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Give Your Loved Ones The Gift Of Emergency Preparedness

TRENTON, N.J. — With the holidays fast approaching, New Jersey residents might want to consider giving gifts that will help protect their family members and friends during a future emergency. Supplies for an emergency preparedness kit can make unique — and potentially life-saving — holiday gifts.

Excellent emergency preparedness gifts include:

Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert.
A quality flashlight and extra batteries.
Solar-powered cell phone charger.
Smoke detector and/or carbon monoxide detectors.
First aid kit.
Fire extinguisher and fire escape ladder.
Enrollment in a CPR or first aid class.
Books, coloring books, crayons and board games for the kids, in case the power goes out.
Personal hygiene comfort kit, including shampoo, body wash, wash cloth, hairbrush, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant.
A waterproof pouch or backpack containing any of the above items, or with such things as a rain poncho, moist towelettes, work gloves, batteries, duct tape, whistle, food bars, etc.

Holiday shoppers might also consider giving a winter car kit, equipped with a shovel, ice scraper, emergency flares, fluorescent distress flags and jumper cables. For animal lovers, a pet disaster kit with emergency food, bottled water, toys and a leash is also a good gift.

The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency urge Garden State residents to give at least one of these practical gifts – either as a present under the tree or as a stocking stuffer. It might just save the life of a friend or family member. For more information, preparedness tips or other gift ideas, visit www.Ready.gov.

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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Give Your Loved Ones The Gift Of Emergency Preparedness

FEMA Works To Help New Jersey Meet Sandy Housing Needs

TRENTON, N.J. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency and its partners are working to address the housing needs of people displaced by Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey. The top priority is to help survivors return to their homes or to help them find a safe housing alternative if returning home is not an option.

More than 16,000 households have received FEMA grants to make essential repairs to their homes.

For those who cannot return home, the goal is to help them find a rental property close by. This is better for survivors and helps the whole community recover.

Rental Assistance

More than 41,000 families have received temporary rental assistance from FEMA to help pay for an apartment, house or other temporary home. This assistance is provided while displaced survivors are working to find a permanent housing solution.

Returning to a permanent home is a significant milestone on the road to recovery. FEMA rental assistance may last for up to 18 months from the date of declaration. So it’s important for survivors to have a permanent housing plan.

FEMA has a housing portal at www.fema.gov/housingportal to help families find rental units. In addition to apartments or homes normally available, the portal identifies units provided by federal partners.

To be eligible for possible rental assistance, survivors must first register with FEMA. There are many ways to register.

Survivors can register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet by using the FEMA app or going to m.fema.gov. People may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day seven days a week until further notice.

The deadline to register with FEMA is Jan. 30, 2013.

Transitional Sheltering Assistance

At the request of the state, FEMA activated the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program to move eligible survivors from shelters into hotels or motels if they couldn’t return to their damaged homes. TSA lodging expenses are paid directly to the hotel by FEMA.

Nearly half of the more than 5,000 households that temporarily stayed in a hotel or motel in New Jersey have moved to more sustainable housing. The average hotel/motel stay is 15 days.

The program operates in two-week increments. During each two-week period, FEMA reviews the eligibility of each applicant and emphasizes finding a more sustainable temporary housing solution as quickly as possible.

The TSA program has been extended through Jan. 11, 2013, for those who continue to meet eligibility criteria. The new extension will allow eligible applicants to remain in participating hotels during the holiday season. FEMA will call applicants eligible for the extension to notify them of the extension period and the checkout date of Jan. 11, 2013.

TSA-eligible survivors can receive help finding a hotel by calling: 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day seven days a week until further notice.

Help finding TSA participating hotels also is available online: www.femaevachotels.com.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is supporting the housing recovery.

The department increased the Fair Market Rent standard to 120 percent so families with Section 8 housing choice vouchers have more options. It also relaxed rules to allow senior housing providers to open up vacant units to Hurricane Sandy survivors under the age of 55 without jeopardizing a community’s qualification for certain legal exemptions under the Fair Housing Act.

HUD is also giving the state and communities the flexibility to redirect millions of dollars of Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnerships funds for housing and services for disaster survivors.

HUD has directed banks to hold off on foreclosures and forbearance of Federal Housing Administration mortgages for disaster-affected areas for 90 days following the date of the presidential disaster declaration.

