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Recovery on Pine Ridge – One year later: A Holistic Approach – Partners Working Together

PINE RIDGE, S.D. – Hundreds of families’ lives were turned upside down and were severely affected after the devastating storms and floods hit Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Many homes were beyond repair. Families and friends were forced to find other places to live, doubling and tripling up in homes that were habitable, at a time when there was already a significant housing shortage on the Reservation.

Dirt and gravel roads took a heavy beating, with washouts numerous and culverts damaged. This limited access for individuals to basic needs, including food and medical attention.

Even before the storms, resources within the Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST) were already stretched to the limits. Recovery was going to take time… and take many partners working as one.

Housing and roads were among the priorities identified by Oglala Sioux Tribal President John Yellow Bird Steele. Two task forces with leaders and members from the tribe, OST organizations, and federal agencies, were established to confront these challenges head on. Their task is to identify the issues, and work to make things better not only now, but for the future.

Housing

The OST Housing Task Force, is co-chaired by the Oglala Sioux Lakota Housing and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The focus has been on “One Nation – One Number” – OST’s initiative to document unmet housing needs and capture a comprehensive number of people living on the reservation. The hard numbers can better tell the story of overcrowding and cramped living conditions than anecdotal details alone. And while some numbers are currently available, there is no uniformity in how they are compiled or methodologies used. Consistency and accuracy of the numbers is vital for all the various funding opportunities for tribal programs.

Another initiative is underway to combat the high energy bills on the reservation by delivering a simple weatherization program outlining ways in which homeowners can improve energy efficiency in their homes. It focuses on providing information about no-cost and low-cost ways of saving energy – things that individuals can do themselves.

Roads

The OST Roads Task Force, is co-chaired by the Oglala Sioux Tribe-Department of Transportation (OST-DOT) and the Federal Highways Administration. As with the Housing Task Force, many tribal federal partners have come to the table. And like the Housing Task Force, the Roads Task Force found the lack of data documenting tribal roads and conditions can contribute to inadequate funding and opportunities for road construction, repairs, equipment and personnel.

For two months, assessment teams traveled the reservation, collecting information on location, construction, and condition on 1720 tribal roads totaling 466 miles to be entered into the OST-DOT data base. It will be included in the Geospatial Information System (GIS) mapping of Pine Ridge Reservation, as part of the OST “One Nation – One Map” project.

Estimates of repair and maintenance costs are also being developed to demonstrate funding needs and support prioritization of tribal road improvement projects and maintenance. This will also provide a baseline for the future by detailing the current condition of all roads.

Preparing for the Future

Building capability within the Tribe has also been a priority focus. Education, training and other initiatives provide opportunities for the tribe to enhance their ability to plan for and respond in the future.

Strategic Planning and Management Training was offered to Tribal leadership and agency staff teaching the importance of planning and walking through a step by step planning process and create a plan for the area they were responsible for. This will augment the work of an OST Planning Office, which is in development.
Tribal officials and employees attended FEMA’s “Emergency Management Framework for Tribal Governments” course. This training provides tribal leaders a basic understanding of emergency management and their role in leading and directing their tribe in implementing comprehensive emergency management systems.
Tribal leaders and members representing multiple tribal agencies received training on FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program projects, what could be considered eligible and requirements to apply.
In coordination with FEMA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and the Oglala Sioux Tribe, an in-depth assessment of all GIS activities on the reservation is underway. This assessment will analyze current staffing levels, equipment, IT infrastructure, and data needs. In addition, BIA will offer their “Principles of GIS” course to the tribal staff responsible for GIS activities.
One of the needs identified for the Pine Ridge Reservation is a structural fire suppression and prevention program, which currently is not available. Federal and tribal partners are taking steps to solve this issue and funding opportunities are being explored.

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Recovery on Pine Ridge – One year later: A Holistic Approach – Partners Working Together

Pets displaced by disaster need forever homes

Charleston, W.Va. — Some pets that were separated from their human families by the flooding this past June aren’t able to return home. Their owners were displaced by the disaster and can no longer care for them. These precious four-legged friends, now in area animal shelters, are eager to find new forever homes.

