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Broward, Orange and Osceola Counties Eligible for FEMA Public Assistance to Help Repair Infrastructure

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – State, local and tribal government agencies and certain private nonprofits in Broward, Orange and Osceola counties can now apply for funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance grant program.

This program can help eligible applicants pay for disaster damage caused by Hurricane Matthew, including debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair or rebuilding of roads, bridges, water-control facilities, buildings, equipment, utilities, parks and recreational facilities.

Other counties previously designated for FEMA Public Assistance funding include: Bradford, Brevard, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Indian River, Lake, Martin, Nassau, Palm Beach, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, and Volusia counties.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4283, twitter.com/femaregion4, facebook.com/FEMA, and fema.gov/blog, floridadisaster.org or #FLRecovers. For imagery, video, graphics and releases, see www.fema.gov/Hurricane-Matthew.

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Broward, Orange and Osceola Counties Eligible for FEMA Public Assistance to Help Repair Infrastructure

Local Survivors get Help from Disaster Assistance Teams

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Virginia citizens will begin to see Disaster Survivor Assistance teams in certain affected disaster areas beginning as early as this week.

These community outreach teams are disaster recovery specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM). The teams will be canvassing the impacted areas to help survivors register for FEMA assistance. They can also check and verify information already provided by survivors, update their records, and discuss next steps in their recovery process.

You’ll know if the person knocking on your door is a FEMA representative because they will have official identification around their neck or pinned to their jackets. Team members also are meeting with representatives of community-based agencies, local leaders, and public officials.

It’s important to remember that if you were impacted by Hurricane Matthew in Chesapeake, Newport News, Norfolk, or Virginia Beach, you don’t have to wait to see a Disaster Survivor Assistance team in your area to register for FEMA assistance.

Survivors are encouraged to register with FEMA as soon as possible. You can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov, on the FEMA Mobile App, or by calling 800-621-3362 (FEMA).

Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. People 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 11 p.m., seven days a week.

Assistance for eligible survivors can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs. Once registered, both FEMA and the Small Business Administration (SBA) encourage residents to apply for a low-interest disaster SBA loan to help fund their recovery and to ensure the federal disaster recovery process continues.

Long-term, low-interest disaster loans from the SBA may also be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance and that do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Homeowners and renters with or without flood insurance are encouraged to complete the SBA loan application to continue their recovery process. Virginians who don’t complete that application may miss the opportunity to be eligible for FEMA Other Needs Assistance programs. Remember, applicants don’t have to accept the loan if you qualify for one.

Survivors should contact their own insurance company to file their insurance claim. FEMA is unable to duplicate insurance payments. However, those without insurance or those who are underinsured may be eligible for help after their insurance claims have been settled.

For more information visit FEMA.gov/disaster/4291.

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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 temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

Additional information about this disaster is available at FEMA.gov and VAemergency.gov.

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Local Survivors get Help from Disaster Assistance Teams

FEMA/State DRC Opens for Three Days in Jones County

RALEIGH, N.C. – To reach North Carolina residents who suffered losses and damage as a result of Hurricane Matthew in Jones County, a joint FEMA and North Carolina Emergency Management Disaster Recovery Center is open to provide a place where you can get information about available state and federal assistance and other recovery information. The center is in Trenton, Saturday, Nov.5, Monday, Nov.7 and Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Location: USDA Farm Services Agency Office

110 S. Market Street

Trenton, NC 28585

Hours of Operation: Saturday, Nov. 5, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 7, from noon to 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Recovery specialists from FEMA, NCEM and the U.S. Small Business Administration are available to speak with you face-to-face to answer questions you may have regarding the disaster assistance process, other assistance available and even help you register if you haven’t already. If you have registered, they can provide you with an update of your application status and if needed, discuss the appeal process.

FEMA and the state have recovery centers open throughout the disaster-affected counties in North Carolina. To locate the center nearest to you, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or download the FEMA or Readync mobile apps. If you have access to a computer, you can go online to FEMA.gov/DRC or ncdps.gov.

If you have phone and/or internet access, you may register in one of the following ways:

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service (VRS). If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585.
Download the FEMA Mobile App and apply.

