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Federal Disaster Assistance Includes Right of Appeal

WINDSOR, Conn. – Not every Connecticut resident who registered for federal disaster assistance following Hurricane Sandy will qualify for aid. But an appeal process can ensure those affected by the storm will receive all aid to which they are legally eligible.

An applicant has 60 days from the day a determination letter arrives to appeal the FEMA decision.

To file an appeal, write a letter explaining why the decision about the amount or type of assistance received is not correct. The letter should include any documents supporting the applicant’s claim.

The letter should also include:

the FEMA Disaster number (DR-4087-CT);
the applicant’s FEMA registration number;
the last four digits of the applicant’s Social Security number; and
the applicant’s name on all pages of the letter.

Additional information is available on Pages 9-11 of the FEMA booklet, “Help after a Disaster: Applicant’s Guide to the Individuals & Households Program.”

The letter must be signed, dated and mailed to:

FEMA

National Processing Service Center
P.O. Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055

Letters may also be faxed to 800-827-8112 with a cover sheet to: Attention – FEMA.

If applicants do not get the assistance they expected, the FEMA appeal process is a way to revisit the survivor’s application and information.

Applicants who do not understand the FEMA determination letter should ask questions via the FEMA helpline, 800-621-3362, or visit a Disaster Recovery Center. For the location of a convenient recovery center, go to: http://go.usa.gov/g2Td.

For a video on filing an appeal: http://go.usa.gov/ggkF

The deadline to register is Dec. 31. Registering for disaster assistance with other agencies or organizations does not register survivors for FEMA disaster assistance. Having FEMA flood insurance does not register policyholders for disaster assistance; flood insurance claims are handled separately.

Register online anytime day or night at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or with a smartphone or other Web-enabled device at m.fema.gov. Register or get questions answered by phone anytime by calling FEMA at 800-621-3362. The TTY number is 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Wait for the English message to finish to reach the multilingual operators.

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Federal Disaster Assistance Includes Right of Appeal

Disaster Recovery Center in Old Saybrook to Close

WINDSOR, Conn. – The FEMA-State Disaster Recovery Center at the Department of Police Services, 6 Custom Drive, Old Saybrook, will close at 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec 8.

Help is still available for residents with damage from Hurricane Sandy. Register online or through the FEMA Helpline call center. The deadline to register is Dec. 31.

Survivors can register online anytime day or night at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or with a smartphone or other Web-enabled device at m.fema.gov. Survivors can also register by phone anytime by calling FEMA at 800-621-3362. The TTY number is 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Wait for the English message to

finish to reach the multilingual operators.

Registering for disaster assistance with other agencies or organizations does not register survivors for FEMA disaster assistance. Having FEMA flood insurance does not register policyholders for disaster assistance; flood insurance claims are handled separately.

Homeowners or renters who suffered damages in counties designated for disaster assistance can visit any of the other Disaster Recovery Centers. For the location of the nearest center, go to: http://go.usa.gov/g2Td.

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 800-621-3362. For TTY, call 800-462-7585.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and covers 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.

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Disaster Recovery Center in Old Saybrook to Close

Groton Disaster Recovery Center to Close

WINDSOR, Conn. – The FEMA-State Disaster Recovery Center at the Groton Senior Center, 102 Newtown Road, Groton, will close at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 5.

Help is still available for residents with damage from Hurricane Sandy. Register online or through the FEMA Helpline call center. The deadline to register is Dec. 31.

finish to reach the multilingual operators.

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Groton Disaster Recovery Center to Close

FEMA Registration Deadline Now 30 Days Away

WINDSOR, Conn. — Connecticut residents who had damage from Hurricane Sandy have only 30 days left to register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The deadline to register for disaster assistance is Monday, Dec. 31.

Survivors can register online anytime day or night at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or with a smartphone or other Web-enabled device at m.fema.gov. Survivors can also register by phone anytime by calling FEMA at 800-621-3362. The TTY number is 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Wait for the English message to finish to reach the multilingual operators.

Disaster assistance for homeowners and renters can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs.

Low-interest disaster loans are available from the U.S. Small Business Administration to homeowners, renters, nonprofits and business of all sizes. SBA is the largest source of federal disaster funds for repairing or replacing damaged or destroyed property.

Returning an SBA application is essential to completing the application process and may open a door to additional forms of disaster assistance from FEMA. However, no applicant is obligated to accept a loan.

