Beware of Scams and Fraudulent Phone Calls

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – State and federal recovery officials urge Arkansas residents affected by the April 27 severe storms, tornadoes and floods to watch for and report any suspicious activity or potential fraud.

As government agencies and charitable groups continue to provide disaster assistance, scam artists, identity thieves and other criminals may attempt to prey on vulnerable survivors. Since the recovery effort began, authorities have received reports of unscrupulous individuals trying to do just that.  

The most common post-disaster fraud practices include phony housing inspectors, fraudulent building contractors, bogus pleas for disaster donations and fake offers of state or federal aid. Authorities in Arkansas have reported one resident received a phone call claiming to be from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The caller attempted to get the person’s bank account information and debit card number.

“No government disaster assistance agency will call you and ask for your financial account information,” said State Coordinating Officer David Maxwell of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM). “Unless you place the call yourself, don’t give out that information over the phone. It can lead to identity theft.” 

Survivors should also keep in mind that federal and state workers never ask for or accept money, and always carry identification badges. There is no fee required to apply for or to get disaster assistance from FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) or the state.

“Scam attempts can be made over the phone, by mail or email, or in person,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Timothy J. Scranton of FEMA. “Unfortunately, there seems to be no limit to the inventiveness of these con artists. We urge Arkansans to remain alert, ask questions and require identification when someone claims to represent a government agency.”      

Those who suspect fraud should call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at 1-866-720-5721. Complaints may also be made to local law enforcement agencies and through the Arkansas Attorney General Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-482-8982.

 

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 Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) is the state’s homeland security and preparedness agency. The agency works to identify and lessen the effects of emergencies, disasters and threats to Arkansas by developing effective prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery actions for all disasters and emergencies.  For additional information, contact ADEM at (501) 683-6700 or visit the website at www.adem.arkansas.gov.

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 http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6, the R6 Hurricane Preparedness website at www.fema.gov/about/regions/regionvi/updates.shtm and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations 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 information about SBA programs, applicants can go to www.sba.gov/disaster or call (800) 659-2955 (TTY 1-800-977-8339).

Originally posted here:  

Beware of Scams and Fraudulent Phone Calls

Survivors in Five More Mississippi Counties May Now Apply For Disaster Assistance

PEARL, Miss. – Survivors in Jones, Leake, Montgomery, Simpson and Warren counties whose property was damaged by the recent storms, tornadoes and flooding in Mississippi may now apply for federal disaster assistance.

The five counties were added to the April 30 presidential disaster declaration Tuesday, bringing the total number of Mississippi counties designated for Individual Assistance to 12, according to officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The original seven designated counties are Itawamba, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Rankin, Wayne and Winston.

Assistance for homeowners and renters may include money to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs. Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration may also be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance.

Survivors can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if the person has registered with another disaster-relief organization. FEMA registrants must use the name that appears on their Social Security card.

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.

###

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.

###

 

 

More: 

Survivors in Five More Mississippi Counties May Now Apply For Disaster Assistance

Survivors in Three More Arkansas Counties May Now Apply for FEMA Individual Assistance

Little Rock, Ark. – Arkansans in Pulaski, Randolph and White counties whose property was destroyed or damaged in the April 27 tornado and severe storms may now apply for federal and state disaster assistance.

The three counties were added Monday, May 5, to the major disaster declaration issued April 29 for Faulkner County. Homeowners, renters and business owners in those counties may now register for state and federal assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and report their uninsured or underinsured property damage or destruction from the storm.

“The April 27 storms upended the lives of hundreds of Arkansans – homeowners, renters and business owners – in these counties,” said State Coordinating Office David Maxwell. “Many need assistance, and the addition of their counties to the disaster declaration means we can give them a helping hand.”

 “This action allows us to help many more eligible tornado survivors in Arkansas,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Timothy J. Scranton. “We urge survivors in all four counties now designated for Individual Assistance to register with FEMA as soon as possible. We want to help, but survivors have to register to start the process.”

