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FEMA Mitigation Teams Offer Free Rebuilding Information

WARREN, Mich. – Residents who want to reduce the risk of property damage from future storms have the opportunity to meet with mitigation specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Mitigation specialists are in Wayne County to provide rebuilding information from 8 a.m. to
6 p.m. Oct. 6 through Oct. 19 at the Walmart Supercenter, 7555 Telegraph Road in Taylor. They will be available every day except Thursdays.

Residents can get free publications to help homeowners, renters and business owners protect their properties against damaging winds, floods and fires, and reduce damages from future events. Mitigation measures may help protect electrical systems, furnaces and other appliances.

Information about how to register with FEMA for disaster assistance also will be provided.

Residents can register at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via Web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). TTY users may call 1-800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. EDT seven days a week until further notice.

FEMA is providing mitigation information in coordination with the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management Homeland Security Division, and Wayne County Emergency Management. Publications will be available in English and Spanish.

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, 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.

English: http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4195

Spanish: http://www.fema.gov/es/disaster/4195

FEMA/State News Desk: (586) 574-4222

EMHSD contact: Ron Leix (517) 336-6464

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FEMA Mitigation Teams Offer Free Rebuilding Information

Public Invited to Comment on Travis County, Texas Preliminary Flood Maps

DENTON, Texas– After working together for months to create new preliminary flood maps, officials from Travis County, six cities, one village and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) want to hear from the public about the preliminary flood maps.

Language English

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Public Invited to Comment on Travis County, Texas Preliminary Flood Maps

More Bang for the Buck – Inexpensive Disaster Rebuilding Tips

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Repairing damage after a disaster can be expensive. In cases of severe damage, the costs can be staggering.

However, many projects can be done for little or no money. Most can make a big difference in helping minimize damage from the next disaster and provide the extra bonus of lowering utility and home-maintenance costs year-round.

Here are some ideas:

Cut it short. When replacing drywall, leave a ½-inch to 1-inch gap between the bottom of the drywall sheeting and the top level of the floor. (If adding carpet be sure the gap is above the carpeted level). Cover the gap with baseboard. Cost: Free for this technique. Drywall and baseboard costs are separate. Benefit: Water won’t come in contact with the drywall in a low-level flood (this includes interior liquid spills, like in a kitchen). When water meets drywall, it wicks up into the wallboard which can lead to mold if left untreated.

Power up. Raise electrical outlets. Check first to see what local codes allow. Most don’t have restrictions on the height of an outlet above the floor. Consider moving outlets up at least 1 foot above the minimum flood level or 24 inches above floor level. Cost: Free, if done after drywall has been removed. If drywall is still in place, costs can vary. Benefit: Helps keep water from seepage or a low-level flood from infiltrating and damaging an electrical outlet, which can cause damage to an electrical system and normally requires an electrician to repair/replace.

Show your numbers. Add visible address numbers to the house exterior and to the street curb or mailbox. Though it seems like a small task, it will make a difference if there is an emergency. Large numbers are best. Cost: Most house numbers sold at home- improvement stores are 6 inches tall and cost about $2 each. Benefit: Missing or barely visible house numbers can cause dangerous delays for emergency responders. The larger the numbers, the easier they are to see at night and during bad weather.

Put on a strip: Install weather stripping on outside doors and windows to help seal out air and even water. Weather stripping should seal well when a door or window is closed. Closing the gaps can save up to 15 percent in heating and cooling costs and can help minimize the intrusion of low-level water. Cost: Weather stripping supplies and techniques range from simple to more complex but most are easily installed as do-it- yourself projects. Benefit: Relatively easy to install, effective weather seal, durable, comes in a variety of colors. Vinyl stripping holds up well and resists moisture; metal stripping (bronze, copper, stainless steel and aluminum) lasts for years. Both are affordable.

Caulk it up: Use caulk to seal all exterior openings, such as holes where wires, cables and pipes enter or exit a structure (winds of 74 mph can blow water up a wall about 4 feet). Caulk now comes in many types that are non-toxic and specifically designed for a number of different home-repair jobs. Cost: All-purpose caulk, suitable for most jobs, is less than $2 a tube; for doors and windows, less than $4 a tube. Benefit: Helps prevent heat loss around windows and doors. In severe storms, a well-sealed exterior helps keep wind-driven rain and flooding from getting inside. Some caulks are designed for use in high-moisture areas. Caulk can be used indoors or outdoors; some types can last up to 20 years.

