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Texans in Six More Counties May Now Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance, and Individual Assistance Registration Deadline Extended

AUSTIN, Texas – The federal disaster declaration for Texas has been expanded to provide Individual Assistance to six additional counties as a result of the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred between May 4 and June 19, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

In addition, FEMA today approved an extension of the deadline to register for assistance in the 42 counties designated for Individual Assistance. The new deadline is August 27, 2015.

The six Texas counties newly designated for Individual Assistance are: Angelina, Erath, Frio, Jim Wells, Montgomery and Trinity.

They join 36 counties already designated for Individual Assistance: Bastrop, Blanco, Bowie, Brazoria, Caldwell, Cherokee, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Eastland, Ellis, Fannin, Fayette, Fort Bend, Gaines, Grayson, Guadalupe, Harris, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Johnson, Liberty, Milam, Montague, Navarro, Nueces, Rusk, Smith, Travis, Walker, Wichita, Williamson, Wise and Van Zandt. Residents in the now 42 designated counties are eligible to apply for state and federal assistance.

Disaster assistance for homeowners and renters may include grants to help pay for rent, temporary housing and home repairs, as well as other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs.

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available for eligible survivors. 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 from other agencies or organizations.

Residents and business owners should apply right away with SBA as part of the overall federal disaster recovery process, and not wait for insurance claims to settle.

Texans who had storm damage should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but under-insured applicants may be eligible for help after their insurance claims have been settled.

People can apply for FEMA assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362 toll free from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) daily until further notice. Multilingual operators are available.

Disaster assistance applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call
800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has a call center to answer Texas policyholders’ flood insurance questions. Specialists can help with servicing claims, providing general information and offering technical assistance to aid in recovery. To speak with a flood insurance specialist, call 800-621-3362 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

For more information on Texas disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4223. You can follow us on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA.

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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.

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 us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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.

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

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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Texans in Six More Counties May Now Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance, and Individual Assistance Registration Deadline Extended

State/FEMA Recovery Center Reopens in Le Flore County

OKLAHOMA CITY – A Mobile Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will reopen in Le Flore County to help people in Oklahoma who were affected by the severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding and tornadoes occurring May 5 through June 4.

The Mobile DRC officially opens Friday, July 10, 2015 at 7 a.m. at:

Poteau High School

100 Pirate Lane

Poteau, OK 74953

Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Monday; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday

(The Mobile DRC closes on Monday, July 13 at 7 p.m.)

DRCs are one-stop shops where survivors can get information and guidance about what disaster assistance may be available. Information from the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Small Business Administration and other federal agencies and volunteer organizations is available at recovery centers.

Survivors can apply for state and federal assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362 to register. Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Central Standard Time), Sunday to Saturday.

Individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs who require help registering, can contact FEMA using any of the above methods.

For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4222 or visit OEM at www.oem.ok.gov.

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The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) prepares for, responds to, recovers from and mitigates against emergencies and disasters. The department delivers services to Oklahoma cities, towns and counties through a network of more than 350 local emergency managers.

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 us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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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State/FEMA Recovery Center Reopens in Le Flore County

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Rusk County for Texas Flood Survivors

AUSTIN, Texas – A State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is now open in Rusk County for homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained damage as a result of the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding from May 4 to June 19.

Specialists from the State of Texas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), nongovernmental organizations and the local community are on hand to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors. Services are provided in English and Spanish.

The recovery center serves survivors from any of the 36 counties designated for Individual Assistance who need one-on-one help. State and federal professionals will be available to assist eligible survivors get help as quickly as possible.

Location and hours of operation

Henderson Civic Center
1/3^rd Hall
1500 Lake Forest Pkwy
Henderson, TX 75652
12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday
The DRC will cease operations at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 18

People who had storm damage can register for FEMA assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362 toll free from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily until further notice. Multilingual operators are available.

