Many good reasons to apply for an SBA loan before the Aug. 24 deadline

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – If you applied for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and were referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), there are many good reasons to submit a loan application.

The deadline to apply for an SBA low-interest disaster loan is Wednesday, Aug. 24. If you don’t apply before that date, you may not be eligible to receive the help that may be available to you, not only from SBA but also from FEMA.

SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations for physical damage from the severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides that occurred June 22-29. The following counties are eligible to apply: Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Roane, Summers and Webster.

Some of the top reasons for submitting an SBA loan application include:

  • SBA can help renters and homeowners repair or replace disaster-damaged personal property. Renters, as well as homeowners, may be eligible to borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace clothing, furniture, appliances and damaged vehicles.

  • A future insurance settlement may fall short. You may find out that you are underinsured for the amount of work it takes to repair or replace your damaged home. An SBA low-interest disaster loan can cover the uninsured costs. By submitting the application, you may have loan money available when it’s needed. SBA may approve a loan for the repair or replacement of a home up to $200,000. The loan balance may be reduced by your insurance settlement. However, the opportunity for an SBA loan may be lost if you wait until after the deadline expires on Aug. 24.

  • You are not required to accept a loan even if you qualify for one.

  • If SBA determines you aren’t eligible for a home loan, they will refer you back to FEMA. This could make you eligible for more FEMA aid.

  • Interest rates on SBA loans may be more affordable than you think. Get in touch with an SBA representative to get details.

  • If you need help completing your loan application call the SBA at 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339); send an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov; or you can visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) to sit down and talk with an SBA representative one-on-one. Find the nearest center to you by going online at www.fema.gov/drc.

  • You can submit your SBA disaster loan application in one of three ways:  online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/; in person at a DRC; or by mail.           

If your SBA loan application is approved, you may be eligible to borrow additional funds to cover the cost of improvements that will protect your property against future damage. Examples

include elevating utilities, water heaters and furnaces, and installing retaining walls and sump pumps. Applicants may be eligible for an SBA loan increase, for mitigation purposes, of up to  20 percent of their physical damage.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available to provide working capital to eligible small businesses and nonprofit organizations in the 12 counties listed above and the 17 adjacent counties in West Virginia, five in Virginia, and one in Ohio.

The deadline to apply for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan is March 27, 2017.

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by calling the FEMA Helpline 800-621-3362 or visiting: www.DisasterAssistance.gov; the flood pages at www.WVflood.com; fema.gov/disaster/4273; twitter.com/femaregion3; and fema.gov/blog.

Read original article – 

Many good reasons to apply for an SBA loan before the Aug. 24 deadline

Clay County DRC has closed

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at Clay County High School in Clay has closed as of Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016.

FEMA staff will be on site in the mobile command vehicle located in the parking lot of the school at 1 Panther Road, Clay, where you can register for assistance and submit any documentation you have regarding your registration.

FEMA will be on site from:

  • 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 12;

  • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13;

  • 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, Aug. 15-17.

The last day that FEMA staff will be on site is Wednesday, Aug. 17 at 5 p.m.

As a survivor of the June storms and floods, you can still get the help you need with just a phone call. The deadline to register ends on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016.

Many of the services available at the site are also available on the FEMA helpline. The helpline operates from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice. Call 800-621-3362 (voice, 711 or video relay services) or 800-462-7585 for TTY users.

You can also register with FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov or find an open DRC at www.fema.gov/drc. Remember to do this before Wednesday, Aug. 24.

If you want to discuss your application, you should have your nine-digit FEMA registration number and zip code.

You can still visit the other DRCs. Representatives from FEMA, various state agencies and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are at the centers to answer your disaster assistance or low-interest disaster loan questions:

Greenbrier County              

Mobile Disaster Recovery Center,

Southeastern Labor Council,

AFL-CIO, 65 West Main St.,

White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986

 

Greenbrier County              

Town Hall,

201 Kanawha Ave.,

Rainelle, WV 25962

 

Kanawha County                 

3300 Pennsylvania Ave.,

Charleston, WV 25302

 

Kanawha County          

Office trailer in parking lot across from Dollar General Store, 

120 Maywood Ave. W., Clendenin, WV 25045

 

Nicholas County                  

City of Richwood City Hall,

6 White Ave.,

Richwood, WV 26261

For more information about SBA loans, call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster.  TTY users may call 800-877-8339. Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

The deadline to file an SBA physical disaster loan application is Aug. 24.  SBA Disaster low-interest loans are available to businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters for their recovery needs.

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/femaregion3, twitter.com/FEMA and fema.gov/blog.

