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Survivors Urged to Stay in Touch with FEMA

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The deadline for Calaveras and Lake county wildfire survivors to register with FEMA has passed, but various forms of disaster assistance remain available. Survivors who registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency are urged to stay in touch with the agency.

“Even though the DRCs are closed, FEMA remains in California to work with the state and local governments to provide assistance with recovery,” said Tim Scranton, Federal Coordinating Official for this disaster. “FEMA will remain as long as needed.”

Charles Rabamad, the Deputy State Coordinating Officer added: “Recovery is ongoing, all this work could not be done without our federal, state and local partnerships. Cal OES continues to support and assist these communities in the rebuilding and redeveloping efforts.”

Applicants can track their claims and should notify FEMA of changes to their mailing addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and if they receive insurance settlements or discover additional damages.

How to reach FEMA:

Go online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or www.fema.gov
Dial the FEMA Helpline 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585
For those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services, call 800-621-3362
The toll-free numbers are operated from 6 a.m. to midnight daily

Survivors Advised to Stay in Touch with FEMA

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

Although the Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) are closed, the U.S. Small Business Administration will operate Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) at the DRC sites in San Andreas and Middletown. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

At the DLOCs disaster loan applications, started before Nov. 23, can be finalized. The two facilities will remain open until further notice.

For more information, contact the 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 or hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339. DLOCs will be closed from Thanksgiving Day through the weekend, reopening Monday, Nov. 30.

Other services available to survivors include:

Crisis Counseling is a service provided through your county Mental Health Department. Services, for children and adults, help survivors deal with the emotional affects of going through a crisis. Call the Calaveras County Mental Health Crisis Hotline: 800-499-3030 (main office number 209-754-6525). The Lake County Mental Health Crisis Hotline is 800-900-2075.
Legal Services is provided to survivors for free through the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association. Legal advice is limited to cases that will not produce a fee including assistance with insurance claims, advice on landlord/tenant problems, home repair contracts and contractors, mortgage-foreclosure problems, assisting in consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures and replacement of wills and other important

legal documents. Survivors unable to pay for legal services may call 800-657-0479 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. For TTY: call 711.

For more information on California’s wildfire recovery, visit: caloes.ca.gov or fema.gov/disaster/4240 and follow us on Twitter @femaregion9 and @Cal_OES and on Facebook at facebook.com/FEMA and facebook.com/CaliforniaOES.

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.

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

Survivors Urged to Stay in Touch with FEMA

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 are referred to SBA for a disaster loan must apply to be eligible for additional FEMA assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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.

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Survivors Urged to Stay in Touch with FEMA

Keep Your Options Open – Submit an SBA Application Now

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Wildfire survivors, don’t miss out on additional grants and loans that can help you recover – submit an application to the U.S. Small Business Administration today.

This notice applies to disaster survivors in Calaveras and Lake counties, California, who applied for assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and were referred to the SBA. You must complete a disaster loan application in order to keep your options open and to maintain eligibility for additional FEMA dollars.

The deadline for submitting the application is Monday, Nov. 23 for wildfire losses that occurred between Sept. 9 and Oct. 30, 2015 in the two California counties. As long as the initial loan application is submitted by the deadline, survivors can finalize their preliminary SBA application and loan at a later date.

While SBA’s low-interest disaster loans represent the major source of federal funding for recovery, the application itself may open the door to other FEMA grant programs. People who do not qualify for an SBA loan may be eligible for other FEMA grants.

Here are some key points to consider:

Completing and returning a loan application can be done in one of three ways: in person at a Disaster Recovery Center, online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela or by mail.
Filing the loan application does not obligate people to accept the loan and there is no cost to apply for an SBA loan. Homeowners and renters who are declined for an SBA disaster loan may be considered for certain FEMA grants and programs.
Next to insurance, an SBA loan is the primary funding source for real estate property repairs and replacing lost contents following a disaster like the recent wildfires. Homeowners may be eligible for low-interest loans up to $200,000 for repair or replacement of their primary residents. In some instances, SBA can refinance all or part of an existing mortgage.

Keep Your Options Open – Submit an SBA Application Now

The SBA can help homeowners and renters replace their essential items. Homeowners and renters may be eligible to borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property, including automobiles damaged or destroyed in a disaster.
Loans are available for businesses of all sizes and private non-profit organizations. Loans are available for up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged real estate and other business assets. Eligible small businesses and non-profits also can apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to help meet working capital needs caused by a disaster.
Do not wait for an insurance settlement before applying. Insurance may not pay for all of the damage. Survivors can begin their recovery immediately with an SBA disaster loan. The eligible loan amount will be reduced by any insurance settlements.

