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Federal Aid Programs for the Arkansas Declaration

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s disaster declaration issued for the State of Arkansas.

Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:

Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs. (Source: FEMA funded at 75 percent of total eligible costs; 25 percent funded by the state.)
Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals. (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.)
Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
Loans up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster’s adverse economic impact. This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $2 million. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence. (Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.)
Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans’ benefits and social security matters.

How to Apply for Assistance:

Affected individuals and business owners in designated areas can begin the disaster application process by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.

Assistance for the State and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for emergency protective measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health. Emergency protective measures assistance is available to state and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
Payment of not less than 75 percent for snow assistance, for a specific period of time during or proximate to the incident period. Snow Assistance may include snow removal, de-icing, salting, snow dumps, and sanding of roads. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)

How to Apply for Assistance:

Application procedures for state and local governments will be explained at a series of federal/state applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders and 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.

Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts available at www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema; follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fema and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fema.

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Federal Aid Programs for the Arkansas Declaration

Centers Opening in St. Louis and St. Charles Counties to Help Missouri Flood Survivors

JEFERSON CITY, Mo. – FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are opening Thursday, February 4, in St. Louis and St. Charles counties. The centers offer 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 centers to discuss aid and assist anyone who needs help with an application. The two new centers opening tomorrow are at these locations:

The St. Louis County center is at Jefferson Barracks Visitor Center, 345 North Road, St. Louis, MO 63125.

The St. Charles County center is at Immaculate Conception Community Center, 14060 N. State Route 94, West Alton, MO 63386.

Recovery centers are also currently open in Franklin and Jefferson counties at these locations:

The Franklin County center is at the Tri-County Senior Center, 800 W. Union Street, Pacific, MO 63069.

The Jefferson County center is at the Arnold City Hall, 2101 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold, MO 63010.

The centers are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Saturday, Feb. 6. Starting Monday, Feb. 8, center hours will be 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.

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.

Locations of recovery centers may be found through a link from the home page of fema.gov/drc.

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).

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Centers Opening in St. Louis and St. Charles Counties to Help Missouri Flood Survivors

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.

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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Commonly Asked Questions about Federal Disaster Aid

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.

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 Assistance Teams Helping Mississippi Storm Survivors in Three Newly Designated Counties

OXFORD, Miss. – State and federal disaster survivor assistance teams are now working in three more Mississippi counties, helping residents recover from destructive tornadoes, severe storms and flooding in late December.

The teams are made up of disaster specialists from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They are canvassing neighborhoods in Monroe, Panola and Prentiss counties, which were designated for disaster assistance last week.

Affected survivors in Monroe and Prentiss counties can also visit applicant service centers now open at the:

Chancery Clerk Building (across from the courthouse), 110 N. Main St., Booneville, MS 38829;
The Becker Community Center, 52246 Highway 25 South, Amory, MS 38821.

Survivors in Panola County can visit the disaster recovery center in neighboring Quitman County, which is located at the Marks Fire Department, 108 W. Main St., Marks, MS 38646 or any other center in a county designated for assistance after the December storms.

The teams can register survivors and electronically submit a request for federal assistance. Team members can be easily identified by photo identification and FEMA or MEMA clothing. Mississippi residents are encouraged to ask for official identification before providing personal information.

Federal disaster assistance for qualified applicants may include:

Grants to rent a temporary place to live, as needed.
Grants for essential home repairs not covered by insurance.
Grants for disaster-related needs not covered by insurance — such as medical, dental, transportation, funeral expenses, moving and storage fees, personal property loss and child care.
Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance.

In addition to the registration opportunity offered by recovery teams, survivors can register for assistance by the following methods:

Visiting DisasterAssistance.gov with a computer, tablet, iPhone, Android or other mobile device.
Calling 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585 for those who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362 to register.
Business owners can find an electronic loan application on the U.S. Small Business Administration’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Questions can be answered by calling the SBA disaster customer service center at 800-659-2955/ (TTY) 800-877-8339 or visiting sba.gov.

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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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Disaster Assistance Teams Helping Mississippi Storm Survivors in Three Newly Designated Counties

FEMA Representatives Visit Missouri Neighborhoods

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Residents of 33 Missouri counties who have been affected by the recent severe storms and flooding may soon see Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams and home inspectors in their neighborhoods.

The DSA teams offer survivors registration assistance, up-to-date information on their application status, on-the-spot needs assessments and referrals to help fill any outstanding needs. Following an individual assistance disaster declaration, FEMA provides this mobile resource to help connect homeowners, business owners and faith-based and community organizations with the necessary resources to start the recovery process.

Home inspectors will also be in the field verifying damages for those who have applied for federal assistance. Inspectors will contact homeowners and renters to schedule a time to meet to verify flood damages that occurred December 23, 2015 through January 9, 2016.