Link to article: 

Clay County DRC has closed

Disaster Recovery Centers to Close Next Week in Brazoria, Fort Bend and Hidalgo Counties

AUSTIN, Texas—Disaster recovery centers in Brazoria, Fort Bend and Hidalgo counties will close Aug. 17, 18 and 19.

Brazoria County

Location:      
Brazoria County East Annex
Elections Department
1524 East Mulberry (State Hwy. 35)
Angleton, TX 77515

Closing:         
6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17
 

Fort Bend County

Location:      
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
1600 Ave. D
Rosenburg, TX 77471

Closing:         
6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18
 

Hidalgo County

Location:      
City of Mission Social and Support Center
115 South Mayberry
Mission, TX 78572

Closing:         
6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19    

Although the deadline to register for disaster assistance was Aug. 10, survivors who have registered with FEMA can get updates about their applications, learn about the appeals process or check the status of their claims by visiting the centers or online or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

Until they close, hours of operation at the centers are 9 a.m to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday.

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the May-June storms at fema.gov/disaster/4272; or survivors can visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Follow FEMA on Twitter @femaregion6.

# # #

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.

Download fema.gov/mobile-app to locate open shelters and disaster recovery centers, receive severe weather alerts, safety tips and much more.

View original post here:

Disaster Recovery Centers to Close Next Week in Brazoria, Fort Bend and Hidalgo Counties

Disaster Recovery Centers to trim hours as deadline to register nears

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Effective Saturday, Aug. 13, the Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in West Virginia will begin operating under new hours. The deadline to register is Wednesday, Aug. 24, just 11 days away.

The new operating hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. All DRCs are closed on Sundays. To find the DRC nearest to you, go online to www.fema.gov/drc.

If you have questions outside DRC business hours, you can call the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Helpline at 800-621-3362 (voice, 711 or video relay service), or 800-462-7585 for TTY users. You can use the Helpline to:

  • Register with FEMA. Remember, the deadline to register is Aug. 24.

  • Ask questions about a FEMA determination letter.

  • Ask about the status of your registration.You will need your nine-digit FEMA registration number and zip code.

  • Update your personal information (e.g., change of address or phone number, bank or insurance information) to avoid processing delays.

  • Receive information about FEMA property inspections.

  • Ask about other federal assistance.

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting: www.DisasterAssistance.gov; the flood pages at www.WVflood.com; fema.gov/disaster/4273; twitter.com/femaregion3; twitter.com/FEMA; and fema.gov/blog.

Link – 

Disaster Recovery Centers to trim hours as deadline to register nears

Federal aid tops $94 million with two weeks left to apply to FEMA, SBA

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Just over six weeks after President Obama signed the major disaster declaration making West Virginia residents eligible for federal assistance following the June 22-29 storms, survivors are reminded they have only two weeks left to apply for federal grants or loans.

The deadlines to register for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as well as to file a physical disaster loan application with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), are both Wednesday, Aug. 24.

Storm survivors have been approved for grants and loans totaling more than $94 million. The federal disaster assistance is paid to survivors of the severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides in the 12 southeastern West Virginia counties named in the presidential declaration of June 25.

The disaster funds come to the state in the form of FEMA grants to individuals and households; FEMA public assistance grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations; low-interest disaster loans from the SBA, and claims paid by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

More than $31.7 million has been approved by FEMA for individual housing assistance, nearly $6 million in other needs assistance, $4.8 million in public assistance and $24,575 in Disaster Unemployment Assistance. In addition, the SBA approved 599 low-interest disaster loans totaling more than $39.3 million, and 941 NFIP claims have been filed totaling more than $12.7 million in payouts.

A total of 8,455 homeowners, renters and businesses have applied to FEMA for individual disaster assistance grants in the 12 affected counties: Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Roane, Summers, and Webster.

Disaster assistance for individuals may include grants to help homeowners and renters with temporary housing, essential home repairs, personal property replacement, and serious disaster-related needs. Disaster assistance grants are not taxable income and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicare and other federal and state programs. Grants do not have to be repaid to the federal government.

FEMA Public Assistance Grants provide funding to state, tribal and local governments, and certain types of private, nonprofit organizations to help them quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies declared by the president. Public assistance grants are available in Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Randolph, Upshur and Wayne counties and are also available in the 12 individual assistance counties.

FEMA-contracted housing inspectors have completed nearly 6,800 inspections of disaster-damaged properties to verify damage.

