BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisianians in West Baton Rouge Parish can now apply for federal and state disaster assistance, as the parish was added Tuesday to the major disaster declaration for Hurricane Isaac.

Homeowners, renters and business owners in the parish may now register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for assistance and report their uninsured or underinsured property damage or destruction from the storm.

“We urge West Baton Rouge Parish residents who had damage from Hurricane Isaac to register with FEMA,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall. “We’re here to help eligible survivors get assistance, and registration is the first step in that process.”

Disaster assistance for individuals may include:

  • Grants to help pay for temporary housing and emergency home repairs to make a home habitable;
  • Grants for serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance;
  • Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Survivors can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. If you use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

West Baton Rouge Parish survivors should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if the person has registered with another disaster-relief organization or local community or church organization. FEMA registrants must use the name that appears on their Social Security card. Applicants will be asked to provide:

  • Social Security number
  • Address of the damaged home or apartment
  • Description of the damage
  • Information about insurance coverage
  • A current contact telephone number
  • An address where they can get mail
  • Bank account and routing numbers if they want direct deposit of any financial assistance.

The latest addition brings to 25 the total number of parishes for which Individual Assistance has been made available in Louisiana: Allen, Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Morehouse, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow FEMA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

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FEMA Adds West Baton Rouge Parish for Individual Assistance

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Home fires can happen at any time and spread in just minutes, claiming the lives and property of those affected. During the week of October 7-13, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), in partnership with the National Fire Protection Association, are encouraging individuals and families to have a fire escape plan. People can protect their homes and loved ones from emergencies by making their homes safer now and throughout the year.

Hundreds of thousands of fires happen in and around American homes every year, killing or injuring thousands of people and causing untold damage to families and communities. In 2010 alone, a total of 362,100 residential fires resulted in 2,555 deaths, 13,275 injuries, and more than $6.6 billion in property loss. For more information on fire statistics, visit: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/statistics/estimates/index.shtm.

FEMA Region III Acting Regional Administrator Robert Welch encourages everyone to prepare for and prevent against a fire: “In the event of a fire, remember that every second counts, so you and your family must always be prepared. Having an escape plan and practicing it can help you get out quickly.”

The best way to prepare for a fire is to plan in advance and practice your response plan. Here are some suggestions for how to get ready:

Check that all smoke alarms work: USFA recommends that every residence be equipped with both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms or dual sensor smoke alarms, which contain both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors;

  • Make sure that there are two ways out of every room;
  • Make a home fire plan; and
  • Practice with family members including children, older family members, and individuals who have access and functional needs so that every person knows how to use both ways to get to safety.

Please help spread the word about fire safety planning and preparedness. For more information about fire safety and prevention, visit:

National Fire Protection Association at www.nfpa.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. FEMA Region III’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.  Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema.   Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion3.

Source:  

Fire Prevention Week is October 7-13

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisianians who survived Hurricane Isaac — or saw neighbors or family experience loss — may suffer emotional stress as real as the hurricane’s physical destruction.

To help people experiencing post-disaster emotional stress, free crisis counseling is available in the parishes designated for Individual Assistance under the major disaster declaration. The program, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and administered by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH), is open to any child or adult in designated parishes.

“FEMA funds this important program because counseling can help people understand and process their emotional reactions to the disaster,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall of FEMA. “The right support can help most survivors regroup and move on with their lives.”

Those who have suffered losses may be likely to experience at least one of several emotional responses, including anger, fatigue, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, nightmares, depression, inability to concentrate, hyperactivity, or increased alcohol or drug use. Children are particularly vulnerable to emotional stress after a disaster. Their stress symptoms may include excessive fear of the dark, crying, fear of being alone, and constant worry.

Trained counselors are provided by the network of state Human Services authorities and districts. Calls to the crisis lines are free of charge, as are face-to-face follow-up sessions for adults and children whose needs cannot be fully served through phone counseling.

