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Tallahatchie County Added to Federal Disaster Declaration for March Severe Storms and Floods

Ridgeland, Miss. – At the request of Governor Phil Bryant, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has amended a recent disaster declaration for severe storms and flooding from March 9-29, 2016. Survivors in Tallahatchie County can now register with FEMA for disaster assistance through the Individual Assistance program.

Survivors who sustained disaster-related losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance by calling FEMA’s helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 or relay service. (TTY users should call 800-462-7585.) The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available. Online registration is available at disasterassistance.gov.

There are now 17 Mississippi counties designated for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program, including: Bolivar, Clarke, Coahoma, Forrest, George, Greene, Jones, Marion, Panola, Pearl River, Perry, Quitman, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tunica, Washington and Wayne.

Assistance may include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as repairing or replacing damaged or destroyed personal property, medical and dental expenses. Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration may also be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance.

Mississippi residents in the 17 designated counties should register with FEMA even if they have insurance, but only if their property was damaged by the severe storms and flooding. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but under-insured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if the person has registered with another disaster-relief organization. Federal disaster aid does not affect other government benefits, such as Social Security and Medicaid, and is not considered taxable income. Only one person per household is eligible to register. Survivors must use the name that appears on their Social Security cards when registering with FEMA.

Applicants will be asked for the following information:

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

For more information on Mississippi’s flood recovery, go to fema.gov/disaster/4268 or visit the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency site at msema.org.

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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.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is the federal government’s primary source of money to help business of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters rebuild and recover after a disaster. SBA low interest disaster loans repair and replace property losses not fully compensated by insurance and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

See the article here:

Tallahatchie County Added to Federal Disaster Declaration for March Severe Storms and Floods

Spend FEMA Grants Wisely

RIDGELAND, Miss. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has already put more than $5 million in federal disaster relief funds in the hands of Mississippians recovering from flooding and severe weather. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and FEMA want to remind those receiving grant payments to spend those funds wisely. Survivors should use Housing Assistance and Other Needs Assistance grants on housing repairs and other essential needs.

Housing Assistance grants are intended for basic housing repairs, including repairs to a septic system or private well. Housing Assistance grants also may be used for short-term rental payments or reimbursement of hotel/motel expenses.

Other Needs Assistance grants are intended to help replace essential personal property and meet disaster-related medical, dental and funeral expenses. The money also may be used to repair or replace a car damaged by the disaster and to replace work-related tools.

Most FEMA disaster grants are deposited electronically at the applicant’s request to their bank account. A follow-up letter explains how the money should be spent.

If grant money is not used as outlined in the letter, a recipient may have to repay FEMA and could lose eligibility for further help. FEMA grants should not be used for luxury goods, such as flat-screen televisions, video games or other entertainment electronics. Grants may be audited, so survivors should keep receipts for three years to document disaster-related expenses.

The first step toward obtaining recovery assistance is to register with FEMA.

Survivors can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone (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. Multilingual operators are available.

Business owners, homeowners and renters can apply for low-interest disaster loans at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. SBA representatives are available at the disaster recovery centers to

answer questions and help survivors complete their disaster loan applications. Questions can also be answered by calling the SBA disaster customer service center at 800-659-2955 or (TTY) 800-877-8339 for the deaf or hard of hearing, or by visiting disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

For more information on Mississippi’s flood recovery, go to fema.gov/disaster/4268 or visit the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency site at msema.org.

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Spend FEMA Grants Wisely

Flood insurance: The time to buy is while it’s dry

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Until it happens to them, most people don’t realize that even an inch or two of water can cause thousands of dollars in damage. During the recent floods in Missouri, thousands experienced the trauma of flooded homes and businesses. The toll not only includes the heartbreak of losing precious possessions, but financial hardship, especially for those who don’t have flood insurance.

Spring, when flooding is typically most severe, has arrived. But you can still purchase a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy to protect your home and its contents or your business. Remember – there is a 30-day waiting period before a policy takes effect.

Homeowners’ insurance doesn’t cover flood damage, but the NFIP does. Funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), NFIP makes flood insurance available for communities that participate in the program, regardless of whether the area is high, low, or medium risk. NFIP carries a maximum coverage of $250,000 for homes and $100,000 for contents. Business coverage is a maximum of $500,000 for building and $500,000 for contents.