Survivors requiring a reasonable accommodation such as American Sign Language interpreting, Braille, large print, etc. while visiting a disaster recovery center may call the Helpline number for support. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Help is available in most languages, and information on the registration process is available in ASL at fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/111546.

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 the North Carolina recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4285 and readync.org. Follow FEMA on Twitter @femaregion4 and North Carolina Emergency Management @ncemergency.

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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 FEMA on twitter at @femaregion4. Download the FEMA app with tools and tips to keep you safe before, during, and after disasters.

Dial 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162 to speak with a trained call specialist about questions you have regarding Hurricane Matthew; the service is free, confidential and available in any language. They can help direct you to resources. Call 5-1-1 or 877-511-4662 for the latest road conditions or check the ReadyNC mobile app, which also has real-time shelter and evacuation information. For updates on Hurricane Matthew impacts and relief efforts, go to ReadyNC.org or follow N.C. Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook. People or organizations that want to help ensure North Carolina recovers can visit NCdisasterrelief.org or text NCRecovers to 30306.

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 homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations 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 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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FEMA/State DRC Opens for Three Days in Jones County

Seven More Counties Designated for Disaster Assistance

RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina homeowners, renters and business owners in Anson, Carteret, Chatham, Northampton, Perquimans, Richmond and Scotland counties, adversely affected by Hurricane Matthew and its impact, may apply for federal disaster assistance.

Thirty-eight counties already eligible to apply for assistance, under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individual and Households Program, are: Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick Camden, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Martin, Moore, Nash, Onslow, Pasquotank, Pender, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson, Tyrrell, Wake, Washington, Wayne and Wilson.

Eligible storm damage and losses from the hurricane and flooding must have occurred beginning Oct. 4.

If you are a survivor, you are encouraged to register with FEMA as soon as possible even if you have insurance. FEMA is unable to duplicate insurance payments. However, you may find you are underinsured. If so, you may still receive help after your insurance claims have been settled.

If you have phone and/or internet access, you may register in one of the following ways:

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service (VRS). If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585
Download the FEMA Mobile App and apply.

If you do not have access to telephone or internet service, don’t be discouraged. North Carolina Emergency Management and FEMA are coming to you. Teams of state and FEMA disaster survivor assistance specialists will soon be moving into affected communities to help you register for assistance.

You may be eligible for grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious

disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs.

Long-term, low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also may be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

For more information on the North Carolina recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4285 and readync.org. Follow FEMA on Twitter @femaregion4 and North Carolina Emergency Management @ncemergency.

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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 FEMA on twitter at @femaregion4. Download the FEMA app with tools and tips to keep you safe before, during, and after disasters.

Dial 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162 to speak with a trained call specialist about questions you have regarding Hurricane Matthew; the service is free, confidential and available in any language. They can help direct you to resources. Call 5-1-1 or 877-511-4662 for the latest road conditions or check the ReadyNC mobile app, which also has real-time shelter and evacuation information. For updates on Hurricane Matthew impacts and relief efforts, go to ReadyNC.org or follow N.C. Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook. People or organizations that want to help ensure North Carolina recovers can visit NCdisasterrelief.org or text NCRecovers to 30306.

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Seven More Counties Designated for Disaster Assistance

Disaster Recovery Center in Vermilion Parish Will Transition to Disaster Loan Outreach Center to Serve Louisiana Survivors

BATON ROUGE, La. — The U.S. Small Business Administration is opening a disaster loan outreach center on Tuesday, Nov. 8, in Vermilion Parish to assist Louisiana flood survivors. The center will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, until further notice.
Vermilion Parish
Location: Old Health Unit
                  401 S. St. Charles St.
                  Abbeville, LA 70510
Hours:      9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Monday through Friday)

The new disaster loan outreach center will be transitioning from the FEMA disaster recovery center at the same address that will cease operations at 6 p.m. on Nov. 7.

Need for the Abbeville disaster recovery center has diminished as the community continues to repair and rebuild; the facility will now become a disaster loan outreach center to serve individuals with SBA loans.

Survivors can still visit any other disaster recovery center and may locate other centers near them by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362, texting DRC and your zip code to 43362, downloading the FEMA mobile app or going online to fema.gov/drc.