For more information about SBA low-interest disaster loans, contact the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, TTY 800-877-8339, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or at sba.gov/disaster. SBA customer service representatives are available at all disaster recovery centers. Centers can be found online at FEMA.gov/DRClocator.

Survivors can apply for FEMA assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362; TTY 800-462-7585; 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362. Registration continues through Nov. 23.

For more information on California’s wildfire recovery, visit: caloes.ca.gov or fema.gov/disaster/4240 and follow us on Twitter @femaregion9 or on Facebook.com/FEMA, Twitter @Cal_OES and Facebook.com/CaliforniaOES.

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Keep Your Options Open – Submit an SBA Application Now

Replacing personal documents after a natural disaster

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Wildfire survivors in Calaveras and Lake counties who lost important documents can use this guide to help obtain replacements.

All of the organizations listed below offer online resources. If personal computers aren’t available, public libraries and other agencies may have computers available to the general public.

Document	Who to Contact for Replacement
EBT Card	California’s CalFresh is part of the federal program known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP – formerly known as Food Stamps). Lost EBT card replacements – Call 877-328-9677 right away, or contact your local county social services worker.
Birth and Death Certificates	Birth and Death Certificates-California Department of Public Health or online at www.cdph.ca.gov or by calling 916-445-2684. $25 fee for replacement.
Lost Green Card	Go to www.uscis.gov and complete the Form I-90, application to replace a permanent resident card, and file it online or by mail. Call 800-375-5283 to check the status of your application.
California Driver License	Visit a California DMV office to complete an application. Replacement license forms must be delivered in person. For more information, call 800-777-0133.

Bank Checks, ATM/Debit Cards, or Safe Deposit Boxes	Contact your financial institution or get contact information from the FDIC by calling 877-275-3342 or going to www.fdic.gov.
Credit Cards	Contact the issuing institution: American Express 800-992-3404 or www.home.americanexpress.com Discover 800-347-2683 or www.discover.com/credit-cards/help-center/ Master Card 800-622-7747 or www.mastercard.com/cgi-bin/emergserv.cgi Visa 800-847-2911 or www.usa.visa.com NOTE: If you don’t remember all the credit cards you had, obtain a credit report from any of the three major credit bureaus.
Credit Report	Equifax, Experian or TransUnion 877-322-8228 or www.annualcreditreport.com
Social Security Card	Social Security 800-772-1213 or www.ssa.gov
Fraud Alerts or a Credit Freeze	Fraud Alerts: Call the identity theft helpline at 877-438-4338; contact the FTC at: www.ftc.gov
Medicare Cards	Social Security Administration 800 772-1213 or www.socialsecurity.gov/medicarecard/
Passport	U.S. Department of State, Passport Services, Consular Lost/Stolen Passport Section 202-955-0430 or 877-487-2778 or www.travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/lost-stolen.html
U.S. Savings Bonds	U.S. Department of Treasury 800-722-2678 or www.treasurydirect.gov
Tax Returns	Internal Revenue Service 800-829-1040 or download the Request for Copy of Tax Return at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf
Military Records	National Archives and Records Administration 866-272-6272 or www.archives.gov/contact/

The deadline to register with FEMA for disaster assistance is Monday Nov. 23. Survivors can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362; TTY 800-462-7585; 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

For more information on California’s wildfire recovery, visit: caloes.ca.gov and follow us on Twitter @cal_OES, and on Facebook.com/CaliforniaOES. For FEMA, go to fema.gov/disaster/4240 and follow us on Twitter @femaregion9 and at Facebook.com/FEMA.

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 are referred to SBA for a disaster loan must apply to be eligible for additional FEMA assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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Replacing personal documents after a natural disaster

Churches and other nonprofits may rebuild with SBA disaster loans

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Churches, temples, mosques and other religious centers, as well as other private nonprofit organizations affected by wildfires in California’s Calaveras and Lake counties, are eligible to apply for U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loans to help rebuild. The deadline to apply is Monday, Nov. 23, 2015.

When the President declares a disaster, the SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance is the primary source of federal funds for long-term recovery for businesses of any size, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters for disaster damage not fully covered by insurance or other compensation. SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance is working in conjunction with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help survivors recover as much as possible from this disaster.

Eligible private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million with an interest rate of 2.625 percent to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, furniture, fixtures, appliances, equipment, vehicles, other assets and leasehold improvements.

The terms of the loan may be up to 30 years. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition. Interested organizations may apply before their insurance claims are settled.