The rescue of pets lost during a disaster involves a coordinated effort between state and local government and animal response groups with support from FEMA and a national animal welfare organizations, such as the National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition. These and many other pet rescue groups came to West Virginia to aid displaced animals. Support has also come from businesses and individuals.

“In this event, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture was the primary point of contact that helped facilitate the establishment of three animal shelters,” said the department’s Threat Preparedness/Response Officer Roy McCallister. The department identified unmet needs and worked to get resources that met those needs, such as collapsible cages that it keeps on hand for emergencies.

To make room for the survivor animals, shelters needed help to move their pre-disaster populations out to other shelters. The Humane Society of the United States, for example, facilitated the transfer of the 62 animals that had been in the Nicholas County Animal Shelter to two shelters in upstate New York.

Thanks to the coordinated efforts of many organizations, the animals displaced in this disaster have been rescued and well cared for. Many have been reunited with their families. But the cats and dogs who can no longer go home need kind folks who can give them new forever homes.

At the Greenbrier County Humane Society and the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association combined, there are more than 30 dogs and 40 cats that were rescued and need homes. Animals at Greenbrier are available now. Those at Kanawha-Charleston become available on Saturday, July 23. One or more of them may be just right for your family!

To give a home to a disaster survivor pet, contact:

Greenbrier County Humane Society

151 Holliday Lane

Lewisburg, WV 24901

Phone: 304-645-4775

Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association

1248 Greenbrier St.

Charleston, WV 25311

Phone: 304-342-1576

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting: www.DisasterAssistance.gov; the flood pages at www.WVflood.com; fema.gov/disaster/4273; twitter.com/femaregion3; and fema.gov/blog.

Pets displaced by disaster need forever homes

FEMA In Close Coordination with the State of West Virginia As Severe Weather Continues

PHILADELPHIA – FEMA Region III is deploying an Incident Management Assistance Team and Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) teams to West Virginia to provide support and guidance on the Federal Disaster Declaration Process and PDAs in response to current flooding and severe weather.

These teams will participate in joint PDAs with the State of West Virginia, local officials, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to assess damages and the impact to communities. PDAs, which are an information gathering process, are the first step in helping a governor determine whether the scope of damage is beyond what the state is capable of handling and if additional assistance is necessary.

Information is jointly compiled and reviewed by the state, at which point, the state may decide that a request for federal assistance is warranted. The PDAs will include Clay, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Roane, Webster, and other counties.

FEMA Region III and our partners at the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) want to encourage individuals and families to take steps to be safe during severe weather and flooding events. If drivers encounter water on roadways, turn around, don’t drown.

Residents in potentially affected areas should continue to monitor local radio or television stations for updated emergency information, and follow the instructions of state, local, and tribal officials. If you are in need of emergency assistance, please dial 9-1-1.

When severe weather hits, the first responders are local emergency and public works personnel, volunteers, humanitarian organizations, and numerous private interest groups. The individuals within these organizations provide emergency assistance to protect the public’s health and safety and services to meet immediate needs. For additional safety information, check with your local officials and media sources through social and traditional media accounts.

To learn more about what to do before, during and after severe weather, visit www.Ready.gov.

FEMA’s support of State and Local response and recovery operations are in direct accordance with the Robert T. Stafford Act. For additional information on flood preparedness, visit www.fema.gov/ or www.dhsem.wv.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. 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.

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FEMA In Close Coordination with the State of West Virginia As Severe Weather Continues

High Water Mark Event Addresses Past, Future of Flood Risk

PHILADELPHIA – On Thursday, June 23, 2016 the City of Richmond, Virginia unveiled a High Water Mark at Pony Pasture Rapids Park. The marks, also established at Brown’s Island and Great Shiplock Park, show areas where flood water has risen in the past in an effort to raise awareness of flooding and encourage individuals to consider their risk.

“Whether it is a hurricane or a flood, it only takes one storm to significantly impact our communities,” stated FEMA Region III Regional Administrator MaryAnn Tierney. “The High Water Mark campaign highlights for us that by being prepared for these events, we can reduce their impact on us and make our communities safer for all.”

The High Water Mark Campaign represents a partnership between FEMA’s High Water Mark Campaign program, the Region III office, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District, the Virginia Silver Jackets, and others to encourage flood awareness and steps individuals, families, and communities should take to protect themselves against future flooding events.