Disaster assistance for uninsured and underinsured individuals may include:

  • Grants to help pay for temporary housing and emergency home repairs to make a home habitable;
  • Grants for serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance;
  • Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if the person has already registered with another disaster-relief organization or local community or church organization. FEMA registrants must use the name that appears on their Social Security cards. Applicants will be asked to provide:

  • 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 get mail
  • Bank account and routing numbers if they want direct deposit of any financial assistance.

Survivors can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. If you use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Link to article – 

Survivors in Three More Arkansas Counties May Now Apply for FEMA Individual Assistance

Arkansans: Things to Know About Debris Removal

Little Rock, Ark. – For many Arkansans in Faulkner County affected by the April 27 tornadoes, cleanup is well underway. That means residents may have questions regarding the types of debris that can be left at the curb for collection and how to handle debris when a homeowner hires a contractor.

DEBRIS PLACED ON RIGHT OF WAY

Tornado-related debris is eligible for pickup and disposal by the county or municipality if residents place the following types of debris on the public right-of-way in front of their property for pick-up. When placing debris at the roadside, residents should be careful not to cover or impede access to utility meters or mailboxes.

Residents opting for curbside pick-up must separate debris into six (6) categories:

  • Vegetative debris (tree limbs, shrubs, etc.)
  • Construction/Demolition debris
  • White goods (appliances, etc.)
  • E-goods (TV’s, electronics)
  • Household hazardous (cleaning solutions, automotive chemicals, etc.)
  • Normal household garbage

DEBRIS HANDLED BY CONTRACTORS

Some homeowner’s insurance policies may cover debris removal.  Residents are reminded that if they choose to hire their own contractor, they should not place that debris on the right-of-way. The cost of debris disposal is typically included in the contractor’s estimates. Homeowners should review their insurance policies to determine if their policy covers debris removal.

Under no circumstances will reconstruction debris or demolition debris created by the property owner or the private contractor be pushed to the curb. The property owner, insurance company or contractor is responsible for removing and transporting all demolition and/or reconstruction debris to an approved designated landfill.

  • Reconstruction debris includes any construction material that must be removed from the damaged structure (shingles, portions of roofs, etc.) to bring it back to pre-disaster function.
  • Demolition debris includes construction material created by the physical deconstruction of the remaining portions of a disaster-damaged structure (walls, roof, flooring, slabs, outbuildings, etc.) in preparation for the construction of a new building.

OTHER THINGS TO BE AWARE OF WHEN HIRING CONTRACTORS

  • Watch out for:
    • Phone or door-to-door solicitors who promise to speed up the insurance, disaster assistance or building-permit process.
    • People who ask for large cash deposits or advance payments in full.
    • Promises of large amounts of money for disaster victims.
    •  FEMA/State disaster assistance funds are sent to applicants by electronic funds transfer (EFT) or through the U.S. mail ONLY!
    • People going door-to-door to damaged homes or phoning survivors and claiming to be building contractors or soliciting personal information such as Social Security or bank account numbers; they could be frauds.

Those who suspect anyone of engaging in fraudulent activities should call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721. Complaints may also be made to local law enforcement agencies and through the Arkansas Attorney General Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-482-8982.

Jump to original: 

Arkansans: Things to Know About Debris Removal

Mississippi Storm Survivors Urged To Register For Disaster Assistance

PEARL, Miss. – Homeowners, renters and business owners affected by the recent severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in Mississippi are urged to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as they may be eligible for disaster assistance.

The presidential disaster declaration of April 30 makes federal assistance available to eligible individuals and business owners in Itawamba, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Rankin, Wayne and Winston counties.

Individuals and business owners in the designated counties can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. If you use Video Relay Services, call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available. C-Spire wireless customers can register by calling #362.

Assistance 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 the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) may also be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance.

Mississippi residents 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.

Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if the person has registered with another disaster-relief organization. FEMA registrants must use the name that appears on their Social Security card.

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.

For more information on Mississippi disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4175 or visit the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) site at www.msema.org/ .

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.

 

###

 

 

Source article: 

Mississippi Storm Survivors Urged To Register For Disaster Assistance

Severe Weather Safety: What You Need to Know

CHICAGO – Severe weather can happen anytime, anywhere.