The SBA loan also may include mitigation funding for improvements to protect against future disaster damage. This amount can be up to 20 percent of the total physical loss, as verified by the SBA.

For more information, nonprofits may call the SBA at 800-659-2955 (TTY) 800-877-8339, visit a disaster recovery center, or go to sba.gov/disaster. To locate the nearest disaster recovery center, go to fema.gov/drc. Or, nonprofits may apply directly on SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Registration with FEMA is also recommended; call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Online registration is available at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Churches and other nonprofits may rebuild with SBA disaster loans

Churches and other nonprofits also should investigate sources of aid from charitable agencies, volunteer groups and private donors.

For more information on California’s wildfire recovery, visit: caloes.ca.gov or fema.gov/disaster/4240 and follow us on Twitter @femaregion9 at Facebook.com/FEMA and on Twitter @Cal_OES at Facebook.com/CaliforniaOES.

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Churches and other nonprofits may rebuild with SBA disaster loans

Two Weeks Left to Register for FEMA Grants and Apply for SBA Disaster Loans

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The deadline is Nov. 23, 2015, to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster assistance and to apply to the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest, long term disaster loans.

FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Centers in Calaveras and Lake counties will maintain normal operating hours on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11. At the centers, disaster survivors can register for FEMA disaster assistance, apply for an SBA loan, and discuss recovery issues with representatives of various organizations and agencies. DRC hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. DRC locations can be found at FEMA.gov/DRC.

Even if you think you were fully insured against the devastating wildfires, it is important to register with FEMA and also submit an initial SBA online loan application by the Nov. 23 deadline just in case your insurance later turns out to be inadequate.

Once registered with FEMA, an application for assistance can remain open for up to a year from the declaration date – until Sept. 23, 2016 – pending final resolution of insurance coverage.

Survivors also can finalize a preliminary SBA loan application after the Nov. 23 deadline, as long as the initial application has been submitted by that date.

So far, 3,598 individuals and households have contacted FEMA for assistance and information: 1,092 in Calaveras County and 2,506 in Lake County.

More than $10.4 million has been authorized to date by FEMA for individuals and households. That amount includes nearly $6.9 million for Housing Assistance and more than $3.5 million for Other Needs Assistance, such as replacement of damaged or destroyed medical equipment, clothing, essential furnishings, appliances and even an automobile.

To date, 2,763 damaged or destroyed homes, 99 percent of the total, have been examined by FEMA’s inspection services.

The SBA has approved more than $12.8 million in disaster loans to businesses, private nonprofits, homeowners and renters. That includes $11.5 million to homeowners and renters and $1.3 million to businesses and private nonprofits for both physical damages and Economic Injury Disaster Loans.

Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations have until June 22, 2016, to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans only.

FEMA refers most survivors to the SBA for long term disaster recovery loans. Those applicants should complete an SBA loan application, even if they feel they cannot afford or do not want a loan. SBA disaster loans are part of the federal assistance process. Accepting an SBA loan is not required, but submitting that application may trigger additional grant assistance through FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance program, which is administered by the state of California.

A direct telephone hotline is operational to process any requests from survivors who may need additional assistance: 916-381-0330, for TTY, call 711.

For more information on California’s wildfire recovery, visit: caloes.ca.gov or fema.gov/disaster/4240 and follow us on Twitter @femaregion9 and at facebook.com/FEMA.

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Two Weeks Left to Register for FEMA Grants and Apply for SBA Disaster Loans

FEMA Specialists Blanketed Fire Ravaged Areas of California with Help

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The day after President Obama issued a major disaster declaration in Calaveras and Lake counties, Calif., FEMA teams were already on the ground and fanned out providing information and helping survivors register for assistance from the disastrous wildfires.

Beginning Sept. 23, more than 61 Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) specialists divided into teams and went door-to-door, store-to-store and into high-traffic areas – wherever survivors might be. DSA specialists provided survivors with information, registered them for disaster assistance on the spot and also referred them to additional resources when needed.

This boots-on-the-ground technique allowed DSA team members to reach survivors in remote mountainous areas, and as a result, DSA specialists registered more than 45 percent of the 3,497 survivors who applied for assistance, a high mark for the FEMA DSA program.

“I’m very proud of the dedicated DSA teams,” said Timothy Scranton, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer for the disaster. “DSA provides support to disaster survivors directly in the communities where they live and work. This is a value-added service we can bring after a disaster to expedite the recovery process.”

But these specialists do more than registration. They keep alert to conditions, needs and activity in affected areas and report their findings to the appropriate individuals.

