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Center Opens in Cape Girardeau to Help Missouri Flood Survivors

JEFERSON CITY, Mo. – A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center is opening Tuesday, February 9, in Cape Girardeau. The center offers in-person support to individuals and businesses in any of the 33 Missouri counties included in the Jan. 21, 2016, Missouri federal disaster declaration.

Recovery specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and other agencies will be at the center to discuss aid and assist anyone who needs help with an application. The new center is at this location:

Salvation Army — Cape Girardeau, 701 Good Hope St., Cape Girardeau, MO 63703

The center joins these four others already in operation:

St. Louis County center is at Jefferson Barracks Visitor Center, 345 North Road, St. Louis, MO 63125.
St. Charles County center is at Immaculate Conception Community Center, 14060 N. State Route 94, West Alton, MO 63386.
Franklin County center is at Tri-County Senior Center, 800 W. Union Street, Pacific, MO 63069.
Jefferson County center is at Arnold City Hall, 2101 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold, MO 63010.

All centers are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The centers are closed on Sundays.

Disaster survivors may visit any of the centers for assistance. Locations of recovery centers may be found online at fema.gov/drc.

There are two main types of federal disaster assistance. FEMA provides grants to qualified individuals for rental assistance, home repairs, or other serious disaster-related losses. SBA makes low-interest disaster loans to help homeowners and businesses rebuild and recover.

Individuals and businesses are encouraged to register with FEMA before visiting a disaster recovery center. Register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling toll-free 800-621-FEMA (3362), 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual registration assistance is available. Survivors may also register using the fema.gov app for smartphones.

Disaster assistance applicants who are hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use TTY should call 800-462-7585. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) should call 800-621-3362.

The federal disaster declaration covers eligible losses caused by flooding and severe storms between December 23, 2015, and January 9, 2016, in these counties: Barry, Barton, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Cole, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Jefferson, Laclede, Lawrence, Lincoln, Maries, McDonald, Morgan, Newton, Osage, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, Scott, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright.

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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.

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.

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).

The 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 www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

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Center Opens in Cape Girardeau to Help Missouri Flood Survivors

President Obama Signs Emergency Declaration for Louisiana

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal emergency aid has been made available to the State of Louisiana to supplement state and local response efforts in the areas affected by flooding during the period of December 28, 2015 to February 1, 2016.

The President’s action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts that have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the parishes of Concordia, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Landry, St. Mary, Terrebonne, and West Feliciana.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.

Gerard M. Stolar has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal response operations in the affected area.

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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President Obama Signs Emergency Declaration for Louisiana

February 8 Deadline Approaching in First Step for Grants to Strengthen Communities

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho – The Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security (IBHS), in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is seeking applicants wanting grants to help build stronger, safer communities.

As a result of the Dec. 23, 2015, presidential disaster declaration for Idaho, cost-share grants will be available under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) for approved projects aimed at saving lives and property and promoting community resilience in future disasters.

“The best way to protect ourselves against some of nature’s disastrous consequences is to take action to reduce vulnerabilities in areas we know are prone to damage,” said IBHS Director Brad Richy. “With FEMA’s help, Idaho is supporting smart investments in projects to keep people and communities out of harm’s way. IBHS will prioritize projects designed to reduce the impact of known hazards in Idaho, including improving infrastructure resiliency, and mitigating wildfire and flood risks.”

Projects in the disaster-designated counties of Boundary, Bonner, Benewah and Kootenai, and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, will be considered first, but HMGP grant opportunities may be extended to entities statewide if all available funds are not committed, Richy said.

To be considered for assistance under the HMGP, state agencies, local and tribal governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations must file a Letter of Intent with IBHS by Monday, February 8. Anyone with questions about the program, eligibility or the application process may contact State Hazard Mitigation Officer Susan Cleverley at 208-258-6545.

IBHS, as the program administrator, will evaluate applications and then work with FEMA to award grants on a cost-sharing basis. FEMA provides 75 percent of the total costs, while the remaining 25 percent is the nonfederal share. FEMA obligates its share of the funds directly to the state, which awards the money to successful applicants.