Many Missouri residents decided to buy flood insurance to protect against the risk of flooding. The amount of claims paid to homeowners and renters with flood insurance is more than double the amount of FEMA grants and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans in several counties designated for federal assistance for damages from the recent flooding:

In Taney County, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) paid policyholders more than $4.2 million in claims. Comparably, FEMA and SBA paid a total of $416,724 in grants and loans.
In St. Louis County, NFIP paid policyholders more than $14.3 million in claims, while loans and grants to St. Louis County residents totaled more than $6.8 million.
In Phelps County, NFIP paid nearly $1.9 million to policyholders while FEMA and SBA assistance was $254,254.

FEMA Individual Assistance can pay for losses not covered by insurance such as temporary rental assistance. Flood insurance can potentially provide your family with much more money – up to $350,000 – after a flood.

It’s also important to remember that NFIP insurance covers flood damage regardless of where there is a federal disaster declaration. That is another benefit of being covered by insurance.

To learn more about any property’s flood risk, estimate an NFIP premium or locate an insurance agent who sells flood insurance, log on to www.floodsmart.gov. For flood information and safety tips visit www.ready.gov/floods. Find the Spanish-language web site at www.listo.gov.

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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).

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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Flood insurance: The time to buy is while it’s dry

Coahoma County DRC to Temporarily Close for the Weekend

Coahoma County DRC to Temporarily Close for the Weekend

JACKSON, Miss. – The disaster recovery center in Coahoma County at the Clarksdale Civic Auditorium, 506 E. Second St. in Clarksdale, will temporarily close, at the request of local officials, on Saturday and Sunday April 16-17 to accommodate the large crowds expected for the Juke Joint Festival. The recovery center will reopen at 9 a.m. on Monday.

FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams will be available at the Juke Joint Festival to provide information on FEMA programs. They can help survivors register with FEMA, update personal information and answer questions about state, federal and voluntary agency services.

Recovery centers are run jointly by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The center is open this week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Beginning Monday, April 18, center hours will be:

Monday—Friday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Saturday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Anyone affected by the storms and flooding in a designated county may visit any of the centers. Survivors can locate the nearest center by visiting fema.gov/drc or by calling the FEMA helpline.

Many services available at disaster recovery centers are also available by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Survivors with questions regarding the application or the appeals process, or who need to register for assistance, may visit online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone (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. Multilingual operators are available.

If you require a reasonable accommodation (ASL interpreting, Braille Large Print, etc.) while visiting a disaster recovery center, call the appropriate Helpline number above.

For more information on Mississippi’s flood recovery, go to fema.gov/disaster/4268 or visit the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency site at msema.org.

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The U.S. Small Business Administration 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.

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. People who are referred to SBA by FEMA will be contacted by SBA and provided options for the application process. Completed applications must be submitted to SBA officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

Original article:

Coahoma County DRC to Temporarily Close for the Weekend

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Winnsboro, Franklin Parish, for Louisiana Survivors

BATON ROUGE, La. – A disaster recovery center will open Tuesday, April 12, in Winnsboro, Franklin Parish, to help Louisiana flood survivors. The center is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays until further notice.
The disaster recovery center is located at the following address:

Franklin Parish Public Works Building
8327 Highway 17
Winnsboro, La.

More centers are planned to open in other parishes. Survivors may locate centers online at fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or by calling 800-621-3362.

Representatives from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration, volunteer groups and other agencies are at the center to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses. They can also help survivors apply for federal disaster assistance.

Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams are canvassing many affected areas, and are able to register people for FEMA assistance if needed. Sometimes these teams will remain in certain locations convenient to the community, such as a library or mayor’s office. When residents require further assistance the teams may refer them to a disaster recovery center nearby.

It is not necessary to visit a center to register for and receive federal disaster assistance. If possible, survivors should register with FEMA before visiting a recovery center.

To register, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages and phone lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Disaster survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585 to register. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service or require accommodations while visiting a center may call 800-621-3362. All disaster recovery centers are accessible and equipped with tools to accommodate disaster survivors who need disability-related communication aids. Each disaster recovery center has assistive technologies for people with disabilities. To arrange to have an ASL interpreter at the DRC when you visit, call 225-382-1739.

Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA are available for businesses of all sizes including landlords, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters. Disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries.

For more information, applicants may contact the SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or visiting the SBA’s website at sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

For information call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov or www.fema.gov/disaster/4263.

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We urge everyone to continue to use caution in areas where floodwaters remain. Monitor DOTD’s www.511la.org website for updated road closure information. Look for advisories from your local authorities and emergency managers. You can find the latest information on the state’s response at www.emergency.la.gov. GOHSEP also provides information on Facebook and Twitter. You can receive emergency alerts on most smartphones and tablets by downloading the new Alert FM App. It is free for basic service. You can also download the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide and find other information at www.getagameplan.org.

