With Help from FEMA and Community, Sandy Survivor Returns Home

LINCROFT, N.J. — Frederick Ziegler promises his rebuilt house in Point Pleasant Beach will be just as spotless as he left his FEMA mobile home at Green Acres Manor in Howell Township.

Mr. Siegler poses for a picture in his homeMr. Frederick Ziegler Returns Home to Pt Pleasant BeachZiegler, a 78-year-old retired radio and electronics repairman who has been living in FEMA housing since Hurricane Sandy almost destroyed his house, is finally going home. Two feet of water flooded his home, causing his heating oil tank to rupture. Some oil mixed with the floodwaters and some seeped through the flooring into the subfloors, making cleanup difficult. It even got into the rain boots of the volunteers working to clean it up. (Kitty litter absorbed most of the oil inside the house.) Meanwhile, the oil tank filled up with salt water. The water damage in the home created mold that had to be removed. The cellulose insulation in the first floor walls collapsed below the water line, but that turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as the insulation sealed off the walls, preventing the oil from getting into them.

Mr. Siegler welcomes guests as he stands on his front stepsMr. Ziegler greets guests after returning home.After the storm, Ziegler moved in with his then-fiancée for the first four weeks, and then moved to his brother’s home in Point Pleasant Borough, not far from the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Bay Head. “It was right across from St. Paul’s Methodist Church, which was serving three meals a day (to survivors),” he recalled. He couldn’t remain at his brother’s because he developed health issues related to his brother’s cats, so he moved into a FEMA-provided mobile home in January 2013. “I like the trailer better,” he joked.

While he was living in the mobile home he could work on getting his home repaired. Calvary Chapel sent two groups of volunteers – one from Wisconsin and one from Boston – to tear out the walls and floors. A team of Mennonites from western Pennsylvania put down the new subfloor. Jersey Shore United outfitted the house with new appliances from Home Depot. Volunteers were helping Ziegler rebuild through the end of March 2014. FEMA paid for cleaning and sanitizing as well as the complete replacement of the home’s electrical system. FEMA also covered part of the cost of replacing the home’s plumbing.

Mr. Ziegler returns keys to the FEMA mobile homeMr. Ziegler returns the keys to his FEMA mobile home.Ziegler’s rebuilt home is not elevated – yet. Point Pleasant Beach had been classified as being in a Special Flood Hazard Area A-zone before Sandy hit. It was changed to a V-zone, then back to an A-zone in August 2013. Elevation is recommended, though not explicitly required, for homes in A-zones.

Ziegler is on the state’s Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) program’s waiting list for elevation funding.

Ziegler credited FEMA with connecting him to Catholic Charities and the Ocean County Long Term Recovery Group, which helped him find the resources he needed to repair his home. He was both grateful and pleasantly surprised by how much overall assistance they offered. “I remember thinking, ‘Do they really want to help that (much)?’” he said. “But they’ve been great.”

http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4086/updates/sandy-one-year-later

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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With Help from FEMA and Community, Sandy Survivor Returns Home

More Than $17.3 Million Approved for Mississippi Disaster Survivors

JACKSON, Miss. – Federal assistance approved for disaster survivors in 12 Mississippi counties has reached more than $17.3 million.

Here is a summary through Sunday, June 22, of all federal assistance to individuals and households in the 12 counties designated for FEMA Individual Assistance. The severe storms, tornadoes and flooding occurred from April 28 through May 3, 2014.