“The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program underscores FEMA’s dedication to preparedness,” said Dolph Diemont, federal coordinating officer for the Idaho recovery. “By helping to fund mitigation projects, we not only save lives and safeguard property, we prevent the costly cycle of damage, repairs and then repeat damage.”

More information about the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is available from FEMA here and from the IBHS here.

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February 8 Deadline Approaching in First Step for Grants to Strengthen Communities

President Declares Disaster for State of Idaho

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Idaho to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe winter storms during the period of December 16-27, 2015.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by severe winter storms in Benewah, Bonner, and Kootenai counties.

Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the entire State of Idaho.

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

Follow FEMA online at http://blog.fema.gov, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.

Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only.

FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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President Declares Disaster for State of Idaho

Help Remains After Benton, Marshall, Quitman Recovery Centers Close

OXFORD, Miss. – The disaster recovery centers operated by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Benton, Marshall and Quitman counties will close permanently Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 6 p.m. However, disaster survivor assistance teams continue to canvass these areas with information on available assistance.

Many services available at disaster recovery centers are also available by calling the FEMA helpline. Survivors of the December storms, tornadoes and flooding can get help by calling 800-621-3362 or

TTY 800-462-7585 for the deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362 to register. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. Online registration can be done by computer, tablet, iPhone, Android or other mobile devices at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Survivors can use the helpline to:

Ask questions about a letter from FEMA.
Learn how to appeal a FEMA decision. 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 disaster assistance processing delays.
Receive information about FEMA home inspections.
Get other questions answered about federal disaster assistance.

Applicants should have their nine-digit FEMA registration number and ZIP code if they want to discuss their application.

For the latest information on Mississippi disaster recovery operations, go online to msema.org and fema.gov/disaster/4248.

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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’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.

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Help Remains After Benton, Marshall, Quitman Recovery Centers Close

Commonly Asked Questions about Federal Disaster Aid

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – After the severe storms and flooding that occurred in Missouri between December 23, 2015 and January 9, 2016, residents in the 33 declared counties became eligible for federal assistance. People who suffered losses and damage in the wake of the disaster are urged to seek help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The eligible counties are Barry, Barton, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Cole, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Jefferson, Laclede, Lawrence, Lincoln, Maries, McDonald, Morgan, Newton, Osage, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, Scott, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright.

There are many misconceptions about getting help from FEMA. Often, people who would qualify for assistance miss out on assistance because they don’t have access to correct information.

Commonly asked questions about disaster aid from FEMA:

Q: Who should apply for federal disaster assistance?
A: Missouri homeowners and renters in disaster-designated counties who sustained damage to their homes, vehicles or personal property as a result of the severe storms and flooding from December 23, 2015 through January 9, 2016 can apply for FEMA grants.

Q: How do I apply?
A: Residents who were affected can apply for assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362. The application deadline is March 21.

Q: What kinds of FEMA grants are available?
A: Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, emergency home repairs, uninsured and underinsured personal property losses and medical, dental and funeral expenses caused by the disaster, along with other serious disaster-related expenses.

Q: What happens after I register?
A: You will receive a phone call from a FEMA inspector to arrange for a survey of the damages. This will come just days after you register. All FEMA inspectors will have official identification. They do not approve or deny claims or requests; those come after the inspection results are submitted. FEMA inspectors do not ask for money and do not recommend contractors to make repairs.

Q. I’ve already cleaned up and made repairs to my property. Am I still eligible to register with FEMA?
A. Yes. You may be eligible for reimbursement of your clean-up and repair expenses. Before and after photos of the damaged property can help expedite your application for assistance.

Q: Does my income need to be under a certain dollar amount to qualify for disaster aid?
A: FEMA’s Housing Assistance program is available, regardless of income, to anyone who suffered damages or losses in disaster-declared counties. However, aid for other losses such as personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses is income-dependent and officials make decisions on a case-by-case basis. To be considered for a grant for these types of losses, the applicant must complete an application for an SBA loan.

