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Additional Virginia Counties and Independent Cities Approved For Disaster Aid

Harrisburg, Pa. – The counties of Greene, Henrico, and Shenandoah and the independent cities of Fairfax and Fredericksburg are now eligible to receive federal assistance for some of their costs incurred during the Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm occurring on January 22-23, 2016. This will allow for reimbursement for repairing infrastructure damage caused by the storms, as well as the cost of responding to them. In addition, Snow Assistance will be provided for a period of 48 hours.

On March 7, 2016 President Obama issued a major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Virginia triggering the release of Federal funds to help communities recover from the Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm. The disaster declaration authorized Public Assistance for Albemarle, Arlington, Caroline, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, Highland, King George, Loudoun, Louisa, Madison, Page, Patrick, Prince William, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Warren, and the independent cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Winchester.

In addition, the following counties were designated for Snow Assistance; Albemarle, Arlington, Caroline, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, Highland, King George, Loudoun, Louisa, Madison, Page, Patrick, Prince William, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Warren, and the independent cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park and Winchester.

FEMA’s Public Assistance Programs provide state and local governments and eligible private non-profit organizations, in the twenty-three designated counties and seven designated independent cities, with federal funds to pay 75 percent of the approved cost of the following; debris removal, emergency services related to the disaster, snow assistance for snow removal, de-icing, salting, snow dumps and sanding of roads and other eligible facilities, and for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities such as roads, bridges, buildings and utilities.

The Commonwealth, which distributes the FEMA funds to local governments and qualified non-profits, must review Public Assistance projects, along with FEMA, to ensure compliance with regulations.

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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Additional Virginia Counties and Independent Cities Approved For Disaster Aid

FEMA offers free publications at libraries in Jefferson County, Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Free publications are available now in several Jefferson County libraries to help residents rebuild safer and stronger from the Missouri flooding. FEMA’s outreach teams created displays to provide information along with the publications.

Libraries in Arnold, Barnhart, Crystal City, DeSoto, Festus and High Ridge are providing the information to help Missourians learn more about damage from weather, prepare for disasters, rebuild safer and learn more about the National Flood Insurance Program.

Libraries providing the publications include:

Jefferson County Library branches:
- Arnold Branch, 1701 Missouri State Road, Arnold, MO 63010
- Windsor Branch, 7479 Metropolitan Blvd., Barnhart, MO 63012
- Northwest Branch, 5680 State Road PP, High Ridge, MO 63049
Public library locations:
- Crystal City Public Library, 736 Mississippi Ave., Crystal City, MO 63019
- DeSoto Public Library, 712 S. Main Street, DeSoto, MO 63020
- Festus Public Library, 400 W. Main Street, Festus, MO 63028

Other locations in Missouri where publications are available include:

Missouri Regional Library at 214 Adams Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101
Camden County Library at 1064 Guthridge Lane, Osage Beach, MO 65055
St. Louis County Libraries, various branches

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For breaking news about flood recovery, follow FEMA Region 7 on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion7 and turn on mobile notifications or visit the FEMA webpages dedicated to this disaster at www.fema.gov/disaster/4250.

All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).

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FEMA offers free publications at libraries in Jefferson County, Missouri

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Winnsboro, Franklin Parish, for Louisiana Survivors

BATON ROUGE, La. – A disaster recovery center will open Tuesday, April 12, in Winnsboro, Franklin Parish, to help Louisiana flood survivors. The center is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays until further notice.
The disaster recovery center is located at the following address:

Franklin Parish Public Works Building
8327 Highway 17
Winnsboro, La.

More centers are planned to open in other parishes. Survivors may locate centers online at fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or by calling 800-621-3362.

Representatives from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration, volunteer groups and other agencies are at the center to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses. They can also help survivors apply for federal disaster assistance.

Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams are canvassing many affected areas, and are able to register people for FEMA assistance if needed. Sometimes these teams will remain in certain locations convenient to the community, such as a library or mayor’s office. When residents require further assistance the teams may refer them to a disaster recovery center nearby.

It is not necessary to visit a center to register for and receive federal disaster assistance. If possible, survivors should register with FEMA before visiting a recovery center.

To register, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages and phone lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Disaster survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585 to register. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service or require accommodations while visiting a center may call 800-621-3362. All disaster recovery centers are accessible and equipped with tools to accommodate disaster survivors who need disability-related communication aids. Each disaster recovery center has assistive technologies for people with disabilities. To arrange to have an ASL interpreter at the DRC when you visit, call 225-382-1739.

Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA are available for businesses of all sizes including landlords, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters. Disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries.

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

For information call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov or www.fema.gov/disaster/4263.

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We urge everyone to continue to use caution in areas where floodwaters remain. Monitor DOTD’s www.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 on 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). For TTY call 800-462-7585.
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 Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800)877-8339.

