Mitigation Experts Offer Tips to Rebuild Safer, Stronger, Smarter

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Release date:

May 23, 2014

Release Number:

026

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Rebuilding or repairing property damaged from the recent severe storms? Get advice on building safer, stronger and smarter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Mitigation experts from FEMA will be on hand at home improvement stores in Conway, Searcy and Little Rock to offer information on rebuilding after a disaster. The advisors can answer questions about protecting homes from future disaster-related damage and offer tips to build hazard-resistant homes.

FEMA officials estimate that every dollar spent on mitigation saves almost four dollars if another disaster hits.

Individual homeowners and contractors can learn more at the following locations:

 

Home Depot
500 Elsinger Blvd.
Conway, Ark.  72032
Sunday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday – Saturday from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.

(Final day: June 2)

Lowe’s
1325 Highway 64 West
Conway, Ark. 72032
Sunday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday-Saturday from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.

(Final day: June 2)

 

Home Depot
12610 Chenal Pkwy.
Little Rock, AR
Sunday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday – Saturday from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.

(From May 29 – June 2)

 

Lowe’s
3701 E. Race Ave.
Searcy, AR
Sunday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday – Saturday from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.

(Final day: May 27)

 

The experts will not be at the stores on Wednesdays or on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26.

In addition, FEMA and the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) have created a “one stop” web site for information to help Arkansans protect lives and property from tornadoes and floods:  www.fema.gov/ar-disaster-mitigation.

 

Last Updated:

May 27, 2014 – 12:20

State/Tribal Government or Region:

This article:

Mitigation Experts Offer Tips to Rebuild Safer, Stronger, Smarter

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Disaster recovery centers will remain open on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, to assist survivors of the recent severe storms and flooding in Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties.

Operating hours of the centers are Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., until further notice.

Center locations are:

Escambia County

Brownsville Community Center

3100 W. DeSoto St.

Pensacola, FL 32505

 

Okaloosa County

Senior Centerview Parks & Recreation

205 Stillwell Blvd.

Crestview, FL 32536

                                     

Santa Rosa County

Gulf Breeze Recreation Center

800 Shoreline Drive

Gulf Breeze, FL 32561

 

Pensacola State College

Building 4000

Milton Campus

5988 Highway 90 W

Milton, FL 32583

 

Walton County

Community Church of Santa Rosa Beach

3524 US 98

Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

Specialists from the State Emergency Response Team, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be on hand to answer questions. Survivors will be able to:

  • Discuss their individual disaster-related needs;
  • Submit any additional documentation needed, such as occupancy or ownership verification documents and letters from insurance companies;
  • Find out the status of their application;
  • Obtain information about different types of state and federal assistance;
  • Get help from SBA specialists in completing low-interest disaster loan applications for homeowners, renters and business owners;
  • Receive referrals to the American Red Cross and other voluntary organizations to help with immediate disaster-related needs.

If possible, before visiting a center, survivors should register with FEMA. This can be done by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone at m.fema.gov or by phone at  800-621-3362. Survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability can call (TTY) 800-462-7585.

Disaster assistance may include money to help pay for temporary housing and essential home repairs. Low-interest SBA disaster loans also may be available to homeowners, renters and business owners for losses not covered by insurance or other sources.

Link:

Disaster Recovery Centers Will Be Open Memorial Day

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have joined together to bring Arkansans a “one stop” spot on the Internet for information on protecting lives and property from tornadoes and floods.

The web address is www.fema.gov/ar-disaster-mitigation. There, folks will find links to topics such as safe rooms, rebuilding and repairing structures to make them more storm-resistant, different types of roofs, and dealing with mold. The site also has links to the ADEM Safe Room Rebate Program, the Arkansas Attorney General’s office, Home Builders of Arkansas and more.

“This site has information for anyone interested in building back safer and stronger, or who plans new construction and wants to incorporate safe building practices from the start,” said State Coordinating Officer David Maxwell of ADEM. “Whether it’s building a safe room or reducing the risk of high winds penetrating your home through a leaky garage door, this website has expert information for Arkansans.”

“FEMA engineers have long studied how to reduce risks from tornadoes, floods and other severe weather,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) Timothy J. Scranton. “They’ve found a number of steps people can take, and many of them don’t cost much. I urge Arkansans to visit this website to gain insight into protecting themselves from the next round of dangerous weather.”