  • More than $17.3 million in total federal disaster assistance has been approved by FEMA and SBA.
  • More than $12.2 million in low-interest disaster loans has been approved by SBA for 188 homeowners, renters and businesses.
  • More than $5 million in FEMA Individual Assistance grants has been approved to help Mississippi disaster survivors recover, including:
    • More than $3.7 million approved for housing grants, including short-term rental assistance and home repair costs.
    • More than $1.3 million approved to help cover other essential disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses and household possessions. Included is approval of assistance with funeral expenses for nine disaster-related deaths. Other funeral expense requests are pending.
  • Nearly 5,200 people have contacted FEMA for help or information regarding disaster assistance.
    • In addition to FEMA grants for individuals and families, other forms of disaster assistance are provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration and other partner agencies such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. FEMA refers some survivors to those agencies.
    • All businesses that contact FEMA also are referred to the SBA.
    • Others may be interested in other programs such as disaster unemployment assistance and disaster legal services.
  • 2,815 home inspections completed.
  • More than 4,700 visits to disaster recovery centers by people affected by the disaster.
  • FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance crews have visited 12, 055 dwellings and assisted 8,061 survivors.
  • More than 4,000 people have received advice from Mitigation Specialists on rebuilding safer and stronger.

Monday, June 30, 2014, is the deadline to register with FEMA for individual assistance and submit an SBA disaster loan application.

Disaster survivors in Itawamba, Jones, Leake, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Montgomery, Rankin, Simpson, Warren, Wayne and Winston counties may be eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.

Individuals and households in those counties can register for FEMA Individual Assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone or tablet at m.FEMA.gov or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362). People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY should call 800-462-7585. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (central time) and assistance is available in multiple languages. FEMA assistance does not affect benefits from other federal programs such as Social Security, SNAP or Medicaid and is not considered taxable income.

For additional information about SBA low-interest disaster loans, contact the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339, emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or visiting sba.gov/disaster. SBA customer service representatives are available at ALL disaster recovery centers. Disaster recovery center locations can be found online at FEMA.gov/DRCLocator.

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 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.

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Original post – 

More Than $17.3 Million Approved for Mississippi Disaster Survivors

FEMA Rebuilding Specialists to Provide Advice in Jackson

FEMA Rebuilding Specialists to Provide Advice in Jackson

JACKSON, Miss. – Residents in the Jackson area can learn how to build or rebuild to reduce the likelihood of damage the next time severe storms, tornadoes or floods hit. Federal Emergency Management Agency mitigation specialists know how and they are sharing their knowledge.

FEMA mitigation specialists will be at Home Depot in Jackson for five days to discuss specific methods with anyone who stops by. They will have free booklets and pamphlets with additional details.

Tuesday, June 24, through Saturday, June 28, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Home Depot

6325 I-55 North

Jackson, Miss. 39213

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. 

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FEMA Rebuilding Specialists to Provide Advice in Jackson

FEMA Awards $307,275 Grant to Village of Hamburg: Hazard mitigation funds will be used to acquire and demolish six flood prone structures

CHICAGO –The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $307,275 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to the Village of Hamburg, Ill., for the acquisition and demolition of six residential structures in the Mississippi River floodplain. Following demolition, these properties will be maintained as permanent open space in the community.

“The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program enables communities to implement critical mitigation measures to reduce the risk of loss of life and property,” said FEMA Region V Acting Administrator Janet Odeshoo.  “The acquisition and demolition of these structures permanently removes them from the floodplain and greatly reduces the financial impact on individuals and the community when future flooding occurs in this area.”

“In the past six years, Hamburg has experienced two major floods that almost reached the levels of the Great Flood of 1993,” said Jonathon Monken, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.  “Removing these homes from the floodplain will enable these homeowners to move to higher ground and avoid heartache and property loss the next time the Mississippi River floods this area.”

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Through HMGP, FEMA will pay 75 percent of the $409,700 eligible project cost.  The remaining 25 percent of the funds, $102,425 will be provided by non-federal sources.

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 twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, (312) 408-4455

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FEMA Awards $307,275 Grant to Village of Hamburg: Hazard mitigation funds will be used to acquire and demolish six flood prone structures

FEMA Awards $914,519 Grant to McHenry County: Hazard mitigation funds will be used to acquire and demolish 10 flood prone structures

CHICAGO –The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $914,519 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to McHenry County, Ill., for the acquisition and demolition of 10 residential structures in the Nippersink Creek floodplain. Following demolition, these properties will be maintained as permanent open space in the community.