Registration for disaster assistance with another agency does not register an applicant with FEMA. Having flood insurance does not register policyholders for disaster assistance; flood insurance claims are handled separately.

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 a private nonprofit organization fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and covers 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.

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FEMA Registration Deadline Now 30 Days Away

Low-Interest Disaster Loans Fuel Connecticut Recovery

WINDSOR, Conn. – Hurricane Sandy survivors are putting low-interest disaster loans to good use.

The loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are being used to:

• Make home repairs not covered by insurance;
• Replace clothing, appliances and vehicles;
• Make improvements to reduce the risk of future damage; and
• Refinance existing liens or mortgages on homes.

SBA loans are the major source of federal disaster recovery funding and may be available for other uses as well. For example, renters may be eligible for loans to cover some of their personal property losses, including vehicles. There are also loans for businesses and nonprofit organizations as well.

Applications from the SBA are mailed to most survivors who register for assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Returning the loan application is an important step in the recovery process because it may qualify the applicant for more FEMA grants. No one is obligated to accept a loan, if offered.

“Even the maximum amount FEMA is allowed to award won’t replace a home destroyed in a hurricane,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Albert Lewis. “Most disaster recovery is funded by low-interest loans from the SBA.”

SBA can lend homeowners up to $200,000 to repair or replace their home and up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property.

Disaster loans have distinct advantages:
• Home loans are as low as 1.688 percent
• There are no points or application fees
• Loans are available before insurance settlements are made
• SBA can write loans based on the cost of replacing the home today

The deadline to file for an SBA Home Disaster Loan is Dec. 31.

SBA offers online application through its Electronic Loan Application site at https://DisasterLoan.SBA.gov/ela. Survivors can call the SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, or visit the SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/sandy.

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, nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and covers 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.

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Low-Interest Disaster Loans Fuel Connecticut Recovery

Learn Rebuilding Techniques at Stores in Norwalk, Bridgeport and Stratford

WINDSOR, Conn. – An outreach team from FEMA will be at Home Depot stores in Norwalk, Bridgeport and Stratford this weekend to explain techniques that may reduce potential damage to homes, businesses and property from future flooding.

Mitigation specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will offer “how-to” information for retrofitting buildings and elevating utilities. Specialists can also provide clean up tips for removing mold and mildew from a storm-damaged home.

FEMA teams will be at the following locations from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1, and Sunday, Dec. 2:

• Home Depot – Norwalk, 600 Connecticut Ave., Norwalk, CT 06854
• Home Depot – Bridgeport, 656 Reservoir Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06606
• Home Depot – Stratford, 350 Barnum Ave. Cutoff, Stratford, CT 06614

Information will include instructions on how to:

• Relocate circuit breaker panels, outlets and switches above potential floodwaters;
• Move washer and dryer hookups to a higher floor;
• Elevate furnaces and water heaters; and
• Prevent sewer backups with a backflow valve.

More information on ways to protect your home from future disasters is available at www.fema.gov/safer-stronger-protected-homes-communities.

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Learn Rebuilding Techniques at Stores in Norwalk, Bridgeport and Stratford

Donate Wisely to Help Hurricane Sandy Survivors

Warwick, R.I. -The best way to support Sandy survivors is to make financial contributions to reputable voluntary organizations, say officials from the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Cash is the most effective. Cash donations allow nonprofit organizations to purchase what disaster survivors need. Buying from local businesses helps the economy recover.

Donations of used clothing, miscellaneous household items and mixed or perishable foodstuffs must be sorted, packaged, transported, warehoused and distributed. These tasks require helping agencies to divert resources away from providing services, while the donated items may not meet disaster survivors’ needs.

Donate to reliable national or local organizations. Beware of solicitations to help Sandy survivors from people or groups you haven’t verified. These may be from con artists.

To find reputable organizations accepting donations of cash or looking for volunteers, go online to www.aidmatrixnetwork.org/fema and select Rhode Island from the drop down menu.

Finally, be patient. Recovery lasts a lot longer than the media attention. There will be a need for donations and volunteers to help Rhode Island recover for many months, even years, to come.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for medical and dental expenses, 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.

