There Are Many Reasons for a Letter From FEMA

PEARL, Miss. – Everyone receives a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency after applying for disaster assistance. It explains FEMA’s decision, what to do next if you disagree with FEMA’s decision, and how grant money should be spent if you receive it.

If you have questions about any letter from FEMA, you should call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY at 800-462-7585) or visit a disaster recovery center. You can use the same phone number to find the nearest center. You can also locate a center with your smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov or online at www.fema.gov/drclocator.

If your letter says you are ineligible, it will provide information on what steps are necessary if you disagree with FEMA’s decision. For help, you can call FEMA’s helpline or go to a center and speak with a recovery specialist.

FEMA looks at a number of things and information to determine if a survivor may be eligible to receive disaster assistance. You must be able to:

  • Verify identity. If you’ve lost your ID during the storm, visit a disaster recovery center. The staff there can make referrals regarding replacement documents.
  • Verify occupancy for primary residence. You need to provide proof of occupancy such as a utility bill, driver’s license, merchant’s statement, employer’s statement. You can bring the documents to a disaster recovery center, where recovery specialists will help you.

You may also receive a letter from FEMA about your eligibility if you missed an appointment with an inspector.

That’s why it is so important to give good contact information – such as a cellphone or work number – and stay in touch with FEMA.

If you receive a disaster loan application from the SBA, you must complete and return it to SBA in order to be referred to other FEMA programs. You are not required to accept the loan. But returning the SBA application is part of the assistance process.

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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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There Are Many Reasons for a Letter From FEMA

Additional Disaster Recovery Centers Open Mississippi

PEARL, Miss. – Three additional disaster recovery centers are open in Itawamba, Lowndes and Rankin counties to assist Mississippi residents affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding.

The disaster recovery centers will be open every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and are located at:

Itawamba County

Mantachie Community Center

265 Tishtontee Drive

Mantachie, MS 38855

 

Lowndes County

New Hope Community Center

381 Stadium Road

Columbus, MS 39702

North of the high school, near the football field

 

Rankin County

Rankin County Extension

601 Marquette Road

Brandon, MS 39402

Specialists from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be on hand to answer questions. Survivors will be able to:

  • Discuss their individual disaster-related needs.
  • Submit any additional documentation needed, such as occupancy or ownership verification documents and letters from insurance companies.
  • Find out the status of an application.
  • Obtain information about different types of state and federal assistance.
  • Get help from SBA specialists in completing low-interest disaster loan applications for homeowners, renters and business owners.
  • Receive referrals to the American Red Cross and other voluntary organizations to help with immediate disaster-related needs.

Before going to a center, if possible, survivors should register with FEMA. Apply for assistance by registering 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.

Disaster assistance may include money to help pay for temporary housing and essential home repairs. Low-interest SBA loans may also be available for losses not covered by insurance or other sources.

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

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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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Additional Disaster Recovery Centers Open Mississippi

Alabama Storm Survivors Urged To Register For Disaster Assistance

CLANTON, Ala. – Homeowners, renters and business owners affected by the recent severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in Alabama are urged to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as they may be eligible for disaster assistance.

The presidential disaster declaration on May 2 makes federal assistance available to eligible survivors in Baldwin, Jefferson, Lee and Limestone counties.

Disaster survivors have several ways to apply:

  • Online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov any time day or night.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Alabama residents in Baldwin, Jefferson, Lee and Limestone counties should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but under-insured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

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 Alabama disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4176 or visit the Alabama Emergency Management Agency site at ema.alabama.gov/.

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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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Alabama Storm Survivors Urged To Register For Disaster Assistance

Survivors in Three More Arkansas Counties May Now Apply for FEMA Individual Assistance

Little Rock, Ark. – Arkansans in Pulaski, Randolph and White counties whose property was destroyed or damaged in the April 27 tornado and severe storms may now apply for federal and state disaster assistance.

The three counties were added Monday, May 5, to the major disaster declaration issued April 29 for Faulkner County. Homeowners, renters and business owners in those counties may now register for state and federal assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and report their uninsured or underinsured property damage or destruction from the storm.

“The April 27 storms upended the lives of hundreds of Arkansans – homeowners, renters and business owners – in these counties,” said State Coordinating Office David Maxwell. “Many need assistance, and the addition of their counties to the disaster declaration means we can give them a helping hand.”

