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Federal Disaster Aid for Alabama Reaches More Than $43.6 Million

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Federal aid provided to Alabama residents affected by the April 28 through May 5 severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding has reached more than $43.6 million.

The following numbers, compiled July 25, provide a snapshot of the Alabama/FEMA disaster recovery to date:

Funds approved:

$20.8 million for Housing Assistance grants to help with recovery rental expenses and home repair costs.
$4.2 million for Other Needs Assistance to cover essential disaster-related needs, such as medical expenses and lost personal possessions.
$16 million approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest loans to eligible homeowners, renters and businesses.
$6.8 million for Public Assistance programs to help the state and local governments with the costs of recovery. Of that amount, $1.9 million has been allocated for debris removal. Another $575,000 will go toward storm response and $4.1 million has been obligated for infrastructure repair and replacement.

Survivor Recovery

16,113 damaged homes and properties have been inspected (99 percent of requests).
9 counties designated for Individual Assistance.
21 counties designated for Public Assistance.

FEMA’s mitigation outreach program at nine Home Depot and Lowe’s home improvement stores provided 1,600 shoppers with information on rebuilding/repairing homes in a safer and resilient manner. Thank you letters are being presented to participating stores.

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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.

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Federal Disaster Aid for Alabama Reaches More Than $43.6 Million

Disaster recovery going strong 10 months after flooding

Almost 10 months ago, heavy rains brought flooding, landslides and mudslides to several counties along Colorado’s Front Range. Since that time, nearly $449 million in grants, reimbursements, low-interest loans and insurance payments to individuals, businesses and communities has been approved by the State of Colorado, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

In all, Individual Assistance was extended to 11 counties, while 18 counties were eligible for Public Assistance. The counties receiving IA were Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Clear Creek, El Paso, Fremont, Jefferson, Larimer, Logan, Morgan and Weld. The counties designated for PA were Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Clear Creek, Crowley, Denver, El Paso, Fremont, Gilpin, Jefferson, Lake, Larimer, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Sedgwick, Washington and Weld.

Ten months later, FEMA and the Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator continue to work closely with the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and Colorado Recovery Office. Going forward, the FDRC will continue to manage the coordination of recovery programs with other federal agencies as well as on-going FEMA recovery programs.

A few milestones from the Colorado flood disaster:

• One month after the disaster, more than $60 million dollars was in the hands of survivors to help with the cleanup and rebuilding of their homes and lives. One hundred days after the disaster, more than $204 million was helping survivors recover.

• FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams canvassed hundreds of neighborhoods, visiting more than 62,000 homes and 2,741 businesses to provide information on a vast array of services and resources available to eligible applicants and made follow-up contacts in hundreds of cases.

• More than 21,500 survivors were able to visit 26 State/federal Disaster Recovery Centers to get one-on-one briefings on available assistance, low-interest loans and other information.

• Transitional Sheltering Assistance was activated Sept. 22 to house applicants in 177 hotels. That program closed Dec. 15 after sheltering a total of 1,067 households. Following TSA, the housing mission provided 54 Manufactured Housing Units to house 47 households. Twenty-three households have vacated 27 units since the onset of the program.

• Nearly 54 percent of Public Assistance permanent repair work and more than 65 percent of large (more than $67,500) Public Assistance projects contain mitigation measures to lessen the impact of similar disasters on publicly owned infrastructure.

• Public Assistance worked closely with state and county officials not only to reimburse for repairs or replacement of infrastructure, but also to remove hazards from streams. PA also implemented new Alternative Procedures (PAAP) pilot program created by the Sandy Recovery and Improvement Act to streamline the reimbursement process for permanent repairs to or replacement of disaster-damaged infrastructure.

