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Federal Aid Programs for the Arkansas Declaration

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s disaster declaration issued for the State of Arkansas.

Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:

Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs. (Source: FEMA funded at 75 percent of total eligible costs; 25 percent funded by the state.)
Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals. (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.)
Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
Loans up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster’s adverse economic impact. This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $2 million. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence. (Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.)
Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans’ benefits and social security matters.

How to Apply for Assistance:

Affected individuals and business owners in designated areas can begin the disaster application process by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.

Assistance for the State and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for emergency protective measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health. Emergency protective measures assistance is available to state and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
Payment of not less than 75 percent for snow assistance, for a specific period of time during or proximate to the incident period. Snow Assistance may include snow removal, de-icing, salting, snow dumps, and sanding of roads. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)

How to Apply for Assistance:

Application procedures for state and local governments will be explained at a series of federal/state applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders and 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.

Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts available at www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema; follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fema and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fema.

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Federal Aid Programs for the Arkansas Declaration

President Obama Signs Emergency Declaration for Louisiana

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal emergency aid has been made available to the State of Louisiana to supplement state and local response efforts in the areas affected by flooding during the period of December 28, 2015 to February 1, 2016.

The President’s action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts that have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the parishes of Concordia, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Landry, St. Mary, Terrebonne, and West Feliciana.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.

Gerard M. Stolar has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal response operations in the affected area.

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.

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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President Obama Signs Emergency Declaration for Louisiana

Centers Opening in St. Louis and St. Charles Counties to Help Missouri Flood Survivors

JEFERSON CITY, Mo. – FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are opening Thursday, February 4, in St. Louis and St. Charles counties. The centers offer in-person support to individuals and businesses in any of the 33 Missouri counties included in the Jan. 21, 2016, Missouri federal disaster declaration.

Recovery specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and other agencies will be at the centers to discuss aid and assist anyone who needs help with an application. The two new centers opening tomorrow are at these locations:

The St. Louis County center is at Jefferson Barracks Visitor Center, 345 North Road, St. Louis, MO 63125.

The St. Charles County center is at Immaculate Conception Community Center, 14060 N. State Route 94, West Alton, MO 63386.

Recovery centers are also currently open in Franklin and Jefferson counties at these locations:

The Franklin County center is at the Tri-County Senior Center, 800 W. Union Street, Pacific, MO 63069.

The Jefferson County center is at the Arnold City Hall, 2101 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold, MO 63010.

The centers are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Saturday, Feb. 6. Starting Monday, Feb. 8, center hours will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The centers are closed on Sundays.

Disaster survivors may visit any of the centers for assistance.

There are two main types of federal disaster assistance. FEMA provides grants to qualified individuals for rental assistance, home repairs, or other serious disaster-related losses. SBA makes low-interest disaster loans to help homeowners and businesses rebuild and recover.

Individuals and businesses are encouraged to register with FEMA before visiting a disaster recovery center. Register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling toll-free 800-621-FEMA (3362), 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual registration assistance is available. Survivors may also register using the fema.gov app for smartphones.

Disaster assistance applicants who are hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use TTY should call 800-462-7585. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) should call 800-621-3362.

Locations of recovery centers may be found through a link from the home page of fema.gov/drc.

The federal disaster declaration covers eligible losses caused by flooding and severe storms between December 23, 2015, and January 9, 2016, in these counties: Barry, Barton, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Cole, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Jefferson, Laclede, Lawrence, Lincoln, Maries, McDonald, Morgan, Newton, Osage, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, Scott, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright.

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For breaking news about flood recovery, follow FEMA Region 7 on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion7 and turn on mobile notifications or visit the FEMA webpages dedicated to this disaster at www.fema.gov/disaster/4250.

All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).

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Centers Opening in St. Louis and St. Charles Counties to Help Missouri Flood Survivors

President Declares Disaster for State of Washington

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Washington to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe winter storm, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, mudslides, and a tornado during the period of December 1-14, 2015.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe winter storm, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, mudslides, and a tornado in Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Skamania, and Wahkiakum counties.

Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the entire State of Washington.

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

Follow FEMA online at http://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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President Declares Disaster for State of Washington

Flood Risk Open House to View Updated Addicks Reservoir Maps in Harris County, Texas

DENTON, Texas ––Residents and business owners in Harris County have new preliminary flood maps to examine. These maps will help people determine their flood risks and make informed decisions about buying flood insurance.

The preliminary maps are for the Addicks Reservoir watershed. Producing the maps was a joint effort by several entities. Harris County Flood Control District, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Harris County and community officials prepared them.

Besides helping residents decide about buying flood insurance, they also help community leaders to evaluate new developments.

The preliminary maps can be seen at an Open House, on Tuesday Feb. 2, 2016:
2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Richard and Meg Weekley Community Center
8440 Greenhouse Road
Cypress, Texas 77433

The mapping follows the release of a new flood study by the Harris County Flood Control District. During the Open House, residents can get more information about the proposed changes. Experts will be on hand to answer questions related to the new maps.

“Everyone should review the maps to understand their flood risks,” said FEMA Region 6 Acting Administrator Moises Dugan. “The role of the community as an active partner in the flood mapping process is very important.”

Additional information is available, including links to the interactive mapping website on www.riskmap6.com. Residents can also contact the floodplain administrator for more details.

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Flood Risk Open House to View Updated Addicks Reservoir Maps in Harris County, Texas

Commonly Asked Questions about Federal Disaster Aid

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – After the severe storms and flooding that occurred in Missouri between December 23, 2015 and January 9, 2016, residents in the 33 declared counties became eligible for federal assistance. People who suffered losses and damage in the wake of the disaster are urged to seek help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The eligible counties are Barry, Barton, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Cole, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Jefferson, Laclede, Lawrence, Lincoln, Maries, McDonald, Morgan, Newton, Osage, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, Scott, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright.

There are many misconceptions about getting help from FEMA. Often, people who would qualify for assistance miss out on assistance because they don’t have access to correct information.

Commonly asked questions about disaster aid from FEMA:

Q: Who should apply for federal disaster assistance?
A: Missouri homeowners and renters in disaster-designated counties who sustained damage to their homes, vehicles or personal property as a result of the severe storms and flooding from December 23, 2015 through January 9, 2016 can apply for FEMA grants.

Q: How do I apply?
A: Residents who were affected can apply for assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362. The application deadline is March 21.

Q: What kinds of FEMA grants are available?
A: Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, emergency home repairs, uninsured and underinsured personal property losses and medical, dental and funeral expenses caused by the disaster, along with other serious disaster-related expenses.

Q: What happens after I register?
A: You will receive a phone call from a FEMA inspector to arrange for a survey of the damages. This will come just days after you register. All FEMA inspectors will have official identification. They do not approve or deny claims or requests; those come after the inspection results are submitted. FEMA inspectors do not ask for money and do not recommend contractors to make repairs.

Q. I’ve already cleaned up and made repairs to my property. Am I still eligible to register with FEMA?
A. Yes. You may be eligible for reimbursement of your clean-up and repair expenses. Before and after photos of the damaged property can help expedite your application for assistance.

Q: Does my income need to be under a certain dollar amount to qualify for disaster aid?
A: FEMA’s Housing Assistance program is available, regardless of income, to anyone who suffered damages or losses in disaster-declared counties. However, aid for other losses such as personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses is income-dependent and officials make decisions on a case-by-case basis. To be considered for a grant for these types of losses, the applicant must complete an application for an SBA loan.

Q. I have flood insurance. Should I still register with FEMA?
A. Yes. But please contact your insurance company first.

Q: Does the Small Business Administration (SBA) offer loans to homeowners and renters?
A: Yes. The SBA is the primary source of financial assistance following a disaster and provides low-interest disaster loans to homeowners and renters.

Q: Do I have to be turned down by my bank before I can apply for a disaster loan?
A: No. The SBA has its own criteria for determining each loan applicant’s eligibility.

