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FEMA Rental Assistance May be Used for Security Deposits

NEW YORK – As the Jan. 28, 2013 deadline to register for FEMA assistance approaches in New York, recovery officials want to make sure Hurricane Sandy survivors know that they may be able to use Temporary Rental Assistance funds to help pay for a security deposit.

If a landlord requires a security deposit, you can use up to one month of FEMA rent money to cover it and you will not have to return it at the end of the lease. If you already paid a security deposit with your own money, FEMA will not reimburse it. However, if you need more help with rent, you can show the security deposit receipt to support your request for additional assistance.

To receive additional temporary rental assistance, you must complete the Continuing Need form with a copy of the lease and all receipts for rent and security deposits, and mail it to the address printed on the form. If you don’t have the form, contact FEMA’s toll-free Helpline at 800-621-3362.

Families in hotel or motel rooms who are preparing to move into an apartment may use FEMA rent money for security deposits and rent. This money may not be used to pay for telephone or television service or utilities.

Hurricane Sandy survivors in New York have until midnight EST on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 to register for federal disaster assistance, which can include money for rent, essential home repairs, personal property losses and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

Individuals also can find a disaster recovery center – and register with FEMA – online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet by going to m.fema.gov or by downloading the FEMA app. They may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585.

People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) should call 800-621-3362.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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FEMA Rental Assistance May be Used for Security Deposits

Transitional Sheltering Assistance Winds Down

TRENTON, N.J. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state of New Jersey will continue to help the dwindling number of families needing transitional sheltering assistance during a two-week extension of the program.

FEMA has continuously been in contact with households in the transitional sheltering program to determine their housing needs and how to help them. From those contacts, FEMA and the state of New Jersey recognized the declining need for the program.

Approximately 1,300 households currently using the program have told FEMA that they have worked out longer-term housing. Transitional sheltering is a short-term solution for housing and the extension will end Jan. 26.

Since the program began on Nov. 1, 2012, more than 5,400 people have stayed in more than 430 hotels and motels. The average stay is 25 days.

FEMA provides disaster survivors with rental resources and referrals to partner agencies to help with temporary housing needs.

FEMA reminds applicants to call the FEMA Helpline or visit a disaster recovery center for assistance if their needs or living situation change. Call 800-621-3362 or TTY 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 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.

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Transitional Sheltering Assistance Winds Down

FEMA Extends Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program in NY for an Additional 14 Days

New York – The Federal Emergency Management Agency, at the request of the State of New York, has approved a 14-day extension to the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program, which allows eligible survivors from Hurricane Sandy who cannot return to their homes to stay in participating hotels or motels.

The new extension will allow applicants to remain in participating hotels until Jan. 27, 2013. FEMA will call applicants eligible for the extension to notify them of the extended Jan. 27 checkout date.

“The Transitional Sheltering Assistance program is a temporary solution for folks who need a place to stay as we continue working with our state and local partners to help get people back into longer-term housing,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne. “That’s our number one priority.”

“On behalf of Governor Cuomo, I thank FEMA for approving the State’s request to extend the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program,” said Jerome M. Hauer, Commissioner of the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. “The extension of this important program provides necessary assistance to those affected by Hurricane Sandy as they continue to recover and rebuild.”

This is a short-term program that places families in hotels while they transition into longer-term housing.

To be eligible for TSA, survivors must first apply for federal assistance through FEMA by:

Registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov;
Registering via smartphone or tablet by using the FEMA app or going to m.fema.gov; or
Registering by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) (TTY 800-462-7585). For 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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FEMA Extends Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program in NY for an Additional 14 Days

FEMA Obligates $1.8 Million to Louisiana Agency for Hurricane Isaac Recovery

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) will receive a federal grant totaling more than $1.8 million to reimburse the agency for expenses incurred during Hurricane Isaac, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said Wednesday.

The FEMA Public Assistance grant, totaling $1,803,935, will cover 75 percent of the costs for emergency protective measures the department took before, during and after the late August hurricane to help evacuate and shelter Louisianians.

Between Aug. 26 and Sept. 10, 2012, Hurricane Isaac and its aftermath required the state of Louisiana to activate plans, procedures, staff and contracts to ensure a comprehensive response for the safe evacuation and sheltering of Louisianians. DCFS is responsible for providing sheltering, mass care, emergency assistance and housing to residents affected by a disaster.