Federal assistance and obligations by county:

Adams

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $1,111,231

Other Needs Assistance: $136,457

Total IA Assistance: $1,247,688

Small Business Administration Assistance:

Homeowner Loans: $1,634,200

Business Loans: $80,500

Total SBA Assistance: $1,714,700

Public Assistance: $6,092,859

Arapahoe

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $3,279,187

Other Needs Assistance: $295,250

Total IA Assistance: $3,574,437

Small Business Administration Assistance

Homeowner Loans: $3,769,300

Business Loans: $252,800

Total SBA Assistance: $4,022,100

Public Assistance: $2,205,031

Boulder

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $32,868,721

Other Needs Assistance: $2,307,482

Total IA Assistance: $35,176,203

Small Business Administration Assistance

Homeowner Loans: $50,300,100

Business Loans: $14,430,600

Total SBA Assistance: $64,730,700

Public Assistance: $82,041,560

Clear Creek

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $244,111

Other Needs Assistance: $2,674

Total IA Assistance: $246,785

Small Business Administration Assistance

Homeowner Loans: $142,200

Business Loans: $29,600

Total SBA Assistance: $171,800

Public Assistance: $1,134,005

Crowley

Public Assistance: $239,576

Denver

Public Assistance: $2,405,472

El Paso

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $1,578,069

Other Needs Assistance: $194,261

Total IA Assistance: $1,772,330

Small Business Administration Assistance

Homeowner Loans: $1,785.900

Business Loans: $370,100

Total SBA Assistance: $2,156,000

Public Assistance: $7,186,433

Fremont

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $59,352

Other Needs Assistance: $1,950

Total IA Assistance: $61,302

Small Business Administration Assistance

Homeowner Loans: $45,400

Total SBA Assistance: $45,400

Public Assistance: $799,341

Gilpin

Public Assistance: $448,147

Jefferson

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $38,442

Other Needs Assistance: $1,561,089

Total IA Assistance: $1,599,531

Small Business Administration Assistance

Homeowner Loans: $2,662,600

Business Loans: $450,000

Total SBA Assistance: $3,112,600

Public Assistance: $7,692,622

Lake

Public Assistance: $156,570

Larimer

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $6,547,742

Other Needs Assistance: $396,376

Total IA Assistance: $6,944,118

Small Business Administration Assistance

Homeowner Loans: $9,053,400

Business Loans: $11,265,000

Total SBA Assistance: $20,318,400

Public Assistance: $49,302,684

Lincoln

Public Assistance: $96,737

Logan

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $491,539

Other Needs Assistance: $42,875

Total IA Assistance: $534,414

Small Business Administration Assistance

Homeowner Loans: $1,312,100

Business Loans: $179,200

Total SBA Assistance: $1,491,300

Public Assistance: $590,548

Morgan

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $82,381

Other Needs Assistance: $8,292

Total IA Assistance: $90,673

Small Business Administration Assistance

Homeowner Loans: $65,400

Total SBA Assistance: $65,400

Public Assistance: $3,403,673

Sedgwick

Public Assistance: $20,618

Washington

Public Assistance: $277,783

Weld

Individual Assistance

Housing Assistance: $8,676,604

Other Needs Assistance: $1,502,403

Total IA Assistance: $10,179,007

Small Business Administration Assistance

Homeowner Loans: $9,541,600

Business Loans: $1,179,400

Total SBA Assistance: $10,721,000

Public Assistance: $17,918,448

Statewide Agencies

Public Assistance: $31,220,892

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Disaster recovery going strong 10 months after flooding

Rebuilding stronger and better

DENVER — Rebuilding after a disaster can present opportunities as well as challenges.

The challenges include getting the job done quickly and efficiently. The opportunities involve rebuilding stronger and better.

When it comes to repairing and rebuilding infrastructure damaged in last September’s floods, FEMA’s Stafford Act Section 406 can provide mitigation funds for risk-reduction improvements to roads, waterways, bridges, dams, buildings and other public structures already eligible for Public Assistance reimbursement.

Mitigation projects are being undertaken throughout the 18 Colorado counties designated eligible for FEMA Public Assistance, particularly in Boulder, Larimer and Weld counties. The goal is to reduce risk, reduce damages, and reduce the threat to life and property from future flooding events.