“Flooding is the most prevalent natural disaster in Virginia and we know that many are under-insured against floods,” said VDEM State Coordinator Dr. Jeffrey Stern. “Our goal is to increase preparedness in flood-prone communities. These signs are a constant reminder that major flooding can occur in the Commonwealth and should prompt individuals and businesses to take action, obtain flood insurance and prepare.”

The High Water Mark Campaign is a part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) which seeks to increase local communities’ awareness of flooding and flood risks. In addition to signs marking historic flood levels, the campaign seeks to promote continued education and awareness of flooding and to encourage communities to take steps to mitigate their risks. FloodSmart.gov has information on risk and insurance options to help individuals make the best decision for them and their families.

FEMA and VDEM encourage individuals, families and communities to prepare for disasters and take steps to protect themselves from hazards such as floods. More information on the High Water Mark Campaign may be found at http://www.fema.gov/high-water-mark-initiative.

Visit Ready.gov and www.vaemergency.gov for information on flooding and other hazards as well as preparedness information.

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High Water Mark Event Addresses Past, Future of Flood Risk

Severe Weather Wednesday: Get Ready Now

CHICAGO – With a threatening Wednesday forecast for most of the Great Lakes Region that includes severe storms, heavy rains, strong winds and the possibility of tornadoes, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region V encourages everyone to get prepared.

“Summer has begun, and with it, the heightened risk of severe storms,” said FEMA Region V Administrator Andrew Velasquez III. “Now is the time to make sure your family knows what to do to stay safe, and verify your mobile phone is enabled to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts to warn you of extreme weather and other emergencies in your area.”

Individuals should follow the instructions of state and local officials and listen to local radio or TV stations for updated emergency information related to this storm system. Purchasing a weather radio for your home is another way to ensure that you receive critical warning information. If a warning is issued, get indoors, and move to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls.

Find valuable tips to help you prepare for severe storms at http://www.ready.gov/severe-weather and download the free FEMA app, available for your Android, Apple or Blackberry device. Visit the site or download the app today so you have the information you need to prepare for severe weather.

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.

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Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, 312-408-4455

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Severe Weather Wednesday: Get Ready Now

Aging Fire Hoses in Upstate New York Fire House Replaced By Federal Grant

NEW YORK — “We normally carry 1,000 feet of two and one-half-inch hose on each of our two engines and our ladder truck. But we are no longer able to do it and that’s not safe,” said Fire Chief Dan Smith of the Hornell, New York Fire Department.

“We used to have 3,250 feet of usable hose,” he said, “but we’re now down to 2,500 feet. The trouble is that we bought this hose, which is expensive, in the 1960s. It’s aging and it must comply with the requirements of the National Fire Protection Association or be taken out of service, Chief Smith explained.

“What’s worse,” he said, “we’ve had a number of hose lines burst while we’re on the job.”

But the chief was most pleased when he received confirmation this week that his department will receive an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) in the amount of $19,315.00 to purchase 3,250 feet of new hose and an assortment of new nozzles. With the local share of $965.00, the grant totals $20,280.00.

The AFG program is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Dale McShine, the director of FEMA Region II’s Grants and Preparedness Division, which awarded the grant, said she was “glad to have been able to be a part of providing such critical elements of a firefighter’s job.”

The Hornell Fire Department has 23 full-time paid firefighters, all of whom are cross-trained as emergency medical technicians. The department responds to more than 3,575 calls per year, many of which are for emergency medical services, for which the department is amply equipped with advanced life support equipment, including cardiac monitors.

Hornell’s Mayor Sean Hogan is delighted with FEMA’s grant. “That hose was nearly 40 years old,” he said, “and it simply had to be replaced.” If it weren’t for the AFG, he added, “We would have to add almost one percent to our local tax budget to cover the cost, which would be a hefty hit.” The mayor went on to say that if it were not for programs like to the AFG, local budgeting can become a “pretty catch-as-catch-can process.”

Located near the Finger Lakes, some 120 miles southeast of Buffalo, Hornell is a rural community of 46 square miles with 12,700 residents. The department also provides fire suppression and mutual aid services to an additional population of 36,280 in neighboring towns and villages.