Spring flooding is common throughout Minnesota—whether along the Red River, Mississippi, or another one of the state’s many bodies of water. In addition, communities in Minnesota regularly face severe storms and tornadoes that leave behind costly damages for residents to recover from. Everyone should be ready for these risks.

March 2 – 8, 2014 marks the third annual National Severe Weather Preparedness Week – a partnership between FEMA and NOAA to encourage all Americans to learn their weather risks and take steps to prepare.

The first step is to know your risk – understand the types of hazardous weather that can affect your community, and the impact it may have on you and your family. Check the weather forecast regularly and sign up for alerts from your local emergency management officials. Consider purchasing a NOAA weather radio to get the latest updates on severe weather in your area.

Understand the hazards for which you are at risk and then take action: Develop an emergency plan based on your local weather hazards and practice how and where to take shelter before a severe weather event. Post your plan in your home where family and visitors can see it. Create or refresh an emergency kit for needed food, supplies and medication—make sure to keep a kit in your car, at the office and at home, so you are protected regardless of where you may be. For a list of items to include in your emergency kit, visit www.ready.gov/build-a-kit.

Don’t forget to consider pets when making emergency plans, and also take into account any unique needs you or your family might have so you’re best prepared for unforeseen emergencies.

It is also important to take the time to assure you’re fully insured. Remember, homeowners insurance typically does not cover flood damage, and there is a 30-day waiting period before a flood policy becomes effective. Contact your insurance agent to review your insurance coverage so your home is financially protected.

“Over the past several years, Minnesota has been significantly impacted by costly flooding and dangerous tornadoes,” said FEMA Region V Administrator Andrew Velasquez III. “Taking steps now to prepare will ensure you are ready if severe weather threatens your area this year.”

For even more readiness information follow FEMA Region V at twitter.com/femaregion5 and facebook.com/fema. Individuals can always find valuable severe weather preparedness information at www.ready.gov/severe-weather or download the free FEMA app, available for Android, Apple or Blackberry devices.

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 FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, (312) 408-4455

 

###

 

 

From:  

Severe Weather Safety: What You Need to Know

Preparing and Engaging Youth

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Emergencies can be scary for people of every age; they can be especially scary for youth because they generally have little control over how their family or community has prepared, and how they will respond.  Too often youth are viewed as a liability rather than an asset, when instead they have so much to offer their families and their communities if only they were better prepared and better engaged.

“Involving youth in the preparedness process teaches them about what to do, who to contact, and what the plan is,” said Regional Administrator MaryAnn Tierney, “it also reduces some of the fear associated with an emergency, but most importantly, youth have excellent ideas that can help everyone prepare for a disaster.”

FEMA recognizes the value that youth can provide, and for that very reason established the Youth Preparedness Council last year.  The Council provides an avenue for FEMA to engage the youth population, taking into account their perspectives, feedback and opinions. 

Just a few of the accomplishments from this year’s Youth Preparedness Council include designing a “Be Prepared Day” for the community to educate everyone on disaster preparedness, establishing a neighborhood response team, and conducting health and wellness checks.  Talk to youth in your community about any ideas they may have and help them where you can. 

Young people are capable of playing an important role in emergency preparedness, and have the unique potential to help their communities be safe, stronger and more resilient before, during and after a disaster.  As such, we all have a vested interest in engaging and empowering youth to become active participants in individual, family, and community preparedness.

You can engage the youth in your family and your community by teaching them about what hazards are common in your area, explaining to them the warning signs are, and what to do if a certain hazard should strike.  When you develop your Family Emergency Plan, make sure to have your children at the table with you so they understand the plan, can ask questions, and can provide ideas for what to do in a disaster.

By teaching youth about how to communicate if your family is separated in a disaster you can build the resiliency and capability of your entire family.  Other skills like teaching youth safety skills such as first aid, CPR, and how to safely use a fire extinguisher gets them involved in the process and makes everyone better prepared.  Talk to youth that you know about what programs they would like to be involved in and encourage them to explore options like Teen CERT teams.