Participating districts/authorities, the parishes they serve and their phone numbers are:

  • Florida Parishes Human Services Authority 
    Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington 
    1-800-272-8367
  • Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority 
    Jefferson 
    504-832-5123
  • Metropolitan Human Services District
    Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard 
    504-826-2675
  • South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority 
    Assumption, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, St. Mary, Terrebonne 
    1-877-500-9997

Statewide resources include:

  • DHH-Office of Behavioral Health Louisiana Spirit Crisis Line: 1-866-310-7977
  • Louisiana Behavioral Health Partnership: 1-800-424-4399
  • SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: 1-800-985-5990

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow FEMA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

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Free Crisis Counseling Can Help Hurricane Isaac Survivors Cope

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urge Cleveland and Creek County residents who sustained property damage or losses from the Aug. 3-14 wildfires to apply for disaster assistance even if they think they may not qualify.

Register even if:

  • You have insurance
  • Your well and septic system was damaged
  • You already started to rebuild – save receipts for work already done
  • You think you may not qualify

You can call the same number you called when you registered to:

  • Confirm your registration
  • Check your status if you called before your county was declared a major disaster
  • Change your contact information or report additional damages

“Don’t prejudge your eligibility. You may be eligible for assistance you didn’t think was available,” said State Coordinating Officer and OEM Deputy Director Michelann Ooten.

“Registering provides access to a host of Federal, State and voluntary programs.  We are here to provide assistance for all eligible applicants,” said Federal Coordinating Officer William J. Doran III. “FEMA may provide assistance that can address a person’s specific needs, not just housing.”

Federal disaster assistance may include FEMA’s grants to help pay for temporary housing, emergency home repairs or other serious disaster-related expenses, such as wells or septic tanks, medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs, not covered by insurance or other sources.

Since the disaster declaration, 596 individuals in Creek County and 150 in Cleveland County affected by the wildfires applied for assistance with FEMA.
Homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations, that have not yet registered should do so now by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585, visiting www.disasterassistance.gov or m.fema.gov via web-enabled phones or using the FEMA app. Anyone using 711 Relay or Video Relay Services can call 1-800-621-3362. Phone lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT seven days a week; multilingual operators are available.

To apply for a disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA):  After registering with FEMA, go online to SBA’s secure site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela; call 1-800-659-2955 or TTY 1-800-877-8339; or visit the Disaster Recovery Center in Noble.  For more information on SBA disaster assistance, go to www.sba.gov.

SBA’s low-interest disaster loans are available to homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofits for their uncompensated physical disaster losses (homes, personal property and business assets).  For small businesses and most private nonprofits, SBA disaster loans are available to cover working capital needs caused by the disaster, whether or not the business suffered physical damage.

It is important that anyone receiving an SBA disaster loan application complete and return it. Returning the application does not obligate you to accept an SBA loan; however, it is a necessary step to be considered for other additional forms of federal disaster assistance

For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click on www.fema.gov/disaster/4078 or www.oem.ok.gov. Information can also be accessed via smartphone at m.fema.gov or the FEMA app.

Follow the OEM on Twitter and Facebook at twitter.com/okem and www.facebook.com/oklahomadepartmentofemergencymanagement. FEMA tweets about the Oklahoma disaster are at twitter.com/femaregion6. Additional FEMA online resources include blog.fema.gov, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.

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When in Doubt, Register for Disaster Assistance

BATON ROUGE, La. —  A State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center will be open Wednesday through Saturday in East Feliciana Parish to assist homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained uninsured or underinsured damage to their home or personal property as a result of Hurricane Isaac.

Specialists from the state of Louisiana, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are on hand to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors.

The center is open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at:

10413 Plank Rd.
Clinton, LA 70722

For a list of open centers in Louisiana go to www.fema.gov/disaster/4080.

Survivors may register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. They may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585.  Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

SBA offers federal low-interest disaster loans to residents and businesses. After registering with FEMA, visit any Disaster Recovery Center where SBA representatives will answer questions, explain the application process and help each resident or business owner apply to SBA. For SBA information or to apply online, visit www.sba.gov or call 1-800-659-2955. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call 1-800-877-8339.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, visit online at www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.
 

Link – 

Disaster Recovery Center Opens for Four Days in East Feliciana Parish

OKLAHOMA CITY –The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and others will provide recovery assistance to those impacted in Cleveland County by the Aug. 3-14 wildfire at a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) opening in Noble.

The Disaster Recovery Center opens Wednesday, Oct. 3.

Hours of Operation: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 7 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. As of Oct. 8, the hours will change to Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. until further notice.

Twelve Corners Baptist Church
15601 E. Etowah Road
Noble, OK 73068

Registering for assistance before visiting a DRC will shorten applicants’ time at the center. However, visiting a center is not required to be considered for assistance.