Q. I have flood insurance. Should I still register with FEMA?
A. Yes. But please contact your insurance company first.

Q: Does the Small Business Administration (SBA) offer loans to homeowners and renters?
A: Yes. The SBA is the primary source of financial assistance following a disaster and provides low-interest disaster loans to homeowners and renters.

Q: Do I have to be turned down by my bank before I can apply for a disaster loan?
A: No. The SBA has its own criteria for determining each loan applicant’s eligibility.

Q: If I rent an apartment, can I get help to replace my damaged personal property?
A: Yes. Renters may qualify for a FEMA grant. Renters may also qualify for SBA disaster loans.

Q: Will FEMA pay for all home repairs or contract work?
A: No. FEMA does not pay to return your home to its pre-disaster condition. FEMA provides grants to qualified homeowners to repair damage not covered by insurance, but these grants may not pay for all the damage. However, an SBA disaster loan may return a home to its pre-disaster condition.

Q: Do I have to repay money I receive for disaster relief?
A: No. You do not have to repay grant money, however SBA disaster loans must be repaid.

Q: Do I have to be a legal U.S. resident to receive Individual Assistance?
A: No. If you have a child living at home who is a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien, you may apply for Individual Assistance on that child’s behalf and you may be eligible to receive Individual Assistance. FEMA may provide undocumented, eligible immigrants with short-term, non-cash emergency aid.

Q: How can I check the status of my case?
A: You may go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call the toll-free FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (FEMA) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. If you need face-to-face assistance, visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) or speak with someone from one of FEMA’s Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams currently going door-to-door in Missouri’s disaster-declared counties. All DRCs are accessible and equipped with tools to accommodate disaster survivors who need disability related communication aids.

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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.

Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion7.

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Commonly Asked Questions about Federal Disaster Aid

Be Sure to Read Any Correspondence from FEMA Carefully

OXFORD, Miss. – If you applied for disaster assistance after the severe storms which affected Mississippi in December, you may have received a letter or other correspondence from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The most common reason applicants are considered ineligible is the lack of an insurance document. An applicant may only need to provide FEMA with a copy of an insurance determination letter to complete the application and continue the assistance process. Other reasons for a determination of ineligibility include:

The applicant did not sign the required documents;
The applicant did not prove occupancy or ownership;
The damage is to a secondary home or a rental property, not a primary residence;
Someone else in the household has also applied for and received help;
A FEMA housing inspector cannot reach the applicant by phone;
The applicant did not maintain the required flood insurance coverage for the damaged property.

Disaster survivors who receive a determination of ineligibility can call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585 for those who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired to find out how to appeal this decision, submit any required documents or make changes to contact information.

Applicants may also visit a disaster recovery center where specialists from FEMA can help with appeals, answer questions, review applications and accept required documents. To find a list of open disaster recovery centers in your area, visit: fema.gov/drc or call the FEMA helpline.

Furthermore, survivors have the right to appeal a determination of ineligibility in writing within 60 days from the date shown on the letter. An explanation of the appeals process is available to all applicants and can be found online at fema.gov/help-after-disaster.

Those who may not be eligible for FEMA assistance may be eligible for other programs such as an SBA low-interest disaster loan. Help may also be available from volunteer agencies.

FEMA and its state and federal partners are committed to helping Mississippi recover from December’s severe storms. Don’t let a simple paperwork issue prevent you from receiving assistance for which you may be eligible.

For the latest information on Mississippi disaster recovery operations, visit msema.org and fema.gov/disaster/4248.

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Be Sure to Read Any Correspondence from FEMA Carefully

Franklin and Jefferson County Centers Open to Help Missouri Flood Survivors

JEFERSON CITY, Mo. – FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are opening Friday in Franklin County and Saturday in Jefferson County. The centers offer in-person support to individuals and businesses in any of the 33 Missouri counties included in the January 21, 2016, Missouri federal disaster declaration. The declaration covers losses caused by flooding and severe storms between December 23, 2015, and January 9, 2016.