“The department played a critical role in helping people remain safe, dry and healthy under extremely difficult circumstances,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar of FEMA. “The grant will help DCFS recover its expenses for that important effort.”

Under a cost-sharing formula, FEMA reimburses the state for 75 percent of the total costs, while the state and/or applicant pay the remaining 25 percent. The newly obligated funds are a portion of the nearly $175.7 million in total Public Assistance recovery dollars approved for the state since the Aug. 29, 2012, disaster declaration.

Once FEMA reimburses the state of Louisiana it is the state’s responsibility to manage the funds, which includes making disbursements to local jurisdictions and organizations that incurred costs.

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.

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FEMA Obligates $1.8 Million to Louisiana Agency for Hurricane Isaac Recovery

FEMA Obligates $1.5 Million to Baton Rouge for Hurricane Isaac Recovery

BATON ROUGE, La. – Baton Rouge will receive a $1.5 million federal grant to help the city recover from Hurricane Isaac, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said Wednesday.

The FEMA Public Assistance grant, totaling $1,529,871, helps reimburse the city for equipment and supplies used during the Hurricane Isaac response and recovery. Several departments were involved in the effort, including the airport, police, fire, emergency medical services, public works and the Mayor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness.

“The work of local governments is crucial when disaster strikes,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar. “These FEMA funds help support Baton Rouge’s efforts that protected the health and safety of citizens and city personnel during Hurricane Isaac.”

The grant covers the federal share of the parish’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 pay the remaining 25 percent.

The newly obligated funds are a portion of the nearly $175.7 million in total Public Assistance recovery dollars approved for the state since the Aug. 29, 2012, disaster declaration.

Once FEMA reimburses the state of Louisiana it is the state’s responsibility to manage the funds, which includes making disbursements to local jurisdictions and organizations that incurred costs.

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FEMA Obligates $1.5 Million to Baton Rouge for Hurricane Isaac Recovery

30 Minutes can make a Difference in Recovery from Sandy

SBA loan application is important part of the process

NEW YORK – In about half an hour, New York survivors of Hurricane Sandy can make a big difference in their recovery by applying for a low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The process isn’t hard at all. By returning the SBA loan application, homeowners may be eligible for up to $200,000 to repair or replace their storm-damaged home. Homeowners and renters may be eligible for up to $40,000 for replacement of personal property.

The form asks for the survivor’s name, contact information, Social Security number, mailing address, address of damaged property, income and assets, monthly housing cost, insurance information, debts and credit references. The language is clear and the application is not long.

SBA customer service representatives are available to issue or accept low-interest disaster loan applications and answer questions at all New York State/FEMA Disaster Recovery centers and SBA Business Recovery Centers.
- To find the nearest Disaster Recovery Center, go online to www.FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or, with a tablet or smartphone, go to m.fema.gov. Survivors may also text “DRC” and their Zip code to 43362 (4FEMA).
- To locate the nearest Business Recovery Center, visit www.sba.gov or call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339.)
Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s secure website at https://DisasterLoan.SBA.gov/ELA. More information is available by calling the SBA Disaster Customer Service Center toll-free number, 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339). Assistance is also available by email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or by visiting www.sba.gov.

If SBA finds the applicant eligible for a loan, there is no obligation to accept it. But filling out the application, whether or not a loan is offered, opens the door to other possible assistance, including additional federal grant funds for homeowners and renters.

So it’s worth spending a few minutes to ensure that the widest possible array of benefits is available.

The deadline for returning an SBA disaster loan application is Jan. 28.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

30 Minutes can make a Difference in Recovery from Sandy

New Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Brooklyn on Tuesday

NEW YORK – The state of New York and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will open a new Disaster Recovery Center in Brooklyn at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, to provide one-on-one, face-to-face help for Hurricane Sandy survivors.

The center will be located at the Gerristen Beach Volunteer Fire Training building, 43 Seba Ave.Brooklyn, NY 11229.

Operational hours for the Disaster Recovery Center are:

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday until further notice.

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday until further notice.

The center is opening as part of FEMA and the state’s ongoing commitment to meeting the needs of survivors who may visit the center to obtain useful FEMA information and apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

More than two months after Hurricane Sandy struck, 21 Disaster Recovery Centers, including the Seba Avenue center, are open throughout New York. In total, recovery centers have hosted more than 120,000 survivors.

To find the nearest recovery center, the following options are available: Text DRC and a Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA), and a text message will be sent back with the address. Or go to the Disaster Recovery Center locator at www.FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

Individuals also can find a recovery center – and register for FEMA help – online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet by going to m.fema.gov or by downloading the FEMA app. They may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585.

