FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Henry’s Creek Fire

SEATTLE – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Henry’s Creek Fire burning in Bonneville County, Idaho.

FEMA Region X Regional Administrator, Kenneth D. Murphy determined that the fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Murphy approved the state of Washington’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) at 10:10 p.m. PDT on August 24, 2016.

The fire started on August 21, 2016, and had burned in excess of 57,000 acres of federal, state and private land. At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 785 homes in and around the cities of Irwin, Swan Valley and the commuty of Palisades, total population 2,000. Approximately 471 of the threatened homes are primary residences and 314 are secondary homes. The fire was also threatening the Blacktail Recreational Area, BP Energy lines, the Palisades Dam, and the Yellowstone Trout Habitat in the area. Voluntary evacuations were issued for approximately 120 people. There are seven other large fires burning uncontrolled within the state. At the time of the authorization, the fire was ten percent contained.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state of Idaho’s eligible firefighting costs for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants provide reimbursement for firefighting and life-saving efforts. They do not provide assistance to individuals, homeowners or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

Fire Management Assistance Grants are provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

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FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Henry’s Creek Fire

Replacing Lost or Damaged Documents in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. – Disasters such as the recent floods and storms commonly result in the loss of important documents, but Louisiana residents have ways to replace them. Here is a list of useful websites and telephone numbers:

SNAP Cards:

(Food Stamps): Phone: 1-888-524-3578

Website: www.dcfs.la.gov/DSNAP

Green Cards:

Phone: 800-375-5283

Website: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-green-card-granted/replace-green-card

Birth and Death Certificates:

Phone: 225-342-9500

Website: http://new.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/page/635

Louisiana Driver’s Licenses:

Phone: 888-214-5367

Website: http://omv.dps.state.la.us/

Bank Checks, ATM/Debit Cards or Safe Deposit Boxes:

Phone: 877-275-3342

Website: https://www.fdic.gov/

Credit Cards – Contact the appropriate issuing institution:

American Express: 800-327-1267

https://www.americanexpress.com/us/content/help/lost-stolen-card.html

Discover: 800-347-2683

https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/help-center/

MasterCard: 800-627-8372

https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/consumers/get-support.html

Visa: 800-847-2911

https://usa.visa.com/support/consumer/lost-stolen-card.html

Credit Reports: Equifax, Experian or TransUnion

Phone: 877-322-8228

Website: https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action

Social Security Cards:

Phone: 800-772-1213

Website: https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/

Fraud Alerts or a Credit Freeze:

Website: http://www.fightidentitytheft.com/security_freeze_louisiana.html

Other support:

Identity Theft Resource Center:

Phone: 888-400-5530

Website: http://www.idtheftcenter.org/

Email: info@fightidentitytheft.com.

Medicare Cards:

Phone: 800-772-1213

https://faq.ssa.gov/ics/support/kbanswer.asp?deptID=34019&task=knowledge&questionID=3708

Passports:

Phone: 877-487-2778

Website: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/lost-stolen.html

U.S. Savings Bonds:

Phone: 844-284-2676 (toll-free)

Website: https://www.treasurydirect.gov/indiv/research/indepth/ebonds/res_e_bonds_eereplace.htm

Tax Returns:

Phone: 800-829-1040

Website: https://www.irs.gov/uac/About-Form-4506T

Military Records:

Phone: 866-272-6272

Website: https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/

Insurance Documents:

Phone: Check with your insurance agent.

Website: http://insurance.lawyers.com/natural-disasters/replacing-personal-documents-lost-in-a-disaster.html

Real Estate and Property Records (Mortgage Documents, Deeds, etc.):

Phone: Contact your agent.

http://insurance.lawyers.com/natural-disasters/replacing-personal-documents-lost-in-a-disaster.html

Medical and Prescription Records:

Call your doctor; medical and prescription records are tracked electronically.

Proof of Address/Residency:

Contact your local utility company to obtain a recent bill.

National Archives Records:

Phone: 866-272-6272

Website: General: http://www.archives.gov/preservation/records-emergency/public.html

Website: Saving family records: http://www.archives.gov/preservation/disasterresponse/guidelines.html

NOTE: FEMA does not endorse any specific products or services.

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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 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.