As Coloradans continue recovery efforts, nearly 200 Public Assistance repair projects now include some form of Section 406 mitigation. Many of these projects involve “armoring,” or shoring up, stream banks scraped and weakened by the flooding. Workers are also elevating electrical equipment out of harm’s way in public buildings and in the field, and doing what they can to strengthen piers and other supports under bridges.

FEMA typically reimburses at least 75 percent of eligible costs for projects that return infrastructure to its pre-disaster condition. Under certain circumstances, FEMA can also fund Section 406 mitigation measures as long the project is cost effective.

Most types of mitigation projects in this disaster recovery can be considered cost-effective and eligible for funding if they are performed on disaster-damaged infrastructure and reduce the potential for damages from similar events in the future.

Cost-effectiveness, along with other conditions for eligibility, are determined on a case-by-case basis. Applicants for 406 mitigation should consult with their FEMA Public Assistance Coordinator for more detailed information and guidance.

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Rebuilding stronger and better

Coffee and Collaboration: FEMA and NEW JERSEY Share Office Space at SRO

EATONTOWN, N.J. – When the NJ-Sandy Recovery Office moved from their previous facility in Lincroft to new office space in Eatontown last June, FEMA’s state partners moved their offices, too.

FEMA’s key partners in the state Office of Emergency Management work just down the hall from their FEMA colleagues in the new facility.

That proximity is a big plus when it comes to sharing expertise and working together to resolve any potential stumbling block.

Captain Geleta is seated in front of the flags at the SRFO Captain Joseph Geleta“There is a collaborative spirit between FEMA and the state government, working on behalf of all of the applicants who require assistance,” said N.J. Recovery Bureau Chief Captain Joseph Geleta following a recent Command Staff meeting at the SRFO.

“You still have FEMA and state teams mirroring each other to help many who were affected by Sandy. It’s not just the state doing something or FEMA doing something, it’s working together.”

Captain Geleta, a veteran of many previous disasters in New Jersey, said the successful collaboration between FEMA and New Jersey is inspired by a mutual commitment to the mission.

“The SRFO is a key component in sustaining the Sandy recovery efforts here in New Jersey,” Captain Geleta said.

“Having FEMA and the State working together under one roof creates a single, comprehensive approach to fulfilling Public Assistance, Mitigation, and Individual Assistance missions.”

Laura Connolly at work at her desk at the SRFO Branch Director Laura ConnollyThe close collaboration has also helped to build trust and forge friendships. “We have all created personal relationships with our program counterparts here at the SRO,” Captain Geleta noted.

For State Individual Assistance Branch Director Laura Connolly, working closely with her FEMA partners at the SRFO offices has helped the recovery mission operate more efficiently across the board.

“The SRFO is a key component in sustaining the Sandy recovery efforts here in New Jersey,” Connolly said. “FEMA and the State working together under one roof creates a single comprehensive approach to fulfilling Public Assistance, Mitigation, and Individual Assistance missions. We have all created personal relationships with our program counterparts, which fosters continued interested participation during this phase of the disaster. The free coffee is an amazing perk as well!”

Public Assistance Unit Head for the state of New Jersey Lt. Patrick Gorman, works closely with his FEMA counterpart, Infrastructure Branch Director Doug Westermann.

Lieutenant Patrick Gorman takes a moment for a pose at his desk. Lieutenant Patrick Gorman“The relationship has been phenomenal. It’s kind of like we’ve developed total quality management. In a lot of states, it’s the state against FEMA. But when you’re face to face with people who are like-minded in solving problems, it’s just much easier.”

“That kind of relationship is a win-win for the people of New Jersey,” said Captain Geleta.

“The relationship that we have with Pat and his group has been second to none,” said PA Branch Director Westermann. “Without the state’s cooperation, we might have been going down two different paths, but with their cooperation, we are going down a single path.”

“The incredible partnership that has been built here will benefit the people of New Jersey for many years to come,” said NJ-SRO Director John Covell.

http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4086/updates/sandy-one-year-later

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

Coffee and Collaboration: FEMA and NEW JERSEY Share Office Space at SRO

Federal funds authorized to help fight Saddle Mountain Fire

Seattle, WA – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Saddle Mountain Fire, burning in Kittitas County, Washington.