Cleveland County residents affected by the fire may register online at: www.disasterassistance.gov, or web-enabled phones at m.fema.gov or the FEMA app. If they do not have a computer, they can call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585. If using 711 Relay or Video Relay Services, the number is the same: 1-800-621-3362. FEMA phone lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT seven days a week; multilingual operators are available.

Homeowners, renters and businesses affected, can apply for an SBA disaster loan after registering with FEMA by going online to SBA’s secure site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela; calling 1-800-659-2955 or TTY 1-800-877-8339. For information on SBA disaster assistance, go to www.sba.gov.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofits for their uncompensated physical disaster losses (homes, personal property and business assets).  For small businesses and most private nonprofits, SBA disaster loans are available to cover working capital needs caused by the disaster, whether or not the business suffered physical damage.

For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click on www.fema.gov/disaster/4078 or www.oem.ok.gov.

Follow the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook at twitter.com/okem and www.facebook.com/oklahomadepartmentofemergencymanagement. FEMA tweets about the Oklahoma disaster are at twitter.com/femaregion6. Additional FEMA online resources include blog.fema.gov, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.

Source – 

Disaster Recovery Center to Open in Cleveland County

VERMONT TRAVELERS SHOULD “PLEDGE TO PREPARE” FOR THIS WEEKEND          

ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. – September is National Preparedness Month. As we approach Labor Day weekend, when hotel visits throughout Vermont peak, the Federal Emergency Management Agency encourages travelers to follow this year’s National Preparedness Month theme, “Pledge to Prepare.” Be prepared for emergencies that could happen while staying in hotels.    

“Vermont travelers should pledge to be prepared this holiday weekend,” said FEMA Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer Steve Ward. “As you prepare for your trip, be sure to plan for what you would do to help you and your traveling companions in the event of an emergency.”

How much do you really know about being prepared for a disaster when you’re staying in a hotel? Keeping a few important points in mind could make a difference in an emergency.  

Keep necessary items handy

When you enter your hotel room, place necessary items like your wallet, keys and cell phone somewhere close by the door to be able to grab them and get out of the building as fast as possible. Especially when staying in an area that is unfamiliar to you, it will be important to keep these items in a spot you will remember. 

Know your evacuation routes

Familiarize yourself with the layout of the hotel. Make a note of where the closest stairway or floor-level exit to your room is located. Evacuation routes are typically posted on the back of the hotel room door, at the elevator and in the stairwells.

In the event of a fire

Touch the door to check for heat. If the door feels warm, don’t use it as an exit.

“The first rule in any fire situation is to check the door,” said Tim Armstrong, a Vermont hotel manager.

If you are in a situation where smoke is coming under the closed door, wet towels and put them under the door to prevent smoke from coming inside the hotel room. Call the front desk for instructions.

“While disasters are unexpected, being prepared allows you to enjoy the beauty you’ve planned to see,” said Cody O’Leary, a Vermont hotel manager. “For more information, visit www.Ready.gov.”

FEMA encourages Vermonters to be prepared for emergencies by building a kit, and that guideline may be applied to items packed while traveling. A disaster supplies kit is simply a collection of items like a flashlight, water bottles, a battery-powered radio and anything else you may need in the event of an emergency. For more information about disaster supplies kits, visit:  http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit.

To view a FEMA video featuring Vermont emergency preparedness advice wherein Vermont hotel managers discuss being prepared for emergencies while traveling on the road and staying in hotels, visit:  http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/9426.

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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Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at twitter.com/craigatfema.  The social media links provided are for reference only.  FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

See the article here: 

Vermont Travelers Should "Pledge To Prepare" For This Weekend

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisianians in three more parishes – Allen, Morehouse and St. Martin – can now apply for federal and state disaster assistance, as they were added Monday to the major disaster declaration for Hurricane Isaac.

Homeowners, renters and business owners in the parishes may now register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for assistance and report their uninsured or underinsured property damage or destruction from the storm.

“We urge residents in these three parishes to register with FEMA if they had damage from Hurricane Isaac,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall. “We want to help eligible survivors as soon as we can, and registration is the first step in that process.”

