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Deadline to Seek Federal Aid for Texas March Floods is May 18

AUSTIN, Texas – Texans who suffered damage or loss from the March tornadoes and flooding are running out of time to register with FEMA for federal disaster assistance.

Individuals who had disaster-related damage or losses living in the counties of Erath, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hood, Jasper, Limestone, Marion, Newton, Orange, Parker, Shelby and Tyler only have until Wednesday, May 18, to register for FEMA assistance.

Texans can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 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.

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.

For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the March storms at fema.gov/disaster/4266; or visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Follow us on Twitter @femaregion6.

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Deadline to Seek Federal Aid for Texas March Floods is May 18

Be On Alert for Disaster-Related Fraud and Scams

AUSTIN, Texas – State and federal recovery officials encourage Texans to watch for and report any suspicious activity or potential fraud from scam artists, identity thieves and other criminals. Also, FEMA does not endorse any commercial businesses, products or services.

FEMA encourages survivors as well as local residents and businesses to be especially vigilant for these common post-disaster fraud practices:

Fraudulent building contractors. When hiring a contractor:

Use licensed local contractors backed by reliable references.
Demand that contractors carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation.
Do not pay more than half the costs of repairs upfront.

Bogus pleas for post-disaster donations. Often, unscrupulous solicitors may play on the emotions of disaster survivors, residents and business owners. Be aware that disaster aid solicitations may arrive by phone, email, letter or face-to-face visits. To ensure a charity is legitimate:

Ask for the requestor’s name as well as the charity’s exact name, street address, phone number and website address – then call the charity directly to confirm the person asking for funds is an employee or volunteer.
Whether making a donation by cash or with a credit card, request a receipt including the charity’s name, street address and phone number.
With text messages, the five-to-six digit numbers known as a short code makes it difficult to tell who is on the receiving end. A legitimate charity will not ask for personal information or a credit card number by text.

Identity theft. Beware of visits, calls or e-mails from people claiming to be from FEMA, the state of Texas or a volunteer group. They will ask for an applicant’s Social Security number, bank account number or other sensitive information because their real goal is to steal personal identity and money.

Don’t fall for scam artists who promise a disaster grant and ask for large cash deposits or advance payments in full.

Federal and state workers do not solicit or accept money. FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration staff never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or help in filling out applications.

Phony housing inspectors. Homeowners and registered FEMA applicants should watch out for housing inspectors claiming to represent FEMA or the SBA.

Inspectors already have each applicant’s nine-digit registration number and a FEMA inspector will not ask for this number.
FEMA inspectors NEVER require banking or other personal information.
The job of FEMA housing inspectors is to verify damage. Inspectors do not hire or endorse specific contractors to fix homes or recommend repairs. They do not determine eligibility for assistance.

Federal and state representatives carry photo identification. Ask to see it. If unsure, call FEMA to verify the employee at 800-621-3362 (FEMA) or TTY 800-462-7585.

If fraud is suspected, call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721. If you are a victim, suspect a home repair scam, are contacted for unsolicited information, or believe a business is practicing price gouging, call the Office of the Texas Attorney General at 800-252-8011.

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Be On Alert for Disaster-Related Fraud and Scams

Residents of Four More Texas Counties Eligible to Apply for Disaster Assistance

AUSTIN, Texas – Individuals and families in Fort Bend, Liberty, Montgomery and San Jacinto counties can now register for assistance for the April floods after FEMA granted the state’s request to add them to the disaster declaration.

They join the eight counties already approved for individual assistance under the April 25 federal disaster declaration: Austin, Colorado, Fayette, Grimes, Harris, Parker, Waller and Wharton counties.

Texans who suffered damage or loss as a result of the severe storms and flooding that occurred April 17-24 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.

Texans in the 12 counties can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at

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.

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.

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.

Survivors may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s secure website at https://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 Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

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

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Residents of Four More Texas Counties Eligible to Apply for Disaster Assistance

Disaster Recovery Centers in West Carroll and Ouachita Parishes Will No Longer Be Open on Sundays

BATON ROUGE, La. – Disaster recovery centers in Oak Grove (West Carroll Parish) and Monroe (Ouachita Parish) will no longer be open on Sundays. Effective Monday, May 9, all disaster recovery centers will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Louisiana disaster survivors.

Survivors may visit FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or call 800-621-3362 to locate centers near them.