Disaster assistance applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

Visiting with a recovery specialist is not a requirement for survivors who want disaster assistance, but the centers are an excellent way for people to get answers to their questions about disaster aid and help applying for it. Some of the services may include:

Guidance regarding disaster recovery
Clarification of any written correspondence received
Housing Assistance and Rental Resources information
Answers to questions, resolutions to problems and referrals to agencies that may provide further assistance
Status of applications being processed by FEMA

Assistance for eligible survivors can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs. Low-interest disaster loans from SBA may be available to cover losses not fully

compensated by insurance or other resources and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Eligible survivors should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but under-insured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4223. 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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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.

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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Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Rusk County for Texas Flood Survivors

Residents of Newly Designated Oklahoma Counties Should Beware of Fraud

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma residents whose properties were damaged in the recent storms and flooding are warned to be alert for, and urged to report, any potential fraud during recovery and rebuilding efforts, according to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The aftermath of a disaster can attract opportunists and confidence artists. Homeowners, renters and businesses can follow some simple steps to avoid being swindled.

Be suspicious if a contractor:

Demands cash or full payment up front for repair work;
Has no physical address or identification;
Urges you to borrow to pay for repairs, then steers you to a specific lender or tries to act as an intermediary between you and a lender;
Asks you to sign something you have not had time to review; or
Wants your personal financial information to start the repair or lending process.

To avoid fraud:

Question strangers offering to do repair work and demand to see identification;
Do your own research before borrowing money for repairs. Compare quotes, repayment schedules and rates. If they differ significantly, ask why;
Never give any personal financial information to an unfamiliar person; and
Never sign any document without first reading it fully. Ask for an explanation of any terms or conditions you do not understand.

Disasters also attract people who claim to represent charities but do not. The Federal Trade Commission warns people to be careful and follow some simple rules:

Donate to charities you know and trust. Be alert for charities that seem to have sprung up overnight.
If you’re solicited for a donation, ask if the caller is a paid fundraiser, whom they work for, and the percentage of your donation that will go to the charity and to the fundraiser. If you don’t get a clear answer — or if you don’t like the answer you get — consider donating to a different organization.
Do not give out personal or financial information – including your credit card or bank account number – unless you know the charity is reputable.
Never send cash: you can’t be sure the organization will receive your donation.
Check out a charity before you donate. Contact the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance at www.give.org.

If you believe you are the victim of a contracting scam, price-gouging or bogus charity solicitations, contact local law enforcement and report it to the Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General. Find a complaint form online at www.ok.gov/oag. The Federal Trade Commission takes complaints at www.ftc.gov/complaint.

Many legitimate persons — insurance agents, FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance personnel, local inspectors and actual contractors — may have to visit your storm-damaged property. Survivors could, however, encounter people posing as inspectors, government officials or contractors in a bid to obtain personal information or collect payment for repair work. Your best strategy to protect yourself against fraud is to ask to see identification in all cases and to safeguard your personal financial information. Please keep in mind that local, state and federal employees do not solicit or accept money for their services to the citizens.

All FEMA employees and contractors will have a laminated photo ID. A FEMA shirt or jacket alone is not proof of identity. FEMA generally will request an applicant’s Social Security or bank account numbers only during the initial registration process. However, FEMA inspectors might require verification of identity. FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration staff never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or help filling out applications. FEMA inspectors verify damages but do not recommend or hire specific contractors to fix homes.

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The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) prepares for, responds to, recovers from and mitigates against emergencies and disasters. The department delivers service to Oklahoma cities, towns and counties through a network of more than 350 local emergency managers.

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 us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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

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Residents of Newly Designated Oklahoma Counties Should Beware of Fraud

State/FEMA Recovery Centers Reopen in Johnston and Kiowa Counties

OKLAHOMA CITY – Two Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) will reopen to help people in Oklahoma who were affected by the severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding and tornadoes occurring May 5 through June 4.

