fema - femacontract.com

More Louisiana Survivors Now Eligible for Federal Disaster Assistance, Urged to Register

BATON ROUGE, La. – Survivors in 20 Louisiana parishes may now be eligible for federal disaster assistance.

Acadia, Ascension, Avoyelles, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Point Coupee, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Vermilion, Washington and West Feliciana have joined East Baton Rouge, Livingston, St. Helena and Tangipahoa as parishes eligible for federal disaster assistance.

Anyone in Louisiana with damage from the continuing severe storms and floods that began Aug. 11 may register two ways:

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
By calling 800-621-3362
- People who use TTY may call 800-462-7585
- Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) may call 800-621-3362.

Survivors only need to register once. These toll-free telephone numbers are operating from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

FEMA never charges fees to apply for or receive federal disaster assistance. State and federal officials encourage disaster survivors to be alert for scams and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately.

Assistance provided by FEMA for homeowners and renters can include grants for rent, temporary housing and home repairs to their primary residence, as well as other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs.

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also may be available to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. The loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Homeowners and renters should apply as quickly as they can, even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments but underinsured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

Residents are urged to contact their insurance company to file their flood insurance claims. For flood insurance policyholders who may have questions, FEMA has streamlined its process to better service claims and answer questions. Policyholders may call 800-621-3362 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and select Option 2. Call center staff are available to assist policyholders with information regarding their policy, offer technical flood guidance to aid in recovery, and respond to general as well as complicated questions about the NFIP. Policyholders with questions specifically about an insurance claim can be transferred to their insurance carrier for additional assistance.

###

We urge everyone to continue to use caution in areas where floodwaters remain. Monitor DOTD’s www.511la.org website for updated road closure information. Look for advisories from your local authorities and emergency managers. You can find the latest information on the state’s response at www.emergency.la.gov. GOHSEP also provides information on Facebook and Twitter. You can receive emergency alerts on most smartphones and tablets by downloading the new Alert FM App. It is free for basic service. You can also download the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide and find other information at www.getagameplan.org.

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.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at SBA.gov/disaster Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

More here –

More Louisiana Survivors Now Eligible for Federal Disaster Assistance, Urged to Register

Louisiana Residents Urged to Register with FEMA

Baton Rouge, La – Louisiana disaster survivors in East Baton Rouge, Livingston, St. Helena, and Tangipahoa parishes are urged to register for federal disaster assistance with FEMA.

Individuals and business owners in the designated parishes who had severe storm or flood damage may register for assistance the following ways:

Online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov
By calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
- People who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 1-800-462-7585.
- For those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.
- These toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

Assistance provided by FEMA for homeowners and renters can include grants for rent, temporary housing and home repairs to their primary residences, as well as other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs.

Residents and business owners should apply as quickly as they can, even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments but underinsured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

Residents are urged to contact their insurance company first to file their flood insurance claims. For flood insurance policyholders who may have questions, FEMA has aligned its call center to better support them with the servicing of their claims and getting answers to their questions quickly. Policyholders may call 1-800-621-3362 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and select Option 2. Call center staff are available to assist policyholders with information regarding their policy, offer technical flood guidance to aid in recovery, and respond to general as well as complicated questions about the NFIP. Policyholders with questions specifically about an insurance claim can be transferred to their insurance carrier for additional assistance.

Survivors seeking information on flood clean up, repairing, and rebuilding can find valuable tips and guidance at www.fema.gov/Louisiana-disaster-mitigation.

###

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.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money 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 losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may 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/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

Taken from:

Louisiana Residents Urged to Register with FEMA

Many good reasons to apply for an SBA loan before the Aug. 24 deadline

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – If you applied for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and were referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), there are many good reasons to submit a loan application.

The deadline to apply for an SBA low-interest disaster loan is Wednesday, Aug. 24. If you don’t apply before that date, you may not be eligible to receive the help that may be available to you, not only from SBA but also from FEMA.

SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations for physical damage from the severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides that occurred June 22-29. The following counties are eligible to apply: Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Roane, Summers and Webster.