Temporary Housing Units Provided by FEMA

A temporary housing unit – either a manufactured home that can be put in an existing commercial mobile home park, or a remodeled apartment unit at Fort Monmouth — is a last option when renting a property is not possible or reasonable. Decisions on direct federal housing units for survivors are made on a case-by-case basis.

Forty-five units at Fort Monmouth will soon be made available to eligible survivors. Manufactured homes will be installed as needed and as suitable pads are identified at commercial mobile home parks.

By law, federal temporary housing assistance can last only up to 18 months from the date of the disaster declaration.

Call If Your Housing Needs Change

It is critical that FEMA has your current contact information. If housing advisors cannot reach you, then they will be unable to discuss housing options with you.

If you have a continuing housing need, or if you need to update your contact information, please call by phone or 711/VRS – 800-621-3362, TTY 800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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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FEMA Works To Help New Jersey Meet Sandy Housing Needs

Disaster Recovery Centers Change Hours for Holidays

TRENTON, N.J. – New Jersey disaster recovery centers will continue to provide assistance for Hurricane Sandy survivors during the holiday season.

The centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Christmas Eve. The Hoboken center will be closed all day on Christmas Eve. All centers will be closed Christmas Day. Normal hours will resume Wednesday, Dec. 26.

The centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. They will be closed New Year’s Day. Normal hours will resume Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013.

Survivors can visit any of the centers to meet with Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster specialists, receive assistance about low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration and find information about other disaster assistance programs.

Non-holiday hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The centers are currently located at:

Bergen County

Bergen County Plaza

1 Bergen Plaza

4th Floor

Hackensack, NJ 07652

Essex County

Willing Heart Community Care Center

555 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd.

Newark, NJ 07103

Hudson County

City Hall

94 Washington St.

Hoboken, NJ 07030

Bayonne City Museum

229 Broadway

Bayonne, NJ 07002

Jersey City Museum

350 Montgomery St.

Jersey City, NJ 07302

Middlesex County

Sayreville Senior Center

423 Main St.

Sayreville, NJ 08872

Woodbridge Health Center

2 George Frederick Plaza

Woodbridge, NJ 07095

Monmouth County

Belmar Municipal Building

601 Main St.

Belmar, NJ 07719

Henry Hudson Trail Activity Center

945 Highway 36

Leonardo, NJ 07737

Long Branch Fire Station No. 4

199-205 Union Ave.

Long Branch, NJ 07740

Union Beach Municipal Building

650 Poole Ave.

Union Beach, NJ 07735

Ocean County

Bay Head Fire Station No. 1

81 Bridge Ave.

Bay Head, NJ 08742

Dec. 24 hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The center’s regular hours of 8 a.m.to 5 p.m. will change to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 26

Bell Crest Plaza Store Front 4C

953 Fischer Blvd.

Toms River, NJ 08753

Brick Township Civic Center

270 Chambers Bridge Road

Brick, NJ 08723

Harvey Cedars Bible Conference Center

12 Cedars Ave.

Harvey Cedars, NJ 08008

Little Egg Harbor Senior Center

641 Radio Road

Little Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08087

Old Township Building

775 East Bay Ave.

Stafford, NJ 08050

Passaic County

Passaic County Department of Health

317 Pennsylvania Ave.

Paterson, NJ 07503

Union County

Gregorio Recreation Center

330 Helen St.

Linden, NJ 07036

Plainfield Senior Citizen’s Service Center

400 East Front St.

Plainfield, NJ 07060

To find the nearest recovery center, the following options are available: Text DRC and a Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA), and a text message will be sent back with the address. Also, visit the disaster recovery center locator at www.FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

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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Disaster Recovery Centers Change Hours for Holidays

Greene County Designated for FEMA Public Assistance for Sandy Response, Rebuilding Costs

14 New York counties now eligible for public infrastructure repair, emergency work and cleanup reimbursement

NEW YORK – The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today that Greene County is now eligible for disaster aid under the FEMA Public Assistance program.

The Public Assistance program reimburses state and local governments, tribal organizations and certain private nonprofit entities at least 75 percent of costs for disaster-related expenses associated with emergency protective measures, debris removal, and the repair and restoration of damaged infrastructure. The remaining 25 percent comes from non-federal funds.

In order to qualify, damage must be a direct result of Hurricane Sandy.