Disaster assistance for individuals may include:

  • Grants to help pay for temporary housing and emergency home repairs to make a home habitable;
  • Grants for serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance;
  • Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration

Survivors can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. If you use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Residents of the parishes affected by the hurricane should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if the person has registered with another disaster-relief organization or local community or church organization. FEMA registrants must use the name that appears on their Social Security card. Applicants will be asked to provide:

  • Social Security number
  • Address of the damaged home or apartment
  • Description of the damage
  • Information about insurance coverage
  • A current contact telephone number
  • An address where they can get mail
  • Bank account and routing numbers if they want direct deposit of any financial assistance.

The latest addition brings to 24 the total number of parishes for which Individual Assistance has been made available in Louisiana: Allen, Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Morehouse, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington and West Feliciana.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow FEMA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

Originally from: 

FEMA Adds Three Parishes For Individual Assistance

BATON ROUGE, La. — Ninety-nine young adults from across the nation start serving Hurricane Isaac survivors in Louisiana today under their first post-graduate assignment with FEMA Corps, a new program aimed at enhancing the nation’s ability to assist disaster survivors while expanding career opportunities for young people.

FEMA Corps is an innovative partnership between two federal agencies that combines the disaster expertise of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with the service leadership of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and AmeriCorps.

The FEMA Corps members – ages 18 to 24 – will work alongside FEMA’s existing workforce in Louisiana in assisting citizens and communities impacted by Hurricane Isaac. Their assignments range from working directly with disaster survivors to supporting disaster recovery centers to sharing disaster response and mitigation information with the public.

“As new members of the whole community emergency management team, the work you do in the weeks to come will make a significant contribution to the recovery efforts of Hurricane Isaac survivors,” Mike Hall, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer, told the FEMA Corps members upon their arrival today at the State/FEMA Joint Field Office in Baton Rouge.  “Thank you for dedicating your skills and energies to the people who are still struggling to recover from the storm.”  

Established as a new unit within the existing AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), FEMA Corps engages young adults to provide ten months of full-time service on disaster response and recovery projects. FEMA Corps members in Louisiana received one month of AmeriCorps NCCC training at the AmeriCorps campus in Vicksburg, Miss., followed by FEMA position-specific training.

After completing 1,700 hours of service, each FEMA Corps member will receive a $5,550 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to pay for tuition or pay student loans.  Members will gain significant training and experience in disaster services that can serve as a pathway to employment in the emergency management profession.
To learn more about FEMA Corps or to apply (individuals aged 18-24), visit the AmeriCorps website at http://www.americorps.gov or FEMA’s website at www.fema.gov.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow FEMA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

Originally from:  

FEMA Corps Members Begin Work In Louisiana

CLINTON, Miss. – In the month after Hurricane Isaac, Mississippians have received more than
$16.2 million in federal disaster assistance to help homeowners, renters and businesses recover.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency provide the following snapshot of disaster recovery efforts as of Sept. 30:

  • More than 7,800 households have received FEMA grants that assist with housing, rental assistance and personal property loss due to the storm.
  • Nearly $10.9 million has been approved for housing grants, including short-term rental assistance, home repair and replacement costs.
  • More than $1.9 million has been approved to cover other essential disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses and lost personal possessions.
  • Nearly $3.5 million in low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration to assist homeowners, renters and businesses with the cost of repairing or replacing lost or damaged structures and personal property.
  • Nearly 23,500 survivors in designated counties have contacted FEMA for help or information regarding disaster assistance from FEMA, the state and volunteer agencies.
  • More than 17,700 home inspections have been completed.
  • More than 8,400 people have visited 16 disaster recovery centers.

Applications must be received by Wednesday, Oct. 31 to be considered for disaster assistance from FEMA and the SBA.

People can register with FEMA in any of the following methods:

  1. Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
  2. By tablet or smartphone, use the FEMA app or go to m.fema.gov.
  3. By phone, call 800-621-FEMA (3362) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Assistance is available in most languages. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call (TTY) 800-462-7585.

Homeowners, renters and businesses may go to disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ to apply. For more information contact SBA’s Disaster Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339), or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Those who receive a disaster loan application from the SBA are urged to fill it out as soon as possible or complete the application online. It does not obligate you to accept the loan, but if you’re a homeowner or renter and turned down you may be referred back to FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance program for grant consideration.

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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 receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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One Month After Isaac Mississippi Recovery Continues

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