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SBA Disaster Assistance Loan Application: Key to FEMA Awards

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Disaster assistance applicants referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) who do not complete and submit the companion SBA disaster assistance loan application may be jeopardizing eligibility for other types of assistance.

In addition to businesses, homeowners, renters, and private, nonprofit organizations may be eligible for low interest home repair loans. The loans can be used to cover the costs of repair or replacement of damaged real estate, personal property and business assets not covered by insurance or other aid.

It’s essential for everyone in the Regional Educational Attendance Areas (REAAs) of Alaska Gateway, Lower Yukon, Yukon Flats, and Yukon-Koyukuk with damage from the 2013 Spring Flood to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and, if referred, apply for the SBA disaster loan. Small businesses and private, non-profit organizations in contiguous REAAs are eligible to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans.

Here are some important facts about the SBA loan application:

August 26, 2013, is the last day you can register with FEMA and apply for an SBA disaster loan for physical damage.
March 25, 2014, is the last day a business or private, non-profit organization may apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan.
You don’t have to accept the loan if you qualify for one.
If you don’t qualify, you could be eligible for more assistance from FEMA and other organizations.
You don’t have to apply for the SBA disaster loan to qualify for FEMA awards for disaster related medical, dental, and funeral expenses.
SBA personnel will help you fill out the disaster loan application for free!
Complete the SBA application and return it as soon as possible.

There are three ways for survivors of the flooding that occured between May 17 and June 11, 2013, to apply for an SBA disaster loan: After registering with FEMA, go online to SBA’s secure site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela; call 1-800-659-2955 (deaf and hard-of-hearing call 1-800-877-8339); or visit the Disaster Recovery Center for one-on-one service. For more information on SBA disaster assistance, go to www.sba.gov.

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SBA Disaster Assistance Loan Application: Key to FEMA Awards

Beware: Fraudsters Still Preying Upon Disaster Survivors

AURORA, IL — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) remind Illinois residents affected by the severe storms and flooding of April 16 to May 5 that the possibility of fraud persists.

Recent reports indicate a woman who claimed to be a FEMA employee has approached disaster survivors—mostly senior citizens— and offered to register them for federal assistance for a fee of $150. The same person may also be telling survivors they must pay her so they can collect an anticipated federal disaster assistance check. Both offers are attempts to defraud.

FEMA and IEMA reiterate the following:

FEMA does not charge for registration or for information that it gives out. Apply free online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call toll-free 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585). Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.
FEMA does not send out text messages asking recipients to call fee-based telephone numbers. The toll-free numbers above are used for all contact with FEMA, including applying and follow-up.
FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) do not charge fees for information regarding filling out the SBA loan applications. Free assistance is available by calling SBA’s toll-free number, 1-800-659-2955 (TTY 1-800-877-8339).
FEMA does not charge a fee to disaster survivors who receive a federal disaster benefit.

FEMA’s Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) crews are canvassing affected areas to provide information about disaster assistance and give Illinois residents an opportunity to register. While FEMA DSA crews are offering at-your-door service, it is important to remain vigilant about protecting your personal information:

Residents should always ask for ID. Federal and state officials always have photo identification clearly visible. If someone represents themselves as a federal or state employee, but does not produce identification, ask to see it.
DSA crew members may offer residents the opportunity to use a tablet computer to register, or ask to enter their information on their behalf. If residents prefer to use personal computers or phones to register, they can call 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585), visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov or use a mobile device at m.fema.gov.

Anyone with knowledge of fraud, waste or abuse may call the FEMA Fraud Hotline at 1-800-323-8603. You may also send an email to DHSOIGHotline@dhs.gov. Complaints may also be made via the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585) or with state or local law enforcement officials or consumer agencies.

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.twitter.com/femaregion5, 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.

Media Contact: 609-508-2238

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Beware: Fraudsters Still Preying Upon Disaster Survivors

New York: By the Numbers – 42

NEW YORK — The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration have approved more than $7.8 billion in direct assistance to homeowners, renters, businesses, government agencies and nonprofits that were affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Individual Assistance

Nearly $3.7 billion in National Flood Insurance Program payments made to policy holders
More than $1.5 billion in SBA disaster loans approved for homeowners, renters and businesses
Nearly $992 million in FEMA grants approved for individuals and households
- Nearly $848 million for housing assistance
- Nearly $144 million for other needs assistance

Public Assistance

More than $1.6 billion in Public Assistance grants to reimburse local, state and tribal governments and eligible private nonprofits for some of the costs of:
- emergency response
- debris removal
- repairing or rebuilding damaged public facilities
5.6 million cubic yards of debris removed

Sandy survivors should stay in touch and notify FEMA when they receive their insurance settlement, need to update their address or other contact information, or have any questions regarding their application.

