Understand the Process for Continued Housing Assistance

BATON ROUGE, La. –If you’re a disaster survivor who wants to extend temporary housing assistance from FEMA it’s important to provide the proper documents in order to make your request.                                

If you’re eligible for an extension, you may use temporary housing assistance to pay for a place to live, such as a house, apartment, hotel or recreational vehicle. The assistance covers rent, security deposit and essential utilities like electricity and water.

To continue receiving temporary housing assistance, you have to complete and submit the following paperwork to FEMA that demonstrates you have a disaster-related and financial need:

  • A completed form FEMA provides you. Contact FEMA if you haven’t received a form.
  • A copy of your lease.
  • Receipts showing proper use of the federal disaster housing assistance you’ve received.
  • Current household income status.
  • Any household financial obligations.

Keep your contact information current so you receive correspondence from FEMA. Update information online at disasterassistance.gov or by downloading and using the FEMA app. You may also call FEMA’s helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use TTY, call 800-462-7585. If you use 711 or Video Relay Service, call 800-621-3362.

The state and FEMA encourage you to develop a permanent housing plan while you’re receiving temporary housing assistance. Free assistance and tools are available to help you find more permanent housing if you’re having difficulty creating a plan. Just call the FEMA helpline or visit a Louisiana Disaster Recovery Center. Locate your closest center by going to fema.gov/drc or by calling the FEMA helpline.

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Understand the Process for Continued Housing Assistance

Federal Aid to Rebuild Infrastructure Following Three Texas Disasters Nears Quarter Billion Dollars

AUSTIN, Texas—Three major disaster declarations affecting dozens of Texas counties—some on multiple occasions—will result in nearly one quarter-billion dollars in federal assistance to repair or replace damaged infrastructure.

FEMA said today that combined federal aid for severe weather disasters in May-June 2015; October 2015, and January 2016 will help fund recovery efforts for 3,087 individual projects among 569 applicants for Public Assistance.

Public Assistance is an element of FEMA’s disaster response that benefits everyone—neighborhoods, cities and states, as well as certain private nonprofit organizations—by reimbursing eligible work on damaged publicly-owned infrastructure.

PA dollars:

  • clean up the community and repair bridges

  • put water systems and utilities back in order

  • repair hospitals and emergency services

  • rebuild libraries and replace damaged books

  • rebuild schools and universities and

  • restore damaged public parks so families can enjoy them again.

FEMA provides a minimum of 75 percent of the cost to repair or replace disaster-damaged infrastructure.

PA projects are developed and approved by local, state, and federal officials and work is continuing on many. Payments are usually made on a reimbursement basis.

Public Assistance funding applicants can include:

  • state agencies

  • local and county governments

  • private nonprofit organizations that own or operate facilities that provide essential government-type services

Recovery work also continues on disasters resulting from storms this year in March, April and May-June.

Summary of Public Assistance to Three Texas Disasters

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding

Counties

Applicants

Projects

Federal Share*

May-June 2015

110

381

2,265

$175.9 million

October, 2015

57

85

486

$40.1 million

January, 2016

51

103

336

$32.5 million

TOTALS

178

569

3,087

$248.5 million

*Current estimate

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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.

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Federal Aid to Rebuild Infrastructure Following Three Texas Disasters Nears Quarter Billion Dollars

West Virginians receiving rental aid: Tell FEMA if you need more

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Thousands of West Virginians were displaced from their homes by the June 22-29 severe storms, floods, landslides and mudslides. FEMA gave grants to more than 2,500 households to help them pay for a temporary place to live. If your household received rental assistance from FEMA, you must let FEMA know if you have a continuing need for it.

Perhaps repairs to your home may be completed and you can move back in. If you’re seeking a new home, you may have found it.  However, your home may not be ready to return to or you may not yet have found more permanent housing. If that is your situation, you can ask FEMA for additional rental assistance.

You should have received a letter explaining the process and a form to fill out and return to FEMA along with:

  • Utility bills from before and after the disaster.

  • If you are a renter, a copy of your pre-disaster lease.

  • For renters or homeowners, a copy of the current lease or rental agreement signed by the person who applied for FEMA assistance and the landlord.

  • Rental receipts, canceled checks or money orders showing that you used your rental assistance to pay rent or a security deposit.

  • Income statements from before and after the disaster for all wage earners living in the household.

You must complete the FEMA application to apply for continued rental assistance. FEMA evaluates the information to determine if your household has a financial need for additional assistance.

