Whole-Community Rapid Response Marks First Thirty Days of Recovery

JACKSON, Miss. – It was April 28 when tornadoes swept from west to east across Mississippi, the beginning of five days of severe storms that also brought rain and flooding. The National Weather Service confirmed 23 tornadoes in the state and 14 deaths. More than 1,200 homes and 90 businesses were destroyed or sustained major damage. Approximately 2,000 homes and 200 businesses were damaged in some way. Two days into the event, Governor Phil Bryant’s request for a federal disaster declaration was granted by President Obama.

A dozen counties were so badly damaged they soon qualified for federal Individual Assistance to help individuals and households. Public Assistance was also included to help local governments, and certain private nonprofits in 10 counties.

The American Red Cross quickly opened shelters for those displaced by the tornadoes and eventually operated six shelters which provided 678 overnights stays, 21,512 meals and 25,721 snacks by the time they closed. The Salvation Army opened eight mobile kitchens (“Canteens”) and three fixed feeding sites. They served 10,256 meals, 13,547 beverages and 7,328 snacks.

Only a week after the Louisville tornado destroyed the Winston Medical Center, the only hospital in the area, MEMA and FEMA, with the assistance of the State of North Carolina, delivered a replacement. The National Mobile Disaster Hospital, which FEMA kept in a state of readiness in North Carolina, was loaded onto 27 tractor-trailers and delivered to Louisville for installation. MEMA leased another dozen mobile units in Mississippi to be installed as patient exam rooms.

Mississippi’s State Medical Assistance Team from University of Mississippi Medical Center provided emergency medical care to the citizens of Winston County while the National Mobile Disaster Hospital was transported and assembled.

Less than three weeks after their hospital was destroyed, the staff of the Winston Medical Center opened their new temporary facility at 7 a.m. on May 19.

Meanwhile, on May 3, MEMA and FEMA opened the first three disaster recovery centers where disaster survivors could obtain recovery information in person. Those centers were in Louisville and Tupelo, which briefly had two centers. On May 5, three more centers opened in Brandon, Columbus and Mantachie. Eventually 10 centers would be opened, the last on May 12 in Laurel. Six remained open this week. The centers have received nearly 4,000 visits so far.

The U.S. Small Business Administration also staffs the disaster recovery centers to help individuals, households and businesses understand the process for obtaining low-interest, long-term loans. Currently the SBA has approved 95 home loans for homeowners and renters totaling just over $6.6 million dollars for rebuilding, repairing and replacement of damaged property.   

SBA continues to have staff at all disaster recovery centers to provide assistance with the completion and return of the loan applications. SBA advises there is no need to wait on an insurance settlement and encourages those with SBA loan applications to complete and return them as soon as possible.

For many Mississippians, the face of FEMA was a member of its Disaster Survivor Assistance cadre who are the eyes and ears of FEMA in impacted communities. They meet with local officials, community and faith leaders, business owners, schools and service organizations to identify disaster survivors who may need one-on-one help in registering and receiving FEMA assistance. They have visited more than 8,500 homes and interacted with more than 6,000 disaster survivors in Mississippi.

Mitigation is the word FEMA uses to describe the job of helping residents reduce the risk of damage in a future disaster. FEMA mitigation outreach teams can be found in home improvement stores, armed with situation-specific advice, booklets and pamphlets explaining how to repair or rebuild safer and stronger.

On another front, MEMA and FEMA created a joint task force to tackle the complex housing problem the disaster created. Statewide, 767 households were left homeless in the aftermath of the tornadoes.

Upon official review of assistance applications of homeowners and renters, more than a dozen cases were referred to the voluntary agency liaison for possible volunteer assistance to repair or rebuild their homes. More than 30 other disaster survivor households were identified as having access and functional needs. Their cases were referred to appropriate agencies. Overall, adequate temporary housing was determined to be available in 11 of the 12 counties eligible for FEMA Individual Assistance.

On May 20, FEMA approved a direct housing mission for residents of Winston County, where the most severe and concentrated tornado destruction happened. New, FEMA-owned mobile homes can be provided as temporary living quarters where no rental housing or other appropriate housing is available.

