August 10 Last Day to Register for May-June Flood Disaster Aid

AUSTIN, Texas – Texans who suffered damage or losses from the May-June storms and flooding have only until Aug. 10 to register with FEMA for federal disaster assistance.

Individuals who had disaster-related damage or losses between May 22 and June 24 and who live or work in the 24 eligible counties are strongly encouraged to register for FEMA assistance by the deadline.

The counties included in the federal disaster declaration are Austin, Bastrop, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Eastland, Fayette, Fort Bend, Grimes, Harris, Hidalgo, Hood, Kleberg, Lee, Liberty, Montgomery, Palo Pinto, Parker, San Jacinto, Stephens, Travis, Tyler, Waller and Washington.

Applying for disaster assistance is essentially a two-step process, which ensures consideration for all FEMA programs and the U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans. First, register with FEMA, then complete and return the no-obligation SBA loan application, if one is offered. There is no charge to apply for the loan and if approved, no obligation to accept it.

Disaster survivors in all 24 counties may register for assistance the following ways:

  • online at DisasterAssistance.gov

  • phone 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

  • at a disaster recovery center. To find the nearest one, go online to the disaster recovery center locator at asd.fema.gov/inter/locator.

FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

Survivors should register even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims have been settled.

A free multilingual guide to the types of assistance available can be found at fema.gov/pdf/assistance/process/help_after_disaster_english.pdf

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the May storms at fema.gov/disaster/4272; or visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Follow us on Twitter @femaregion6.

# # #

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.

Download fema.gov/mobile-app to locate open shelters and disaster recovery centers, receive severe weather alerts, safety tips and much more.

 

 

 

More: 

August 10 Last Day to Register for May-June Flood Disaster Aid

A U.S. Small Business Administration loan can be smart business

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – If you are a disaster survivor in West Virginia you may not know you can get help from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that could lead to a smarter, faster recovery for businesses, homeowners, renters or private nonprofits.

The first step is to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Once you have done that, both FEMA and SBA encourage you to apply for a low-interest disaster SBA loan to help fund your recovery and to ensure the federal disaster recovery process continues. 

An SBA low-interest disaster loan is a primary source of funds for real estate property repairs and for replacing contents destroyed in the severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides that occurred June 22-29.

Physical Damage Disaster Loans

Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

If your SBA loan application is approved, you may be eligible to borrow additional funds to cover the cost of improvements that will protect your property against future damage. Examples

include elevating utilities, water heaters and furnaces, and installing retaining walls and sump pumps. Applicants may be eligible for an SBA loan increase, for mitigation purposes, of up to 20 percent of their physical damage.

Interest rates are as low as 4 percent for businesses and 2.625 percent for nonprofit organizations, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans

SBA also offers a working capital loan to relieve the economic injury caused by the disaster. A disaster loan is available to eligible businesses as well as private nonprofits even if the property was not damaged by the June storms.

These loans are for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and certain private nonprofit organizations of all sizes to cover unpaid bills and lost business due to the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available in amounts up to $2 million. The total of both physical damage and economic injury loans cannot exceed $2 million.

Eligible counties for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans

The disaster declaration covers the counties of Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Roane, Summers and Webster in West Virginia, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. 

Eligible counties for Economic Injury Disaster Loans only

Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Lewis, Mercer, Logan, Mason, Mingo, Pendleton, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Upshur, Wayne, Wirt and Wood in West Virginia; Alleghany, Bath, Craig and Giles and Highland in Virginia; and Meigs in Ohio. 

Deferred Disaster Loan payments

The first payment for a disaster loan is due five months from the date of the SBA note.

Deadlines

The deadline to apply for an SBA Physical Damage loan is Aug. 24, 2016.

The deadline to apply for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster loan is March 27, 2017.

  • You can submit your SBA disaster loan application in one of three ways:  online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/; in person at a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC); or by mail. SBA has staff at all DRCs to provide one-on-one assistance to businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters in submitting their application.

Do not wait for an insurance settlement before submitting an SBA loan application. You can begin your recovery immediately with a low-interest SBA disaster loan. The loan balance will be reduced by the insurance settlement if you receive one. SBA loans may be available for losses not covered by insurance or other sources.

Remember, you don’t have to accept the loan if you qualify for one.

