Disaster Recovery Centers Open in East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Livingston and St. Landry Parishes

BATON ROUGE, La. – Disaster recovery centers will open Thursday, Aug. 25, in East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Livingston and St. Landry parishes to help Louisiana flood survivors. The centers are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday until further notice.

The disaster recovery centers are located at the following addresses:

St. Louis King of France Catholic Church

2121 N. Sherwood Forest Dr.

Baton Rouge, La. 70815

Early Learning Center Gym

9414 Plank Rd.

Clinton, La. 70772

Word Ministries

1960 W. Laurel Ave.

Eunice, La. 70535

There also are two mobile disaster recovery centers:

St. Joseph Catholic Church

15710 Highway 16

French Settlement, La. 70733

City of Central Parking Lot

13421 Hooper Rd.

Central, La. 70818

 

Survivors may locate other centers near them at fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362.

To register, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages and phone lines are open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

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. 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.

Representatives from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration, volunteer groups and other agencies are at the center to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest disaster loans for businesses, private nonprofits, homeowners and renters. They can also help survivors apply for federal disaster assistance.

Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams are canvassing many affected areas, and are able to register people for FEMA assistance if needed. Sometimes these teams will remain in certain locations convenient to the community, such as a library or mayor’s office. When residents require further assistance the teams may refer them to a disaster recovery center nearby.

It is not necessary to visit a center to register for and receive federal disaster assistance. If possible, survivors should register with FEMA before visiting a recovery center.

Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA are available for businesses of all sizes including landlords, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters. Disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries.

For more information, applicants may contact the SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or visiting the SBA’s website at sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

For information call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov or www.fema.gov/disaster/4263.

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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.

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 website at SBA.gov/disaster Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

 

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Disaster Recovery Centers Open in East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Livingston and St. Landry Parishes

Louisiana Survivors Can Get FEMA Rebuilding Advice

Baton Rouge, La. — As Louisianans repair or rebuild their homes damaged by August floods, FEMA and local hardware and home improvement stores have teamed up to provide free information, tips and literature on making homes stronger and safer.

FEMA mitigation specialists will be on hand to provide information at area Home Depots from  Aug. 25 through Sept. 10. They will be available to answer questions and offer home improvement tips and proven methods to prevent and lessen damage from future disasters. Most of the information is geared for do-it-yourself work and general contractors.

FEMA advisors will be on hand at information centers in these stores 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

THE HOME DEPOT

Lafayette Parish
1700 NE Evangeline Thruway
Lafayette, La. 70501

East Baton Rouge Parish
8181 Airline Hwy.
Baton Rouge, La. 70815

St. Tammany Parish
40 Park Place Drive
Covington, La. 70433

Free reference booklets, in English and Spanish, with information on protecting your home from flood damage, will be available at all locations. More information about strengthening property can be found at http://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation.

Additional information on Louisiana’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4277, twitter.com/femaregion6, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA, fema.gov/blog.

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.

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 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 Can Get FEMA Rebuilding Advice

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

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

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

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

  • Utility bills from before and after the disaster.

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

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

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

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

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

If you need more information or help with completing your application, call FEMA toll-free at
800-621-3362. The line is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT, seven days a week until further notice. If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

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

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

See original article here – 

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

Every West Virginia disaster applicant has the right to appeal

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – If you registered for help from FEMA and got a letter (often called a “determination letter”), you may want to appeal the decision made regarding your application for federal assistance. Here are some tips to help you:

  • Every disaster survivor has a right to appeal. Read your letter carefully all the way through to understand FEMA’s reason for its decision. This will allow you to know exactly why to appeal. Appeals must be made in writing and sent by mail or fax to FEMA within 60 days of receiving the letter.

  • It’s important to submit insurance information. If your coverage is not enough to make essential home repairs, provide a place to stay, or replace certain contents, FEMA can review your application. But you must provide documents from your insurance company that detail your settlement. Remember also that FEMA cannot duplicate homeowners’ or renters’ insurance benefits.

