Disaster Recovery Center in Noble Changes Hours

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will  continue to provide application assistance to those impacted by the Aug. 3-14 wildfire in Cleveland County at the recovery center in Noble; however, the hours of operation will change beginning Friday, Oct.12.

The Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at Twelve Corners Baptist Church, 15601 E. Etowah Road will open and close one hour later to accommodate the needs of the applicants. The new hours are: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The center will officially close Saturday, Oct. 20.

To date, 132 Cleveland County residents have visited the center to register for assistance, update their information or to speak with representatives from OEM, FEMA and SBA who provided recovery information, answered questions about available programs and assisted with applications.

As of close of business Oct. 10, FEMA provided nearly $1.4 million in grants to help Cleveland County residents recover from the wildfire. Assistance is available to help with temporary housing, emergency home repairs or other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other sources.

Visiting a center is not required to be considered for assistance. It is provided to assist those who would like help in filling out forms, checking the status of their claim and even registering. It also provides an opportunity to speak face-to-face with representatives from OEM, FEMA, SBA and others.

There are several ways for homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and nonprofit organizations to register for FEMA’s disaster assistance or check the status of a registration. They include registering online at www.disasterassistance.gov, using web-enabled phones at m.fema.gov or the FEMA app, or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585. If using 711 Relay or Video Relay Services, call 1-800-621-3362. FEMA phone lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT seven days a week; multilingual operators are available.

To apply for an SBA disaster loan:  After registering with FEMA, go online to SBA’s secure site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela; call 1-800-659-2955 or TTY 1-800-877-8339; or visit the DRC in Noble.  For more information on SBA disaster assistance, go to www.sba.gov.

The deadline to apply for federal assistance from FEMA and the SBA is Nov. 21. Anyone receiving an SBA loan package will need to return it as soon as possible.

For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click on www.fema.gov/disaster/4078 or www.oem.ok.gov.

Follow OEM 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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Disaster Recovery Center in Noble Changes Hours

Millions to Participate in Earthquake Drill Next Week

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — On October 18, 2012 at 10:18 a.m. EDT, more than one million people across five states and the District of Columbia are scheduled to take part in the first ever Great SouthEast ShakeOut.  The ShakeOut is a regional earthquake drill in which participants simultaneously practice the recommended action during an earthquake.  This action is known as “Drop, Cover, and Hold On”, which means:

  • DROP to the ground
  • Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and
  • HOLD-ON to it until the shaking stops

The states of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia are encouraging their schools, businesses, organizations, government agencies, communities, and households to participate in this historic event.  These states are being supported by the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC, www.cusec.org), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA, www.fema.gov), and many other local, state, federal and volunteer partners. CUSEC coordinates a similar drill across nine Central U.S. states, which had more than 2.4 million participants in February, 2012.

This regional earthquake drill comes on the heels of the one year anniversary of the August 23, 2011 M5.9 Mineral, Virginia earthquake. Last year’s earthquake caused significant damage in Louisa County, Virginia, and also millions of dollars in damages in Washington, D.C.  The event is free and open-to-the-public, and teaches easy to do, yet potentially life-saving information.

FEMA Region III Acting Regional Administrator Robert Welch is encouraging individuals and organizations to register and join the Great ShakeOut “We were reminded last year that earthquakes can and do happen anywhere.  Everyone should make plans and take actions to ensure that disasters do not become catastrophes and this drill is an excellent start.”

Collectively, there are more than 10.5 million people worldwide who are expected to participate in the ShakeOut drills October 18, which makes this the largest safety drill ever held.  Interested citizens, schools, communities, businesses, etc. are encouraged to visit www.shakeout.org/southeast to pledge their participation in the drill. On the website, many resources are available for participants to use to plan their drills including drill manuals, videos, audio drill broadcasts, earthquake scenarios, and more.

There are many ways for individuals, businesses, schools, faith-based organizations, community groups, scouts, and others to participate in the ShakeOut, to get prepared for earthquakes, and to share activities with others.  For more information on the ShakeOut or how to participate in the drill, visit www.shakeout.org.  

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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Millions to Participate in Earthquake Drill Next Week

Flood Hazard Information Being Updated for Southeast Coastal Communities

ATLANTA – People living in coastal communities throughout the Southeast will have a more accurate picture of their flood risk as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and other flood hazard information are being updated in these areas.

Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the U.S., with coastal areas being particularly vulnerable. Nearly 40 percent of the nation’s population lives in coastal communities, so it is important that people know their flood risk and take steps to protect themselves and their property.

Flood risks change over time because of construction, development, environmental changes, shoreline erosion, and other natural or manmade factors. These changes send water flowing in new directions, creating flood risks that did not exist previously — precisely why flood maps are updated periodically.

Throughout the next several years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regional Office in Atlanta, along with regional, state and local partners throughout the Southeast, will update the effective FIRMs for coastal areas using more recent data and the latest scientific engineering tools. Click here to see a list of the organizations that will be involved in this effort with FEMA. 

To see the progress, visit the FEMA Region IV Coastal Analysis and Mapping website at www.southeastcoastalmaps.com.  This site provides information on the status of coastal mapping projects in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, as well as other flood hazard information.

Updated FIRMs for coastal communities in Mississippi, including Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties, were completed in 2007. Visit the Mississippi webpage for more information.

Community planners and local officials use flood hazard information to improve local planning activities. Builders and developers use the information to make decisions on where to build and how construction can affect flood risk. Insurance agents, insurance companies, real estate agents and lending institutions use the information for insurance rating purposes and to help residents better understand how flood hazards affect their property. Property owners and renters can use flood hazard information to help make better financial decisions about protecting their properties.

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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Flood Hazard Information Being Updated for Southeast Coastal Communities

FEMA Advisers to Offer Home Repair Tips in Three Parishes

BATON ROUGE, La. – Survivors who are rebuilding after Hurricane Isaac can receive a free consultation with hazard mitigation advisers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at home improvement centers in Jefferson and St. Tammany parishes starting Friday.

Survivors can also meet with advisers at the Louisiana Gumbo Festival in Lafourche Parish located at Chackbay Fairgrounds, 326 Hwy 304 in Thibodaux, on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The advisers can offer tips and techniques on how to protect homes from future disaster-related damage and other measures to make homes stronger and safer; they also offer advice on topics such as:

  • emergency preparedness
  • roof repair
  • rebuilding flooded homes
  • home elevation
  • flood insurance
  • mold and mildew cleanup

Most of the information and free publications provided are geared for do-it-yourself work and general contractors. The mitigation stations are open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Oct. 12 in St. Tammany parish and the city of Marrero. The Gretna location will open Oct.14. All four mitigation stations will remain open through Oct. 28.

Jefferson Parish
Home Depot
62 Westbank Expressway
Gretna, LA 70345

Jefferson Parish
Home Depot
4600 Lapalco Blvd.
Marrero, LA 70072

St. Tammany Parish
Home Depot
40 Park Place Drive
Covington, LA 70433

St. Tammany Parish
Home Depot
874 I- 10 Service Road
Slidell, LA  70461

Survivors can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone 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 are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

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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FEMA Advisers to Offer Home Repair Tips in Three Parishes

Iberville Parish Disaster Recovery Center Now Closes on Saturday

BATON ROUGE, La. —Hurricane Isaac survivors in Iberville Parish have more time to visit the State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Plaquemine. At the request of the parish, the center will remain open one extra day, and close at 6 p.m. on Saturday. 

Although the center will close, Hurricane Isaac survivors 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.

Survivors may also contact the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) after the center closes at 1-800-659-2955 or www.sba.gov.

The center is located at:

Iberville Parish Utility Department
59805 Bayou Rd.
Plaquemine, LA 70764

Hours are: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Saturday, Oct. 13.

Recovery centers have opened in many affected parishes to assist homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained uninsured or underinsured losses to their home or personal property as a result of Hurricane Isaac. For a list of open centers in Louisiana go to www.fema.gov/disaster/4080.

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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Iberville Parish Disaster Recovery Center Now Closes on Saturday

FEMA Encourages Participation in the Great SouthEast Earthquake Drill

WASHINGTON – FEMA is encouraging families, schools, businesses, tribes and state and local governments to participate in the first ever Great SouthEast ShakeOut, a regional earthquake drill in which participants – from the District of Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia – simultaneously practice the recommended action to take during an actual earthquake.

Earthquakes strike suddenly, without warning, and can have disastrous and far-reaching effects. While earthquake hazards vary from region to region, the Southeast is prone to this dangerous hazard.

