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FEMA Continues Disaster Recovery Mission in West, Texas

AUSTIN, Texas – In the nearly eight weeks since the April 17 fertilizer plant explosion, the state of Texas and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have had personnel in West working side by side with local officials and the community to help them recover.

On April 19, 2013, an Emergency Declaration was granted for the explosion in West, Texas providing immediate financial assistance to assist the state in the response. FEMA personnel arrived April 20 to begin preliminary damage assessments of homes and businesses affected by the explosion.

“We have physically been in the City of West since April 20 working alongside survivors, the city of West and McLennan County to maximize our efforts under the current Emergency Declaration,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin L. Hannes of FEMA. “There is a lot of work that remains to be done. FEMA in partnership with the state of Texas will have a presence in West as long as needed.”

On May 1, the Emergency Declaration was amended to include the Individual and Households Program. The state and FEMA opened a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in West on May 4 to begin helping survivors with applying for federal disaster assistance. The center transitioned to a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Center June 3. Since the opening on May 4, the center has received more than 1200 new and repeat visitors.

Even though the SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center closed June 13, FEMA personnel including Individual Assistance and Public Assistance specialists will remain at that location to continue to work with survivors. FEMA specialists will be available at the POINTWEST bank to help register survivors, accept and process additional insurance documentation and provide residents with the status of their applications until the registration period ends June 18.

“We are committed to registering every eligible survivor,” Hannes said. “We have registered 789 survivors so far and we are proactively contacting each applicant once again as part of a 100 percent review and outreach initiative. To date, more than $7.6 million in federal disaster assistance has been approved for survivors.”

FEMA continues to have personnel in West and in Austin actively working with state and local officials to prepare Public Assistance project worksheets for reimbursement of costs related to emergency protective measures and debris removal authorized under the current Federal Emergency Declaration. “We are working diligently to reimburse the City of West, McLennan County and the State of Texas for expenses incurred while performing life-saving and emergency protective measures immediately following the explosion,” Hannes continued.

More than $1.1 million in Public Assistance funds have been obligated to the state to reimburse agencies that responded to the explosion. Under a cost-sharing formula, FEMA reimburses the state for 75 percent of the total costs while the state and/or applicant cover the remaining 25 percent.

Survivors who have not registered with FEMA can do so by going online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. They may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Survivors who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers are available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. The registration deadline is June 18.

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FEMA Continues Disaster Recovery Mission in West, Texas

FEMA Registration Deadline Approaching for West, Texas Survivors

AUSTIN, Texas – West, Texas residents affected by the April 17 fertilizer plant explosion are encouraged to register for disaster assistance from the state of Texas and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) before the June 18 deadline.

Survivors can register now at www.disasterassistance.gov, via smartphone at m.fema.gov, or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. FEMA phone lines operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

“As we approach the June 18th deadline, we encourage anyone who has not yet registered with FEMA to do so now,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin L. Hannes of FEMA. “Even if you think your damages may be covered by insurance, register now and let us determine your eligibility.”

Low-interest disaster assistance loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are also available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, nonprofit organizations whose property was damaged or destroyed by this disaster.

“Even residents who believe they have complete insurance coverage often find they have a substantial shortfall and need additional financial help,” Hannes continued. “We remain committed to helping West survivors until they have received all the state and federal assistance they are eligible to receive.”

SBA’s Disaster Assistance will continue to be available beyond FEMA’s June 18 deadline. The filing deadline to return SBA applications for property damage is July 1, 2013. The deadline to return economic injury applications is February 3, 2014.

For more information about SBA’s Disaster Assistance, contact the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659 2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call (800) 877 8339. Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call (800) 877-8339.

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FEMA Registration Deadline Approaching for West, Texas Survivors

$1.5 Million in FEMA Aid Helps Maine with Blizzard Costs

Main Content

Release date:

June 17, 2013

Release Number:

4108-1

$1.5 Million in FEMA Aid Helps Maine with Blizzard Costs

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided $1.5 million to help Maine with costs due to the February 8-9 blizzard. A federal disaster declaration authorized aid for Androscoggin, Cumberland, Knox, Sagadahoc, Washington and York counties.

“This assistance reduces the blizzard’s financial impact on local governments and agencies,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer James N. Russo. “FEMA continues working to assure that all receive the maximum disaster aid we can provide.”

FEMA’s Public Assistance program reimburses public agencies and certain private non-profits for 75 percent of their eligible costs. For the snowstorm, most of the costs were for emergency response overtime work and for clearing tons of snow from public roads and other public facilities.

