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President Declares Major Disaster for West Virginia

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the State of West Virginia to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides beginning on June 22, 2016, and continuing.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in of Greenbrier, Kanawha, and Nicholas counties. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures in Greenbrier, Kanawha, and Nicholas counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

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

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

Follow FEMA online at 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.

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President Declares Major Disaster for West Virginia

Disaster Recovery Center to Close in Washington County

AUSTIN, Texas – The disaster recovery center in Brenham in Washington County will close on June 30.

Washington County

Location: Washington County Fairgrounds
1305 East Bluebell Rd.
Brenham TX 77833

Closing: 6 p.m. Thursday, June 30

Recovery officials encourage Texans who registered for disaster assistance with FEMA to stay in touch. If survivors change their addresses or phone numbers they should update FEMA with the information. Missing or erroneous information could result in delays in getting a home inspection or receiving assistance.

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

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Disaster Recovery Center to Close in Washington County

7 More Texas Counties Hit by May Floods Can Apply for Disaster Assistance

AUSTIN, Texas – Individuals and families in Bastrop, Burleson, Eastland, Lee, Liberty, Stephens and Tyler counties are now encouraged to register with FEMA for disaster assistance for the May floods.

With damage assessments completed, the state requested the seven counties be added to the June 11 disaster declaration, bringing to 19 the number of Texas counties designated for federal disaster assistance.

The original 12 counties designated for assistance are: Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Fort Bend, Grimes, Hidalgo, Hood, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Travis, Waller and Washington.

Texans who suffered damage or loss as a result of the severe storms and flooding that began May 26 are encouraged to apply for assistance. Disaster assistance for homeowners and renters may include grants to help pay for temporary housing and essential home repairs, as well as other serious disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses.

Survivors in the designated counties may register for assistance the following ways:

online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov
phone 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. 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. To find the nearest one, go online to the Disaster 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.

Those who had flood or storm damage should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may be eligible for help after their insurance claims have been settled. They should also register even if they’ve already registered for or received aid for another declared disaster.

Before starting repairs or rebuilding a home or business, it is important to contact the local building code official or floodplain manager. Visit fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation for free publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger.

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are available for eligible survivors. SBA helps businesses of all sizes (including landlords), private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. Disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries.

For more information, survivors may contact SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting the SBA website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

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7 More Texas Counties Hit by May Floods Can Apply for Disaster Assistance

FEMA In Close Coordination with the State of West Virginia As Severe Weather Continues

PHILADELPHIA – FEMA Region III is deploying an Incident Management Assistance Team and Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) teams to West Virginia to provide support and guidance on the Federal Disaster Declaration Process and PDAs in response to current flooding and severe weather.

These teams will participate in joint PDAs with the State of West Virginia, local officials, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to assess damages and the impact to communities. PDAs, which are an information gathering process, are the first step in helping a governor determine whether the scope of damage is beyond what the state is capable of handling and if additional assistance is necessary.

Information is jointly compiled and reviewed by the state, at which point, the state may decide that a request for federal assistance is warranted. The PDAs will include Clay, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Roane, Webster, and other counties.

FEMA Region III and our partners at the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) want to encourage individuals and families to take steps to be safe during severe weather and flooding events. If drivers encounter water on roadways, turn around, don’t drown.

Residents in potentially affected areas should continue to monitor local radio or television stations for updated emergency information, and follow the instructions of state, local, and tribal officials. If you are in need of emergency assistance, please dial 9-1-1.

When severe weather hits, the first responders are local emergency and public works personnel, volunteers, humanitarian organizations, and numerous private interest groups. The individuals within these organizations provide emergency assistance to protect the public’s health and safety and services to meet immediate needs. For additional safety information, check with your local officials and media sources through social and traditional media accounts.

To learn more about what to do before, during and after severe weather, visit www.Ready.gov.

FEMA’s support of State and Local response and recovery operations are in direct accordance with the Robert T. Stafford Act. For additional information on flood preparedness, visit www.fema.gov/ or www.dhsem.wv.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. 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 fema.gov/medialibrary and youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion3.

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FEMA In Close Coordination with the State of West Virginia As Severe Weather Continues

High Water Mark Event Addresses Past, Future of Flood Risk

PHILADELPHIA – On Thursday, June 23, 2016 the City of Richmond, Virginia unveiled a High Water Mark at Pony Pasture Rapids Park. The marks, also established at Brown’s Island and Great Shiplock Park, show areas where flood water has risen in the past in an effort to raise awareness of flooding and encourage individuals to consider their risk.