“They become an extra pair of eyes and ears in determining where issues exist,” Scranton added.

At the height of this operation, DSA specialists worked in the two counties, handing out flyers, providing information to people displaced by the wildfires, and followed up with the survivors to check the status of their applications.

The fires wiped out phone service in many areas. DSA specialists allowed survivors to use their FEMA-issued cell phones to check their registration or make other important calls.

“It can be stressful not to be able to pick up the phone and make a call,” said Tony Nguyen, Disaster Survivor Assistance branch director. “Making our cell service available is another way to help survivors recover.”

DSA teams have provided disaster assistance information to survivors in Calaveras and Lake counties since Sept. 23. Here is a snapshot of their efforts:

Homes visited – 5,279
Survivor interactions – 6,370
Survivor registrations – 1,462
Referrals to other agencies such as American Red Cross and SBA– 1,209
Businesses visited – 600
Community locations where DSA help was provided – 165

For more information on California’s wildfire recovery, visit: caloes.ca.gov or http://beta.fema.gov/disaster/4240 and follow us on Twitter @femaregion9

and at Facebook.com/FEMA.

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FEMA Specialists Blanketed Fire Ravaged Areas of California with Help

California Disaster Recovery Centers change operational hours

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency and Cal OES are altering the schedules of Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Calaveras and Lake counties, with two Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers closing permanently.

Starting this weekend the DRC hours of operation will be:

Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Sunday: Closed

The DRC locations are:

Calaveras County: The Calaveras County Disaster Recovery Center in San Andreas

891 Mountain Ranch Rd., San Andreas, CA 95249

Lake County: The Lake County Disaster Recovery Center in Clearlake

14860 Olympic Dr., Clearlake, CA 95422

The Lake County Disaster Recovery Center in Middletown

21256 Washington St., Middletown, CA 95461

The following two mobile DRCs will be closing end of business Saturday Oct. 24.

The Calaveras County Disaster Recovery Center in Mountain Ranch

7867 Whiskey Slide Rd., Mountain Ranch, CA 95246

The Calaveras County Disaster Recovery Center in Rail Road Flat

250 Railroad Flat Rd., Rail Road Flat, CA 95248

Survivors can also apply for FEMA assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362; TTY 800-462-7585; 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

A direct telephone hotline is operational to process any requests from survivors who may need additional assistance: 916-381-0330, TTY CALL 711.

For more updated information on California’s wildfire recovery, survivors may visit: caloes.ca.gov or http://beta.fema.gov/disaster/4240 and follow us on Twitter@femaregion9 and at Facebook.com/FEMA.

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California Disaster Recovery Centers change operational hours

CalOES and FEMA Serves the Whole Community: Assistance for Survivors with Disabilities

Sacramento, CA – The California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are continuing to encourage Lake and Calaveras county residents with disabilities, or any survivor with additional needs, who were affected by the recent wildfires, to utilize the many available accessible resources to register for assistance.

People with disabilities are eligible to receive the same services and assistance that are offered to everyone in the declared disaster area, and both CalOES and FEMA are committed to ensuring services and assistance are available for people with disabilities.

A direct telephone hotline is operational to process any requests from survivors who may need additional assistance.

916-381-0330
TTY CALL 711

In addition, to serve the whole community, certain accommodations are available at Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs).

For those who are deaf or hard of hearing, the DRCs are equipped with captioned phones and iPads that can access video remote sign language interpreters. On-site interpreters are also available upon request.
For those survivors who are blind or have low vision, documents are available in large print and Braille.
DRCs have accessible parking, ramps, and restrooms.
If a survivor cannot transport themselves to the DRC, FEMA will arrange a home visit.

The first step for any survivor is to register with FEMA. While one-to-one registration assistance is available at a DRC, survivors may also register online or over the phone.

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by smart phone or tablet at m.fema.gov
The number to register for assistance is 1-800-621-3362
TTY 1-800-462-7585
If you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362
Operators are multilingual and calls are answered seven days a week 24 hours a day.
FEMA representatives can also register survivors at a location of their choosing if needed.

The application deadline is November 23. For those survivors with a disability, and others with additional needs who require assistance, should not hesitate to contact FEMA and ask for help.

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CalOES and FEMA Serves the Whole Community: Assistance for Survivors with Disabilities

Small Business Administration is Important to ALL Disaster Survivors

SACRAMENTO – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) plays a unique role in helping all disaster survivors recover. It provides low-interest recovery loans to businesses and residents, if they can afford to repay. By registering with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), most survivors are automatically referred to the SBA.