FEMA Region X Regional Administrator, Kenneth D. Murphy determined that the Saddle Mountain Fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Murphy approved the state’s request for federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) on July 19, 2014 at 10:43 a.m. PDT.

On July 19, 2014, the State of Washington submitted a request for a fire management assistance declaration for the Saddle Mountain Fire, burning in Kittitas County. At the time of the request, 5 homes had been burned, 80 homes were threatened and about 90 people had evacuated the area. One shelter in the Kittitas School District was operating around the clock at the time of the request. The fire has reached the Wanapum Dam and Crease Rapids Dam, both hydropower facilities, and three (3) main power transmission lines, which provides power to the City of Yakama, population of nearly 93,000, and to southeast Washington State. The fire is also threatening the Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. The fire has damaged or threatened the Ginko Petrified Forest, multiple cultural resources sites, historical sites, and recreational sites. The fire started on July 18, 2014, and has burned approximately 38,000 acres. The Federal Principal Advisor confirmed the threat to homes, dams, overhead power lines, and rail line. The fire is at zero percent contained.

A state of emergency was declared by the Governor late Tuesday, July 14 in 20 Eastern Washington counties in response to multiple wildfires threatening homes, businesses, public infrastructure, and natural resources in many parts of the state as fire crews face continued severe fire weather conditions.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of Washington State’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants provide reimbursement for firefighting and life-saving efforts. They do not provide assistance to individuals, homeowners or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

Fire Management Assistance Grants are provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

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Federal funds authorized to help fight Saddle Mountain Fire

Federal Disaster Aid for Alabama Tops $40 Million

Main Content

Release date:

July 18, 2014

Release Number:

NR 071

The following numbers, compiled July 17, provide a snapshot of the Alabama/FEMA disaster recovery to date:

Funds approved:

$16.5 million for Housing Assistance grants to help with recovery rental expenses and home repair costs.
$4.1 million for Other Needs Assistance to cover essential disaster-related needs, such as medical expenses and lost personal possessions.
$15.4 million approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest loans to eligible homeowners, renters and businesses.
$4.4 million for Public Assistance programs. Of that amount, $1.4 million has been allocated for debris removal. Another $500,000 will go toward storm response and $2.2 million has been obligated for infrastructure repair and replacement.

Survivor Recovery

15,951 damaged homes and property have been inspected (99 percent of requests).
9 counties designated for Individual Assistance.
21 counties designated for Public Assistance.

FEMA’s mitigation outreach program at nine Home Depot and Lowe’s home improvement stores provided some 1,600 shoppers with information on rebuilding/repairing homes in a safer and more resilient manner. Thank you letters are being presented to participating stores.

County-by-County approved breakdown of Individual Assistance:

County	Approved Registrations	Housing Assistance	Other Needs Assistance
Baldwin	2,041	$7,514,623.34	$1,422,607.29
Blount	27	$156,231.00	$13,491.06
DeKalb	25	$71,001.00	$20,674.77
Etowah	58	$427,844.51	$60,107.05
Jefferson	435	$1,128,338.93	$205,440.98
Lee	54	$269,887.79	$54,516.18
Limestone	298	$986,713.33	$513,725.46
Mobile	4,195	$5,685,300.76	$1,763,994.47
Tuscaloosa	60	$288,393.02	$69,360.60
Total:	7,133	$16,528,333.68	$4,123,520.71

Recovery officials urge all Alabama residents who have registered for assistance to stay in close contact with FEMA throughout the recovery process. This is especially true during the first weeks after registering when FEMA housing inspectors must contact applicants to view damages. Those with mobile phones should provide that number to FEMA during the registration.

Last Updated:

July 18, 2014 – 17:18

State/Tribal Government or Region:

Region IV

Related Disaster:

Alabama Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding

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Federal Disaster Aid for Alabama Tops $40 Million

Nearly $19.7 Million Approved for Mississippi Disaster Survivors

JACKSON, Miss. – Federal assistance approved for disaster survivors in 12 Mississippi counties has reached nearly $19.7 million.

