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FEMA Officials Urge Applicants for Aid to ‘Stay in Touch,’ get answers, resolve issues

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas residents who have registered with FEMA for disaster aid are urged by recovery officials to “stay in touch.” It’s the best way to get answers and resolve potential issues that might result in assistance being denied.

“Putting your life back together after a disaster is difficult,” said Nancy M. Casper, federal coordinating officer for FEMA. “While the process of getting help from FEMA is intended to be simple, it’s easy to understand how sometimes providing important information is overlooked or missed.”

Residents of nine Arkansas counties affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of May 7 to June 15, 2015 may be eligible for disaster assistance. Residents of Crawford, Garland, Howard, Jefferson, Little River, Miller, Perry, Sebastian, and Sevier counties are encouraged to register for assistance with FEMA.

After registering, it’s important to keep open the lines of communication. “It’s a two-way street,” said Casper. “FEMA can’t offer assistance to survivors who – for whatever reason – have not provided all the necessary information.”

After registering with FEMA, applicants will receive notice by mail within 10 days on whether or not they qualify for federal disaster assistance.

If eligible, the letter explains how much the grant will be, and how it is intended to be used.
If ineligible – or if the grant amount reads “0” – you may still qualify. The denial may just mean the application is missing information or that you missed an appointment with an inspector.

Applicants who are denied assistance may call the Helpline to understand why, or go online to www.disasterassistance.gov or m.fema.gov. Becoming eligible for assistance may be as simple as supplying missing paperwork or providing additional information.

FEMA looks at a number of things to determine if a survivor will receive disaster assistance. The agency must be able to:

Verify an applicant’s identity.
Verify damages. If you believe the inspector didn’t see all of your damages, call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.
Verify home occupancy. Applicants need to provide proof of occupancy such as a utility bill.
Collect insurance information.

“FEMA personnel are here to help,” said Scott Bass, state coordinating officer with the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management. “Keep in touch. Use the Helpline. You’ll get answers to your questions and help with understanding the assistance process, and ways to move your personal recovery forward.”

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses can apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov. Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.

The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual operators are available.

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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FEMA Officials Urge Applicants for Aid to ‘Stay in Touch,’ get answers, resolve issues

FEMA, State Grants Will Not Affect Social Security or Benefits

NORTH LITTLE ROCK –Arkansas residents rebuilding from the severe storms of late spring will not lose Social Security benefits, pay additional taxes, or give up income-based benefit programs if they accept federal or state disaster aid.

In most cases, the Social Security Administration does not count federal or state disaster aid as income, according to recovery officials from FEMA and the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management.

FEMA/ADEM provided these answers to two common questions:

Question: Will receiving disaster aid result in my income being increased so that I am no longer eligible for Medicaid, welfare assistance, food stamps or Aid to Families with Dependent Children?

Answer: No. Assistance for housing and Other Needs Assistance (ONA) are not counted as income in determining eligibility for any income-based benefit programs funded by the U.S. government.

Question: If I earn more than a certain amount each year, I must repay $1 of my Social Security payment for every $2 earned. Will FEMA grants add to my income and require me to repay Social Security?

Answer: No. FEMA grants for housing and ONA are not counted as income.

The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual operators are available.

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FEMA, State Grants Will Not Affect Social Security or Benefits

FEMA Public Assistance Extended to Include Five Additional Oklahoma Counties

OKLAHOMA CITY – Federal disaster assistance is now available to five more counties in Oklahoma as a result of the May 5 to June 4 storms. They are Delaware, Greer, Harmon, Nowata and Mayes counties.

Public Assistance funding helps repair or rebuild public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water systems, utilities and public buildings such as schools.

Types of entities that may be eligible for Public Assistance include:

Local governments and special districts;
Certain private nonprofit organizations or institutions that conduct activities of a governmental nature and are open to the general public;
Federally recognized tribes; and
State government agencies.