 “This action allows us to help many more eligible tornado survivors in Arkansas,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Timothy J. Scranton. “We urge survivors in all four counties now designated for Individual Assistance to register with FEMA as soon as possible. We want to help, but survivors have to register to start the process.”

Disaster assistance for uninsured and underinsured individuals may include:

  • Grants to help pay for temporary housing and emergency home repairs to make a home habitable;
  • Grants for serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance;
  • Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if the person has already registered with another disaster-relief organization or local community or church organization. FEMA registrants must use the name that appears on their Social Security cards. Applicants will be asked to provide:

  • 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 get mail
  • Bank account and routing numbers if they want direct deposit of any financial assistance.

Survivors can register online 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. If you use 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.

Link to article – 

Survivors in Three More Arkansas Counties May Now Apply for FEMA Individual Assistance

Resources Available For Sandy Survivors

LINCROFT, N.J. — When Superstorm Sandy struck and thousands of New Jersey residents were left looking for assistance, public agencies and private entities created resources and programs designed to help them. Nearly 18 months after the storm, the status and scope of these programs have changed, but many of them are still active and available.

Survivors facing urgent safety issues should call 911 or the New Jersey Emergency Response Hotline (800-JERSEY-7). The hotline’s backup numbers are 609-775-5236 and 908-303-0471.

For non-emergency issues and updated news and bulletins, survivors can call the New Jersey 2-1-1 help line or visit www.nj211.org. For emergency-related news, they can also follow @nj211 on Twitter.

FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s website, www.fema.gov/sandy, has the latest news and information on the disaster in New Jersey. Also, ‘like’ the FEMA Facebook page, and/or follow @FEMASandy on Twitter. www.DisasterAssistance.gov has links to community resources, government directories and alerts.

NEW JERSEY STATE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management’s website, www.ready.nj.gov, contains links to the Department of Community Affairs’ Block Grant plan and the state Public Assistance program. Search facebook.com/READYNEW JERSEY on Facebook to find the OEM’s page, and @ReadyNJ on Twitter for news update. The NJOEM also published a blog, which can be accessed at http://readynj.wordpress.com/

The New Jersey State Police can be found at www.njsp.org; @NJSP on Twitter; and at “New Jersey State Police” on Facebook.

FOOD ASSISTANCE

End Hunger NJ (www.endhungernj.org) has a statewide food bank database.

Community Food Bank of New Jersey: www.cfbnj.org; “Food Bank of NJ” on Facebook; @CFBNJ on Twitter.

Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties: 732-918-2600; www.foodbankmoc.org; “foodbankmoc” on Facebook.

Food Bank of South Jersey: www.foodbanksj.org; “Food Bank of South Jersey” on Facebook; @foodbankSJ on Twitter.

Ocean City, New Jersey C.A.R.E. Project: 855-622-2730; www.ocnjcare.org; “OCNJCARE” on Facebook.

GENERAL HEALTH AND WELFARE

The Department of Health and Human Services has a Hurricane Sandy Recovery Page: www.phe.gov/emergency/events/sandy/Pages/default.aspx. Search for “State of New Jersey EMS Taskforce” on Facebook, and @NJEMSTF on Twitter.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a page for hurricane preparedness and response at: www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes. Search for “CDC” on Facebook and follow @CDCEmergency on Twitter.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a hotline accessible by calling 800-321-OSHA (6742). www.osha.gov/sandy has information on keeping workers safe during recovery and cleanup operations.

The Jersey Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross has its own website at: www.redcross.org/nj/tinton-falls. Follow “Red Cross” on Facebook and @RedCross on Twitter.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

The New Jersey Directory of Mental Health Services is online at www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dmhs/news/publications/mhs in three parts.

For children/youth services through the State of New Jersey’s Department of Children and Families, visit www.nj.gov/dcf/families/csc or call 877-652-7624 for questions or to apply for services for developmentally disabled children.

New Jersey Mental Health Cares (www.njmentalhealthcares.org) has updated listings of public mental health providers in the state. Call hotline at 877-294-HELP (4357).

CHILDREN

The non-profit New Jersey Association of Child Care Resources and Referral Agencies is an organization representing child care groups serving New Jersey. Call the hotline at 800-332-9227; visit www.njaccrra.org; or find and like “NJ Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies” on Facebook.