Here is a summary of all federal assistance to individuals and households in the 12 Mississippi counties designated for FEMA Individual Assistance. The severe storms, tornadoes and flooding occurred from April 28 through May 3, 2014.

Nearly $19.7 million in total federal disaster assistance has been approved by FEMA and SBA, including:
Nearly $14.2 million in low-interest disaster loans has been approved by SBA for 229 homeowners, renters and businesses.
Nearly $5.5 million in FEMA Individual Assistance grants has been approved to help Mississippi disaster survivors recover, including:
- More than $4 million approved for housing grants, including short-term rental assistance and home repair costs.
- Nearly $1.5 million approved to help cover other essential disaster-related needs such as medical, dental and funeral expenses as well as repair or replacement of personal property.
More than 5,300 people contacted FEMA for help or information during the 60-day registration period that ended June 30.
Nearly 3,000 (99 percent) home inspections have been completed.

Monday, June 30, 2014, was the deadline to register with FEMA for individual assistance and submit SBA disaster loan applications. MEMA and FEMA remind survivors who registered for disaster assistance to stay in touch with FEMA and ensure the agency has their current contact information.

Applicants can call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 to check the status of an application, find out about the appeal process or provide insurance settlement information. Disaster survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability can call TTY 800-462-7585. Helpline hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Survivors who registered with FEMA before the deadline and discover their insurance has not covered all losses have up to a year from the date they registered with FEMA to submit their insurance settlement documentation to FEMA.

Survivors who are receiving FEMA rental assistance or staying in a temporary housing unit are periodically required to recertify their need for continuing assistance and can call the FEMA helpline with any questions about this process.

Survivors who applied for low-interest disaster loans can call the SBA hotline at 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339) or email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov with questions about SBA disaster loans.

For more information on Mississippi disaster recovery, go to fema.gov/disaster/4175. Visit the MEMA site at msema.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/msemaorg.

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). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

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Nearly $19.7 Million Approved for Mississippi Disaster Survivors

Whole Community Disaster Recovery Takes Many Hands

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – While the public may know the Federal Emergency Management Agency as the government entity that offers financial resources following disasters, FEMA is but one member of a team that brings much more.

Supporting the recovery is the coordinated effort of many federal, state and local partners, who together provide a wealth of programs and services to impacted communities and their residents.

Volunteers

Many volunteer agencies provide for the basic needs of survivors immediately following a disaster – a hot meal, a place to sleep and a change of clothes. Established organizations like the Salvation Army, United Way, Samaritan’s Purse, the American Red Cross and others provide these vital services until they are no longer needed.

Individuals, churches and neighbors also step in. As local governments begin to clean up and address damages, so do homeowners and others begin the task of recovering.

These volunteers assist in clearing debris, a task that can seem insurmountable for survivors. Crews from such organizations such as Mennonite Disaster Service, the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, Samaritan’s Purse and Team Rubicon have all responded to Alabama with experience, the tools and the equipment to begin repairing and rebuilding.

In Alabama, other groups of concerned residents have banded together with the state Emergency Management Agency, federal agencies including FEMA, local governments and volunteer groups to comprise the state’s Volunteer Agencies Active in Disasters (VOAD) to help disaster survivors recover.

VOADs, usually organized on a county-by-county basis, establish and operate what are known as Long Term Recovery Committees. The committees address a wide range of unmet needs that survivors can either not afford or are unable to provide for themselves.

FEMA Corps

FEMA Corps members are volunteers aged 18-to-24 who provides direct aid to survivors in their homes and elsewhere. They volunteer for 10 months and gain on-the-job training in the emergency management field.

Corps members are supplemented with other specialists to make up Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams, all of whom go door-to-door to provide information on registering for federal aid, guide people in the registration process and follow-up on pre- or post-disaster needs. They also coordinate with local, tribal and state governments and other partners. More than 8,000 Alabama homes were visited.

Among those 8,000 homes, the teams aided seniors, shut-ins, and people with disabilities as well as those who do not speak English to obtain federal disaster aid.