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 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 https://twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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 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 Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800)877-8339.

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Originally posted here –

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Winnsboro, Franklin Parish, for Louisiana Survivors

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Kinder, Allen Parish for Louisiana Survivors

BATON ROUGE, La. – A mobile disaster recovery center will be available Saturday, April 9, in Kinder, Allen Parish, to help Louisiana flood survivors. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 9, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 10.

The mobile center will be parked at the following address:

On Monday, April 11th the mobile center will be open at the following address:
Kinder Fire Department
808 2nd Ave.
Kinder, La.

On Tuesday, April 12, the mobile center will reopen at the following address:
Allen Parish Fire District
215 W. 5th Ave.
Oberlin, La.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Locations will alternate over the next two weeks –The mobile center will return to Kinder on Friday, April 15, and Saturday, April 16. It will be back in Oberlin on Monday, April 18, and Tuesday, April 19.

More centers are planned to open in other parishes. Survivors may locate centers online at fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or by calling 800-621-3362.

At the center, residents can get questions about disaster assistance answered. Also if survivors need help with FEMA registration or filling out a U.S. Small Business Administration loan application for a low-interest disaster loan, someone at the center can help them.

It is not necessary to visit a center to register for and receive federal disaster assistance. If possible, survivors should register with FEMA before visiting a recovery center.

For information call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov or www.fema.gov/disaster/4263.

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Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Kinder, Allen Parish for Louisiana Survivors

Louisiana Disaster Survivors May Find An SBA Loan Is the Key To Their Recovery

BATON ROUGE, La. –If you are one of the Louisiana flood and storm survivors referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), it’s important to complete and submit the loan application you receive to ensure that your disaster recovery process continues to move forward.

Survivors should complete and return the applications as soon as possible. If you complete and submit the SBA disaster loan application, but do not qualify, it may open the door to other FEMA grants. Homeowners and renters who submit an SBA application, but who are not offered a loan may be considered for FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance program.

The Other Needs Assistance program helps meet essential needs like medical and dental care, funeral costs and transportation expenses. By not submitting the SBA loan application, disaster survivors may be leaving “money on the table” as applying for the loan ensures consideration for Other Needs Assistance if the loan is not granted.

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property, offering low-interest disaster assistance loans to businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters.

Submit an SBA loan application even if you are waiting for an insurance settlement. You may be able to begin your recovery immediately with a low-interest SBA disaster loan. The loan balance will be reduced by the settlement from your insurance. SBA loans may also be available for losses not covered by insurance or other recoveries.

Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence.
Homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 to replace personal property.
Businesses may borrow up to $2 million for any combination of property damage or economic injury.

SBA offers low-interest working capital loans (called Economic Injury Disaster Loans) to small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations of all sizes having difficulty meeting obligations as a result of the disaster.

Survivors should start the loan process as soon as possible.

Survivors who qualify for an SBA loan are under no obligation to accept it.

Survivors can submit their SBA loan application online at https://DisasterLoan.SBA.gov/ela, visiting their nearest Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) or by mailing their paper application to:

U.S. Small Business Administration
Processing and Disbursement Center
14925 Kingsport Road
Ft. Worth, TX 76155-2243

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 sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800)877-8339.

Survivors who haven’t yet registered with FEMA can do so online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling FEMA’s helpline at 800-621-3362, which is video relay service accessible. Survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or who have difficulty speaking may call TTY 800-462-7585.

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GOHSEP also provides information on Facebook and Twitter. You can receive emergency alerts on most smartphones and tablets by downloading the new Alert FM App. It is free for basic service. You can also download the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide and find other information at www.getagameplan.org.

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Original article:

Louisiana Disaster Survivors May Find An SBA Loan Is the Key To Their Recovery

FEMA Launches New Preparedness Feature to Smartphone App

Push Notifications to Remind Users to Take Simple Steps to Prepare for Disasters, Provide Easy Access to Information on How to Be Ready for Fires, Severe Weather, and other Hazards

WASHINGTON – Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) launched a new feature to its free smartphone app that will enable users to receive push notifications to their devices to remind them to take important steps to prepare their homes and families for disasters. The reminder feature allows users to receive pre-scheduled safety and preparedness tips, including testing smoking alarms, practicing a fire escape plan, updating emergency kits and replacing smoke alarm batteries.

“Our lives are increasingly busy and on-the-go,” said Deputy Administrator of Protection and National Preparedness Tim Manning. “Today, we turn to mobile devices and technology to help us stay more organized and connected. This new feature to FEMA’s app will make it easier for families to remember to take potentially life-saving actions that we all should be thinking about more often.”