SBA Disaster Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) help businesses get back on their feet from damage they sustained during the storms. The BRCs are a resource where businesses can meet face-to-face with SBA representatives to learn how a low-interest disaster loan can help them recover. The BRCs are located in Greenbrier, Kanawha and Nicholas counties. To locate a DRC or an SBA BRC, call the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955.

If you have not registered with FEMA:

  • You can apply by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or (TTY)  800-462-7585. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services, you should call 800-621-3362. Operators are multilingual and calls are answered from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time seven days a week; or

  • You can go online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov; or

  • You can visit a DRC.

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by calling the FEMA Helpline 800-621-3362 or visiting: www.DisasterAssistance.gov; the flood pages at www.WVflood.com; fema.gov/disaster/4273; twitter.com/femaregion3; and fema.gov/blog.

Taken from:

A U.S. Small Business Administration loan can be smart business

FEMA Urges Americans to Be Prepared for Extreme Heat, Download FEMA Smartphone App

Top FEMA Officials Available for Interviews to Discuss Extreme Heat Safety Tips, Urge Residents to Download FEMA Smartphone App Designed to Help Families Before, During, and After Disasters

Washington – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is urging residents across the nation to take steps now to prepare their families and communities for extreme heat, by reviewing important safety information and downloading the FEMA smartphone app. 

The National Weather Service announced today that “dangerously hot and humid conditions are expected this week across a large portion of the nation.” Additionally, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center’s latest outlook notes that most of the continental United States is facing elevated chances of well-above-average summer temperatures. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, heat kills more people than hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, earthquakes and floods.

To help Americans stay safe during extreme heat, FEMA urges residents to consider taking the following actions in affected areas:   

  • Postpone outdoor games and activities and limit exposure to the sun.
  • Drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine; limit alcoholic beverage intake.
  • Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing.
  • Spend the warmest part of the day in temperature-controlled buildings such as libraries, schools, movie theaters, shopping malls, or community facilities.
  • Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.

FEMA also urges residents to download and use the free FEMA app, which provides valuable safety tips to help families prepare for and recover from more than 20 natural and man-made hazards. The FEMA app enables users to receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations across the nation, making it easy to follow severe weather that may be threatening family and friends.  The app also provides family communication plans, customizable checklist of emergency supplies, and maps of open shelters and disaster recovery centers. The app is available on the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

 

What:  Interview opportunity with FEMA officials to share information on how to stay safe during extreme heat and FEMA’s updated Smartphone App

Who:  FEMA Director of External Affairs Josh Batkin

          FEMA Director of Public Affairs Rafael Lemaitre  

          FEMA Director of Individual and Community Preparedness Helen Lowman

When:  Upon request

RSVP:  To schedule a media interview contact the FEMA News Desk at 202-646-3272 or FEMA-News-Desk@fema.dhs.gov. 

###

 

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.

View original article: 

FEMA Urges Americans to Be Prepared for Extreme Heat, Download FEMA Smartphone App

Only One Week Left for Texans to Register for April Flood Disaster Aid

AUSTIN, Texas – Texans who suffered damage or losses from the April storms and flooding have only until July 29 to register with FEMA for federal disaster assistance.

“This really is your last chance, so please don’t miss out,” said Federal Coordinating Officer William J. Doran III, who is in charge of FEMA’s operations in Texas. “FEMA wants to make sure that everybody who is eligible gets disaster assistance.”

Sixteen counties are included in the April 17-30 federal disaster declaration: Anderson, Austin, Cherokee, Colorado, Fayette, Fort Bend, Grimes, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, Parker, San Jacinto, Smith, Waller, Wharton and Wood.

At the request of the state, FEMA extended the period of time during which damage or losses can be covered as well as the deadline to register for assistance. Residents and those who work in those 16 counties now have until July 29 to register for assistance with FEMA if they have not already done so.

Applying for disaster assistance is essentially a two-step process, which ensures consideration for all FEMA programs and the U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans. First, register with FEMA, then complete and return the no-obligation SBA loan application, if one is offered. There is no charge to apply for the loan and if approved, no obligation to accept it.

Disaster survivors may register the following ways:

  • online at DisasterAssistance.gov

  • phone 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

  • at a disaster recovery center. To find the nearest one, go online to the disaster recovery center locator at asd.fema.gov/inter/locator.

FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

Survivors should register even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims have been settled.