Opportunities for Employment

One of FEMA’s top priorities is to provide temporary full-time jobs to the community. In Alabama, these jobs range from human resource specialists, information technology, couriers, engineers, communications, finance and administration.

FEMA has employed 18 local individuals to fill a variety of positions.

Not only do these jobs bring work opportunities for the community, these employees bring local experience and a feeling for the community to the federal government.

Help with Child Care Costs

Childcare costs following a presidential disaster declaration have been added in 2014 as a reimbursable expense in some cases.

To be eligible, survivors must live in a declared county and use a licensed childcare service (center-based, group home, in-home or other provider). The children can be up to age 13, disabled children, as defined by federal law and who need assistance in caring for themselves, may be up to age 18.

They also must be occupants of the household, are listed on the Application for Disaster Assistance and are dependents of the applicant.

Costs per child may be awarded for a total of eight weeks, which may or may not be consecutive.

Helping to Rebuild Stronger and Safer

Lowe’s and Home Depot home improvement stores around the state teamed up with FEMA mitigation specialists to provide advice on how to rebuild homes and other structures in a way that will be less susceptible to flooding, wind damage and other hazards.

The outreach program took place throughout June. In the first five days of operation, more than 300 shoppers stopped to ask questions, with the most frequently asked question — how to build to withstand tornadoes and high winds.

Overall, FEMA mitigation specialists spoke with more than 1,600 shoppers during the month.

The mitigation specialists also can offer advice on cleaning up mold and mildew, how electrical systems, furnaces and other appliances can be protected from flooding, how to build a safe room as well as information on the National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Legal Services

How do you go about recovering important legal documents that have been lost during the disaster? Another group of volunteers has stepped up to provide free legal assistance to survivors.

The Volunteer Lawyers Program of the Alabama State Bar Association offers low-income individuals and families with legal assistance on such topics as assistance with insurance claims, landlord/tenant problems, home repair contracts, consumer protection-foreclosure problems, replacement of important legal documents, drafting powers of attorney, preparation of guardianships and conservatorships, as well as referring individuals to local and state agencies for assistance.

Disaster legal services are available by calling the hotline phone number 888-857-8571 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. In the Huntsville area of Limestone County, call 256-539-2275 and in Mobile and Baldwin counties call 855-997-2857.

Disaster Unemployment

A program that FEMA funds and has been completed in Alabama is Disaster Unemployment. The program, to which 63 individuals applied, is aimed at workers who would not qualify for regular unemployment insurance. It is operated by the state of Alabama.

Eligible workers included the self-employed who lived or worked in affected areas during the storm, those who are unemployed as a result of the storm, workers who were unable to reach their jobs as a result of the storm and those who were to begin employment but were unable to work because the business was damaged as a result of the disaster.

Individuals who became the primary or major wage earner due to the disaster-related death of the head of the household also may be eligible, as may workers who could not work because of an injury caused as a direct result of the storm.

Albie Lewis, federal coordinating officer for the Alabama disaster, said recovery needs to be inclusive of all disaster survivors.

“FEMA and all recovery partners work together to mitigate the tough, long-term whole community inclusive issues to make sure everyone gets information and access to recovery programs they need in an appropriate manner.”

All of these programs are available because FEMA, its state and federal partners and volunteer agencies are committed to providing help to those in need. In Alabama, these agencies will continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder to recover as long as needed.

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

For more information on Alabama’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or http://www.ema.alabama.gov/. For the joint Facebook page, go to www.facebook.com/AlabamaEMA. To receive Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/AlabamaEMA or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

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Whole Community Disaster Recovery Takes Many Hands

Mississippi Storm Recovery on Target at Two Months

RIDGELAND, Miss. — After a disaster, it takes many partners working together to rebuild communities. Two months after tornadoes and storms swept across the state on April 28, public, private and nonprofit organizations have made significant progress in responding to the needs of communities created by the disaster.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individual Assistance section has reached out a second time to the more than 5,000 people who registered with FEMA for help. The outreach, dubbed “100 percent touch,” is making sure registrants understand the application process, submit timely documentation and works to find solutions to unmet needs.