The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) is the state’s homeland security and preparedness agency. The agency works to identify and lessen the effects of emergencies, disasters and threats to Arkansas by developing effective prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery actions for all disasters and emergencies.  For additional information, contact ADEM at (501) 683-6700 or visit the website at www.adem.arkansas.gov.

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 http://twitter.com/femaregion6, the R6 Hurricane Preparedness website at www.fema.gov/about/regions/regionvi/updates.shtm and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

 

Visit site – 

Website Helps Arkansans Protect Lives and Property When Severe Weather Strikes

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Florida survivors who sustained property damage or loss from the recent severe storms, tornadoes and flooding should apply for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency — even if you have insurance or believe you won’t qualify for assistance.

Survivors in Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties are eligible to apply for disaster assistance that may include money to help pay for temporary housing, emergency home repairs or other serious disaster-related expenses.

Also, homeowners, renters and business owners may be eligible for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration to help recover from losses not covered by insurance, grants or other sources.

Here are three simple steps to follow when applying for federal disaster assistance.

Step One: Registration

Register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone at m.fema.gov. In addition, you can register by phone at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual specialists are available.

  • If you have insurance, contact your agent before registering with FEMA.
  • When calling FEMA, it is helpful to have the following information handy.
    • Social Security number.
    • Address of the damaged primary residence or apartment.
    • Description of damage.
    • Information about insurance coverage.
    • A current contact telephone number.
    • An address where you can receive mail.
    • Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.
  • Fill out and return your SBA low-interest disaster loan application, if you receive one. Returning the application does not obligate you to accept an SBA loan, but it is a necessary step to being considered for other forms of disaster assistance.

When applying for assistance, you will receive a nine-digit registration number that can be used for reference when corresponding with FEMA.

Step Two: Inspections

After you register, a FEMA-contracted inspector will call you to set up an appointment to assess your damaged property. Inspectors will never ask for bank account information, and there is no cost for the inspection.

When FEMA inspectors arrive at a home, they will display official photo identification. If the photo identification is not displayed, it is important to ask to see it.

Make sure your home or mailbox number is easily visible from the road. As part of the inspection process, you must provide proof of ownership or occupancy.

  • Homeowners may show a tax bill, mortgage payment receipt or insurance policy with the property’s address.
  • Renters may show a lease, rent payment receipt, utility bill or other document confirming the home was their primary residence at the time of the disaster.
  • Homeowners and renters must also present a valid driver’s license or other photo ID.

Step Three: Follow Up With FEMA

After registering for assistance, you will receive a letter regarding your application status. Some applicants may receive an SMS/text message.

If you receive a FEMA letter stating you are ineligible, it will include an explanation of what steps need to be taken next. You should not be discouraged if you receive a letter indicating ineligibility – FEMA may simply need additional information or documentation.

It is important to read and follow up with any correspondence from FEMA. You may have to log into your account on DisasterAssistance.gov or call the helpline at 800-621-3362 to keep the application process moving. You are also urged to keep your contact information updated with a current address and phone number to ensure FEMA can reach you with new information or questions.

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Original link – 

Three-Step Process to FEMA Disaster Assistance

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Just two weeks since the May 6 major disaster declaration for severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in the Florida Panhandle, nearly $28 million in disaster assistance has been approved to help survivors and their communities recover.

The following is a summary of ongoing recovery efforts by the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to date:

  • Four designated counties – Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton – are eligible for disaster assistance.
  • Nearly $28 million in total federal disaster assistance has been approved by FEMA and SBA.
  • More than $20.7 million has been approved for housing assistance, including short-term rental assistance and essential home repair costs.
  • Nearly $3.4 million has been approved to help cover other essential disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses and lost personal possessions.
  • Nearly $3.9 million has been approved for low-interest disaster loans by SBA for qualified homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofits.
  • More than 9,500 people have contacted FEMA for help or information regarding disaster assistance.
  • Five disaster recovery centers are open in Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties.
  • More than 2,000 visits have been made to disaster recovery centers to get information and apply for disaster assistance.