Inspectors are contractors who will display official photo identification. If the photo identification is not displayed, it is important to ask to see it. This helps prevent fraudulent activities.

Individuals or business owners that apply for a disaster loan with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) may also be contacted by a loss verifier who will inspect the damaged property.

Residents who were affected can apply for assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585, from 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.

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FEMA Representatives Visit Missouri Neighborhoods

Mississippi Tornado Survivors: Keep Your Recovery Process Moving by Returning SBA Disaster Loan Applications

OXFORD, Miss. – Mississippi tornado survivors who do not submit their U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loan applications may be saying no to a primary source of federal disaster assistance.

After registering with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, some survivors receive a disaster loan application from SBA. 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.

Often, survivors think SBA disaster loans are only for businesses. Some may be counting on a future insurance settlement to cover rebuilding costs. They may not want to take out a loan or fear they cannot afford one. Others may simply need help completing the disaster loan application.

SBA offers disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters, for physical damage from the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding which affected northern Mississippi in late December. To be eligible for these loans, damage must have occurred in the following counties: Benton, Coahoma, Marshall, Quitman or Tippah.

Economic injury disaster loans are available to provide working capital to eligible small businesses and nonprofit organizations located in the following Mississippi counties: Alcorn, Benton, Bolivar, Coahoma, DeSoto, Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, Prentiss, Quitman, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tunica and Union.

There are several good reasons for FEMA applicants who have been contacted by SBA to submit a completed disaster loan application before the March 4, 2016, deadline. Some of the top reasons include:

Your insurance settlement may fall short. You may find out you are underinsured for the amount of work it takes to repair or replace a damaged home. An SBA low-interest loan can cover the uninsured costs. By submitting the loan application, survivors may have loan money available when it is needed. SBA can approve a loan for the repair or replacement of a home up to $200,000. The loan balance will be reduced by your insurance settlement. However, the opportunity for an SBA disaster loan may be lost if you wait until after the application deadline.
SBA can help renters repair or replace disaster-damaged personal property. Renters, as well as homeowners, may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace clothing, furniture, appliances and damaged vehicles.
Disaster loans offer low rates and long-term repayment plans. Interest rates are as low as 4 percent for businesses, 2.625 percent for nonprofit organizations and 1.813 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

For more information, homeowners, renters and businesses may call the SBA at 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339), send an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or visit SBA.gov/Disaster. Survivors can complete disaster loan applications online at https://DisasterLoan.SBA.gov/ELA.

Survivors can visit any of the five disaster recovery centers open in Mississippi to sit down and talk with an SBA representative in person. Disaster recovery center locations can be found by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585.)

Survivors who have not yet registered with FEMA can do so online at DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired can call TTY 800-462-7585.

For more information on Mississippi’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4248 and msema.org.

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Mississippi Tornado Survivors: Keep Your Recovery Process Moving by Returning SBA Disaster Loan Applications

Temporary Housing Assistance Available for Displaced Survivors in Mississippi

OXFORD, Miss. – Are you still sleeping on your friend’s couch every night while you work on repairs to your storm-damaged house?

Are you and the kids crammed into your in-laws’ one bedroom, one bath because your home was destroyed by the December storms?

If you were displaced by the disaster and remain unable to return home or find a new dwelling, we may be able to help.

Survivors in the five counties designated for Individual Assistance – Benton, Coahoma, Marshall, Quitman and Tippah – may be eligible for federal disaster aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It could mean an initial two months of temporary rental assistance to help pay for a clean and safe place to stay while repairs continue.

The first step is to register with FEMA by:

Calling 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585 for those who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362 to register.
Visiting DisasterAssistance.gov with a computer, tablet, iPhone, Android or other mobile device.

For longer-term rebuilding assistance, the U.S. Small Business Administration offers low-interest loans to qualified individuals to help with residential and business losses. Homeowners, renters and business owners may obtain information on SBA disaster loan applications by calling 800-659-2955

(or 800-877-8339 for the hard of hearing) or by visiting sba.gov. They may also apply for disaster loans at https://www.disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Both FEMA and SBA are prohibited by law from duplicating insurance benefits. But, if your insurance fell short in meeting your needs, you may be eligible for help from either or both agencies.

For more information on Mississippi’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4248 and msema.org.

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Temporary Housing Assistance Available for Displaced Survivors in Mississippi

Beware: Disaster Recovery is Fertile Ground for Fraud and Scam Artists

AUSTIN, Texas – State and federal recovery officials encourage Texas residents to watch for and report any suspicious activity or potential fraud from scam artists, identity thieves and other criminals who may try to prey on survivors vulnerable due to the October severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) does not endorse any commercial businesses, products or services. FEMA encourages survivors to be especially vigilant for these common post-disaster fraud practices:

• Fraudulent building contractors. When hiring a contractor:

o Use licensed local contractors backed by reliable references.

o Demand that contractors carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation.

o Don’t pay more than half the costs of repairs upfront.

