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Mississippians Use New Technology for Hurricane Recovery

CLINTON, Miss. – Nearly one in three Mississippi households affected by Hurricane Isaac uses the Internet or a Web-enabled cell phone to get disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Of 18,000 households that requested FEMA help in the first two weeks after the storm, about 5,000 used a computer and an additional 1,000 used a smartphone.

FEMA offers Internet access for computers and smartphones at www.DisasterAssistance.gov and m.fema.gov and has a free app to support the process.

Computers and phones with web browsers can:

Submit a request for help and check on their application.
Update contact information.
Add insurance and bank information.
Learn about other types of disaster assistance from several federal agencies that participate in DisasterAssistance.gov.
Use a questionnaire to streamline recovery.

Non-smartphones can be pretty smart, too. Any phone with text service can find a disaster recovery center in about 10 seconds:

Address the text to 43362.
In the message, type DRC followed by a space, then type the zip code you want to search. For example, if you lived in Pike County your outgoing message would be DRC 39652.
In seconds you’ll receive a text with the street address of the nearest disaster recovery center.
Sending this text will not add you to a list.

FEMA and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency urge households with hurricane losses to sign up for help regardless of the amount of damage or insurance. FEMA assistance can include grants for rent and home repairs, low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration to cover uninsured property losses, and referrals to several dozen other agencies that have free disaster recovery services.

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’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and 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.

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Mississippians Use New Technology for Hurricane Recovery

Disaster Recovery Centers to Close on Sundays

BATON ROUGE, La. — The State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers currently open in 18 Louisiana parishes will be closed on Sundays starting Sept. 23.

The 27 recovery centers will remain open Monday through Saturday. For a list of open centers in Louisiana and their operating hours go online to www.fema.gov/disaster/4080.

Recovery centers provide personal assistance and disaster relief information to homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained uninsured and underinsured damage to their home

or personal property as a result of Hurricane Isaac.

Survivors who have not yet done so, may register 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, call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

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

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Disaster Recovery Centers to Close on Sundays

FEMA Authorizes Funds to Help Fight the Karney Fire

SEATTLE—The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Karney Fire in Boise County, Idaho.

FEMA Acting Regional Administrator Sharon Loper approved the state’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) on September 18, 2012, at 2:18 p.m. PDT. At the time of the request, the fire had destroyed one residence and was threatening 100 additional residences.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of Idaho eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants provide reimbursement for firefighting and life-saving efforts. They do not provide assistance to individuals, homeowners or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

Fire Management Assistance Grants are provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders and 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 Authorizes Funds to Help Fight the Karney Fire

Washington Wildfires Receive FEMA Funding

SEATTLE—The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Poison Fire and the Peavine Fire burning in Chelan County.

In response to the state’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the Poison Fire, FEMA Acting Regional Administrator Sharon Loper approved the request on September 12, at 8:00 PM PDT. At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 197 primary residences. Shelters have been set up in Chelan and Wenatchee.

In response to the state’s request for an FMAG for the Peavine Fire, FEMA Acting Regional Administrator Sharon Loper approved the request on September 13, at 12:15 AM PDT. At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 120 residences (114 primary residences) in subdivisions southeast of the city of Wenatchee. Approximately 360 people had evacuated the area.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of Washington eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants provide reimbursement for firefighting and life-saving efforts. They do not provide assistance to individuals, homeowners or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

The addition of the Poison Fire and Peavine Fires, brings the total to six FMAGs approved in the past seven days. The other FMAGs were for the Highway 141 Fire, the 1st Canyons Fire, the Barker Canyon Fire and the Byrd Canyon Fire.

Update on Barker Canyon Fire FMAG:

The state also submitted an FMAG request for the Leahy Junction Fire, which is being managed by the same Incident Commander as the Barker Canyon Fire in Douglas County. The State requested FEMA recognize the merger of these two fires as the Barker Canyon Fire Complex under the Barker Canyon FMAG. The declaration will be revised to be renamed as the Barker Canyon Fire Complex.

FEMA Acting Regional Administrator Sharon Loper approved the request on September 12, at 10:41 PM PDT. At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 50 primary residences with three primary residences already destroyed. Approximately 150 people have been evacuated for both fires. The Leahy fire has burned 78,000 acres and has merged with the Barker Canyon Fire of over 96,000 acres. Critical power generation facilities are also threatened. Approximately, 90% of the power in the Pacific Northwest is distributed through this system.

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Washington Wildfires Receive FEMA Funding

FEMA Authorizes Funds to Help Fight the Byrd Canyon Fire

SEATTLE, Wash — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Byrd Canyon Fire burning in Chelan County, Washington.

FEMA Acting Regional Administrator Sharon Loper approved the state’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) on September 10, 2012 at 5:00 PM PDT. This is the third FMAG in Washington in 24 hours.

The fire started on September 8, 2012, and has burned approximately 6,500 acres of Federal and private land. At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 135 primary homes near the city of Chelan and was at 0 percent containment. Approximately 170 people had evacuated the area under a mandatory evacuation order.

Source:

FEMA Authorizes Funds to Help Fight the Byrd Canyon Fire

FEMA Authorizes Funds to Help Fight Two Washington Wildfires

SEATTLE, Wash — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for both the 1^st Canyons Fire burning in Chelan County and the Barker Canyon Fire burning in Douglas and Grant counties.

FEMA Acting Regional Administrator Sharon Loper approved Washington’s requests for Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG) for the two fires on September 9, 2012.