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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Replacing Lost or Damaged Documents in Louisiana

Digital Preliminary Flood Maps for St. Johns County Ready for Public Viewing

ATLANTA, Ga. — Newly revised preliminary digital flood insurance rate maps for St. Johns County and its municipalities will be available for residents to review at public open houses at 4 p.m. on August 31, and at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on September 1. Flood maps show the extent to which areas are at risk for flooding, and when updated maps become effective, they are used to help determine flood insurance and building requirements.

The open houses provide residents of these coastal areas the opportunity to see the preliminary maps, learn about their risk of flooding and ask questions about what the new maps will mean for their property. Residents can meet one-on-one with specialists who will be available to talk about flood insurance, engineering, building permits and more. Home and business owners, renters, real estate agents, mortgage lenders, surveyors and insurance agents are encouraged to attend the open house.

The open house dates, times and locations are:

August 31, 2016

4:00-7:00 pm

St. Johns County Building Department Permit Center

4040 Lewis Speedway

St. Augustine, Florida 32084

September 1, 2016

10:00 am – 12:00 pm and 4:00-7:00 pm

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

1050 A1A

North Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082

The new preliminary maps were developed through a partnership among the county, its municipalities and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They are based on updated modeling data and show more accurate flood hazard risk better than older maps. The ultimate goal is protecting property owners and the community from the risks associated with flooding. Over time, flood risks change due to construction and development, environmental changes, watershed conditions and other factors. Flood maps are updated periodically to reflect these changes.

By law, federally regulated or insured mortgage lenders require flood insurance on buildings that are located in areas at high risk of flooding. Standard homeowners, business owners, and renters’ insurance policies typically don’t cover flood damage, so flood insurance is an important consideration for everyone. Flood insurance policies can be purchased from any state licensed property and casualty insurance agent. Visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 888-379-9531 for more information about flood insurance and to locate a local agent.

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Digital Preliminary Flood Maps for St. Johns County Ready for Public Viewing

Disaster Recovery Centers Open in St. Martin and Iberia Parishes

BATON ROUGE, La. – Disaster recovery centers will open Wednesday, Aug. 24, in Breaux Bridge in St. Martin Parish and in New Iberia in Iberia Parish 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 at the following addresses:

Veterans Home 800 Veterans Dr.

Breaux Bridge, La. 70517

Iberia Parish Fire Protection District Training Center 2417 Darnall Road

New Iberia, La. 70560

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

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Disaster Recovery Centers Open in St. Martin and Iberia Parishes, Page 2

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.govor 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.

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 St. Martin and Iberia Parishes

FEMA Awards $262,420 Grant to the City of Lansing

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $262,420 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to the City of Lansing, Mich., for the acquisition and demolition of four flood-prone homes.

“The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides funding for mitigation activities that reduce disaster losses and protect life and property from future disasters,” said Andrew Velasquez III, regional administrator, FEMA Region V. “This project will help to eliminate future structural losses in Lansing by permanently removing these four buildings from the floodplain and will also greatly reduce the financial impact on individuals and the community.”

“I strongly encourage our communities to seize the opportunity for hazard mitigation assistance to enhance the safety of Michigan’s residents,” said Capt. Chris A. Kelenske, Deputy State Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and commander of the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division. “With federal aid, our communities can initiate projects to save lives and protect public property and health.”

HMGP provides grants to state, local and tribal governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Through HMGP, FEMA will pay 75 percent of the $349,893 eligible project cost. The remaining 25 percent of the funds, $87,473, will be provided by the City of Lansing.

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/fema, twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. 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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FEMA Awards $262,420 Grant to the City of Lansing

FEMA Appoints National Advisory Council Members

Next NAC Meeting Scheduled

WASHINGTON—Today, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate appointed five new members and reappointed seven current members to FEMA’s National Advisory Council (NAC).

The NAC is an advisory committee established by federal law to ensure effective and ongoing coordination of federal emergency management activities. Members represent the whole community and include representatives from a wide array of backgrounds and communities involved in or affected by the emergency management profession. The NAC consists of up to 35 members.

“I commend the work that the members of the National Advisory Council do to advise FEMA on carrying out our mission,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “The NAC plays a pivotal role to ensure effective and ongoing coordination of federal preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation for natural disasters and man-made disasters. Their recommendations have a direct impact across the agency, survivors, and others we serve. I welcome these new members to the team, trust their counsel, and appreciate their dedication and commitment to ensuring effective emergency management.”