Some of the top reasons for submitting an SBA loan application include:

SBA can help renters and homeowners repair or replace disaster-damaged personal property. Renters, as well as homeowners, may be eligible to borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace clothing, furniture, appliances and damaged vehicles.
A future insurance settlement may fall short. You may find out that you are underinsured for the amount of work it takes to repair or replace your damaged home. An SBA low-interest disaster loan can cover the uninsured costs. By submitting the application, you may have loan money available when it’s needed. SBA may approve a loan for the repair or replacement of a home up to $200,000. The loan balance may be reduced by your insurance settlement. However, the opportunity for an SBA loan may be lost if you wait until after the deadline expires on Aug. 24.
You are not required to accept a loan even if you qualify for one.
If SBA determines you aren’t eligible for a home loan, they will refer you back to FEMA. This could make you eligible for more FEMA aid.
Interest rates on SBA loans may be more affordable than you think. Get in touch with an SBA representative to get details.
If you need help completing your loan application call the SBA at 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339); send an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov; or you can visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) to sit down and talk with an SBA representative one-on-one. Find the nearest center to you by going online at www.fema.gov/drc.

You can submit your SBA disaster loan application in one of three ways: online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/; in person at a DRC; or by mail.

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.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available to provide working capital to eligible small businesses and nonprofit organizations in the 12 counties listed above and the 17 adjacent counties in West Virginia, five in Virginia, and one in Ohio.

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

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.

Read original article –

Many good reasons to apply for an SBA loan before the Aug. 24 deadline

Disaster Recovery Centers to Close Next Week in Brazoria, Fort Bend and Hidalgo Counties

AUSTIN, Texas—Disaster recovery centers in Brazoria, Fort Bend and Hidalgo counties will close Aug. 17, 18 and 19.

Brazoria County

Location:
Brazoria County East Annex
Elections Department
1524 East Mulberry (State Hwy. 35)
Angleton, TX 77515

Closing:
6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17

Fort Bend County

Location:
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
1600 Ave. D
Rosenburg, TX 77471

Closing:
6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18

Hidalgo County

Location:
City of Mission Social and Support Center
115 South Mayberry
Mission, TX 78572

Closing:
6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19

Although the deadline to register for disaster assistance was Aug. 10, survivors who have registered with FEMA can get updates about their applications, learn about the appeals process or check the status of their claims by visiting the centers or online or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

Until they close, hours of operation at the centers are 9 a.m to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday.

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

# # #

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

View original post here:

Disaster Recovery Centers to Close Next Week in Brazoria, Fort Bend and Hidalgo Counties

Disaster Recovery Center to Close in Harris County

AUSTIN, Texas—A disaster recovery center in Tomball, Harris County will close Wednesday, Aug. 10.

Harris County

Location:
Tomball Public Works Building
501 James St.
Tomball, TX 77375

Closing:
6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10

Until then, hours of operation at the center are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 8-10. Closed Sunday, Aug. 7.

After the center closes, survivors may visit any of the open disaster recovery centers, anywhere. To find the nearest one, go online to the recovery center locator at asd.fema.gov/inter/locator.

Those who have already registered with FEMA can get updates about their applications, learn about the appeals process or check the status of their claims online or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

Those who have not yet registered for disaster assistance may do so 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.

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.

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

# # #

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

Read article here:

Disaster Recovery Center to Close in Harris County

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.

# # #

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

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

West Virginia survivors coping with emotional stress of storm and flooding

CHARLESTON, W. Va.— If you are facing the loss of your home, business or a cherished possession as a result of the severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides that hit on June 22-29, you may find that you are struggling to cope with the emotional impact of the disaster.

Everyone who lives through a natural disaster is affected by it in some way. The experts tell us that West Virginians who lived through the storms know well the profound sadness, grief and anger it is normal to feel anxious about your own safety and that of your family and close friends. The emotional toll taken by a disaster can sometimes be even more devastating than the financial strains resulting from the damage or loss of a home, business or personal property that follows a disaster. These are normal reactions to an abnormal event.

Children and older adults are of special concern in the aftermath of disasters. Even individuals who experience a disaster “second hand” through exposure to extensive media coverage can be affected.

The important thing, the doctors say, is how you react to your feelings; what you do to relieve your stress. Everyone has different needs and different ways of coping. Here are some tips from professional crisis counselors for West Virginia survivors coping with emotional stress in the wake of the storms and flooding:

Acknowledging your feelings helps you recover.
Focusing on your strengths and abilities helps you heal.
Accepting help from community programs and resources is healthy.
Contact local faith-based organizations, voluntary agencies, or professional counselors for counseling.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline is a national hotline dedicated to providing year-round immediate crisis counseling for people experiencing emotional distress related to any natural disaster.

Children can be especially vulnerable to stress following a disaster, such as June’s severe storms and flooding in West Virginia. Preschoolers, children and teenagers may have witnessed their home being damaged or destroyed, experienced an evacuation, suffered an injury, lost a pet or even just had their normal routines interrupted. These children are susceptible to bouts of anxiety, fear and behavioral problems.