At the time of the request, the 1st Canyons Fire was threatening 210 primary homes in subdivisions near the city of Wenatchee. The residents of approximately 200 homes have been placed under a mandatory evacuation order and one shelter is open. The fire started on September 8, 2012, and has burned approximately 250 acres of private land. There are 85 other large fires burning uncontrolled within the State. The Principal Advisor confirmed the threat to homes. The fire is at approximately 0 percent containment.

At the time of the request, the Barker Canyon Fire was threatening 165 primary homes and had progressed to within 1/2 mile of the city of Grand Coulee. Approximately 120 people had been evacuated and one shelter is open. Three power substations and major transmission lines are threatened, with one substation surrounded. The fire started on September 9, 2012 and has burned approximately 10,000 acres. The Principal Advisor has confirmed the threat to homes and utilities. The fire is at approximately 0 percent containment.

The authorizations makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of Washington eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants provide reimbursement for firefighting and life-saving efforts. They do not provide assistance to individuals, homeowners or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

Source:

FEMA Authorizes Funds to Help Fight Two Washington Wildfires

Survivors with Questions Should Contact FEMA for Answers

BATON ROUGE, La. – Hurricane Isaac survivors in Louisiana who have questions about state and federal disaster assistance should go straight to the source for answers, and contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) first.

“We encourage you to act fast and come to us first for the correct information,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall of FEMA. “And once you get in touch with us, stay in touch. We’re here to answer any questions you may have.”

Contact FEMA first, if you…

Received an ineligibility letter and have questions
Want to know if you’re eligible for the hotel/motel program
Have questions about insurance deductibles
Aren’t sure what information you need to have in order to apply for assistance
Want to know more about your housing inspection
Wonder why you haven’t heard back from FEMA
Want to find out what other resources are available to you
Have any other questions or doubts related to your application for assistance.

Survivors are encouraged to visit a Disaster Recovery Center in their area if they would like to speak directly with a FEMA recovery specialist. There currently are 27 recovery centers open in 18 parishes. A complete list of locations and their operating hours is available at www.fema.gov/disaster/4080.

Louisianians can also call the FEMA helpline at 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 operating from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Helplines also are available for survivors who need:

Free legal services: 1-800-310-7029;
Information about flood insurance: 1-866-331-1679;
Contact with a crisis counselor through a service offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: 1-800-985-5990; and
Disaster Unemployment Assistance: 1-866-783-5567.

Homeowners, renters and business owners in 21 Louisiana parishes can now apply for federal disaster grants and loans. The parishes are Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington 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.

Survivors with Questions Should Contact FEMA for Answers

Houma Disaster Recovery Center to Close Thursday

BATON ROUGE, La. — The State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center located in Houma, Terrebonne Parish will close on Sept. 20 at 6 p.m., and will reopen in a new location to be announced soon.

The center is currently located at:

Houma Civic Center

346 Civic Center Blvd.

Houma, LA 70360

Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Sept. 20

Recovery centers provide personal assistance and disaster relief information to homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained damage to their home or personal property as a result of Hurricane Isaac.

Survivors can register 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. If you use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services, call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Originally posted here:

Houma Disaster Recovery Center to Close Thursday

Tropical Storm Debby Survivors Should Submit Insurance Settlements

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Tropical Storm Debby survivors who registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and indicated they had insurance coverage should send in their settlement information for review.

The insurance settlement documents allow FEMA to determine if survivors have uninsured or underinsured losses eligible for federal assistance. Decisions on FEMA assistance are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

To submit insurance documentation, here’s what applicants can do:

Gather insurance documents and any settlement information.
Write the applicant’s name, FEMA registration number and 4068-DR-FL on each page.
Send a copy of these documents to FEMA by:

Fax: 800-827-8112

Mail: National Processing Service Center

P.O. Box 10055

Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055

Call FEMA with questions at 800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 800-462-7585. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and assistance is available in many languages.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or www.floridadisaster.org/. On Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/FloridaSERT. To receive Twitter updates: twitter.com/FLSERT or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). 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), all 800-621-3362.

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Tropical Storm Debby Survivors Should Submit Insurance Settlements

Statement by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate on House Passage of Legislation Addressing Tribal Sovereignty

Main Content

Release date:

September 19, 2012

Release Number:

HQ-12-097

FEMA Reauthorization Act Allows Tribal Governments to Directly Apply for Federal Disaster Aid

WASHINGTON – Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate issued the following statement regarding passage in the U.S. House of Representatives of the 2012 FEMA Reauthorization Act, including Section 210, which would amend the Stafford Act to allow federally recognized Tribal governments to seek a federal emergency or disaster declaration directly from the President of the United States. In June, Administrator Fugate sent a letter to Congress asking for the passage of this provision:

“Today, the House of Representatives passed legislation to allow federally recognized Tribal governments to seek a federal emergency or disaster declaration directly from the President of the United States. Such an amendment to the Stafford Act affirms the sovereignty of tribal governments. FEMA has strong, long-standing relationships with tribal governments, and they are essential members of the emergency management team. The U.S. Government has a unique government-to-government relationship with federally recognized tribal governments, and amending the Stafford Act to recognize this sovereign relationship will only strengthen the way that FEMA supports tribal communities before, after and during disasters. The House’s action today is an important step forward for this legislation which would strengthen our nation’s emergency management team.”

Last Updated:

September 19, 2012 – 19:38

State or Region:

Headquarters

Credit:

Statement by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate on House Passage of Legislation Addressing Tribal Sovereignty

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