Last Updated:

June 17, 2013 – 13:47

State/Tribal Government or Region:

Maine

Related Disaster:

Maine Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding

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$1.5 Million in FEMA Aid Helps Maine with Blizzard Costs

FEMA Awards Nearly $1.5 Million for Improvements to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Bastrop County, Texas

DENTON, Texas — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded nearly $1.5 million to the state of Texas for improvements to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Smithville, Texas.

The grant will fund improvements to defense zones through vegetation management and will fortify existing buildings to better withstand wildfires.

FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) will pay 75 percent or $1.48 million of the combined $1.97 million cost.

HMGP provides grants to states, and tribal and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures that reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster.

Learn more about FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant program online at http://www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-grant-program.

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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FEMA Awards Nearly $1.5 Million for Improvements to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Bastrop County, Texas

FEMA Releases Preliminary Work Maps for Four New Jersey Counties

TRENTON, NJ – The Federal Emergency Management Agency is releasing preliminary work maps for four New Jersey counties heavily impacted by Superstorm Sandy – Hudson, Monmouth, Ocean and Atlantic.

The preliminary work maps for those counties will replace the Advisory Base Flood Elevation maps because they reflect a more precise modeling analysis of current flood hazards, including wave analysis, and a more detailed study of other specific conditions that could affect flood risk.

FEMA is working closely with New Jersey’s local and state officials to provide the most accurate updated flood risk information to those individuals who need it as they make decisions about rebuilding their homes.

Revision of these maps is an ongoing process leading to the final Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The final maps will incorporate previous data and add more details about specific flood risk conditions in communities throughout the state, with a priority placed on those in coastal areas facing the highest risk.

Before Superstorm Sandy struck, FEMA was in the process of updating flood hazard maps for
the New Jersey coast.

Soon after Sandy, FEMA released Advisory Base Flood Elevations which incorporated much of
the information contained in the study already under way.

Because Sandy had reshaped the coastline, not all the earlier information was applicable. The Advisory Base Flood Elevations represented the best information available at the time, and served as a guide for those who wanted to rebuild as soon as possible.

Additional information about the coastal mapping efforts and Hurricane Sandy recovery can be found on the Region 2 Coastal Analysis Mapping website: http://www.region2coastal.com.

# # #

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.

Original article:

FEMA Releases Preliminary Work Maps for Four New Jersey Counties

Abren centros de recuperación del estado/ FEMA en Carney, Norman, Oklahoma City y Shawnee

OKLAHOMA CITY– Los residentes de Oklahoma afectados por las tormentas y tornados severos ocurridos entre el 18 y el 27 de mayo ahora pueden visitar los centros de recuperación por desastre ubicados en Carney, Norman, Oklahoma City y Shawnee para obtener información sobre asistencia por desastre.

Condado de Lincoln
Carney High School
203 South Carney St.
Carney, OK 74832
Horario de servicios: De 8.00am a 7.00pm

Condado de Oklahoma
Westmoore High School
12613 South Western Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73170
Horario de servicios: De 8.00am a 8.00pm

Condado de Pottawatomie
Gordon Cooper Technology Center One John C. Bruton Blvd. Shawnee, OK 74802
Horario de servicios: De 8.00am a 8.00pm

Condado de Cleveland
Little Axe Elementary School
2000 168th Ave. NE
Norman, OK 73026
Horario de servicios: de 9.00am a 7.00pm

En estos centros de servicios multiples, los sobrevivientes pueden reunirse en persona con especialistas del Departamento de Oklahoma para el Manejo de Emergencias (OEM, por sus siglas en inglés), de la Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencias (FEMA, por sus siglas en inglés) y de la Administracion de Pequeños Negocios de EE.UU. (SBA, por sus siglas en inglés). En el centro, los visitantes pueden realizar lo siguiente:

• Analizar sus necesidades individuales relacionadas con el desastre.
• Obtener información sobre los diferentes tipos de asistencia federal y estatal.
• Someter toda la documentación necesaria, tal como facturas telefónicas o cartas de compañías de seguros.
• Averiguar el estatus de una solicitud.
• Recibir ayuda de especialistas de la SBA para completar las solicitudes de préstamos a bajo interés para propietarios de viviendas, inquilinos y dueños de empresas.
• Obtener información acerca de cómo la Cruz Roja Americana y otras organizaciones voluntarias pueden ayudarlo a satisfacer necesidades inmediatas.
• Reunirse con especialistas en mitigación de riesgos de FEMA para obtener información acerca de cómo reducir las pérdidas en futuros desastres y cómo reconstruir de manera más resistente y segura.