A free multilingual guide to the types of assistance available can be found at fema.gov/help-after-disaster.

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the April storms at fema.gov/disaster/4269; or visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Follow FEMA on Twitter @femaregion6.

# # #

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.

Download fema.gov/mobile-app to locate open shelters and disaster recovery centers, receive severe weather alerts, safety tips and much more.

Originally from:  

Only One Week Left for Texans to Register for April Flood Disaster Aid

Storm survivors OK’d for more than $46.4 million in federal aid

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Disaster assistance grants approved for homeowners and renters affected by June 22-29 severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides, has reached more than $46.4 million, less than a month after President Obama issued a major disaster declaration for West Virginia.  

That total includes Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) grants of nearly $27.5 million in housing assistance, more than $5 million in other needs assistance and $924,000 in public assistance. In addition, more than $13 million in low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) have been provided to West Virginians.

Nearly 7,600 households and businesses have registered with the FEMA to date. Disaster assistance for individuals may include grants to help homeowners and renters pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs, personal property replacement, and serious disaster-related needs.

FEMA Public Assistance Grants provide funding to state, tribal, and local governments, and certain types of private, non-profit organizations. These monies help communities quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies declared by the president.

The SBA, one of FEMA’s partners in disaster recovery, approved 200 low-interest disaster loans to businesses, homeowners and renters. SBA disaster loans may cover repairs, rebuilding, as well as the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged real estate and personal property. SBA has staff on hand at all FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) to assist survivors, one-on-one.

In addition, the SBA operates three Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) to enable storm-impacted businesses to meet individually with SBA representatives and find out how a low-interest disaster loan can help them recover.

The BRCs are located at:

Greenbrier County

Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corp.

804 Industrial Park, Suite 5

Maxwelton, WV  24957

Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Kanawha County

Charleston Area Alliance

1116 Smith St.

Charleston, WV  25301

Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nicholas County
Summersville Village Hall
Conference Room
400 N. Broad St.
Summersville, WV 26651

Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Federal disaster assistance for homeowners, renters and businesses is now available to residents of 12 counties: Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Roane, Summers, and Webster.

FEMA-contracted housing inspectors have completed nearly 6,000 inspections of disaster-damaged properties to verify damage. Currently, there are 17 inspectors in the field.

FEMA encourages all survivors who sustained disaster-related damage or losses to apply 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.

In support of the State of West Virginia, FEMA has deployed 144 Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) personnel to canvass storm-damaged neighborhoods. To date, 15 teams of DSA workers have visited 12,325 homes in severely storm-damaged neighborhoods. They are equipped to register survivors with FEMA and answer their questions about disaster assistance.

The State and FEMA operate Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in the affected areas. The centers report 5,017 visitors to date.  DRCs  are  open  Monday  through  Saturday,  8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Sundays. An easy-to-use DRC Locator is available at http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm

Other help available to individuals:

  • For those who lost work as a result of the storms, Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available. New claims for DUA must be filed within 30 days of the date of the announcement of availability of DUA, according to the following schedule:

  • July 27, 2016: Greenbrier, Kanawha and Nicholas Counties.
  • July 29, 2016: Clay, Fayette, Monroe, Pocahontas, Roane, Summers and Webster Counties.
  • August 4, 2016: Jackson and Lincoln Counties.

For more information, visit Work Force West Virginia at workforcewv.org

  • Free disaster legal assistance is available to West Virginia storm survivors. This service offers counseling on insurance claims, landlord-tenant issues, home-repair contracts, the replacement of legal documents destroyed by the storm and other legal matters. Call the toll-free hotline 877-331-4279.
  • Survivors may be eligible for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (D-SNAP) benefits through the Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. D-SNAP benefits can be used to buy food, but cannot be used for alcoholic beverages, tobacco or non-food items. Storm survivors can apply for these benefits from July 25 through 31. More information is available at www.dhhr.wv.gov

Disaster assistance grants from FEMA are not taxable income and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicare and other federal and state programs. Disaster grants are just that – grants that do not have to be paid back to the government.

For more information about SBA loans, call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster.  TTY users may call 800-877-8339. Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
 

Excerpt from: 

Storm survivors OK’d for more than $46.4 million in federal aid

Help Remains When DRCs Close

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Summers, Lincoln, Fayette and Pocahontas counties and one in Summersville in Nicholas County will close permanently Friday, July 22 at 6 p.m. But, as a survivor of the June disaster, you will still be able to get the help you need with just a phone call.