Applicants may call FEMA’s Helpline at 800-621-3362 (Voice, 7-1-1/Relay) or

TTY 800-462-7585 to update FEMA. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT, seven days a week.

Individuals can check the status of their application at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

For information about New York State recovery programs, visit www.NYSandyHelp.ny.gov or call 855-NYS-SANDY. The phone line is available 8 a.m to 8 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends.

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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of funding for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339).

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New York: By the Numbers – 42

Federal Disaster Aid to Illinois Residents Tops $144 Million

AURORA, Ill. – Federal assistance in Illinois has reached more than $144 million, distributed among more than 58,000 individuals and households, since a major disaster was declared for storms and flooding that occurred April 16 through May 5.

The latest summary of federal assistance includes:

More than $144 million in FEMA grants approved for individuals and households;
Of that amount, more than $124 million has been approved for housing assistance, including temporary rental assistance and home repair costs;
More than $20 million has been approved to cover other essential disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses and damaged personal possessions;
More than 87,000 home inspections have been completed to confirm disaster damage;
More than $49 million in loans to homeowners, renters or business owners has been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

FEMA has extended the registration deadline by 15 days to August 8, 2013. Affected residents of 35 counties covered in the Illinois disaster declaration for severe storms and flooding are encouraged to register with FEMA.

Counties designated for individual assistance for this disaster declaration are: Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Clark, Cook, Crawford, DeKalb, Douglas, DuPage, Fulton, Grundy, Henderson, Henry, Kane, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, Peoria, Pike, Putnam, Rock Island, Schuyler, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, Whiteside, Will, Winnebago, and Woodford.

Federal assistance is only available for individuals who incurred damage in a designated county as a result of storms and flooding that occurred during the period of April 16 to May 5. Registering for assistance for damages sustained as a result of a storm in any other period could be considered fraudulent and claimants could face recoupment of grant money received and/or fraud charges.

To register or to ask questions about your claim, call 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. Residents can also register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362. All phone lines are open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Those with storm damage who do not register are disqualifying themselves from any possible assistance if their insurance settlement is not enough.

Those owning homes or businesses in areas that flood frequently may be required to elevate, relocate or demolish the structures to prevent future loss. The National Flood Insurance Program’s standard flood insurance policies will pay up to $30,000 of the eligible costs under the increased cost of compliance (ICC) coverage.

To qualify for ICC, the NFIP-insured structure must be located in a Special Flood Hazard Area and the cost to repair the structure must equal or exceed 50 percent of its market value prior to the flood damage.

Another way to qualify is if your community has a more restrictive floodplain management ordinance provision that requires damaged buildings to be brought into compliance when the cost exceeds a threshold lower than 50 percent, or by calculating the cost to repair cumulatively over a period of time, for buildings that are damaged repetitively.

The insurance agent that sold you flood insurance and your local building official can provide more information.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

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Federal Disaster Aid to Illinois Residents Tops $144 Million

Florida Mass Care Specialist Recognized For Excellence

Michael Whitehead wins Craig Irwin Memorial Award

ATLANTA – Florida mass care coordinator Michael Whitehead of Tallahassee won the Craig Irwin Memorial Award this week at the FEMA Region IV annual Individual Assistance Conference in Atlanta.

The Craig Irwin Memorial Award recognizes excellence in service and support with the individual assistance network.

“I’m honored to receive such an award,” Whitehead said. “I want to thank FEMA and all the state officers for giving me such a tremendous honor. I promise to continue working to increase our nation’s mass care capabilities.”

Following a disaster, individual assistance and/or mass care programs coordinate with federal, state, local, and voluntary/non-profit entities to provide recovery assistance to survivors.

Whitehead serves as the mass care coordinator as part of Florida’s State Emergency Response Team and is an employee of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation where he has worked for more than 25 years.

In addition to working disaster events in Florida, Whitehead has also assisted other states including Mississippi during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Louisiana during Hurricane Gustav in 2008, New Jersey during Hurricane Irene in 2011 and Maryland during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Following his work in Maryland, Whitehead took two weeks of vacation time to volunteer with the American Red Cross in New York City to assist with additional Sandy response and recovery efforts.

The Craig Irwin Memorial Award is named for the long-time individual assistance and mass care officer for the state of Tennessee. Irwin, a Fairview, Tenn. native, died at the age of 60 in January 2009.