People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) should call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.

Hurricane Sandy survivors in New York have until Jan. 28, 2013 to register for federal disaster assistance, which can include money for rent, essential home repairs, personal property losses and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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New Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Brooklyn on Tuesday

FEMA Awards $13.7 Million Grant to Plaquemines Parish for Hurricane Isaac Recovery

BATON ROUGE, La. – Plaquemines Parish will receive a $13.7 million federal grant to help ensure the parish’s continued economic recovery following Hurricane Isaac, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced Thursday.

The FEMA grant, totaling $13,748,715, helps reimburse the parish for work to remove nearly 15,480 cubic yards of vegetative debris from a chokepoint in the main drainage canal.

“This grant will provide a significant boost to Plaquemines Parish’s efforts to recover from Hurricane Isaac,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar. “The funds will help restore functionality to the drainage system and therefore eliminate a threat to public health and safety.”

The FEMA grant covers the federal share of the parish’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 pay the remaining 25 percent.

The newly obligated funds are a portion of the $73.2 million in total Public Assistance recovery dollars approved for Plaquemines Parish since the Aug. 29, 2012, declaration for Hurricane Isaac. Statewide, Public Assistance grants total $171.2 million.

Once FEMA reimburses the state of Louisiana it is the state’s responsibility to manage the funds, which includes making disbursements to local jurisdictions and organizations that incurred costs.

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FEMA Awards $13.7 Million Grant to Plaquemines Parish for Hurricane Isaac Recovery

By Building Stronger, One Family’s Home Withstood the Storm

NEW YORK – When Thomas O’Grady decided to build a house on East Atlantic Beach, the neighborhood he grew up in, he wasn’t very happy learning that he couldn’t build his main floor because of new local building codes that would require him to elevate his home to the area base flood elevation (BFE).

BFE is the elevation of surface water resulting from a flood that has a 1 percent chance of equaling or exceeding that level in any given year. Despite their hesitation, the O’Gradys built four feet over the required 11 foot BFE, which conforms to the minimum National Flood Insurance Program requirements as well as state and local building codes. Their decision ultimately paid off.

“My parents have lived in this neighborhood, right next door, since 1967 and we’ve never had an inch of water on our street,” said O’Grady.

However, when Hurricane Sandy made landfall in October 2012 and severely damaged many homes throughout Long Island, because their home was elevated, the O’Gradys survived the storm. Though the slow-moving storm swamped other houses in their area, the O’Grady home stayed snug and dry.

In addition to elevating their home well above the BFE, O’Grady built to other state and local codes that would enable the structure to withstand hurricane force winds. By building stronger, the family ensured that their home could withstand a disaster like Sandy. “We were upstairs during the storm and we felt the wind,” O’Grady said. But we were never worried about any serious damage from the wind.”

The storm surge came up about three feet above the water line and breached the dunes on the beach near the O’Grady home. In contrast, all their neighbors who had not elevated their homes received at least three feet of water in their living areas. As for the O’Grady house, the living area received no water at all. “The water went through the crawl space, through the flood vents and out the flood vents, so once the tide subsided, the water was gone,” O’Grady said.

When a structure is elevated and tied together with the proper hardening measures, evidence shows it survives significantly better. “They [local building officials] all know how upset I was in the beginning that I could not build that main floor, said O’Grady. Now they are all laughing at me saying, ‘Aren’t you thankful now you elevated your home?’ I sure am.”

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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By Building Stronger, One Family’s Home Withstood the Storm

Atlantic City Recovery Center Changes Locations

TRENTON, N.J. — The disaster recovery center in Atlantic City will change its location on Friday, Jan. 4.

The center located at the Atlantic City Convention Center will move to the following address:

Boardwalk Hall

2301 Boardwalk

Atlantic City, NJ 08401

Center hours are 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Federal Emergency Management Agency staff are available at the center to provide clarification on letters, assist survivors with finding a temporary home if their primary residence was damaged or destroyed, check on the status of their application for assistance or refer survivors to other agencies that may provide additional help.

Also, survivors can consult with U.S. Small Business Administration customer service representatives about low-interest disaster loans to repair or rebuild their homes and FEMA mitigation specialists about cost-effective rebuilding and repair techniques to reduce property damages in future disasters.

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.

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Atlantic City Recovery Center Changes Locations

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