PEARL, Miss. – A Disaster Recovery Center is now open in Tunica County to provide assistance to survivors of the severe storms and flooding that began March 9, 2016.

Recovery centers are run jointly by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Representatives of state, federal and voluntary agencies are available in the centers to explain the various programs designed to help survivors recover.

The Tunica County center is located at the G.W. Henderson Senior Recreation Center, 1165 Abbay Dr., Tunica, MS 38676.

The center is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays until further notice. Centers are now open at:

Bolivar County                                                          Coahoma County

Willard R. Samuels Jr. Gymnasium                            Clarksdale Civic Center

700 N. Chrisman Ave.                                    `           506 E. Second St. 700

Cleveland, MS 38732                                                 Clarksdale, MS 38614

Forrest County                                                          Greene County

Forrest County Community Shelter facility                  McLain Town Office

946 Sullivan Dr.                                                          106 Church Ave.

Hattiesburg, MS 39401                                               McLain, MS 39456

Quitman County                                                       Tunica County         

Marks Fire Department                                               G.W. Henderson Senior Recreation Center   

108 W. Main St.                                                          1165 Abbay Dr.

Marks, MS 38646                                                        Tunica, MS 38676 

Washington County

1040 S. Raceway Road

Greenville, MS 38701

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.

If possible, survivors with disaster-related losses are encouraged to register for assistance before going to the disaster recovery center by calling FEMA’s helpline at 800-621-3362, which is video relay services accessible. Survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or who have difficulty speaking may call TTY 800-462-7585. Helpline hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week until further notice. Survivors can also register online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Homeowners, renters and business owners can apply for low-interest disaster loans at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. SBA representatives are available at the disaster recovery centers to answer questions and help survivors complete their disaster loan applications. Questions can also be answered by calling the SBA disaster customer service center at 800-659-2955 or (TTY) 800-877-8339 for the deaf or hard of hearing, or by visiting sba.gov/disaster.

For more information on Mississippi’s flood recovery, go to fema.gov/disaster/4268 or visit the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency site at msema.org.

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain,and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

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

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who are referred to SBA must submit the loan application to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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.

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Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Tunica County

DUPONT, Wash. – Federal grants to help Washington recover from the state’s worst wildfire season have topped $3.5 million, according to officials with the Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division (EMD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

 

“FEMA grants offer significant financial relief for hard-hit communities in Washington,” said State Coordinating Officer Kurt Hardin of EMD. “From the emergency response through economic recovery, we’re all working together to get as much help as possible.”

 

The funding comes through FEMA’s Public Assistance program, which reimburses state and local governments, federally recognized tribes and certain nonprofit organizations for 75 percent of eligible disaster-related expenses. Grants may cover the costs of emergency protective measures, debris removal and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged infrastructure.

 

“Although the dollars go to governments and nonprofits after a disaster, they benefit everyone in a community,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Thomas Dargan of FEMA. “The money helps pay for efforts to protect people and property, clean up neighborhoods, and repair roads and bridges.”

 

Federal assistance provided to date includes:

  • $1.4 millionPublic Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County—to restore power to 9,000 customers.

  • $349,000—Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County—to repair a mile-long transmission line and restore power to the Slide Ridge area

  • $303,000Okanogan County Electric Cooperative—to repair high-voltage power lines and replace 38 burned poles and seven damaged transformers.

  • $188,000Public Utility District No. 1 of Okanogan County—to repair a 6.5-mile section of high-voltage lines and a fiber optic network for Loup Loup.

  • $163,000Chelan County—for emergency measures and services performed by first responders and support staff who set up roadblocks, manned a 911 call center, and evacuated and sheltered people and pets.

  • $139,000Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County—to repair 11 miles of power lines and fiber optic cables between Chelan Falls and Wells Dam in Chelan County.

  • $106,000Lake Chelan Reclamation District—to repair district-owned infrastructure that supports a mile-long power line owned by the public utility.

