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FEMA: Follow Evacuation Orders; Residents and Visitors Urged to Follow Direction of Local Officials

WASHINGTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through its National Response Coordination Center in Washington and its regional offices in Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York and Boston, and in coordination with the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center, is continuing to monitor Hurricane Arthur.

FEMA remains in close contact with emergency management partners in potentially affected states, and the agency encourages those in Arthur’s path to follow any evacuation orders given by local officials. FEMA also urges residents and visitors in potentially affected areas to monitor the storm closely and take steps now to be prepared in advance of severe weather.

“As the holiday approaches, we continue to warn residents and visitors to be aware of evacuation routes in case an evacuation is ordered by state and local officials”, said Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator. “If an evacuation order is given by local officials – leave.”

Yesterday, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate spoke with North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory and Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry about preparedness efforts and to ensure there were no unmet needs.

FEMA has liaisons in the emergency operations centers in North Carolina and South Carolina along with an Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) in North Carolina to coordinate with state, tribal, and local officials, should support be requested or needed. FEMA is currently working with its federal partners at the Regional Response Coordination Center in Atlanta and Boston and has also activated its National Response Coordination Center in Washington D.C.

Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) personnel and equipment have been placed on alert to provide emergency management partners with secure and non-secure voice, video and information services in support of emergency response communications.

According to the National Weather Service, a Hurricane Warning is in effect for portions of North Carolina coast as Hurricane Arthur moves northward. Also, a Tropical Storm Warning and Hurricane Watch are in effect for parts of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.

Hurricane conditions are expected within portions of the hurricane warning area by tonight. The tropical storm conditions are expected to spread northward in the tropical storm and hurricane warning areas later today and tonight. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting that Hurricane Arthur may become a Category 2 storm when it passes over or near the North Carolina coast. Visit hurricanes.gov and weather.gov for the latest storm track and local forecasts and warnings.

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.

At all times, FEMA maintains commodities, including millions of liters of water, millions of meals and hundreds of thousands of blankets, strategically located at distribution centers throughout the United States, and they are available to state, tribal and local partners if needed and requested.

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.
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 you encounter flood waters, remember – turn around, don’t drown.
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.
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 Hurricane:

A Hurricane Watch is issued when a tropical cyclone containing winds of at least 74 MPH poses a possible threat, generally within 48 hours.
A Hurricane Warning is issued when sustained winds of 74 MPH or higher associated with a tropical cyclone are expected in 36 hours or less. A hurricane warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves continue, even though winds may be less than hurricane force.

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: Follow Evacuation Orders; Residents and Visitors Urged to Follow Direction of Local Officials

Recertify to be Eligible for Continued Rental Help from FEMA

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – If your household is getting rental assistance from FEMA and repairs to your home are taking longer than expected, don’t forget you have to recertify your need to continue aid.

Alabama households currently receiving rental assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency because of damage from the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding from April 28 through May 5 must provide the necessary paperwork to recertify for continued rental help.

FEMA may pay, through its Individuals and Households program, up to 18 months of rental assistance to both qualified homeowners and renters if they need to relocate while repairs are being made to their disaster-damaged residences.

An application for continued temporary housing will be sent to applicants who have received initial rental assistance approximately two weeks after the first rental award.

The application reaffirms that applicants have an ongoing financial need for temporary housing, either because disaster-related repairs are not completed or they have been unable to find permanent replacement housing.

Documents required to be submitted for recertification include:

The completed application,
A copy of the current lease or rental agreement signed by the applicant,
Rental receipts, canceled checks or money orders showing proper usage of previous rental assistance,
Current income statements from family members living in the rental.

The form must be completed in full and turned in on time for each rental cycle to apply for continued assistance.

FEMA will evaluate the information each cycle to determine if the applicant qualifies for ongoing federal rental assistance, based on financial need.

An applicant’s current monthly rent is compared to the person’s housing costs before the disaster. Income for all household members, ongoing homeowner mortgage, insurance and utility costs for the damaged home, and other housing commitment costs are all taken into consideration when determining continued eligibility.

