Less than 3 Months Remain Before Greene Co, AR Flood Maps Become Final

DENTON, Texas –– In less than three months, on Thursday, May 16, 2013, new flood maps for Greene County, Arkansas will become effective.  Before that date, state, local and federal officials are encouraging everyone to view the maps to understand their flood risk and consider purchasing flood insurance.

Most property insurance policies do not cover the effects of a flood. Floods can place people at risk of uninsured loss to their businesses, homes and personal property if they don’t have either a private flood insurance policy or coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a voluntary protection program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Flooding is the #1 natural disaster in the United States and only flood insurance covers these unexpected, damaging and sometimes fatal events. “Where there is rain, there could be flooding,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “Everyone lives in a flood zone.

To learn if your community participates in the NFIP and to review the new flood maps, residents can contact their local floodplain administrator.  

FEMA map specialists and flood insurance experts also are available to answer questions. They can be reached by phone and online chat:

FEMA encourages communities not currently participating in the NFIP to look at the benefits of joining the program. Participation in the NFIP can assure a faster recovery in the event of a devastating flood. Contacting a local insurance agent is the first step to obtaining information about insurance. Folks can visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531 to locate an agent in their area.

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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 us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6  and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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Less than 3 Months Remain Before Greene Co, AR Flood Maps Become Final

SBA Disaster Loans Are Important To Your Full Recovery

TRENTON, N.J. — After a disaster, a lot happens—some things more quickly than others. One thing that is consistent is there are a number of assistance programs that disaster survivors can apply for and there are insurance claims to be made.

You may first seek assistance from insurance. But you may find that insurance does not cover everything. Unfortunately, you may find this out months later when other options for funding, such as Small Business Administration disaster loans, may no longer be available.

Next to insurance, an SBA disaster loan may be the primary source for funds for home repairs and replacement of personal property following a disaster. You can get a loan of up to $200,000 before you settle with your insurance company and use the SBA money to fix your home. You can also borrow an additional $40,000 to help pay for things like furniture, clothes and vehicles that were damaged and not covered by homeowner’s or renter’s insurance.

There is another important reason to return your SBA application. In the event you return your application and you are denied an SBA home loan, you then might be eligible to receive other assistance from FEMA such as money to replace personal property. In most cases, you cannot receive this type of assistance from FEMA without being denied an SBA loan first.

But none of these options are available if you don’t return your SBA application. To take advantage of this help, you must get your loan application to the SBA by the March 1 deadline.

For additional information on SBA low-interest disaster loans, contact the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visiting sba.gov. SBA customer service representatives are available at all disaster recovery centers throughout the state. Centers can be found online at fema.gov/DRC.

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 www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. 

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

SBA’s Disaster Assistance Program provides long term, low-interest loans to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes. For more information, visit www.sba.gov. All SBA’s program and services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis.

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SBA Disaster Loans Are Important To Your Full Recovery

Vermont Travelers Should "Pledge To Prepare" For This Weekend

VERMONT TRAVELERS SHOULD “PLEDGE TO PREPARE” FOR THIS WEEKEND          

ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. – September is National Preparedness Month. As we approach Labor Day weekend, when hotel visits throughout Vermont peak, the Federal Emergency Management Agency encourages travelers to follow this year’s National Preparedness Month theme, “Pledge to Prepare.” Be prepared for emergencies that could happen while staying in hotels.    

“Vermont travelers should pledge to be prepared this holiday weekend,” said FEMA Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer Steve Ward. “As you prepare for your trip, be sure to plan for what you would do to help you and your traveling companions in the event of an emergency.”

How much do you really know about being prepared for a disaster when you’re staying in a hotel? Keeping a few important points in mind could make a difference in an emergency.  

Keep necessary items handy

When you enter your hotel room, place necessary items like your wallet, keys and cell phone somewhere close by the door to be able to grab them and get out of the building as fast as possible. Especially when staying in an area that is unfamiliar to you, it will be important to keep these items in a spot you will remember. 

Know your evacuation routes

Familiarize yourself with the layout of the hotel. Make a note of where the closest stairway or floor-level exit to your room is located. Evacuation routes are typically posted on the back of the hotel room door, at the elevator and in the stairwells.

In the event of a fire

Touch the door to check for heat. If the door feels warm, don’t use it as an exit.

“The first rule in any fire situation is to check the door,” said Tim Armstrong, a Vermont hotel manager.

If you are in a situation where smoke is coming under the closed door, wet towels and put them under the door to prevent smoke from coming inside the hotel room. Call the front desk for instructions.

“While disasters are unexpected, being prepared allows you to enjoy the beauty you’ve planned to see,” said Cody O’Leary, a Vermont hotel manager. “For more information, visit www.Ready.gov.”

FEMA encourages Vermonters to be prepared for emergencies by building a kit, and that guideline may be applied to items packed while traveling. A disaster supplies kit is simply a collection of items like a flashlight, water bottles, a battery-powered radio and anything else you may need in the event of an emergency. For more information about disaster supplies kits, visit:  http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit.

To view a FEMA video featuring Vermont emergency preparedness advice wherein Vermont hotel managers discuss being prepared for emergencies while traveling on the road and staying in hotels, visit:  http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/9426.

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

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Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/fema, 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.

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Vermont Travelers Should "Pledge To Prepare" For This Weekend

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