Window well … cover it: Add a clear plastic cover over exterior window wells to help keep out debris, leaves, animals and excess water – both from the window cavity (well) and a structure’s interior. Most covers are made from a polycarbonate plastic and specially designed for window-well areas. Cost: Prices vary, depending on size and style, starting at $17 each and are available at most local home-improvement stores. Benefit: Weather resistant, generally not affected by sunlight or temperature extremes.

They are easy to install and relatively maintenance free. Many can be custom-made to fit openings of special sizes and/or shapes.

Elbow a way around: Add an elbow or drain sleeve to the bottom of downspouts to help divert water away from a structure.

Elbows can come in aluminum or flexible heavy plastic tubing and are made to fit round or square downspouts.

The flexible variety is especially good if water needs to be diverted some distance away from a structure. Cost: Aluminum elbows start at about $4 each; metal elbows run about $6 each. Flexible gutter elbows (heavy plastic tubing) range in size from 8 to 18 inches and costs start at $4. Benefits: Keeps rainwater from eroding foundations and from finding its way into crawl spaces or basements.

Block that splash: Place splash blocks directly under the lower end of a downspout to stem soil erosion and divert water away from a structure. Choose blocks large enough to handle the volume of water that could come through a downspout in a heavy rainstorm. Also, place the block high enough and at enough of an angle to divert water at least 3 feet from the foundation Cost: Plastic or fiberglass splash blocks range from $6 to $20 each. Concrete blocks average about $15 but can run as high as $45, depending on the size. Benefit: Saves damage to a structure’s foundation and helps to keep water from channeling underground (below slabs, for example) and through to the interior.

Shape up and out: Landscaping is an effective, easy way to keep overland water at bay and make a property more attractive. Add fill dirt with a binding material (like clay) around a foundation and angle away from the structure. Cover with low-growing vegetation or ornamental materials, such as shredded bark or lightweight lava rock. Avoid heavier rock or landscaping gravel (unless required for drainage) to keep it from flying around and causing damage in a high-wind event. Cost: A 2 cubic foot bag of wood bark or mulch will cost about $4. (Sometimes, communities offer free mulch after large-scale tree removal projects). The amount of bark required will depend on the coverage area. Many low-growing, spreading plants can be purchased for less than $50. Benefit: Helps keep overland flooding from reaching a foundation and leaking inside. Foliage helps hold soil in place, naturally enhances drainage and increases curb appeal.

This list is only a sampling of do-it-yourself ideas. A variety of publications are available to provide additional information. These can be found online, at your local library or any home building store.

Before beginning any project, visit your local government’s building department to determine if a project is permissible and compliant with local laws, ordinances and codes. Building officials also can advise which projects require permits, as well as any rules and regulations that will apply and any fees associated with obtaining a permit.

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FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for childcare, medical, dental expenses and/or funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, those who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, transportation, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

For more information on Alabama’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or http://www.ema.alabama.gov/. For the joint Facebook page, go to www.facebook.com/AlabamaEMA. To receive Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/AlabamaEMA or www.twitter.com/femaregion4

More Bang for the Buck – Inexpensive Disaster Rebuilding Tips

Volunteers: The Often Overlooked Backbone of Disaster Recovery

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The backbreaking work accomplished by volunteers in Alabama following the April 28 through May 5 severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding seems to have occurred out of the clear blue sky.

More than 25 Amish men traveled 70 miles to help a Madison County farmer clean up debris and help fix her home. They asked for nothing in return except a hot meal.
Nearly 100 volunteers showed up over a recent weekend to cut and remove 25,000 cubic yards of debris in Bessemer. But that’s just a drop in the bucket – one month after the disaster, volunteers had removed nearly 80,000 cubic yards of debris. All these volunteer’s wanted was a “thank you.”
In Coxey, Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian service and relief organization, brought in 471 volunteers who put in 5,900 hours in just three weeks. Also there, a local church was transformed into a storm relief center and overflowed with donations of clothes, food, personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, and pet and baby items for survivors. The look on survivors’ faces was ample payment for these workers.

Every year and in every disaster, volunteers fill an often overlooked role and seemingly arrive and leave the scene at just the right time. A further look will reveal a network of agencies choreographing volunteer groups with seamless precision to fill the gaps that the federal government cannot. They are called Long Term Recovery Committees or LTRC.