Representatives from the SBA will be available at the disaster loan outreach center to meet with business owners and residents to answer questions, explain SBA’s disaster loan program, help complete loan applications 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.

Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA are available for businesses of all sizes, most private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters.
Applicants for disaster loans may also apply online using the electronic loan application via SBA’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

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Disaster Recovery Center in Vermilion Parish Will Transition to Disaster Loan Outreach Center to Serve Louisiana Survivors

Begin Your Federal Recovery Process Now

If you live in Chesapeake, Newport News, Norfolk, or Virginia Beach and had damages as a result of Hurricane Mathew, take action now towards your recovery by registering with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Survivors are encouraged to register with FEMA as soon as possible. You can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov, on the FEMA Mobile App, or by calling 800-621-3362 (FEMA).

When you register for FEMA assistance a FEMA representative will ask you to provide information on disaster damage, proof of identity and residence, insurance and other documentation, to determine eligibility.

For those who do not have access to telephone or internet service, don’t be discouraged. Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and FEMA are coming to you. FEMA’s Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams will soon be moving into affected communities to help people register for assistance. Additionally, Commonwealth and FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers will soon be open in the near future in the affected localities.

Assistance for eligible survivors can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs. Long-term, low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also may be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Survivors should contact their insurance company to file their insurance claim. FEMA is unable to duplicate insurance payments. However, those without insurance or those who may be underinsured may still receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

For more information visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4291.

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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. 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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Begin Your Federal Recovery Process Now

FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Centers Close for Election Day, Nov. 8

RALEIGH, N.C. – The following FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Centers, with the exception of the Tyrrell center, will close Monday at 4 p.m. and remain closed through Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8.

The Tyrrell center will be closed both Monday and Tuesday.

The centers will resume normal hours of operation Wednesday, Nov. 9.

Bladen County

Greene County

Hoke County

Powell Melvin

Agricultural Service Center

450 Smith Circle

Elizabethtown, NC 28337

Snow Hill Fire Department

201 Carolina Drive

Snow Hill, NC 28580

City of Raeford Civic Center

220 College Drive

Raeford, NC 28376

Sampson County

Sampson County Human Services

360 County Complex Road, Suite 200, Room 274

Clinton, NC 28328

*Tyrrell County

Tyrrell Hall

906 US Highway 64 East

Columbia, NC 27925

North Carolina residents, who suffered losses and damage as a result of Hurricane Matthew can still receive help applying for federal assistance, learn about the types of assistance available, the appeals process and get updates regarding their applications at any of the other FEMA and state recovery centers open throughout the disaster-affected counties in North Carolina.

To locate the center nearest to you, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or download the FEMA Mobile App. If you have access to a computer, you can go online to FEMA.gov/DRC or ncdps.gov.

If you have phone and/or internet access, you may register in one of the following ways:

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service (VRS). If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585.
Download the FEMA Mobile App and apply.

Survivors requiring a reasonable accommodation such as American Sign Language interpreting, Braille, large print, etc. while visiting a disaster recovery center may call the Helpline number for support. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Help is available in many languages, and information on the registration process is available in ASL at http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/111546.

FEMA financial disaster assistance grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is non- taxable 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 the North Carolina recovery, visit www.readync.org and fema.gov/disaster/4285. Follow FEMA on Twitter at @femaregion4 and North Carolina Emergency Management at @ncemergency.

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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 FEMA on twitter at @femaregion4. Download the FEMA app with tools and tips to keep you safe before, during, and after disasters.

Dial 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162 to speak with a trained call specialist about questions you have regarding Hurricane Matthew; the service is free, confidential and available in any language. They can help direct you to resources. Call 5-1-1 or 877-511-4662 for the latest road conditions or check the ReadyNC mobile app, which also has real-time shelter and evacuation information. For updates on Hurricane Matthew impacts and relief efforts, go to ReadyNC.org or follow N.C. Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook. People or organizations that want to help ensure North Carolina recovers can visit NCdisasterrelief.org or text NCRecovers to 30306.