Residents of Baldwin, Blount, DeKalb, Etowah, Jefferson, Lee, Limestone, Mobile or Tuscaloosa counties who suffered storm damage during the period April 28 through May 5 should apply for assistance by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone at m.fema.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362, TTY 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available.

The deadline to register for FEMA assistance is Tuesday, July 15, 2014.

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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). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

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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Recertify to be Eligible for Continued Rental Help from FEMA

FEMA awards Public Assistance grants for Sandy recovery projects

NEW YORK – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded Public Assistance grants for debris removal, emergency protective measures and permanent work for Hurricane Sandy recovery projects.

Recent awards include:

• Nearly $12.2 million to Nassau County for waterway debris removal in Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Long Beach, Atlantic Beach, Cedarhurst, Freeport and Island Park.

• Nearly $10 million to City of New York Department of Citywide Administrative Services for emergency protective measures, including labor, communications, light towers, generators and fuel truck rental.

• More than $6.1 million to New York City Department of Parks and Recreation for citywide debris removal.

• More than $4.5 million to New York Health and Hospitals Corporation to provide a temporary facility for the Ida Israel Community Health Clinic.

• More than $2.1 million to Nassau County Police Department for emergency protective measures, including evacuations, patrols and identification of public hazards.

• More than $1.6 million to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for permanent repairs to portions of John F. Kennedy International Airport fencing.

For Hurricane Sandy, FEMA’s Public Assistance program reimburses local, state and tribal governments and eligible private nonprofit organizations 90 percent of eligible costs for emergency and permanent work. So far, FEMA has awarded $2.4 billion in Public Assistance grants to eligible New York applicants.

Not included in this total is recent approval of $1.4 billion to Long Island Power Authority for repairs, restoration and hazard mitigation. FEMA and LIPA agreed on that amount in a pilot program, Public Assistance Alternate Procedures, in which grants are determined on the basis of fixed estimates, with applicants accepting responsibility for any actual costs that exceed the estimates. If actual costs are less than the fixed estimate amount, the applicant may use the excess funds for certain other purposes that mitigate damage from future disasters.[

To learn more about FEMA Public Assistance in New York, visit: fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit and dhses.ny.gov/oem/recovery.

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FEMA awards Public Assistance grants for Sandy recovery projects

National Flood Insurance Program Deadline Extended for Filing Claims

NEW YORK – FEMA has granted a six-month extension for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders affected by Hurricane Sandy to file proof-of-loss claims.

The deadline is Oct. 29, 2014.

NFIP usually requires policyholders to submit a fully documented, signed and sworn proof-of-loss claim within 60 days from the date of their loss.

The magnitude of the Sandy disaster is the reason for this extension that will give policyholders additional time to file claims. This is the third six-month extension.

The Proof of Loss document is included in the claims package that documents flood losses. The claims package should include:

• photos and/or video of the flooding and resulting damage

• a comprehensive, itemized list of what was damaged

• receipts, if possible, for damaged items along with any other supporting documents showing the value of what you lost

To download a blank NFIP Proof of Loss document: http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2545

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National Flood Insurance Program Deadline Extended for Filing Claims

New Yorkers: Prepare for severe weather before it strikes

NEW YORK – New Yorkers know about severe weather. After Hurricane Sandy, 2013 brought 15 significant weather events to New York, including winter snow and ice storms, a tornado, extreme heat, brush fires, heavy rains and flooding. Two of those events resulted in major disaster declarations for the state.

Next week, March 2-8, is National Severe Weather Preparedness Week, a nationwide campaign to remind everyone that severe weather can affect anyone. The effort is sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Across the U.S. last year, there were seven severe weather events that crossed the $1 billion mark in economic and property damage. These disasters, including floods, tornadoes and wildfires, caused the deaths of 109 people.

NOAA and FEMA urge all New Yorkers to understand the risks where you live and how severe weather could affect you and your family. Check weather forecasts, get a NOAA Weather Radio and sign up for local weather alerts from emergency management officials. Check NOAA’s National Weather Service website for more information: www.weather.gov.

Next, make sure you and your family are prepared for severe weather. Develop a family communication and disaster preparedness plan, keep important papers, medications and other essential items in a safe place and visit www.Ready.gov/severe-weather to learn more.