Charles “Larry” Buckner serves as a Federal Emergency Management Agency volunteer agency liaison in Alabama to help coordinate these efforts and provide advice. He also reviews benefit requests to make sure there is no duplication.

“As far as we know, there is $4.2 million in unmet needs in home repair in all nine designated counties in this disaster,” Buckner said. “Of these counties, seven have set up Long Term Recovery Committees, some of which had just barely shut down because of the tornadoes from 2011.”

The two remaining counties have not had LTRCs in the past but are now forming them.

While FEMA and the state can and have helped survivors, neither the federal nor state governments are empowered by law to make disaster survivors whole, that is, to fully replace all that is lost.

LTRCs pick up where FEMA leaves off. Their goal is to identify and meet as many reasonable needs as possible.

These committees are the boots on the ground determining what unmet needs exist. They, in turn, work with state Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters and other groups to attain what is needed, whether it is cash, workers or donated materials.

The committees are everywhere across the country, Buckner said. The concept has been in existence for more than 18 years.

These committees are made up from a variety of organizations – church denominations, local charities, community foundations and some independent groups, such as nondenominational “mega churches.” The one feature they all share is a calling to help serve those in need.

“United Way is providing case workers in some counties and may act as the fiduciary, the American Red Cross may provide case workers as does the Salvation Army,” he added.

In Alabama, Buckner said the LTRC committees are working with Serve Alabama, part of the governor’s office, and has applied for a grant to be used to hire case workers.

“With the grant, they can hire 12 case workers for 18 months,” he said. “It asks for just shy of $1 million.” If approved, the grant will come from FEMA, he added.

The case workers meet with survivors and assess their unmet needs. They take into account what FEMA provided, but FEMA grants are capped at $32,400 per household. Anything beyond that amount is where the LTRC committees can assist.

The case worker will make a recommendation to a group of three to five committee members “in such a way that the board sees the facts but may never know who that individual is,” he explained.

“That is done to prevent favoritism or being passed over based on who the survivor is,” he said. “Then, the group gives a thumb’s up or down to entirely or partially meet the unmet need. You won’t see them replacing a swimming pool, but they may replace house siding and decide to paint it as well.”

While this is going on, other members of the LTRC are working to recruit volunteer organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the Mennonites and others to come in and repair or rebuild homes. Still others are securing grants large enough to meet most, if not all, of the unmet needs.

“The dollars can go into the millions,” he said.

And any excess funding all goes to meet the needs of the survivors.

“If there is a surplus, they use the money to replace furniture, appliances and other things that will help people get back on their feet.

“They want to provide people with safe, sanitary and functional homes,” Buckner said. “In some areas of the country they are not as successful. But they are here because the southern culture dictates that communities take care of their own.”

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Volunteers: The Often Overlooked Backbone of Disaster Recovery

FEMA Registration Period in Alabama Closes Tuesday

Tuesday, July 15 is the deadline in Alabama to register with FEMA and to return an application for physical damage to the SBA.

Persons who suffered damage in the spring storms of April 28 through May 5 who have yet to register with FEMA should do so as soon as possible. The registration process takes about 30 minutes. The ways to register are:

Go online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Visit m.fema.gov from a Smartphone,
Dial 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585,
For those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services, call 800-621-3362.

The toll-free numbers are operated from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers remain open in Baldwin and Mobile counties 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays through tomorrow, Tuesday, July 15. These disaster centers are located in:

Baldwin County

Elberta Town Hall,10352 Main St., Elberta, AL 36530
Fairhope Civic Center (Delchamps Room), 161 North Section St., Fairhope, AL 36532

Mobile County

Old Navy/Marine Corps Reserve Center, 4851 Museum Dr., Mobile, AL 36608

Specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the SBA will be on hand to answer questions.

Survivors also can reach the SBA:

To complete an online application at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
Call the SBA customer service center with questions at 800-659-2955.
If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-877-8339.
For more information, visit www.sba.gov.

If you have registered with FEMA already but have questions about your application for assistance, about the eligibility letter you received from FEMA after you registered or any other questions, or if you have information FEMA has requested or that you wish to add to your application, dial 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Persons who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services also should dial 800-621-3362.

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FEMA Registration Period in Alabama Closes Tuesday

Disaster Federal Aid for Alabama Reaches More Than $38 Million

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Federal aid provided to Alabama residents affected by the April 28 through May 5 severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding has reached nearly $38 million.