The mobile DRCs officially open Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at 7 a.m., in Johnston County and one in Kiowa County. The addresses are:

Johnston County

Tishomingo High School (Band Room)

1300 East Main Street

Tishomingo, OK 73460

and

Kiowa County

James Blaine Field House/Snyder High School

304 10^th Avenue

Snyder, OK 73566

The hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. The mobile DRCs close on Friday, July 10, at 7 p.m.

DRCs are one-stop shops where survivors can get information and guidance on what disaster assistance may be available. Information from the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration and other federal agencies and volunteer organizations is available at recovery centers.

Survivors can apply for state and federal assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362 to register.

Individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs who require help registering, can contact FEMA using any of the above methods.

For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4222 or visit OEM at www.oem.ok.gov.

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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. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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.

Continued:

State/FEMA Recovery Centers Reopen in Johnston and Kiowa Counties

Texans in Five Additional Counties May Now Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance

AUSTIN, Texas – The federal disaster declaration for Texas has been expanded to include Individual Assistance for five additional counties as a result of the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred between May 4 and June 19, according to the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The five Texas counties newly designated for Individual Assistance are:

Bowie, Brazoria, Cherokee, Ellis and Harrison.

They join 31 counties already designated for Individual Assistance: Bastrop, Blanco, Caldwell, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Eastland, Fannin, Fayette, Fort Bend, Gaines, Grayson, Guadalupe, Harris, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Johnson, Liberty, Milam, Montague, Navarro, Nueces, Rusk, Smith, Travis, Walker, Wichita, Williamson, Wise and Van Zandt. Residents in the now 36 designated counties are eligible to apply for state and federal assistance.

Residents and business owners should apply right away with SBA as part of the overall federal disaster recovery process, and not wait for insurance claims to settle.

The deadline for applying is July 28.

For more information on Texas disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4223. You can follow us on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA.

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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.

Source:

Texans in Five Additional Counties May Now Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance

State, Federal Disaster Assistance Still Available to All Eligible Oklahomans

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahomans, including those who are not U.S. citizens, may be eligible through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for assistance if affected by the recent tornadoes, severe storms and flooding.

Disaster assistance is available to homeowners, renters and businesses impacted by the May 5 through June 4 storms in Atoka, Beckham, Bryan, Caddo, Canadian, Choctaw, Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton, Grady, Johnston, Kiowa, Le Flore, Marshall, McClain, McCurtain, McIntosh, Oklahoma, Pittsburg, Pottawatomie, Rogers, Seminole, Tillman and Wagoner counties.

The aid is available to citizens, non-citizen nationals, and qualified aliens. Qualified aliens include those with legal permanent residence (shown by Green Cards). Their status will not be jeopardized by requesting disaster assistance.

A parent or guardian who isn’t eligible may register for assistance on behalf of a child under age 18 who is a citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien. No information will be gathered on the adult’s status.

When registering for disaster assistance, FEMA requires applicants to certify whether they are citizens, non-citizen nationals or qualified aliens.

The status of a qualified alien includes:

Legal permanent residents (those with Green Cards);
Those with refugee or asylum status;
Those whose deportation has been withheld;
Those on parole into the U.S. for at least one year for humanitarian purposes;
Those with conditional entry;
Those who are Cuban-Haitian entrants; and
Those with petitions for relief based on battery or extreme cruelty by a family member.

FEMA conducts random audits of applications to verify U.S. citizenship and qualified alien documentation issued by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. However, assistance can be given as long as someone in the household is entitled to it, and no information will be gathered regarding the status of others in the household.

Undocumented immigrants from a household with no one eligible for cash assistance from FEMA may still be eligible for programs run by state, local or volunteer agencies.

Assistance for eligible individuals and small businesses includes funds for temporary housing and necessary home repairs, individual and household grants, disaster unemployment assistance, low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration and other programs.

Residents living within the designated counties with damage from the disaster can register by calling the FEMA Helpline line at 800-621-3362. The Helpline is open from 6:30 a.m. to 1 a.m., seven days a week. Multilingual assistance is available.