La asistencia por desastre puede incluir subvenciones para ayudar a pagar vivienda temporal, reparaciones del hogar y otras pérdidas. Es probable que haya préstamos a bajo interés de la SBA disponibles para cubrir pérdidas no cubiertas por un seguro u otras fuentes.

Antes de visitar un centro de recuperación, los sobrevivientes pueden solicitar asistencia estatal y federal en línea www.DisasterAssistance.gov/es o a través de un teléfono inteligente en www.m.fema.gov/es. Además, pueden llamar al 800-621-3362 o al (TTY) 800-462-7585. Las personas que utilizan el servicio
711 o el servicio de transmisión de video, pueden llamar al 800-621-3362 para inscribirse.

Para las personas con discapacidades visuales o del habla, es posible que los centros cuenten con:

• Teléfonos con subtitulos, los cuales transcriben las palabras habladas a texto.
• El folleto Help After a Disaster (Ayuda Después de un Desastre) en letra grande y en Braille.
• Intérpretes del lenguaje de señas estadounidense a petición especial.
• Lupas y dispositivos de asistencia auditiva.
• Servicio 711 o servicio de transmisión de video disponible.

Para obtener más información sobre la recuperación por desastre en Oklahoma, haga clic en http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4117 o visite el sitio del OEM en www.oem.ok.gov. El sitio web fema.gov/es tiene un enlace a una Página de control de rumores, la cual aclara los rumores relacionados con los desastres.

La asistencia de recuperación por desastre se encuentra disponible sin distinción de raza, color, religión, nacionalidad, sexo, edad, discapacidad, dominio del inglés o condición económica. Si usted o alguien que conoce ha sido discriminado, comuníquese sin cargo con FEMA al 800-621-3362. Para utilizar la línea TTY, llame al 800-462-7585.

El OEM trabaja en la preparación, la respuesta, la recuperación y la mitigación de emergencias y desastres. El Departamento presta servicios a las ciudades, los pueblos y los condados de Oklahoma a través de una red de más de 350 administradores de emergencias locales.

La misión de FEMA es apoyar a los ciudadanos y a las agencias de primera respuesta para garantizar que como país trabajemos juntos para desarrollar, mantener y mejorar nuestra capacidad de prepararnos, protegernos y recuperarnos de los peligros, responder ante ellos y mitigarlos.

La SBA es la fuente principal de dinero del gobierno federal para la reconstrucción a largo plazo de la propiedad privada dañada por el desastre. La SBA ayuda a propietarios de viviendas, inquilinos, empresas de todos los tamaños y organizaciones privadas sin fines de lucro para que puedan financiar

sus esfuerzos de reparación o de reconstrucción y a cubrir el costo de reemplazar la propiedad privada que se perdió o que sufrió daños por desastre. Los préstamos por desastre cubren pérdidas que el seguro u otras fuentes de recuperación no cubren en su totalidad y no duplican beneficios de otras agencias u organizaciones.

Síganos en Twitter en http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6 y en el blog de FEMA en http://blog.fema.gov.

Source:

Abren centros de recuperación del estado/ FEMA en Carney, Norman, Oklahoma City y Shawnee

Federal Disaster Aid to Illinois Residents Tops $94 Million

AURORA, Ill. – Federal assistance in Illinois has reached more than $94 million, distributed among more than 35,400 individuals and households, since a major disaster was declared for the state May 10.

The latest summary of federal assistance to individuals and households for losses due to the severe storms and flooding between April 16 and May 5 includes:

More than $94 million in FEMA grants approved for individuals and households;
Of that amount, more than $82 million has been approved for housing assistance, including temporary rental assistance and home repair costs;
More than $12 million has been approved to cover other essential disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses and damaged personal possessions;
More than 49,500 home inspections have been completed to confirm disaster damage;
More than $12.8 million in loans to homeowners, renters or business owners has been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration; and
More than 3,000 visits have been made to Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) operated jointly by FEMA and the state of Illinois.

Residents of 33 counties in the major disaster declaration have until July 9 to register for federal assistance. Three Disaster Recovery Centers closed this week – in Peoria, Rock Island and Woodford counties. FEMA staff continues to set up temporary offices in affected locations to provide registration assistance.

Public Assistance (PA) was previously approved for 24 Illinois counties. Another 15 counties were added this week bringing the total to 39 counties. Eligible counties now include Adams, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Clark, Crawford, DuPage, Fulton, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Henderson, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Lawrence, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McHenry, McDonough, Mercer, Monroe, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Pike, Putnam, Rock Island, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, Will and Woodford.