Survivors in the designated counties can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov, or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362). People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY can call 800-462-7585. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. central time and assistance is available in multiple languages.

To apply for an SBA low-interest disaster loan, survivors can find the electronic loan application on SBA’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Questions can be answered by calling the SBA disaster customer service center at 800-659-2955 or (TTY) 800-877-8339.

For more information on Florida disaster recovery, click fema.gov/disaster/4177. Visit the Florida Division of Emergency Management website at FloridaDisaster.org or Facebook page at facebook.com/FloridaSERT.

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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.

View original:

DR-4177-FL, Florida Disaster Assistance Reaches Nearly $28 Million in Two Weeks

Little Rock, Ark. – Survivors of the April 27 severe storms, tornadoes and floods in Randolph County have until 7 pm on Saturday, May 24 to visit the Disaster Recovery Center at 300 Geneva Dr. in Pocahontas.

State and FEMA personnel closely monitor visitor traffic at all Arkansas disaster recovery centers. Traffic to this center has significantly decreased, indicating the information needs of survivors in the area have been met. 

Survivors can visit the remaining Disaster Recovery Centers at:

  • 600 Highway 365
    Mayflower, AR
  • 1122 Main St.
    Vilonia, AR 72173

Hours for both centers are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Saturday. Both will be closed Monday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day.

Disaster Recovery Centers gather different state and federal agencies and programs under one roof, offering survivors convenient access to guidance from a number of resources. Recovery centers are one-stop shops for eligible tornado survivors to get help as quickly as possible. Representatives of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available at all DRCs to provide information and answer questions about SBA low-interest disaster recovery loans.

Survivors can continue to register and get information about their applications 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 will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

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 Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) is the state’s homeland security and preparedness agency. The agency works to identify and lessen the effects of emergencies, disasters and threats to Arkansas by developing effective prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery actions for all disasters and emergencies.  For additional information, contact ADEM at (501) 683-6700 or visit the website at www.adem.arkansas.gov

This article: 

Last Chance to Visit FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Pocahontas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Less than three weeks after tornadoes, severe storms and flooding hit Arkansas, the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have announced that more than $2 million in Individual Assistance has been approved to help Arkansans recover.

“Two million is a great start,” said State Coordinating Officer David Maxwell of ADEM. “But it’s just one component of a successful recovery.”

“We’re working together to bring assistance to eligible survivors who need it,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Timothy J. Scranton. “We will stay here until the job is done.”

In less than three weeks, FEMA has approved almost $1.7 million in Housing Assistance and more than $355,000 in Other Needs Assistance. Additionally, the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved $721,100 in low-interest disaster loans for Arkansans affected by the April 27 severe storms, tornadoes and floods.

Housing Assistance is provided to individuals, families and businesses in Faulkner, Pulaski, Randolph and White counties whose property has been damaged or destroyed and whose losses are not fully covered by insurance.

Other Needs Assistance can be used to repair or replace personal property damaged or destroyed during the disaster, for transportation costs, or for medical, dental, funeral and burial expenses.

Tornado survivors can continue to 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 will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

The deadline to register for assistance is June 30, 2014.

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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.

The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) is the state’s homeland security and preparedness agency. The agency works to identify and lessen the effects of emergencies, disasters and threats to Arkansas by developing effective prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery actions for all disasters and emergencies.  For additional information, contact ADEM at (501) 683-6700 or visit the website at www.adem.arkansas.gov.

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 http://twitter.com/femaregion6, the R6 Hurricane Preparedness website at www.fema.gov/about/regions/regionvi/updates.shtm and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov. For information on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger, visit www.fema.gov/ar-disaster-mitigation.

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 homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations 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 information about SBA programs, applicants can go to www.sba.gov/disaster or call (800) 659-2955 (TTY 1-800-977-8339).

 

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Individual Assistance Tops $2 Million for Arkansas Tornado Survivors

JACKSON, Miss. Federal assistance approved for disaster survivors in 12 Mississippi counties has reached nearly $7 million.

All emergency shelters have closed and all disaster survivors are currently housed.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is leading a Long-Term Housing Task Force, which includes FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department, along with state and local officials to assess and provide assistance to families with housing needs.

FEMA assistance to individuals is not taxable income and does not affect benefits from other federal programs such as Social Security, SNAP or Medicaid.