Chief Smith says that he places a good deal of emphasis on fire prevention through house and apartment inspections, and promoting smoke detectors at schools and elsewhere. He adds that the department also provides smoke detectors to the largest at-risk group of residents over 65. His firefighters install these detectors and offer safety tips about falling, burns, and the like.

“You can never point to a fire or an accident you’ve prevented,” Chief Smith observes, “but it’s certainly true that an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.”

Tania Hedlund, FEMA’s Region II Branch Chief for Grants reports that in fiscal year 2014, the Region awarded 273 grants, totaling $95.6 million.

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Aging Fire Hoses in Upstate New York Fire House Replaced By Federal Grant

FEMA Rental Assistance May Be an Option for Texas Survivors

AUSTIN, Texas – Homeowners and renters in four Texas counties affected by the storms and flooding April 17-24 may be eligible to receive rental assistance from FEMA. The funds are meant to help pay for a clean and safe place for them to stay while making repairs or rebuilding their storm-damaged home.

First, file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance company. Talk to your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance agent about additional living expenses (ALE) coverage as part of your policy that may assist in relocating to a temporary residence.
Register for FEMA assistance. If you are insured, you will need to submit your settlement documents for review before FEMA can determine your eligibility status. If your policy does not include ALE, or you exhaust this coverage and your home remains uninhabitable, you may be eligible for rental assistance from FEMA.
An inspector may arrange a visit to your damaged home or apartment to determine disaster losses. If the inspector determines your home is uninhabitable, you may be offered an option of initial rental assistance to help you find another home to live in while you repair or rebuild.
Find available rental property. The FEMA Housing Portal provides resources for individuals and families who are displaced by a disaster. The portal consolidates resources of available rental property throughout the United States. Rental resources are identified and provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Veterans Administration, private organizations and individuals.

Survivors in Fayette, Grimes, Harris and Parker counties can register for FEMA assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362, TTY 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

Landlords with available rental properties can send an email to FEMA-Housing@fema.dhs.gov. The email should include your contact name, the state that the property is located in, and your phone number.

For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage at fema.gov/disaster/4269 , Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

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FEMA Rental Assistance May Be an Option for Texas Survivors

Help Remains After Quitman County Disaster Recovery Center Closes

RIDGELAND, Miss. –The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today that the Quitman County Disaster Recovery Center at the Marks Fire Department in Marks will close permanently Wednesday, April 27, at

6 p.m. However, disaster survivor assistance teams continue to canvass the area with information on available assistance, and survivors can still call the FEMA helpline.

Area residents also may continue to visit nearby centers in Bolivar and Washington counties. Disaster recovery centers are open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; closed Sunday.

Centers are located at:

Bolivar County

Willard R. Samuel Jr. Gymnasium

700 N. Chrisman Ave.

Cleveland, MS 38732

Washington County

Washington County Convention Center

1040 South Raceway Road

Greenville, MS 38703

Anyone affected by the severe storms and flooding in a designated county may visit any of the centers. Survivors can locate the nearest center by visiting fema.gov/drc or by calling the FEMA helpline.

Many services available at disaster recovery centers are also available by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Survivors with questions regarding the application or the appeals process, or who need to register for assistance, may visit online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone (voice, 711 or relay service) at 800-621-3362. (TTY users should call 800-462-7585.) The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

Survivors who require a reasonable accommodation (ASL interpreting, Braille, Large Print, etc.) while visiting a disaster recovery center may call the appropriate helpline number above.

Survivors also can use the helpline to:

Ask questions about a letter from FEMA.
Learn how to appeal a FEMA decision. 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 if they want to discuss their application.

For the latest information on Mississippi disaster recovery operations, go online to msema.org and fema.gov/disaster/4268.

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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). If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is the federal government’s primary source of money to help business of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters rebuild and recover after a disaster. SBA low interest disaster loans repair and replace property losses not fully compensated by insurance and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

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Help Remains After Quitman County Disaster Recovery Center Closes

Several Disaster Recovery Centers Will No Longer Be Open Sundays, But Help Remains for Louisiana Disaster Survivors

BATON ROUGE, La – All but eight disaster recovery centers will not be open on Sundays beginning April 17, but help will still be available for Louisiana disaster survivors every day.