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FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Centers Close for Election Day, Nov. 8

North Carolina Disaster Survivors: Submitting an SBA Loan Application is Key to Recovery

RALEIGH, N.C. – If you’re a Hurricane Matthew survivor in North Carolina who registered with FEMA and you’ve been referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration for a low-interest disaster loan, you should complete and return the loan application as soon as possible.

Obtaining a low-interest disaster loan may be the solution to your recovery needs by providing you the necessary funds for home repair, rebuilding and property loss. Returning the completed application also may enable you to qualify for FEMA disaster recovery grants that do not have to be repaid.

If you are a homeowner or renter and SBA determines you cannot afford a loan, you may be considered for FEMA’s other needs assistance program, which provides grants for disaster-related medical and dental care, funeral costs and vehicle repairs. You also may be eligible for assistance from other organizations, too.

There is no requirement to take out a loan if one is offered from SBA. If you are approved for a disaster loan, you have the option not to accept the loan.

Next to insurance, SBA is the primary source of funds for real estate property repairs and replacing lost contents following a disaster. Renters and homeowners alike may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace clothing, furniture, cars or appliances damaged or destroyed in the disaster. Homeowners may be eligible for low-interest loans up to $200,000 for primary residence structural repairs or rebuilding.

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.

SBA loans have low interest rates

Interest rates for loans for homeowners and renters can be as low as 1.563 percent.

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 https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ to apply online for disaster loans.

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service (VRS). If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585.
Download the FEMA Mobile App and apply.

If you’re a business owner, you may be able to borrow up to $2 million from the SBA for physical damage and economic injury.

The easiest way to apply for an SBA low-interest disaster loan is to visit a FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) or an SBA Business Recovery Center (BRC) and meet with an SBA representative in person. SBA has staff at all DRCs and BRCs to help you with your application. To find the closest DRC go online to fema.gov/drc or ncdps.gov/.

BRCs are listed below.

Business Recovery Center #1 (Cumberland County)

SBTDC at Fayetteville State University

Small Business and Economics Building, BRC

1200 Murchison Road, Suite 306, Rooms A and D

Fayetteville, NC 28301

Business Recovery Center #2 (Pitt County)

SBTDC Regional Service Center, East Carolina University

Willis Building, BRC

300 E. 1st Street

Greenville, NC 27858-1201

Business Recovery Center #3 (Robeson County)
Robeson Community College Workforce Development Center

Building 18

5160 Fayetteville Road

Lumberton, NC 28358

For more information on SBA disaster loans, visit sba.gov/disaster.

For more information on the North Carolina recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4285 and readync.org. Follow FEMA on Twitter @femaregion4 and North Carolina Emergency Management @ncemergency.

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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 FEMA on twitter at @femaregion4. Download the FEMA app with tools and tips to keep you safe before, during, and after disasters.

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 homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations 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 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.

North Carolina Disaster Survivors: Submitting an SBA Loan Application is Key to Recovery

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Seminole County for Hurricane Matthew

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.- A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) has opened in Sanford to help residents affected by Hurricane Matthew.

DRCs serve as one-stop shops for eligible storm survivors seeking one-on-one help. Representatives from the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and various state agencies will be at the center to answer questions.

The center is located outside the:

Museum of Seminole County History

Adjacent parking lot

300 Bush Blvd.

Sanford, FL 32773

Open Monday – Saturday

9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Closed Sunday

FDEM and FEMA officials continue to work closely with local officials in hard-hit areas to identify suitable sites for additional centers. Survivors can also visit open DRCs in other counties.

Downloading the FEMA App (available in English and Spanish) to their mobile device will allow survivors to:

Apply for disaster assistance;
Get directions to the nearest Disaster Recovery Center by visiting the DRC locator;
Get weather alerts;
Subscribe to disaster safety tips.

Many services available at DRCs are also available by calling the FEMA helpline at800-621-3362 (voice, 711/VRS-Video Relay Service) (TTY: 800-462-7585). Toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, until further notice. Multilingual operators are available (for Spanish, press 2). Survivors with questions regarding the application or the appeals process, or who need to register for assistance, may visit online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Survivors requiring a reasonable accommodation (ASL interpreting, Braille Large Print, etc.) while visiting a DRC may call the appropriate helpline number above to receive support.