  • $103,000Okanogan County—to repair asphalt surface on 43 roadways damaged by a mudslide and heavy traffic from firefighting equipment.

  • $98,000Ferry County—for emergency measures and services performed by first responders, mainly evacuations and efforts in support of fire crews, base camps, marine patrols, emergency medical care, and search-and-rescue operations.

  • $90,000Okanogan County—to clear 3,440 cubic yards of disaster-related debris that posed a threat to public health and safety.

The Oct. 20, 2015, major disaster declaration for the summer wildfires and mudslides made FEMA Public Assistance available to eligible applicants in eight counties: Chelan, Ferry, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Whatcom and Yakima; as well as the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. EMD and FEMA officials have identified 39 eligible applicants.                             

Officials estimate FEMA Public Assistance grants may eventually total as much as $27 million for the 2015 wildfires.

Other EMD and FEMA efforts include the following programs and assistance:

  • After both the 2014 and 2015 wildfire seasons, EMD and FEMA formed a multijurisdictional team, called the Erosion Threat Assessment/Reduction Team, to evaluate the threat of flooding, debris flows and erosion in affected counties. Agencies and landowners used the team’s evaluation and recommendations to help prioritize and implement protective measures to address the threat.

  • While wildfires burned prior to the declaration, FEMA approved 12 Fire Management Assistance Grants in Washington to help defray fire-suppression costs for tribal, state and local jurisdictions.

  • The disaster declaration made further funding available through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which means the state will receive another reserve of money for mitigation measures, equal to 20 percent of total Public Assistance grants awarded. That provision will help build stronger and safer communities in Washington.

As with all federal funding, FEMA considers the environmental impact of every project and must ensure compliance with all applicable federal, tribal, state and local laws.

 

More information about the Public Assistance program is available on the FEMA website at

www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit

and on the Washington EMD website at

http://mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division/disaster-assistance/public-assistance

.

 

Additional information on the federal response to the 2015 wildfire disaster, including funds obligated, is available at

www.fema.gov/disaster/4243

.

Originally posted here: 

Wildfire Recovery Assistance for Washington Reaches $3.5 Million from FEMA

BATON ROUGE, La. – In the wake of a disaster, the people of Louisiana have always come together with compassion and courage to ask how they can help survivors.

Soon after a disaster people come forward to assist those in need. However, people often don’t realize there is still a great need a few weeks after the disaster. Currently, there is a shortage of volunteers, particularly in northern Louisiana.

If anyone would like to volunteer to help Louisiana disaster survivors, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) suggests working through a local voluntary organization.  Debris removal and rebuilding are two ways that volunteers can help.

Those interested in volunteering can contact Volunteer Louisiana online at www.volunteerlouisiana.gov or email nauck@crt.la.gov and be put in touch with a voluntary group in need. Volunteer Louisiana is a state-run organization.

Residents can learn more about volunteering and its benefits by viewing a video at http://www.fema.gov/media-libary/assets/video/112533.

If you are unable to volunteer your time or skills, recovery officials suggest making a donation to an organization involved in disaster recovery as an effective and efficient way of contributing.

Cash contributions to voluntary organizations make good sense for a number of reasons:

  • Financial contributions help ensure a steady flow of important services to survivors.
  • Local organizations spend the money in the local affected community, accelerating its economic recovery.
  • Cash donations, rather than unsolicited donated goods, avoid the complicated, costly and time-consuming process of collecting, transporting and distributing these goods.
  • Cash donations to recognized relief organizations are tax-deductible.

Volunteering and donating through existing channels, and making responsible decisions that do not hinder the recovery, is the best way to be of service.

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We urge everyone to continue to use caution in areas where floodwaters remain. Monitor the Department of Transportation and Development’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.

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 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 Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800)877-8339.

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Volunteers Needed in Louisiana for Disaster Recovery

Baton Rouge, La. – Word of mouth is a powerful way to spread news. Amazing as it may seem, some people are so busy with their recovery from the March severe storms and floods, they may not have heard about federal help. Spread the word that the first step toward getting recovery assistance is to register with FEMA.

