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FEMA Help Continues After Registration Deadline

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.— FEMA says Nov. 17 tornado survivors have until Monday Jan. 27 to register for possible disaster assistance, but that doesn’t mean help is ending.

Survivors who register by Jan. 27 may continue to receive federal disaster assistance after this date. The following assistance may be available:

Temporary housing for homeowners and renters.
Home repairs.
Other serious disaster-related expenses for homeowners and renters not met by insurance or other assistance programs. This includes financial help for damaged cars and personal contents.
Low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration that may cover losses for homeowners, renters and business owners not fully compensated by insurance.

Survivors with questions about their applications can continue calling FEMA’s helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362), 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, after Jan. 27.

Face-to-face help continues to be available at the Brookport Disaster Recovery Center at the Brookport Library on U.S. Highway 45 and the East Peoria Disaster Recovery Center at the Festival of Lights Building on East Washington Street in East Peoria. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Survivors can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA until Jan. 27.

For the latest information on Illinois’ recovery from the Nov. 17 storms, visit FEMA.gov/Disaster/4157. Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, facebook.com/fema and youtube.com/fema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of funding for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339).

FEMA News Desk: 217-522-2080

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FEMA Help Continues After Registration Deadline

FEMA Says Help Us Help You

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – If you’re a survivor of the Nov. 17 Illinois tornadoes, FEMA says you deserve every eligible penny in federal disaster assistance.

Don’t leave possible FEMA grants and SBA disaster loans on the table. Take the necessary steps to help FEMA help you.

Register with FEMA—deadline close: Disaster assistance may be available to tornado survivors who register with FEMA before the Jan. 27 deadline. The sooner you register the sooner you may qualify for FEMA assistance. Register at DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-FEMA (3362). Help FEMA help you.

Only one registration per household: FEMA assists eligible survivors by household. The assistance process stops if multiple applications are received from the same address. Applying multiple times doesn’t increase your chances of receiving federal disaster aid. It stops your chances. Help FEMA help you. Register only once.

FEMA grants versus insurance benefits: After registering with FEMA for assistance, some applicants may receive a letter indicating FEMA can’t help. Read any FEMA letter closely. FEMA may need insurance settlement documents to assure FEMA grants won’t duplicate insurance payments. Help FEMA help you. Failure to submit needed documents could stop any additional assistance.

Fast track the SBA Loan Application: FEMA refers some applicants to the Small Business Administration to complete and submit an SBA loan application. You may not want a loan, but failure to submit the application may stop any further FEMA grants coming your way. Help FEMA help you. The quickest way to apply is to complete an SBA disaster loan application online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoan.SBA.gov/ela.

Get Your FEMA/SBA questions answered: Call the FEMA help line, 800-621-FEMA (3362) or for face-to-face help, visit a FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center – 2200 East Washington, East Peoria or the Brookport Library, 7415 S. U.S. Highway 45, Brookport.

Survivors can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or with a smartphone or tablet by visiting m.fema.gov. They can also register over the phone by calling FEMA’s helpline, 800-621-FEMA (3362). Survivors who use a TTY can call 800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

FEMA News Desk: 217-522-2080

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FEMA Says Help Us Help You

FEMA Awards Nearly $2.7 Million to Texas for University of Texas Medical Branch Mitigation Measures

DENTON, Texas – Nearly $2.7 million was recently awarded to the state of Texas by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the implementation of mitigation measures to several University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Hospital buildings.

The FEMA funding allows for the protection of critical facility infrastructure for John Sealy Hospital Annex Buildings #8 and #91 by elevating all mechanical, electrical and plumbing elements.

To date, FEMA has awarded nearly $3.4 million to Texas for such mitigation measures at four UTMB buildings.

FEMA’s contribution, which is made possible by Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding, represents a 75 percent federal cost share. FEMA awards funding for projects directly to the state of Texas; the state then forwards the grant to the eligible applicant.

HMGP provides grants to states and tribal and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures that reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters. The grants also enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster.
Learn more about FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant program online at http://www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-grant-program.