Where possible, temporary mobile homes will be installed on private sites while homes are rebuilt. Available vacant mobile home sites in existing parks also will be utilized.

But first, the tornado debris has to be cleared from properties of disaster survivors eligible for temporary use of a FEMA mobile home. By law, FEMA is not authorized to pay for debris clearance on private property. But skilled, disaster-experienced volunteers responded to Mississippi. They are helping survivors move debris off their lots and to the roadsides.

MEMA and FEMA are connecting those volunteers with the resources to get the job done. MEMA, through its newly-launched Business Emergency Operations Center, worked with private sector companies willing to donate tools and equipment, plus the diesel fuel to operate the heavy equipment.

In the fourth week of the disaster, the first applications for temporary mobile homes were approved and sites deemed suitable. Two will be placed on homeowner properties in Noxapater, Miss., and four will be installed on vacant pads in a trailer court in Louisville. More applications are being processed as quickly as possible.

Two temporary mobile homes arrived in Mississippi Tuesday; both are 34-foot, one-bedroom “park models.” One meets Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards for use by a disabled applicant. More units will make the three-hour trip from FEMA’s staging area in Selma, Ala. as applicants are approved and sites are prepared.

Volunteers from Mennonite Disaster Services, under agreement with MEMA and FEMA, are clearing sites of debris using their own equipment and fuel as well as donated equipment and fuel. Other volunteer groups, including Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, Samaritan’s Purse and Team Rubicon, have placed tarps on roofs of damaged homes and cleared debris.

This week, Public Assistance “kick-off” meetings were completed for the 10 counties eligible for FEMA grants to help local governments cover the costs of debris removal and emergency protective measures. Nine of the 10 counties also are eligible for help funding the repair or replacement of damaged public property.

Public Assistance benefits all taxpayers of designated counties to the extent that it relieves them of bearing costs of disaster response and rebuilding public facilities.

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.

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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Whole-Community Rapid Response Marks First Thirty Days of Recovery

FEMA Awards $238,219 Grant to City of Savanna: Hazard mitigation funds will be used to acquire and demolish eight flood prone structures

CHICAGO –The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $238,219 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to Savanna, Ill., for the acquisition and demolition of eight residential structures in the Plum 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 Administrator Andrew Velasquez III. “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 Savanna 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 Plum River 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 $317,625 eligible project cost. The remaining 25 percent of the funds, $79,406, will be provided by the city of Savanna.

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 $238,219 Grant to City of Savanna: Hazard mitigation funds will be used to acquire and demolish eight flood prone structures

For Communities Plagued by Repeated Flooding, Property Acquisition May Be the Answer

LINCROFT, N.J. ­– Millions of people enjoy living near the water, but few people actually want to live in it.

When a property or a neighborhood experiences repeated flooding, costs for the property owner, the community and the state can escalate rapidly.

Flooding may impact the stability of a home or an entire neighborhood, damage or destroy personal property, impact property values and lead to injuries or loss of life. Emergency responders may risk their own lives to help residents escape rising waters.

And while the waters eventually recede, the misery caused by floods is long lasting. The impact of a storm surge may have structurally weakened formerly sturdy homes.  Water-laden walls and floors may set the stage for the development of hard-to-eradicate colonies of mold that can present health risks for vulnerable residents, particularly those with compromised immune systems, children and the elderly.  Repeated flooding may leave homes uninhabitable and unlikely to attract a buyer.

For all of these reasons, states and federal governments have acted to intervene in this cycle of decline by offering voluntary buyout programs to homeowners in neighborhoods that have been subject to repeated flooding.

In 2007, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection established Blue Acres, a permanent, flood hazard mitigation program.

Funded via a combination of federal, state and local grants, the Blue Acres program established a protocol for purchasing homes from willing sellers in communities subject to repeated flooding.

Once purchased by the municipality, the homes are demolished and the property is designated as open space.

Property acquisition is the most permanent form of flood hazard mitigation.