To date, nearly $19 million in total federal assistance has been approved for Mississippi disaster survivors. This includes more than $5.3 million for temporary housing and home repairs and other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral costs. And the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved just over $13.6 million in low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private nonprofit organizations.

During the 60-day registration period that ended June 30, FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance crews visited more than 12,000 homes and interacted with more than 9,000 disaster survivors, helping them register with FEMA and making referrals to other agencies and organizations for specific needs outside of FEMA.

More than 4,000 disaster survivors made one or more visits to the 10 disaster recovery centers established in the disaster areas. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency/FEMA centers in Brandon, Canton, Columbus, Laurel, Louisville, Mantachie, Tupelo and Waynesboro offered face-to-face contact with program representatives knowledgeable about disaster assistance and rebuilding.

FEMA mitigation representatives at the recovery centers and at home improvement stores in the disaster areas have met with more than 8,000 people, providing advice on how to rebuild stronger. Three teams will be at locations in or near the disaster area until mid-July.

MEMA and FEMA created a joint housing task force to address the complex housing needs of the 767 households left homeless in the aftermath of the tornadoes. Survivors have received rental assistance grants and FEMA’s direct housing mission has completed placement of nearly two dozen manufactured homes for the residents of Winston County. Temporary housing is installed in commercial parks for survivor use or on an individual homeowner’s property for use while the primary residence is being repaired or rebuilt.

Projects to repair public infrastructure damaged in the storm are being developed. FEMA reimburses 75 percent of eligible disaster-related repairs through its Public Assistance program administered by the state. At the June 30 deadline for receipt of the official notice to FEMA requesting participation, 53 eligible governments and certain private nonprofits such as utilities had signed up for the program. Applicants will work with MEMA and FEMA to be reimbursed for emergency protective measures, debris removal and permanent work such as road and building repairs.

Among the applicants are the City of Louisville, which seeks to rebuild a building leased to a wood products company and the Winston County Medical Foundation, which lost its Winston Medical Center, nursing home and outpatient clinic to the EF-4 tornado that struck the area. The hospital is operating temporarily out of the National Mobile Disaster Hospital, a FEMA-owned facility composed of 27 modular units that arrived in Louisville May 3.

Through its virtual Business Emergency Operations Center, MEMA is working with employers to stabilize jobs affected in the tornado; partners in recovery have donated equipment and materials for the volunteers to use in cleanup and rebuilding.

When the disaster struck April 28, the American Red Cross opened shelters that eventually provided 678 overnight stays and more than 47,000 meals or snacks. The Salvation Army opened eight mobile kitchens and three fixed feeding sites, serving more than 17,500 meals or snacks. Since then, many other volunteers have stepped up both from the local area and outside the region to clean up debris and begin rebuilding.

MEMA and FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaisons have helped connect unaffiliated spontaneous volunteers with affiliated groups and identify and organize groups that are not part of the Mississippi Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. VALs have also assisted in making referrals to appropriate agencies and helped establish the NE Mississippi Community Based Recovery Committee to address unmet needs of survivors in Lee and Itawamba counties.

Disaster survivors in Itawamba, Jones, Leake, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Montgomery, Rankin, Simpson, Warren, Wayne and Winston counties who registered for assistance may check the status of their applications, update contact information or ask questions via the FEMA helpline, 800-621-3362. The TTY number for those who are deaf or hard of hearing is 800-462-7585.

For more information on Mississippi disaster recovery, go to FEMA.gov/Disaster/4175. Visit the MEMA site at msema.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/msemaorg.

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). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

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 to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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From:

Mississippi Storm Recovery on Target at Two Months

Disaster Assistance for Florida Reaches More than $65 Million in 60 Days

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Sixty days after a violent storm system brought massive flooding to Northwest Florida, $66.5 million in disaster assistance has been approved to help homeowners, renters and business owners recover.