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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 http://twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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FEMA Awards Nearly $2.7 Million to Texas for University of Texas Medical Branch Mitigation Measures

One Month Remains to Request FEMA Help

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Survivors of the Nov. 17 Illinois tornadoes have until Monday, Jan. 27 to request assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Federal disaster assistance may be available for the following:

Temporary housing for homeowners and renters.
Home repairs.
Other serious disaster-related expenses for homeowners and renters not met by insurance or other assistance programs.
Low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration that may cover losses for homeowners, renters and business owners not fully compensated by insurance.

Survivors can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or with a smartphone or tablet by visiting m.fema.gov. They can also register and get questions answered over the phone by calling FEMA’s helpline, 800-621-FEMA (3362). Survivors who use a TTY can call 800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

For the latest information on Illinois’ recovery from the Nov. 17 storms, visit FEMA.gov/Disaster/4157. Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, facebook.com/fema and youtube.com/fema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

FEMA News Desk: 217-522-2080

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One Month Remains to Request FEMA Help

Highlands Family Is at Home for the Holidays

LINCROFT, N.J. – Last year was the first time that Steven and Kathryn Chaney didn’t spend Christmas with their three children.

“It was very strange,” Kathryn Chaney said. “We’ve been married 30 years and we’ve always had children around.”

After more than a year of moving from house to house and shelter to shelter, the Chaney family is reunited and spending the Christmas season together in their new home.

The Chaneys spent last Christmas at a friend’s house after their Port Monmouth home was destroyed by Superstorm Sandy despite sitting six feet above ground level. Steven and Kathryn, along with daughter Deidre and granddaughter Elizabeth, had planned to ride out the storm. Their sons, Steve and Ryan, had gone to visit friends when Sandy made landfall.

“An hour before high tide, there was water on our deck,” Kathryn said.

They were evacuated by an Army transport. They spent the night at a shelter and returned the next morning to find their entire street devastated. Many houses had their ground floors inundated by rain and floodwaters. Chaney said their house had two feet of water in it.

“I grew up in Rockaway Beach, New York,” Chaney said. “I’ve always lived near the ocean. I’m used to big storms. But the ocean didn’t get us. We got hit by the creek.”

Steven and Kathryn spent the next couple of days cleaning up and salvaging what they could. They spent those nights in the livable spare room of a neighbor’s house before going to a Red Cross shelter at Henry Hudson Regional High School for a week. Their next stop was Atlantic Highlands, where they spent Thanksgiving and Christmas at a friend’s house – but without the rest of their family.

The prolonged separation was stressful for the entire family. Their sons were shuttling back and forth between friends’ houses for months. Steven and Kathryn spent January in what she called “the worst hotel room ever.” The family wasn’t reunited until they got the keys to an apartment at Fort Monmouth on Valentine’s Day after a FEMA case worker contacted them in February.

Kathryn estimates that the family looked at about 10 homes before finding one in November. They wanted to return to the Port Monmouth area to give their children easier commutes to work, but their housing requirements complicated matters. The Chaneys eventually found a house in Highlands and moved in on Dec. 4. Kathryn was quick to credit their FEMA recertification specialists for their help in the home-finding process.

When asked to rank the importance of getting into a home by Christmas on a scale of one to 10, Kathryn said, “Eleven.”

Life is beginning to return to normal. Granddaughter Elizabeth is now 17 months old. “I hope she doesn’t have any memories of everything we went through,” Kathryn said. Instead of helping their neighbor put up his tree in his house, the Chaneys have a home of their own to decorate. They are also back together and under one roof.

“We can have our ham dinner and just be together,” she said.

To see a video of the Chaneys talking about their journey, follow this link: http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/89622

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

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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Highlands Family Is at Home for the Holidays

New Recovery Center Hours Begin Dec. 30

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The State of Illinois and Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Recovery Centers helping Illinoisans affected by the Nov. 17 tornadoes will change hours beginning Monday, Dec. 30.

The new hours at the centers in East Peoria and Brookport are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Centers are closed Sunday.

Tazewell County

Festival of Lights

2200 E. Washington St.

East Peoria, IL 61611

Massac County

Brookport Library

7415 S. U.S. Highway 45

Brookport, IL 62910

Survivors do not need to visit a center to register for federal disaster assistance. They can register with FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585 or with a smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

FEMA News Desk: 217-522-2080

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New Recovery Center Hours Begin Dec. 30

Resolve to Rebuild Safer and Stronger in 2014

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.—Take advantage of a new year to make your family safer in the face of future disasters.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency encourages Illinois residents to resolve to rebuild stronger and smarter, reducing the risk of potential devastation caused by events like the Nov. 17 tornadoes.