“In just two minutes, a home fire can become life-threatening,” said U.S. Fire Administrator Ernest Mitchell Jr. “Remembering to take small steps to prepare, such as ensuring your smoke alarm is properly maintained and practicing your home fire escape plan, will reduce fire fatalities and ensure our communities are safer. We hope this new feature to FEMA’s app will help save lives by encouraging more families to be prepared.”

The new reminder feature builds upon several innovative tools already built into the app. In addition to push notifications, the app also provides a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, maps of open shelters and open recovery centers, and tips on how to survive natural and manmade disasters. The FEMA app also offers a feature that enables users to receive push notifications of weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations across the nation.

Some other key features of the app include:

Weather Alerts: Users can elect to receive alerts on severe weather happening in specific areas they select, even if the phone is not located in the area, making it easy to follow severe weather that may be threatening family and friends.
Safety Tips: Tips on how to stay safe before, during, and after over 20 types of hazards, including floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes.
Disaster Reporter: Users can upload and share disaster-related photos.
Maps of Disaster Resources: Users can locate and receive driving directions to open shelters and disaster recovery centers.
Apply for Assistance: The app provides easy access to apply for federal disaster assistance.
Information in Spanish: The app defaults to Spanish-language content for smartphones that have Spanish set as their default language.

The latest version of the FEMA app is available for free in the App Store for Apple devices and Google Play for Android devices. Users who already have the app downloaded on their device should download the latest update for the reminder alerts feature to take effect. The reminders are available in English and Spanish and are located in the “Prepare” section of the FEMA App.

To learn more, visit: The FEMA App: Helping Your Family Weather the Storm.

Link:

FEMA Launches New Preparedness Feature to Smartphone App

Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Pineville, Rapides Parish and Many, Sabine Parish for Louisiana Survivors

BATON ROUGE, La. – Disaster recovery centers will open Wednesday, April 6, in Pineville, Rapides Parish and Many, Sabine Parish to help Louisiana flood survivors. The centers are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays until further notice.

The disaster recovery centers are located at the following addresses:

The Old Cleco Bldg
201 Cleco Drive
Pineville, La.

Many City Hall
965 San Antonio Avenue
Many, La.

More centers are planned to open in other parishes. Survivors may locate centers online at fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or by calling 800-621-3362.

It is not necessary to visit a center to register for and receive federal disaster assistance. If possible, survivors should register with FEMA before visiting a recovery center.

For more information, applicants may contact the SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing

DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or visiting the SBA’s website at sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

For information call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov or www.fema.gov/disaster/4263.

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Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Pineville, Rapides Parish and Many, Sabine Parish for Louisiana Survivors

More Louisiana Residents May Be Eligible for Federal Disaster Assistance, Urged to Register

Baton Rouge, La. – Louisiana disaster survivors in Catahoula, East Carroll, Franklin, Lincoln and St. Helena parishes may now be eligible for federal disaster assistance.

Their first step is to register with FEMA.

Individuals in the designated parishes who had storm damage may apply for federal disaster assistance three ways:

Online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov
By calling 800-621-FEMA (3362)
- People who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 800-462-7585.
- For those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.
- These toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
At a disaster recovery center (DRC).
- For addresses of all the DRCs currently operating in Louisiana, go to www.fema.gov/disaster/4263 and click on the “Disaster Recovery Centers” link.

The federal disaster declaration issued March 13 for seven Louisiana parishes has been expanded four times to include 28 additional parishes as a result of severe storms and flooding that began on March 8, and continues.

The parishes designated for assistance are: Allen, Ascension, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Calcasieu, Catahoula, Claiborne, De Soto, East Carroll, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, La Salle, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Union, Vernon, Washington, Webster, West Carroll and Winn.

Assistance provided by FEMA for homeowners and renters can include grants for rent, temporary housing and home repairs to their primary residence, as well as other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs.

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also may be available to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. The loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Residents should apply as quickly as they can, even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

For flood insurance policyholders who may have questions, FEMA has aligned its call center to support them with servicing their claims and getting answers to their questions quickly. Policyholders may call 800-621-3362 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and select Option 2. Call center staff are available to assist policyholders with information regarding their policy, offer technical flood guidance to aid in recovery, and respond to general as well as complicated questions about the NFIP. Policyholders with questions specifically about an insurance claim can be transferred to their insurance carrier for additional assistance.

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 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 Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

Original source:

More Louisiana Residents May Be Eligible for Federal Disaster Assistance, Urged to Register

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