Disaster Recovery Center to Open in Ellis County for Texas Flood Survivors

AUSTIN, Texas –A State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will open on Monday, Aug. 10, at noon in Ellis County for homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained damage as a result of the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding from May 4 to June 22.

Specialists from the State of Texas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), nongovernmental organizations and the local community are on hand to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors. Services are provided in English and Spanish.

The recovery center serves survivors from any of the 47 counties designated for Individual Assistance who need one-on-one help. State and federal professionals will be available to assist eligible survivors to get help as quickly as possible.

Location and hours of operation

Ellis County Sub Courthouse

207 S. Sonoma Trail

Ennis, TX 75119

Monday, Aug. 10, noon to 6 p.m.

Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 11 and 12, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The DRC will cease operations on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 6 p.m.
 

People who had storm damage can register for FEMA assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362 toll-free from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily until further notice. Multilingual operators are available. Registration deadline is Aug. 27.

Disaster assistance applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

Visiting with a recovery specialist is not a requirement for survivors who want disaster assistance, but the centers are an excellent way for people to get answers to their questions about disaster aid and help applying for it. Some of the services may include:

  • Guidance regarding disaster recovery

  • Clarification of any written correspondence received

  •  Housing and Assistance Rental Information

  •  Answers to questions, resolutions to problems and referrals to agencies that may provide further assistance

  • Status of applications being processed by FEMA

Assistance for eligible survivors can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs. Low-interest disaster loans from SBA may be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other resources and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Eligible survivors should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but under-insured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has a call center to answer Texas policyholders’ flood insurance questions. Specialists can help with servicing claims, providing general information and offering technical assistance to aid in recovery. To speak with a flood insurance specialist, call 800-621-3362 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4223. Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/.

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All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).

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. 

The 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 www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for childcare, medical, dental expenses and/or funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, those who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, transportation, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

Visit www.fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation for publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger.

 

 

 

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Disaster Recovery Center to Open in Ellis County for Texas Flood Survivors

First Payments Going to NFIP Policyholders in Hurricane Sandy Claims Review

The first payments are being made to policyholders taking part in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hurricane Sandy Claims Review, the agency announced today.

The payments represent additional funds owed to National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders who filed flood insurance claims after Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

“We want to ensure our policyholders are paid what they are owed under their policies. This claims review gives us a chance to take another look,” said Roy Wright, Deputy Associate Administrator for FEMA’s Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration. “I encourage policyholders to request a review if they believe their Hurricane Sandy claim was underpaid for any reason.”

In May 2015, FEMA began contacting 142,000 NFIP policyholders who filed claims resulting from Hurricane Sandy, offering to review their claim files. To date, more than 10,000 policyholders have entered the process. FEMA authorized the insurance companies writing NFIP policies to make the first additional payments to policyholders whose claims have been reviewed through this process.

The deadline to request a review is Sept. 15, 2015. After initial request, the entire process usually takes around 90 days to complete.

To be eligible for the review, policyholders must have experienced flood damage between Oct. 27, 2012 and Nov. 6, 2012 as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Policyholders may call the NFIP’s Hurricane Sandy claims center at 866-337-4262 to request a review. Before contacting the claims center, policyholders are asked to have their flood insurance carrier name and policy number at hand.

Alternately, policyholders can go online to download a form requesting a review. The downloaded form may be filled out and emailed to FEMA-sandyclaimsreview@fema.dhs.gov to start the review process. 

For individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and use 711 or VRS, please call 866-337-4262.  For individuals using a TTY, please call 800-462-7585 to begin the review process.

The Sandy claims review process is designed to be simple for the policyholder, and does not require paid legal assistance. Several nonprofit service providers are ready to offer free advice and answer questions policyholders may have. A list of these advocacy groups can be found on the claims review web page.

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.

Taken from – 

First Payments Going to NFIP Policyholders in Hurricane Sandy Claims Review

Disaster Recovery Center to Close in Bastrop County, Texas, But Help is Still Available

AUSTIN, Texas –The Disaster Recovery Center (DRC), located at the ROTC Building/Bastrop High School, 1200 Cedar St., Bastrop, TX 78602, in Bastrop County will close at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8.

DRCs, operated by the State of Texas and the Federal Emergency Management Agency and supported by other agencies, remain open until the needs of area residents have been met. The centers serve as a one-stop shop for information and guidance about disaster assistance.

Those with questions regarding the application or the appeals process, or who decide to register for assistance after a DRC closes, have several ways to obtain information:

The deadline for registering with FEMA and applying for an SBA loan is Aug. 27.

FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has a call center to answer Texas policyholders’ flood insurance questions. Specialists can help with servicing claims, providing general information and offering technical assistance to aid in recovery. To speak with a flood insurance specialist, call 800-621-3362 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4223, Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

Visit www.fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation for publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger.

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All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).

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. 

The 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 www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for childcare, medical, dental expenses and/or funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, those who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, transportation, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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Disaster Recovery Center to Close in Bastrop County, Texas, But Help is Still Available

Procurement – Reasonable Costs

Procurement – Reasonable Costs

Main Content

Appeal Brief | Appeal Letter | Appeal Analysis | Back

Second Appeal Brief

1603
PA ID# 071-02E99-00; St. Mary’s Academy
PW ID# 17387; Procurement – Reasonable Costs
08/04/2015

Conclusion: The contract security services performed at St. Mary’s Academy were improperly procured pursuant to 2 C.F.R. Part 215; however, the actual costs were reasonable under OMB Circular A-122.

Summary Paragraph

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused extensive damage to St. Mary’s Academy.  FEMA determined that the facility was eligible for replacement.  The Applicant relocated the school to a temporary location and contacted security service firms via phone and email requesting bid proposals.  Based on the proposals, the Applicant selected three security firms for services from August 2007 to July 2010.  FEMA prepared several versions of PW 17387, obligating actual costs.  The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) subsequently performed OIG Audit DD-11-15, which found that the Applicant improperly procured security services by not allowing open competition.  The OIG recommended that FEMA deobligate all funding.  FEMA concurred with the OIG’s finding, but awarded reasonable costs, which FEMA determined to be the lowest rates among the proposals, deobligating $75,862.86.  In its first appeal, the Applicant argued that it properly procured security services and that the actual costs were reasonable.  FEMA denied the first appeal, finding that the Applicant did not properly procure the services, further deobligating $40,089.77 based on new information submitted in response to the Request for Information.  The Applicant reiterates its first appeal position on second appeal.

Authorities and Second Appeals

  • 2 C.F.R. § 215.0(b)(3) (2005).
  • 2 C.F.R. § 215.1.
  • 2 C.F.R. § 215.43.
  • 2 C.F.R. § 215.44.
  • 2 C.F.R. § 215.45.
  • 2 C.F.R. § 215.46.
  • OMB Circular A-122.
  • Second Appeal Analysis, Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, Inc., FEMA-4029-DR-TX.

Headnotes

  • Per 2 C.F.R. § 215.1, Part 215 establishes uniform administrative requirements for grants awarded to Private Non-Profits.  § 215.0(b)(3) states that, where state and local governments provide subawards to a PNP, Part 215 applies. 
    • The Applicant is a PNP.
  • 2 C.F.R. § 215.43 requires that all procurement transactions be conducted in a manner to provide open and free competition, awards be made to the bidder whose bid is responsive to the solicitation, and solicitations clearly set forth all requirements to the bidder.
    • The Applicant did not provide documentation showing that it solicited bids from multiple companies.
    • The Applicant, nonetheless, selected bidders who were responsive.
  • Section 215.44 outlines procurement procedures.
    • The Applicant did not demonstrate that it had written procurement procedures.
    • The Applicant considered and selected small, minority-owned, and/or women-owned businesses, where practicable.
    • The Applicant utilized fixed-price contracts with a set number of guards at flat rates and selected responsible contractors who possessed the potential to perform successfully.
    • The Applicant did provide FEMA with procurement documents upon request.
  • Section 215.46 requires retention of procurement records containing the basis for contract selection, justification for lack of competition, and basis for award cost or price.
    • The Applicant did not provide records.
  • Section 215.62 allows FEMA to use legally available remedies when an applicant fails to comply.  OMB Circular A-122 states that a cost is reasonable if it does not exceed that which a prudent person in the same situation would incur.
    • The Applicant provided supporting documentation establishing that the selected rates were reasonable.

 

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Procurement – Reasonable Costs

Texas Privately Owned Road and Bridge Repair

FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program grants may be used to repair disaster-damaged privately owned access roads if:

  • The survivor meets all of the basic eligibility criteria for the Individuals and Households Program assistance

  • The survivor is the homeowner, and the home is their primary residence

In addition, the road/bridge repairs must meet at least one of the following:

  • The road/bridge is the only access to the property

  • The home cannot be accessed due to damaged infrastructure

  • The safety of the occupants could be adversely affected without the repairs.