Through New Year’s Day, FEMA will offer simple tips and ideas to construct and maintain a home that can better withstand weather risks your community faces. This information will be posted and updated on FEMA’s Illinois recovery website FEMA.gov/Disaster/4157 as well as Facebook.com/FEMA and Twitter.com/FEMAregion5. Learn about rebuilding techniques and tips such as:

Reinforcing your Residence. Retrofitting your home can provide structural updates that didn’t exist when it was constructed. For instance, a homeowner can install straps to their roof’s structural beams to make it strong enough to resist the “uplift” effect of high winds that can cause it to lift and collapse back down on the house.
Fortify those Floors. Homeowners can secure their structure to its foundation by using anchors or straps. This can minimize the chances of a home moving off its foundation during events like tornadoes and earthquakes.
Trim & Tighten. Consider cutting away any dangling tree branches that pose a threat to your home and securing outdoor furniture and fuel tanks that can serve as projectiles during high wind events.
Elevation is a Smart Renovation. Flooding is a real risk in Illinois and elevating your home and its critical utilities can significantly reduce the risk of water damage. Contact your local floodplain manager to learn your flood risk and elevation requirements for your residence.
Assure You’re Fully Insured. Take the time to review your insurance coverage. Are you adequately insured for the risks your community faces? Are you covered for wind, flood or sewer back-up coverage? Has your policy been updated to reflect the value of your home? Contact your insurance agent to get these questions answered and ensure your home is financially protected.

For the latest information on Illinois’ recovery from the Nov. 17 storms, visit FEMA.gov/Disaster/4157. Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, facebook.com/fema and youtube.com/fema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

FEMA News Desk: 217-522-2080

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Resolve to Rebuild Safer and Stronger in 2014

Illinois Tornado Recovery News: Capsule of Illinois tornado recovery news for weekly newspapers

Springfield, Ill. – This capsule of recent disaster recovery information is provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Don’t let misinformation keep you from registering for disaster assistance.

Sometimes unexpected, uninsured expenses arise weeks or even months after a disaster. For example, you might identify additional damage to your home in the spring when temperatures rise and contractors are able to conduct a more comprehensive inspection. If your insurance settlement is delayed, you may qualify for temporary rental assistance if your home is uninhabitable. Or you may exhaust the additional living expenses provided by your insurance company. FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration disaster assistance may help cover some of these expenses.

Registering with FEMA is quick and easy. You should register even if you have insurance and regardless of your income level or the level of damage your home sustained. Register online at DisasterAssistance.gov, with a mobile device by using the FEMA app or going to m.fema.gov, or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362). People who are deaf or hard of hearing and use a TTY can call 800-462-7585.

SBA low-interest disaster loans are a major recovery funding source for Illinois.

If you apply for assistance with FEMA and are referred to the SBA, it’s important to submit a low-interest disaster loan application to assure that the federal disaster recovery process continues. You are not obligated to accept a loan, but failure to complete and submit the application may stop the FEMA grant process. Homeowners may be eligible for loans up to $200,000 for repairs. Homeowners and renters may be eligible to borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property. For businesses, loans are available up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged real estate, and other business assets. Eligible small businesses and non-profits can apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster.

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

Rental assistance is available if you have been displaced as a result of the storms.

If you are making repairs to or rebuilding your home, you may be eligible for assistance from FEMA to cover temporary rental expenses if your home is uninhabitable – but you must register with FEMA to be considered. Call 800-621-FEMA (3362) or visit a Disaster Recovery Center if you have questions or need help finding a rental property. You can also go Nestrent.com or IlHousingSearch.org to identify available rental properties.

FEMA decision letters are not the end of the line for disaster assistance.