Individuals and households with home insurance should register with FEMA now even though they may not immediately qualify for FEMA assistance. Once registered, they will have up to a year to request FEMA assistance to help cover the gap if the insurance proves inadequate. It may be too late to register when the insurance settlement is received. The deadline to register is June 30, 2014.

Here is a summary through Friday, May 16, of all federal assistance to individuals and households in the 12 counties designated for FEMA Individual Assistance as a result of the April 28 through May 3, 2014, storms, tornadoes and flooding.

  • Nearly $7 million in total federal disaster assistance has been approved by FEMA and SBA.
  • Nearly $3.6 million in FEMA Individual Assistance grants has been approved to help Mississippi disaster survivors recover, including:
    • More than $2.7 million approved for housing grants, including short-term rental assistance and home repair costs.
    • Nearly $853,000 approved to help cover other essential disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses and lost personal possessions.
  • Nearly $3.4 million in low-interest disaster loans has been approved by SBA for renters and homeowners.
  • More than 3,900 people have contacted FEMA for help or information regarding disaster assistance.
    • In addition to FEMA grants for individuals and families, other forms of disaster assistance are provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration and other partner agencies such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. FEMA refers some survivors to those agencies.
    • All businesses that contact FEMA are also referred to the SBA.
    • Others may be interested in other programs such as disaster unemployment assistance and disaster legal services.
  • 1,759 home inspections completed.
  • Nearly 3,000 visits to disaster recovery centers by people affected by the disaster.
  • 9 disaster recovery centers are open across the affected areas.
  • FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance crews assisting survivors have visited 5,452 dwellings and assisted 3,520 survivors.

Disaster survivors in Itawamba, Jones, Leake, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Montgomery, Rankin, Simpson, Warren, Wayne and Winston counties may be eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.

Individuals and households in those counties can register for FEMA Individual Assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone or tablet at m.FEMA.gov or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362). People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY should call 800-462-7585. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (central time) and assistance is available in multiple languages. FEMA assistance does not affect benefits from other federal programs such as Social Security, SNAP or Medicaid and is not considered taxable income.

For more information on Mississippi disaster recovery, go to fema.gov/disaster/4175. Visit the MEMA site at msema.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/msemaorg.

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). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

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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Nearly $7 Million Approved for Mississippi Disaster Survivors

DENVER – A year ago Tuesday, on May 20, an EF5 tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma, killing 24 and leaving a 17-mile trail of destruction.

A month later, June 20, will be the anniversary of the 1957 EF5 tornado in Fargo that killed 10 and was part of a family of five tornadoes that wreaked havoc for almost 70 miles, from Buffalo, North Dakota, to Dale, Minnesota. The tornado and its damage were studied extensively by T. Theodore Fujita of the University of Chicago, which led to his later development of the 1-5 F-Scale for ranking tornadoes. (The Fargo tornado was ranked in retrospect.) 

Both anniversaries are a poignant reminder of the importance of preparing for tornadoes, point out emergency managers from the North Dakota Division of Emergency Management and from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). North Dakota gets an average of 23 reported tornadoes per year, mostly in June, July and August.

The state’s website (http://www.nd.gov/des/uploads/resources/150/tornadotips.pdf) provides these suggestions for what to do during a tornado:

