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As Recovery Centers Transition, Help Continues

EVERETT, Wash. – Starting Monday, May 12, local, state and federal representatives will continue to meet individually with SR530 Slide survivors at the Snohomish County Family Resource Center in Darrington.

At the center, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will operate a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC). SBA representatives will continue to answer questions, explain the application process, help homeowners, renters and owners of businesses of all sizes apply for low-interest disaster loans.

Address:

Snohomish County Family Resource Center
1075 Fir St.
Darrington, WA 98241

Hours of operation:

Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

SBA’s low-interest, federal disaster loans are available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, nonprofit organizations to repair or replace property damaged or destroyed by the disaster. So far, SBA has approved more than $700,000 in low-interest disaster loans to residents and businesses.

SBA provides federal low-interest disaster loans up to $200,000 to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Businesses of any size and private, nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to homeowners and businesses to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

For small businesses and most private, nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered property damage from the explosion.

Snohomish County has opened a Disaster Information Office in Darrington. The office will be a resource information site; no services will be delivered from this location. To learn more, click: http://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/2358/Resources.

Address:

Disaster Information Center
1075 Darrington St.
Darrington, WA 98241

Hours of operation:

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Through Saturday, May 10 at 6 p.m., disaster survivors can continue to meet individually with local, state and federal representatives at the three recovery centers that have operated since April 7.

Disaster Recovery Center addresses:

Arlington Dept. of Public Works
154 West Cox Ave.
Arlington, WA 98223

Oso Fire Station (Snohomish County Fire Protection District 25 – parking lot)
21824 State Route 530 NE
Arlington, WA 98223

Darrington Ranger District Office (parking lot)
1405 Emens Ave. North
Darrington, WA 98241

Hours of operation:

Monday through Friday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Survivors can also ask questions about the disaster assistance process and check the status of their FEMA registration by calling the Washington State Other Needs Assistance help line, (800) 688-3469, or the FEMA help line: (800) 621-3362 or TTY (800) 462-7585.

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As Recovery Centers Transition, Help Continues

Completed SBA Loan Application May Trigger Additional FEMA Grants

EVERETT, Wash. – SR530 Slide survivors who are notified by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that they may be eligible for low-interest disaster loans should work with the SBA to complete the application, according to officials with the Washington Emergency Management Division (WEMD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Whether a loan is wanted or not, the SBA loan application may trigger additional grant assistance through FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program. The State of Washington administers the ONA grant funding for survivors who are not offered an SBA loan but who need additional recovery assistance.

SR530 Slide survivors have only a few weeks remaining to register with FEMA for possible assistance. FEMA registration is possible through June 2. Registration is available online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at (800) 621-3362. TTY survivors should use (800) 462-7585 with Video Relay Service survivors calling (800) 621-3362. Phone lines are open seven days a week from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m., PDT.

The SBA is authorized, when a federal disaster is declared, to offer low interest loans to individual homeowners and renters as well as businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations. Eligible homeowners may receive up to $200,000 for home repair or replacement of primary residences and eligible homeowners and renters up to $40,000 to replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.

Small businesses suffering economic impact due to the SR530 slide can apply for up to $2 million for any combination of property damage or economic injury under SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.

Interest rates for SBA disaster loans can be as low as 2.25 percent for homeowners and renters, 2.625 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 4 percent for businesses, with terms up to 30 years. SR530 Slide survivors have until June 2, 2014 to apply for SBA loans. Small businesses applying for only the EIDL program have until Jan. 2, 2015.

SBAs important phone numbers:

SBA Customer Service Center – (800) 659-2955

TTY – (800) 877-8339

To access online applications click www.sba.gov/disaster.

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Completed SBA Loan Application May Trigger Additional FEMA Grants

Tuckerton Restaurant Rebuilds With Improved Disability Access

LINCROFT, N.J .— When the Panini Bay Waterfront Restaurant in Tuckerton was damaged by Superstorm Sandy, owner and chef Ivar Johnson had several critical decisions to make. Chief among them was how to maintain wheelchair access for customers with disabilities while elevating the remaining structure and adding additional mitigation features.

When Sandy struck, the first floor was flooded with a foot of water, ruining the floors and walls. Waves 10 to 15 feet high destroyed the windows and damaged the mechanical equipment and duct work built underneath the original floor. The ramp and stairs leading to the restaurant were also severely damaged.

The restaurant’s main floor was elevated onto 9-foot high pylons. A new seating area was built on a raised platform and the kitchen was relocated to the center of the building. A multilevel staircase was added.

But the main feature of the rebuilt Panini Bay is the enclosed wheelchair lift outside the restaurant that transports customers up to the entrance.

Mr. Johnson stands inside the wheelchair lift to demonstrate. Panini Bay Waterfront owner and chef Ivar Johnson demonstrates the wheelchair lift.“Better price,” Johnson said when asked why he decided to go with the wheelchair lift instead of a full elevator. “And it fits the architecture of the building.”