After registering with FEMA, you will receive a letter explaining the status of your application. The letter may state that you’re ineligible for assistance, but this isn’t necessarily a final decision. It is important to read the entire letter carefully because it states exactly what needs to be submitted for potential federal assistance. If you have insurance, you must submit all of your insurance information for FEMA to review your eligibility. Sending your insurance declaration page is not sufficient. You need to submit actual insurance settlement information. If you are unsure of how to obtain this document, contact your insurance company, call the FEMA helpline (800-621-FEMA) or visit a Disaster Recovery Center. Insurance documents will be reviewed, then an inspector may arrange a visit to the damaged home or apartment to determine if there are uninsured, eligible losses. Federal disaster assistance may assist in covering some expenses not covered by insurance. You can appeal FEMA’s decision. Appeals must be filed within 60 days of the date of the determination letter. More information is available by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or by taking the letter to a Disaster Recovery Center. You can locate the nearest center by going to fema.gov/drclocator.

Help is available to repair damaged vehicles.

If you had a vehicle damaged or destroyed in one of the counties affected by the Nov. 17 Illinois tornadoes, you may be eligible for federal disaster assistance. Even if you are not a resident of one of the designated counties, you may still be eligible for this assistance if you were working or visiting one of the counties. You must register with FEMA to be considered for eligibility. In addition to FEMA assistance, homeowners and renters may be eligible to borrow up to $40,000 through SBA’s low-interest disaster loan program to repair or replace personal property, including automobiles damaged or destroyed in the disaster.

Illinois recovery photos and videos available

Visit fema.gov/disasters/4157 to access FEMA’s online library of photos and videos documenting response and recovery efforts to the Nov. 17 storms and tornadoes in Illinois. The page also includes updated information and important messages regarding Illinois’ recovery.

NEWS DESK: 217-522-2080

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Excerpt from:

Illinois Tornado Recovery News: Capsule of Illinois tornado recovery news for weekly newspapers

FEMA Says Disaster Assistance Good Holiday Topic

Springfield, Ill.— FEMA wants anyone who was affected by the Nov.17 tornadoes to apply for disaster assistance, and family gatherings this holiday season could be a good time to ask around the table: Have you registered with FEMA?

Applying for assistance may unlock valuable FEMA grants to pay for a temporary place to live while your home is being repaired and to help pay for those repairs. Even lost personal items may be covered.

Applying is easy. You can apply on line or use that smart phone to call or connect to the FEMA app, and it only takes about 20 minutes.

FEMA grants can fill insurance gaps. Uninsured and underinsured losses may be covered by FEMA grants. Register and let FEMA determine if you’re eligible, and don’t wait on the insurance settlement to register.

Return that completed SBA loan application. Registering with FEMA may refer you to SBA for you to complete and return a disaster loan application. Not submitting the disaster loan application could stop the FEMA grant process. Receive every FEMA dollar you may qualify for. Get that disaster loan application in today, and remember, qualifying for a loan doesn’t mean you have to accept it.

Grants and loans ease later worries. Let FEMA and the SBA determine the extent of your damage and help with your recovery. FEMA grants are a helping hand while SBA disaster loans – up to $40,000 for contents and up to $200,000 for home repairs can help finance your full recovery. The SBA disaster loan balance will be reduced by your insurance settlement.

Insurance first, then FEMA. A FEMA application must wait on an applicant’s insurance settlement, so when you receive a letter from FEMA describing documents needed to process your FEMA grant, mail or fax those documents right away. Don’t leave a possible FEMA grant on the table.

FEMA News Desk: 217-522-2080

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FEMA Says Disaster Assistance Good Holiday Topic

$384,000 in Federal Funding Supports Greene County’s Sandy Recovery

NEW YORK — FEMA has approved more than $384,000 in Hurricane Sandy assistance to fund emergency efforts and help repair and rebuild public infrastructure in Greene County.

To date, local, state and federal recovery officials have identified 15 projects from nine applicants in Greene County that are eligible for Public Assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The $384,239 represents 90 percent of the cost of approved PA projects that will be reimbursed by FEMA. The state manages the PA program and disburses funding.

A breakdown by category of work:

Debris Removal $ 59,602

Emergency Protective Measures $ 30,629

Roads and Bridges $227,302

Water Control Facilities $ 60,011

Buildings and Equipment $ 6,695

$13,269 is included in the funding for Greene County for permanent work to reduce or eliminate repeat disaster damage.

PA applicants included:

state agencies
local and county governments
private nonprofit organizations that own or operate facilities that provide essential government-type services

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. 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.

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$384,000 in Federal Funding Supports Greene County’s Sandy Recovery

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