Adair, Atoka, Beckham, Bryan, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Choctaw, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Custer, Craig, Creek, Dewey, Garvin, Grady, Grant, Haskell, Hughes, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnston, Kay, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Latimer, Le Flore, Logan, Love, Major, Marshall, McClain, McCurtain, McIntosh, Murray, Muskogee, Noble, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Ottawa, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Roger Mills, Seminole, Sequoyah, Stephens, Tillman, Wagoner and Washita counties are also eligible for Public Assistance funding, totaling 59 counties in all.

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

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

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FEMA Public Assistance Extended to Include Five Additional Oklahoma Counties

State/FEMA Recovery Center to Close in Bryan County

OKLAHOMA CITY – A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Bryan County set up to help people in Oklahoma affected by the severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding and tornadoes occurring May 5 through June 4 will close on Thursday, July 16 at 7 p.m.

Its location is:

Durant Middle School

802 West Walnut Street

Durant, OK 74701

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

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

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

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

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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.

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

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State/FEMA Recovery Center to Close in Bryan County

Disaster Recovery Center Open in Crawford County

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – A joint federal/state disaster recovery center will open in Crawford County on Tuesday, July 14 to help those whose homes or businesses were affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of May 7 to June 15, 2015.

Representatives from the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Small Business Administration and other agencies will be at the centers to explain disaster assistance programs and help survivors apply for aid.

The center is located at the Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative Building, 615 E. Pointer Trail in Van Buren, AR 72956.

Hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. until further notice.

Those seeking disaster assistance should register with FEMA before going to a disaster recovery center. Individuals and families who suffered losses as a result of the late spring storms may register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or those without access to the internet, can call FEMA’s toll-free registration number at 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585 for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual operators are available.

Each disaster recovery center has assistive technologies for people with disabilities. ASL interpreters are available at the DRCs by calling 870-451-9241.

Anyone who sustained damage in Crawford, Garland, Howard, Jefferson, Little River, Miller, Perry, Sebastian, or Sevier counties, which were designated for federal disaster assistance, can visit any disaster recovery center.

Federal disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property loss and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

Low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to help with residential and business losses not covered by insurance. The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the 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. Applying for these loans is also a way to qualify for other avenues of assistance.

For more information on SBA programs, 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.

To locate the disaster recovery center nearest you, go to http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm. On a web-enabled mobile device, go to http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/mobile.htm.

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Disaster Recovery Center Open in Crawford County

Registering with State, Volunteer Agencies Not the Same as FEMA

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – Many Arkansas residents who suffered damage during the severe storms in late spring may have registered for assistance with state or volunteer agencies. This is not the same as registering with FEMA for disaster aid.

While FEMA, the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management and volunteer agencies often work together, their missions, programs and funding are not the same. Residents should register with FEMA for access to federal disaster assistance.

FEMA is funded by congress and administers disaster programs determined by federal officials and requested by the state. Disaster declarations by the State of Arkansas provide some assistance based on state criteria, but that aid is “turned off” when a federal declaration is made to avoid duplicating benefits.

Volunteer agencies that provide individuals and families with immediate necessities and emergency services raise their funds publicly and determine their own programs.

The disaster declaration on June 26, 2015 put in place several sources of federal funding. It is available to residents in nine Arkansas counties affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of May 7 to June 15, 2015. The counties are Crawford, Garland, Howard, Jefferson, Little River, Miller, Perry, Sebastian, and Sevier.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in those counties can apply for federal assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621- 3362 (FEMA) or by web-enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov. Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. Mulitilingual operators are available.

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Registering with State, Volunteer Agencies Not the Same as FEMA

State/FEMA Recovery Center Reopens in Le Flore County

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

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

Poteau High School

100 Pirate Lane

Poteau, OK 74953

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

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

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

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

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State/FEMA Recovery Center Reopens in Le Flore County

Upstate NY Fire Department Replaces Worn Out Breathing Gear with Modern Apparatuses

Fire Chief Sees Boost in Confidence for Unit’s 10 Firefighters

New York, NY — The fire company of the Village of Delanson, located some 25 miles west of Albany, has been awarded 10 self-contained breathing apparatuses, or SCBAs. “This new equipment will take the place of 23-year-old gear whose straps were falling off and that used heavy steel packs that we had to lug around when confronted by a fire,” said Fire Chief Kevin Morrison. The company’s old equipment was also out of compliance with state safety regulations, he added.