Contact the state Department of Education at 609-292-2070 if you have not been able to enroll your child in school in the town where you are currently living or if you have not been able to return to your home school district.

SENIOR CITIZENS

The Division of Aging Services administers federal and state-run services for senior citizens. It also oversees the 21 Area Agencies of Aging in each county in the state, which develop coordinated community-based systems. Call 877-222-3737 or www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas/home.

AARP: www.aarp.org; “AARP” on Facebook, @AARP on Twitter.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid services provides up-to-date information about natural disasters, extreme weather and emergencies for those with Medicare and Medicaid.  http://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/Emergency/index.html

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES OR ACCESS AND FUNCTIONAL NEEDS

The State of New Jersey has several agencies that deal with different groups of people who are disabled or have access and functional needs:

Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Call 877-685-8878 or visit www.state.nj.us/humanservices/cbvi/home.

Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Call 800-792-8339 or visit http://nj.gov/humanservices/ddhh/home.

The Division of Developmental Disabilities places its main focus on people with mental disabilities, including conditions such as cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, and spina bifida, as well as those who have suffered traumatic brain injuries: Call 800-832-9173 or visit http://nj.gov/humanservices/ddd/home for updated information on programs and to apply for assistance.

The Division of Disability Services focuses on people who became disabled as adults. Call 888-285-3036 or visit http://nj.gov/humanservices/dds/home.

Good Neighbors, Community Living For People with Disabilities is the New Jersey Department of Human Services’ public education program. Call 877-DHS-LINE (347-5463) or visit http://www.nj.gov/humanservices/clients/disability/goodneighbors/ for program information.

The New Jersey Statewide Independent Living Council is a separate entity under the New Jersey Department of Labor. It has locations serving all 21 counties in New Jersey and the cities of Camden and Newark. Visit www.njsilc.org to find contact information for a CIL (Center for Independent Living) near you.

The New Jersey Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters (NJ GAINED) is an advisory board to the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management and to the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. Call 609-963-6818 or visit www.state.nj.us/njoem/plan/special-needs-njsnap.html for information on NJ GAINED projects and the organization’s strategic plan.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences provides documents and resources in English, Spanish and Vietnamese that address emergency preparedness in hurricane and flood situations. Links are at http://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/index.cfm?id=2472.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has a Sandy Resources page (http://www.state.nj.us/dep/special/hurricane-sandy) with fact sheets and information on the buyout program, home elevations and beach replenishments.

The Environmental Protection Agency has a Sandy section on its website: www.epa.gov/sandy. Find “EPA” on Facebook, follow @EPAgov on Twitter or call 888-283-7626.

LEGAL SERVICES

Legal Services of New Jersey (www.lsnj.org) provides free civil legal assistance to low-income New Jersey residents. They have a special New Jersey Hurricane Sandy Hotline at 888-222-5765.

VOLUNTEER SERVICES

Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Hudson, Cumberland, Bergen and Union counties have established Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), which is an organization of volunteer groups, and/or Long Term Recovery Committees (LTRC), which coordinate volunteer and private sector efforts to help residents recover from disasters.

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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Resources Available For Sandy Survivors

FEMA Offers Homebuilders Guide to Coastal Construction

LINCROFT, N.J. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has produced materials to give technical guidance to home builders and property owners planning post-Sandy construction or repairs in coastal areas.

Investigations conducted by FEMA and other organizations have consistently shown that properly sited, well-designed and well-constructed coastal residential buildings generally perform well in coastal disasters.

For residential builders and do-it-yourselfers, FEMA offers a series of Fact Sheets (available free at Fema.gov) that provide technical guidance and recommendations concerning the construction of coastal residential buildings.

The Home Builders Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact Sheet Series is aimed at improving the stability of buildings in coastal environments that may be subject to flood and wind forces.

The 37 fact sheets are divided into 10 categories that cover various aspects of the construction process. Each fact sheet provides specific information on topics like National Flood Insurance Program regulatory requirements, the proper siting of coastal buildings and recommended design and construction practices.

Many of the fact sheets also include lists of FEMA and other resources that provide more information about the topics discussed. Where appropriate, resources are accompanied by active web links.

Updated in 2011, a Coastal Construction Manual – prepared with assistance from other agencies, organizations and professionals involved in coastal construction and regulation – is intended to help designers and contractors identify and evaluate practices that improve construction quality.