• Bogus pleas for post-disaster donations: Unscrupulous solicitors may play on the emotions of disaster survivors. Disaster aid solicitations may arrive by phone, email, letter or face-to-face visits.

o Verify legitimate solicitations by asking for the charity’s exact name, street address, phone number and Web address, then phone the charity directly and confirm that the person asking for funds is an employee or volunteer.

o Don’t pay donations with cash.

o Request a receipt with the charity’s name, street address, phone number.

• Fake offers of state or federal aid:

o Beware of visits, calls or e-mails — claiming to be from FEMA or the State of Texas — asking for an applicant’s Social Security number, bank account number or other sensitive information. Avoid scam artists who promise a disaster grant and ask for large cash deposits or advance payments in full.

o Federal and state workers do not solicit or accept money. FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration staff never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or help in filling out applications.

• Phony housing inspectors: Homeowners and registered FEMA applicants may be vulnerable to phony housing inspectors claiming to represent FEMA or the SBA.

o Inspectors have each applicant’s nine-digit registration number. FEMA inspectors NEVER require banking or other personal information.

o The job of FEMA housing inspectors is to verify damage. Inspectors do not hire or endorse specific contractors to fix homes or recommend repairs. They do not determine eligibility for assistance.

If you suspect fraud, call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721. If you are the victim of a home repair scam or price gouging, call the Office of the Texas Attorney General at 800-252-8011. Texas homeowners and renters who register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), prior to the Jan. 25 deadline, are encouraged by recovery officials to “stay in touch.” Survivors changing their address or phone numbers should update that information with FEMA. Missing or erroneous information could result in delays getting a home inspection or in receiving assistance.

Survivors with questions regarding the application or the appeals process, or who need to register for assistance may visit online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone (voice, 711 or relay service) at 800-621-3362. (TTY users should call 800-462-7585.) The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available. For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4245, Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

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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.

Visit www.fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation for publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger.

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Beware: Disaster Recovery is Fertile Ground for Fraud and Scam Artists

More Than $1.5 Million in Disaster Assistance Approved for Mississippi Storm Survivors

OXFORD, Miss. – Less than a month after severe storms, tornadoes and flooding swept across Mississippi, more than $1.5 million in state and federal disaster assistance has been approved to help those affected by the storms.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has been contacted by 775 people for help or information regarding disaster assistance.

In addition to FEMA grants for individuals and families, other forms of disaster assistance are provided by partner agencies such as the U.S. Small Business Administration and voluntary agencies. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and FEMA often refer survivors to those agencies. All businesses are also referred to the SBA. Some survivors may be interested in other programs such as disaster unemployment assistance and disaster legal services.

The following is a snapshot of the disaster recovery effort as of Jan. 15:

Nearly 170 individuals and households approved for FEMA grants, including:
- Nearly $1.3 million approved for housing grants, including short-term rental assistance and home repair costs.
- More than $264,000 approved to cover other essential disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses and lost personal possessions.
489 home inspections completed.
283 visits to disaster recovery centers by people affected by the disaster.
Five disaster recovery centers open in Individual Assistance-designated counties.

No matter the degree of loss or insurance coverage, survivors in the five disaster-designated Mississippi counties are urged to apply for help. The Individual Assistance-designated counties are Benton, Coahoma, Marshall, Quitman and Tippah. Survivors can use any of the following methods to register:

By phone, call 800-621-FEMA (3362). People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired and use a TTY should call 800-462-7585. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time. Assistance is available in most languages.
Online registration can be done by computer, tablet, iPhone, Android or other mobile device at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

Survivors who register with FEMA and are referred to SBA will be contacted with options on how to apply for a low-interest disaster loan. After being contacted by SBA, survivors should complete and submit an application even if they do not plan to accept a loan in order to continue the federal assistance process. It is part of the FEMA grant process and can pave the way for additional disaster assistance. SBA disaster loans are available with interest rates as low as 2.188 percent and terms up to 30 years.

Complete the SBA application online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Call the SBA customer service center with questions at 800-659-2955. People who are deaf or hard of hearing and use a TTY can call 800-877-8339. For more information, visit sba.gov/disaster.

For more information on Mississippi disaster recovery, go to fema.gov/disaster/4248. Visit the MEMA website at msema.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/msemaorg.

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Link:

More Than $1.5 Million in Disaster Assistance Approved for Mississippi Storm Survivors

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