In New Jersey, federal funds from FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation program and from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development combine with state and municipal funding to underwrite the property acquisition program.

For eligible communities, FEMA typically funds 75 percent of the cost of property acquisition with the municipality and state contributing the remaining twenty-five percent.

In the case of Hurricane Sandy, FEMA and the state of New Jersey agreed that FEMA will cover one hundred percent of the costs of property acquisition as permitted under federal regulations.

FEMA does not buy houses directly from homeowners. Buyout projects are initiated and administered by local and state governments with grant funding support from FEMA.

Additional federal funding may also be provided by the Community Development Block Grant program administered by HUD.

To qualify for federal funding for the acquisition of flood-prone properties, a state must create a flood mitigation plan, which is then submitted to FEMA for review and approval.

In its mitigation plan, the state identifies communities that have experienced losses due to repetitive flooding and, once the plan is approved by FEMA, notifies those communities that funding for property acquisition may be available.

Once a community has been notified that funds may be available for property acquisitions in their town, community meetings are held to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the program and to explore any issues or questions that arise regarding the potential buyouts.

Homeowners in eligible communities who are interested in having their property acquired by their community must file a Blue Acres application for a buyout and follow the steps outlined in the process to secure an offer on their property and begin to move forward, leaving their flood risks behind them.

The program is completely voluntary; no homeowner is required to sell their property or is forced to move because their home is located in an area subject to repetitive flooding.

Homes that are determined to be eligible for buyouts are purchased by the town at the fair market value of the property prior to the flood. The fair market value is determined as the result of an appraisal conducted by a certified appraiser using sales of comparable homes sold before the flood event.

Homeowners who disagree with the appraisal have the right to appeal within 30 days following a written offer.

The municipality must receive the property free of any mortgages, liens or outstanding taxes. Any debt connected to the property must be paid off and the amount of that debt is deducted from the amount paid to the property owner before the transfer is complete.

The State will conduct title searches for each property to verify ownership and to identify any issues that prevent the homeowner from giving the state clear title to the property. Any debts outstanding on the property are paid off through the proceeds of the sale with the remainder of the proceeds being paid to the property owner.

Once a property has been purchased through the Blue Acres program, the home is demolished and the land becomes public property, designated via deed-restriction as open space.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the NJDEP announced plans to use $300 million in federal disaster recovery funds to purchase approximately 1,300 homes in areas subject to repeated flooding. The properties to be acquired include 300 homes in the Passaic River Basin, in Manville and in other tidal areas of the state.

To date, FEMA has obligated $73 million of the anticipated $300 million for property acquisition initiatives in New Jersey.

The first post-Sandy buyouts in New Jersey took place in the towns of Sayreville and South River in Middlesex County, which were inundated by storm waters when the Raritan and South Rivers overflowed their banks and a storm surge rose from Raritan Bay. The first demolition took place in Sayreville on March 13, 2014.

In accordance with the funding agreement between the state and FEMA, FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is providing 100 percent of the funding for the initial round of buyouts in South River, Sayreville and Woodbridge.

Approximately 198 properties have been acquired and demolished or are pending acquisition and demolition in Woodbridge. In South River, 77 properties are approved for acquisition and demolition, bringing the total of purchased homes in so far to 273.

Forty-one homeowners in Old Bridge Township and 9 homeowners in Lawrence Township have submitted buyout applications and are awaiting approvals.

The state ultimately aims to purchase 1,300 post-Sandy properties to mitigate flood risk by establishing permanent, public open space and to get homeowners in flood-prone areas permanently out of harm’s way.

For more information on the New Jersey Blue Acres program, visit http://www.state.nj.us/dep/greenacres/blue_flood_ac.html

 To view a video on the Blue Acres program at work in Sayreville, N.J., go to http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/93670

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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

Link: 

For Communities Plagued by Repeated Flooding, Property Acquisition May Be the Answer

New Disaster Recovery Center Schedules Announced Tuesday, May 27

JACKSON, Miss. – One day remains to visit the disaster recovery center in Waynesboro, which closes at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 28.