If you need more information or help with completing your application, call FEMA toll-free at
800-621-3362. The line is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT, seven days a week until further notice. 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.

You may also find help at a State-FEMA Disaster Recovery Center. To find the one nearest to you, call the helpline, 800-621-3362, or go online to fema.gov/drc locator.

Find additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery by calling the FEMA Helpline 800-621-3362 or visiting: www.DisasterAssistance.gov; www.WVflood.com; fema.gov/disaster/4273; twitter.com/femaregion3; and fema.gov/blog.

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West Virginians receiving rental aid: Tell FEMA if you need more

Oglala Sioux Tribal Members Valuable Part of FEMA Team

PINE RIDGE, S.D. – For six months, FEMA has had a continued presence on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, supporting the Oglala Sioux Tribe in response and recovery efforts following a series of severe storms and flooding in May 2015.  As part of that team, FEMA has hired about 20 tribal members to assist in operations.  FEMA frequently hires within communities impacted by disasters for the local knowledge and expertise that such individuals can bring, and at Pine Ridge that has been no exception.

Ellen Martinez is a caseworker.  In this role, she partners with a FEMA Individual Assistance program specialist and serves as a liaison to tribal members who have applied for disaster aid.

“One of the challenges is that people don’t want to let their damaged home go because of all the family history there,” Martinez said. “They are used to what they have.  So we need to talk to them and explain that the new home will be healthier, safer and more secure, because people struggle with letting go of what they have.”

Martinez, like many of the local hires, started as an emergency liaison, going out with FEMA inspectors to view damage of homes.  She is also in the unique position of being a disaster survivor in addition to working with FEMA.  Her home was damaged in the storm and she received a new manufactured home.  She shares her experience with the other applicants that she works with.

 “FEMA is changing people’s lives”, Martinez said. “A lot of people didn’t know what FEMA is.  They just registered but they didn’t understand the process.  I can help explain that to them.  I like helping people.  I like the look on their face when they receive a new home.  They are so grateful.”

Nancy S. Hussman came to FEMA after a lengthy career of service with tribal government.  That background gave her a solid understanding of how the tribe works and how to get things done, helpful in her current position as a Voluntary Agency Liaison (VAL).  As a VAL, she coordinates with agencies that seek to come on to the reservation and provide aid to tribal members in ways that FEMA can’t.

In addition to supporting the current disaster recovery effort, the experience gained by the tribal FEMA employees will end up serving the community in the future.

“It’s so great that FEMA has hired tribal members”, said Hussman. “When FEMA leaves there will be people who have been trained.  We hope to keep a VAL department and we will be prepared to address a new disaster if we have one.  And we will have one, whether it be tornado, fires or floods and we want to be better prepared.  This is something that FEMA is teaching us.”

The tribal local hires have been able to help bridge the gap between federal government officials and the tribal community.

 “We have been able to teach the FEMA people about our culture,” said Martinez. “How people look at things differently on the reservation.  We’ve been able to show them how to approach tribal members as someone from off the reservation.”

“I think the FEMA staff have been receptive and they are learning about our culture,” said Hussman. “And that means a lot to our people.  Because in general, many people are leery of the government.  But FEMA has hired tribal members and because of that people have welcomed us into their homes and we have been able to do inspections and provide assistance.”

The newest members of the FEMA team have played an integral role, serving both the agency and their tribal community.

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Oglala Sioux Tribal Members Valuable Part of FEMA Team

FEMA Helpline Can Answer Many Questions for Flood Survivors

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina residents affected by Oct. 1-23 storms and flooding can get information and answers to questions by calling the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s helpline.

Residents can call the helpline at 800-621-3362. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. Survivors who use TTY may call 800-462-7585; those who use 711/VRS can call 800-621-3362. They can also visit www.disasterassistance.gov.

FEMA will accept applications for federal disaster assistance until 11:59 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4, 2016. Because the Jan. 3 deadline falls on a Sunday, the agency will allow flood survivors to register the following business day.

The helpline provides many services. Survivors can use the helpline to:

  • Register for federal assistance. Households should register only once.

  • Ask questions about FEMA decision letters.

  • Learn how to appeal FEMA decision 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 questions answered about federal disaster assistance and the application process.

Applicants should have their nine-digit FEMA registration number and ZIP Code if they want to discuss their application.

Survivors should have the following information before registering:

  • Date of loss

  • Social Security number

  • Current mailing address and damaged home address, including ZIP Code

  • Telephone numbers

  • Names of household members at the time of the disaster

  • Insurance information

  • Total gross income for the household

  • Bank account numbers if they want to have money deposited directly, if eligible

  • Loss descriptions

For the latest information on South Carolina flood recovery, visit scemd.org and fema.gov/disaster/4241.