Registering with FEMA is the first step in qualifying for assistance. Aug. 24 is the last day for survivors to file an application. FEMA encourages all survivors who sustained disaster-related damage or losses to apply by phone (voice, 711 or relay service) at 800-621-3362 (TTY users should call 800-462-7585) or online at DisasterAssistance.gov . The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

In support of the State of West Virginia, Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) personnel are still canvassing flood-impacted neighborhoods. To date, DSA workers have made 18,089 visits to homes in storm-impacted neighborhoods. They are equipped to register survivors with FEMA and answer their questions about disaster assistance.

The State’s and FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) remain open in Clay, Greenbrier, Kanawha, and Nicholas counties. The centers report 8,081 visitors to date.  Effective Saturday, Aug. 13, the DRCs’ operating hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sundays. (Until Aug. 13, hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.) An easy-to-use DRC Locator is available at http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

FEMA mitigation advisors have hosted 18 free workshops throughout the storm-damaged area for West Virginia flood survivors repairing or rebuilding their damaged homes. This week and next experts will offer tips and answer questions at four more hardware stores and home improvement centers in Charleston and South Charleston.

The SBA, one of FEMA’s partners in disaster recovery, offers low-interest disaster loans to businesses, homeowners and renters. SBA disaster loans may cover repairs, rebuilding, as well as the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged real estate and personal property. SBA has staff on hand at all FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) to assist survivors, one-on-one.

For more information about SBA loans, call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster.  TTY users may call 800-877-8339. —Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. The deadline to file an SBA physical disaster loan application is Wednesday, Aug. 24.

If your SBA loan application is approved, you may be eligible to borrow additional funds to cover the cost of improvements that will protect your property against future damage. Examples include elevating utilities, water heaters and furnaces, and installing retaining walls and sump pumps.  Applicants may be eligible for an SBA loan increase, for mitigation purposes, of up to 20 percent of their physical damages.

In addition, the SBA operates three Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) to enable storm-impacted businesses to meet individually with SBA representatives and find out how a low-interest disaster loan can help them recover.

The BRCs are located at:

Greenbrier County

Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corp.

804 Industrial Park, Suite 5

Maxwelton, WV  24957

Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Kanawha County

Charleston Area Alliance

1116 Smith Street

Charleston, WV  25301

Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nicholas County

Summersville Village Hall

Conference Room

400 N. Broad Street

Summersville, WV 26651

Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

Other help available to individuals:

  • In conjunction with FEMA Work Force West Virginia is advertising open temporary positions in Kanawha, Greenbrier and Raleigh Counties. Interested “local hire” applicants may complete an enrollment form at http://workforcewv.org .

  • Free disaster legal assistance is available to storm survivors. This service offers counseling on insurance claims, landlord-tenant issues, home-repair contracts, and the replacement of lost or damaged legal documents and other legal matters. Call the toll-free hotline 877-331-4259.

Continued:  

Federal aid tops $94 million with two weeks left to apply to FEMA, SBA

FEMA offers advice at local Kanawha County stores on repairing, rebuilding

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — As West Virginians repair or rebuild their homes damaged by last month’s storms, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and four local hardware and home improvement stores have teamed up to provide free information, tips and literature on making homes stronger and safer.

FEMA mitigation specialists will be on hand this week to answer questions and offer home improvement tips along with proven methods to prevent or reduce damage from future disasters. A variety of free workshops for storm-impacted homeowners on such topics as repairing or installing flooring and what to do with rain-soaked drywall will be presented daily. Most of the information is geared for do-it-yourselfers and general contractors.

FEMA advisors will be available at:

 

Green’s Feed & Seed

314 Piedmont Road

Charleston, WV  25301

Aug. 11 to 17 (Workshop closed on Sunday)

8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thursday – Wednesday

 

The Home Depot

100 Cross Terrace Blvd.

Charleston, WV  25309

Aug. 11 to 17 (Workshop closed on Sunday)

8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thursday – Wednesday

 

Lowe’s Home Improvement

5750 MacCorkle Ave. SE

Charleston, WV  25304

Aug. 11 to 17 (Workshop closed on Sunday)

8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thursday – Wednesday

 

50 RHL Blvd.

South Charleston, WV  25309

Aug. 11 to 17 (Workshop closed on Sunday)

8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thursday – Wednesday

 

Free reference booklets, in English and Spanish, with information on protecting your home from flood damage, will be available at all locations. More information about strengthening property can be found at http://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation.

West Virginians who have questions about their flood insurance policies and coverage should contact the National Flood Insurance Program call center at 800-621-3362 (Option 2) between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. (EDT) Monday through Friday. Specialists can help with service claims, provide general information regarding policies and offer technical assistance to aid in recovery.