The NAC provides recommendations to the FEMA Administrator on a variety of issues within emergency management. For example, the NAC recently made recommendations regarding strategies for the more effective integration and accommodation of the needs of individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs and providing funding for and supporting hazard mitigation for flood-prone housing.

FEMA received many applications for the open positions. All applicants were carefully considered through an intensive review process, which included a panel of senior government officials. Most appointments are for three-year terms.

The five new NAC members include:

Administrator Selection

Donna Boston, Director, Emergency Management Division, Orange County Sheriff’s Department (Silverado, CA)

Administrator Selection (Emerging Leader)

Gabriele Almon, Independent Consultant (Monrovia, CA)

Emergency Management

Jeff Stern, State Coordinator, Virginia Division of Emergency Management (Richmond, VA)

Non-Elected Local Government Official

Eugene Henry, Hazard Mitigation Manager, Hillsborough County, Florida (Tampa, FL)

Standards Setting and Accrediting

Peter Ginaitt, Senior Environmental Affairs, Safety Compliance Officer and Emergency Manager, Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (Providence, RI)

The seven reappointed members include:

Administrator Selections

Chris Howell, Director of Tribal Relations, BNSF Railway (Fort Worth, TX)

Linda Langston, Director of Strategic Relations, National Association of Counties, National Association of Counties (Washington, DC)

Access and Functional Needs

June Kailes, Associate Director, Harris Family Center for Disability and Health Policy, Western University of Health Sciences (Playa del Rey, CA)

Emergency Medical Providers

Emily Kidd, Project Director, Texas Disaster Medical System (San Antonio, TX)

Ex Officio

Robert Salesses, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Integration and DSCA, U.S. Department of Defense (Washington, DC)

Non-Elected State Government Official

W. Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management and Assistant Director, Texas Homeland Security Department of Public Safety (Austin, TX)

Public Health

Suzet McKinney, Executive Director, Illinois Medical District Commission (Chicago, IL)

Standards Setting and Accrediting

Teresa Scott, Public Works Director, City of Gainesville Public Works Department (Gainesville, FL)

FEMA will also be having the next NAC public meeting in the Washington, D.C. area from September 13 to 15.

During the meeting, the NAC will meet with the FEMA Administrator and Deputy Administrator, receive program briefings from agency leadership, and review the progress and potential recommendations of its three subcommittees: Preparedness and Protection, Response and Recovery, and Federal Insurance and Mitigation.

The NAC will also discuss other topics to include:

GIS Technology in Disaster Response and Recovery
Tribal Engagement
Disaster Deductible
Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration Activities
National Preparedness Directorate Activities
Office of Response and Recovery Activities

Additional information on the NAC, meeting agenda, and a full list of current NAC members, is available at www.fema.gov/national-advisory-council.

For those planning to attend in-person, for additional information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities, or to request special assistance at the meeting, please contact the Office of the NAC by email at FEMA-NAC@fema.dhs.gov.

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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.

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FEMA Appoints National Advisory Council Members

Federal Partners Continue to Support Survivors in Louisiana

WASHINGTON – At the direction of President Barack Obama, 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.

President Obama received updates throughout the day from his team on current response and recovery efforts underway in close coordination with state, local, and tribal officials. Today, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and FEMA Deputy Administrator Joseph Nimmich are visiting the impacted region to meet with local officials and review the ongoing response efforts.

President Barack Obama declared a major disaster for Louisiana on August 14, making federal resources available to assist with home repairs, temporary housing, low-cost recovery loans for uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover. Federal assistance is also available to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations to protect lives and property and remove debris.

Residents and business owners who sustained disaster-related losses can apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). If you use 711 relay or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 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. More than 80,000 Louisianans have registered for FEMA assistance and more than $3.7 million has been approved.

More than 17,000 National Flood Insurance policyholders have submitted claims for flood loss. Those who would like to file a claim should call their individual insurance carrier, go to Floodsmart.gov and review the “File Your Claim” section.

