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FEMA Grants Are Not Taxable Income

WINDSOR, Conn. – Hurricane Sandy survivors receiving Social Security or other government aid have no cause for concern when it comes to how disaster assistance might affect their benefits.

Disaster assistance grants are not taxable income and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, medical waiver programs, welfare assistance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance.

To be eligible for federal disaster assistance, survivors must first register with FEMA. The process only takes about 20 minutes.

Survivors can register online anytime day or night at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or with a smartphone or other web-enabled device at m.fema.gov. Survivors can also register by phone anytime by calling FEMA at 800-621-3362. The TTY number is 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Wait for the English message to finish to reach the multilingual operators.

The deadline to register is Dec. 31. Registering for disaster assistance with other agencies or organizations does not register survivors for FEMA disaster assistance. Having FEMA flood insurance does not register policyholders for disaster assistance; flood insurance claims are handled separately.

Survivors also may visit a Disaster Recovery Center to speak directly with a FEMA specialist who can answer their questions. For an updated list of DRCs, go to http://go.usa.gov/g2Td.

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 800-621-3362. For TTY, call 800-462-7585.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and covers the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

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.

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FEMA Grants Are Not Taxable Income

Federal Aid Programs for the State of West Virginia Declaration

Main Content

Release date:

November 27, 2012

Release Number:

HQ-12-151Factsheet

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s disaster declaration issued for the State of West Virginia.

Assistance for the State and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for removing debris from public areas and for emergency measures, including direct federal assistance, taken to save lives and protect property and public health. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)

Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)

How to Apply for Assistance:

Application procedures for state and local governments will be explained at a series of federal/state applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.

FEMA’s mission is to support our first responders and 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.

Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts available at www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema ; follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fema and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fema.

Last Updated:

November 27, 2012 – 13:24

State or Region:

West Virginia

and

Region III

Related Disaster:

West Virginia Hurricane Sandy

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Federal Aid Programs for the State of West Virginia Declaration

New Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Piermont

NEW YORK — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that a new Disaster Recovery Center is open in Piermont to assist survivors of Hurricane Sandy.

The center is in Village Hall, 478 Piermont Ave., Piermont, NY 10968. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Sunday, Dec. 2.

Disaster Recovery Centers are one-stop shops for eligible storm survivors to get face-to-face help as quickly as possible. More centers will become available as sites are identified and approved. Conditions at individual locations may vary and affect opening times.

In addition to the new site in Piermont, more than 30 other Disaster Recovery Centers remain open throughout New York to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy. Anyone who sustained damage in counties designated for federal individual disaster assistance can visit any of the centers.

To find the one nearest you, 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.

Other help is available from roughly 1,000 FEMA community relations personnel who are blanketing damaged neighborhoods door to door, delivering information vital to recovery and encouraging residents to register for assistance when needed. These personnel can help refer survivors to the proper resources for any unmet disaster needs, but they do not assess or document damage. FEMA inspectors will contact survivors directly after they have registered.

Help also can be obtained by calling FEMA’s toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362. Lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice and assistance is offered in most languages. Individuals may register for help online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by Smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

Federal disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property loss and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

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New Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Piermont

FEMA Offers Guidance at Home Depot on Being Prepared for Future Disasters

NEW YORK — People whose property was damaged or destroyed in Hurricane Sandy and are ready to start rebuilding can get advice from experts. Specialists who are knowledgeable in all facets of cleanup and building safer and smarter to avoid future losses will be dispensing guidance free of charge, compliments of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

FEMA experts will staff tables at Home Depot stores in Nassau County at 1320 Corporate Drive, No. 1300, Westbury; in Suffolk County at 346 Middle Country Road, Coram, and in Kings County at 585 DeKalb Avenue, Brooklyn.

Beginning Wednesday, Nov. 28, through Tuesday, Dec. 3, hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. They’ll be closed Monday.

Advice and direction in flood cleanup, flood-insurance matters, and repair and rebuilding will be available to all, not just to customers who are registered with FEMA.

These mitigation experts will be able to talk about elevating electrical services and appliances; installing sewer back-flow valves; removing and replacing drywall and insulation; channeling water away from foundations; repairing with water-resistant materials. They can also give guidance in the permitting process required by local authorities.

For every dollar spent on mitigation, FEMA officials say, nearly four times as much is saved when another disaster like Sandy hits.

More information on ways to protect your property from disasters to come is available at: www.fema.gov. Click on “Plan, Prepare and Mitigate.”

