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Federal Disaster Assistance Includes the Right to Appeal

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Georgia disaster survivors have the right to appeal a FEMA decision about what assistance they are eligible to receive. They can question the amount or type of help FEMA provided or any other decision about federal disaster assistance.

To submit an appeal, survivors should explain in writing why they disagree with the FEMA decision and be specific.

There are many reasons for denial of assistance but the simplest could be: An applicant did not submit all the necessary documents to support the claim including, for instance, an insurance settlement letter, proof of residence, proof of ownership of the damaged property or contractor’s estimate for repairs not covered.

Federal assistance is available to eligible individuals and households in Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh and Wayne counties. Damage or losses from Hurricane Matthew must have occurred Oct. 4-15.

Applicants from the 10 eligible counties have 60 days from the date on FEMA’s decision letter to file an appeal. The appeal letter should include:

· Applicant’s full name

· Date and place of birth

· Address

· Supporting documents

The letter should be notarized and include a copy of a state-issued identification card or the following statement: “I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.”

The letter must be signed by the applicant, dated and mailed to:

FEMA

National Processing Service Center

P.O. Box 10055

Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055

Letters may also be faxed to 800-827-8112 with a cover sheet marked: Attention – FEMA or uploaded to the applicant’s account on DisasterAssistance.gov.

For updates on Georgia’s Hurricane Matthew response and recovery, follow @GeorgiaEMA and @FEMARegion4 on Twitter and visit gemhsa.ga.gov and fema.gov/disaster/4284.

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Federal Disaster Assistance Includes the Right to Appeal

Help Is Just a Phone Call Away for Louisiana Flood Survivors

BATON ROUGE, La. — Survivors of Louisiana’s August floods can always get help with just one phone call.

Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 for information about many federal disaster assistance-related matters. Lines are open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Call 800-462-7585 if you use TTY or 800-621-3362 if you use 711 or Video Relay Service.

Here are some of the many ways the helpline can support your disaster recovery:

Learn about Manufactured Housing Units (MHUs) and where you are in the process if you’re interested in getting one.
Get instructions about how to appeal your FEMA decision letter. Everyone may appeal.
Register for federal disaster assistance. FEMA allows one registration per household. Households should register only once.
Inquire about the status of your registration.
Update contact and insurance information to avoid disaster assistance processing delays.
Reschedule FEMA home inspections.

Have your nine-digit FEMA registration number available if you want to discuss your application.

Have the following information available if you haven’t registered:

Date of loss;
Social Security number;
Current mailing address and damaged home address, including ZIP codes;
Telephone numbers;
Names of household members at the time of the disaster;
Insurance information;
Total gross income for the household;
Bank account numbers if you want to have money deposited directly; and
Loss descriptions.

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Help Is Just a Phone Call Away for Louisiana Flood Survivors

Rumor Control: FEMA disaster assistance concerns answered

To avoid misinformation circulating on social networks regarding the recovery effort for Hurricane Matthew in Virginia always ask for clarification from official sources. Rumors spread fast: please tell a friend, visit our rumor control page often and help us provide accurate information about the types of assistance available.

Check here often for an ongoing list of rumors and their true or false status.

RUMOR: FEMA doesn’t pay survivors enough.

FACT: FEMA grants are not the same as insurance. They are not intended to ‘make you whole.’ FEMA grants help eligible survivors with a start to get their lives back on track. They help with some basic disaster-related costs. They are usually not enough to get a household back to how it was before the disaster. FEMA looks at each case individually.

RUMOR: I already cleaned up and repaired the damage to my home. I heard it’s too late to get help from FEMA.

FACT: You may be eligible for FEMA assistance even if you’ve already repaired the damage. It will help if you have “before” photos and receipts for your repair expenses. Register with FEMA to find out more. You may be eligible for a grant for repair assistance that will help cover your costs. The deadline to register for FEMA registration is January 2, 2017.

RUMOR: FEMA assistance has to be repaid.