Residents can still register for disaster assistance or ask questions by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Those who use 711/VRS can call 800-621-3362. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. They can also register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or fema.gov/disaster/4263. Cuando llame al 800-621-3362 (FEMA) marque el 1 y escuche las instrucciones en español.

Call the helpline to:

Ask questions about FEMA determination letters.
Learn how to appeal FEMA’s determination. All applicants have the right to appeal.
Inquire about the status of a registration.
Provide change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information to avoid disaster assistance processing delays.
Receive information about FEMA home inspections.
Get other questions answered about federal disaster assistance.

FEMA advises applicants to have their nine-digit FEMA registration number on hand when they call. They also will be asked to verify their identity if they want access to their information.

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We urge everyone to continue to use caution in areas where floodwaters remain. Monitor DOTD’s 511la.org website for updated road closure information. Look for advisories from your local authorities and emergency managers. You can find the latest information on the state’s response at www.emergency.la.gov. GOHSEP also provides information at gohsep.la.gov, Facebook and Twitter. You can receive emergency alerts on most smartphones and tablets by downloading the new Alert FM App. It is free for basic service. You can also download the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide and find other information at www.getagameplan.org.

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 are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

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 blog.fema.gov.

FEMA offers a number of free online resources for home and property owners. To get started, go to fema.gov/safer-stronger-protected-homes-communities or fema.gov/louisiana-disaster-mitigation

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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Disaster Recovery Centers in West Carroll and Ouachita Parishes Will No Longer Be Open on Sundays

Louisiana Disaster Survivors: Don’t Throw That SBA Loan Application Away!

BATON ROUGE, La. – If you’re a survivor of the Louisiana storms and flooding that struck the state March 8 through April 8 and you’ve received an application for a U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loan, you should complete and return it as soon as possible.

Obtaining a low-interest disaster loan may be the solution to your recovery needs by providing you the funds you need for home repair, rebuilding and property loss. Returning the application also may lead you to Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster recovery grants that do not have to be repaid.

While no survivor is obligated to accept a loan, you will be considered for other federal disaster assistance only if you return the SBA loan application.

There are important reasons for you to file the loan application (even if you don’t think you currently need a loan):

Your insurance settlement may fall short. As you began to recover from the effects of your personal disaster, you may discover that you were underinsured for the amount of work required to repair or replace your home. An SBA low-interest disaster loan can cover the gap.
SBA will work with you to provide a loan that fits your personal budget. If you already have a mortgage on damaged property, SBA specialists can help with a low-interest loan you can afford. In some cases, that may mean your current mortgage loan could be included in your SBA loan which could give you one overall, affordable loan payment on your home.
Don’t know how you’ll replace household contents or vehicles? SBA may be able to help. Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 for the repair or replacement of real estate. Both homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace clothing, furniture, cars or appliances damaged or destroyed in the disaster.
What about businesses that were damaged? If you’re a business owner, you may be able to borrow up to $2 million for physical damage and economic injury.
By submitting your SBA loan application, you keep the full range of disaster assistance available as an option. If SBA does not approve a loan, you may be offered a FEMA grant or grants to replace essential household items, replace or repair a damaged vehicle, cover storage expenses or meet other serious disaster-related needs.

SBA Loans have Low Interest Rates.

Interest rates for loans for homeowners and renters can be as low as 1.813 percent. For private nonprofit organizations rates can be a low as 2.625 percent. For businesses rates can be as low as 4 percent.

Even if you qualify for an SBA loan, you are under no obligation to accept it.

Refinancing and relocation loans may be available on a case-by-case basis. Survivors are encouraged to speak with an SBA representative for details.

For more information, call the SBA at 800-659-2955 (800- 877-8339 TTY). Homeowners, renters and businesses may visit SBA’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela to apply online for disaster loans.

Although it’s not required to register with FEMA to apply for an SBA loan, you are strongly urged to do so as grants could be available to you from FEMA.

Register with FEMA for help or information regarding disaster assistance: call 800-621-FEMA (3362), register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or fema.gov/disaster/4263. Help is available in many languages. Cuando llame al 800 621-3362 (FEMA) marque el 1 y escuche las instrucciones en español.
Disaster applicants who use TTY should call 800-426-7585. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service should call 800-621-3362. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, every day.