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Originally posted here –

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Winnsboro, Franklin Parish, for Louisiana Survivors

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Kinder, Allen Parish for Louisiana Survivors

BATON ROUGE, La. – A mobile disaster recovery center will be available Saturday, April 9, in Kinder, Allen Parish, to help Louisiana flood survivors. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 9, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 10.

The mobile center will be parked at the following address:

On Monday, April 11th the mobile center will be open at the following address:
Kinder Fire Department
808 2nd Ave.
Kinder, La.

On Tuesday, April 12, the mobile center will reopen at the following address:
Allen Parish Fire District
215 W. 5th Ave.
Oberlin, La.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Locations will alternate over the next two weeks –The mobile center will return to Kinder on Friday, April 15, and Saturday, April 16. It will be back in Oberlin on Monday, April 18, and Tuesday, April 19.

More centers are planned to open in other parishes. Survivors may locate centers online at fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or by calling 800-621-3362.

At the center, residents can get questions about disaster assistance answered. Also if survivors need help with FEMA registration or filling out a U.S. Small Business Administration loan application for a low-interest disaster loan, someone at the center can help them.

It is not necessary to visit a center to register for and receive federal disaster assistance. If possible, survivors should register with FEMA before visiting a recovery center.

For information call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov or www.fema.gov/disaster/4263.

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Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Kinder, Allen Parish for Louisiana Survivors

Help Remains for Louisiana Disaster Survivors after Disaster Recovery Centers Close in Grand Cane, Desoto Parish and Satsuma, Livingston Parish

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Grand Cane and Satsuma disaster recovery centers will close Monday, April 11, at 6 p.m.

The centers are located at the following addresses:

Desoto Parish Sheriff’s Office Training Center
120 Sprocket Lane
Grand Cane, La.

Satsuma Village Mall
28975 South Satsuma Road, Suite D
Satsuma, La.

Louisiana disaster survivors may still visit other centers to meet with recovery officials. For other locations go to fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or call 800-621-3362.

Residents can still register for disaster assistance or ask questions by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 (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 www.DisasterAssistance.gov or www.fema.gov/disaster/4263.

Other information that can be obtained on the helpline:

Ask questions about FEMA determination letters.
Learn how to appeal FEMA determination letters. All applicants may appeal.
Inquire about the status of a registration.
Provide change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information to avoid 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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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.

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Originally posted here:

Help Remains for Louisiana Disaster Survivors after Disaster Recovery Centers Close in Grand Cane, Desoto Parish and Satsuma, Livingston Parish

Help Remains for Louisiana Disaster Survivors after Disaster Recovery Center Closes in Jena, LaSalle Parish

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Jena disaster recovery center will close Saturday, April 9, at 6 p.m.

The center is located at the following address:

East Jena Baptist Church
1220 Pepper Street
Jena, La.

Louisiana disaster survivors may still visit other centers to meet with recovery officials. For other locations go to fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or call 800-621-3362.

Call to:

Ask questions about FEMA determination letters.
Learn how to appeal FEMA determination letters. All applicants may appeal.
Inquire about the status of a registration.
Provide change of address, telephone and bank account numbers, and insurance information to avoid 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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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.

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Help Remains for Louisiana Disaster Survivors after Disaster Recovery Center Closes in Jena, LaSalle Parish

Wildfire Recovery Assistance for Washington Reaches $3.5 Million from FEMA

DUPONT, Wash. – Federal grants to help Washington recover from the state’s worst wildfire season have topped $3.5 million, according to officials with the Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division (EMD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“FEMA grants offer significant financial relief for hard-hit communities in Washington,” said State Coordinating Officer Kurt Hardin of EMD. “From the emergency response through economic recovery, we’re all working together to get as much help as possible.”

The funding comes through FEMA’s Public Assistance program, which reimburses state and local governments, federally recognized tribes and certain nonprofit organizations for 75 percent of eligible disaster-related expenses. Grants may cover the costs of emergency protective measures, debris removal and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged infrastructure.

“Although the dollars go to governments and nonprofits after a disaster, they benefit everyone in a community,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Thomas Dargan of FEMA. “The money helps pay for efforts to protect people and property, clean up neighborhoods, and repair roads and bridges.”

Federal assistance provided to date includes:

$1.4 million—Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County—to restore power to 9,000 customers.
$349,000—Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County—to repair a mile-long transmission line and restore power to the Slide Ridge area
$303,000—Okanogan County Electric Cooperative—to repair high-voltage power lines and replace 38 burned poles and seven damaged transformers.
$188,000—Public Utility District No. 1 of Okanogan County—to repair a 6.5-mile section of high-voltage lines and a fiber optic network for Loup Loup.
$163,000—Chelan County—for emergency measures and services performed by first responders and support staff who set up roadblocks, manned a 911 call center, and evacuated and sheltered people and pets.
$139,000—Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County—to repair 11 miles of power lines and fiber optic cables between Chelan Falls and Wells Dam in Chelan County.
$106,000—Lake Chelan Reclamation District—to repair district-owned infrastructure that supports a mile-long power line owned by the public utility.
$103,000—Okanogan County—to repair asphalt surface on 43 roadways damaged by a mudslide and heavy traffic from firefighting equipment.
$98,000—Ferry County—for emergency measures and services performed by first responders, mainly evacuations and efforts in support of fire crews, base camps, marine patrols, emergency medical care, and search-and-rescue operations.
$90,000—Okanogan County—to clear 3,440 cubic yards of disaster-related debris that posed a threat to public health and safety.

