Charleston, W.Va. — The Webster County Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at the Webster Springs Town Council meeting room will close at 6:00 p.m., Thursday, August 4, 2016.

But as a survivor of the June storms and floods, you will still be able to get the help you need with just a phone call.

Many of the services available at the DRCs are also available on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) helpline. The helpline operates from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice. By calling 800-621-3362 (voice 711 or video relay services) or 800-462-7585 for TTY users, you can use the Helpline to:

  • Register with FEMA.

  • Provide a change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information.

  • Receive information about FEMA home inspections.

  • Get other questions answered about federal disaster assistance.

  • Ask questions about a letter from FEMA.

  • Learn how to appeal a FEMA decision. All applicants may appeal.

You can also register with FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

If you want to discuss your application, bring your nine-digit FEMA registration number and zip code. To locate your nearest DRC, go on-line to: www.fema.gov/drc.

Representatives from FEMA, various state agencies and the U.S. Small Business Administration are still available at open DRCs to answer your disaster assistance questions or talk about low-interest loan

 

Clay County

 

Clay County High School, 1 Panther Dr., Clay WV 25043

Greenbrier County

Mobile Disaster Reovery 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

 

Kanawha County School Operations Center, 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

 

Monroe County

 

Alderson Senior Center, 317 Monroe St., Alderson, WV 24910

 

 

Nicholas County

Birch River Elementary School, 379 Birch River Rd., Birch River, WV 26610

 

Nicholas County

City of Richwood City Hall, 6 White Ave.,  Richwood, WV 26261

 

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.

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Help remains as Webster Springs DRC closes

AUSTIN, Texas—Texans who suffered damage or losses from the May-June storms and flooding have only days—until Aug. 10—to register with FEMA for federal disaster assistance.

Individuals who had disaster-related damage or losses between May 26 and June 24 and who live or work in the 24 eligible counties are strongly encouraged to register for FEMA assistance by the deadline.

The counties included in the federal disaster declaration are Austin, Bastrop, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Eastland, Fayette, Fort Bend, Grimes, Harris, Hidalgo, Hood, Kleberg, Lee, Liberty, Montgomery, Palo Pinto, Parker, San Jacinto, Stephens, Travis, Tyler, Waller and Washington.

Applying for disaster assistance is essentially a two-step process, which ensures consideration for all FEMA programs and the U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans. First, register with FEMA, then complete and return the no-obligation SBA loan application, if one is offered. There is no charge to apply for the loan and if approved, no obligation to accept it.

Disaster survivors in all 24 counties may register for assistance the following ways:

  • online at DisasterAssistance.gov
  • phone 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

  • at a disaster recovery center

After recovery centers close, survivors may visit any of the open disaster recovery centers, anywhere. To find the nearest one, go online to the recovery center locator at asd.fema.gov/inter/locator.

FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

Survivors should register even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims have been settled.

A free multilingual guide to the types of assistance available can be found at fema.gov/pdf/assistance/process/help_after_disaster_english.pdf

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the May-June storms at fema.gov/disaster/4272; or 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 the original here:

Registration for Disaster Assistance for May-June Storm Damage Ends Soon

AUSTIN, Texas—FEMA’s disaster recovery center at Conroe is now operating as a U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loan outreach center.

The disaster loan outreach center opened Monday at 9 a.m. and will operate through Wednesday, Aug. 10.

Location:      
Lone Star College
3200 College Park Dr.
General Academic Center Building, Room G122
Conroe, TX 77384

Hours:           
9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday

Closed Saturdays and Sundays

SBA customer service representatives will be 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 applications should be mailed to:

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

# # # 

See original article here: 

Former Conroe (Montgomery County) Disaster Recovery Center now a Disaster Loan Outreach Center

AUSTIN, Texas—Disaster recovery centers will close next week in Brazos, Eastland and Tyler counties.

Brazos County

Location:      
Bryan High School

Blue Campus
3450 Campus Dr., Room 6129
Bryan, TX 77082

Closing:         
6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3

 

Eastland County

Location:      
Eastland School District

The Dome
100 Little Maverick Trail
Eastland, TX 76448

Closing:         
2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6

 

Tyler County

Location:       
Tyler County Emergency Operations Center
201 Veterans Way
Woodville, TX 75979

Closing:         
2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6

Hours of operation until their closing dates are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Closed Sundays.

After the centers close, survivors may visit any of the open disaster recovery centers, anywhere. To find the nearest one, go online to the recovery center locator at asd.fema.gov/inter/locator.