The two-volume publication provides a comprehensive approach to planning, siting, designing, constructing and maintaining homes in the coastal environment.

Volume I provides information on hazard identification, siting decisions, regulatory requirements, economic implications and risk management.

Volume II contains in-depth descriptions of design, construction and maintenance practices that, when followed, will increase the durability of residential buildings in the harsh coastal environment and reduce economic losses associated with coastal natural disasters.

The primary audience for Volume I includes design professionals, officials and those involved in the decision-making process. The primary audience for Volume II is the design professional who is familiar with building codes and standards and has a basic understanding of engineering projects.

The Coastal Construction Manual (FEMA publication P-55) and the Home Builders Guide to Coastal Construction Technical Fact Sheet Series (FEMA publication P-499) may be downloaded in Portable Document Format as PDF files or as plain text (.txt) files at fema.gov.

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

Continued here: 

FEMA Offers Homebuilders Guide to Coastal Construction

Hurricane Sandy Recovery Resources For Homeowners

LINCROFT, N.J. — The impending arrival of spring will give homeowners with properties affected by Hurricane Sandy time and opportunity to make repairs and begin mitigation projects. The Federal Emergency Management Agency continues to offer assistance programs designed to provide information and financial help to homeowners and renters.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) includes Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) Coverage, which will pay for flood proofing (commercial or historical properties), relocation, elevation, demolition or a combination of those mentioned. If a homeowner has a NFIP insurance policy and the home is in a designated Special Flood Hazard Area, the community has declared the home substantially damaged, or a repetitive loss provision is in their locally adopted flood plain ordinance, the ICC will pay up to $30,000 but will not exceed the federal cap of the NFIP policy. Additionally, a homeowner should consult with the local Floodplain Manager to see if the locally adopted ordinance includes cumulative improvements and/or cumulative loss provisions.

FEMA also has Hazard Mitigation Assistance Programs to reduce future damages. They are:

  • The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) is available after a federal disaster declaration has been made. This program is designed to mitigate future damages caused by natural disasters affecting communities, people and property.
  • The Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program provides funds to governmental entities for hazard mitigation planning and projects prior to a disaster event to reduce reliance on funding from actual disaster declarations. PDM grants are to be awarded on a competitive basis.
  • The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program is designed to reduce or eliminate claims under the NFIP.

Homeowners do not apply directly for this aid; that is handled by the municipalities, who apply through the HMGP, FMA and PDM programs.

Survivors receiving rental assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development can call 732-345-3771. Homeowners with Federal Housing Administration mortgages can call 800-CALL-FHA (225-5342) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The New Jersey Housing Resource Center also offers information on accessible and affordable housing. Visit www.nj.gov/njhrc or call 1-877-428-8844.

For help finding additional financial assistance, homeowners can contact the FEMA Region II Office at 26 Federal Plaza, Suite 1337, New York, NY, 10278-0002; or by calling 212-680-3600.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is the state coordinator for NFIP, and the Historic Preservation Office of the DEP runs the State Hazard Mitigation Office. Contact both at 401 East State Street, P.O. Box 419, Trenton, NJ, 08625; call 609-984-0859; fax 609-984-1908; or visit the NJDEP website at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/.

Homeowners performing renovations, reconstructions or elevations and seeking technical assistance can call the FEMA Building Science Helpline at 866-927-2104 or email FEMA-buildingsciencehelp@dhs.gov.

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.

Source: 

Hurricane Sandy Recovery Resources For Homeowners

FEMA Corps Teaches Students Emergency Preparedness at Long Branch High School and Old Bridge Township’s Cooper Elementary

LINCROFT, N.J — After two weeks of hard work at the Sandy Recovery Field Office, members of FEMA –Corps’ Fox Four team debuted their emergency preparedness presentation at Long Branch High School on Monday, April 7.

Formerly known as FEMA Connect, the program presented by FEMA Corps recently was renamed, “Ready, Steady, Strong” to more clearly communicate its focus on emergency preparedness.

FEMA Corps is a branch of the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps program (NCCC) created in 2012 when the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) formed a partnership.