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FEMA Helpline Can Answer Many Questions for Flood Survivors

Applicants Who Want Continued Rental Assistance Must Make Request

COLUMBIA, S.C. –South Carolina flood survivors who have a continued need for temporary housing assistance must complete and submit paperwork that demonstrates a disaster-related and financial need.

Applicants need to submit several documents each time they want to ask FEMA for continued temporary housing assistance including:

  • A completed form that came with the continued temporary housing assistance letter

  • A copy of their lease

  • Receipts showing proper use of previous rental assistance

  • Current household income status

  • Any household financial obligations

FEMA encourages applicants to develop permanent housing plans while living in temporary housing. Applicants with no housing plans will receive information and tools to help them find available housing.

The first continued temporary housing assistance letter is mailed to eligible applicants approximately two weeks after the initial award.                                                   

It is important for applicants to keep their contact information current so they will receive FEMA correspondence. They can update information online at disasterassistance.gov or by calling FEMA’s helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585.

Applicants who have questions about the continued temporary housing assistance process may call the helpline or visit a disaster recovery center. They may locate their closest center by visiting asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

For more information on South Carolina’s disaster recovery, visit www.scemd.org and www.fema.gov/disaster/4241.

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Applicants Who Want Continued Rental Assistance Must Make Request

FEMA Reminds Survivors: One Call Gets You In

COLUMBIA, S.C. –Survivors of South Carolina flooding Oct. 1-23 can get help with one phone call.

Call the Federal Emergency Management Agency helpline at 800-621-3362 for information about many federal disaster assistance-related matters. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Survivors who use TTY may call 800-462-7585; those who use 711/VRS can call 800-621-3362. They can also visit www.disasterassistance.gov.

During the holiday period, FEMA encourages residents to assist South Carolina recovery by passing along to those affected by storms and flooding the various ways the helpline can assist them. They can:

  • Register for federal disaster assistance by the Friday, Dec. 4 deadline. FEMA allows one registration per household. Households should register only once.

  • Ask questions about FEMA decision letters.

  • Learn how to appeal FEMA decision 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 questions answered about federal disaster assistance and the application process.

Applicants should have their nine-digit FEMA registration number available if they want to discuss their application.

Survivors should have the following information before registering:

  • 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 they want to have money deposited directly if eligible

  • Loss descriptions

For the latest information on South Carolina flood recovery operations, visit scemd.org and fema.gov/disaster/4241.

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FEMA Reminds Survivors: One Call Gets You In

Survivors of Kentucky’s July Storms May Register by Phone or Internet for Disaster Assistance

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentuckians whose home, apartment or business was affected by the July severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in Carter, Johnson, Rowan and Trimble counties must register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to see if they are eligible for disaster assistance.

Individuals, families and business owners in the designated counties can register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling 800-621-3362 (FEMA).  Disaster assistance applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 800-462-7585 directly. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

The only way for survivors to know if they are eligible for federal assistance is by registering with FEMA – even if survivors have already signed up with another disaster organization. Those with insurance could also be eligible for federal aid and are encouraged to apply, though FEMA cannot determine eligibility until insurance claims are settled.

Names must match those on Social Security cards.

Applicants must have the following information available:

  • Social Security number
  • Address of the residence
  • Description of the damage
  • Information about insurance coverage
  • Current contact telephone number
  • Mailing address

For more information on Kentucky disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4239 or the Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM) site at http://kyem.ky.gov/DisasterNews.

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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.

For more information on Kentucky’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or http://kyem.ky.gov. On Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/KYEmergencyManagement. To receive Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/kyempio or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

Original source:

Survivors of Kentucky’s July Storms May Register by Phone or Internet for Disaster Assistance

Letter on Eligibility May Not Be Last Word on Disaster Assistance for Texans Affected by Storms, Floods

AUSTIN, Texas – A letter stating a household is ineligible for disaster assistance may not be the final word on a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) application.

The most common reasons for receiving a determination of ineligibility are:

  •          Adequate insurance coverage.
  •          Insufficient storm-related damage.
  •          Missing documentation needed to complete the assistance evaluation process.

Examples of missing documentation may include an insurance settlement letter, proof of residence, proof of ownership of the damaged property, and proof that the damaged property was the applicant’s primary residence at the time of the disaster. If instructed and needed, applicants can simply submit missing documentation to FEMA online, by mail or fax, or by visiting a Disaster Recovery Center.