Tuckerton had recently passed an ordinance making its base flood elevation 11 feet, “and at the time, it was an additional 3 feet on top of that,” Johnson said. Though the ordinance forced Johnson to elevate the building, he said it also allowed him to rebuild with better materials and re-do elements, particularly the plumbing, that were built improperly the first time.

The lift cost $25,000. Two people, along with a rider using a wheelchair, can fit inside comfortably. The lift has a seat, a seat belt, and an emergency phone inside. The enclosure cost an additional $12,000 and completely surrounds the lift and its mechanics. It is made out of nearly 40 3x7s and measures 14 feet from top to bottom.

Johnson found the firm that designed the lift through an architect friend. Construction took six months to complete. A short ramp leads from the ground to the chair lift. The restaurant had a wheelchair ramp before Sandy, but rebuilding it was not feasible given the height of the elevation.

“The lift gets plenty of use,” Johnson said.

Johnson admits the new design is not perfect. However, the new structure and elevation protect the restaurant, which sits on the Tuckerton Inlet, better from wind, salt water and storm surges, and the improved wheelchair access will serve the needs of the new restaurant for many years to come.

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:

Tuckerton Restaurant Rebuilds With Improved Disability Access

Five More Alabama Counties Added for FEMA Individual Assistance

CLANTON, Ala. – Survivors in Blount, DeKalb, Etowah, Mobile and Tuscaloosa counties may now apply for federal disaster assistance, as they were added Thursday to the major disaster declaration for the recent tornadoes and flooding in Alabama.

Individuals and households in the five counties may now register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance, and report their uninsured or underinsured property damage from the severe storms during the period of April 28 through May 5.

A total of nine counties have been designated for the Individual Assistance program. The other four counties are Baldwin, Jefferson, Lee and Limestone.

Disaster assistance for uninsured and underinsured individuals may include:

Money to help pay for temporary housing and emergency home repairs.
Money for serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance.
Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Survivors can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone 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. local time, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

Alabama residents 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.

Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if the person has registered with another disaster-relief organization. FEMA registrants must use the name that appears on their Social Security card.

Applicants will be asked for the following information:

Social Security number
Address of the damaged home or apartment
Description of the damage
Information about insurance coverage
A current contact telephone number
An address where they can receive mail
Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.

For more information on Alabama disaster recovery, click fema.gov/disaster/4176. Visit the Alabama Emergency Management Agency website at ema.alabama.gov/ or Facebook page at facebook.com/AlabamaEMA.

Five More Alabama Counties Added for FEMA Individual Assistance

Florida Panhandle Counties Now Eligible for Federal Disaster Assistance

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Survivors in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties who sustained property damage as a result of the recent severe storms and flooding in Florida are urged to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as they may be eligible for disaster assistance.

Disaster survivors have several ways to apply:

By phone at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.
Online at DisasterAssistance.gov any time day or night.
Via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

Assistance can include money for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious

disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs. Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration may also be available to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance.

Survivors 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.

Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if the person has registered with another disaster-relief organization. Applicants will be asked for the following information:

Social Security number
Address of the damaged home or apartment
Description of the damage
Information about insurance coverage
A current contact telephone number
An address where they can receive mail
Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.

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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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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Original article:

Florida Panhandle Counties Now Eligible for Federal Disaster Assistance

Senior Citizens Won’t Lose Benefits If They Receive State, Federal Disaster Aid

Little Rock, Ark. – Senior citizens who sustained losses in the April 27 severe storms, tornadoes and floods needn’t worry that applying for federal disaster assistance will cause them to sacrifice their Social Security benefits, pay more taxes or give up income-based benefit programs.

A grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) does not add to a senior’s taxable income as long as the grant is to help recovery from a disaster like the severe storms.

“Severe storm systems affect everyone,” said State Coordinating Officer David Maxwell of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management. “We want to reassure Arkansas seniors not to be afraid to apply for state and federal assistance.”

“Receiving disaster funds will not cause anyone to miss out on assistance from other programs,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Timothy J. Scranton with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “We urge seniors who sustained storm damage to go ahead and apply.”

Applying for assistance also does not affect a person’s eligibility for Medicaid, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, supplemental nutrition assistance or other federal programs. Recipients do not have to repay FEMA grants.

Seniors and other survivors who live in Faulkner, Pulaski, Randolph and White counties can register online with FEMA at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. For 711 Relay or Video Relay Services, call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Originally posted here –

Senior Citizens Won’t Lose Benefits If They Receive State, Federal Disaster Aid

More than $1.3 Million in Federal Assistance Approved for Mississippi Storm Survivors

PEARL, Miss. – Less than 10 days after severe storms, tornadoes and flooding swept across Mississippi, more than $1.3 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency grant assistance has been approved to help those affected by the storms.

More than 2,100 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 partner agencies such as the U.S. Small Business Administration, the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. FEMA often refers survivors to those agencies. All businesses are also referred to the SBA. Other callers may be interested in other programs such as disaster unemployment assistance and disaster legal services.

The following is a snapshot of the disaster recovery effort as of May 7:

More than 200 households approved for FEMA grants for homeowners and renters, including:
- More than $978,000 approved for housing grants, including short-term rental assistance and home repair costs.
- Nearly $327,000 approved to cover other essential disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses and lost personal possessions.
428 home inspections completed.
891 visits to disaster recovery centers by people affected by the disaster.
5 disaster recovery centers currently open.