The eligible grant is based on specific repair items, disaster-related, and limited to the minimum repairs necessary to enable an applicant to access their residence. Repairs must satisfy all environmental and local, state and federal requirements, including permits.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), FEMA’s federal partner in disaster recovery, also may be able to help. Private property owners, established homeowner associations and properties governed by covenant may apply for low-interest disaster loans directly through SBA. These funds can be used to repair or replace private roads and bridges. Privately owned access roads owned by homeowner associations may also apply directly to the SBA.

Homeowners who share access roads and bridges with other homeowners or families, may be eligible for repair grants or SBA loans under certain circumstances. In some cases, sharing the cost of repairs with funds obtained through a combination of FEMA, SBA loans, and private funds may be another option.

  • Awards will be made separately to eligible applicants who share the access route if they provide a statement to FEMA that they will use the award to make repairs to the access route, and

  • They understand that they are responsible for securing permits and complying with local codes and ordinances.

  • They do not have an established Homeowners Association (HOA) or Covenant responsible for repair of the access route; or

  • The established HOA or covenant responsible for the repair of the access route is unable to receive assistance from the SBA or private insurance.

Each affected homeowner should register with FEMA individually. Requests for private road or bridge repair assistance are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

  • Repair grants will not include improvements to the access route’s pre-disaster condition unless improvements are required by current State and/or local building codes.

  • An applicant with access and functional needs, such as a physical disability that requires access for a particular vehicle, may be approved for additional funds to improve the access if required for safe passage.

  • Assistance for an access road cannot exceed the combined maximum grant to all eligible applicants.

If the cost of repairs exceeds the funding FEMA can award, FEMA may be able to refer applicants to other federal or voluntary agencies for additional assistance. Applicants are urged to stay in touch with FEMA.

To discuss their circumstances, survivors should call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Disaster assistance applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 800-462-7585.

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NOTE: link to Privately Owned Access Routes

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. 

The 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 www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for childcare, medical, dental expenses and/or funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, those who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, transportation, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4223, Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Visit www.fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation  for publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger.

 

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Texas Privately Owned Road and Bridge Repair

California to receive FEMA funding to battle Rocky Fire in Lake County

OAKLAND, Calif. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to assist the state of California to combat the Rocky Fire burning in Lake County.

On August 1, 2015 the State of California submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Declaration for the Rocky Fire burning in Lake County.  At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 704 homes in and around the community of Lower Lake and other nearby communities.  Mandatory evacuations were taking place for approximately 450 people.  The fire started on July 29, 2015 and has burned in excess of 47,000 total acres of federal, state, and private land. 

The Regional Administrator for FEMA’s Region IX office determined that the Rocky Fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster and approved the State’s request on August 2, 2015.

The Disaster Relief Fund provides funding for Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs) through FEMA to assist in fighting fires which threaten to cause major disasters. Eligible costs covered by FMAGs can include expenses for field camps; equipment use; repair and replacement; tools; materials; supplies and mobilization and demobilization activities.

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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Original article: 

California to receive FEMA funding to battle Rocky Fire in Lake County

FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Stouts Creek Fire

SEATTLE – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Stouts Creek Fire, burning in Douglas County, Oregon.

FEMA Region X Regional Administrator, Kenneth D. Murphy determined that the Stouts Creek Fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Murphy approved the state’s request for federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) on July 31, 2015 at 1:33 a.m. PDT.

The fire started on July 30, 2015, and at the time of the request, the fire was threatening 300 primary residences in and around the communities of Milo, Tiller, Drew, and neighboring areas. The fire was also threatening high value timberland, cultural resources, camp grounds, wildlife areas, power lines and community infrastructure. Mandatory and voluntary evacuations were issued for approximately 60 people. One Red Cross shelter was opened in Glendale, Oregon. The fire has burned in excess of 6,000 acres of federal, state and private lands.  The Federal Principal Advisor confirmed the threat to community and homes due to favorable burning conditions and significant threat.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state of Oregon’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants provide reimbursement for firefighting and life-saving efforts. They do not provide assistance to individuals, homeowners or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

Fire Management Assistance Grants are provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

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 provides federal funds to help fight Stouts Creek Fire

Disaster Recovery Center to Open in Wise County for Texas Flood Survivors

AUSTIN, Texas – A State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will open on Monday, Aug. 3, at noon in Wise County for homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained damage as a result of the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding from May 4 to June 22.

Specialists from the State of Texas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), nongovernmental organizations and the local community are on hand to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors. Services are provided in English and Spanish.

The recovery center serves survivors from any of the 47 counties designated for Individual Assistance who need one-on-one help. State and federal professionals will be available to assist eligible survivors to get help as quickly as possible.

Location and hours of operation

Stage Theatre

1009 Halsell St.

Bridgeport, TX 76426    

 

Monday, Aug. 3, noon to 6 p.m.