FACT: FEMA assistance is a grant, not a loan. Grants do not have to be repaid. Some homeowners, renters, businesses, and nonprofit organizations may take out disaster recovery loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA loans have to be repaid but are at a lower interest rate than usual. Again, FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. In addition, FEMA grants are not taxable and do not affect your eligibility for other federal benefit programs, such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

RUMOR: If there are other family members or roommates living with me, FEMA isn’t going to give them any help.

FACT: FEMA is committed to giving each individual survivor all the help he or she is eligible for. FEMA evaluates the needs of all eligible survivors on a case-by-case basis. Be sure to tell FEMA about the needs of all members of your household whether they are related to one another or not. Call the FEMA helpline at 800-321-3362 if you need to update your registration or have questions about the needs of any members of your household.

RUMOR: There is no easy way to get true, reliable information about FEMA’s disaster assistance programs.
FACT: Straight answers and plain facts are available from the disaster assistance program experts on FEMA’s Help Line. Call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585 to learn about disaster assistance programs. Toll-free lines are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. EDT daily. Multilingual operators are available. Survivors can also go to their nearest Disaster Recovery Center to get questions answered. Trust information only from official sources.

RUMOR: If survivors receive FEMA assistance, it could reduce their Social Security benefits.
FACT: No. Disaster assistance does not count as income. FEMA assistance will not affect Social Security, Medicare, or other federal and state benefits, and it is not counted as income for tax purposes.

RUMOR: If you receive money from FEMA you have to pay it back.

FACT: FEMA grants do not have to be repaid.

RUMOR: Receiving a letter from FEMA stating the applicant is not eligible means the person will not get any assistance.

FACT: Not necessarily. Receiving such a letter does not always mean an applicant is not eligible for disaster aid, even when the letter states “ineligible” or “incomplete.” Such a letter can simply be an indication that further information is needed, or that the applicant’s insurance claim needs to be settled before disaster aid can be granted. Call the FEMA help line, 800-621-3362, or visit your nearest Disaster Recovery Center with questions.

RUMOR: If you take FEMA assistance, they take your property.
FACT: Not true. FEMA has no authority to take property of any kind from anyone.

For more information on Recovery Efforts visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4291 and www.vaemergency.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.

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 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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Rumor Control: FEMA disaster assistance concerns answered

Disaster Aid Doesn’t Affect Government Benefits

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Wednesday, Nov. 2) – With the start of a new month you may wonder if the disaster assistance you received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will reduce your Social Security checks or other benefits, or raise your income tax bill.

No need to worry! Federal disaster assistance does not count as income. Social Security payments or Medicare benefits are not affected by disaster relief payments from the government or donations from charitable organizations. And, disaster recovery grants will not affect anyone’s eligibility for welfare assistance, Medicaid, food stamps or Aid to Families with Dependent Children. Grants for disaster recovery assistance are not counted as income in determining eligibility for any income-tested benefit program that the U.S. government funds.

Likewise, eligibility for FEMA assistance is not dependent on income. The amount of disaster assistance an eligible applicant receives is based on the amount of loss and damage incurred as a direct result of the storms and floods from Hurricane Matthew.

Survivors of Hurricane Matthew have until December 13 to register with FEMA for disaster assistance by one of the following methods:

Call 800-621-3362 (voice, 711 or video services) or 800-462-7585 (TTY). Lines are open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and multilingual operators are available.
Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Visit a Disaster Recovery Center. To find the one nearest you, check “Quick Links” at DisasterAssistance.gov. DRCs are accessible to people with disabilities. The centers have tools to amplify sound, magnifiers and materials in alternative formats along with video remote interpretation. Sign language interpreters are available upon request at the center.

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).

You can receive weather alerts, safety tips and learn about disaster resources by downloading the free FEMA App, available for Apple, Android, and Blackberry mobile devices. Visit fema.gov/mobile-app for more information.

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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Disaster Aid Doesn’t Affect Government Benefits

Help Remains for Hermine Disaster Survivors after Disaster Recovery Centers Close in Citrus, Dixie, Hernando and Leon Counties

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The disaster recovery centers operated by the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Citrus, Dixie, Hernando and Leon counties will close on Thursday, October 27, at 6 p.m.