Also closing this week, at 6 p.m. Friday, are the disaster recovery centers in Laurel and on Stadium Road in Columbus.

Three remaining disaster recovery centers will be closed weekends beginning this week. They are on Lawrence Drive in Columbus, in Louisville and in Tupelo.

Mississippi disaster survivors can visit any of the disaster recovery centers open in the state. Survivors can also call the FEMA helpline for assistance at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585.) Locations can be found by visiting FEMA.gov/DRCLocator or by calling the FEMA helpline. The new schedule is:

Closing Wednesday

Wayne County

810 Chickasawhay St., Waynesboro, Miss.

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Wednesday, May 28.

Closing Friday

Jones County

1425 Ellisville Blvd., Laurel, Miss.

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday, May 30.

Lowndes County

381 Stadium Rd., Columbus, Miss.

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday, May 30.

Remaining open until further notice

Lee County

320 Court St., Tupelo, Miss.

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday – Friday, closed weekends.

Lowndes County

222 Lawrence Dr., Columbus, Miss.

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday – Friday, closed weekends.

Winston County

826 S. Church Ave., Louisville, Miss.

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday – Friday, closed weekends.

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. If possible, they should register for FEMA assistance before visiting a disaster recovery center. At a center they can check on the status of their application and learn about recovery services available from other agencies, including the U.S. Small Business Administration.

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 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.

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New Disaster Recovery Center Schedules Announced Tuesday, May 27

Not enough insurance? FEMA may be able to help

Little Rock, Ark. – As residents rebuild their lives and their homes, representatives of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are encouraging all people in Faulkner, Pulaski, Randolph and White counties who suffered damages as a result of the tornadoes and severe storms to file with their insurance companies and to register with FEMA.

“Disaster survivors should always file a claim with their insurance company first,” said State Coordinating Officer David Maxwell of ADEM. “But they should also register with FEMA because sometimes FEMA’s Individual Assistance covers damages that insurance does not.”

“You may be uninsured or under-insured for certain expenses or losses,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Timothy J. Scranton. “By law, we can’t pay for damages that are covered by insurance, but there may be other ways we can help you.”

One month after the tornadoes tore through central Arkansas on April 27, more than 1,300 residents of Faulkner, Pulaski, Randolph and White counties have applied for Individual Assistance.  

If any of the following situations occurs after you file an insurance claim, FEMA may be able to provide some assistance:

  • Your insurance settlement is delayed. Delayed means a decision on your insurance settlement has been delayed longer than 30 days from the time you filed the claim. If a decision on your insurance settlement has been delayed, write a letter to FEMA explaining the circumstance. You should include documentation from the insurance company proving that you filed the claim. If you filed your claim over the telephone, you should include the claim number, date you applied, and an estimate of how long it will take to receive your settlement. Any help awarded to you by FEMA would be considered an advance and would have to be repaid to FEMA once an insurance settlement is received.
  • Your insurance settlement is insufficient to meet your disaster-related needs. If you have received the maximum settlement from your insurance and still have an unmet disaster-related need, write a letter to FEMA indicating the nature of the need and including documentation from your insurance company for review.
  • You have exhausted the Additional Living Expenses (ALE) provided by your insurance company. If you have received the maximum settlement from your insurance for Additional Living Expenses (Loss of Use) and still need help with your disaster-related temporary housing needs, write a letter to FEMA indicating why you continue to have a temporary housing need. You will also need to provide documentation to prove use of ALE from insurance, and a permanent housing plan.

Contact FEMA at this address with additional information:

FEMA
National Processing Service Center
PO Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055
FAX 1-800-827-8112

Many people who apply for FEMA disaster aid also receive an application for a low-interest disaster assistance loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration to help homeowners, renters and businesses repair or replace damaged property. If you receive an application, be sure to fill it out and return it in order to be considered for all forms of disaster assistance.

The deadline to register for FEMA Individual Assistance is June 30, 2014.

Tornado survivors can register by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- or hearing-impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual registration assistance is available at both numbers. Survivors may also apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.  By smartphone or tablet, use m.fema.gov.