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FEMA Offers Guidance at Home Depot on Being Prepared for Future Disasters

Nearly $680 Million Approved for New York State Hurricane Sandy Survivors

Main Content

Release date:

November 26, 2012

Release Number:

NR- 053

NEW YORK — Since Hurricane Sandy struck New York, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved nearly $680 million to help individuals and families recover from the disaster.

FEMA is reaching out to all 13 designated counties with attention focused on the hardest hit areas of New York State. Assistance to the hardest-hit areas includes:

Bronx $1.6 million
Kings $143.3 million
Nassau $228.3 million
New York $8.7 million
Queens $173.6 million
Richmond $71.8 million
Suffolk $49.1 million

FEMA provides the following snapshot of the disaster recovery effort as of November 26:

More than 231,000 New Yorkers have contacted FEMA for information or registered for assistance with FEMA and nearly $680 million has been approved. More than 118,000 have applied through the online application site at www.disasterassistance.gov, or on their smart phone at m.fema.gov.
35 Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are open in the affected areas. These include mobile sites as well as fixed sites, and to date nearly 54,000 survivors have been assisted at DRCs in New York.
Nearly 1,300 inspectors in the field have completed more than 135,000 home inspections.
1,080 Community Relations (CR) specialists are strategically positioned throughout affected communities, going door-to-door explaining the types of disaster assistance available and how to register. More teams continue to arrive daily.
7 fixed feeding sites are being operated by the New York City Office of Emergency Management.
2 Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs), 1 Rapid Deployment Force (RDF), 2 Prescription Medication Task Force Team (PMTFT) and 1 National Veterinary Response Team (NVRT) from the Department of Health and Human Services remain deployed in New York.
13 New York counties are designated for both individual and public assistance, including: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has staff members at 18 Business Recovery Centers in the New York area to provide one-on-one help to business owners seeking disaster assistance and has approved more than $32 million in disaster loans to both individuals and businesses.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers transferred a total of approximately 52,000 cubic yards of debris by barge from a temporary storage site at the Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island to permanent disposal facilities in Upstate New York.

Individuals can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smart phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362. Multilingual telephone operators are available to help non-English-speaking survivors register for disaster aid and to get their questions answered.

If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

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

Last Updated:

November 27, 2012 – 09:13

State or Region:

New York

Related Disaster:

New York Hurricane Sandy

From:

Nearly $680 Million Approved for New York State Hurricane Sandy Survivors

Federal Aid Programs for the Commonwealth of Virginia Declaration

Main Content

Release date:

November 26, 2012

Release Number:

HQ-12-150Factsheet

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s disaster declaration issued for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Assistance for the Commonwealth and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for removing debris from public areas and for emergency measures, including direct federal assistance, taken to save lives and protect property and public health. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)

Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)

How to Apply for Assistance:

Application procedures for state and local governments will be explained at a series of federal/state applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.

Last Updated:

November 26, 2012 – 22:30

State or Region:

Virginia

and

Region III

Related Disaster:

Virginia Hurricane Sandy

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Federal Aid Programs for the Commonwealth of Virginia Declaration

President Declared Disaster for Commonwealth of Virginia

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to Virginia to supplement the commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area affected by Hurricane Sandy during the period of Oct. 26 to Nov. 8, 2012.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to the commonwealth and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Hurricane Sandy in the counties of Accomack, Arlington, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper, Essex, Fauquier, Frederick, Greene, Highland, King and Queen, Lancaster, Loudoun, Madison, Mathews, Middlesex, Nelson, Northampton, Northumberland, Prince William, Rappahannock, Shenandoah, Surry, Warren, and Westmoreland and the independent cities of Fairfax, Falls Church, and Manassas.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Donald L. Keldsen has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Keldsen said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the commonwealth and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Follow FEMA online at 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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President Declared Disaster for Commonwealth of Virginia

Two Week Reminder: Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station Exercise Process To Be Discussed At Public Meeting

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the state of Iowa, Clinton County, Iowa, and Scott County, Iowa, will participate with Exelon Corporation in a one-day exercise on December 5, 2012, then host a public meeting to explain exercise processes on December 7, 2012, in support of the Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station.

The routine exercise will test the ability of the state of Iowa, the utility, and the participating counties to protect the health and safety of the public living in the vicinity of the Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, located on the east side of the Mississippi River, near Cordova, Illinois.