The centers are located at:

Citrus County

West Citrus Center

1540 N. Meadowcrest Blvd.

Crystal River, FL 34429

Dixie County

Lumber Yard Parking Lot

63 NE 132nd Ave.

Cross City, FL 32628

Hernando County

Westside Government Center

7405 Forest Oaks Blvd.

Spring Hill, FL 34607

Leon County

Leroy Collins Library

200 W. Park Ave,

Tallahassee, FL 32301

Disaster Survivor Assistance teams will continue to canvass Hurricane Hermine affected counties until Saturday, October 29, with information on available assistance. They can answer questions and support you in on-the-spot registration.

Those who have not yet registered can do so by visiting www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

They may also access many of the services available at centers by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. Those who use 711/Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Survivors may use the helpline to stay informed. They can:

 Ask questions about FEMA determination letters.
 Learn how to appeal FEMA determination letters. All applicants may appeal.
 Inquire about the status of a registration.
 Provide change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information to avoid disaster assistance processing delays.
 Receive information about FEMA home inspections.
 Get other questions answered about federal disaster assistance.

Applicants should have their nine-digit FEMA registration number and zip code on hand and available if they want to discuss their application.

For information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4280, https://twitter.com/femaregion4, www.facebook.com/FEMA, and www.fema.gov/blog.

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Help Remains for Hermine Disaster Survivors after Disaster Recovery Centers Close in Citrus, Dixie, Hernando and Leon Counties

Florida Survivors Urged to Register for Disaster Assistance

ATLANTA, Ga.– Homeowners, renters and business owners in Citrus, Dixie, Hernando, Hillsborough, Leon, Levy, Pasco and Pinellas counties who were affected by Hurricane Hermine are urged to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as they may be eligible for disaster assistance.

The September 28 presidential disaster declaration makes federal assistance available to eligible individuals and businesses from the hurricane and associated severe storms and flooding in Florida.

Individuals and businesses in the designated counties can begin the disaster assistance process by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362, which is video relay service accessible. Survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or who have difficulty speaking may call TTY 800-462-7585. Helpline hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week until further notice.

Assistance may include grants for temporary housing, rental assistance and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as repairing or replacing damaged or destroyed personal property, and medical and dental expenses. Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration may also be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance.

Florida residents should register with FEMA even if they have insurance, but only if their property was damaged by the floods or high winds. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but under-insured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if the person has registered with another disaster-relief organization. Federal disaster aid does not affect other government benefits, such as Social Security and Medicaid, and is not considered taxable income. Only one person per household is eligible to register. Survivors must use the name that appears on their Social Security cards when registering with FEMA.

Applicants will be asked for the following information:

Social Security number
Address of the damaged home or apartment
Description of the damage
Information about insurance coverage
A current contact telephone number
An address where they can receive mail
Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.

The declaration also authorizes Public Assistance to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Hurricane Hermine in the counties of Citrus, Dixie, Franklin, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Pasco, Pinellas, Suwannee, Taylor, and Wakulla.

Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

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.

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Florida Survivors Urged to Register for Disaster Assistance

Three Disaster Recovery Centers to close; help is still available

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in White Sulphur Springs and Rainelle in Greenbrier County, and the Clendenin DRC in Kanawha County will close at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016.

The two Greenbrier County DRCs are located at:

65 West Main Street, White Sulphur Springs
1233 Kanawha Ave., Rainelle

The Kanawha County DRC is located:

Across the street from Dollar General,

120 Maywood Ave., Clendenin

As a survivor of the June storms and floods, you can still get the help you need with just a phone

call. The deadline to register for disaster assistance from FEMA is Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016.