Youth of any age can be involved in the emergency preparedness process; figure out what’s right for your children and invite them into the process.  You could be very surprised by the ideas they have and how much they can help your family and your community in an emergency.

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. FEMA Region III’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.  Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at fema.gov/medialibrary and youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion3.

 

Media Inquiries: FEMAR3NewsDesk@fema.dhs.gov or 215-931-5597

Excerpt from:

Preparing and Engaging Youth

Alaskans have until Aug. 26 to register for FEMA assistance

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Yukon River 2013 flood survivors who had disaster-related damages have until midnight Aug. 26, 2013, to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.   

“Registering with FEMA is essential, even if survivors have already registered with the State,” said State Coordinating Officer Bryan Fisher.

The major federal declaration, signed by President Obama on June 25, authorizes assistance to individuals and households in the following Regional Educational Attendance Areas (REAA): Alaska Gateway, Lower Yukon, Yukon Flats, and Yukon-Koyukuk.

“Registering is an important first step on the path to a variety of recovery programs,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Dolph Diemont.

  • Those with losses due to flooding between May 17 and June 11, 2013, in the declared REAAs can register by telephone or online through Aug. 26, 2013.
    • By telephone: call 800-621-FEMA (3362). Those with speech disability or who are deaf or hard of hearing can call 800-462-7585 (TTY). Multilingual registration can be done by telephone.
    • By mobile device: at m.fema.gov.
    • Online: go to DisasterAssistance.gov.
  • After registering with FEMA, some survivors will receive an SBA low-interest loan application.  It is important to return the application because SBA is a primary source of disaster recovery.  Also, a denial from SBA may lead to additional FEMA assistance and other referrals.  There are two ways to apply: go online to SBA’s secure site at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela or call 800-659-2955 (the deaf and hard of hearing can call 800-877-8339).

Applicants registering for assistance should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address and phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.

When you register, be sure to have the following information on hand:

  • Your Social Security number
  • Current and pre-disaster address
  • Block and lot number
  • A telephone number where you can be contacted
  • Insurance information
  • Total household annual income
  • A routing and account number from your bank (only necessary if you want to have disaster assistance funds transferred directly into your bank account).
  • A description of your losses that were caused by the disaster.

FEMA disaster assistance may include awards to help pay for housing, replace personal property and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance.  Assistance may also include low-interest federal disaster loans from the SBA.  The deadline to register for an SBA disaster loan is Aug. 26, 2013.

SBA offers disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, nonprofit organizations for their uncompensated losses.  Homeowners can receive loans up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence.  Homeowners and renters can receive loans up to $40,000 to replace personal property.  Businesses and private, non-profit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace their disaster-damaged property and/or economic losses.  Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure Web site at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.  Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling SBA toll-free at (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.  Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call (800) 877‑8339.  For more information about SBA’s disaster assistance programs, visit www.sba.gov/disaster.

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property.  SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private, nonprofit organizations fund repairs and 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 information about SBA programs, applicants may call (800) 659-2955 (TTY 1-800-877-8339) or visit www.sba.gov/disaster.

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, and recover from and mitigate all hazards.

Taken from:

Alaskans have until Aug. 26 to register for FEMA assistance

Disaster Recovery Centers in Galena and Fairbanks Transition Update

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The State/Federal Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Galena and Fairbanks will close August 9 and transition to weekly visits to Galena and Fairbanks by FEMA caseworkers to meet the disaster-assistance needs of survivors of the 2013 Spring Floods.

Both Disaster Recovery Centers will cease operations at noon Friday, Aug. 9, 2013.

Until then, the centers will continue to provide face-to-face help from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

The Galena DRC is located in the Galena Interior Learning Academy, 359 Challenger Road.

The Fairbanks DRC is located at 751 Old Richardson Hwy., Suite 202.

It is not necessary to visit a DRC to register with FEMA. Those with losses due to flooding between May 17 and June 11, 2013, in the Regional Educational Attendance Areas (REAAs) eligible for Individual Assistance can continue to register by telephone or online through Aug. 26, 2013.