Being prepared for severe weather need not be complicated or costly. Keeping a few simple items handy in a disaster kit, for example, could end up being a lifesaver. Go to www.ready.gov/basic-disaster-supplies-kit to find out more about what to include in a basic kit and how to develop one for those with unique needs. The same information is available in Spanish at www.listo.gov.

Once you have taken action to prepare for severe weather, set an example by sharing your story with family and friends on any social media site. Be a “force of nature” and inspire others in your community to take action too. Pledge to prepare by signing up for America’s PrepareAthon on April 30 at www.fema.gov/americas-prepareathon.

Original post:

New Yorkers: Prepare for severe weather before it strikes

Don’t Forget That Date; Appeals Must be Submitted to FEMA Within 60 Days

Those who received a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency should take note of the date the letter was written. Appeals or submission of missing documents must be made within 60 days of that date.

Disaster survivors may request an appeal to review their cases regarding the amount or type of federal disaster assistance available.

The appeal must be in writing and explain why you disagree with a decision. Attach any new or additional documents supporting the appeal.

Appeal letters for the April 28 through May 5 severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding should also include:

Federal disaster declaration number, 4176-DR-AL, on all pages of documents.
Applicant information including:
- The nine-digit FEMA application number on all pages of documents,
- Applicant’s name,
- Applicant’s date and place of birth, and
- Address of the damaged dwelling.

Copies of verifiable documentation that supports the appeal. All receipts, bills and estimates must include contact information for the service provider. Keep all originals for your records.
A copy of a state-issued identification or driver’s license, unless the letter is notarized or includes the following statement: “I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.”
The applicant’s signature.

Applicants can call the Disaster Legal Services hotline phone number, 888-857-8571. The service is available from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday for free legal help with insurance claims.

In the Huntsville area of Limestone County, call 256-539-2275. Those in Mobile and Baldwin counties can call 855-997-2857.

Mail the appeal letter to: FEMA National Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055.

Applicants also may fax their appeal letter to: 800-827-8112, Attention: FEMA.

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Don’t Forget That Date; Appeals Must be Submitted to FEMA Within 60 Days

FEMA Registration Deadline Extended for Disaster Survivors in Florida

PENSACOLA, Fla. – At the request of the state of Florida, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved a 14-day extension for storm and flood survivors to register for disaster assistance.

The deadline to register is now Monday, July 21.

Residents affected by the storms and flooding from April 28 to May 6 can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or on a smartphone at m.fema.gov.

Survivors may also call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Survivors in Escambia, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties may be eligible for federal grants to help pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs or other serious disaster-related expenses.

People living in the designated counties should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but under-insured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

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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FEMA Registration Deadline Extended for Disaster Survivors in Florida

FEMA Continues To Urge Preparedness Ahead Of Tropical Storm Arthur; Residents and Visitors Urged to Follow Direction of Local Officials

WASHINGTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through its National Watch Center in Washington and its regional offices in Atlanta and Philadelphia and in coordination with the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center, is continuing to monitor the conditions of Tropical Storm Arthur off the east coast of Florida. FEMA remains in close contact with state emergency management partners in potentially affected states.

FEMA urges residents and visitors in potentially affected areas to closely monitor the storm and take steps now to be prepared in advance of severe weather. Most importantly, everyone should follow the direction of their state, tribal and local officials.

FEMA has deployed liaisons to the emergency operations centers in North Carolina and South Carolina along with an Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) to North Carolina to coordinate with local officials, should support be requested or needed. FEMA’s regional office in Atlanta is in contact with its emergency management partners in Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. FEMA also plans to activate its National Response Coordination Center in Washington D.C. on Thursday.

According to the National Weather Service, a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the entire coast of North Carolina and there is a Hurricane Watch from Bogue Inlet to Oregon Inlet, North Carolina and the Pamlico Sound. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for South Carolina from the Little River Inlet to the South Santee River.

A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm force winds may begin within 36 hours. A Hurricane or Tropical Storm Watch means that those conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case within 48 hours. Tropical Storm Arthur is forecast to intensify and become a hurricane by Friday. Visit hurricanes.gov and weather.gov for the latest storm track and local forecasts and warnings.