You could be the one to bring this important message to someone you know, perhaps a friend, neighbor, coworker, family member or acquaintance. Affected individuals, households and communities in Louisiana will be able to recover faster and stronger.

Damage caused by the storms and floods may not be apparent right now. By registering with FEMA, folks may be able to get help if they find damage later.

Let your neighbors know they may be eligible for grants for home repairs, or to replace personal property damaged by the flooding that started March 8 and continues. These grants do not have to be repaid.

Even if your parish has not been designated a disaster area, you can still register now and get help later if the parish is added to the federal disaster declaration.

For information call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov or www.fema.gov/disaster/4263. Disaster survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585 to register. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service or require accommodations while visiting a center may call 800-621-3362. All disaster recovery centers are accessible and equipped with tools to accommodate disaster survivors who need disability-related communication aids.

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We urge everyone to continue to use caution in areas where floodwaters remain. Monitor the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’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.

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 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 Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800)877-8339.

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Louisiana Survivors: Share Disaster Recovery Information with Friends and Neighbors

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – Federal assistance is being offered to help Arkansas communities rebuild infrastructure to higher, more disaster-resistant standards and state officials are encouraging local governments to take advantage of that funding.

The assistance to communities is part of the aid that became available following the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding Dec. 26, 2015 to Jan. 22, 2016.

“Generally, the federal Public Assistance program restores disaster damaged infrastructure to pre-disaster conditions,” said John Long, federal coordinating officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “But when cost effective and technically feasible, it makes sense to rebuild to higher standards that can prevent future loss. FEMA makes available the funds to do so.”

FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides federal funds to reimburse a minimum of 75 percent of the costs for removing debris, conducting emergency protective measures and repairing levees, roads, bridges, public utilities, water control facilities, public buildings and parks. Mitigation funding may be considered in each project category.

Eligible applicants may include:

  • state agencies
  • local and county governments
  • private nonprofit organizations that own or operate facilities that provide essential government-type services

“Studies show that every $1 paid toward mitigation saves an average of $4 in future disaster-related costs,” said State Coordinating Officer Scott Bass of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management Agency. “By adding mitigation money to repair costs, our goal is to reduce or eliminate damages from future disasters.”

As part of the process for applying for federal assistance, experts from ADEM and FEMA help identify projects that will qualify for the special mitigation program. Officials urge applicants to take advantage of the funds.

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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.

Source: 

Communities Urged to Apply for Aid to Rebuild Disaster-Resistant Infrastructure

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Louisiana to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms and flooding beginning on March 8, 2016, and continuing.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Bossier, Claiborne, Grant, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, and Webster parishes.  Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.     

The President’s action makes federal funding available to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by a severe storms and flooding in the Bossier, Claiborne, Grant, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, and Webster parishes.

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

Gerard M. Stolar has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Stolar said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance tomorrow 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. 

Follow FEMA online at http://blog.fema.gov, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.  The social media links provided are for reference only. 

FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications. 

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.

Originally posted here: 

President Declares Major Disaster for Lousiana

DUPONT, Wash. – Washington suffered its worst wildfire season in state history in 2015. Raging fires burned more than one million acres of public and private lands. After two straight years of record-breaking wildfires, vast areas of the state face a much greater risk of flash flooding, debris flow and mudslides. But a team effort by all levels of government aims to reduce those threats to public safety.

The team—called the Erosion Threat Assessment/Reduction Team (ETART)—was formed by the Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division (EMD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after the Carlton Complex Fire of 2014. A new ETART was formed in October 2015 following the federal disaster declaration for the 2015 wildfires.

ETART participants include EMD, FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Weather Service, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Washington State Conservation Commission, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the Spokane, Okanagan and Whatcom conservation districts, and many others.

Led by the Okanogan Conservation District, ETART members measured soil quality, assessed watershed changes, identified downstream risks and developed recommendations to treat burned state, tribal and private lands.