FEMA Corps members participate in a 10 month program in which members travel the country in teams, usually composed of a diverse group of 8-10 young adults, who work with FEMA on projects related to disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

Presently stationed at the NJ Sandy Recovery Office in Lincroft, NJ, FEMA Corps’ Fox Four team specializes in Disaster Survivor Assistance. FEMA Corps’ Fox Four is currently visiting schools throughout New Jersey in order to educate students on the importance of disaster preparedness using the FEMA Connect and FEMA for Kids programs.

During their presentation at Long Branch High, the team focused on informing students about emergency alert systems, discussing where to go in an emergency, creating contact cards, preparing emergency supply bags, creating household emergency plans, and encouraging students to get involved in their communities with programs such as Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), Americorps and FEMA Corps.

“The program is unique,” said Fox Four team leader Thomas Trapane.  “We’re testing it out, so we get to utilize our skills and we have that freedom to adapt and do things the way we want…we get to go out and help students prepare for disasters. It’s enjoyable.”

All of the preparation team members did before their first presentation paid off as well. “[The team has] exceeded my expectation and we’ve exceeded the program’s expectations,” Trapane said.  “We’re the first team to go out and present. They’re doing awesome at it… it’s been really good so far.”

Team member Samantha Masters was impressed by how well the students responded to the FEMA Connect presentation. “The students were very engaged. They enjoyed the activities, they participated, they asked questions, and they actually got involved making the disaster kit, and writing things down. They seemed like they enjoyed it.”

Like FEMA Connect, FEMA Corps’ FEMA for Kids program aims to teach pre-school through elementary school students how to prepare for household emergencies and potential disasters. It enforces the idea of being “ready” and encourages kids to be “prepared not scared.”
“[FEMA for Kids] was really interesting because it was little kids and it’s harder to keep them engaged, you could lose their attention quickly, but it was fun. We had a good time doing it” said Trapane.

The program employs creative and interactive activities to inform children of how to react in emergency situations and teaches them healthy habits including everything from personal hygiene to coping mechanisms. The team members debuted their FEMA for Kids program Friday April 11, at Cooper Elementary in Old Bridge.

“It went well. The children were energetic and ready to learn, which was good. I’m pretty sure they’ll take home to their parents the information we presented to them, and hopefully something good will come out of it – whether it’s building a disaster preparedness kit or just knowing where to go if there’s an emergency” reflects team member, Bakari Jones.

“I think that if we teach students about disaster preparedness, then they know more for the next disaster and we’re cutting down on all the possible injuries and things that could go wrong in the next disaster by preparing them ahead of time “ added team member Hanna Reynolds.

For many members of the team, this is their first time in New Jersey, and for some, it’s their first time in the Northeast United States.  One of the best aspects of the FEMA Corps experience, team members said, is the chance to learn about, observe and experience a wide array of different communities and cultures with the opportunity to make a positive impact.

Joining FEMA Corps is a time consuming process filled with detailed applications, paperwork and interviews.  Those who make it through the process are generally a diverse group demographically. However, they consistently have several particular characteristics in common: dedication, passion, and a strong will to help others and make a difference in communities throughout their country.

When asked about their overall experience in FEMA Corps, team leader Trapane said, “I think the idea of being able to meet a bunch of strangers essentially, and travel the country and help communities out is awesome. So far I have no complaints.” And team member Bakari Jones responded, “It’s been everything I expected it to be, if not more, [if not] better.”
 

If you are interested in having FEMA Connect or FEMA for Kids come to your school call (555)555-5555.

For more information on FEMA Corps call (800) 942-2677 or go to Nationalservice.gov.
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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: 

FEMA Corps Teaches Students Emergency Preparedness at Long Branch High School and Old Bridge Township’s Cooper Elementary

College Students Helping Sandy-Damaged Communities Recover

LINCROFT, N.J. — Communities recovering from Hurricane Sandy are getting some extra help with their recovery projects from students at colleges and universities throughout New Jersey.
Graduate and undergraduate students from Richard Stockton State College, Rowan University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Monmouth University and Rutgers University are volunteering with projects that include grant writing, landscaping, dune maintenance and debris cleanup.

On Thursday and Friday, April 3 and 4, students from NJIT in Newark visited Highlands and Sea Bright to help these two hard-hit towns take a few more steps forward on the long road to recovery.

Their presence in Highlands and Sea Bright came about as a result of recovery initiatives being undertaken by the FEMA Federal Disaster Recovery Coordination Group. FDRC is working with the state Office of Emergency Management, the League of Municipalities, two nonprofit organizations: Sustainable Jersey and New Jersey Future to match college volunteers with the recovery needs of some of the state’s hardest hit communities.