Younger children may suffer sleep problems or bedwetting. Older children may display anger, aggression or withdrawal. Some children who have had only indirect contact with the disaster, but witness it on television, may develop distress.

As parents and adults, you can make disasters less traumatic for children by taking steps to manage your own feelings and plans for coping. Parents are almost always the best source of support for children in disasters.

What’s the best way to respond to your child during or after a disaster? Click here for some pointers, including a guide to common child reactions to disaster by age.

Your older parents and other older loved ones may be just as vulnerable, if not more so, to post-disaster stress, as your children.

For more information on how caretakers can help older loved ones cope with disaster – and how caretakers should take care of themselves – visit http://blog.aarp.org/2013/06/05/amy-goyer-caregiver-tips-for-tragedy/ .

If you or someone you know is struggling with post-disaster stress, you are not alone. Help is as near as your phone. Call the Help for West Virginia Helpline at 844-435-7498. Also, you can contact the Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746.

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/femaregion3, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA, fema.gov/blog and the flood information pages at http://wvflood.com/Pages/default.aspx .

Visit site:

West Virginia survivors coping with emotional stress of storm and flooding

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

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.

Taken from:

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

Disaster Recovery Progress at Pine Ridge, One Year Later

PINE RIDGE, S.D. – August 7 will mark one year since President Obama’s disaster declaration for the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, kicking off the largest housing effort in the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s history. To support this effort, FEMA continues to have staff deployed to the reservation and office space at Ellsworth Air Force Base.

To address the severe housing need on the reservation following the disaster, FEMA initiated a permanent housing construction program used for the first time in the continental United States. Under the effort, more than 300 households were identified as eligible for either repairs to their damaged home, or replacement with a new manufactured home. A total of 196 new manufactured homes were turned over to tribal residents with the final closing occurring on July 11. The manufactured homes were staged at Ellsworth Air Force Base prior to their final delivery and installation on the reservation. As of August 2, 85 additional homes have been repaired by contractors funded by FEMA. The remaining 23 homes are expected to be repaired by early September.

In addition to the housing construction program, FEMA has provided more than $435,000 in direct financial aid to tribal members. Of that, more than $217,000 was for home repairs and $219,000 was for personal property losses and other emergency needs as a result of the May storm. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $943,000 in low-interest loans to 58 tribal residents and businesses.

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds will also be made available to the tribe, with the amount available based on total disaster response and recovery costs. This program will allow the tribe to develop and undertake projects that will minimize the impact of future disaster events. Projects will be based on priorities established by the tribe, can be done reservation wide, and do not have to be directly related damages caused by the May 2015 storm event.

A federal interagency disaster recovery coordination team has partnered with the (OST) Government to support long-term recovery. Joining FEMA and the tribal government are the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Agriculture Rural Development, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the Federal Highway Administration.

The recovery coordination team has task forces dedicated to two primary issues, roads and housing. On the housing front, the goal is “One Nation – One Number”, and initiative to get a comprehensive count of both housing structures and their condition as well as the number of occupants. An accurate total will give a true picture of the scope of need and bolster requests for funding to address it.

A similar tack is being taken on the roads side, with “One Nation – One Map” being the result of a months-long survey of all roads within reservation boundaries. The survey is being converted into GIS data to provide the tribe with comprehensive information on all roads and their current maintenance.

Disaster Recovery Progress at Pine Ridge, One Year Later

Monroe, Nicholas DRCs close; Help still available

Charleston, W.Va. — Two Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) will close permanently at 6 p.m., Saturday, August 6, 2016, one in Monroe County at the Alderson Senior Center, and the other in Nicholas County at the Birch River Elementary school.

But as a survivor of the June storms and floods, you can still get the help you need with just a phone call.

Many of the services available at the DRCs are also available on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) helpline. 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.
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 or find an open DRC at www.fema.gov/drc.

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

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. The deadline to file an SBA physical disaster loan application is Aug. 24. SBA Disaster low-interest loans are available to businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters for their recovery needs.

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 disaster assistance or low-interest loan questions:

Clay County	Clay County High School, 1 Panther Drive, 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	Office trailer in parking lot across from Dollar General Store, 120 Maywood Ave. W., Clendenin, WV 25045
*Webster County	City Council Rm., Webster Springs Municipal Bldg., Webster Springs, WV 26288 Closing at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4.
Nicholas County	City of Richwood City Hall, 6 White Ave., Richwood, WV 26261

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 original article:

Monroe, Nicholas DRCs close; Help still available

Page 18 of 183 « First ... « 16 17 18 19 20 » ... Last »