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Florida Mass Care Specialist Recognized For Excellence

FEMA Disaster Assistance Registration Deadline is Only a Month Away

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The deadline to register for disaster assistance — Monday, August 26, 2013 – is only a month away.

With everything else that’s going on, time can slip away and, before you know it, it’s too late!

So if you had flood-related damage, be sure to register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) before the deadline.

Help is available for renters, homeowners and business owners in the Regional Educational Attendance Areas (REAAs) of Alaska Gateway, Lower Yukon, Yukon Flats, and Yukon-Koyukuk who suffered damage from the flooding of the Yukon River that occurred between May 17 and June 11, 2013.

Assistance to individuals can include awards to help pay for housing needs, essential home repairs and other disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other sources.

Survivors with flood damage can register in person with disaster specialists at either of two Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) set up to assist them:

In Galena at the Galena Interior Learning Academy, 359 Challenger Road.
In Fairbanks at 751 Old Richardson Hwy., Suite 202.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday at both DRCs.

Survivors also can register by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or online at DisasterAssistance.gov. Registration by mobile device is also available at www.m.fema.gov. Those with a speech disability or hearing loss who use TTY can call 800-462-7585 (TTY). Multilingual registration can be done by phone.

Disaster officials advise those who intend to register at one of the DRCs to bring:

Their Social Security number
Current and pre-disaster address
Block and lot number
A telephone number where they can be contacted
Insurance information
Total household annual income.

Staff at the DRCs can review and update applicant information and address individual questions and concerns.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses and private, nonprofit organizations to cover costs of repair or replacement of damaged real estate, personal property, and business assets not covered by insurance or other aid. SBA offers disaster loans to cover working capital disaster needs caused by disaster for small businesses only and most private, nonprofit organizations,

There are three ways to apply for an SBA disaster loan: After registering with FEMA, go online to SBA’s secure site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela; call 1-800-659-2955 (deaf and hard-of-hearing call 1-800-877-8339); or, visit the Disaster Recovery Center for one-on-one service. For more information on SBA disaster assistance, go to www.sba.gov.

FEMA Disaster Assistance Registration Deadline is Only a Month Away

Learn to Reduce Storm Damage this Saturday at Home Depot

FEMA joins Home Depot Stores for Hurricane Preparedness Days

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.–With memories of the 2012 hurricane season and Hurricane Sandy’s October wrath still lingering, FEMA is partnering with Home Depot stores to promote hurricane preparedness to help homeowners be safe and reduce their property damage from the next storm.

FEMA mitigation specialists and Home Depot associates will be at the Bellingham, Mass., Home Depot, 229 Hartford Avenue, from 9:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. this Saturday educating concerned homeowners on how to make their homes stronger and safer.

Using a see-through, disaster avoidance model house, FEMA staff will demonstrate the use of hurricane straps and stronger building materials to prepare homes to better withstand the forces of a hurricane.

Subject matter experts will also help customers create an emergency preparedness kit, choose the best generator for their needs, and identify the different types of alerts and wind speeds associated with hurricanes.

Hurricane season begins on June 1 and runs through Nov. 30, but hurricanes have been known to pay no attention to dates. The 2005 season was the most active hurricane season on record with 28 named storms and 15 hurricanes. The last named storm in 2005, Zeta, formed on Dec. 29 before dissipating a week later in 2006.

The National Weather Service has forecast an active hurricane season for 2013, and so far the season is proving them right.

Tropical Storm Andrea made landfall in Florida barely six days into the hurricane season. Right on her heels was Tropical Storm Barry that went ashore near Veracruz, Mexico. Tropical Storm Chantal formed in early July and slammed the Caribbean for two days before losing her strength to wind shear. This year’s fourth named storm, Tropical Storm Dorian, has already formed in the Eastern Atlantic and appears headed for the Caribbean. It may be only a matter of time before Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle or one of the following storms tracks the paths of Irene and Sandy to New England.

More than 700 Home Depot stores along America’s coastlines will be participating in Hurricane Preparedness Days in their areas. For more information on the Hurricane Workshops, go to https://myapron.homedepot.com or email Ashley_townsend@homedepot.com.

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Learn to Reduce Storm Damage this Saturday at Home Depot

FEMA Extends Incident Period for Massachusetts Counties’ Bombing Expenses

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.–The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved a request from Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to extend by four days the incident period for which agencies may claim federal reimbursement for part of their Marathon bombing response expenses.

In April President Obama authorized FEMA to reimburse government and some private non-profit entities in Bristol, Middlesex, Norfolk and Suffolk counties for part of their bombing related expenses incurred from April 15 to 22, 2013. That period has now been extended to end on April 26.