The eligible REAAs are Alaska Gateway, Lower Yukon, Yukon Flats and Yukon-Koyukuk.

Those who have registered can continue to receive information and update their applications by telephone, mobile device or online.

  • By telephone: call 800-621-FEMA (3362). Those with a speech disability or who are deaf or hard of hearing can call 800-462-7585 (TTY). Multilingual registration can be done by telephone.
  • By mobile device: at www.m.fema.gov.
  • Online: go to DisasterAssistance.gov.

Affected individuals who have not yet registered by phone or online can also register at a DRC before noon, Friday, Aug. 9, 2013. Staff at the recovery centers can review and update applicant information and address individual questions and concerns.

If you intend to register at a DRC, please bring:

  • Your Social Security number
  • Current and pre-disaster address
  • Block and lot number
  • A telephone number where you can be contacted
  • Insurance information
  • Total household annual income
  • A routing and account number from your bank (only necessary if you want to have disaster assistance funds transferred directly into your bank account). Look up your bank routing number.
  • A description of your losses that were caused by the disaster.

FEMA disaster assistance may include awards to help pay for housing, replace personal property and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance. Assistance may also include low-interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The deadline to register for an SBA disaster loan is also Aug. 26, 2013.

SBA offers disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, nonprofit organizations for their uncompensated losses. Homeowners can receive loans up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence. Homeowners and renters can receive loans up to $40,000 to replace personal property. Businesses may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace their disaster-damaged property and/or economic losses.

There are three ways to apply for an SBA disaster loan:  After registering with FEMA, go online to SBA’s secure site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela; call 1-800-659-2955 (the deaf and hard of hearing can call 1-800-877-8339); or visit the DRC for one-on-one service. For more information on SBA disaster assistance, go to www.sba.gov.

View original article – 

Disaster Recovery Centers in Galena and Fairbanks Transition Update

Galena Disaster Recovery Center to Close Sundays

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The state and federal Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Galena has new hours of operation.

Located in the Galena Interior Learning Academy at 359 Challenger Road, the center has been operating Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to noon on Sundays.

Starting Sunday, July 28, 2013, the center will no longer operate on Sundays. It will, however, remain open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

The center is staffed by disaster recovery specialists who can provide information and answer questions about flood-related assistance for individuals, households, and businesses affected by the 2013 spring floods.

Those with losses due to flooding between May 17 and June 11, 2013, in the Regional Educational Attendance Areas (REAAs) eligible for Individual Assistance are encouraged to register with FEMA by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or online at DisasterAssistance.gov. The eligible REAAs are Alaska Gateway, Lower Yukon, Yukon Flats, and Yukon-Koyukuk.

Registration by mobile device is also available at www.m.fema.gov.  Those with a speech disability or hearing loss who use TTY can call 800-462-7585 (TTY).  Multilingual registration can be done by phone.

Staff at the recovery centers can review and update applicant information and address individual questions and concerns.

Affected individuals who have not yet registered by phone or online can also register at the DRC. If you intend to register at the center, please bring:

  • Your Social Security number
  • Current and pre-disaster address
  • Block and lot number
  • A telephone number where you can be contacted
  • Insurance information
  • Total household annual income
  • A routing and account number from your bank (only necessary if you want to have disaster assistance funds transferred directly into your bank account). Look up your bank routing number.
  • A description of your losses that were caused by the disaster.

FEMA disaster assistance may include awards to help pay for housing, replace personal property and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance. Assistance may also include low-interest federal disaster loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA).

SBA offers disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, nonprofit organizations for their uncompensated losses. Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence. Homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 to replace personal property. Businesses may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace their disaster-damaged property and/or economic losses.

There are three ways to apply for an SBA disaster loan:  After registering with FEMA, go online to SBA’s secure site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela; call 1-800-659-2955 (deaf and hard-of-hearing call 1-800-877-8339); or, visit the DRC for one-on-one service. For more information on SBA disaster assistance, go to www.sba.gov.

View original article: 

Galena Disaster Recovery Center to Close Sundays

 Page 9 of 13  « First  ... « 7  8  9  10  11 » ...  Last »