The Oct. 20, 2015, major disaster declaration for the summer wildfires and mudslides made FEMA Public Assistance available to eligible applicants in eight counties: Chelan, Ferry, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Whatcom and Yakima; as well as the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. EMD and FEMA officials have identified 39 eligible applicants.

Officials estimate FEMA Public Assistance grants may eventually total as much as $27 million for the 2015 wildfires.

Other EMD and FEMA efforts include the following programs and assistance:

After both the 2014 and 2015 wildfire seasons, EMD and FEMA formed a multijurisdictional team, called the Erosion Threat Assessment/Reduction Team, to evaluate the threat of flooding, debris flows and erosion in affected counties. Agencies and landowners used the team’s evaluation and recommendations to help prioritize and implement protective measures to address the threat.
While wildfires burned prior to the declaration, FEMA approved 12 Fire Management Assistance Grants in Washington to help defray fire-suppression costs for tribal, state and local jurisdictions.
The disaster declaration made further funding available through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which means the state will receive another reserve of money for mitigation measures, equal to 20 percent of total Public Assistance grants awarded. That provision will help build stronger and safer communities in Washington.

As with all federal funding, FEMA considers the environmental impact of every project and must ensure compliance with all applicable federal, tribal, state and local laws.

More information about the Public Assistance program is available on the FEMA website at

www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit

and on the Washington EMD website at

http://mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division/disaster-assistance/public-assistance

Additional information on the federal response to the 2015 wildfire disaster, including funds obligated, is available at

www.fema.gov/disaster/4243

Originally posted here:

Wildfire Recovery Assistance for Washington Reaches $3.5 Million from FEMA

Be Aware and Beware of 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, be aware 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.
Don’t 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 that includes the charity’s name, street address and phone number.
The five-to-six digit numbers known as short codes make it difficult to tell who is on the receiving end of a text. A legitimate charity will not ask you to send personal information or a credit card number by text.

Fake offers of state or federal aid: Beware of visits, calls or e-mails – from people claiming to be from FEMA or the State of Texas – asking for an applicant’s Social Security number, bank account number or other sensitive information.

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 U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 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 phony 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.

If you suspect fraud, call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721. If you are the victim of or are the victim of a home repair scam or price gouging, call the Office of the Texas Attorney General at 800-252-8011.

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Be Aware and Beware of Disaster-Related Fraud and Scams

Preliminary Flood Maps for Three Texas Counties Ready for Public View

DENTON, Texas – New preliminary flood maps for residents of Chambers, Liberty and San Jacinto counties area ready for residents to review. Communities affected by the maps include Liberty, Dayton, Dayton Lakes, and Mont Belvieu.

These maps help homeowners and businesses decide about purchasing flood insurance. By knowing their risks, individuals and community leaders can make informed decisions about building and development.

“We’ve worked with our state and local partners to bring this critical information to the area. We hope that everyone reviews the maps to understand the flood risks involved,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “It is very important for the community to be an active partner in the flood mapping process.”

To see the revised flood maps, please contact your local floodplain administrator. He or she may be located at City Hall or the local county government building. You can also visit http://msc.fema.gov/portal or http://maps.riskmap6.com. To contact a FEMA Map Specialist, call
1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or send an email to FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com.

What happens after flood risks are identified? The next step is to consider purchasing a flood policy from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531 to locate an agent in your 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 http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6, and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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Preliminary Flood Maps for Three Texas Counties Ready for Public View

Texas Receives $3.3 Million for Repairs to Roads in Hidalgo County

DENTON, Texas – The state of Texas has been awarded more than $3.3 million in federal disaster assistance for repairs to roads in Hidalgo County. Road damages were a result of the severe storms and flooding in May and June 2015.

The funding, which is made possible by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance program, covers the cost to restore the roads to their pre-flood form and function. More than 10 miles of roadways in and around Mercedes and Edcouch will be repaired.

To date, FEMA has obligated nearly $74 million statewide in Public Assistance for emergency and permanent work due to the May to June 2015 severe storms and flooding in Texas.

The funding for the Hidalgo County road repairs represents a 75 percent federal cost share. FEMA awards funding for projects directly to the state of Texas; the state then disburses the grant to the eligible applicant.

The mission of FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant Program is to provide assistance to state, tribal and local governments, and certain types of nonprofit organizations so that communities can recover from major disasters or emergencies declared by the president.

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

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Texas Receives $3.3 Million for Repairs to Roads in Hidalgo County

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