As the first tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, Tropical Storm 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. If you do not have an emergency kit or family plan, or to learn about steps you can take now to prepare your family for severe weather, visit ready.gov.

At all times, FEMA maintains commodities, including millions of liters of water, millions of meals and hundreds of thousands of blankets, strategically located at distribution centers throughout the United States, that are available to state, tribal and local partners if needed and requested.

Safety and Preparedness Tips

As the first tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, Tropical Storm Arthur serves as a reminder for residents in areas prone to tropical storms and hurricanes to refresh their emergency kits and review family plans. If you do not have an emergency kit or family plan, or to learn about steps you can take now to prepare your family for severe weather, visit www.ready.gov.
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.
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 you encounter flood waters, remember – turn around, don’t drown.
Tropical Storms 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.
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 Hurricane:

A Hurricane Watch is issued when a tropical cyclone containing winds of at least 74 MPH poses a possible threat, generally within 48 hours.
A Hurricane Warning is issued when sustained winds of 74 MPH or higher associated with a tropical cyclone are expected in 36 hours or less. A hurricane warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves continue, even though winds may be less than hurricane force.

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 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.
A Coastal Flood Advisory is issued when minor or nuisance coastal flooding is occurring or imminent.
More safety tips on hurricanes and tropical storms can be found at ready.gov/hurricanes.

Taken from:

FEMA Continues To Urge Preparedness Ahead Of Tropical Storm Arthur; Residents and Visitors Urged to Follow Direction of Local Officials

FEMA Funding Continues to Flow to New York for Sandy Recovery

Main Content

Release date:

June 9, 2014

Release Number:

SRO-008

NEW YORK – Area parks and beaches that Hurricane Sandy left in shambles are opening, heralding another summer season. They also serve as tangible signs that New York is steadily recovering from the historic storm. Federal aid continues to flow to the state to help rebuild; FEMA Public Assistance grants total nearly $2.6 billion.

Recent awards include:

More than $72.4 million to New York City Parks and Recreation for debris removal and ongoing repairs to picnic areas, handball courts, marinas, equipment and other facilities;
Nearly $150 million to Suffolk County for debris removal at Tadsen’s Marina and throughout the county; for permanent repairs at Timberpoint Golf Course and for emergency repairs at Meschutte Beach Park and other county facilities;
Nearly $300,000 to the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs to replace office equipment and to make building repairs;
More than $68.5 million to the City of Long Beach for debris removal and beach repairs;
About $11.3 million for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for repair, replacement and hazard mitigation of damaged elements of the transportation system;
Nearly $2.7 million for repairs at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

For Hurricane Sandy, FEMA’s Public Assistance program reimburses local, state and tribal governments and eligible private nonprofit organizations 90 percent of eligible costs for emergency and permanent work. Additional funding is expected for an array of projects throughout the affected areas.

To learn more about FEMA Public Assistance in New York, visit: fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit and dhses.ny.gov/oem/recovery.

Email NYRN@fema.dhs.gov to join the New York Recovery Network to find news, reports, grant announcements, events, training opportunities and research related to recovery and resilience

Last Updated:

July 2, 2014 – 15:47

State/Tribal Government or Region:

New York

Related Disaster:

New York Hurricane Sandy

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FEMA Funding Continues to Flow to New York for Sandy Recovery

California to Receive FEMA Funding for the Butts Fire in Napa County

OAKLAND, Calif. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to assist the state of California combat the Butts Fire currently burning in Napa County.

On July 1, 2014, the state of California submitted a request for a fire management assistance declaration for the Butts Fire. The authorization makes FEMA funding available to reimburse up to 75 percent of the eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling the fire.

“FEMA Region IX remains in constant contact with the state of California to identify needs and provide ongoing support as requested,” said acting FEMA Deputy Region IX Administrator, Farley Howell.

At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 200 primary residence homes in and around the community of Berryessa Estates with a population of 540. The State of California further reported that the fire had burned in excess of 2,700 acres of state and private land.

The President’s Disaster Relief Fund provides funding for federal fire management grants made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible costs covered by the grant can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; tools, materials and supplies; and mobilization and demobilization activities.

Source –

California to Receive FEMA Funding for the Butts Fire in Napa County

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