    • Contact your insurance company if you need settlement documents.

  • Prove occupancy. If you’re a homeowner or renter, FEMA can reconsider you for grants if you provide documents that prove the damaged structure was your main residence. You can prove this was your main home with utility bills, a driver’s license or a copy of your lease. You cannot receive federal disaster assistance for secondary or vacation homes.

  • Prove ownership. If you can prove you own the home, FEMA can reconsider you for grants to make a structure safe, sanitary and functional. Documents you can submit to prove ownership may include mortgage or insurance documents, tax receipts or a deed. If you don’t have a deed handy, speak to your local or county officials about obtaining a copy.

  • There are many other reasons you may disagree with a decision. If you registered you should have received a booklet called “Help after a Disaster” that details how FEMA determines who’s eligible for assistance. You can also access the booklet online at www.fema.gov/help-after-disaster. The booklet lists what information you need to include when appealing.

Mail or fax appeal documents within 60 days of receiving your FEMA determination letter to the address below:

  • FEMA National Processing Service Center

        P.O. Box 10055

        Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055

  • Fax documents to 800-827-8112.

If you have any questions about your determination letter or any other disaster recovery issues you may always call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 (voice, 711 or video relay services) or 800-462-7585 (TTY). Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT seven days a week until further notice. Or you may:

West Virginia disaster survivors are reminded that the deadline to register for FEMA assistance is Wednesday, Sept 7.

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by calling the FEMA Helpline 800-621-3362 or visiting: www.DisasterAssistance.gov; the flood pages at wvflood.com; fema.gov/disaster/4273; twitter.com/femaregion3; and fema.gov/blog.

This article is from: 

Every West Virginia disaster applicant has the right to appeal

Louisiana: Keep in Touch and Update Info with FEMA to Avoid Delays

BATON ROUGE, La. –You may find yourself frequently moving if you’re a survivor of Louisiana’s recent severe storms and floods.

If you’ve had any changes to your contact information it’s important to let FEMA know so the disaster assistance process stays on track.

FEMA may need to contact you to schedule an inspection or to get additional information to help process your application. That’s why it’s important to let them know as soon as possible if you’ve moved or have a new phone number.

You may update contact information two ways:

  • Online at DisasterAssistance.gov

  • By calling 800-621-3362

    • People who use TTY may call 800-462-7585

    • Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) may call 800-621-3362.

If you had storm or flood damage in Louisiana you may also use those resources to apply for FEMA help if you haven’t done so already. Survivors in Acadia, Ascension, Avoyelles, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Livingston, Point Coupee, St. Helena, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Vermilion, Washington and West Feliciana parishes may be eligible.

It’s important to note that FEMA disaster assistance checks cannot be forwarded. If you cannot access your home address, you can request the postal service to hold your mail. You can also have the funds sent via direct deposit to your financial institution.

Residents are urged to contact their insurance company to file their flood insurance claims. For flood insurance policyholders who may have questions, FEMA has streamlined its process to better service claims and answer questions. Policyholders may call 800-621-3362 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and select Option 2. Call center staff are available to assist policyholders with information regarding their policy, offer technical flood guidance to aid in recovery, and respond to general as well as complicated questions about the NFIP. Policyholders with questions specifically about an insurance claim can be transferred to their insurance carrier for additional assistance.

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also may be available to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. The 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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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.

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 website at SBA.gov/disaster Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

This article is from:  

Louisiana: Keep in Touch and Update Info with FEMA to Avoid Delays

Update on FEMA and Federal Partners’ Support to Disaster Recovery in Louisiana Parishes Affected by Floods

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), federal partners’ and the state of Louisiana continue to work together to support relief efforts in Louisiana, to include opening Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) today.

FEMA and the State of Louisiana opened two DRCs today, and will continue to open additional centers in locations identified by the state to provide information to survivors. Three additional centers are scheduled to open on Monday. These centers bring together federal, state, and local representatives to share information and answer questions of disaster survivors. Survivors can apply for assistance at DRCs and meet face-to-face with recovery specialists. To find the nearest Disaster Recovery Center visit www.fema.gov/DRC, use the FEMA Mobile App or text DRC and your Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA).