“The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program enables communities to implement critical mitigation measures to reduce the risk of loss of life and property,” said FEMA Region V Acting Administrator Janet Odeshoo.  “The acquisition and demolition of these structures permanently removes them from the floodplain and greatly reduces the financial impact on individuals and the community when future flooding occurs in this area.”

“Approval of this grant is good news for these McHenry County residents who have been devastated by flooding many times in the past,” said Jonathon Monken, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. “The grant will enable them to move out of the floodplain and avoid future heartache and property losses.”

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Through HMGP, FEMA will pay 75 percent of the $1,219,359 eligible project cost.  The remaining 25 percent of the funds, $304,840, will be provided by non-federal sources.

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 twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, (312) 408-4455

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FEMA Awards $914,519 Grant to McHenry County: Hazard mitigation funds will be used to acquire and demolish 10 flood prone structures

One Year Later: Rebuilding Better and Stronger

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – One year has passed since the thunder of ballistic ice loomed over several Interior Alaskan communities that witnessed record-level floods in May 2013. Today, the sound of hammers, saws and power tools heralds in the start of construction season as volunteers and residents work to complete recovery efforts initiated last summer in Alakanuk, Circle, Emmonak and Galena.

“Getting survivors back into their homes has been the joint goal,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Willie G. Nunn. “Despite last year’s short construction season, 116 homes were repaired or rebuilt by survivors and skilled volunteers. This summer, 48 homes will be repaired or rebuilt by skilled volunteers in four communities.”

Volunteers from Samaritan’s Purse and United Methodist Volunteers in Mission have been in Galena since early June. In addition to Alakanuk, Mennonite Disaster Service volunteers will begin work in Circle with the assistance of Amish volunteers later this month. Disciples of Christ volunteers arrive in Emmonak in mid-July. 

State Coordinating Officer Bryan Fisher added that a number of homes in Galena are being elevated to 136.5 feet to withstand future flooding, well above the local ordinance and three feet above the 2013 flood level.

According to Fisher, in addition to extensive support from the State of Alaska, federal assistance to eligible individuals and communities has surpassed $27.5 million.

“The collective efforts of the skilled volunteers, the state, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and local officials who have been part of the recovery effort should help ensure the long-term sustainability of the affected Bush communities whose roots run deep along the banks of the Yukon,” Fisher said.

 

Federal Assistance by the Numbers: 

Individual Assistance                                                 $  3.49 million

U.S. Small Business Administration                           $  4.10 million

Public Assistance                                                      $  17.30 million

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program                              $  2.65 million

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One Year Later: Rebuilding Better and Stronger

MEMA, FEMA to Reimburse Local Governments for Debris Pick-up until July 26

JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency announce local governments in counties designated for federal disaster assistance have until July 26 to pick up eligible disaster-related debris, including stumps and root balls, from public rights-of-way.

If property owners hire contractors to move debris, the contractors must haul the debris off and cannot just move it to the right-of-way. Debris left by contractors is not eligible for reimbursement. Construction debris and concrete slabs are also not eligible.

A number of nonprofit and voluntary organizations are in Mississippi to help with the cleanup effort. Property owners who need help removing debris from their property should contact their county emergency management office.

Storm debris should be placed at the right-of-way for pickup, divided into the following categories:

  • Household garbage
  • Construction debris
  • Vegetative debris
  • Household hazardous waste
  • White goods such as refrigerators and dryers, and
  • Electronics

Property owners should contact their local governments with any questions regarding debris eligibility or debris sorting questions.

MEMA reports estimate 85 percent of eligible debris in Mississippi has been picked up.

Debris removal grants are funded by FEMA’s Public Assistance grant program, which reimburses local and state governments and certain private nonprofits for eligible expenses incurred before, during and after a disaster. FEMA covers the federal share, which amounts to 75 percent of eligible debris removal costs. MEMA is covering the remaining 25 percent of eligible debris removal costs.

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. 