FEMA encourages survivors to register as soon as possible. Those who may have registered with their county emergency management office, the American Red Cross or other community organizations are reminded to also register with FEMA. If you pre-registered with FEMA before the presidential disaster declaration for Hurricane Matthew, there is no need to register again. However, you should keep FEMA informed about any change in your address, telephone number or other contact information.

Disaster assistance may include grants to help homeowners and renters pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs, personal property replacement, and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

SBA offers low-interest disaster loans for businesses of all sizes, homeowners, renters, and certain private non-profit organizations. SBA disaster loans may cover repairs, rebuilding, as well as the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged real estate and personal property.

For more information about SBA loans, call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at

800-659-2955 (TTY: 800-877-8339), email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

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Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Seminole County for Hurricane Matthew

Best Practice: Daytona Beach Museum of Arts & Sciences

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In May of 2009, Florida’s northeast coast was drenched by five consecutive days of rain. One of the worst hit areas was Daytona Beach, where more than 20 percent of the streets were underwater and nearly a thousand buildings reporting some kind of flood damage.

One of those structures was the West Wing of the Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS), which contained a range of exhibits from prehistoric fossils and historic weapons to Cuban art and African artifacts. Located on a low-lying plot about three feet lower than the rest of the museum campus, the 22,416-square-foot wing gradually filled with three to four inches of flood water.

According to Jenelle Codianne, the museum’s director of marketing and public relations, there was damage to the floors, walls, interior walls, electrical, doors and office furniture. No collections were lost, but several exhibits were damaged including the Center for Florida History, which displayed the museum’s giant ground sloth skeleton. It took several days to disassemble, but the prehistoric skeleton was moved to another wing and avoided water damage. Meanwhile, museum employees were busy moving artworks into other galleries.

As one of Daytona Beach’s leading cultural institutions, it was imperative the wing be rebuilt. But museum authorities were adamant that reconstruction should eliminate the potential for future flooding.

In order to fund the reconstruction, MOAS applied for a Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and financial aid from the Volusia County Environmental, Cultural, Historic and Outdoors (ECHO) Program. The FMA program is one of the Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) programs funded by FEMA and managed by the State of Florida.

The FEMA grant provided more than $4 million of the $5.4 million reconstruction price, with an additional $1.3 million coming from local sources including an ECHO grant and the museum’s own funding. The Orlando office of global architects VOA Associates Inc. won the competition to design the new structure, while locally based Hall Construction handled the fabrication.

After demolishing the flood-damaged structure, construction began on its replacement – on the same footprint but slightly larger than the previous building. The new wing was built on a concrete spread foundation with concrete masonry stem walls backfilled with earth and overlaid with a concrete slab. The floors of the new wing were elevated 2.5 feet above the old level and 2.2 feet above Base Flood Elevation – or roughly six inches above the maximum water level of the 2009 flood.

Unveiled in October of 2015, the new West Wing is a state-of-the-art museum space that features five exhibit galleries as well as a planetarium. In addition to being a huge success with the press and public, the resurrected building also passed its first weather test with flying colors.

“Happy to report NO FLOODING!” Stephanie Mason-Teague, the museum’s director of development, declared via email the week after Hurricane Matthew stormed up Florida’s Atlantic coast. The new West Wing held up perfectly to Hurricane Matthew. Water didn’t even get close to the building, let alone enter it. The mitigation measures incorporated at the time of the rebuilding did the job of preventing repetitive flood loss.

“We had a lot of tree debris,” Mason-Teague added, “and were without power, phones, internet.” But that was the extent of the hurricane’s impact. The museum was able to get back online, clean up the tree debris and open its doors to the public again within a week of Matthew striking Daytona Beach.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery visit fema.gov/disaster/4280, fema.gov/disaster/4283, twitter.com/femaregion4, facebook.com/FEMA, and fema.gov/blog, floridadisaster.org or #FLRecovers. For imagery, video, graphics and releases, see fema.gov/Hurricane-Matthew.

For more information on FMA/HMA programs, visit Floridadisaster.org or www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-assistance.

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Best Practice: Daytona Beach Museum of Arts & Sciences

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