“Without vegetation to soak up rainwater on charred mountainsides, flash floods and debris flows may occur after a drizzle or a downpour,” said Anna Daggett, FEMA’s ETART coordinator. “ETART brings together partners to collaborate on ways to reduce the vulnerability of those downstream homes, businesses and communities.”

Besides seeding, erosion control measures may include debris racks, temporary berms, low-water crossings and sediment retention basins. Other suggestions may include bigger culverts, more rain gauges and warning signs, and improved road drainage systems.

While public health and safety remains the top priority, other values at risk include property, natural resources, fish and wildlife habitats, as well as cultural and heritage sites.

“ETART addresses post-fire dangers and promotes collective action,” said Gary Urbas, EMD’s ETART coordinator. “With experienced partners at the table, we can assess and prioritize projects, then identify potential funding streams to fit each project based on scale, location and other criteria, which may lead to a faster and more cost-effective solution.”

Since the major disaster declaration resulting from wildfire and mudslide damages that occurred Aug. 9 to Sept. 10, 2015, FEMA has obligated more than $2.9 million in Public Assistance grants to

Washington. Those funds reimburse eligible applicants in Chelan, Ferry, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Whatcom and Yakima counties, as well as the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, for at least 75 percent of the costs for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair or restoration of disaster-damaged infrastructure.

After the 2014 Carlton Complex Fire, FEMA provided $2.4 million in Public Assistance grants specifically for ETART-identified projects. Those grants funded erosion control measures that reduced the effects of the 2015 wildfires—such as installing straw wattles, clearing culverts and ditches of debris, shoring up breached pond dams, and seeding and mulching burned lands.

FEMA also offers fire suppression grants, firefighter assistance grants, Hazard Mitigation Grants and National Fire Academy Educational Programs.

Affected jurisdictions, landowners and business owners continue to submit requests for grants, disaster loans, goods, services and technical assistance from local, state and federal sources to recover from the wildfires, protect the watersheds or reduce the risks associated with flooding and other natural hazards.

ETART recently issued its final report, which details its methodology, assessments, debris-flow model maps, activities and recommendations. Completed activities include:

  • Compiled and shared multi-agency risk assessments across jurisdictions through a public file-sharing site.

  • Developed and disseminated an interagency program guide to assist jurisdictions seeking assistance.

  • Transitioned ETART to a long-term standing committee to address threats, improve planning, and resolve policy and coordination issues that may thwart successful response and recovery efforts related to past fires and potential future events.

The “2015 Washington Wildfires Erosion Threat Assessment/Reduction Team Final Report” is available at https://data.femadata.com/Region10/Disasters/DR4243/ETART/Reports/. Visitors to this site may also access “Before, During and After a Wildfire Coordination Guide” developed by ETART.

More information about the PA program is available at www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit and on the Washington EMD website at http://mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division/disaster-assistance/public-assistance.

Additional information regarding the federal response to the 2015 wildfire disaster, including funds obligated, is available at www.fema.gov/disaster/4243.

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Multiagency Team Addresses Post-Wildfire Dangers in Eastern Washington

DUPONT, Wash. – More than $1.4 million has been awarded to the Chelan County Public Utility District No. 1 to help reimburse the utility for costs to restore power to thousands of residents during the summer 2015 wildfires, according to officials from the Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division (EMD) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The utility district will receive $1,459,947 from FEMA for reimbursement of expenses to restore power to 9,000 customers. The grant helps cover costs for replacing burned poles, damaged transformers, utility lines and miles of fiber optic line. The money will also help pay the cost of overtime for employees who worked around the clock to restore service.

“The utility district worked tirelessly to meet the needs of its customers during the wildfires,” said State Coordinating Officer Kurt Hardin of EMD. “This federal grant will help the district recover some of the enormous costs it incurred in doing so.”

The grant comes from FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program, which reimburse the state and state agencies, local and tribal governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations for their eligible expenses for disaster-related response and recovery.