Those who have already registered with FEMA can get updates about their applications, learn about the appeals process or check the status of their claims online or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

Those who have not yet registered for disaster assistance may do so the following ways:

  • online at DisasterAssistance.gov

  • phone 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

A free multilingual guide to the types of assistance available can be found at fema.gov/help-after-disaster.

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.

See more here:  

Disaster Recovery Centers to Close This Week in Brazos, Eastland and Tyler Counties

Top FEMA Officials Available for Interviews to Discuss Extreme Heat Safety Tips, Urge Residents to Download FEMA Smartphone App Designed to Help Families Before, During, and After Disasters

Washington – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is urging residents across the nation to take steps now to prepare their families and communities for extreme heat, by reviewing important safety information and downloading the FEMA smartphone app. 

The National Weather Service announced today that “dangerously hot and humid conditions are expected this week across a large portion of the nation.” Additionally, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center’s latest outlook notes that most of the continental United States is facing elevated chances of well-above-average summer temperatures. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, heat kills more people than hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, earthquakes and floods.

To help Americans stay safe during extreme heat, FEMA urges residents to consider taking the following actions in affected areas:   

  • 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.

FEMA also urges residents to download and use the free FEMA app, which provides valuable safety tips to help families prepare for and recover from more than 20 natural and man-made hazards. The FEMA app enables users to 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 family and friends.  The app also provides family communication plans, 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.

 

What:  Interview opportunity with FEMA officials to share information on how to stay safe during extreme heat and FEMA’s updated Smartphone App

Who:  FEMA Director of External Affairs Josh Batkin

          FEMA Director of Public Affairs Rafael Lemaitre  

          FEMA Director of Individual and Community Preparedness Helen Lowman

When:  Upon request

RSVP:  To schedule a media interview contact the FEMA News Desk at 202-646-3272 or FEMA-News-Desk@fema.dhs.gov

###

 

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.

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

View original article: 

FEMA Urges Americans to Be Prepared for Extreme Heat, Download FEMA Smartphone App

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – If you already registered with FEMA and your housing situation has changed, please get in touch with FEMA and update your application. Call 800-621-3362.

You may have told FEMA you were moving in with family or friends. But that situation may have changed.

You may have told FEMA you planned to stay in your flood damaged home while repairs are being made. Now that may be proving too difficult. Perhaps repairs haven’t gone as quickly as you hoped.

These and other situations may make you eligible now for temporary housing assistance.

Follow up on your application by calling the FEMA Helpline, 800-621-3362 (voice 711 or video relay services) or 800-462-7585 for TTY users. The Helpline is staffed from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice. Go online to update your application at DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also visit a Disaster Recovery Center; find locations at www.fema.gov/DRC or by calling the Helpline.

If you have damage or losses from the June 22-29 flooding, severe storms, mudslides and landslides, don’t wait to register for aid. Use the same phone numbers and website above or visit a recovery center.

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.

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Have your housing needs changed? Tell FEMA now.

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Seventy-two million dollars in federal disaster assistance have been approved to date for survivors of the June 22-29 severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides. The aid comes to West Virginia as a result of the major disaster declaration signed by President Obama on June 25.

The money has come to survivors in the form of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants to individuals and households; FEMA public assistance grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations; low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and claims paid by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Nearly five weeks into the recovery, FEMA has approved nearly $29.8 million in housing assistance, more than $5.4 million in other needs assistance and $1.43 million in public assistance. In addition, the SBA approved 426 low-interest disaster loans totaling more than $27.9 million, and 939 NFIP claims have been filed totaling more than $7.5 million in payouts.

A total of 8,034 households and businesses have applied to FEMA for disaster assistance. Individual disaster assistance grants for homeowners, renters and businesses affected are available to residents of 12 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 from FEMA 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.

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 Public Assistance Grants provide funding to state, tribal and local governments, and certain types of private, nonprofit organizations. These monies help communities quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies declared by the president.

FEMA-contracted housing inspectors have completed nearly 6,400 inspections of disaster-damaged properties to verify damage.

Registering with FEMA is the first step in qualifying for disaster 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, 89 Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) personnel have been canvassing storm-damaged neighborhoods. In the first 30 days of recovery operations, DSA workers visited 15,720 homes in severely storm-damaged neighborhoods. They are equipped to register survivors with FEMA and answer their questions about disaster assistance.