Survivors do not need to visit a DRC to get assistance as there are multiple ways to get assistance. Forty Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in Louisiana and at shelters to address immediate and emerging needs of disaster survivors including: on-site registration, applicant status checks, on-the-spot needs assessments, and access to partners offering survivor services. Residents and business owners who sustained disaster-related losses can also call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Central Time) seven days a week until further notice.

In addition, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) opened two business recovery centers in Louisiana, one in Livingston parish and one in Tangipahoa parish. Business recovery centers provide a wide range of services to businesses impacted by the severe storms and flooding. An additional four business recovery centers will open on Monday, one in Ascension parish, two in East Baton Rouge parish, and one in Lafayette parish. SBA approved $36.4 million in low interest loans to Louisiana survivors and businesses to assist with uninsured and underinsured flood related losses.

More than 106,000 individuals and households have registered with FEMA for assistance, and more than $55 million has been approved to help survivors with temporary rental assistance, essential home repairs, and other serious disaster-related needs. Additionally, more than 25,000 National Flood Insurance policyholders have submitted claims for flood loss. FEMA has authorized and issued more than $15 million in advanced payments to NFIP policyholders in Louisiana who sustained damages by the flood providing expedited relief to disaster survivors.

Reverend David L. Myers, the director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, is traveling to Louisiana today to meet with the faith-based community. National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD) members including voluntary, non-profit and faith-based organizations are also working closely with the affected states and communities to assist with disaster survivor needs. For those looking for ways to help in the community, cash donations offer voluntary agencies flexibility in obtaining the most-needed resources and provide money to the local economy to help businesses recover.

In addition to these efforts, the federal government and other partners are providing the following support:

FEMA has more than 2,000 personnel on the ground, including six Incident Management Assistance Teams and Mobile Emergency Response Support personnel. FEMA also provided the state more than 650,000 liters of water, 812,000 meals, 20,000 cots and 42,000 blankets for distribution.

The Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS) deployed more than 445 AmeriCorps members, including FEMA Corps and AmeriCorps Disaster Response Teams, to support shelter operations, home clean-up operations, survivor call centers and disaster survivor assistance teams.

The Salvation Army deployed mobile feeding trucks to serve meals, drinks and snacks to residents affected by the flooding.

Tide Loads of Hope mobile laundry truck arrived in Baton Rouge on Friday. The mobile washing unit is collecting, washing, drying and folding laundry free of charge. An extended capacity semi-truck equipped with 32 energy efficient washers and dryers arrive in Louisiana this week. Truck location updates are available at www.twitter.com/tide.

Duracell PowerForward Truck is providing free batteries and mobile charging to those affected by the floods. Truck location updates are available at www.twitter.com/duracell.

The American Red Cross (ARC) operational priorities continue to focus on providing food, shelter and relief supplies to survivors and working closely with local authorities to assess what and where the current needs are. Approximately 3,000 people remain housed in 20 ARC community shelters. Since the flooding began last week, ARC has provided more than 39,000 overnight stays in shelters and served more than 200,000 meals and snacks with feeding partners. The Red Cross Shelter Finder app displays open Red Cross shelters and their locations on an easy to use map interface. Survivors can also find the location of the nearest shelter by texting SHELTER and their Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA). The American Red Cross activated the Safe and Well program to allow survivors to let family members know they are safe and for family members to search for loved ones.

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) deployed volunteers, equipment and resources, including four kitchens in Baton Rouge, Hammond, Lafayette and Walker. The four kitchens are staffed by SDBR volunteers from Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. Alabama SBDR is preparing for the response and will be sending volunteers and at least one shower unit.

AmeriCares deployed an emergency response team to assess health needs in impacted areas and coordinate aid shipments, including medicine, bottled water and hygiene products.