Residents affected by the storms and flooding from April 28 to May 6 in Escambia, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties have until Monday, July 21, to register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Survivors can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or at m.fema.gov on a smartphone. Survivors may also apply by phone at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585.

More than 14,200 survivors have been in touch with FEMA seeking help or information on disaster assistance following what local officials called the worst flood in this part of the state in decades.

Since the May 6 disaster declaration, more than $32.1 million in Individual Assistance has helped more than 6,600 homeowners and renters who were affected by the spring storms and flooding. This includes more than $26.6 million in rental expenses and essential home repairs, and nearly $5.5 million to help cover other essential disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses and lost personal possessions.

In addition, the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $34.4 million in low-interest disaster loans for qualified homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations.

The Public Assistance cost-share program may also be available to reimburse state agencies, local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations. These reimbursements can help pay for debris cleanup, repairs to damaged facilities and infrastructure, and for costs incurred in protecting lives and property during the floods. The program also provides mitigation funds to help rebuild infrastructure that is better able to withstand future storms.

In addition to state and federal disaster assistance programs, survivors have benefitted from a wider array of disaster services and resources, including disaster unemployment assistance, free legal services, disaster-related stress help and guidance on flood insurance.

FEMA is continuing to work with state and local partners to connect survivors to recovery resources in their communities. Survivors who need extra help are encouraged to call Florida’s 2-1-1 information helpline or visit HelpNWFLrecover.org.

Several voluntary agencies, local community- and faith-based organizations and other nonprofit groups are working with survivors to help them tackle their longer term needs. Among these voluntary agencies are the American Red Cross, United Way, Volunteer Florida, Operation Blessing, Florida Baptists and Samaritan’s Purse.

Below is a snapshot of the assistance dollars and some milestones reached in the past sixty days:

$66.5 million	To date, $66.5 million in state and federal assistance has been approved to help eligible Floridians and their communities.
$32.1 million	More than $32.1 million in disaster assistance has been approved for homeowners and renters under the Individual Assistance Program.
$26.6 million	The IA total includes more than $26.6 million for housing assistance, including short-term rental assistance and essential home repair costs.
$5.5 million	The IA total also includes nearly $5.5 million to help cover other essential disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses and lost personal possessions.
$34.4 million	The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $34.4 million in low-interest disaster loans for more than 820 homeowners and businesses throughout the disaster area.
5	The five counties designated for Individual Assistance are Escambia, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton.
14,200	More than 14,200 people have contacted FEMA for information or assistance following the storms and flooding. To register for disaster assistance by the July 21 deadline, go to DisasterAssistance.gov or m.fema.gov on your smartphone. Survivors can also call FEMA’s toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585.
11,100	FEMA housing inspectors have completed more than 11,100 home inspections – an important step in determining eligibility for housing assistance.
7,000	Several crews of FEMA disaster survivor assistance specialists and FEMA Corps members arrived in the affected area just days after the major disaster declaration to provide on-site registration assistance, as well as on-the-spot needs assessments and referrals. Crews met with more than 7,000 survivors and registered 815 individuals and households.
5,880	Approximately 5,880 visits were made to five disaster recovery centers and a temporary registration intake center to get information and apply for disaster assistance.
3,300	More than 3,300 people have met with FEMA mitigation specialists at disaster recovery centers and home improvement stores for advice and tips on how to rebuild safer and stronger.
62	62 requests have been made for FEMA’s Public Assistance program by eligible state agencies, local governments and certain private nonprofits. Requests for public assistance start the process of getting eligible costs reimbursed, which helps get communities back on track following a disaster.
9	The nine counties designated for Public Assistance are Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington.

The deadline to apply for disaster assistance is July 21. Florida disaster survivors can apply for assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov or at m.fema.gov/ on a smartphone. Survivors may also apply by phone at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585.

For more information on Florida disaster recovery, survivors can visit fema.gov/disaster/4177, the Florida Division of Emergency Management website at FloridaDisaster.org or the state’s Facebook page at facebook.com/FloridaSERT.

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Disaster Assistance for Florida Reaches More than $65 Million in 60 Days

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