“Whether it is a hurricane or a flood, it only takes one storm to significantly impact our communities,” stated FEMA Region III Regional Administrator MaryAnn Tierney. “The High Water Mark campaign highlights for us that by being prepared for these events, we can reduce their impact on us and make our communities safer for all.”

The High Water Mark Campaign represents a partnership between FEMA’s High Water Mark Campaign program, the Region III office, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District, the Virginia Silver Jackets, and others to encourage flood awareness and steps individuals, families, and communities should take to protect themselves against future flooding events.

“Flooding is the most prevalent natural disaster in Virginia and we know that many are under-insured against floods,” said VDEM State Coordinator Dr. Jeffrey Stern. “Our goal is to increase preparedness in flood-prone communities. These signs are a constant reminder that major flooding can occur in the Commonwealth and should prompt individuals and businesses to take action, obtain flood insurance and prepare.”

The High Water Mark Campaign is a part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) which seeks to increase local communities’ awareness of flooding and flood risks. In addition to signs marking historic flood levels, the campaign seeks to promote continued education and awareness of flooding and to encourage communities to take steps to mitigate their risks. FloodSmart.gov has information on risk and insurance options to help individuals make the best decision for them and their families.

FEMA and VDEM encourage individuals, families and communities to prepare for disasters and take steps to protect themselves from hazards such as floods. More information on the High Water Mark Campaign may be found at http://www.fema.gov/high-water-mark-initiative.

Visit Ready.gov and www.vaemergency.gov for information on flooding and other hazards as well as preparedness information.

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High Water Mark Event Addresses Past, Future of Flood Risk

City of Baltimore Enters Voluntary Floodplain Management Program

PHILADELPHIA – Residents of the City of Baltimore, Maryland have received a reduction in their flood insurance premiums through implementation of floodplain management measures encouraged by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) oversees the NFIP, which administers a program called the Community Rating System (CRS). The CRS is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed minimum NFIP requirements. The program includes 10 different class rating levels based on the number and type of activities voluntarily initiated by the participating community. Each level corresponds to a percentage discount on National Flood Insurance policy premiums within the municipality.

“The CRS program provides a strong incentive for communities to take flood risk reduction into their own hands,” stated FEMA Region III Regional Administrator MaryAnn Tierney. “Mitigation actions that reduce the impact of future floods on communities are to be championed, and the City of Baltimore has taken strong steps in this direction.”

As a member of the CRS, the City of Baltimore is within an elite group of 14 Maryland communities that have received this recognition. With the continued steps taken by the City of Baltimore to protect its citizens and increase its resiliency, it has entered the Community Rating System program as a Class 5 participant. The Class 5 rating qualifies eligible National Flood Insurance Program policy holders in floodprone areas an average of $213 savings on their annual premium. In total, entry into the program accounts for a total savings of over $400,000 annually for citizens of Baltimore.

Under the CRS, local officials are asked to meet three goals: (1) reduce flood losses; (2) facilitate accurate insurance rating; and (3) promote the awareness of flood insurance. Communities can earn a CRS rating by submitting an application explaining the projects they have in place or development. Once the information is verified and approved, FEMA provides flood insurance premium discounts through the NFIP. The amount of a property owner’s policy discount is based on the community’s CRS rating.

For each class that a community moves up to, it provides its residents with an additional 5% reduction in their flood insurance premiums up to the 45% reduction that a Class 1 community receives. As a Class 5 community, the City of Baltimore enables its residents to receive a 25% reduction on eligible flood insurance premiums.

For information about flood insurance, property owners should contact their insurance agent, visit floodsmart.gov, or call the NFIP’s toll-free information line at 800-427-4661. To learn more about the CRS, visit floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/crs/community_rating_system.jsp.

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City of Baltimore Enters Voluntary Floodplain Management Program

FEMA Offers Assistance for Renters, Too

AUSTIN, Texas – Renters displaced by the May storms and flooding may be eligible for federal disaster assistance, including grants from FEMA and low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

FEMA offers eligible renters grants for rental assistance. These grants help pay for temporary housing while a damaged home or apartment is being repaired.

Eligible renters may receive grant under FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance program. These grants help uninsured or underinsured survivors with expenses and serious needs caused by the May storms including:

child care
moving and storage expenses
disaster-related funeral and burial expenses
disaster-related dental and medical expenses, such as wheelchairs, canes and prescription drugs
repair or replacement of storm-damaged personal property, including furniture and appliances, as well as job-related tools and equipment required by the self-employed
primary vehicles, and approved second or modified vehicles damaged by the disaster

The SBA offers low-interest disaster loans with rates that remain the same for the life of the loan. Renters may be eligible to borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged personal property, including automobiles.