Many of the services available at the DRCs are also available on the Helpline run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Helpline operates from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice. By calling 800-621-3362 (voice 711 or video relay services) or 800-462-7585 for TTY users, you can use the Helpline to:

  • Register with FEMA.
  • Provide a change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information to avoid disaster assistance processing delays.
  • Receive information about FEMA home inspections.
  • Get other questions answered about federal disaster assistance.
  • Ask questions about a letter from FEMA.
  • Learn how to appeal a FEMA decision.All applicants may appeal.

You can also register with FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

If you want to discuss your application, you must have your nine-digit FEMA registration number and zip code.

You can still visit the other DRCs.  Representatives from FEMA, various state agencies and the U.S. Small Business Administration are at the centers to answer your questions on disaster assistance or low-interest loans. The remaining centers are open in:

Clay County

 

Clay County High School, 1 Panther Dr., Clay WV 25043

Greenbrier County

Mobile Disaster Recovery Center, Southeastern Labor Council, AFL-CIO, 65 West Main St., White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986

 

Greenbrier County

 

Town Hall, 201 Kanawha Ave., Rainelle, WV 25962

 

Kanawha County

 

Kanawha County School Operations Center, 3300 Pennsylvania Ave.,

Charleston, WV 25302

 

Kanawha County

 

Tent in parking lot across from Dollar General Store, 120 Maywood Ave., W., Clendenin, WV 25045

Monroe County

Alderson Senior Center, 317 Monroe St., Alderson, WV 24910

 

Nicholas County

 

City of Richwood City Hall, 6 White Ave.,  Richwood, WV 26261

 

Nicholas County

Birch River Elementary School, 379 Birch River Rd., Birch River, WV    26610

 

Roane County

 

Geary Elementary School, 9538 Clay Rd., Left Hand, WV 2521

Webster County                       Webster Springs Municipal Building, City Council Room, 143 McGraw Ave., Webster Springs, WV 26288.

 

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/femaregion3, twitter.com/FEMA and fema.gov/blog.

See the original article here: 

Help Remains When DRCs Close

FEMA Seeking to Hire Texans to Work on Flood Recovery

AUSTIN, Texas—FEMA is looking to hire Texas residents as temporary employees to help with the state’s recovery from the past year’s storms and flooding.

FEMA is hoping to hire as many as 14 people—mostly in Austin and Houston but with a few positions in Denton and Bon Wier—to fill a variety of temporary positions working on disaster recovery.

“FEMA always seeks to employ local residents in its disaster recovery operations,” said Federal Coordinating Officer William J. Doran III, who is in charge of FEMA’s operations in Texas. “Not only does this help the economy recover by putting people to work, but these employees bring a wealth of local knowledge to the organization.”

Temporary local hires may be employed for 120-day terms, which may be extended up to one year maximum. They do not get hiring preference for other federal jobs as a result of their temporary employment. Selected health benefits are offered for these positions.

The wages vary depending on the nature of the work being performed and are set based on the prevailing wages of the state and locality. The positions range from administrative work to media relations.

Most temporary workers can be hired under a streamlined process instead of a competitive process. They must be 18 years old, have graduated high school or obtained a GED and have the appropriate qualifications for their positions. They will also be required to undergo a standard credit and criminal background check.

“We try to give preference to people who have actually suffered damage or losses from the disaster,” Doran said. “Many current FEMA employees began their careers as local hires.”

To find out more about the positions available and to apply, visit the Texas Workforce Commission’s website at workintexas.com.

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the FEMA webpage at fema.gov/disaster/4272 or visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Follow FEMA on Twitter @femaregion6.

# # #

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.

Link:

FEMA Seeking to Hire Texans to Work on Flood Recovery

DRCs close on Sundays; Trim hours

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Effective Sunday, July 17, Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in West Virginia will be closed on Sundays and begin operating weekly under new hours.

The new operating hours are Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. All DRCs will be closed on Sundays, including this Sunday, July 17.

If you have questions outside the DRC business hours, you can call the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Helpline at 800-621-3362 (voice, 711 or video relay service), or 800-462-7585 for TTY users.  You can use the Helpline to:

  • Register with FEMA.

  • Ask questions about a FEMA letter.