The exercise is a biennial requirement to determine the adequacy of the state and local radiological emergency preparedness and response plans. It will require the activation of emergency facilities by the participating state and local officials. The activities of the state, county and local units of government will be observed and evaluated by the FEMA Region VII Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program. The Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station on-site performance will be observed and evaluated by officials from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

On Friday, December 7, 2012, a public meeting will be held at 11:00 a.m. (CST) in the Scott County Emergency Management Agency facility, located at 1100 East 46th Street, Davenport, Iowa. The purpose of the meeting is to describe and explain the full-scale response exercise process. However, because the process of evaluating the full-scale response exercise will take months, only preliminary findings which are very limited in scope can be shared during the meeting.

Representatives from FEMA Region VII will chair the meeting and explain the exercise process.

EDITOR’S NOTE: For information about the Illinois public meeting for this exercise, please contact Patti Thompson, Communications Manager, Illinois Emergency Management Agency, at 217-557-4756.

Visit FEMA Region VII online, at http://www.fema.gov/region-vii-ia-ks-mo-ne Follow FEMA on social media, at www.twitter.com/femaregion7, 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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Two Week Reminder: Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station Exercise Process To Be Discussed At Public Meeting

Crisis Counseling for Sandy Survivors

Warwick, R.I. – Disasters complicate the lives of survivors in many ways. Property damage is obvious, but disasters like Hurricane Sandy have less visible effects. Coping with the trauma and stress of the disaster and recovery process can be a challenge.

Rhode Islanders feeling anxious or overwhelmed by Hurricane Sandy can find support by calling the Disaster Distress Helpline. The helpline is staffed by trained bilingual crisis counselors who can direct callers to other appropriate resources if needed. To reach a counselor, call 800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.

To increase understanding of disaster related stress, go to www.fema.gov/coping-disaster where there is information on Recognizing Signs of Disaster Related Stress, Easing Disaster-Related Stress, Helping Kids Cope with Disaster and A Child’s Reaction to Disaster by Age.

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 sba.gov or completed on-line at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

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Crisis Counseling for Sandy Survivors

Volunteers Are A Vital Resource In The Aftermath Of Sandy

TRENTON, N.J. – When a disaster strikes, volunteers are a vital resource. They represent the compassionate face that brings comfort to disaster survivors and provides for their immediate needs.

“Working together as friends and neighbors is spontaneous after a disaster” said FEMA Volunteer Agency Liaison Manager Ken Skalitzky. “This approach is really what makes a community whole again.”

One group of volunteers recently was recognized when Middletown, N.J. Mayor Anthony P. Fiore presented the Key to the City to Dave Karr, whose volunteer staff from the Southern Baptist Convention, Oklahoma Disaster Relief, prepared more than 1.5 million meals for disaster survivors.

“It was a real honor,” Karr said. “I was told they rarely do this. I accepted on behalf of the whole Oklahoma team.”

Karr’s team and the organization they represent are typical of the volunteers working in New Jersey, both locally and from out of state. More than 100 organizations manage thousands of dedicated volunteers. Here are some of the major organizations and their services:

Adventist Community Services – manages warehouse distribution of supplies for disaster survivors.
Mennonite Disaster Service – doing clean up, repairs, and rebuilding homes.
The Salvation Army – provided Thanksgiving dinner or lunch in several locations throughout the state. The Transitional Sheltering Assistance social services programs connect needs with available resources.
Samaritans Purse – doing muck outs, removing dirt and debris; cleaning up and sanitizing homes to prevent mold.
Southern Baptist Convention/Oklahoma Disaster Relief – 117 volunteers prepared more than 1.5 million meals to date, and is deploying 41 emergency relief vehicles across New Jersey to continue feeding disaster survivors.
The Red Cross – more than 4,000 volunteers assisting with meals, sheltering, essential supplies, and health services.
United Methodist Committee on Relief – volunteers working on “muck outs.”
Catholic Charities – 363 volunteers serving at relief sites offered financial and other material assistance to some 3,000 families. The sites are now closed.

Voluntary Agency Liaison staff at FEMA work with the state umbrella organization, New Jersey Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD). FEMA provides information on the extent

of damage from the disaster to VOAD. The organization then contacts its local partners who provide direct services to disaster survivors.

Disaster assistance is coordinated over the long term by VOAD to make sure everyone who needs help receives help.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Video of volunteers in action and of Volunteer Agency Liaison Manager Ken Skalitzky are available

for your use at: http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/10552.

For still photos of volunteer activities, go to: http://www.fema.gov/photolibrary/photo_search.do.

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.

Volunteers Are A Vital Resource In The Aftermath Of Sandy

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