No matter the degree of loss or insurance coverage, survivors in the 12 disaster-designated Mississippi counties are urged to apply for help. Designated counties include Itawamba, Jones, Leake, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Montgomery, Rankin, Simpson, Warren, Wayne and Winston. Survivors can use any of the following methods to register:

By phone, call 800-621-FEMA (3362) People who are deaf or hard of hearing and use a TTY should call 800-462-7585. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time. Assistance is available in most languages.
Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
By tablet or smartphone, use the FEMA app or go to m.fema.gov.

Survivors who register with FEMA and are referred to SBA will be contacted with options on how to apply for a low-interest disaster loan. After being contacted by SBA, survivors should complete and submit an application even if they do not plan to accept a loan in order to continue the federal assistance process. It is part of the FEMA grant process and can pave the way for additional disaster assistance. SBA disaster loans are available with interest rates as low as 2.188 percent and terms up to 30 years.

Complete the SBA application online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Call the SBA customer service center with questions at 800-659-2955. People who are deaf or hard of hearing and use a TTY can call 800-877-8339. For more information, visit sba.gov.

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.

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

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More than $1.3 Million in Federal Assistance Approved for Mississippi Storm Survivors

Survivors in Five More Mississippi Counties May Now Apply For Disaster Assistance

PEARL, Miss. – Survivors in Jones, Leake, Montgomery, Simpson and Warren counties whose property was damaged by the recent storms, tornadoes and flooding in Mississippi may now apply for federal disaster assistance.

The five counties were added to the April 30 presidential disaster declaration Tuesday, bringing the total number of Mississippi counties designated for Individual Assistance to 12, according to officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The original seven designated counties are Itawamba, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Rankin, Wayne and Winston.

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 U.S. Small Business Administration may also be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance.

Survivors can register 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. local time, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

Applicants will be asked for the following information:

Social Security number
Address of the damaged home or apartment
Description of the damage
Information about insurance coverage
A current contact telephone number
An address where they can receive mail
Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.

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Survivors in Five More Mississippi Counties May Now Apply For Disaster Assistance

FEMA Awards $676,740 Grant to Saline County: Hazard mitigation funds will be used to acquire and demolish 9 flood prone structures

CHICAGO –The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $676,740 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to Saline County,Ill., for the acquisition and demolition of eight residential structures and one commercial structure located in the 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 residents who have been hit by flooding many times in the past,” said Jonathon Monken, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. “The grant will enable them to move to higher ground 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 $902,320eligible project cost. The remaining 25 percent of the funds, $225,580, will be provided by Saline County.

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 $676,740 Grant to Saline County: Hazard mitigation funds will be used to acquire and demolish 9 flood prone structures

Storm Survivors Have Many Ways to Register for Federal and State Help

Little Rock, Ark. – Storm survivors in the four disaster-designated Arkansas counties have plenty of options when it comes to asking for state and federal assistance.

A State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will open in Mayflower, Ark., on Thursday, May 8. Mobile Registration Intake Centers are opening Wednesday, May 7, in newly declared Pulaski and White counties, and registration teams are going door to door in affected areas in Faulkner, Pulaski, Randolph and White counties. (A DRC will open soon in Randolph County).

Meanwhile, storm survivors may continue to register online at www.disasterassistance.gov and by phone at 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585.

At the DRC, visitors will be able to talk to specialists from the state of Arkansas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Internal Revenue Service, the American Red Cross, plus other agencies and groups. Those professionals will be available to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors.

“Some folks prefer to meet face to face rather than do business over the phone or online,” said State Coordinating Officer David Maxwell. “The recovery center gives Arkansans that opportunity.”

Disaster Recovery Center Location:

Disaster Recovery Center

(Old Pawn Shop)

600 Highway 365

Mayflower, AR 72106

Monday to Saturday: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sundays: 1 to 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, Mobile Registration Intake Centers (MRIC) continue to assist survivors in Vilonia and Mayflower, and will open today in Pulaski and White counties. Survivors can register for state and federal assistance and check the status of their applications at an MRIC.

“Disaster Recovery Centers put the federal and state personnel a survivor might want to meet under one roof, and MRICs offer a quick way for people to register,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) Timothy J. Scranton. “Both the fixed and mobile centers – and of course, our door-to-door outreach – are designed to offer the most convenience to tornado and storm survivors here in Arkansas.”

Mobile Registration Intake Center Locations:

Pulaski County:

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church

27025 Kanis Road, Little Rock, AR 72223

White County:

4103 Highway 36 West
Searcy, AR 72143

(This is an open parking lot across highway from a volunteer fire department)

Hours for both:

Monday to Saturday: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sundays: 1 to 6 p.m.

Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are canvassing neighborhoods to help people register and provide information. All team members wear FEMA shirts and have FEMA badges.

Survivors can continue to register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. They may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

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Storm Survivors Have Many Ways to Register for Federal and State Help

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