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

To date, FEMA deployed more than 1,100 personnel on the ground, including six Incident Management Assistance Teams and one Urban Search and Rescue team in Louisiana. FEMA also deployed Mobile Emergency Response Support personnel and equipment in Louisiana to support the state with voice, video and information services to support emergency response communications needs.

The U.S. Department of Defense and FEMA provided to the state of Louisiana more than 650,000 liters of water and more than 812,000 meals for distribution to disaster survivors and pre-positioned supplies including cots and blankets.

The U.S. Small Business Administration opened a Business Recovery Center in Walker, Louisiana today to provide a wide range of services to businesses impacted by the severe storms and flooding that began last week. As of today, SBA has issued more than 57,000 applications to homeowners and businesses.

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 personnel are among about 200 staff HHS has deployed to support the response effort. HHS is operating a Federal Medical Station capable of housing 250 patients on the Louisiana State University campus. At last report, HHS has provided care for 200 patients.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deployed subject matter expert personnel to assist the state and local government with debris removal in affected areas.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing support to the state through nutrition, farmer and rancher assistance. Thus far, USDA approved 4,877 authorized Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program retailers to assist those in need of nutrition assistance services.

The American Red Cross opened shelters throughout the community. 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): NCMEC activated its Unaccompanied Minors Registry (UMR). Family members can go to http://umr.missingkids.org or call 1-800-THE-LOST to find an unaccompanied child who may have been separated from their parents or caregivers because of the floods by entering basic information and/or a photo.

The U.S. Northern Command activated a Defense Coordinating Element to support FEMA’s Regional Response Coordination Center in Denton, Texas with Department of Defense resources and requirement validation.

The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting air and surface rescue operations. Thus far the Coast Guard rescue teams have assisted more than 3,000 people, saved 243 lives, and 71 pets and continue to actively support ground operations.

The National Guard deployed over 3,650 Louisiana guard members operating under state authority that are performing numerous relief missions including evacuations, search and rescue, security and engineering missions in support of the flood response efforts.

The Corporation for National Community Service deployed 114 AmeriCorp members to support sheltering, disaster assessment, feeding, and other tasks in conjunction with the Red Cross.

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

The 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 flooding rains in Louisiana and maintaining close communication with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.

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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.

Federal Partners Continue to Support Survivors in Louisiana

West Virginians: There’s still time to register for help. Do it now!

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – If you were affected by the severe storms, landslides and mudslides that occurred June 22-29 and haven’t registered for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), why wait? Do it now!

Take the first step toward getting federal assistance. Don’t miss out! Once you register with FEMA, you may be eligible for a federal grant to help you with your recovery. You may also qualify for a low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

If you haven’t registered yet and are a homeowner or renter with disaster-related damage in the designated counties, do it now before it’s too late.

Did you not register because:

You simply didn’t know that FEMA offers help to homeowners and renters whose homes were damaged?
- Once you register with FEMA you will learn about the help that may be available to you.
You kept putting off registering because you were too busy and didn’t remember to register until the evening, and thought everything would be closed?
- Registering is a very important first step to getting help. The FEMA helpline is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT every day of the week.
- Or go online anytime to DisasterAssistance.gov.
You are confused about the process of registering with FEMA?
- FEMA is there to help you. Make the phone call (800-621-3362) or go online to the website (DisasterAssistance.gov). Ask questions and you will get answers.
You thought talking with your county officials or the American Red Cross, or calling2-1-1 would automatically make you eligible for FEMA aid?
- The only way for you to be eligible for federal help is for you, the homeowner, renter or as the business owner, to register with FEMA.
You thought the damage to your property would not be eligible for federal help?
- Let FEMA make the decision to determine if you qualify for federal assistance.
You thought that since you already cleaned up and made repairs you couldn’t apply for assistance?
- You can register with FEMA even after you make repairs. It is helpful to have photographs of the damage. It also helps if you keep all repair receipts.
You thought others needed the federal aid more than you?
- No one is denied aid because of someone else’s need. If you are eligible for assistance, FEMA will provide funds to help you start the recovery process.
You thought you’d have to repay a FEMA grant?
- FEMA assistance is a grant, not a loan. It does not have to be repaid. It is not subject to income tax.
You thought that getting disaster assistance from FEMA would affect your government benefits, such as Social Security, Medicaid or SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)?
- You will not have to pay additional income taxes or see any reduction in your Social Security checks or any other federal benefits.
You didn’t think you were eligible for FEMA help because you are not a U.S. citizen?
- If you are in the United States legally or are the parent of a U.S. citizen in your household, you need not worry about applying for federal disaster assistance.