Q: If I rent an apartment, can I get help to replace my damaged personal property?
A: Yes. Renters may qualify for a FEMA grant. Renters may also qualify for SBA disaster loans.

Q: Will FEMA pay for all home repairs or contract work?
A: No. FEMA does not pay to return your home to its pre-disaster condition. FEMA provides grants to qualified homeowners to repair damage not covered by insurance, but these grants may not pay for all the damage. However, an SBA disaster loan may return a home to its pre-disaster condition.

Q: Do I have to repay money I receive for disaster relief?
A: No. You do not have to repay grant money, however SBA disaster loans must be repaid.

Q: Do I have to be a legal U.S. resident to receive Individual Assistance?
A: No. If you have a child living at home who is a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien, you may apply for Individual Assistance on that child’s behalf and you may be eligible to receive Individual Assistance. FEMA may provide undocumented, eligible immigrants with short-term, non-cash emergency aid.

Q: How can I check the status of my case?
A: You may go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call the toll-free FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (FEMA) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. If you need face-to-face assistance, visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) or speak with someone from one of FEMA’s Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams currently going door-to-door in Missouri’s disaster-declared counties. All DRCs are accessible and equipped with tools to accommodate disaster survivors who need disability related communication aids.

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

Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion7.

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

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Commonly Asked Questions about Federal Disaster Aid

Be Sure to Read Any Correspondence from FEMA Carefully

OXFORD, Miss. – If you applied for disaster assistance after the severe storms which affected Mississippi in December, you may have received a letter or other correspondence from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The most common reason applicants are considered ineligible is the lack of an insurance document. An applicant may only need to provide FEMA with a copy of an insurance determination letter to complete the application and continue the assistance process. Other reasons for a determination of ineligibility include:

The applicant did not sign the required documents;
The applicant did not prove occupancy or ownership;
The damage is to a secondary home or a rental property, not a primary residence;
Someone else in the household has also applied for and received help;
A FEMA housing inspector cannot reach the applicant by phone;
The applicant did not maintain the required flood insurance coverage for the damaged property.

Disaster survivors who receive a determination of ineligibility can call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585 for those who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired to find out how to appeal this decision, submit any required documents or make changes to contact information.

Applicants may also visit a disaster recovery center where specialists from FEMA can help with appeals, answer questions, review applications and accept required documents. To find a list of open disaster recovery centers in your area, visit: fema.gov/drc or call the FEMA helpline.

Furthermore, survivors have the right to appeal a determination of ineligibility in writing within 60 days from the date shown on the letter. An explanation of the appeals process is available to all applicants and can be found online at fema.gov/help-after-disaster.

Those who may not be eligible for FEMA assistance may be eligible for other programs such as an SBA low-interest disaster loan. Help may also be available from volunteer agencies.

FEMA and its state and federal partners are committed to helping Mississippi recover from December’s severe storms. Don’t let a simple paperwork issue prevent you from receiving assistance for which you may be eligible.

For the latest information on Mississippi disaster recovery operations, visit msema.org and fema.gov/disaster/4248.

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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.

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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Be Sure to Read Any Correspondence from FEMA Carefully

Hidalgo DRC Transitions to Loan Center; Two Others to Close

AUSTIN, Texas—The Disaster Recovery Center (DRC), operated by the State of Texas and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), at the Porter P. Doss Memorial Library in Hidalgo County will transition to a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) beginning Monday, Feb. 1.

The new DLOC will be located at the Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center (next door to City Hall), 275 S. Kansas Ave., Weslaco, TX 78596. The DLOC will open for business at 8 a.m., Feb. 1. Its hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Friday.

The Hidalgo County DRC at the Doss Memorial Library, 515 S. Kansas Ave., Weslaco, TX 78569, will remain open until 6 p.m., Friday, Jan. 29.

Both the Cameron County DRC at the Bob Clark Social Service Center, 9901 California Road, Brownsville, TX 78521, and the Willacy County DRC at the Willacy County EMS, 693 S. 7^th St., Raymondville, TX 78580, will close at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29.