The regional earthquake drill comes on the heels of the 2012 National Preparedness Month in September and the 1-year anniversary of the 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Mineral, Virginia.   That earthquake was felt as far north as New England and as far south as Georgia, and caused widespread light to moderate damage from central Virginia to southern Maryland and Washington, DC, including millions of dollars in damage to area landmarks such as the Washington Monument and the National Cathedral.

“It is vitally important for people to have a plan and know what to do during an earthquake,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.  “The Great SouthEast ShakeOut provides a timely and relevant opportunity for all levels of government, non-profit and faith-based organizations, the private sector, individuals and families to review preparedness plans and practice what to do during an actual event.”

When an earthquake happens, you only have seconds to react, so it’s important to know what to do when the ground starts shaking.  The action you need to take is known as “Drop, Cover and Hold On.”

  • DROP to the ground;
  • Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table; and
  • HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.

If it’s not possible to get to the floor to safely take cover, before the exercise, identify an inside corner of the room near your work station or the other locations you may be in, away from windows and objects that could fall on you.  The Earthquake Country Alliance advises getting as low as possible to the floor. People who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices should lock their wheels and remain seated until the shaking stops. Protect your head and neck with your arms, a pillow, a book, or whatever is available. To learn more about what to do before, during and after an earthquake, including information for seniors and those with disabilities, visit http://www.ready.gov/earthquakes.

Plan now to invest in safety for 90 seconds on Thursday, October 18 at 10:18 am, your local time.  Drop, Cover and Hold On, as part of the 2012 ShakeOut earthquake drill. There are many ways for individuals, households, businesses, schools, faith-based organizations, community groups, and others to participate in the ShakeOut.  For information about the drill and how to pledge to participate, please visit http://www.shakeout.org/ or http://www.shakeout.org/southeast/.

In addition to the areas participating in the Great SouthEast ShakeOut, similar drills will also be held on October 18 in California, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Guam, Puerto Rico, Alaska and Arizona. For details on U.S. earthquake information by state and territory, visit http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/.

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 .

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 Encourages Participation in the Great SouthEast Earthquake Drill

FEMA Announces 2012 Individual and Community Preparedness Award Winners

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced the recipients of the 2012 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards. These Awards recognize the innovative practices and achievements of individuals, Citizen Corps Councils, and non-profit, faith-based, and private sector organizations working throughout the nation to make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to manage any disaster or emergency event.

“It has been shown time and time again that after a disaster, the very first responders are our neighbors,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “The award recipients promote preparedness across America’s communities – the bedrock of our national resiliency. I commend each and every one of the awardees for their service and innovation. They serve as a model for communities everywhere.”

Each applicant demonstrated their ability to engage the Whole Community through partnerships, achievements, and activities that took place from January 2011 to June 2012. For example, the American Red Cross Gateway to the Golden State Region chapter trained more than 16,000 individuals in lifesaving skills, such as disaster preparedness, CPR, and basic first aid, and developed a cadre of more than 200 bilingual volunteers.  The Texas State Citizen Corps Program trained Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers who were integrated into the response to the Bastrop Complex Fire last fall and North Texas tornadoes earlier this year.

Other awardees participated in emergency planning activities and established creative methods to address the needs of their communities. For example, North Dakota State University developed two Smartphone applications, one to address the needs of individuals and families affected by local flooding and one with information for residents stranded during a winter storm.

The Second Annual John D. Solomon Preparedness Award is being  presented to Florida’s Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE)  for collaborative work as a team of nearly 500 disaster preparedness and response organizations, engaging in efforts that reach the business community, children and youth, under-served populations, faith-based organizations, first responders, and individuals with access and functional needs, and more. The John D. Solomon Preparedness Award is named for the late creator of the groundbreaking blog, In Case of Emergency, Read Blog: A Citizen’s Eye View Of Public Preparedness. John’s body of work was striking in its reporting, analysis, engagement and impact, in preparing the public, informing professionals, and effecting change in the public and private sectors. Administrator Fugate once stated that he “set the standard for what it meant to be part of our nation’s emergency management team.”

All winners will be invited, as FEMA’s honored guests, to a community roundtable event in Washington, D.C. During the roundtable the honorees will share their innovative and successful approaches to community preparedness with emergency management leadership.