The State and FEMA operate Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Clay, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Monroe, Nicholas and Webster counties. The centers report 6,506 visitors to date.  DRCs  are  open  Monday  through  Saturday,  8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Sundays. An easy-to-use DRC Locator is available at http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm

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 Aug. 24.

If your SBA loan application is approved, you may be eligible for additional funds to cover the cost of improvements that will protect your property against future damage. Examples of improvements can include something as simple as elevating to the first floor utilities, water heaters and furnaces, sump pumps, etc. Mitigation loan money would be in addition to the amount of the approved loan, but may not exceed 20 percent of total amount of physical damage to real property to a maximum of $200,000 for home loans.

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:

  • For those who lost work as a result of the storms, Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available. New claims for DUA must be filed within 30 days of the date of the announcement of availability of DUA. For more information, visit WorkForce West Virginia at workforcewv.org.

  • In conjunction with FEMA, WorkForce West Virginia is advertising open temporary positions in Kanawha, Greenbrier and Raleigh Counties. Interested “local hire” applicants may complete an enrollment form at 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 legal and other legal matters. Call the toll-free hotline 877-331-4259.

  • Survivors may be eligible for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (D-SNAP) benefits through the Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. D-SNAP benefits can be used to buy food, but cannot be used for alcoholic beverages, tobacco or non-food items. Storm survivors can apply for these benefits from July 25 through July 31. More information is available at www.dhhr.wv.gov

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Federal assistance hits $72 million for West Virginia flood survivors

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — As West Virginians repair or rebuild their homes damaged by last month’s storms, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and five 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 and lessen 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 at:  

Ace Hardware

326 Main Street

Rainelle, WV 25962

Through Aug. 6

8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday

 

Byrnside Hardware

107 4th Street,

Danville, WV 25053

July 28 to Aug. 3 – (Workshop closed Sunday)

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday

7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday

 

The Home Depot

1100 Liberty Park Drive,
Hurricane, WV 25526

July 28 to Aug. 3 (Workshop closed Sunday)

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

Lowes Home Improvement

1155 Oakvale Road

Princeton, WV  24740

July 28 to Aug. 3 (Workshop closed Sunday)

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

Sears Home Improvement

RR 1 Box 17-A

Ronceverte, WV 24970

July 28 to Aug. 3 (Workshop closed Sunday)

9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday

 

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 a.m. and 7 p.m. (ET) 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

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FEMA offers advice at local stores on repairing, rebuilding

AUSTIN, Texas—The disaster recovery center in Sealy, Austin County, will close Saturday.

Austin County

Location:      
St. Mary’s Catholic Church

CCD Building
10471 Grotto Rd.
Sealy, TX 77474

Closing:         
2 p.m. Saturday, July 30

After the center closes, survivors may visit any of the open disaster recovery centers, anywhere. To find the nearest one, go online to the recovery center locator at asd.fema.gov/inter/locator.

Those who have already registered with FEMA can get updates about their applications, learn about the appeals process or check the status of their claims online or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

Those who have not yet registered for disaster assistance may do so the following ways:

  • online at DisasterAssistance.gov

  • phone 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

A free multilingual guide to the types of assistance available can be found at fema.gov/help-after-disaster.

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.

See the article here – 

Disaster Recovery Center to Close July 30 in Sealy, Austin County

Charleston, W.Va. — If you were affected during the June storms and have questions about legal issues such as repair contracts, working with contractors, replacing wills and other legal documents, you might be eligible to get free legal counseling from a group of West Virginia lawyers who have volunteered limited legal help.

Disaster legal Services provides legal assistance to low-income individuals who, prior to or because of the disaster, have little recourse to legal services as a consequence of a major disaster.

A partnership among the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the West Virginia State Bar, and Legal Aid of West Virginia provides eligible callers 24/7 access to a toll free legal hotline, 877-331-4259. Callers may leave a message and will be matched with a local attorney.

Local legal aid providers might help you with:

  • Assistance with FEMA and other government benefits available
  • Assistance with life, medical, and property insurance claims
  • Help with home repair contracts and contractors
  • Replacement of wills and other important legal documents lost or destroyed in the disaster
  • Consumer protection issues such as price-gouging and avoiding contractor scams in the rebuilding process
  • Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems
  • Counseling on landlord-tenant problems

There are some limitations on disaster legal services. For instance, if a case might produce a fee, or where attorneys are paid as part of a court settlement, you’ll be referred to a local lawyer.

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Free disaster legal services available

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