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Free disaster legal services available

Charleston, W.Va. — If you were affected during the June storms and have questions about legal issues such as repair contracts, working with contractors, replacing wills and other legal documents, you might be eligible to get free legal counseling from a group of West Virginia lawyers who have volunteered limited legal help.

Disaster legal Services provides legal assistance to low-income individuals who, prior to or because of the disaster, have little recourse to legal services as a consequence of a major disaster.

A partnership among the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the West Virginia State Bar, and Legal Aid of West Virginia provides eligible callers 24/7 access to a toll free legal hotline, 877-331-4259. Callers may leave a message and will be matched with a local attorney.

Local legal aid providers might help you with:

Assistance with FEMA and other government benefits available
Assistance with life, medical, and property insurance claims
Help with home repair contracts and contractors
Replacement of wills and other important legal documents lost or destroyed in the disaster
Consumer protection issues such as price-gouging and avoiding contractor scams in the rebuilding process
Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems
Counseling on landlord-tenant problems

There are some limitations on disaster legal services. For instance, if a case might produce a fee, or where attorneys are paid as part of a court settlement, you’ll be referred to a local lawyer.

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Free disaster legal services available

FEMA Awards $1,677,592 Grant to Cook County

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $1,677,592 in Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) funds to Cook County, Ill., for the acquisition and demolition of eight flood-prone homes.

“The Flood Mitigation Assistance Program enables communities to implement critical flood mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate the risk of loss of life and property,” said Andrew Velasquez III, regional administrator, FEMA Region V. “This project will help to eliminate future structural losses in Cook County by permanently removing these eight buildings from the floodplain and will also greatly reduce the financial impact on individuals and the community.”

“The acquisition of flood-prone properties has been a priority for the state of Illinois for more than two decades,” said James K. Joseph, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. “Removing homes such as these from flood-prone areas not only helps residents avoid the heartache of dealing with future flood losses, it also reduces flood response and recovery costs for the local governments.”

FMA provides grants to state and local governments and tribal organizations to implement long-term flood hazard mitigation measures. Through FMA, FEMA will pay more than 90 percent of the $1,857,014 eligible project cost. The remainder, $179,422, will be provided by Cook County.

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 online at twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at 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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Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, 312-408-4455

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FEMA Awards $1,677,592 Grant to Cook County

Local employees wanted for disaster recovery jobs

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia residents looking for temporary work following the June 22-29 severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides have an opportunity to learn firsthand about the recovery process. Workforce West Virginia, in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is advertising open temporary positions in Kanawha, Greenbrier and Raleigh counties.

Interested applicants can visit the Workforce West Virginia website at http://workforcewv.org/. To find the available jobs, click on Job Seekers, then Find A Job, then complete the enrollment form.

The following positions are currently being advertised:

Environmental Specialist
Historic Preservation Specialist
Environmental Floodplain Specialist
Administrative Assistants
Training Specialist/Instructor
Voluntary Agency Liaison (Kanawha)
Voluntary Agency Liaison (Greenbrier)
Housing Support Specialist
Logistics Specialist (Beaver)
Logistics Specialist (Belle)
Mitigation Writer-Editor Specialist
Mitigation Community Planner
Administrative/Planning Specialist
GIS Specialist
External Affairs Writer
Public Assistance Debris Monitor

More positions may be posted on the website as disaster recovery continues.

Candidates must be U.S. citizens 18 years of age or older. They must have a valid government identification card, such as a driver’s license or military ID. Before hiring, selected candidates will be subject to a complete background investigation.

FEMA is committed to employing a highly qualified workforce that reflects the diversity of our nation. The federal government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, political affiliation, non-disqualifying physical handicap, sexual orientation and any other non-merit factor.

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/femaregion3, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA, fema.gov/blog and the flood information pages at http://wvflood.com/Pages/default.aspx.

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Local employees wanted for disaster recovery jobs

FEMA Offers Repairing, Rebuilding Advice at Home Depot, Lowe’s

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — As West Virginians repair or rebuild their homes damaged by last month’s storms, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local hardware and home improvement stores have teamed up to provide free information, tips and literature on making homes stronger and safer.

FEMA mitigation specialists will be on hand to provide information at area Home Depots and Lowe’s Home Improvements from July 21-27. They will be available to answer questions and offer home improvement tips and proven methods to prevent and lessen damage from future disasters. Most of the information is geared for do-it-yourself work and general contractors.

Also, if you are thinking of building a storm shelter or safe room, literature is available about the best options. Safe rooms built to FEMA specifications have saved thousands of lives.

