurricanes and tropical storms can be found at ready.gov/hurricanes.

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 online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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FEMA: Preparedness for Hurricane Arthur Still Essential along Northeast Coast Residents and Visitors Should Follow Direction of Local Officials

Disaster Assistance for Florida Reaches More than $65 Million in 60 Days

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Sixty days after a violent storm system brought massive flooding to Northwest Florida, $66.5 million in disaster assistance has been approved to help homeowners, renters and business owners recover.

Residents affected by the storms and flooding from April 28 to May 6 in Escambia, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties have until Monday, July 21, to register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Survivors can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or at m.fema.gov on a smartphone. Survivors may also apply by phone at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585.

More than 14,200 survivors have been in touch with FEMA seeking help or information on disaster assistance following what local officials called the worst flood in this part of the state in decades.

Since the May 6 disaster declaration, more than $32.1 million in Individual Assistance has helped more than 6,600 homeowners and renters who were affected by the spring storms and flooding. This includes more than $26.6 million in rental expenses and essential home repairs, and nearly $5.5 million to help cover other essential disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses and lost personal possessions.

In addition, the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $34.4 million in low-interest disaster loans for qualified homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations.

The Public Assistance cost-share program may also be available to reimburse state agencies, local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations. These reimbursements can help pay for debris cleanup, repairs to damaged facilities and infrastructure, and for costs incurred in protecting lives and property during the floods. The program also provides mitigation funds to help rebuild infrastructure that is better able to withstand future storms.

In addition to state and federal disaster assistance programs, survivors have benefitted from a wider array of disaster services and resources, including disaster unemployment assistance, free legal services, disaster-related stress help and guidance on flood insurance.

FEMA is continuing to work with state and local partners to connect survivors to recovery resources in their communities. Survivors who need extra help are encouraged to call Florida’s 2-1-1 information helpline or visit HelpNWFLrecover.org.

Several voluntary agencies, local community- and faith-based organizations and other nonprofit groups are working with survivors to help them tackle their longer term needs. Among these voluntary agencies are the American Red Cross, United Way, Volunteer Florida, Operation Blessing, Florida Baptists and Samaritan’s Purse.

Below is a snapshot of the assistance dollars and some milestones reached in the past sixty days:

$66.5 million	To date, $66.5 million in state and federal assistance has been approved to help eligible Floridians and their communities.
$32.1 million	More than $32.1 million in disaster assistance has been approved for homeowners and renters under the Individual Assistance Program.
$26.6 million	The IA total includes more than $26.6 million for housing assistance, including short-term rental assistance and essential home repair costs.
$5.5 million	The IA total also includes nearly $5.5 million to help cover other essential disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses and lost personal possessions.
$34.4 million	The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $34.4 million in low-interest disaster loans for more than 820 homeowners and businesses throughout the disaster area.
5	The five counties designated for Individual Assistance are Escambia, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton.
14,200	More than 14,200 people have contacted FEMA for information or assistance following the storms and flooding. To register for disaster assistance by the July 21 deadline, go to DisasterAssistance.gov or m.fema.gov on your smartphone. Survivors can also call FEMA’s toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585.
11,100	FEMA housing inspectors have completed more than 11,100 home inspections – an important step in determining eligibility for housing assistance.
7,000	Several crews of FEMA disaster survivor assistance specialists and FEMA Corps members arrived in the affected area just days after the major disaster declaration to provide on-site registration assistance, as well as on-the-spot needs assessments and referrals. Crews met with more than 7,000 survivors and registered 815 individuals and households.
5,880	Approximately 5,880 visits were made to five disaster recovery centers and a temporary registration intake center to get information and apply for disaster assistance.
3,300	More than 3,300 people have met with FEMA mitigation specialists at disaster recovery centers and home improvement stores for advice and tips on how to rebuild safer and stronger.
62	62 requests have been made for FEMA’s Public Assistance program by eligible state agencies, local governments and certain private nonprofits. Requests for public assistance start the process of getting eligible costs reimbursed, which helps get communities back on track following a disaster.
9	The nine counties designated for Public Assistance are Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington.

The deadline to apply for disaster assistance is July 21. Florida disaster survivors can apply for assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov or at m.fema.gov/ on a smartphone. Survivors may also apply by phone at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585.

For more information on Florida disaster recovery, survivors can visit fema.gov/disaster/4177, the Florida Division of Emergency Management website at FloridaDisaster.org or the state’s Facebook page at facebook.com/FloridaSERT.

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Disaster Assistance for Florida Reaches More than $65 Million in 60 Days

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