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Survivors Can Take Steps Now to Rebuild

BATON ROUGE, La. – Hurricane Isaac survivors repairing their homes with an eye toward avoiding damage from future storms can take several steps now to rebuild stronger and safer.

Property owners who wish to speed up the rebuilding process do not have to wait for a complete Substantial Damage Inspection, say mitigation experts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Property owners can provide the local permitting official with a copy of an estimate from a licensed contractor to repair the structure, and a copy of a pre-disaster market value appraisal. With these documents, they can apply for a permit to make needed repairs.

“Storm survivors are anxious to get on with repairs, and we encourage them to do so,” said Patricia McArthur, Hazard Mitigation Branch Director for FEMA’s Hurricane Isaac mission in Louisiana. “The rebuilding phase of any disaster is an ideal time to plan ways to prevent or limit future damage.”

One source of funds for eligible homeowners who have flood insurance and whose homes were determined to be substantially damaged may be Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) coverage. ICC provides up to $30,000 of insurance coverage for the increased cost of compliance with their community’s floodplain management ordinance.

FEMA assistance for individuals may include grants to help pay for temporary housing and emergency home repairs to make a home habitable. Survivors could also be eligible for grants for serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

FEMA may also assist survivors whose insurance settlements have been delayed longer than 30 days from the time they filed their claims. Any help awarded by FEMA is considered an advance and must be repaid once an insurance settlement is received. The current maximum is $31,400.

To apply for an advance, people with delayed settlements should write a letter to FEMA explaining the situation. Homeowners should include documentation from their insurance companies proving their claim was filed. If they filed by telephone, they should include their claim number, the date they applied, and estimated time before they expect to receive the settlement.

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

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Survivors Can Take Steps Now to Rebuild

Disaster Recovery Center Reopens Monday in Chalmette

BATON ROUGE, La. — A State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center will reopen Monday, Oct. 22, in St. Bernard Parish to assist homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained uninsured or underinsured damage to their home or personal property as a result of Hurricane Isaac.

Specialists from the state of Louisiana, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are on hand to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors.

The center is reopening at the same location, although in the parking lot:

3220 Jean Lafitte Blvd.
Chalmette, LA 70043

Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday until further notice. Closed Sunday.

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

SBA offers federal low-interest disaster loans to residents and businesses. After registering with FEMA, visit any Disaster Recovery Center where SBA representatives will answer questions, explain the application process and help each resident or business owner apply to SBA. For SBA information or to apply online, visit www.sba.gov or call 1-800-659-2955. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call 1-800-877-8339.

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.

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Disaster Recovery Center Reopens Monday in Chalmette

Disaster Recovery Center Opens Monday in New Roads

BATON ROUGE, La. — A State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center will open Monday, Oct. 22, in Pointe Coupee Parish to assist homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained uninsured or underinsured damage to their home or personal property as a result of Hurricane Isaac.

The center opens at 11 a.m. on Monday. Regular hours thereafter will be Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. until further notice. Closed Sunday.

Scott Civic Center
1200 Major Pkwy.
New Roads, LA 70760

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Disaster Recovery Center Opens Monday in New Roads

Mandeville Disaster Recovery Center Transitions to SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center

BATON ROUGE, La. — The State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center closing Saturday in St. Tammany Parish will convert to a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) on Monday, Oct. 22.

At the DLOC, SBA representatives will answer questions, explain the application process and help survivors apply for low-interest disaster loans.
FEMA Individual Assistance and Hazard Mitigation specialists will also be on hand at the DLOC to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to Hurricane Isaac survivors.

The DLOC will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday until further notice at:

Mandeville Public Works Department
1100 Mandeville High Blvd.
Mandeville, LA 70471

To be considered for state/federal disaster assistance, survivors should first register with FEMA, online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. They may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

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

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

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

For SBA information or to apply online, visit www.sba.gov or call 1-800-659-2955. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call 1-800-877-8339.

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Mandeville Disaster Recovery Center Transitions to SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center

Mississippi Damage from Isaac Being Identified for Repair

CLINTON, Miss. – The rebuilding of Mississippi public infrastructure in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac is underway, with more than $55 million in damage identified as potentially eligible for federal assistance.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are assisting local governments and certain non-profits in the 48 designated counties and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians with identifying eligible projects, and requesting funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance program. There are 12 teams helping to develop project worksheets on each project to be repaired.