FEMA congratulates the following awardees:

Outstanding State Citizen Corps Council Initiatives

  • Texas Citizen Corps (TX)

Outstanding Local Citizen Corps Council Initiatives

  • New York City Citizen Corps Council (NY)

Outstanding Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Initiatives

  • CERT Program and Volunteers, City of Newport Beach (CA)

Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness

  • Chinatown Community Development Center (CA)

Preparing the Whole Community

  • American Red Cross Gateway to the Golden State (CA)

Promising Partnerships

  • Partners in Preparedness (NY)

Awareness to Action

  • American Red Cross of the Poconos (PA)

Innovative Use of Technology

  • North Dakota State University Agriculture Communication (ND)

Volunteer Integration

  • West Pierce County Fire and Rescue CERT Program (WA)

Community Preparedness Heroes

  • Michael Parker (CA)
  • Mohamed Ali (WA)
  • Scott Ellis (NJ)

Second Annual Recipient of the John D. Solomon Preparedness Award

  • Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE) (FL)

The award winners were selected by a panel of leaders representing the Whole Community, including the National Emergency Management Association, the International Association of Emergency Managers, Target, the American Red Cross and FEMA. 

For a description of the award categories, please see the Application Guide.

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.

Originally posted here – 

FEMA Announces 2012 Individual and Community Preparedness Award Winners

Iberville Parish Disaster Recovery Center Closes Friday

BATON ROUGE, La. — Time is running out for Hurricane Isaac survivors in Iberville Parish to visit the State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Plaquemine. The center closes at 6 p.m. on Friday. 

Although the center will close, Hurricane Isaac survivors 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.

Survivors may also contact the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) after the center closes at 1-800-659-2955 or www.sba.gov.

The center is located at:

Iberville Parish Utility Department
59805 Bayou Rd.
Plaquemine, LA 70764

Hours are: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday, Oct. 12.

Recovery centers have opened in many affected parishes to assist homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained uninsured or underinsured losses to their home or personal property as a result of Hurricane Isaac. For a list of open centers in Louisiana go to www.fema.gov/disaster/4080.

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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Iberville Parish Disaster Recovery Center Closes Friday

FEMA Adds West Baton Rouge Parish for Individual Assistance

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisianians in West Baton Rouge Parish can now apply for federal and state disaster assistance, as the parish was added Tuesday to the major disaster declaration for Hurricane Isaac.

Homeowners, renters and business owners in the parish may now register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for assistance and report their uninsured or underinsured property damage or destruction from the storm.

“We urge West Baton Rouge Parish residents who had damage from Hurricane Isaac to register with FEMA,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall. “We’re here to help eligible survivors get assistance, and registration is the first step in that process.”

Disaster assistance for individuals may include:

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

Survivors can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. If you use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

West Baton Rouge Parish survivors should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

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

  • Social Security number
  • Address of the damaged home or apartment
  • Description of the damage
  • Information about insurance coverage
  • A current contact telephone number
  • An address where they can get mail
  • Bank account and routing numbers if they want direct deposit of any financial assistance.

The latest addition brings to 25 the total number of parishes for which Individual Assistance has been made available in Louisiana: Allen, Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Morehouse, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana.

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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FEMA Adds West Baton Rouge Parish for Individual Assistance

Survivors With Lapsed Flood Insurance Can Still Get FEMA Help

CLINTON, Miss. – Hurricane Isaac survivors in Mississippi who let their flood insurance policies lapse may be able to receive federal disaster assistance.

Survivors who received their policies through a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant but let their policies lapse are ineligible for federal disaster loans or grants to be used for home repairs. However, FEMA is reaching out to them because they are eligible for grants that would pay for a temporary place to stay if their primary residence is uninhabitable as a result of the storm.

Some insurance policies are issued under a FEMA Group Flood Insurance Policy, which are funded by a portion of a survivor’s FEMA grant money. Once policies expire after three years, renters and homeowners are required to purchase and maintain flood insurance policies from the National Flood Insurance Program to continue their insurance protection.

Only survivors who have maintained their NFIP policies can be considered for home repair disaster grants or loans if the property had damages during Hurricane Isaac. However, all survivors are eligible to be considered for grants that would pay for temporary housing assistance.

Survivors with uninsured or underinsured damages can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone 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 are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

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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Survivors With Lapsed Flood Insurance Can Still Get FEMA Help

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