Web Resources and Social Media Focus on Colorado Recovery

DENVER – Those following Colorado’s recovery from severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides can draw upon a variety of Web and social media resources from the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The president’s major disaster declaration of Sept. 14, 2013, authorized funding for FEMA’s Individual Assistance and Public Assistance programs. Although registration is now closed for both programs, survivors can still contact FEMA’s Helpline at 800-621-3362 with questions. Also, many online resources are available for information and updates.

Individual Assistance for homeowners and renters in 11 designated Colorado counties included grants for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs. In addition, low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration covered residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.

Public Assistance helps state and local governments in 18 designated Colorado counties with critical infrastructure repair, as well as aiding certain types of private nonprofit organizations. FEMA reimburses 75 percent of the cost of eligible projects.

State of Colorado flood recovery information is available online

• The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management uses www.COEmergency.com to share current updates on disasters and events.
• Information specific to the Colorado floods is located at www.ColoradoUnited.com.
• The Colorado DHSEM’s main Web page, dhsem.state.co.us/, contains information about emergency management and disaster preparedness, as well as helpful recovery resources.
• The DHSEM’s Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/COEmergency offers flood assistance updates and links to news products that may be useful to disaster survivors.
• The DHSEM Facebook page at www.facebook.com/COEmergency provides recovery updates and also weather, preparedness and mitigation information.
• Information on how to help those affected by flooding in Colorado is available at www.helpcoloradonow.net/.
• The READYColorado Web page at www.readycolorado.com offers all-hazards preparedness resources, including information for people with disabilities.
• The READYColorado Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/READYColorado informs survivors about Colorado’s citizen preparedness campaign.
• The READYColorado Facebook page at www.facebook.com/READYColorado provides information about citizen and community preparedness.

FEMA disaster recovery resources also are available online

• FEMA’s main Web page, www.fema.gov, provides a general overview of the agency’s programs and links to other important sources of information. For those with a tablet or smartphone, go to m.fema.gov.
• The disaster-specific Web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4145 contains Colorado flood recovery news, blogs, photos and statistics. Disaster-specific information in Spanish can be found at www.fema.gov/es/disaster/4145.
• The FEMA Region VIII Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/femaregion8 offers frequent updates with links to news products and other valuable flood recovery information.
• The FEMA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FEMA  provides detailed posts with material useful to disaster survivors, including a number of Colorado response and recovery photos.
• Information and guidance for homeowners rebuilding after a disaster can be found at www.disasterassistance.gov/disaster-information/moving-forward/your-home.
• Survivors can locate information about resources for people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, help for children and older Americans, moving forward after a disaster and other community resources at http://www.disasterassistance.gov/disaster-information.
• Background information on the presidential disaster declaration process is available at www.fema.gov/rebuild/recover/dec_guide.shtm.
• FEMA provides facts about the Individual Assistance program at www.fema.gov/disaster-assistance-available-fema and the Public Assistance program at www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit.
• The U.S. Small Business Administration provides disaster assistance information at www.sba.gov/disaster. Small businesses and most private nonprofits without physical losses still have until June 16, 2014, to apply to SBA for Economic Injury Disaster Loans only.

The National Weather Service’s website at www.weather.gov/ provides weather alerts and forecasts.