“We want to ensure everyone eligible for disaster assistance receives as much help as possible,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin L. Hannes. Disaster assistance for homeowners and renters may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs or other serious disaster-related needs. “But remember – grants only cover uninsured or under-insured losses.”

If you receive a letter of ineligibility, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362), or (TTY) 800-462-7585 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) to check the status of your application, update your contact numbers or ask any questions. Users of 711 or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362.

Applicants ineligible for FEMA grants may still be eligible for other programs, such as disaster unemployment assistance. Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are also available for businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters to pay for repair or replacement costs not covered by insurance or other sources.  

Residents and business owners may automatically be referred to the SBA for possible low-interest disaster recovery loans that cover these losses not fully compensated by insurance or other resources and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

You should not wait for your insurance settlement to begin an application for a low-interest disaster from SBA. In disaster recovery, SBA’s low-interest loans may be the primary source of the federal funds for the long-term repair and replacement of disaster-damaged private property for business of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters.

If an applicant has insurance, FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments. However, under-insured applicants may receive further assistance for unmet needs after insurance claims have been settled.

“If you are unable to live in your home due to disaster damage and your insurance policy does not cover temporary rental assistance, you may be eligible for rental assistance from FEMA,” said Hannes. “If you suffered damage and you’re still waiting for an insurance settlement payment, you may be eligible for an advance from FEMA.”

When requesting an increase in a FEMA grant award for home repairs, applicants should submit repair estimates, receipts or invoices to wage an effective appeal.

Applicants may appeal any FEMA decision. By doing so, they are asking FEMA to review their case again. “For instance, if you discover you need more disaster-related home repairs than first projected, you can appeal the initial determination,” said Hannes.

All appeals must be filed in writing to FEMA. Applicants should explain why they think the decision is not correct. To ensure accuracy and help FEMA personnel process your appeal quickly, please include the following information in your letter of appeal:

  •          Your full name
  •          The address of your damaged property
  •          Current contact information
  •          Disaster number: DR-4223-TX
  •          Last four digits of your Social Security number
  •          Your birthdate and place of birth
  •          Your 9-digit FEMA registration number on each page and on supporting documentation
  •          Your letter must be either notarized, include a copy of a state issued identification card, or include the following statement, “I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.”
  •          You must sign the letter

If someone other than you or the co-applicant is writing the letter, there must be a signed statement from you affirming that the person may act on your behalf. You should keep a copy of your appeal for your records.

To file an appeal, letters must be postmarked, received by fax, or personally submitted at a Disaster Recovery Center within 60 days of the date on the determination letter.

By mail:

FEMA – Individuals & Households Program
National Processing Service Center
P.O. Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055

By fax:

800-827-8112
Attention: FEMA – Individuals & Households Program

Applicants may check the status of their applications or update their contact information online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 800-462-7585. The toll-free phone lines remain open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time), seven days a week until further notice. 

More information on filing an appeal can be found online at www.disasterassistance.gov or in the Help After a Disaster that FEMA mails to each applicant.

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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.  If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY, call 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.  Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion6.

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.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for childcare, medical, dental expenses and/or funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, those who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, transportation, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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

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Letter on Eligibility May Not Be Last Word on Disaster Assistance for Texans Affected by Storms, Floods

Survivors of August floods may register by phone or online

WARREN, Mich. – Michigan residents affected by flooding Aug. 11 through 13 may now call or go online to register for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to state and federal officials. Aid is available to eligible applicants in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.

Individuals, including those who use 711 relay or VRS, can call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) while those who use TTY can call 1-800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. EDT seven days a week until further notice.

Another option is to register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov  or via web-enabled phone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

Information applicants need to provide includes the following:

  • Social Security Number;
  • Daytime telephone number;
  • Current mailing address and address and zip code of the damaged property; and
  • Private insurance information, if available.

When an applicant registers, each is given a unique registration number. The registration number is important and should be written down and kept handy. 

Disaster survivors who called FEMA but did not finalize their registration and those who reported damage only to local authorities still need to contact FEMA to receive FEMA assistance. Anyone who does not have a registration number is not yet registered.

The application deadline is Nov. 24.

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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.

English: http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4195

Spanish: http://www.fema.gov/es/disaster/4195

Twitter: https://twitter.com/femaregion5

 

Contact:

FEMA: Sandra Jasmund, (312) 213-5291
EMHSD: Ron Leix, (517) 336-6464

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Survivors of August floods may register by phone or online

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