None of these reasons will prevent you from getting help from FEMA. Here’s what to do to get the correct information:

Call the FEMA helpline (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. EDT seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.
Go online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Visit a Disaster Recovery Center near you. To find the closest one, go to www.fema.gov/drc.

If you have questions about how you may qualify for a low-interest SBA disaster loan for homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes:

Call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or 800-877-8339 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from www.sba.gov. Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

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 www.WVflood.com; fema.gov/disaster/4273; twitter.com/femaregion3; and fema.gov/blog.

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West Virginians: There’s still time to register for help. Do it now!

West Virginia survivors get two-week extension for FEMA registrations

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — The deadline for West Virginia storm survivors to register for federal assistance has been extended 14 days to Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) granted the extension at the request of West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, citing a continued flow of new applications for federal assistance in the wake of the June 22-29 severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides.

FEMA disaster grants are available to homeowners and renters in the 12 storm-impacted counties named in the presidential disaster declaration of June 25: Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Roane, Summers, and Webster. Nearly 9,000 applications from West Virginia survivors have been received by FEMA to date.

Disaster assistance for individuals may include grants to help homeowners and renters with temporary housing, essential home repairs, personal property replacement, and serious disaster-related needs. Disaster assistance grants are not taxable income and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicare and other federal and state programs. Grants do not have to be repaid to the federal government.

One of FEMA’s federal partners in disaster recovery, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), would also extend to Sept. 7, 2016 its deadline for filing physical disaster loan applications.

The SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to businesses, homeowners and renters. SBA disaster loans may cover repairs, rebuilding, as well as the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged real estate and personal property.

If your SBA loan application is approved, you may be eligible to borrow additional funds to cover the cost of improvements that will protect your property against future damage. Examples

include elevating utilities, water heaters and furnaces, and installing retaining walls and sump pumps. Applicants may be eligible for an SBA loan increase, for mitigation purposes, of up to 20 percent of their physical damages.

The application/registration process is quick and easy. FEMA encourages all survivors who sustained disaster-related damage or losses to apply – before the Sept. 7 deadline – by phone (voice, 711 or relay service) at 800-621-3362 (TTY users should call 800-462-7585) or online at DisasterAssistance.gov . The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

You may also register at any of the five Disaster Recovery Centers located in Greenbrier, Kanawha, and Nicholas counties. An easy-to-use DRC Locator is available at http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm .

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West Virginia survivors get two-week extension for FEMA registrations

North Country Fire Department to Upgrade Aging Equipment

NEW YORK — Firefighters of the Brushton Volunteer Fire Department will receive 12 new self-contained breathing apparatuses and seven complete sets of personal protective equipment as a result of an Assistance to Firefighters Grant that is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Located in Franklin County’s Town of Moira in north-central New York, the Village of Brushton’s fire station has 32 volunteers who have had to borrow outdated equipment to respond to fires, as well as to share it while training. Firefighter Jude Ducharme of the village’s department said that he and his colleagues will “no longer have to use gear that has been handed down and has been damaged while doing our jobs.”

Brushton’s new mayor, Kevin Pentalow, expressed appreciation for the grant. “It means that our firefighters will have new coats, pants, gloves, helmets, boots, and hoods that are not charred, torn, or discolored, and they’ll be well protected while doing their jobs. And, we’ll have a full complement of breathing apparatuses that are less than 10 years old. There’s a lot of safety provided by this gear.”

The new equipment is made possible through a grant from FEMA’s Region II, which covers New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Dale McShine, the Region’s Director of Grants, reported that the grant totals $102,228.00, the federal share of which is $97,360.00.

The equipment will also put Brushton’s fire equipment in line with safety criteria set by the National Fire Protection Association and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Brushton’s firefighters respond to some 60 calls for assistance annually to a population of approximately 1800. Firefighter Ducharme said that the department is increasingly assisting neighboring departments in dispensing emergency medical services.

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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North Country Fire Department to Upgrade Aging Equipment

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