For those who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability, use the TTY number at 800-462-7585. Applicants can also register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or with any web-enabled mobile device or smartphone at m.fema.gov. Follow the link to “apply online for federal assistance.”

Multilingual assistance is available at each of the Disaster Recovery Centers. DRCs are one-stop shops where survivors can get information and guidance on the disaster assistance that may be available. To find the recovery center near you visit http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm, or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4222 or visit OEM at www.oem.ok.gov.

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The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) prepares for, responds to, recovers from and mitigates against emergencies and disasters. The department delivers service to Oklahoma cities, towns and counties through a network of more than 350 local emergency managers.

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 us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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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State, Federal Disaster Assistance Still Available to All Eligible Oklahomans

FEMA and SBA May Offer Texas Renters Disaster Assistance

Texas renters who were affected by the storms and flooding that occurred May 4 through June 19 may be eligible for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA). Assistance may include:

A short-term rental grant to assist with rent at a new location.
A free referral service to help identify another rental property.
A low-interest loan from the SBA to repair or replace damaged personal property.

Additional FEMA grant assistance may be available for eligible survivors, including renters, with uninsured or underinsured necessary expenses and serious needs caused by the disaster, such as:

Disaster-related medical and dental expenses.
Repair or replacement of necessary personal property lost or damaged in the disaster, including household items, such as room furnishings or appliances, and tools and equipment required by students or the self-employed for their jobs.
Essential vehicle damaged by the disaster.
Disaster-related funeral and burial expenses.

To be eligible for assistance, a survivor:

Must reside in one of the counties designated for Individual Assistance.

Must have damages resulting from the severe storms, tornadoes, straight line winds and flooding that occurred May 4 through June 19.

The first step in the process is to register with FEMA either online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362). Disaster assistance applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

Some survivors will need to complete a loan application from the SBA. If the SBA is unable to approve a loan, it may refer the applicant to be considered for other disaster aid.

After a survivor registers, a FEMA inspector may call to set a date for an inspection. During the inspection, applicants should be sure to point out all personal property that has been lost and show receipts for items that have been replaced due to the disaster.

Following the inspection, applicants receive a letter explaining their eligibility status.

For more information on Texas disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4223.

Continued:

FEMA and SBA May Offer Texas Renters Disaster Assistance

Frequently Asked Questions on Disaster Assistance for Noncitizens

What is disaster assistance?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may provide grants to help pay for rent, emergency home repairs, personal property replacement, and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other sources.

Low-interest disaster recovery loans may be available from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters.

Who is eligible?

A federal disaster declaration made Individual Assistance available to homeowners and renters who live in designated counties in Texas and had damages from the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding from May 4 to June 19, 2015.

To be eligible for assistance from FEMA, at least one person in the household must be a U.S. citizen, Qualified Alien or noncitizen national with a Social Security number.

Disaster assistance may be available to a household if a parent or guardian applies on behalf of a minor child who is a U.S. citizen or a Qualified Alien. The adult must provide the child’s birth certificate and Social Security card.

Who is a Qualified Alien?

The most common type of Qualified Alien is a Lawful Permanent Resident, defined as someone holding a “Green Card.” Green Card holders have been granted authorization to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis.

Others include those to whom the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has granted legal resident status because of:

Asylum
Refugee status
Parole into the U.S. for at least one year
Withholding of deportation
Immigration from Cuba or Haiti
Severe forms of human trafficking, including persons with “T” and “U” visas
Domestic violence

To confirm your immigration status, consult an immigration expert. Other immigration information can be found online at http://www.uscis.gov/.

How do I apply?

FEMA offers several ways to apply for assistance:

What documents do I need to apply? Go online at DisasterAssistance.gov or DisasterAssistance.gov/es for Spanish.
Call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone number will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual specialists are available.
Disaster assistance applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 800-462-7585 directly.
For those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.
Visit a FEMA Mobile Disaster Recovery Intake Center or state-FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in your area.