The following numbers, compiled July 10, provide a snapshot of the Alabama/FEMA disaster recovery to date:

Funds approved:

$16.2 million for Housing Assistance grants to help with recovery rental expenses and home repair costs.
$3.9 million for Other Needs Assistance to cover essential disaster-related needs, such as medical expenses and lost personal possessions.
$14.8 million approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest loans to eligible homeowners, renters and businesses.
$3 million for Public Assistance programs. Of that amount, $1.2 million has been allocated for debris removal. Another $481,300 will go toward storm response and $1.3 has been obligated for infrastructure repair and replacement.

Survivor Recovery

15,577 damaged homes and property have been inspected (99 percent of requests).
9 counties designated for Individual Assistance.
21 counties designated for Public Assistance.

FEMA works with many volunteer agencies and the private sector to speed the recovery effort. As of mid-May, 3,048 volunteers from numerous organizations throughout the country had donated nearly 22,000 hours to help survivors clean up debris, repair and rebuild their homes following the spring storms.

FEMA’s mitigation outreach program at nine Home Depot and Lowe’s home improvement stores provided 1,600 shoppers with information on rebuilding/repairing homes in a safer and resilient manner. Thank you letters are being presented to participating stores.

Alabama residents affected by the disaster now have just five days to register as the governor-requested extension ends Tuesday, July 15. That date also is the deadline to apply for a physical disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

No matter the degree of loss or insurance status, survivors are urged to apply for help.

By phone, call 800-621-3362 (FEMA) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time. Operators are multilingual. TTY 800-462-7585.
By computer, go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
By smartphone or tablet, use m.fema.gov.
For those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services, call 800-621-3362.

County-by-County approved breakdown of Individual Assistance:

County	Approved Registrations	Housing Assistance	Other Needs Assistance
Baldwin	2,009	$7,406,398.75	$1,357,551.62
Blount	27	156,231.00	13,080.03
DeKalb	25	71,001.00	20,674.77
Etowah	57	427,844.51	53,507.05
Jefferson	424	1,097,191.43	202,440.98
Lee	53	267,722.71	54,516.18
Limestone	296	982,860.99	509,923.83
Mobile	4,104	5,502,001.79	1,669,443.43
Tuscaloosa	60	288,302.14	69,360.60
Total:	7,055	$16,199,554.32	$3,950,488.49

Recovery officials urge all Alabama residents who have registered for assistance to stay in close contact with FEMA throughout the recovery process. This is especially true during the first weeks after registering when FEMA housing inspectors must contact applicants to view damages. Those with mobile phones should provide that number to FEMA during the registration.

Affected survivors and business owners in the nine designated counties may apply for assistance from FEMA and/or the SBA. Those counties are: Baldwin, Blount, DeKalb, Etowah, Jefferson, Lee, Limestone, Mobile and Tuscaloosa.

Disaster Loan Outreach Centers, operated by the SBA to assist survivors with questions about federal disaster loans, are located in Baldwin and Mobile counties. These offices are located at:

Elberta Town Hall, 10352 Main Street, Elberta, AL 36540.
Fairhope Civic Center (Delchamps Room), 161 North Section Street, Fairhope, AL 36532.
Old Navy/Marine Corps Reserve Center, 4851 Museum Drive, Mobile, AL 36608.

These facilities, which also are staffed with a FEMA specialist, are open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Tuesday, July 15.

For more information, call the SBA customer service center at 800-659-2955. If you use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS), call 800-877-8339.

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Disaster Federal Aid for Alabama Reaches More Than $38 Million

Nearly $19.7 Million Approved for Mississippi Disaster Survivors

JACKSON, Miss. – Federal assistance approved for disaster survivors in 12 Mississippi counties has reached nearly $19.7 million.

Here is a summary of all federal assistance to individuals and households in the 12 Mississippi counties designated for FEMA Individual Assistance. The severe storms, tornadoes and flooding occurred from April 28 through May 3, 2014.

Nearly $19.7 million in total federal disaster assistance has been approved by FEMA and SBA, including:
Nearly $14.2 million in low-interest disaster loans has been approved by SBA for 229 homeowners, renters and businesses.
Nearly $5.5 million in FEMA Individual Assistance grants has been approved to help Mississippi disaster survivors recover, including:
- More than $4 million approved for housing grants, including short-term rental assistance and home repair costs.
- Nearly $1.5 million approved to help cover other essential disaster-related needs such as medical, dental and funeral expenses as well as repair or replacement of personal property.
More than 5,300 people contacted FEMA for help or information during the 60-day registration period that ended June 30.
Nearly 3,000 (99 percent) home inspections have been completed.