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We urge everyone to continue to use caution in areas where floodwaters remain. Monitor DOTD’s 511la.org website for updated road closure information. Look for advisories from your local authorities and emergency managers. You can find the latest information on the state’s response at emergency.la.gov. GOHSEP also provides information at gohsep.la.gov, Facebook and Twitter. You can receive emergency alerts on most smartphones and tablets by downloading the new Alert FM App. It is free for basic service. You can also download the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide and find other information at www.getagameplan.org.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

FEMA offers a number of free online resources for home and property owners. To get started, go to fema.gov/safer-stronger-protected-homes-communities or fema.gov/louisiana-disaster-mitigation

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Louisiana Disaster Survivors: Don’t Throw That SBA Loan Application Away!

FEMA’s ‘Help After a Disaster’ Guide Available in PDF in Many Languages

AUSTIN, Texas – Texans affected by the April storms and flooding can get their questions answered in many languages by accessing the FEMA booklet “Help After a Disaster: Applicant’s Guide to the Individuals & Households Program.”

The guide provides information on the types of assistance available and how survivors in the disaster-impacted area might qualify for housing assistance and other grants and essential needs. It also explains the types of eligible losses covered by the program and information about insurance settlements and uninsured, disaster‐related necessary expenses. Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements to qualify for help.

The guide, fema.gov/help-after-disaster, is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Urdu, Vietnamese, Chinese and many other languages.

In Texas, federal disaster assistance is available to residents of Austin, Colorado, Fayette, Grimes, Harris, Parker, Waller and Wharton counties who suffered damage from the April 17-24 storms.

Survivors in the affected counties are urged to register for assistance the following ways:

online at DisasterAssistance.gov;
phone (voice, 711 or video relay service) 800-621-3362 (FEMA), TTY 800-462-7585. Toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.
by visiting any disaster recovery center in the disaster-impacted counties.

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FEMA’s ‘Help After a Disaster’ Guide Available in PDF in Many Languages

Clay County Arkansas Flood Maps Become Final

DENTON, Texas –– New flood maps become effective in Clay County on Aug. 3, 2016. Residents are encouraged to examine so they can determine the need to buy flood insurance. By knowing their risks, individuals and community leaders can make informed decisions about building and development.

The effects of flooding are not covered by most homeowner insurance policies. Anyone without flood insurance risks uninsured losses to their homes, personal property and businesses. Flood insurance is available either through a private policy, or through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP is a voluntary program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Residents with federal mortgages must have flood insurance if the structures are in flood hazard areas. Flooding is the #1 natural disaster in the U.S. and only flood insurance covers these unexpected, damaging and sometimes fatal events.

To learn if your community participates in the NFIP and to review the new flood maps, contact your local floodplain administrator. “We all need to learn what our risks are and prepare for them,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “Floods can happen anywhere.”

FEMA map specialists and flood insurance experts also are available to answer questions. They can be reached by phone and online chat.

•   To use the live chat service, visit http://go.usa.gov/r6C. Click on the “Live Chat” icon.
•   To contact a FEMA Map Specialist, call 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or send an email to FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com.
•   To view a Preliminary Interactive Flood Map: http://maps.riskmap6.com/AR/Clay/

FEMA encourages communities not currently participating in the NFIP to look at the benefits of joining the program. Contacting a local insurance agent is the first step to obtaining information about insurance. Folks can visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531 to locate an agent in their area.

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 www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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Clay County Arkansas Flood Maps Become Final

Flood Maps for Three Counties in Oklahoma Become Final

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Flood Maps for Three Counties in Oklahoma Become Final

DENTON, Texas –– New flood maps become effective in Rogers, Tulsa and Wagoner counties on Sept. 30, 2016. Residents are encouraged to examine the maps so they can determine the need to buy flood insurance. By knowing their risks, individuals and community leaders can make informed decisions about building and development.

Most homeowner insurance policies do not cover the effects of flooding. Anyone without flood insurance risks uninsured losses to their homes, personal property and businesses. Flood insurance is available either through a private policy, or through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP is a voluntary program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

To learn if your community participates in the NFIP and to see the new flood maps, contact your local floodplain administrator. “Floods can happen anywhere,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “We all need to learn what our risks are.”

FEMA map specialists and flood insurance experts are available to answer questions. They can be reached by phone and online chat.