“I am pleased to announce that Greene County has been added to the disaster declaration,” said Michael F. Byrne, FEMA federal coordinating officer. “As the recovery continues, FEMA is working with our state and local partners to rebuild New York. We have been here since the beginning and will stay here until our work is done.”

With the addition of Greene County, there are now 14 New York counties designated for Public Assistance under President Obama’s federal disaster declaration for New York, including: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester and Greene.

In the seven weeks since Hurricane Sandy made landfall, FEMA has awarded more than

$318 million to local governments and eligible nonprofit organizations.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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Greene County Designated for FEMA Public Assistance for Sandy Response, Rebuilding Costs

Assistance to New York State Sandy Survivors Tops $1 Billion

NEW YORK – Nearly seven weeks since the Oct. 30 federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Sandy in New York, more than $1 billion in state and federal assistance has been approved for survivors.

“We are all working together to get the disaster assistance where it needs to be – in the hands of survivors and communities,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne. “FEMA’s mission has been to help individuals and families recover from the disaster and we will continue to support residents until the mission is completed.”

While there is still much work to be done, this money has contributed significantly to the recovery effort. Survivors are repairing homes and debris is getting cleaned up. FEMA assistance is helping to speed the pace of recovery for survivors.

FEMA continues to reach out to all 13 counties designated for Individual Assistance, focusing on the hardest-hit areas. Assistance to residents in affected counties includes:

Bronx $2.1 million
Kings $175 million
Nassau $263.8 million
New York $11.9 million
Queens $205.9 million
Richmond $82.8 million
Suffolk $59.8 million

FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration have approved more than $1 billion for Hurricane Sandy survivors. This includes more than $806 million in Individual Assistance and more than $723 million for Housing Assistance and nearly $83 million in assistance for other needs.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $264 million in disaster loans to homeowners, renters and businesses. The SBA has staff members at every FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center and 19 Business Recovery Centers in the New York area to provide one-on-one help to business owners seeking disaster assistance.
More than 256,000 New Yorkers have contacted FEMA for information or registered for assistance, including more than 139,000 who have applied through the online application site at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or on their smartphone at m.fema.gov.
24 Disaster Recovery Centers are open in the affected areas. These include mobile sites as well as fixed sites, and to date nearly 105,000 survivors have been assisted at Disaster Recovery Centers in New York.
91 inspectors are currently in the field. To date 164,824 home inspections have been completed, making a 99 percent completion rate.
2 Points of Distribution remain open in Nassau County providing meals, water and blankets.
13 New York counties are designated for both Individual Assistance and Public Assistance. These are Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester. Greene County has been designated for Public Assistance only.
Public Assistance funds are also flowing; so far, more than $318 million has been obligated to the state to help replenish dollars spent to protect New Yorkers before, during and after the storm. The FEMA PA program reimburses state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations 75 percent of costs for

disaster-related expenses associated with emergency protective measures, debris removal, and the repair and restoration of damaged infrastructure. In order to qualify, damage must be a direct result of Hurricane Sandy.

Individuals can register with FEMA online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585.

Applicants who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362.

The toll-free telephone numbers are operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until further notice.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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Assistance to New York State Sandy Survivors Tops $1 Billion

Governor Cuomo Announces $20 Million FEMA Grant to Help New York City Pay for Cleaning Up after Hurricane Sandy

NEW YORK – Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a $20 million Public Assistance grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the City of New York Department of Sanitation to help pay for costs incurred cleaning up after Hurricane Sandy. With this grant, FEMA has awarded more than $318 million in Public Assistance funds to New York State since the storm.

“As New York City and the downstate region recover from Hurricane Sandy, we will continue to work closely with the federal government to get as much financial assistance as possible,” Governor Cuomo said. “This grant from FEMA will help the city cover clean-up costs that we simply cannot afford on our own. I thank the agency for their commitment to our state.”

“New Yorkers have done an extraordinary job preparing for and responding to the storm,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne. “As we begin the recovery, FEMA’s commitment to New York has never been stronger. We will be here until the job is finished.”