United Way of Southeast Louisiana set up a flood relief and recovery fund to accept donations to support short- and long-term efforts to provide relief and recovery to areas affected by flooding.

The National Guard activated more than 2,600 National Guardsmen to assist with emergency flood response. Guardsmen have rescued more than 19,000 residents and 2,600 pets, and continue assisting with distribution of water, meals, cots, and tarps, and providing additional security and shelter support.

Team Rubicon deployed a recon team to evaluate the flooding along the Gulf Coast. The team on the ground is connected with Louisiana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) and has identified a base of operations in Baton Rouge.

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans sent counselors, case managers, and a nurse to assist the organization’s Baton Rouge location.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) deployed team leaders and subject matter expert personnel to assist the state and local government with debris removal and flood response operations.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing technical assistance to FEMA regarding the management and disposal of white goods, household hazardous waste or other potentially hazardous materials. EPA is assisting the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality with emergency response and spill assessment needs in the flooded areas.

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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.

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, 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.

Read this article – 

Update on FEMA and Federal Partners’ Support to Disaster Recovery in Louisiana Parishes Affected by Floods

DRCs Open in East Baton Rouge, Tangipahoa and West Feliciana Parishes

BATON ROUGE, La. – Disaster recovery centers will open Sunday, August 21, in Tangipahoa and St. Helena parishes to help Louisiana flood survivors. The centers are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day until further notice.

The centers are at the following addresses:

Former Parish Tourism Building

42271 S. Morrison Blvd.

Hammond, La. 70443

 

St. Helena Environmental Health Unit

53 N. 2nd St.

Greensburg, La. 70441

 

Survivors may locate centers near them at fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. That information is also available on the FEMA mobile app. Survivors may register at any open DRC, even out of state.

To register, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA helpline. Help is available in most languages and phone lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Representatives from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), volunteer groups and other agencies are at the centers to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses. They can also help survivors apply for federal disaster assistance.

Disaster Survivor Assistance teams are canvassing many affected areas, and are able to register people for FEMA assistance if needed. Sometimes these teams will remain in certain locations convenient to the community, such as a library or mayor’s office. When residents require further assistance the teams may refer them to a disaster recovery center nearby.

It is not necessary to visit a center to register for and receive federal disaster assistance. If possible, survivors should register with FEMA before visiting a recovery center.

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. 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.

Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA are available for businesses of all sizes and landlords, private nonprofits, homeowners and renters. Disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries.

For more information, applicants may contact the SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or visiting the SBA’s website at sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

For information call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov or www.fema.gov/disaster/4263.

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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.

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 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 SBA.gov/disaster Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

 

Originally from: 

DRCs Open in East Baton Rouge, Tangipahoa and West Feliciana Parishes

Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Two Parishes for Louisiana Survivors

BATON ROUGE, La. – Disaster recovery centers will open Sunday, August 21, in Tangipahoa and St. Helena parishes to help Louisiana flood survivors. The centers are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day until further notice.

The centers are at the following addresses:

Former Parish Tourism Building

42271 S. Morrison Blvd.

Hammond, La. 70443

 

St. Helena Environmental Health Unit

53 N. 2nd St.

Greensburg, La. 70441

 

Survivors may locate centers near them at fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. That information is also available on the FEMA mobile app. Survivors may register at any open DRC, even out of state.

To register, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA helpline. Help is available in most languages and phone lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Representatives from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), volunteer groups and other agencies are at the centers to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses. They can also help survivors apply for federal disaster assistance.

Disaster Survivor Assistance teams are canvassing many affected areas, and are able to register people for FEMA assistance if needed. Sometimes these teams will remain in certain locations convenient to the community, such as a library or mayor’s office. When residents require further assistance the teams may refer them to a disaster recovery center nearby.

It is not necessary to visit a center to register for and receive federal disaster assistance. If possible, survivors should register with FEMA before visiting a recovery center.

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. 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.

Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA are available for businesses of all sizes and landlords, private nonprofits, homeowners and renters. Disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries.