FEMA advisors will be on hand at information centers in these stores, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
July 21-27 (except Sunday, July 24):

THE HOME DEPOT

Cabell County
1050 Thundering Herd Dr.
Barboursville, WV 25504

Kanawha County
100 Cross Terrace Blvd.
Charleston, WV 25309

LOWE’S HOME IMPROVEMENT

Kanawha County
5750 MacCorkle Ave. SE
Charleston, WV 25304

Raleigh County
1210 N. Eisenhower Dr.
Beckley, WV 25801.

Free reference booklets, in English and Spanish, with information on protecting your home from flood damage, will be available at all locations. More information about strengthening property can be found at http://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation.

West Virginians who have questions about their flood insurance policies and coverage should contact the National Flood Insurance Program call center at 800-621-3362 (Option 2) between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. Specialists can help service claims, provide general information regarding policies, and offer technical assistance to aid in recovery.

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FEMA Offers Repairing, Rebuilding Advice at Home Depot, Lowe’s

Dangerous Heat Conditions are in the Forecast

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) wants individuals and families to be safe when faced with extended periods of high temperatures.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued excessive heat warnings and advisories in areas throughout the Midwest. Heat indexes in excess of 100 degrees can be expected. It is essential residents take necessary precautions to avoid the harmful impacts of the high temperatures.

“A combination of high temperatures and high humidity can create a dangerous situation for you and your family,” said FEMA Region V Administrator Andrew Velasquez, III. “Learn and put into practice the steps you should follow during periods of extreme heat. Remember to check in on family, friends, and neighbors especially those who are elderly, disabled or have functional needs to ensure they are safe.”

Extreme heat brings with it the possibility of heat-induced illnesses, including severe sunburns, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and even heat stroke. Understand your symptoms, and take the appropriate actions, seeking medical attention if your conditions are severe.

During extremely hot weather, you should take the following precautions:

Become familiar with the emergency plans of your community, school and workplace.
Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.
Consider spending the warmest part of the day in public buildings that are air conditioned.
Drink plenty of water.
Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored clothes.
Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning.
Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day.
Know the symptoms of heat-related illnesses and seek medical attention if your conditions are severe.

Find other valuable tips by downloading the free FEMA app today, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. The FEMA App helps you learn what to do before, during, and after emergencies with safety tips & localized weather alerts from the National Weather Service.

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at 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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Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, 312-408-4455

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Dangerous Heat Conditions are in the Forecast

Don’t Wait for Insurance Settlement to Register with FEMA for Disaster-Related Damage

AUSTIN, Texas—Texas residents who filed their homeowner’s insurance claims for disaster-related damage are encouraged to register with FEMA even if they did not receive a final insurance settlement.

Disaster officials say survivors shouldn’t delay filing a FEMA grant application because they’re waiting for a decision from their insurance companies.

“In order to process your grant application, FEMA will ask for the name of your insurance carrier and your claim number,” said Federal Coordinating Officer William J. Doran III, who is in charge of FEMA’s operations in Texas. “We will ask if you received a settlement letter or an eligibility letter because FEMA does not reimburse losses covered by insurance.”

It is best to document disaster-related damage with photos or videos but FEMA doesn’t need that physical evidence to complete an application. The agency understands that some damaged items must be disposed of during cleanup or before a FEMA inspector visits the property.

Uninsured and underinsured homeowners and renters may be eligible for FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance grant program to repair or replace such personal property as furniture and kitchen appliances. The program also helps with uninsured or underinsured expenses and serious needs caused by the disaster.

Disaster survivors who suffered damage or losses between May 26 and June 24 are encouraged to register for assistance by the Aug. 10 deadline.

That deadline is for those living or working in these 24 affected counties: Austin, Bastrop, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Eastland, Fayette, Fort Bend, Grimes, Harris, Hidalgo, Hood, Kleberg, Lee, Liberty, Montgomery, Palo Pinto, Parker, San Jacinto, Stephens, Travis, Tyler, Waller and Washington.

Disaster survivors may register the following ways:

online at DisasterAssistance.gov
phone 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. Persons 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 10 p.m., seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.
at a disaster recovery center. To find the nearest one, go online to the disaster recovery center locator at asd.fema.gov/inter/locator.

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the May-June storms at fema.gov/disaster/4272; or visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Follow FEMA on Twitter @femaregion6.

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Don’t Wait for Insurance Settlement to Register with FEMA for Disaster-Related Damage

Text messages for West Virginians from FEMA

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – When you register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), you can choose to receive updates to your smartphone or other device via text. You will start receiving those updates soon after you complete the registration process.

The official FEMA number sending messages to your device is 43362 and all notifications will contain the last four digits of your FEMA registration number at the beginning of the message (for example, FEMA ID####).

The messages you receive will include information such as when a determination of eligibility for federal aid is made or when any type of request letter has been mailed to you asking you to provide additional information to FEMA.

If you get a text requesting more information, log into your account on DisasterAssistance.gov for more details. If you don’t follow through, it may delay the assistance process.