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 www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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Flood Maps for Three Counties in Oklahoma Become Final

Aid May Be Available to Repair or Replace a Vehicle Damaged by April Floods

AUSTIN, Texas – Texans whose vehicles were damaged or destroyed by this April’s flooding may be eligible to receive federal assistance to repair or replace the vehicle.

“Those who may be eligible include not just residents of the designated counties, but also those who were working in or visiting those areas between April 17 and April 24 and had disaster-related damage to their vehicle,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin Hannes, who is in charge of FEMA’s operations in Texas.

The eight counties included in the federal disaster declaration are: Austin, Colorado, Fayette, Grimes, Harris, Parker, Waller and Wharton.

The following conditions apply to assistance for a damaged or destroyed vehicle:

The damaged vehicle must have complied with applicable state laws regarding title, vehicle registration and insurance requirements at the time of the damage.
Only those who maintain at least liability insurance will be considered to receive federal disaster assistance to repair or replace their vehicles. Liability coverage is the minimum insurance requirement for Texas drivers. Liability insurance policies do not cover storm-related damage. Survivors who register must submit proof to FEMA that they maintain liability coverage to be considered for federal disaster assistance to repair or replace their cars.
Survivors who have a comprehensive policy should first file a claim with their insurance company. Comprehensive policies usually pay for storm-related damage to a car. However, federal disaster assistance may help fill the gaps for those whose comprehensive insurance coverage does not pay for any or all storm-related damage costs.
Survivors need to return a completed U.S. Small Business Administration disaster-loan application. After registering with FEMA, the SBA may contact survivors concerning disaster loan applications. It’s important for survivors to submit their application. Homeowners and renters may be eligible to borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property, including automobiles damaged or destroyed in the disaster.
FEMA grants to repair or replace a vehicle must clear the SBA disaster loan process. A survivor may receive a grant from FEMA to repair or replace their car if insurance is insufficient and they were declined for an SBA home loan. Grants do not need to be repaid.
Keep documents. Federal disaster assistance is available to survivors only if their cars had damage during the severe storms and flooding April 17 to April 24. Survivors must submit an itemized document showing damage to the cars was storm-related and a receipt, estimate or verifiable bill of the repair or replacement costs.

FEMA officials advise anyone whose vehicle was damaged during the storms and flooding to register for assistance.

Texans can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362 (FEMA) or TTY 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call 800-621-3362. Multilingual operators are available. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

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

For more information on 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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Aid May Be Available to Repair or Replace a Vehicle Damaged by April Floods

FEMA to Evaluate Readiness of Delaware

PHILADELPHIA – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will evaluate a biennial emergency preparedness exercise for the Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station, Emergency Planning Zone portion in Delaware. The station is located in the State of New Jersey. The exercise will occur during the week of May 16th to test the ability of the State of Delaware to respond to an emergency at the nuclear facility.

“These drills are held every other year to test government’s ability to protect public health and safety,” said MaryAnn Tierney, Regional Administrator for FEMA Region III. “We will assess state and local emergency response capabilities in Delaware within the 10-mile emergency-planning zone of the nuclear facility as well as the adjacent support jurisdictions within the State of Delaware.”

Within 90 days, FEMA will send its evaluation to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for use in licensing decisions. The final report will be available to the public about 120 days after the exercise.

FEMA will present preliminary findings of the exercise in a public meeting at 10 a.m. on May 20, 2016, at the Residence Inn by Marriott, 600 Jefferic Blvd, Dover, Del. Scheduled speakers include representatives from FEMA, NRC, and the State of Delaware.

At the public meeting, FEMA may request that questions or comments be submitted in writing for review and response. Written comments may also be submitted after the meeting by emailing FEMAR3NewsDesk@fema.dhs.gov or by mail to:

MaryAnn Tierney

Regional Administrator

FEMA Region III

615 Chestnut Street, 6^th Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19106

FEMA created the Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program to (1) ensure the health and safety of citizens living around commercial nuclear power plants would be adequately protected in the event of a nuclear power plant accident and (2) inform and educate the public about radiological emergency preparedness.

REP Program responsibilities cover only “off-site” activities, that is, state and local government emergency planning and preparedness activities that take place beyond the nuclear power plant boundaries. On-site activities continue to be the responsibility of the NRC.

Additional information on FEMA’s REP Program is available online at https://www.fema.gov/radiological-emergency-preparedness-program.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. FEMA Region III’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion3.

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FEMA to Evaluate Readiness of Delaware

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