“Many agencies continued to incur emergency response expenses for a number of days after the April 15 bombing,” said Kurt Schwartz, director of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. “FEMA’s extension of the incident period is a welcome support for our police departments, hospitals and other agencies that kept Boston strong during a challenging time.”

FEMA has received requests for assistance with bombing expenses from 51 different applicants, including police and fire departments, hospitals and universities.

“FEMA will continue working with applicants to assure that all receive the maximum federal assistance we can provide,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Nick Russo.

FEMA’s Public Assistance program reimburses 75 percent of applicants’ eligible costs.

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FEMA Extends Incident Period for Massachusetts Counties’ Bombing Expenses

FEMA Extends Registration Deadline

AURORA, Ill. – FEMA has extended the registration deadline by 15 days to August 8, 2013. Affected residents of 35 counties covered in the Illinois disaster declaration for severe storms and flooding are encouraged to register with FEMA.

Federal assistance is only available for individuals who incurred damage in a designated county as a result of storms and flooding that occurred during the period of April 16 to May 5. If you incurred damage as a result of a storm that occurred before April 16 or after May 5, you are not eligible for assistance. Registering for assistance for damages sustained as a result of a storm that occurred before April 16 or after May 5 could be considered fraudulent, and you could face recoupment of grant money you receive and/or fraud charges.

Individual Assistance for homeowners and renters can include grants to help pay for temporary rental assistance and other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs. Assistance for homeowners also can include grants for home repair. Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.

Individuals affected by the storms and flooding that occurred in the designated counties during the period of April 16 to May 5 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.

SBA low-interest disaster loans may be available for homeowners, renters, businesses and private non-profit organizations of all sizes to repair or replace real estate, contents and/or personal property damaged in the severe storms and flooding. Information and assistance from SBA is available at 1-800-659-2955, (TTY) 1-800-877-8339 or online at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

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Media Contact: 571-408-1835

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FEMA Extends Registration Deadline

More Than $2 Million Approved for 2013 Flood Survivors

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Less than a month after federal disaster aid was made available to the State of Alaska, more than $1 million in awards and more than $1 million in loans have been approved for households and businesses to help them recover from losses caused by the flooding of the Yukon River that occurred between May 17 and June 11, 2013, disaster officials announced today.

“It’s important to note that awards are a form of financial disaster-aid that does not have to be repaid,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Dolph Diemont of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), he pointed out, provide amounts needed for extensive repairs and rebuilding.

Assistance made available as of July 21, 2013, includes:

$1,033,234 in FEMA awards disbursed to individuals and households.

$422,373 for housing assistance.
$610,860 for other needs.

$1,029,500 in low-interest disaster loans approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for homeowners, renters and businesses.
285 housing inspections completed.
289 visits to Disaster Recovery Centers.
170 face-to-face meetings with survivors have been conducted by FEMA’s Individual Assistance Task Force in the cities of Emmonak, Alakanuk, Fort Yukon, Hughes, Circle, Eagle, and Tok as well as at the Willow House in Fairbanks.

The funds for individuals and households are made available to people found to be eligible for assistance in the Regional Educational Attendance Areas (REAAs) of Alaska Gateway, Lower Yukon, Yukon Flats, and Yukon-Koyukuk.

“While state, federal, and voluntary organizations continue to respond to the serious needs of people and communities who suffered losses as a result of the flooding, we strongly urge everyone who suffered losses in those REAAs to register for help with FEMA,” said State Coordinating Officer Bryan Fisher.

Those with flooding losses in the eligible REAAs can register by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or online at DisasterAssistance.gov. Registration by mobile device is also available at www.m.fema.gov. Those with a speech disability or hearing loss who use TTY can call 800-462-7585 (TTY). Multilingual registration can be done by phone.

Applicants can apply for an SBA disaster loan online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Residents and business owners can obtain information on SBA disaster loans by calling SBA’s Customer Service Center toll-free at (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can call (800) 877-8339.

Those affected can register in person at one of the two Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) that have been set up to assist individuals, households and businesses affected by the spring floods:

In Galena at the Galena Interior Learning Academy, 359 Challenger Road,
In Fairbanks at 751 Old Richardson Hwy., Suite 202.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, at both DRCs.

If you intend to register at one of the DRCs, please bring:

Your Social Security number
Current and pre-disaster address
Block and lot number
A telephone number where you can be contacted
Insurance information
Total household annual income

Staff at the DRCs can review and update applicant information and address individual questions and concerns.

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More Than $2 Million Approved for 2013 Flood Survivors

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