“Through our Public Assistance program, we partner with the state and local governments to identify facilities with eligible damages,” said Terry Quarles, FEMA federal coordinating officer. “Our goal is to assist them in getting the funds to restore critical infrastructure within the state.”

FEMA assigns public assistance coordinators who work with applicants in evaluating damages and determining estimated costs of repair.

“The Public Assistance program is a very important part of helping our state, local governments and private nonprofits recover,” said State Coordinating Officer Bill Brown. “The faster we get them back on their feet, the faster our residents will also be able to recover from a disaster.”

Public Assistance projects are categorized as small projects, with costs less than $64,200, and large projects, with costs above that threshold. There are 479 small projects identified in Mississippi, and 79 large projects, according to federal officials.

For approved projects, FEMA will pay 75 percent of eligible costs. The state and the applicant are responsible for 25 percent.

Only damage that occurred as a result of the storm is eligible for reimbursement.

Public Assistance projects may include debris removal, emergency response, and repair or replacement of damaged culverts, roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure.

Certain private nonprofits may also receive Public Assistance funding if they provide services of a public nature, such as hospitals, utilities and schools, but they are responsible for the full 25 percent
cost share.

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Mississippi Damage from Isaac Being Identified for Repair

Saturday is the Last Day to Visit the Disaster Recovery Center in Noble

OKLAHOMA CITY – Cleveland County residents impacted by the Aug. 3-14 wildfire have until Saturday to take advantage of the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at 15601 E. Etowah Road, Noble, OK 73068. The center is scheduled to close at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20.

More than 180 residents have visited the DRC to speak with representatives from the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and others.

Visiting the center is not required to be considered for assistance. Homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and certain nonprofit organizations can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov, via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov, or by calling FEMA’s toll-free numbers: 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Anyone using 711 Relay or Video Relay Services can call the same number: 1-800-621-3362. Specialists are available by phone from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time seven days a week.

To date, more than 175 Cleveland County residents registered for assistance and nearly $1.5 million in disaster assistance has been approved.

SBA representatives are also available at the center and will assist applicants with filling out their loan applications. SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofits for their uncompensated physical disaster losses (homes, personal property and business assets). For small businesses and most private nonprofits, SBA disaster loans are available to cover working capital needs caused by the disaster, whether or not the business suffered physical damage.

It is important that anyone receiving an SBA disaster loan application complete and return it. Returning the application does not obligate you to accept an SBA loan; however, it is a necessary step to be considered for other additional forms of federal disaster assistance.

After registering with FEMA, homeowners, renters and businesses affected by the wildfire, can apply for an SBA disaster loan by going online to SBA’s secure site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela; calling 1-800-659-2955 or TTY 1-800-877-8339. For information on SBA disaster assistance, go to www.sba.gov.

For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click on www.fema.gov/disaster/4078 or www.oem.ok.gov. Information can also be accessed via smartphone at m.fema.gov or the FEMA app.

Follow the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook at twitter.com/okem and www.facebook.com/oklahomadepartmentofemergencymanagement. FEMA tweets about the Oklahoma disaster are at twitter.com/femaregion6. Additional FEMA online resources include blog.fema.gov, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.

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Saturday is the Last Day to Visit the Disaster Recovery Center in Noble

FEMA to Evaluate Readiness of Pennsylvania

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency will evaluate a Biennial Emergency Preparedness Exercise at the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station. The exercise will take place during the week of October 22^nd to assess the ability of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to respond to an emergency at the nuclear facility.

“These drills are held every other year to evaluate government’s ability to protect public health and safety,” said Robert Welch, Acting Regional Administrator for FEMA Region III. “We will assess state and local emergency response capabilities within the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone of the nuclear facility.”

Within 90 days, FEMA will send its evaluation to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for use in licensing decisions. The final report will be available to the public approximately 120 days after the exercise.

FEMA will present preliminary findings of the exercise in a public meeting at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 26^th, at the East Mountain Business Center, 1190 East Mountain Blvd., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702. Scheduled speakers include representatives from FEMA, NRC, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

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. FEMA Region III’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion3.