The following centers will remain open seven days a week:

Monroe Civic Center 401 Lea Joyner Expressway Monroe, La.	Sheriff’s Office of Community Services 726 3rd Street Natchitoches, La.
National Guard Pavilion RSA 62589 Holloway Road Roseland, La.	Franklin Parish Public Works Building 8327 Highway 17 Winnsboro, La.
Dr. Charles Garrett Community Center 182 Industrial Drive Jonesboro, La.	Health Unit Building 53 N. 2nd Street Greensburg, La.
Kinder Fire Department 808 2nd Ave. Kinder, La.	Old Martin Junior High School 825 Highway 8 Sicily Island, La.

Hours of operation remain 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday for all centers. Those remaining open on Sundays will have noon to 5 p.m. hours. Survivors may visit FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or call 800-621-3362 to locate centers near them.

Survivors can register for disaster assistance or ask questions on Sundays by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Those who use 711/VRS can call 800-621-3362. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. They can also register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

Call the helpline to:

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 processing delays.
Receive information about FEMA home inspections.
Get other questions answered about federal disaster assistance.

FEMA advises applicants to have their nine-digit FEMA registration number on hand when they call. They also will be asked to verify their identity if they want access to their information

All disaster recovery centers are accessible and equipped with tools to accommodate disaster survivors who need disability-related communication aids. Each disaster recovery center has assistive technologies for people with disabilities. To arrange to have an ASL interpreter at the DRC when you visit, call 225-382-1739.

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We urge everyone to continue to use caution in areas where floodwaters remain. Monitor DOTD’s www.511la.org website for updated road closure information. Look for advisories from your local authorities and emergency managers. You can find the latest information on the state’s response at www.emergency.la.gov. GOHSEP also provides information on Facebook and Twitter. You can receive emergency alerts on most smartphones and tablets by downloading the new Alert FM App. It is free for basic service. You can also download the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide and find other information at www.getagameplan.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. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 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 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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Several Disaster Recovery Centers Will No Longer Be Open Sundays, But Help Remains for Louisiana Disaster Survivors

Help Remains After Tunica Recovery Center Closes

JACKSON, Miss. – The disaster recovery center operated by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Tunica County will close permanently Saturday, April 16, at 6 p.m., and recovery center hours are changing at all other centers beginning Saturday, April 16.

Disaster survivor assistance teams continue to canvass flood-affected areas throughout Mississippi with information on available assistance. Area residents may still call the FEMA helpline listed below or visit nearby centers.

Disaster recovery centers are open this week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Beginning Saturday, April 16, center hours will be Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.,

Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Sunday

Centers are located at:

Bolivar County

Willard R. Samuel Jr. Gymnasium

700 N. Chrisman Ave.

Cleveland, MS 38732

Coahoma County (Closed Saturday, April 16, and Sunday, April 17, for a local event)

506 E. Second St.

Clarksdale, MS 38614

Quitman County

Marks Fire Department

108 W. Main St.

Marks, MS 38646

Tunica County

G.W. Henderson Senior Recreation Center

1165 Abbay Drive

Tunica, MS 38676

Washington County

Washington County Convention Center

1040 South Raceway Road

Greenville, MS 38703

Anyone affected by the storms and flooding in a designated county may visit any of the centers. Survivors can locate the nearest center by visiting fema.gov/drc or by calling the FEMA helpline.

Many services available at disaster recovery centers are also available by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Survivors with questions regarding the application or the appeals process, or who need to register for assistance, may visit online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone (voice, 711 or relay service) at 800-621-3362. (TTY users should call 800-462-7585.) The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

If you require a reasonable accommodation (ASL interpreting, Braille Large Print, etc.) while visiting a disaster recovery center, call the appropriate Helpline number above.

Survivors also can use the helpline to:

Ask questions about a letter from FEMA.
Learn how to appeal a FEMA decision. 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 if they want to discuss their application.

For the latest information on Mississippi disaster recovery operations, go online to msema.org and fema.gov/disaster/4268.

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The U.S. Small Business Administration 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.

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. People who are referred to SBA by FEMA will be contacted by SBA and provided options for the application process. Completed applications must be submitted to SBA officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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Help Remains After Tunica Recovery Center Closes

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