To apply for help from FEMA, homeowners and renters may need to provide:

A general description of their damages from the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding from May 4 to June 19, 2015.
The address where the damages occurred.
If you are a homeowner, proof of ownership.
Current contact information.
A utility bill to show proof of occupancy.
The Social Security number of someone in your household who is an eligible U.S. citizen, Qualified Alien or noncitizen national. FEMA does NOT collect information on the immigration status of other household members.
Any insurance policy that covers your losses, such as homeowners, flood or automobile, and proof of any settlements.

Financial information, such as total annual household income at the time of the disaster.

What is the deadline to apply?

The registration deadline is July 28, 2015.

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Frequently Asked Questions on Disaster Assistance for Noncitizens

SBA Provides Low-Interest Loans to Businesses, Private Nonprofits, Homeowners, and Renters

What is an SBA disaster loan?

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans are the primary source of federal long-term disaster recovery funds for disaster damages not fully covered by insurance or other compensation.

SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance is working in conjunction with the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help business owners and residents recover, as much as possible, from this declared disaster.

Who is eligible for SBA low-interest loans?

When a federal disaster is declared, the SBA is authorized to offer low-interest loans to businesses of all sizes (including landlords) and to individual homeowners, renters, and private nonprofit organizations that have sustained damage in a disaster.

What’s the most common misunderstanding about SBA loans?

The most common misunderstanding about an SBA loan is the assumption that SBA disaster loans are only for businesses. While SBA offers loans to businesses of all sizes (including landlords), low-interest loans are always available to individual homeowners, renters, and to private nonprofit organizations alike.

When should survivors apply?

Residents and business owners should apply right away with SBA as part of the overall federal disaster recovery process, and not wait for insurance claims to settle.

Why should survivors apply?

Survivors who do not follow through with the SBA application process because they feel they cannot afford or do not want a loan may end the recovery assistance process for themselves and lose out on additional FEMA dollars.

Whether a loan is wanted or not, the SBA loan application may trigger additional grant assistance through FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program. The State of Texas

administers the ONA grant funding.

Some of these additional FEMA grants could include reimbursement for lost personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, moving and storage expenses.

What is available as part of the SBA low-interest loan programs?

Eligible homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 for home repair or replacement of primary residences and eligible homeowners and renters up to $40,000 to replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.

Businesses of all sizes can qualify for up to $2 million in low-interest loans to help cover physical damages.

Small businesses and most private nonprofits suffering economic impact due to the severe weather and flooding can apply for up to $2 million for any combination of property damage or economic injury under SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.

What are the deadlines to apply?

Texas survivors have until July 28, 2015, to apply for SBA loans. Eligible small businesses applying for only the EIDL program have until February 29, 2016.

Disaster survivors who are notified by the SBA that they may be eligible for low-interest disaster loans should work directly with the SBA to complete the application.

How do I apply?

Disaster survivors are urged to call 800-621-FEMA (3362) to register by phone. They may also go into a local Mobile Registration Intake Center or a Disaster Recovery Center to register with FEMA where they also may talk with SBA representatives. Register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362. TTY users should call 800-462-7585, with Video Relay Service survivors calling 800-621-3362.

What happens after I apply?

Most survivors who register with FEMA are automatically referred to the SBA. They will then be contacted directly by SBA or via an automated call back.

What are the loan terms?

Interest rates for SBA disaster loans can be as low as 1.688 percent for homeowners and renters, 4 percent for businesses and 2.625 percent for private nonprofit organizations, with terms up to 30 years.

Where do I get specific information about the SBA process?

If you have questions about SBA or the process, or need help to complete the SBA application, help is available. Applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by:

Calling 800-659-2955
Emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
Visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster
Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339
Survivors may also visit with an SBA representative at any State/FEMA/SBA recovery center.

Continued here:

SBA Provides Low-Interest Loans to Businesses, Private Nonprofits, Homeowners, and Renters

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