SBA low-interest disaster loans, up to $200,000 for repair or replacement of a homeowner’s primary residence and $40,000 for personal property of renters and homeowners are the federal government’s intended source of recovery funds beyond limited FEMA resources.

The SBA also makes low-interest disaster recovery loans available to help businesses of all sizes and private non-profit organizations. Businesses and private non-profits may borrow up to $2 million for physical damages or economic injury.

The easiest way to apply for an SBA disaster loan is to visit a Disaster Recovery Center and meet with an SBA representative in person.

Individuals and households who do not meet the SBA’s financial requirements for a disaster recovery loan may be referred back to FEMA, where they may qualify for an Other Needs Assistance grant to help them pay for some recovery costs other than housing. They also may qualify for a FEMA Individual Assistance grant for housing losses. Businesses are not eligible for FEMA assistance.

FEMA Other Needs Assistance may be used for:

Disaster-related child care expenses.
Disaster-related medical and dental expenses.
Disaster-related funeral and burial expenses.
Disaster-related damages to essential household items (room furnishings, appliances); clothing; tools (specialized or protective clothing and equipment) required for your job; necessary educational materials (computers, school books, supplies).
Fuels for primary heat source (heating oil, gas).
Clean-up items (wet/dry vacuum, dehumidifier).
Disaster-related damage to an essential vehicle.
Moving and storage expenses related to the disaster (moving and storing property to avoid additional disaster damage while disaster-related repairs are being made to the home).
Other necessary expenses or serious needs as determined by FEMA.
Other expenses that are authorized by law.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s secure Web site at: disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. For information about SBA disaster programs, businesses and residents can go to sba.gov/disaster or call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at: 800-659-2955, TTY 800-877-8339 or Video Relay Service (VRS) 800-659-2955.

Survivors can apply for disaster assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362; TTY 800-462-7585; 711 or (VRS), call 800-621-3362. FEMA has made it a priority to reach survivors who need help – including people with disabilities and/or access and functional needs, senior citizens and people with limited English proficiency.

For more updated information on California’s wildfire recovery, survivors may visit: caloes.ca.gov or beta.fema.gov/disaster/4240 and follow us on Twitter @femaregion9 and at Facebook.com/FEMA.

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 has made it a priority to reach survivors who need help – including people with disabilities and/or access and functional needs, senior citizens and people with limited English proficiency.

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Small Business Administration is Important to ALL Disaster Survivors

FEMA Encourages Participation in Oct 15 Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills

Washington D.C. – More than 40 U.S. states have some potential for earthquakes. To increase earthquake preparedness, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) encourages all Americans to participate in the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill happening on Thursday, October 15, at 10:15 a.m. local time.

“Residents in California aren’t the only ones threatened by the potential of a catastrophic earthquake,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “From the Cascadia subduction zone in the Pacific Northwest to the New Madrid seismic zone in the South and Midwest, millions of Americans live and travel to areas that can be impacted by a major earthquake. All of us – regardless of where we live – should be prepared by knowing what to do: drop, cover, and hold on.”

In most situations during an earthquake, one would drop to the ground, take cover under a nearby sturdy table or desk, and hold on to it until the shaking stops. People who have mobility disabilities and are unable to drop, should still cover and hold on. If seated they should cover their head and neck with their arms or a pillow until the shaking stops. Individuals who use wheelchairs should lock their wheels, and cover and avoid transferring from their wheelchair until the shaking stops.

More than 20 million people worldwide are registered to participate in next Thursday’s Great Shakeout drill. Anyone can register their involvement and learn how to participate at www.ShakeOut.org.

FEMA supports Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills as part of America’s PrepareAthon!, a community-based campaign that asks everyone to take an action—such as a group discussion or disaster drill—to increase their preparedness. Information on America’s PrepareAthon! is available at www.ready.gov/prepare.

Additional tips for preparing for earthquakes are also available at www.ready.gov/earthquakes.

The Great ShakeOut is an annual public earthquake drill coordinated and supported by the Southern California Earthquake Center and the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). NEHRP is a partnership of the United States Geological Survey, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Science Foundation and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The Ready Campaign advocates four universal building blocks of preparedness—Be Informed, Make a Plan, Build a Kit, and Get Involved—and continues to raise awareness about the importance of preparing. The goal of the campaign is to get the public involved and ultimately to increase the level of basic preparedness across the nation.

America’s PrepareAthon! was established to provide a comprehensive campaign to build and sustain national preparedness as directed by Presidential Policy Directive-8. The campaign is coordinated by FEMA in collaboration with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations.

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FEMA Encourages Participation in Oct 15 Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills

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