Many of the services that were available at the DRCs are still available on the FEMA helpline. The helpline operates from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT, seven days a week, until further notice. By calling 800-621-3362 (voice, 711 or video relay services) or 800-462-7585 for TTY users, you can use the helpline to:

Register with FEMA.
Provide a change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information.
Receive information about FEMA home inspections.
Get other questions answered about federal disaster assistance.
Ask questions about a letter from FEMA.
Learn how to appeal a FEMA decision. All applicants may appeal.

You can also register with FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

If you want to discuss your application, you should have your nine-digit FEMA registration number and zip code.

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

SBA disaster low-interest loans are available to businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters for their recovery needs.

The deadline to apply for a physical damage disaster loan from the SBA is Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016.

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

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Three Disaster Recovery Centers to close; help is still available

Kanawha and Nicholas counties Disaster Recovery Centers to close; help is still available

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) at 3300 Pennsylvania Avenue in Charleston (Kanawha County), and 6 White Street in Richwood (Nicholas County) will close at 2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016.

As a survivor of the June storms and floods, you can still get the help you need with just a phone call. The deadline to register for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016.

Many of the services available at the DRCs are also available on the helpline. The FEMA helpline operates from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT, seven days a week, until further notice. By calling 800-621-3362 (voice, 711 or video relay services) or 800-462-7585 for TTY users, you can use the helpline to:

Register with FEMA.
Provide a change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information.
Receive information about FEMA home inspections.
Get other questions answered about federal disaster assistance.
Ask questions about letters you receive from FEMA.
Learn how to appeal a FEMA decision. All applicants may appeal.

You can also register with FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov or find an open DRC at www.fema.gov/drc. Just be sure to do it before Sept. 7.

If you want to discuss your application, you should have your nine-digit FEMA registration number and zip code.

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

SBA low-interest disaster loans are available to businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters for their recovery needs. The deadline to apply for an SBA loan is Wednesday, Sept. 7.

You can still visit the other DRCs. Representatives from FEMA, various state agencies and the SBA are at the centers to answer your disaster assistance or low-interest disaster loan questions:

Greenbrier County 1233 Kanawha Ave., Rainelle, WV 25962

Greenbrier County Mobile Disaster Recovery Center, Southeastern Labor Council,

AFL-CIO, 65 West Main St., White Sulphur Springs, WV 2498

Kanawha County Office trailer in parking lot across from Dollar General Store,

120 Maywood Ave. W., Clendenin, WV 25045

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

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Kanawha and Nicholas counties Disaster Recovery Centers to close; help is still available

Text messages for West Virginians from FEMA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Text messages for West Virginians from FEMA

What Texans Are Asked When Applying for FEMA Assistance

AUSTIN, Texas—Residents of 24 Texas counties affected by storms and flooding that occurred in May and June are encouraged to register with FEMA for federal disaster assistance. Having the information they need ready when they call or go online to register will speed the process.

Applicants will be asked for the following information:

Social Security number
address of the damaged primary residence
description of the damage
information about insurance coverage
a current contact telephone number
an address where they can receive mail
a bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds

Eligible individuals and households of the 24 declared counties have until Aug. 10 to apply for assistance for damage that occurred between May 26 and June 24.

The affected counties are Austin, Bastrop, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Eastland, Fayette, Fort Bend, Grimes, Harris, Hidalgo, Hood, Kleberg, Lee, Liberty, Montgomery, Palo Pinto, Parker, San Jacinto, Stephens, Travis, Tyler, Waller and Washington.

Applying for disaster assistance is essentially a two-step process, which ensures consideration for all FEMA programs and the U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans. First, register with FEMA, then complete and return the no-obligation SBA loan application, if one is offered. There is no charge to apply for the loan and if approved, no obligation to accept it.

Disaster survivors may register the following ways:

online at DisasterAssistance.gov
phone 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.
at a disaster recovery center. To find the nearest one, go online to the disaster recovery center locator at asd.fema.gov/inter/locator.

FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

Survivors should register even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims have been settled.

A free multilingual guide to the types of assistance available can be found at fema.gov/help-after-disaster.

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

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What Texans Are Asked When Applying for FEMA Assistance

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