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MEMA, FEMA to Reimburse Local Governments for Debris Pick-up until July 26

FEMA, SBA Deadline Less Than Two Weeks Away

Jackson, Miss. – The deadline for Mississippi storm survivors to register for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration is June 30.  

Residents of Itawamba, Jones, Leake, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Montgomery, Rankin, Simpson, Warren, Wayne, and Winston counties who suffered damages as a result of the tornadoes, severe storms and flooding that occurred from April 28 through May 3, 2014, may be eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.

Assistance for homeowners and renters may include money to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs.

Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA may be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance. Filling out the SBA loan application is an important step toward recovery. No one has to accept a disaster loan, but completing and returning the application may open the door to other forms of assistance, such as additional FEMA grants. The deadline to submit a completed loan application is June 30.

Survivors can register with FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Central Time). Multilingual operators are available.

For additional information about SBA low-interest disaster loans, contact the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339, emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or visiting sba.gov/disaster.

For more information on Mississippi disaster recovery, click fema.gov/disaster/4175. Visit the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency website at msema.org or the Facebook page 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). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

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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FEMA, SBA Deadline Less Than Two Weeks Away

FEMA Mitigation Specialists Available at Home Depot and Lowe’s

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Are you repairing or rebuilding damaged property? Have questions about flood insurance? Want to protect your property from potential loss or damage from future disasters?

Federal Emergency Management Agency mitigation specialists will be available at three home improvement stores in the area to provide information on rebuilding safer and smarter. 

Specialists will be available at the following Home Depot stores through noon on June 26.

The hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. On Sundays, noon to 5 p.m.

Home Depot            

541 W. Nine Mile Road        

Pensacola, FL 32534

Home Depot                                 

4825 Mobile Highway         

Pensacola, FL 32506   

Starting Friday, June 20, mitigation specialists will be available at the following location through noon on June 26. The hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. On Sundays, noon to    5 p.m.

Lowe’s 

4301 W. Fairfield Drive

Pensacola, FL 32505                     

Information on the National Flood Insurance Program, advisory base flood elevation maps, flood insurance rate maps, and repair and rebuilding will be available to all, not just to individuals who are registered with FEMA.

Advice also will be given on:

  • Elevating electrical services and appliances;
  • Installing sewer back-flow valves;
  • Replacing drywall and insulation;
  • Channeling water away from foundations; and
  • The permitting process required by local authorities.

More information on ways to protect your property from disasters is available at www.fema.gov.

Click on “Plan, Prepare and Mitigate.”

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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.

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FEMA Mitigation Specialists Available at Home Depot and Lowe’s

Pensacola Recovery Center Transitions to SBA Loan Outreach Center on Monday

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The State/FEMA disaster recovery center located at the Brownsville Community Center is transitioning on Monday, June 23, to a U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loan outreach center. Survivors will still be able to obtain disaster-related information after the center transitions.  

SBA representatives will be on hand at the loan outreach center to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program and explain the loan application process. Survivors can also get help applying for or closing low-interest disaster loans. The center is located at:

Escambia County

Brownsville Community Center

3100 W. DeSoto St.

Pensacola, FL 32505

The joint State/FEMA disaster recovery center will continue normal operating hours, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, June 17, through Saturday, June 21. The center is closed Sunday.

Beginning Monday, June 23, the SBA disaster loan outreach center will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, until further notice. The center will be closed Saturdays and Sundays.

The Pensacola disaster recovery center opened May 10 to help survivors who sustained damage during the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding from April 28 to May 6. The center has received more than 3,100 visits in nearly six weeks.

Disaster survivors can continue to register until July 7, 2014, either online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone at m.fema.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362. Survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability can call (TTY) 800-462-7585.

To apply for an SBA low-interest disaster loan, survivors can find the electronic loan application on SBA’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Questions can be answered by calling the SBA disaster customer service center at 800-659-2955/(TTY) 800-877-8339 or visiting www.sba.gov.

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

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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.

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Pensacola Recovery Center Transitions to SBA Loan Outreach Center on Monday

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