After Monday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday

The DRC will cease operations, Saturday, Aug. 8 at 6 p.m.
 

People who had storm damage can register for FEMA assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362 toll-free from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily until further notice. Multilingual operators are available. Registration deadline is Aug. 27.

Disaster assistance applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

Visiting with a recovery specialist is not a requirement for survivors who want disaster assistance, but the centers are an excellent way for people to get answers to their questions about disaster aid and help applying for it. Some of the services may include:

  • Guidance regarding disaster recovery

  • Clarification of any written correspondence received

  • Housing Assistance and Rental Resources information

  • Answers to questions, resolutions to problems and referrals to agencies that may provide further assistance

  • Status of applications being processed by FEMA

Assistance for eligible survivors can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs. Low-interest disaster loans from SBA may be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other resources and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Eligible survivors should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but under-insured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has a call center to answer Texas policyholders’ flood insurance questions. Specialists can help with servicing claims, providing general information and offering technical assistance to aid in recovery. To speak with a flood insurance specialist, call 800-621-3362 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4223. Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

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All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).

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. 

The 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 www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for childcare, medical, dental expenses and/or funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, those who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, transportation, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

Visit www.fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation for publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger.

Original source:

Disaster Recovery Center to Open in Wise County for Texas Flood Survivors

Communities urged to apply for aid that helps build more disaster-resistant infrastructure

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – Federal assistance may be available to help Arkansas communities rebuild infrastructure to higher, more disaster-resistant standards and state officials are encouraging local governments to take advantage of that funding.

The assistance to communities is part of the aid that became available following the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of May 7 to June 15, 2015.

“Generally, the federal Public Assistance program restores disaster damaged infrastructure to pre-disaster conditions,” said Nancy M. Casper, federal coordinating officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “But when cost effective and technically feasible, it makes sense to rebuild to higher standards that can prevent future loss.”

FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides federal funds to reimburse a minimum of 75 percent of the costs for removing debris, conducting emergency protective measures and repairing levees, roads, bridges, public utilities, water control facilities, public buildings and parks. Mitigation funding may be considered in each project category.

Eligible applicants may include:

  • state agencies

  • local and county governments

  • private nonprofit organizations that own or operate facilities that provide essential government-type services

“Studies show that every $1 paid toward mitigation saves an average of $4 in future disaster-related costs,” said State Coordinating Officer Scott Bass of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management Agency. “By adding mitigation money to repair costs, our goal is to reduce or eliminate damages from future disasters.”

As part of the process for applying for federal assistance, experts from ADEM and FEMA help identify projects that will qualify for the special mitigation program. Officials urge applicants to take advantage of the funds.

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.

The 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 www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

 

This article:  

Communities urged to apply for aid that helps build more disaster-resistant infrastructure

Portlight Strategies and FEMA Partner to Address Disability Accessibility and Disaster Preparedness

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Portlight Strategies (Portlight) announced an agreement that will increase preparedness awareness for people with disabilities in the event of natural or man-made disasters. The agreement aligns with FEMA’s commitment to inclusive emergency management by partnering with disability organizations and community leaders who serve the whole community at the local level.

“As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we are also reinforcing our commitment to serving the whole community before, during and after disasters,” said Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator. “By having preparedness plans and thinking ahead, individuals, families and communities will be ready to respond to these events when they occur.”

The new partnership will bolster working relationships with state, local, tribal and territorial emergency managers to encourage including people with disabilities in planning.  It will also provide information so people understand the disaster risks in their area. By evaluating their own individual needs and making an emergency plan that fits those needs, people can be better prepared.

Some key highlights from the agreement show that FEMA and Portlight will:

  • Participate in training events and natural and simulation exercises, drills, and discussions focused on emergency preparedness and lessening the impact of disasters;
  • Share operational practices that work well and that may be adapted to make improvements in service delivery and support community resilience and accessibility for people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs; and
  • Share research-based emergency management data and information and training experience and expertise before, during, and after disasters.

“We’re excited about this next important step in our relationship with FEMA and the ways it will enhance our ability to serve the disability community in times of disaster,” said Paul Timmons Jr., Portlight Co-founder and Board Chair. “It embodies our philosophy that there must be nothing about us without us.”

The primary mission of Portlight Strategies, Inc. (Portlight) is to provide disaster relief and recovery services specifically for people with disabilities and to facilitate accessible services—compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)—from all providers, whether governmental or non-governmental.

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards.

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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Portlight Strategies and FEMA Partner to Address Disability Accessibility and Disaster Preparedness

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