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 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.

Source: 

Not enough insurance? FEMA may be able to help

Mississippi Disaster Survivors: Read any FEMA Correspondence Carefully

JACKSON, Miss. – Some Mississippi tornado survivors who registered for federal disaster assistance may receive letters or other correspondence from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that say they’re ineligible for help.

However, in many cases, they may be able to turn what appears to be a ‘no’ into a ‘yes’ by following through and providing additional information.

It’s important for survivors to carefully read letters and other information provided by FEMA because they include explanations of what steps need to be taken to have the status of their request for assistance reconsidered by FEMA.

Some of the reasons for an initial turn down can be easily remedied with more information such as:

  • Submitting insurance settlement documents to FEMA.
  • Providing proof of ownership and primary residence at that address at the time of the disaster.
  • Signing essential documents.

Survivors can ask FEMA to review their application again if they appeal the agency’s decision in writing and their letter is postmarked within 60 days of the date on the FEMA decision letter (not the date they received the FEMA letter.)

FEMA cannot duplicate assistance that comes from insurance benefits or other sources, but FEMA’s initial determination of ineligibility may change if private insurance or other government assistance is not enough to cover all the eligible damage.

If the decision is ineligible due to insurance coverage, the applicant may send their insurance settlement documents to FEMA within 12 months of the date they registered with FEMA. Insured applicants are encouraged to always submit their settlement documents for a final decision on whether they qualify for a FEMA grant.

Applicants can appeal FEMA’s decision. When appealing, applicants should explain in writing why they disagree with a decision along with any new or additional documents supporting the appeal.

Appeal letters should include:

  • Federal disaster declaration number ‘4175-DR-MS’ on all pages of documents.
  • Applicant information, including:
    • Nine-digit FEMA application number on all pages of documents,
    • Full name,
    • Date and place of birth, and
    • Address of the damaged dwelling.
  • Copies of verifiable documentation supporting the appeal. All receipts, bills and estimates must include contact information for the service provider. Applicants should keep all originals for their records.
  • A copy of a state-issued identification card, 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 may mail appeal letters to:

FEMA

National Processing Service Center

P.O. Box 10055

Hyattsville, MD  20782-7055

Applicants may fax appeal letters to:

800-827-8112

Attention: FEMA

It is important to have appeal letters postmarked within 60 days of the date on the decision letter.

If applicants have any questions about appealing a decision, they should call 800-621-FEMA (3362) or

TTY 800-462-7585 or go to FEMA.gov/Help-After-Disaster.

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.

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Mississippi Disaster Survivors: Read any FEMA Correspondence Carefully

Registration Intake Center Now Open in Marianna to Help Survivors

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Specialists from the State Emergency Response Team and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be available over the long holiday weekend to provide disaster survivors in Jackson County with on-site registration assistance.

The temporary registration intake center is now open in Marianna to help survivors affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding from April 28 through May 6. The center offers a quick and convenient way for people to register with FEMA.

The temporary center will be open 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. today, Saturday, May 24, and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 25.

Beginning Monday, May 26, the registration intake center will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sundays – until further notice. The center is located at:

City of Marianna Fire Station #2

3990 Kynesville Hwy.

Marianna, FL 32448

Assistance can include money for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as child care assistance, medical and dental expenses, or funeral and burial costs.

Survivors in Escambia, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties can also register for disaster assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov, or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. central time and assistance is available in multiple languages.

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

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Registration Intake Center Now Open in Marianna to Help Survivors

Mitigation Experts Offer Tips to Rebuild Safer, Stronger, Smarter

Mitigation Experts Offer Tips to Rebuild Safer, Stronger, Smarter

Main Content

Release date:

May 23, 2014

Release Number:

026

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Rebuilding or repairing property damaged from the recent severe storms? Get advice on building safer, stronger and smarter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Mitigation experts from FEMA will be on hand at home improvement stores in Conway, Searcy and Little Rock to offer information on rebuilding after a disaster. The advisors 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.