The Delanson Fire Company, with 10 volunteer firefighters, serves a village of roughly 370 residents and responds to some 115 calls per year. “These SCBAs are a huge plus for the village and the department,” Chief Morrison said. “Not only are they equipped with distress signals that enable a firefighter to signal for help, but they also allow a comrade to provide oxygen from his or her own cylinder.

“On top of it all,” he said “we could not have afforded this lifesaving upgrade,” which is a big boost in confidence and morale for our volunteers.”

The SCBAs were provided by an Assistance to Firefighters Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the agency’s grants director for Region II, Dale McShine, said in New York City today. The equipment’s cost is $56,650, with the federal share coming to $53,953. “Our AFG program has been aiding firefighters and other first responders since 2001,” said Ms. McShine. “It’s most gratifying to be able to help like this.”

“This grant provides resources to replace outdated equipment critical for the safety of our firefighters,” said Delanson Mayor Gayle Gifford. “We’re a very small community with a very small volunteer fire company. But big or small, all fire companies share the same goal: to protect and serve their communities’ citizens.”

Citing how paramount it is to keep responders protected, Mayor Gifford continued, “Thanks to FEMA’s AFG program, Delanson’s firefighters will now be properly shielded in their hazardous work.”

Tania Hedlund, FEMA’s regional Grants Branch Chief, explained that “the AFG program provides critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.”

In 2013, the AFG provided funding of $21.9 million to 192 Fire Departments and EMS agencies throughout Region II, which includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. For the first time ever, funding was awarded to a State Fire Training Academy in the region: the NYS State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

For further information, please contact William H. Douglass at FEMA: 212-680-3665 or 917-561-3223.

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Upstate NY Fire Department Replaces Worn Out Breathing Gear with Modern Apparatuses

Residents of Newly Designated Oklahoma Counties Should Beware of Fraud

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

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

Be suspicious if a contractor:

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

To avoid fraud:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Residents of Newly Designated Oklahoma Counties Should Beware of Fraud

Oklahoma Disaster Assistance Tops $26 Million

OKLAHOMA CITY – More than $26 million has been granted to Oklahomans, helping to rebuild the lives of families and businesses impacted by the recent storms.

Signs of recovery are becoming visible following the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding occurring May 5 through June 4. Since the May 26 major disaster declaration, state and federal disaster officials say residents continue to seek help.

More than 8,403 families have registered for assistance with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

The total federal disaster funding approved for Oklahomans is $26.6 million. This includes:

$12.1 million in Individual Assistance (IA)
- $10.3 million for Housing Assistance
- more than $1.7 million for Other Needs, such as repair or replacement of personal property essential to the home.

There have been 131 claims paid to Oklahomans through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) which total $4,193,945.

SBA has approved more than $10,473,100 in loans. This includes:
- $10,060,700 million for homeowners
- $412,400 for business owners.

Low-interest SBA disaster loans may be available to businesses of all sizes as well as certain private nonprofit organizations. Homeowners and renters are also eligible for SBA loans for uninsured loss. These loans cannot duplicate benefits from other agencies or compensation from other organizations.

FEMA has had up to 88 Disaster Survivor Assistance specialists going door-to-door in the affected counties. To date, they have visited 16,538 homes, 1,054 businesses, and 717 community-based organizations delivering recovery information and guidance. These specialists have also registered 571 survivors for disaster assistance.

Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are currently open throughout the state where 3,184 visitors have met face-to-face with representatives from OEM, FEMA and SBA.

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

To expedite service, survivors are encouraged to register for federal disaster assistance prior to visiting a DRC. To register online visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by phone at toll-free 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585, or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

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

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

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Oklahoma Disaster Assistance Tops $26 Million

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