Monday, June 30, 2014, was the deadline to register with FEMA for individual assistance and submit SBA disaster loan applications. MEMA and FEMA remind survivors who registered for disaster assistance to stay in touch with FEMA and ensure the agency has their current contact information.

Applicants can call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 to check the status of an application, find out about the appeal process or provide insurance settlement information. Disaster survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability can call TTY 800-462-7585. Helpline hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Survivors who registered with FEMA before the deadline and discover their insurance has not covered all losses have up to a year from the date they registered with FEMA to submit their insurance settlement documentation to FEMA.

Survivors who are receiving FEMA rental assistance or staying in a temporary housing unit are periodically required to recertify their need for continuing assistance and can call the FEMA helpline with any questions about this process.

Survivors who applied for low-interest disaster loans can call the SBA hotline at 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339) or email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov with questions about SBA disaster loans.

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.

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.

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Nearly $19.7 Million Approved for Mississippi Disaster Survivors

Less than a Week for Florida FEMA Deadline

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Less than a week remains for storm and flood survivors in Florida to apply for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The deadline to register is Monday, July 21.

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

Those who had damage from the storms and flooding from April 28 to May 6 can apply for assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov or using a smartphone at m.fema.gov/ until midnight July 21. Survivors may also apply by phone at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585 until 10 p.m. July 21. Recovery specialists remain available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (CDT) daily.

People living in the designated counties 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.

July 21 is also the deadline to submit loan applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest disaster loans. These loans are the primary source of federal funds for long-term recovery. The quickest way to apply for an SBA disaster home or business loan is filling out an online application at DisasterLoan.SBA.gov/ela.

For more information on SBA low-interest disaster loans, call the SBA disaster customer service center at 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339, send an email to DisasterCustomerService@SBA.gov or visit SBA.gov/Disaster.

For more information on Florida disaster recovery, survivors can visit fema.gov/disaster/4177, the Florida Division of Emergency Management website at FloridaDisaster.org or the state’s Facebook page at facebook.com/FloridaSERT.

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Less than a Week for Florida FEMA Deadline

Stay in Touch with FEMA

JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency remind survivors who registered for disaster assistance to stay in touch with FEMA.

Especially important is updating contact information. Registrants may contact the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 to check the status of the application, find out about the appeal process, or provide insurance information after a settlement. Disaster survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability can call TTY 800-462-7585. Helpline hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Applicants who registered but who discover that their insurance has not covered all losses have up to a year to submit their insurance settlement to FEMA. FEMA help may be available for some items that insurance policies don’t cover.

Applicants receiving rental assistance or occupying a temporary housing unit are periodically required to recertify their need for continuing assistance. The registrant’s permanent housing plan should be kept current and any recertification forms received should be returned promptly.

Survivors should not hesitate to contact the FEMA helpline with questions or concerns about disaster assistance. Questions about the U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loan application should be directed to SBA at 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339), or email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

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 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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Stay in Touch with FEMA

Whole Community Disaster Recovery Takes Many Hands

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – While the public may know the Federal Emergency Management Agency as the government entity that offers financial resources following disasters, FEMA is but one member of a team that brings much more.

Supporting the recovery is the coordinated effort of many federal, state and local partners, who together provide a wealth of programs and services to impacted communities and their residents.

Volunteers

Many volunteer agencies provide for the basic needs of survivors immediately following a disaster – a hot meal, a place to sleep and a change of clothes. Established organizations like the Salvation Army, United Way, Samaritan’s Purse, the American Red Cross and others provide these vital services until they are no longer needed.

Individuals, churches and neighbors also step in. As local governments begin to clean up and address damages, so do homeowners and others begin the task of recovering.

These volunteers assist in clearing debris, a task that can seem insurmountable for survivors. Crews from such organizations such as Mennonite Disaster Service, the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, Samaritan’s Purse and Team Rubicon have all responded to Alabama with experience, the tools and the equipment to begin repairing and rebuilding.

In Alabama, other groups of concerned residents have banded together with the state Emergency Management Agency, federal agencies including FEMA, local governments and volunteer groups to comprise the state’s Volunteer Agencies Active in Disasters (VOAD) to help disaster survivors recover.