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/femaregion3, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA, fema.gov/blog and the flood information pages at http://wvflood.com/Pages/default.aspx

 

This article is from:  

FEMA offers advice at local Kanawha County stores on repairing, rebuilding

FEMA offers advice at local Kanawha County stores on repairing, rebuilding

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — As West Virginians repair or rebuild their homes damaged by last month’s storms, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and four local hardware and home improvement stores have teamed up to provide free information, tips and literature on making homes stronger and safer.

FEMA mitigation specialists will be on hand this week to answer questions and offer home improvement tips along with proven methods to prevent or reduce damage from future disasters. A variety of free workshops for storm-impacted homeowners on such topics as repairing or installing flooring and what to do with rain-soaked drywall will be presented daily. Most of the information is geared for do-it-yourselfers and general contractors.

FEMA advisors will be available at:

 

Green’s Feed & Seed

314 Piedmont Road

Charleston, WV  25301

Aug. 11 to 17 (Workshop closed on Sunday)

8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thursday – Wednesday

 

The Home Depot

100 Cross Terrace Blvd.

Charleston, WV  25309

Aug. 11 to 17 (Workshop closed on Sunday)

8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thursday – Wednesday

 

Lowe’s Home Improvement

5750 MacCorkle Ave. SE

Charleston, WV  25304

Aug. 11 to 17 (Workshop closed on Sunday)

8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thursday – Wednesday

 

50 RHL Blvd.

South Charleston, WV  25309

Aug. 11 to 17 (Workshop closed on Sunday)

8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thursday – Wednesday

 

Free reference booklets, in English and Spanish, with information on protecting your home from flood damage, will be available at all locations. More information about strengthening property can be found at http://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation.

West Virginians who have questions about their flood insurance policies and coverage should contact the National Flood Insurance Program call center at 800-621-3362 (Option 2) between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. (EDT) Monday through Friday. Specialists can help with service claims, provide general information regarding policies and offer technical assistance to aid in recovery.

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/femaregion3, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA, fema.gov/blog and the flood information pages at http://wvflood.com/Pages/default.aspx

 

This article is from:  

FEMA offers advice at local Kanawha County stores on repairing, rebuilding

President Declares Disaster for State of Wisconsin

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 the State of Wisconsin to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms and flooding during the period of July 11-12, 2016.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to state, tribal, local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the affected by severe storms and flooding in Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Florence, Iron, Sawyer, and Washburn counties; and the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa Tribe.

Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the State of Wisconsin.

Benigno Bern Ruiz has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.  Ruiz 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’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.

See original article: 

President Declares Disaster for State of Wisconsin

Be Prepared—Download FEMA Smartphone App

ATLANTA, Ga – Take steps now to prepare your family for disasters by downloading the FEMA smartphone app. 

Much of the region has been under heat advisories from the National Weather Service over the past few weeks. While it has cooled down in recent days, summer continues for several more weeks. The FEMA app lets you receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations across the nation, making it easy to follow severe weather that may be threatening your family and friends.

To help you stay safe during extreme heat, take the following actions when your area is under a heat advisory:   

  • Postpone outdoor games and activities and limit exposure to the sun.
  • Drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine; limit alcoholic beverage intake.
  • Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing.
  • Spend the warmest part of the day in temperature-controlled buildings such as libraries, schools, movie theaters, shopping malls, or community facilities.
  • Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.

Download and use the free FEMA app, which provides valuable safety tips to help you prepare for and recover from more than 20 natural and man-made hazards. The app also provides family communication plans, a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, and maps of open shelters and disaster recovery centers. The app is available on the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

###

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.

Link to original – 

Be Prepared—Download FEMA Smartphone App

SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center Opens in Tomball (Harris County)

AUSTIN, Texas – The U.S. Small Business Administration opened a disaster loan outreach center this week.

Location:
Tomball Community Center
Library Room
221 Market St.
Tomball, TX 77375

Hours:
9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays
Closed Saturdays and Sundays

SBA customer service representatives are available to meet with business owners and residents to answer questions, explain SBA’s disaster loan program and close their approved disaster loans. Business owners and residents can meet with SBA representatives on the days and times indicated. No appointment is necessary.

Applicants for disaster loans may apply online using the electronic loan application via SBA’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela

Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955 or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call 800-877-8339. For more disaster assistance information or to download applications, visit sba.gov/disaster.

Completed paper applications should be mailed to:

U.S. Small Business Administration
Processing and Disbursement Center
14925 Kingsport Rd.
Fort Worth, TX 76155

# # #

Continue reading:  

SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center Opens in Tomball (Harris County)

 Page 34 of 386  « First  ... « 32  33  34  35  36 » ...  Last »