For more information, applicants may contact the SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or visiting the SBA’s website at sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

For information call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov or www.fema.gov/disaster/4263.

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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.

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 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 SBA.gov/disaster Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

 

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Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Two Parishes for Louisiana Survivors

Efforts from Federal Partners Continue to Support Survivors in Louisiana

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is leading the federal government’s effort to provide assistance and support to Louisiana, in response to recent flooding.

Providing survivors with housing solutions remains a top priority and FEMA is collaborating with states and federal partners to coordinate strategies and programs to help find suitable housing for Louisiana residents displaced by flooding. Already, more than 98,000 Louisianans have registered for FEMA assistance and more than $20 million has been approved to help survivors with temporary rental assistance, essential home repairs and other serious disaster-related needs. To begin the process, FEMA continues to advise residents and business owners who sustained disaster-related losses to apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). 711 relay or Video Relay Service (VRS) are available by calling 800-621-3362 directly. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Central Time) seven days a week until further notice.

FEMA is also supporting Louisiana’s Disaster Housing Task Force to help Louisiana residents displaced by the flooding find access to housing.  FEMA activated its Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program, at the request of the state of Louisiana, to make participating hotels or motels available for eligible disaster survivors who are unable to return to their homes for an extended period of time. This program is intended to provide short-term lodging for eligible survivors who are currently residing in a personal vehicle, hotel or motel, shelter, or place of employment.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is re-allocating existing federal resources such as Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME programs to give the state and communities the flexibility to redirect millions of dollars of funding to address critical needs, including housing and services for disaster survivors toward disaster relief.

Additionally, as of today, more than 24,000 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders have submitted claims for flood loss. FEMA authorized and issued more than $4 million in advance payments to NFIP policyholders in Louisiana who sustained flood-related damages to provide expedited relief to disaster survivors.  FEMA continues advising those who would like to file a claim should call their individual insurance carrier, or go to Floodsmart.gov and review the “File Your Claim” section.

Below is a summary of additional federal actions underway to support ongoing response and recovery efforts:

FEMA has more than 1,100 personnel on the ground, including six Incident Management Assistance Teams, one Urban Search and Rescue team and Mobile Emergency Response Support personnel. Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are visiting shelters in affected areas to assist with on-site registration for survivors, provide applicant status checks, provide on-the-spot needs assessments, and identify any unmet needs. FEMA also provided the state more than 408,000 liters of water and more than 252,000 meals to distribute. FEMA and the state are conducting joint federal/state preliminary damage assessments in Assumption and St. Charles parishes over the next several days.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) opened a Business Recovery Center in Walker, Louisiana and it is opening one in Tangipahoa Parish Saturday and one in Baton Rouge on Monday. As of today, SBA issued more than 57,000 applications to homeowners and businesses.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is expediting federal assistance to provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes. HUD granted a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures and forbearance of Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured home mortgages.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services deployed two National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) Disaster Medical Assistance Teams consisting of approximately 80 NDMS members to Baton Rouge. In addition, U.S. Public Health Service commissioned corps officers and a 30-person command and control unit. They are among 200 staff deployed to support the response effort. HHS is operating a Federal Medical Station capable of housing 250 patients on the Louisiana State University campus and is providing care for 200 patients.

The U.S. Department of Transportation made $2 million in emergency relief funds immediately available through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to help repair roads and bridges in the affected areas. The funds will also help stabilize structures to prevent further damage and set up detours until permanent repairs are completed.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) deployed team leaders and subject matter expert personnel to assist the state and local government with debris removal and flood response operations. USACE also provided St. John Parish with HESCO Barriers. The state provided sand and coordinated with the National Guard for installation.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing support to the state through nutrition, farmer and rancher assistance. USDA Food and Nutrition Service approved the state’s hot foods waiver request. The waiver allows Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) recipients to purchase hot foods at authorized SNAP retailers statewide with their benefits. USDA encourages farmers, ranchers, producers, landowners and rural communities to contact their local Louisiana USDA Service Center to report damages to crops or livestock loss.