In southern New Jersey, the communities of Tuckerton and Little Egg Harbor had a lot of projects on the drawing board but lacked the manpower to move forward with their plans.

 “They were very understaffed and swamped,” said FDRC University Coordinator Mark Strohoefer. “We contacted Stockton College and they were able to immediately place a graduate student in Tuckerton to assist with grant-writing. We were later able to place business school students who assisted with economic development, marketing and branding plans. We were then able to include Little Egg Harbor in some of those areas.”

Unlike many volunteer projects, Strohoefer noted, this effort is aimed at providing “targeted assistance that is one hundred percent useful and beneficial to the towns.”

One example he cited is a team of students from Rowan University’s engineering school, who volunteered their skills in hard-hit Cumberland County. “They’re working on wastewater management and a potable water project.”

Students from NJIT will be working on developing a plan for Highlands to address a sloping issue on the hillsides, assist with a direct piping plan for storm water runoff from high-lying Route 36 and help to educate the public about the ongoing efforts to mitigate flood risks in Highlands.

At Monmouth University in West Long Branch, FDRC is partnering with classes from the Urban Coast Institute, Dept. of Criminal Justice, Rapid Response Institute and the Polling Institute on a number of recovery initiatives.
“We’ve just sent them about three projects from Sea Bright and Highlands to see if they would like to engage on them,” Strohoefer said.

Rutgers University School of Landscape Architecture is already engaged with Sea Bright as the seaside community contemplates landscape enhancements at three gateways to town:  from the Oceanic Bridge in Rumson, Monmouth Beach to the south and from the Azzolina Bridge in Highlands to North Sea Bright.

“What we would like to get done is to look at all the public space in town and essentially develop a master plan,” said Frank Lawrence, volunteer coordinator for the Borough of Sea Bright.
“If you have a plan in place, it allows us to talk to grant-funders like America the Beautiful. If you have a plan with a vision, it makes it more convincing to go to a landscaper and say, ‘Give me a price.’’’

The community is also appreciative of the work done recently by students from NJIT, who cleaned public sidewalks and picked up sand and debris that has accumulated during the harsh winter. The students filled two dumpsters with trash collected in the downtown area, leaving sidewalks freshly swept.

“It makes the town look a little nicer and it makes people feel better,” Lawrence said.  “It’s the type of thing that’s hard to get done in a small town. In the aftermath of a disaster like Sandy, public works departments are already stretched very thin and marshalling enough manpower to get things done can be a difficult challenge.

 “You don’t recover from an event this large that quickly,” Lawrence said. “It takes a lot of time. It’s never quite as fast as you would like.

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

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College Students Helping Sandy-Damaged Communities Recover

$1 Million in State, Federal Assistance Approved for Arkansas Tornado Survivors

Little Rock, Ark. – State and federal disaster responders are acting at record pace to help survivors of the storms and tornadoes that tore through Arkansas on April 27. Federal disaster assistance approved for Arkansans has topped $1 million – and that’s just one of several milestones so far.

President Obama issued a disaster declaration for Faulkner County at 10 a.m. April 29. At 5:45 p.m., less than eight hours later, the first Mobile Registration Intake Center (MRIC) opened for business in Vilonia.

Just eight minutes after the center opened, Disaster Survivor Assistance team members with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) had registered the first survivor for Individual Assistance. And the first FEMA funds, a $1,230 grant from Rental Assistance, were approved at noon on April 30 – less than 26 hours after the disaster declaration.

“We’re very pleased with the efforts at all levels of recovery, from individuals to government agencies,” said State Coordinating Officer David Maxwell of ADEM. “Getting Arkansans’ needs met so they can begin rebuilding their lives is our main concern.”

FEMA housing inspectors are also working quickly to assess homeowners’ property damages. The first inspection was completed less than 26 hours after the declaration. Even more impressive, once an applicant requests a FEMA inspection, the response time is just four hours and 48 minutes.

“FEMA is fully committed to this mission,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Timothy J. Scranton. “Make no mistake – we are here for the long haul.” 

Homeowners, renters and businesses owner can register online 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. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

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$1 Million in State, Federal Assistance Approved for Arkansas Tornado Survivors

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