If you get a text saying a FEMA-contracted housing inspector was unable to contact you, call the FEMA helpline as soon as possible at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services, call 800-621-3362.

If you get a text saying your case has been updated, log onto your account on DisasterAssistance.gov to view the status update. You will receive this message when a decision has been made.

If the decision states you are eligible for assistance, you may receive a message stating a payment is scheduled.
If the decision states you are ineligible for assistance, this isn’t necessarily a final decision. It may simply mean that FEMA needs more information or documentation to further evaluate your application. Read the information carefully.

If you have questions about any messages or letters you get from FEMA, call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services, call 800-621-3362; or visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). You can locate the DRC closest to you by visiting http://go.usa.gov/x3NnJ.

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/femaregion3, twitter.com/FEMA and fema.gov/blog.

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Text messages for West Virginians from FEMA

FEMA Offers Free Repair, Rebuild Information Sessions at Local Stores

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — As West Virginians repair or rebuild their homes damaged by last month’s storms, floods, landslides and mudslides, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local hardware and home improvement stores have teamed up to provide free information, tips and literature on making homes stronger and safer.

FEMA mitigation specialists will be on hand at in-store information centers, in four area locations, through July 13, to answer questions and offer home improvement tips and proven methods to prevent and lessen damage from future disasters. Most of the information is geared for do-it-yourself work and general contractors.

FEMA advisors will be available at:

HARDMAN’S

Nicholas County
1300 Webster Road, Summersville
During normal store hours. July 8–13

Roane County
109 Main Street, Spencer
During normal store hours. July 8–13

LOWE’S

Greenbrier County
20 Gateway Blvd., Lewisburg
7 a.m. – 7 p.m. July 8–13

Kanawha County
50 Rhl Blvd., Charleston
7 a.m. – 7 p.m. July 8–13

Free reference booklets, in English and Spanish, with information on protecting your home from flood damage and cleaning up mold and mildew, will be available at all locations. More information about strengthening property can be found at http://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation.

Visit fema.gov/what-mitigation, for publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger. For more information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA, fema.gov/blog and the flood information pages on the website of the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

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FEMA Offers Free Repair, Rebuild Information Sessions at Local Stores

West Virginia renters with flood damage may be eligible for federal help

CHARLESTON, W.Va.– West Virginia renters who experienced losses due to the severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides beginning on June 22, 2016, may be eligible for disaster recovery assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S Small Business Administration (SBA).

“The catastrophic weather that affected West Virginia did not discriminate between homeowners and renters and neither do we,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Albert Lewis, who leads FEMA’s mission in the Mountain State.

Renters may be eligible for grants from FEMA to help with such disaster-related expenses as:

Renting a new place to live when the renter’s previous home was lost due to the disaster.
Disaster related medical and dental expenses.
Replacement or repair of necessary personal property lost or damaged in the disaster, such as appliances and furniture, textbooks and computers used by students, and work equipment or tools used by the self-employed.
Repair or replacement of vehicles damaged by the disaster.
Disaster-related funeral and burial expenses.

FEMA grants are not loans and do not have to be repaid. They are not taxable income and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, welfare assistance, SNAP benefits and several other programs.

Additionally, renters may qualify for a low-interest loan of up to $40,000 from the SBA to repair or replace personal property.

Renters who sustained losses can apply for assistance by using the FEMA App for smartphones, going online to DisasterAssistance.gov or calling 800-621-3362, or (TTY) 800-462-7585. For those who use 711 or video relay service, call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week.

For more information about disaster loans, call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit sba.gov/disaster. TTY users may call 800-877-8339. Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

For more information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery, visit the Flood Information page on the website of the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA and fema.gov/blog

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West Virginia renters with flood damage may be eligible for federal help

FEMA Awards $1,071,593 Grant to Hubbard County

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $1,071,593 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to Hubbard County, Minn., for the construction of two safe rooms at Camp Wilderness Boy Scout camp.

“The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program enables communities to implement critical mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate the risk of loss of life and property,” said FEMA Region V administrator Andrew Velasquez III. “The construction of these safe rooms will protect the lives of vulnerable citizens by providing a secure location to seek shelter from tornadoes and other high wind events.”

“Boy Scouts visiting Camp Wilderness will be safer when severe weather hits, thanks to a local, state, and federal partnership,” said Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management director Joe Kelly. “Safe rooms are one way communities across the state are reducing the risk that comes with disasters. These lifesaving projects are possible when we combine resources and work together, and we encourage more cities and counties to apply for grants that will help them protect their residents.”

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Through HMGP, FEMA will pay 75 percent of the $1,428,790 eligible project cost. The Boy Scouts of America Northern Lights Council will contribute the remaining 25 percent, or $357,197.

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at 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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Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, 312-408-4455

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FEMA Awards $1,071,593 Grant to Hubbard County

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