VOADs, usually organized on a county-by-county basis, establish and operate what are known as Long Term Recovery Committees. The committees address a wide range of unmet needs that survivors can either not afford or are unable to provide for themselves.

FEMA Corps

FEMA Corps members are volunteers aged 18-to-24 who provides direct aid to survivors in their homes and elsewhere. They volunteer for 10 months and gain on-the-job training in the emergency management field.

Corps members are supplemented with other specialists to make up Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams, all of whom go door-to-door to provide information on registering for federal aid, guide people in the registration process and follow-up on pre- or post-disaster needs. They also coordinate with local, tribal and state governments and other partners. More than 8,000 Alabama homes were visited.

Among those 8,000 homes, the teams aided seniors, shut-ins, and people with disabilities as well as those who do not speak English to obtain federal disaster aid.

Opportunities for Employment

One of FEMA’s top priorities is to provide temporary full-time jobs to the community. In Alabama, these jobs range from human resource specialists, information technology, couriers, engineers, communications, finance and administration.

FEMA has employed 18 local individuals to fill a variety of positions.

Not only do these jobs bring work opportunities for the community, these employees bring local experience and a feeling for the community to the federal government.

Help with Child Care Costs

Childcare costs following a presidential disaster declaration have been added in 2014 as a reimbursable expense in some cases.

To be eligible, survivors must live in a declared county and use a licensed childcare service (center-based, group home, in-home or other provider). The children can be up to age 13, disabled children, as defined by federal law and who need assistance in caring for themselves, may be up to age 18.

They also must be occupants of the household, are listed on the Application for Disaster Assistance and are dependents of the applicant.

Costs per child may be awarded for a total of eight weeks, which may or may not be consecutive.

Helping to Rebuild Stronger and Safer

Lowe’s and Home Depot home improvement stores around the state teamed up with FEMA mitigation specialists to provide advice on how to rebuild homes and other structures in a way that will be less susceptible to flooding, wind damage and other hazards.

The outreach program took place throughout June. In the first five days of operation, more than 300 shoppers stopped to ask questions, with the most frequently asked question — how to build to withstand tornadoes and high winds.

Overall, FEMA mitigation specialists spoke with more than 1,600 shoppers during the month.

The mitigation specialists also can offer advice on cleaning up mold and mildew, how electrical systems, furnaces and other appliances can be protected from flooding, how to build a safe room as well as information on the National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Legal Services

How do you go about recovering important legal documents that have been lost during the disaster? Another group of volunteers has stepped up to provide free legal assistance to survivors.

The Volunteer Lawyers Program of the Alabama State Bar Association offers low-income individuals and families with legal assistance on such topics as assistance with insurance claims, landlord/tenant problems, home repair contracts, consumer protection-foreclosure problems, replacement of important legal documents, drafting powers of attorney, preparation of guardianships and conservatorships, as well as referring individuals to local and state agencies for assistance.

Disaster legal services are available by calling the hotline phone number 888-857-8571 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. In the Huntsville area of Limestone County, call 256-539-2275 and in Mobile and Baldwin counties call 855-997-2857.

Disaster Unemployment

A program that FEMA funds and has been completed in Alabama is Disaster Unemployment. The program, to which 63 individuals applied, is aimed at workers who would not qualify for regular unemployment insurance. It is operated by the state of Alabama.

Eligible workers included the self-employed who lived or worked in affected areas during the storm, those who are unemployed as a result of the storm, workers who were unable to reach their jobs as a result of the storm and those who were to begin employment but were unable to work because the business was damaged as a result of the disaster.

Individuals who became the primary or major wage earner due to the disaster-related death of the head of the household also may be eligible, as may workers who could not work because of an injury caused as a direct result of the storm.

Albie Lewis, federal coordinating officer for the Alabama disaster, said recovery needs to be inclusive of all disaster survivors.

“FEMA and all recovery partners work together to mitigate the tough, long-term whole community inclusive issues to make sure everyone gets information and access to recovery programs they need in an appropriate manner.”

All of these programs are available because FEMA, its state and federal partners and volunteer agencies are committed to providing help to those in need. In Alabama, these agencies will continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder to recover as long as needed.

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For more information on Alabama’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or http://www.ema.alabama.gov/. For the joint Facebook page, go to www.facebook.com/AlabamaEMA. To receive Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/AlabamaEMA or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

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Whole Community Disaster Recovery Takes Many Hands

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