  • In a house with a basement: Avoid windows. Get in the basement and under some kind of sturdy protection (heavy table or work bench), or cover yourself with a mattress or sleeping bag. Know where very heavy objects rest on the floor above (pianos, refrigerators, waterbeds, etc.) and do not go under them. They may fall down through a weakened floor and crush you.
  • In a house with no basement, a dorm, or an apartment: Avoid windows. Go to the lowest floor, small center room (like a bathroom or closet), under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows. Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down, and cover your head with your hands. A bath tub may offer a shell of partial protection. Even in an interior room, you should cover yourself with some sort of thick padding (mattress, blankets, etc.), to protect against falling debris in case the roof and ceiling fail.
  • In an office building, hospital, or nursing home: Go directly to an enclosed, windowless area in the center of the building — away from glass. Crouch down and cover your head. Interior stairwells are usually good places to take shelter, and if not crowded, allow you to get to a lower level quickly. Stay off the elevators; you could be trapped in them if the power is lost.
  • In a mobile home: Get out! Even if your home is tied down, you are probably safer outside, even if the only alternative is to seek shelter out in the open. Most tornadoes can destroy even tied-down mobile homes; and it is best not to play the low odds that yours will make it. If there is a sturdy permanent building within easy running distance, seek shelter there. Otherwise, lie flat on low ground away from your home, protecting your head. If possible, use open ground away from trees and cars, which can be blown onto you. The only fatality in the Northwood tornado remained in his home.
  • At school: Follow the drill! Go to the interior hall or room in an orderly way as you are told. Crouch low, head down, and protect the back of your head with your arms. Stay away from windows and large open rooms like gyms and auditoriums.
  • In a car or truck: Vehicles are extremely dangerous in a tornado. If the tornado is visible, far away, and the traffic is light, you may be able to drive out of its path by moving at right angles to the tornado. Otherwise, park the car as quickly and safely as possible — out of the traffic lanes. Get out and seek shelter in a sturdy building. If in the open country, run to low ground away from any cars which could roll over onto you. Lie flat and face-down, protecting the back of your head with your arms. Avoid seeking shelter under bridges, which can create deadly traffic hazards while offering little protection against flying debris.
  • Outside: If possible, seek shelter in a sturdy building. If not, lie flat and face-down on low ground, protecting the back of your head with your arms. Get as far away from trees and cars as you can.
  • In a shopping mall or large store: Do not panic. Watch for others. Move as quickly as possible to an interior bathroom, storage room or other small enclosed area, away from windows.
  • In a church or theater: Do not panic. If possible, move quickly but orderly to an interior bathroom or hallway, away from windows. Crouch face-down and protect your head with your arms. If there is no time to do that, get under the seats or pews, protecting your head with your arms or hands.

Research shows that most people wait until bad news is confirmed by a second source before taking action. With tornadoes, act first, emergency officials warn. Take shelter yourself, then be the second source that confirms the emergency for others by phone or social media.

FEMA’s Ready.gov website cites a study of tornado damage in Marion, Illinois, that showed half of all tornado-related injuries came after the tornado, from rescue attempts, clean up, and so forth. Almost a third of the injuries came from stepping on nails. Be very careful when entering any damaged structure, and use battery-powered light if possible rather than candles to minimize the danger of fire or explosions.

A timeline of some of the most significant tornadoes to affect the six-state region covered by FEMA’s Denver regional office, with links for more information, is available at http://www.fema.gov/fema-region-8-tornado-timeline.

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.

 

Continued:

Spring Tornadoes Are an Important Reminder to Prepare

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Additional disaster recovery centers are now open in Okaloosa and Walton counties to assist Florida Panhandle survivors affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding.

The disaster recovery centers will be open until 5 p.m. today, Saturday, May 17, and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 18.

Beginning Monday, May 19, the centers will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sundays. The centers are located at:

Okaloosa County

Senior Centerview Parks and Recreation

205 Stillwell Blvd.

Crestview, FL 32536

 

Walton County

Community Church of Santa Rosa Beach

3524 U.S. 98

Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

Specialists from the State Emergency Response Team, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be on hand to answer questions. Survivors will be able to:

Discuss their individual disaster-related needs.

  • Submit any additional documentation needed, such as occupancy or ownership verification documents and letters from insurance companies.
  • Find out the status of an application.
  • Obtain information about different types of state and federal assistance.
  • Get help from SBA specialists in completing low-interest disaster loan applications for homeowners, renters and business owners.
  • Receive referrals to the American Red Cross and other voluntary organizations to help with immediate disaster-related needs.

Before going to a center, if possible, survivors should register with FEMA. Apply for assistance by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone at m.fema.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362. Survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability can call (TTY) 800-462-7585.

Disaster assistance may include money to help pay for temporary housing and essential home repairs. Low-interest SBA loans may also be available for losses not covered by insurance or other sources.

For more information on Florida disaster recovery, click fema.gov/disaster/4177. Visit the Florida Division of Emergency Management website at FloridaDisaster.org or Facebook page at facebook.com/FloridaSERT.

Link:  

Disaster Recovery Centers Now Open for Survivors in Okaloosa and Walton Counties

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