Individual homeowners and contractors can learn more at the following locations:

 

Home Depot
500 Elsinger Blvd.
Conway, Ark.  72032
Sunday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday – Saturday from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.

(Final day: June 2)

Lowe’s
1325 Highway 64 West
Conway, Ark. 72032
Sunday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday-Saturday from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.

(Final day: June 2)

 

Home Depot
12610 Chenal Pkwy.
Little Rock, AR
Sunday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday – Saturday from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.

(From May 29 – June 2)

 

Lowe’s
3701 E. Race Ave.
Searcy, AR
Sunday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday – Saturday from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.

(Final day: May 27)

 

The experts will not be at the stores on Wednesdays or on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26.

In addition, FEMA and the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) have created a “one stop” web site for information to help Arkansans protect lives and property from tornadoes and floods:  www.fema.gov/ar-disaster-mitigation.

 

Last Updated:

May 27, 2014 – 12:20

State/Tribal Government or Region:

Arkansas

Related Disaster:

Arkansas Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

This article:

Mitigation Experts Offer Tips to Rebuild Safer, Stronger, Smarter

Preliminary Flood Maps in Otero County, New Mexico Ready for Public View

Knowing flood risks allows for more informed decisions

DENTON, Texas –Homeowners, renters, and business owners in Otero County, New Mexico are encouraged to look over newly released preliminary flood maps in order to determine their flood risks and make informed decisions.

Local officials from Otero County, the state of New Mexico, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are presenting the preliminary maps to communities in order to help leaders and residents identify known flood risks and use that information to make decisions about buying flood insurance. The data also helps the community move forward with any future development.

“As we work together with our state and local partners to bring this critical information to the county, we ask that everyone review the maps to understand what flood risks are involved,” said R6 Regional Administrator Tony Robinson. “The role of the community as an active partner in the flood mapping process is very important.”

To view the new flood maps, please contact your local floodplain administrator (FPA) or follow the links below:

Once a flood risk is identified, the next step is to consider the purchase of a flood policy from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  The NFIP is currently undergoing a thorough modernization.  Meanwhile, contacting a local insurance agent is the first step to gather information about insurance.  Folks can visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531 to locate an agent in their area.

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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. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

Read this article:  

Preliminary Flood Maps in Otero County, New Mexico Ready for Public View

CORRECTION: Disaster Recovery Center Closings Wednesday and Friday

JACKSON, Miss. – The disaster recovery center in Waynesboro will be open only Tuesday and Wednesday, May 27-28, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., then closed.

In Columbus, the disaster recovery center located on Stadium Road will be open Tuesday through Friday, May 27-30, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., then closed.

All six centers currently open in Mississippi will be closed Sunday and Memorial Day.

Four disaster recovery centers will remain open in Mississippi until further notice. Mississippi disaster survivors can visit any of the disaster recovery centers open in the state. Survivors can also call the FEMA helpline for assistance at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585.) Locations can be found by visiting FEMA.gov/DRCLocator or by calling the FEMA helpline.

Closing Wednesday:

Wayne County

810 Chickasawhay Dr.

Waynesboro, Miss. 39367

Open Tuesday through Wednesday, May 28, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., then closed.

 

Closing Friday:

Lowndes County

381 Stadium Rd.

Columbus, Miss. 39702

Open Tuesday through Friday, May 30, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., then closed.

 

Disaster Recovery Centers Remaining Open:

Jones County

1425 Ellisville Blvd., Laurel, Miss.

Closed Memorial Day. Normal hours 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, closed Sundays.

 

Lee County

320 Court St., Tupelo, Miss.

Closed Memorial Day. Normal hours 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, closed Sundays.

 

Lowndes County

222 Lawrence Dr., Columbus, Miss.

Closed Memorial Day. Normal hours 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, closed Sundays.

 

Winston County

826 S. Church Ave., Louisville, Miss.

Closed Memorial Day. Normal hours 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, closed Sundays.

 

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.

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.

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Visit link:  

CORRECTION: Disaster Recovery Center Closings Wednesday and Friday

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