PA provides local governments and certain eligible nonprofits with funding for debris removal, emergency protective measures and infrastructure repairs such as building roads and bridges. This assistance is on a cost-sharing basis with FEMA paying 75 percent and the remainder the responsibility of the state and local governments. State-led applicant briefings are under way.

Hazard Mitigation teams are located at six home improvement stores to provide information on how to repair or rebuild stronger and safer to help avoid damage from future storms.

Once they have registered, survivors can keep the process moving forward by using these tips:

Keep critical appointments. A FEMA-contracted inspector will make an appointment to visit the property. Homeowners should be there for the inspection, or authorize someone who is 18 or older and lived in the home at the time of the disaster to represent them during the inspection.
Read all FEMA letters and documents. Applicants deemed eligible for disaster assistance will receive a letter from FEMA providing guidance on the disaster relief grant. The document will explain ways the money can be spent for recovery and explain that federal assistance may have to be repaid if it is duplicated by insurance or other assistance received.
Return forms and respond promptly. Sometimes FEMA sends letters indicating that more information is necessary before approval. Applicants should read the correspondence carefully and promptly return the necessary information.
Stay in touch with FEMA to update an address, phone number or e-mail address.

Accepting a U. S. Small Business Administration loan is not necessary, but applying for one is required as part of the FEMA application process:

Survivors may receive an SBA loan application package. Loans are available for homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofit organizations to repair or replace real estate, contents and/or personal property damaged in the severe storms and flooding.
Fill out and return these forms promptly. It is not necessary to accept a loan, but this application must be completed before certain grants and other programs can be considered.
SBA representatives at Disaster Recovery Centers will assist in completing the loan application as well as answer any questions. Information and assistance from SBA also is available at 800-659-2955, (TTY) 800-877-8339. Survivors also can apply online at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

It is not necessary to visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) to register or stay in touch with FEMA. Individuals can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. For more information, visit the Illinois Disaster website www.fema.gov/disaster/4116.

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, 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.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

Original article:

Federal Disaster Aid to Illinois Residents Tops $94 Million

FEMA Urges East Coast Residents to Be Prepared for Localized Flooding and Listen to Local Officials

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through its regional offices in Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston, continues to closely monitor Tropical Storm Andrea and the potential for flooding in coastal and inland areas along the path of the storm.

As Tropical Storm Andrea continues to churn over the East Coast, FEMA urges citizens to closely monitor the storm and take steps to be as prepared as possible, in advance of severe weather, and most importantly follow the directions of state, local and tribal officials. This storm is projected to bring significant rainfall and the risk for flash flooding in many areas. If you encounter flood waters, remember – turn around, don’t drown.

FEMA remains in close contact with emergency managers in affected and potentially affected areas along the East Coast to ensure they have the resources they need for Andrea and for the 2013 hurricane season. FEMA’s National Watch Center in Washington, D.C. remains at an enhanced watch. An incident management assistance team (IMAT) and liaison are en route to the Virginia emergency operations center to assist in coordination efforts, and at the request of the state of Florida the IMAT and liaison deployed earlier in the week to Florida to support coordination are standing down.

“As the storm continues northeastward along the East Coast, we urge those in potentially affected areas to continue to monitor storm conditions and follow the instructions of state, tribal and local officials,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “Stay away from flood waters; never drive through flooded roadways.”

Driving through a flooded area can be extremely hazardous and almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. When in your car, look out for flooding in low lying areas, at bridges, and at highway dips. The depth of water is not always obvious. As little as six inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Road beds may be washed out under flood waters. Never cross any barriers that are put in place by local emergency officials.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service, as of 11 a.m., Tropical Storm Andrea is located 50 miles southwest of Fayetteville, North Carolina with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. The center of Andrea made landfall on the coast of the Big Bend area last evening, and will continue to move along the East Coast through Saturday. As much as 6 inches of rain will be expected in some areas.

Tropical storm warnings remain in effect from north of the South Santee River, South Carolina to Cape Charles Light, Virginia, including Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds, North Carolina, and for the lower Chesapeake Bay south of New Point Comfort, Virginia. A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours. Tornados are possible over eastern portions of North Carolina and Virginia today.

Although there have been no requests for federal Stafford Act assistance, FEMA continues to stand ready to assist states and tribes, as needed and requested.