  • Ask about the status of your registration.You will need your nine-digit FEMA registration number and zip code.

  • Update your personal information (e.g., change of address or phone number, bank or insurance information, et al) to avoid processing delays.

  • Receive information about FEMA property inspections.

  • Ask about other federal assistance.

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting: www.DisasterAssistance.gov; the flood pages at www.WVflood.com; fema.gov/disaster/4273; twitter.com/femaregion3; twitter.com/FEMA; and fema.gov/blog.

More here:

DRCs close on Sundays; Trim hours

Texans Have Two Weeks Left to Register for April Flood Disaster Aid

AUSTIN, Texas—Texans who suffered damage or losses from the April storms and flooding have only two more weeks to register with FEMA for federal disaster assistance.

Residents of 16 counties who experienced damage or losses between April 17 and 30 have until July 29 to register for assistance after FEMA—at the request of the state—extended both the deadline to register as well as the period of time during which damage is eligible.

Residents of Anderson, Austin, Cherokee, Colorado, Fayette, Fort Bend, Grimes, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, Parker, San Jacinto, Smith, Waller, Wharton and Wood counties as well as those who work in those counties are encouraged to register with FEMA if they have not already done so.

Disaster assistance for homeowners and renters may include grants to help pay for temporary housing and essential home repairs, as well as other serious disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses.

Applying for disaster assistance is essentially a two-step process, which ensures consideration for all FEMA programs and the U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans. First, register with FEMA, then complete and return the no-obligation SBA loan application, if one is offered. There is no charge to apply for the loan and if approved, no obligation to accept it.

Disaster survivors may register the following ways:

  • online at DisasterAssistance.gov
  • phone 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.
  • at a disaster recovery center. To find the nearest one, go online to the disaster recovery center locator at asd.fema.gov/inter/locator.

FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

Survivors should register even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims have been settled.

A free multilingual guide to the types of assistance available can be found at fema.gov/help-after-disaster.

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the April storms at fema.gov/disaster/4269; or visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Follow FEMA on Twitter @femaregion6.

# # #

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.

Source: 

Texans Have Two Weeks Left to Register for April Flood Disaster Aid

Disaster assistance is available for older adults and people with disabilities

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Older adults and people with disabilities affected by the June 22-29 severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides may be eligible for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

It is important to register with FEMA by calling 800-621-3362 to find out about services that may be available.

FEMA has made it a priority to reach everyone who needs help – including people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, older adults and people with limited English proficiency – to make sure all survivors’ needs are met.

Accommodating survivors

  • Every disaster survivor has equal access to disaster information and assistance.

  • All FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are physically accessible.

  • All DRCs offer effective communication options, including captioned phones, iPads with video remote interpreting and on-site American Sign Language interpreters upon request.

  • Both Braille and large print FEMA documents are available.

  • If you need an accommodation or assistance due to a disability, please notify FEMA staff at the time of registration or anytime during the assistance process.

If you experienced losses or damage as a result of the recent storms you have several ways to register for disaster assistance:

  • You can apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by telephone at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services, you should call 800-621-3362. Operators are multilingual and calls are answered from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST seven days a week.

  • Or you can visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). You can locate the center closest to you by visiting http://go.usa.gov/x3NnJ or downloading the FEMA App to your mobile device to:

    • Apply for disaster assistance
    • Get directions to the nearest DRC
    • Get weather alerts
    • Subscribe to disaster safety tips

Will disaster assistance change my benefits?

  • If you receive Social Security benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps (SNAP – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), or Aid to Families with Dependent Children, you will not lose your benefits and they will not be cut if you receive disaster aid from the state or FEMA.

  • For more information on Social Security, contact the Social Security Administration by calling 800-772-1213 or by visiting www.SocialSecurity.gov.

Will I have to pay more taxes?

  • A FEMA grant does not add to your taxable income.

How will I know what I am eligible for?

  • If you live in one of the 12 West Virginia counties approved for federal Individual Assistance as a result of the storms that occurred June 22-29 you may be eligible for disaster aid.
  • The only way to know if you are eligible – and what you are eligible for – is to apply.

Are there any videos available?

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/femaregion3, twitter.com/FEMA and fema.gov/blog.

Originally posted here: 

Disaster assistance is available for older adults and people with disabilities

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