Although funds go to government entities and nonprofits, the PA program is intended to benefit everyone — communities, cities and states. PA dollars help pay for efforts to keep residents and property safe during an event and clean up communities of disaster-related debris. They also help put utilities, roads and bridges, public parks and other infrastructure back in order after the disaster.

The disaster declaration for the Aug. 9 to Sept. 10, 2015, wildfires makes PA grants available to eligible applicants in Chelan, Ferry, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Whatcom and Yakima counties and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

“FEMA has been working closely with EMD since the wildfire outbreak this summer, and our commitment to Washington’s recovery remains strong,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Thomas Dargan of FEMA. “These Public Assistance funds are a demonstration of that commitment.”

Under the PA program, FEMA reimburses applicants for 75 percent of eligible expenses, while the other 25 percent is the nonfederal share. The federal portion is paid directly to the state, which then makes disbursements to the local and tribal jurisdictions and organizations that incurred costs.

More information about the PA program is available at www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit and on the Washington EMD website at http://mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division/.

Information regarding the federal response to the summer wildfires, including funds obligated, is available at www.fema.gov/disaster/4243.

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FEMA Awards $1.4 Million to Chelan County Public Utility District for Wildfire Assistance

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – More than $1 million in aid to date is helping the residents of 11 Arkansas counties recover from the severe storms, Dec. 26 – Jan. 22, 2016.

Aid is still available to residents of Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Faulkner, Jackson, Jefferson, Lee, Little River, Perry, Sebastian and Sevier counties who suffered disaster-related damage. They are encouraged to register for assistance with FEMA before the April 5, 2016 deadline.

According to FEMA and the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, 171 persons have been approved for disaster assistance as of close of business Feb. 29, 2016.

That assistance includes $922,237 in housing aid to help homeowners and renters:

  • Rent temporary housing for a limited period of time;
  • Repair damage from the disaster to a homeowner’s primary residence that is not covered by insurance; and
  • Help replace homes destroyed in the disaster.

The assistance also includes $77,839 to help pay for:

  • Disaster-related medical and dental costs;
  • Disaster-related funeral and burial costs;
  • Clothing, household items, tools required for work and necessary educational materials;
  • Clean-up items;
  • Disaster-damaged vehicles;
  • Moving and storage expenses related to the disaster; and
  • Other necessary expenses or serious needs as determined by FEMA.

Also, $431,200 in low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofit organizations has been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

To register for assistance:

  • Call 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA). If you are deaf, hard-of-hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.
  • Go to www.disasterassistance.gov.

The toll free lines operate from 7 a.m.to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to help with residential and business losses not covered by insurance. 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. Persons with speech disability, are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call TTY (800) 877-8339.

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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 Assistance Tops $1 Million for Arkansas Recovery

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – Joint federal/state disaster recovery centers are opening Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016 in Faulkner, Lee and Sevier counties to help those whose homes or businesses were affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding Dec. 26, 2015 – Jan. 22, 2016.

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. Those visiting the centers can talk to experts on ways to prevent future disaster damage and take home free publications on mitigation topics.

The centers are located:

Faulkner County
Howard Johnson – Conference Room
1090 Skyline Drive
Conway, AR 72032

Lee County
Community Center
593 Hwy. 243
Marinanna, AR 72360

Sevier County
County Courthouse
115 N. 3rd St.
DeQueen, AR 71832

Hours at the centers are from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sundays until further notice.

Those seeking disaster assistance should register with FEMA before going to a recovery center. To do so:

  • Call 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- and hearing-impaired. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.
  • Go to www.disasterassistance.gov.

The toll free lines operate from 7 a.m.to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

Each disaster recovery center has assistive technologies for people with disabilities. ASL interpreters are available at the DRCs by calling 1-800-621-3362.

Disaster aid 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 U.S. 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.

Federal disaster assistance is available to eligible residents of Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Faulkner, Jackson, Jefferson, Lee, Little River, Perry, Sebastian and Sevier counties. Residents of those counties may visit any DRC.

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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.

See original article here: 

Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Faulkner, Lee and Sevier Counties

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