As the first named storm of the 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season, Tropical Storm Andrea should serve as another reminder that if you live in a flood-prone or coastal state, now is the time to be prepared, including determining if you live in an evacuation zone.

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are now being sent directly to many cell phones on participating wireless carriers’ networks. WEAs sent by public safety officials such as the National Weather Service are designed to get your attention and to provide brief, critical instructions to warn about imminent threats like severe weather. Take the alert seriously and follow instructions. Tune to local media for emergency details in your town. More information is available on WEA at www.fema.gov/wireless-emergency-alerts.

As always, residents should listen to the instructions of state, tribal and local officials, and evacuate if told to do so. For more information on tropical storms and severe weather, and what you can do to protect yourself and your family, visit www.Ready.gov.

Information can also be found on your smartphone at m.fema.gov.

FEMA Urges East Coast Residents to Be Prepared for Localized Flooding and Listen to Local Officials

FEMA Working With Plant Explosion Survivors to Identify Unmet Needs

AUSTIN, Texas – An initiative launched by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in coordination with the state of Texas is aimed at finding additional disaster assistance for West, Texas residents affected by the April 17 explosion.

Under the initiative, all 764 applicants who have registered with FEMA will be receiving follow-up phone calls from FEMA outreach liaisons. The 100 percent review is designed to identify any unmet needs and work with survivors to provide any additional assistance they may be eligible to receive.

FEMA’s Outreach specialists are helping applicants with the appeal process, explaining letters they may have received from FEMA, assisting applicants with gathering insurance documentation needed for their claims and providing referrals to local voluntary agencies, long term recovery resources within the community, other state agencies and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for low-interest disaster loans.

So far, outreach specialists have reached more than 567 applicants and will continue to call each survivor until all applicants have been contacted.

“The recovery process is stressful for those who suffered great losses, and we want to make sure all survivors get the maximum assistance they are eligible to receive,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin L. Hannes of FEMA. “Our proactive approach will continue until every registered applicant in McLennan County has been contacted.”

Since the fertilizer plant explosion, the state of Texas, FEMA and the SBA have approved more than $6.5 million in federal disaster assistance grants and low-interest disaster loans for eligible individuals and families in McLennan County. The grants are for temporary housing, home repair and reconstruction, and for other needs, including personal property replacement or disaster-related medical and dental expenses. This total also includes more than $5.86 million in low-interest disaster loans approved from the SBA. These federal disaster loans help pay for residential and business property losses as well as disaster working capital needs for eligible small businesses and nonprofit organizations.

West survivors are encouraged to register with FEMA if they have not already done so. Residents can register now at www.disasterassistance.gov, via smartphone at m.fema.gov, or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. Phone lines operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. The registration deadline for FEMA assistance is June 18.

SBA’s Disaster Assistance will continue to be available beyond June 18. The filing deadline to return SBA applications for property damage is July 1, 2013. The deadline to return economic injury applications is February 3, 2014.

For more information about low-interest disaster loans, 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. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call (800) 877 8339. Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Original article:

FEMA Working With Plant Explosion Survivors to Identify Unmet Needs

Disaster Grants Won’t Affect Social Security or Taxes

AURORA, Ill. – State and federal disaster assistance is not treated as income and is not taxable. It also does not affect Social Security benefits, nor does it affect a recipient’s eligibility for other federal assistance programs.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has so far awarded more than $80.9 million dollars in disaster grants to individuals affected by the Illinois storms of April 16-May 5. Those grants have paid for temporary housing and other needs, such as personal property loss, medical care, and transportation. Here are answers to some typically asked questions:

Question: Will receiving a grant cause my income to increase to the point that I am no longer eligible for Medicaid, or food stamps, or Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF).

Answer: No. Grants for housing and Other Needs Assistance are not counted as income in determining eligibility for any income-tested benefit programs that receives U.S. government funds.

Question: I took my Social Security benefits early. If I earn more than a certain amount each year, I must repay $1 of my Social Security payment for every $2 I earn. Will FEMA grants add to my income and require me to repay Social Security?

Answer: No. FEMA grants for housing and ONA are not counted as income.

Question: I’m over 65, but if I earn more than a certain amount, I must pay tax on my Social Security income. Will a FEMA grant boost my income and require me to pay tax on my Social Security income?

Answer: No. Again, the IRS does not count FEMA grants for housing and ONA as income.

It is not necessary to visit a DRC to register with FEMA. Individuals can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. For more information visit the Illinois Disaster website www.fem a.gov/disaster/4116.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

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Disaster Grants Won’t Affect Social Security or Taxes

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