Applicants may apply online for an SBA loan using the electronic loan application at the secure website DisasterLoan.sba.gov/ela.

Texans can register for disaster assistance the following ways:

online at DisasterAssistance.gov
phone 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. 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.To find the nearest one, go online to the Disaster 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.

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

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FEMA Offers Assistance for Renters, Too

Workshop for Businesses on Local, State and Federal Contracting Process

BATON ROUGE, La. – Businesses, trade associations and chambers of commerce learned about securing government contracts during a free workshop this week.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP), the Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center (LA BEOC), FEMA and other state agencies spoke about how to increase local, state and federal contract opportunities.

“We were excited about this opportunity to teach Louisiana business and industry leaders how they can help meet the needs of local governments, the state and the federal government,” GOHSEP Director James Waskom said.

Attendees also learned tips how to enhance disaster resiliency so they can better assist recovery and response with their products and services.

The LA BEOC is dedicated to improving the ability of Louisiana businesses and non-profits to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural and human-caused disasters, and to maintain the stability, resilience and economic recovery of their communities. It is also the conduit between those who need resources with Louisiana resource providers during response and recovery from an emergency or disaster event.

“Businesses and the private sector are critical parts in emergency management,” LA BEOC Director of Operations Clay Rives said. “We’re fortunate there’s a strong interest among Louisiana’s private sector wanting to assist in disaster recovery.”

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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 us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at SBA.gov/disaster Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

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Workshop for Businesses on Local, State and Federal Contracting Process

3 Disaster Recovery Centers to Close June 25 in Houston and Cypress (Harris County)

AUSTIN, Texas – Three disaster recovery centers will close at 2 p.m. on June 25 in Houston and Cypress, both in Harris County.

Harris County

Imperial 20 (Office Building)
16800 Imperial Valley Dr., Suite 108
Houston, TX 77060

Bayland Community Center
6400 Bissonnet St.
Houston, TX 77074

Lone Star College – CyFair Library
9191 Barker Cypress Rd.
Cypress, TX 77433

Disaster recovery centers are operated jointly by FEMA and the state. Visiting a disaster recovery center is not required to register for FEMA assistance.

After the centers close, Texans whose homes or businesses were affected by the April 17-24 storms and flooding can still register for assistance, get updates about applications, learn about the appeals process or check the status of their claims the following ways:

visit DisasterAssistance.gov
phone 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.
visit a disaster recovery center that remains open. To find the nearest one, go online to the Disaster Recovery Center Locator at asd.fema.gov/inter/locator. fema.gov/disaster/4269 or visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at dps.texas.gov/dem/. Follow us on Twitter @femaregion6.

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the April storms at fema.gov/disaster/4269 or visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at dps.texas.gov/dem/. Follow us on Twitter @femaregion6.

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

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3 Disaster Recovery Centers to Close June 25 in Houston and Cypress (Harris County)

FEMA in Pearland (Harris County) and Columbus (Colorado County) With Advice on Lessening Storm Damage

AUSTIN, Texas – A team of specialists from FEMA will visit home improvement stores in Pearland and Columbus to offer tips and techniques to lessen the impact of disaster-related property damage.

Specialists will be available on the following dates, times and locations:

Harris County

Location:
Pearland Lumber ACE Hardware
2027 N. Main St.
Pearland, TX 77581

Hours:
7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 20-24
8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 25

Colorado County

Location:
L & M Do-it-Best Building Supply
538 Walnut St.
Columbus, TX 78934

Hours:
7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 20-24

8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 25

FEMA Mitigation specialists will be on hand to answer questions and offer home-improvement tips to reduce damage in future disasters. Information is geared to both do-it-yourselfers and general contractors on topics such as flood proofing a home, how to elevate utilities and removing and replacing wet drywall.

Booklets are available in English and Spanish on protecting your home from flood damage and other natural disasters. If you have a disability and need an accommodation to access Braille or large print, please let our representatives know. American Sign Language interpreters can be available, if requested, by calling Everett Sedgwick at 202-870-4129. More information on how to strengthen homes, businesses and communities can be found at fema.gov/what-mitigation and fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation.

FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has a call center to answer policyholder questions, service claims, provide general information and offer technical assistance. To speak with a flood insurance specialist, call 800-621-3362 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the April storms at fema.gov/disaster/4269; or visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Follow us on Twitter @femaregion6.

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

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FEMA in Pearland (Harris County) and Columbus (Colorado County) With Advice on Lessening Storm Damage

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