Those counties are: Barry, Barton, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Cole, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Jefferson, Laclede, Lawrence, Lincoln, Maries, McDonald, Morgan, Newton, Osage, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, Scott, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright.

The Franklin County center opening Friday is in the Tri-County Senior Center, 800 West Union Street, Pacific, MO 63069.

The Jefferson County center opening Saturday is located in the Arnold City Hall, 2101 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold MO 63010.

Regular hours at both centers are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday until further notice. The centers will also be open Sunday, January 31, but will not be open on other Sundays.

Recovery specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and other agencies will be at the centers to discuss aid and assist anyone who needs help with an application.

Disaster assistance applicants who are hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use TTY should call 800-462-7585. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), should call 800-621-3362.

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Franklin and Jefferson County Centers Open to Help Missouri Flood Survivors

Disaster Aid Does Not Affect Income Tax or Government Benefits for Mississippi Disaster Survivors

OXFORD, Miss. – As the income tax season nears, December storm survivors don’t have to worry that the disaster assistance they received from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency or from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will boost their tax bill or reduce their Social Security checks or any other federal benefits.

Disaster assistance for temporary housing, essential home repairs, replacement of personal property or for other serious needs does not count as income. Disaster relief payments from the government or donations from charitable organizations will not affect Social Security payments or Medicare benefits. And, disaster recovery grants will not affect any recipient’s eligibility for Medicaid, welfare assistance, food stamps or Aid to Families with Dependent Children. Grants for disaster recovery assistance are not counted as income in determining eligibility for any income-tested benefit programs that the U.S. government funds.

As of Jan. 25, FEMA has awarded nearly $2 million in disaster assistance to Mississippians affected by the December disaster. Storm survivors have until March 4, 2016, to register with FEMA for disaster assistance by using any of the following methods:

By phone, call 800-621-FEMA (3362) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Assistance is available in most languages. People who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired may call (TTY) 800-462-7585.
Online at DisasterAssistance.gov by computer, tablet, iPhone, Android or other mobile device.
By 711 or video relay services, call 800-621-3362.

Eligibility for FEMA assistance is not dependent on income. The amount of disaster assistance an eligible applicant receives is based on the amount of loss and damage incurred as a direct result of the recent storms and flooding and the amount of their insurance settlement, if any.

After registering with FEMA, some survivors receive a disaster loan application from the U.S. Small Business Administration. By submitting the SBA disaster loan application, survivors keep the full range of disaster assistance available as an option. SBA may refer applicants who do not qualify for a home loan to FEMA for grants to replace essential household items and replace or repair a damaged vehicle. But if survivors do not submit their disaster loan applications, further assistance may stop. Survivors are not required to accept a loan offer.

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Disaster Aid Does Not Affect Income Tax or Government Benefits for Mississippi Disaster Survivors

Help Remains After Coahoma, Tippah Recovery Centers Close

OXFORD, Miss. – The disaster recovery centers operated by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Coahoma and Tippah counties will close permanently Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 6 p.m.

Many services available at disaster recovery centers are also available by calling the FEMA helpline. Survivors of the December storms, tornadoes and flooding in Coahoma and Tippah counties can get help by calling FEMA’s helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585 for the deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. Online registration can be done by computer, tablet, iPhone, Android or other mobile devices at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Survivors can use the helpline to:

Ask questions about a letter from FEMA.
Learn how to appeal a FEMA decision. 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 disaster assistance processing delays.
Receive information about FEMA home inspections.
Get other questions answered about federal disaster assistance.

Applicants should have their nine-digit FEMA registration number and zip code if they want to discuss their application.

Survivors may still visit other recovery centers to ask disaster assistance questions. The remaining centers are located in Benton County (the Ashland Fire Department on Third St.), Marshall County (the Spring Hollow Plaza in Holly Springs) and Quitman County (the Marks Fire Department on W. Main St.).

Representatives from MEMA, FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and other agencies are at centers to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest loans.

For the latest information on Mississippi disaster recovery operations, visit msema.org and fema.gov/disaster/4248.

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Help Remains After Coahoma, Tippah Recovery Centers Close

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