SBA disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people with speech or hearing disabilities) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Applications can also be downloaded from www.sba.gov or completed on-line at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

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Donate Wisely to Help Hurricane Sandy Survivors

FEMA Obligates $3.2 Million to St. John Parish Schools for Classrooms and Cleanup

BATON ROUGE, La. – Two grants totaling $3.2 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will help St. John Parish schools recover from Hurricane Isaac, FEMA has announced.

After the late August storm’s flooding severely damaged most of the buildings at the East St. John High School campus in Reserve, the district relocated most students to temporary classrooms at the nearby Leon Godchaux Academy campus.

But without enough classroom space at the academy, students are attending school daily in two, five-hour shifts this semester. On that limited schedule, the 2012-2013 academic year would extend through next summer and into September in order for students to get the required annual instructional time.

FEMA’s $1.4 million grant will provide additional modular classroom units for high school students. More class time is expected to be scheduled each day beginning in January. The school year then may end in July.

“Getting closer to the regular academic calendar is an important part of recovery for the St. John district and community,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar. “These funds will help the district recover costs for adding the temporary classroom space that will help students stay on schedule.”

FEMA’s second grant for $1.8 million will help pay cleanup costs at the damaged high school campus and at Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School in LaPlace. Both schools sustained extensive flooding during the storm.

The FEMA grants will pay the federal share of the St. John school district’s eligible costs for the work. Under a cost-sharing formula, FEMA reimburses the state for 75 percent of the total costs, while the state and/or applicant cover the remaining 25 percent.

Once FEMA pays the funds to the state of Louisiana, their management, including disbursement to local school districts and organizations performing services, is the responsibility of the state. The obligated funds are a portion of nearly $121.8 million in total Public Assistance recovery funds obligated to the state since the Aug. 29 declaration for Hurricane Isaac.

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

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.

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FEMA Obligates $3.2 Million to St. John Parish Schools for Classrooms and Cleanup

FEMA Working to Increase Assistance for Hurricane Survivors in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. — More than $530,000 in additional disaster assistance is getting to Hurricane Isaac survivors as the result of an initiative launched by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Louisiana.

Under the initiative, 3,904 storm survivors are getting follow-up phone calls and even some home visits from a team of FEMA outreach liaisons. They are helping applicants with the appeal process, explaining letters they may have received from FEMA and assisting applicants with gathering the documentation needed for their claims.

So far, outreach specialists have helped survivors obtain more than $174,000 in Rental Assistance and nearly $358,000 in Housing Assistance.

Since Hurricane Isaac roared ashore in late August, the state and FEMA have approved more than $117 million in grants for eligible individuals and families in Louisiana. The grants are for temporary housing, home repair and reconstruction, and for other needs, including personal property replacement or disaster-related medical and dental expenses. The total includes more than $530,000 in assistance resulting from the outreach initiative.

“With this proactive approach we’re reducing the number of survivors determined ineligible for federal assistance because of incomplete or missing information,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar of FEMA. “The recovery process is stressful for those who suffered great losses, and we want to make sure all survivors get the maximum grant they are eligible to receive.”

“Another benefit of survivor outreach is that FEMA can more quickly close cases and thus get survivors referred to long-term recovery committees to assist them with any unmet needs,” said Susan Tompkins, head of FEMA’s Individual Assistance branch for the hurricane recovery mission. “This helps speed the pace of recovery for everyone.”

The outreach effort will continue until FEMA contacts all eligible survivors in the parishes, Tompkins said.

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FEMA Working to Increase Assistance for Hurricane Survivors in Louisiana

FEMA Grants Are Not Taxable Income

WINDSOR, Conn. – Hurricane Sandy survivors receiving Social Security or other government aid have no cause for concern when it comes to how disaster assistance might affect their benefits.

Disaster assistance grants are not taxable income and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, medical waiver programs, welfare assistance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance.

To be eligible for federal disaster assistance, survivors must first register with FEMA. The process only takes about 20 minutes.

Survivors can register online anytime day or night at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or with a smartphone or other web-enabled device at m.fema.gov. Survivors can also register by phone anytime by calling FEMA at 800-621-3362. The TTY number is 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Wait for the English message to finish to reach the multilingual operators.

Survivors also may visit a Disaster Recovery Center to speak directly with a FEMA specialist who can answer their questions. For an updated list of DRCs, go to http://go.usa.gov/g2Td.

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 nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and covers 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.

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FEMA Grants Are Not Taxable Income

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