Representatives from the SBA will be available at the DLOC to meet individually with residents and business owners who sustained damage as a result of the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding from Oct. 22 to Oct. 31. Representatives will answer questions, explain SBA’s disaster loan program, help complete loan applications and close approved disaster loans.

State/FEMA DRCs remain open until the needs of area residents have been met. The centers serve as one-stop shops for information and guidance about disaster assistance.

Texas homeowners and renters who have registered for disaster assistance with FEMA are encouraged by recovery officials to “stay in touch.” If applicants change their address or phone numbers they should update that information with FEMA. Missing or erroneous information could result in delays getting a home inspection or in receiving assistance.

To learn more about the Texas recovery, visit the disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4245, or 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. seven days a week. Information is also available on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

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Hidalgo DRC Transitions to Loan Center; Two Others to Close

Help Remains After Coahoma, Tippah Recovery Centers Close

OXFORD, Miss. – The disaster recovery centers operated by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Coahoma and Tippah counties will close permanently Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 6 p.m.

Many services available at disaster recovery centers are also available by calling the FEMA helpline. Survivors of the December storms, tornadoes and flooding in Coahoma and Tippah counties can get help by calling FEMA’s helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585 for the deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. Online registration can be done by computer, tablet, iPhone, Android or other mobile devices at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Survivors can use the helpline to:

Ask questions about a letter from FEMA.
Learn how to appeal a FEMA decision. All applicants may appeal.
Inquire about the status of a registration.
Provide change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information to avoid disaster assistance processing delays.
Receive information about FEMA home inspections.
Get other questions answered about federal disaster assistance.

Applicants should have their nine-digit FEMA registration number and zip code if they want to discuss their application.

Survivors may still visit other recovery centers to ask disaster assistance questions. The remaining centers are located in Benton County (the Ashland Fire Department on Third St.), Marshall County (the Spring Hollow Plaza in Holly Springs) and Quitman County (the Marks Fire Department on W. Main St.).

Representatives from MEMA, FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and other agencies are at centers to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest loans.

For the latest information on Mississippi disaster recovery operations, visit msema.org and fema.gov/disaster/4248.

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Help Remains After Coahoma, Tippah Recovery Centers Close

Deadline Looms for Texans with Storm Damage

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas homeowners and renters with damage from the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding Oct. 22-Oct. 31 have only until Monday, Jan. 25, to register for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Disaster survivors from the October event living in a designated disaster county—Bastrop, Brazoria, Caldwell, Cameron, Comal, Galveston, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Hays, Hidalgo, Liberty, Navarro, Travis, Willacy or Wilson—who have delayed registration for any reason must apply by the above date to be considered for potential assistance that could include grants to help pay for:

Temporary housing
Essential home repairs
Uninsured and underinsured personal property losses
Other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

There are two ways for homeowners and renters to register for disaster assistance:

Log on to the FEMA website at DisasterAssistance.gov to upload documents, and
Call the toll-free FEMA Helpline (voice, 711 or relay service) at 800-621-3362. TTY users should call 800-462-7585. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

FEMA works to ensure that every disaster survivor has equal access to disaster information and assistance. Survivors needing an accommodation or assistance due to a disability may notify FEMA staff at the time of registration or anytime throughout the assistance process. American Sign Language interpreters are provided for community meetings in the disaster area and news releases are available in Spanish on the FEMA website, http://www.fema.gov/es/disaster/4245.

All applicants for disaster assistance will be asked for the following information:

Social Security number
Address of the damaged primary residence
Description of the damage
Information about insurance coverage
A current contact telephone number and address where they can receive mail
Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds

Jan. 25 is also the deadline to return applications for U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loans. SBA loans for businesses of all sizes (including landlords), private nonprofits,

homeowners and renters comprise the greatest source of funds for a full recovery.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Businesses and nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. SBA also offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available to businesses regardless of any property damage, but the combined limit for both is $2 million.

Eligible survivors should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but under-insured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled. FEMA assistance does not affect other benefits such as food stamps, Medicaid or Social Security.

For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4245, Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

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Deadline Looms for Texans with Storm Damage

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