The $20 million awarded today is in addition to a previous grant of $26 million to help cover 75 percent of the Department of Sanitation’s estimated expenses for debris removal in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Other FEMA Public Assistance funds awarded to New York so far includes:

New York University Langone Medical Center: $149.5 million to reimburse the cost of evacuating patients, performing emergency repairs, cleaning facilities and replacing critical equipment.
New York Police Department: $75,660,695 to help pay for uniformed and civilian personnel who patrolled streets, distributed food and water to hurricane survivors and assisted residents in obtaining emergency medical care.
City of New York Department of Sanitation: $46,793,952 to reimburse labor and equipment expenditures for the removal of an estimated 1.3 million cubic yards of debris.
City of Long Beach: $24,315,825 for expenses incurred collecting and clearing more than 700,000 cubic yards of debris scattered across the city.
Nassau County: $18,086,238 for costs associated with debris removal and disposal throughout the county.
Nassau County: $2,812,500 to help pay for the implementation of the Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power (STEP) Program.
Suffolk County: $1,125,000 for costs associated with STEP

The FEMA Public Assistance program reimburses state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations 75 percent of costs for disaster-related expenses associated with emergency protective measures, debris removal, and the repair and restoration of damaged infrastructure. In order to qualify, damage must be a direct result of Hurricane Sandy.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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Governor Cuomo Announces $20 Million FEMA Grant to Help New York City Pay for Cleaning Up after Hurricane Sandy

Manhattan Disaster Recovery Center Opens Saturday

NEW YORK – The state of New York and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will open a new Disaster Recovery Center in Manhattan at 8 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, to provide

one-on-one, face-to-face help for Hurricane Sandy survivors.

The center will be located at Southbridge Towers, Store No. 10, 66 Frankfort St., New York,

NY 10038. It will be convenient not only for Manhattan residents, but also for storm survivors who live in other boroughs or counties and work in Manhattan.

Normal operational hours for the Disaster Recovery Center are:

8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday

9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday (Dec. 23 only)

Holiday hours for the center are:

8 a.m. to noon on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) and New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31)

The center will not open on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Individuals may visit the Manhattan center to obtain useful FEMA information and apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Seven weeks after Hurricane Sandy struck, more than 20 Disaster Recovery Centers remain open throughout New York. They have hosted about 105,000 survivors of the devastating storm.

To find the nearest recovery center, the following options are available: Text DRC and a Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA), and a text message will be sent back with the address. Also, check out the Disaster Recovery Center locator at www.FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

Individuals can find a recovery center – and register for FEMA help – online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet by going to m.fema.gov or downloading the FEMA app. They may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) should call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.

Hurricane Sandy survivors in New York have until Jan. 28, 2013 to register for federal disaster assistance, which can include money for rent, essential home repairs, personal property losses and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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Manhattan Disaster Recovery Center Opens Saturday

Rhode Islanders Urged to Be Smart and Cautious When Repairing Flood Damage

WARWICK, R.I.– Federal and state recovery specialists urge Rhode Islanders affected by Hurricane Sandy to be careful and smart about rebuilding. Be careful about hiring contractors and be smart about improving your property’s resistance to future floods. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency offer the following tips on rebuilding and working with contractors.

Here are some recommendations to reduce the amount of damage from a future flood. Details are in brochures from FEMA that are available online at http://go.usa.gov/gwAh.

Rebuild with materials that resist flood damage: Building materials are considered flood resistant if they can withstand direct contact with flood waters for at least 72 hours without being significantly damaged.
Elevate or relocate electrical system components, the HVAC system and appliances. Flood waters quickly destroy electrical elements. Panel boxes, circuit breakers, wall switches, wall outlets, the HVAC system and appliances should be located at least one foot above the base flood elevation or even moved to a higher floor for safety.
Install a sewer backflow valve: Flooded sewer systems can force sewage back into the home. This complicates cleanup and, more importantly, creates a health hazard. Backflow valves installed inside or outside the structure will stop sewage backup.
Anchor fuel tanks. Fuel tanks, either inside or outside the home, should be anchored to prevent them from overturning or breaking loose in a flood. Metal straps and bolts should be non-corrosive and wood structural supports should be pressure treated.

Most of these modifications should be carried out only by a professional contractor licensed to work in your area. When hiring contractors to repair homes damaged by flooding, be cautious to avoid being taken advantage of by scam artists.