The American Red Cross (ARC) operational priorities continue to focus on providing food, shelter and relief supplies to survivors and working closely with local authorities to assess what and where the current needs are. Nearly 4,000 people remain housed in 28 ARC community shelters. Since the flooding began last week, ARC has provided more than 32,000 overnight stays in shelters and served more than 158,000 meals and snacks with feeding partners. The Red Cross Shelter Finder app displays open Red Cross shelters and their locations on an easy to use map interface. Survivors can also find the location of the nearest shelter by texting SHELTER and their Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA). The American Red Cross activated its Safe and Well program to allow survivors to let family members know they are safe and for family members to search for loved ones.

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) activated its Unaccompanied Minors Registry (UMR). Family members can go to http://umr.missingkids.org or call 1-800-THE-LOST to find unaccompanied children who may have been separated from parents or caregivers because of the floods, by entering basic information and/or a photo. 

The U.S. Northern Command activated Defense Coordinating Element to support FEMA’s Regional Response Coordination Center in Denton, Texas with Department of Defense resources. The personnel are heavily involved in assisting relief efforts on the ground.

The U.S. Coast Guard continues to support Louisiana with air and surface rescue operations.

The Louisiana National Guard has more than 3,800 Guardsmen assisting with emergency flood operations. They have rescued more than 19,000 citizens and over 2,600 pets, and have conducted operations including evacuations, search and rescue, engineering missions, aerial sling-load drops, distribution and supply of water, meals, cots, tarps, sandbags, and security and shelter support.

The Corporation for National Community Service deployed more than 330 AmeriCorps members, including FEMA Corps and AmeriCorps Disaster Response Teams, to support shelter operations, survivor call centers and disaster survivor assistance teams.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is in daily contact with local cooperators, the National Weather Service and River Forecast Centers to give status updates on streamgages and coordinate flood response efforts.

The Federal Communications Commission continues to monitor communication outages and is working closely with affected carriers to ensure services are restored.

The U.S. Department of Justice deployed personnel to assist in evacuation, deconstruction and debris removal operations in the affected areas. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency deployed specialist personnel to monitor and assess the impacts of the flood. They are maintaining close communication with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.

 

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Efforts from Federal Partners Continue to Support Survivors in Louisiana

More than $81 Million in Federal Help Flows to Texans for May-June Storms and Flooding

AUSTIN, Texas—With images of damage from the May-June storms and flooding receding into a rear view, Texas individuals, families and businesses are now shifting focus ahead on the road to recovery thanks to $81.2 million in federal assistance.

FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration recently released dollar amounts to date that point to recovery progress in the 24 designated counties approved for federal help: Austin, Bastrop, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Eastland, Fayette, Fort Bend, Grimes, Harris, Hidalgo, Hood, Kleberg, Lee, Liberty, Montgomery, Palo Pinto, Parker, San Jacinto, Stephens, Travis, Tyler, Waller and Washington.

  • Nearly $37.5 million was approved in FEMA household assistance grants for eligible applicants to repair damaged homes and pay for temporary housing.

  • An additional $6.5 million was approved to cover other essential needs including personal property, disaster-related dental and medical expenses, transportation and child care.

  • The SBA has approved $37.2 million for businesses, nonprofits, homeowners and renters for low-interest disaster loans.

Additionally, the National Flood Insurance Program has paid $107.6 million in claims to about 3,500 Texas policyholders affected by the May-June storms.

Those who have registered with FEMA for the May-June floods can get updates about their applications, learn about the appeals process or check the status of their claims online or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

For more information on this Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the May-June storms at fema.gov/disaster/4272; or survivors can visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Follow FEMA on Twitter @femaregion6.

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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.

Download fema.gov/mobile-app to locate open shelters and disaster recovery centers, receive severe weather alerts, safety tips and much more.

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More than $81 Million in Federal Help Flows to Texans for May-June Storms and Flooding

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