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FEMA to Evaluate Readiness of Pennsylvania

President Declares Disaster for Florida

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the State of Florida to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by Hurricane Isaac during the period of August 27-29, 2012.

Federal funding is available to state 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 Isaac in Bay, Collier, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Martin, Monroe, Okaloosa, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, and Santa Rosa counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties and tribes within the state.

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

Follow FEMA online at http://blog.fema.gov, 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. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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President Declares Disaster for Florida

Less Than 1,000 FEMA Housing Units Still Occupied In Ward County

MINOT, N.D. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that an important milestone has been reached, as the number of temporary housing units still occupied has fallen below 1,000.

“This is yet another step in the recovery process,” said Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator Dan Alexander of FEMA. “It’s a demonstration that people are returning home and moving forward in their recovery.”

As of October 16, there are still 996 units occupied in Ward County. Of those, 345 are located on private property, 144 are located at five commercial home parks in Minot and Burlington, and the remaining 507 are at two housing sites developed by FEMA – Virgil Workman Village just outside of Minot and De Sour Valley Heights in Burlington.

“We continue to work closely with those still residing in FEMA housing, and with our recovery partners, including the city of Minot, to find long-term housing solutions,” said Alexander. “Our mission is to serve as a short-term bridge until sufficient housing can be re-established in the community.”

FEMA’s housing mission was extended through June 24, 2013. At the peak of the operation, more than 2,000 units were occupied. In addition to the temporary housing mission, FEMA has provided more than $90 million in financial assistance to individuals and households impacted by Souris Valley flooding.

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Less Than 1,000 FEMA Housing Units Still Occupied In Ward County

FEMA Support Eases Local Nonprofit’s Recovery Costs

NEW ORLEANS – The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently announced nearly half-a-million dollars in recovery aid to a local nonprofit, the Family Center of Hope, bringing the federal agency’s overall Katrina and Rita recovery support for private, nonprofits within Louisiana to approximately $1.3 billion.

“Louisiana’s recovery continues to progress through joint efforts,” said FEMA’s Louisiana Recovery Office Deputy Director of Programs Andre Cadogan. “Nonprofits, such as the Family Center of Hope in New Orleans, are key recovery partners, driving overall growth through providing essential community services to local residents.”

As a community center, The Family Center of Hope, located at 4137 Washington Avenue, offers social services, including counseling, tutoring, and conflict resolution and outreach programs at local schools.

“The Family Center of Hope is very thankful and excited to receive these funds from FEMA for the completion of our project. We have served this community well for more than 20 years, and we will maintain our strong partnership with the city of New Orleans and our state officials to ensure that our new facility continues to address the many social ills plaguing children and their families in this community,” said Family Center of Hope Executive Director Patricia Watson.

During Hurricane Katrina, the community center’s roof was significantly damaged, allowing rain waters to enter the facility, which caused second floor damages. Likewise, approximately eight feet of floodwaters inundated and destroyed the first floor. As a result, the Family Center of Hope applied for and initially received both Community Block Grants and Capital Outlay Grants to fund the majority of necessary repair work.

Still, there were remaining repair costs, and in 2011, the Family Center of Hope became aware of their eligibility as a nonprofit to also apply for FEMA aid under the agency’s Public Assistance Program. Their request for recovery assistance recently resulted in FEMA providing $445,377 for eligible, Katrina-related building repairs not previously funded under CBDG and COG.

With remaining repairs underway, the Family Center of Hope community center will soon maintain the same capacity and function as it did pre-Katrina. It is anticipated to reopen in the summer of 2013.

Editors: For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/latro.

Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/femalro, blog.fema.gov, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

When FEMA approves projects through its supplemental Public Assistance grant, the funds are made available to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness, who disburses them to the applicant for eligible work completed.

The Public Assistance program works with state and local officials to fund recovery measures and the rebuilding of government and certain private nonprofit organizations’ buildings, as well as roads, bridges and water and sewer plants. In order for the process to be successful, federal, state and local partners coordinate to draw up project plans, fund these projects and oversee their completion.

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FEMA Support Eases Local Nonprofit’s Recovery Costs

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