Get a written estimate. Compare services and prices before choosing a contractor.
Check references.
Use a licensed, insured contractor. Get proof—see the card issued by the Rhode Island Contractors Registration and Licensing Board that the contractor is registered and insured. If the contractor is not insured, the homeowner may be liable for accidents that occur on the property.
Require a written contract. Have a lawyer review the contract if substantial costs are involved.
Get guarantees in writing.
Make final payments only when work is satisfactorily completed.
Pay by credit card, if possible, or by check. Avoid on-the-spot cash payments. A reasonable down payment is 30 percent of the total cost of the project, to be paid upon first delivery of materials.
If necessary, cancel a contract. Be sure to follow the procedures for cancellation that are set out in the contract. Send the notification by registered mail with a return receipt to be signed by the contractor.

You can find out if a contractor is licensed and insured and get more information about hiring contractors on the web site of the State of Rhode Island’s Contractors Registration and Licensing Board, www.crb.ri.gov/.

If you suspect contractor fraud, contact the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit at 401-274-4400.

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 medical and dental expenses, 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.

SBA disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people with speech or hearing disabilities) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Applications can also be downloaded from www.sba.gov or completed on-line at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/

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Rhode Islanders Urged to Be Smart and Cautious When Repairing Flood Damage

FEMA to Maintain Presence at New SBA Center in St. John Parish

BATON ROUGE, La. — To continue serving Hurricane Isaac survivors in St. John Parish, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has partnered with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide assistance specialists at the SBA’s new Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC), which opens Friday in LaPlace.

“Even though the registration period ends today, we know many Louisianians still have questions regarding their applications for assistance, or simply prefer to talk with someone face to face,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar. “The continued presence of Individual Assistance professionals in the new SBA center highlights our commitment to helping eligible hurricane survivors here in Louisiana.”

The DLOC is located at:

2015 W. Airline Hwy.

LaPlace, LA 70068

The center opens at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 30. Its hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, until further notice.

Hurricane Isaac survivors throughout Louisiana can still contact FEMA online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants 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 operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, visit online at www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

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).

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FEMA to Maintain Presence at New SBA Center in St. John Parish

Free Crisis Counseling Offers Holiday Hope for Louisiana Youth and Adults

BATON ROUGE, La. — Holidays can bring great joy — and great stress — for everyone, from toddlers to seniors. But for families disrupted by Hurricane Isaac, this year’s holiday season may bring added anxiety for children if they lost their homes, pets or treasured possessions.

While the support of their families can help many children work through their fears and sense of loss, the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) remind parents and other caregivers that free crisis counseling is available now and well into next year.

The counseling is available in the parishes designated for Individual Assistance under the major disaster declaration. The program, funded by FEMA and administered by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH), is open to any adult or child in designated parishes.

Children are particularly vulnerable to emotional stress after a disaster. Stress symptoms for all children may include excessive fear of the dark, fear of being alone, crying and constant worry. In addition to their feelings of loss, younger children may believe they somehow caused the hurricane. Depending on their developmental stage, those youngsters may not be able to express their emotions through words, so counselors who use therapies that do not rely on talking may be a better fit.

“Parents are the experts on their own children – they know when something’s out of line,” said Tom Davis, associate professor of psychology at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. “Three months after a disaster, if my child was still having difficulties, with symptoms like nightmares, flashbacks, not wanting to talk about it and always being in startle mode, I would consider counseling.”

Davis specializes in work with children’s issues, particularly child anxiety. He suggests parents and family members remember that children take their cues from the adults in their lives.

“If we’re talking about how bad things are, kids pick up on that,” Davis said. “Kids see how others respond to negative events, and model that fear, that anxiety, that worry.”

Trained counselors are provided by the network of state Human Services authorities and districts. Calls to the crisis lines are free of charge, as are face-to-face follow-up sessions for children (and adults) whose needs cannot be fully served through phone counseling.

The health department team encourages parents to help children through the season by listening and talking about their feelings, while reassuring them they are loved and that it’s OK to have these feelings. Children are resilient, and with reassurance, guidance and love, they will be able to take a life-changing event and develop the coping mechanisms to assist them in the future.

To learn more, call the DHH-Office of Behavioral Health Louisiana Spirit Crisis Line at 1-866-310-7977 or the Louisiana Behavioral Health Partnership at 1-800-424-4399.

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Free Crisis Counseling Offers Holiday Hope for Louisiana Youth and Adults

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