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FEMA/Alabama Recovery Centers Help Recovery Begin

CLANTON, Ala. — Disaster Recovery Centers operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Alabama Emergency Management Agency are open in Baldwin, Blount, DeKalb, Etowah, Jefferson, Lee, and Limestone counties to help survivors of the recent severe storms, tornadoes and flooding begin recovery.

Recovery Centers are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday in the following locations:

Baldwin County:

Elberta Town Hall, 10352 Main St., Elberta, 36530
Fairhope Civic Center (Delchamps Room), 161 North Section St., Fairhope, 36532

Etowah County:

Sardis City Hall, 1335 Sardis Drive, Boaz, 35956

Jefferson County:

Maurice C. West Community Center, 171 Second St. SW, Graysville, 35073
Kimberly Senior Center, 8013Warrior-Kimberly Rd., Kimberly, 35091

Lee County:

Smith’s Station Government Center, 2336 Lee County Road 430, Suite 101, Smith’s Station, 36877

Limestone County:

Ripley Woodmen of the World Hall-11281 Ripley Road, Athens, 35611

Specialists from AEMA, FEMA and the Small Business Administration will be on hand to answer questions. Survivors will be able to:

Discuss their individual disaster-related needs.
Submit any additional documentation needed, such as phone bills or letters from insurance companies.
Find out the status of an application.
Obtain information about different types of state and federal assistance.
Get help from SBA specialists in completing low-interest disaster loan applications for homeowners, renters and business owners.
Receive referrals to the American Red Cross and other voluntary organizations to help with immediate needs.
Before going to a center, if possible, survivors should register with FEMA. Apply for assistance by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone at m.fema.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362. Survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability can call (TTY) 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available.

Disaster assistance may include money to help pay for temporary housing and essential home repairs. Low-interest SBA loans may also be available for losses not covered by insurance or other sources.

Alabama residents 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.

Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if the person has registered with another disaster-relief organization. FEMA registrants must use the name that appears on their Social Security card.

Applicants will be asked for the following information:

Social Security number.
Address of the damaged home or apartment.
Description of the damage.
Information about insurance coverage.
A current contact telephone number.
An address where they can receive mail.
Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.

For more information on Alabama disaster recovery, click fema.gov/disaster/4176. Visit the Alabama Emergency Management Agency website at ema.alabama.gov/ or Facebook page at facebook.com/AlabamaEMA

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FEMA/Alabama Recovery Centers Help Recovery Begin

First Letter May Not Be the Last Word from FEMA

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Applicants who receive a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) saying they are ineligible for disaster assistance after the severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding on April 27 may discover that a “no” can be turned into a “yes.”

“Please don’t be discouraged if you get a letter from FEMA saying you are ineligible for aid,” said State Coordinating Officer David Maxwell of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM). “That letter may be just one step in the process. You can ask FEMA for a fresh review of your situation.”

“A denial may simply mean that we need more information to make a decision regarding your application,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) Timothy J. Scranton. “Please work with us. Help us help you.”

The most common reasons for a denial of housing assistance include:

The applicant needs to provide FEMA with a copy of an insurance settlement.
The applicant did not sign the required documents.
The applicant did not prove occupancy or ownership.
The damage is to a secondary home or a rental property, not a primary residence.
Someone else in the household has already applied and received help.
A FEMA housing inspector cannot reach the applicant by phone.
The applicant did not maintain the required flood insurance coverage for the damaged property.

An applicant has the right to appeal a denial in writing within 60 days from the date of the decision letter from FEMA. Instructions for appeals can be found in the “Help After a Disaster” handbook that each applicant receives.

Applicants can call the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362, or TTY 1-800-462-7585, to ask for an explanation of why they were denied and instructions for submitting information that was missing or has changed from their initial registration. For those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services, call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Applicants may also get assistance at a Disaster Recovery Center, where specialists from the state of Arkansas, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration are on hand to answer questions, accept required documents and review applications, including disaster loan applications. DRCs are currently operating in Mayflower, Pocahontas and Vilonia, with Mobile DRCs open in Searcy and Little Rock.

If FEMA determines that an applicant is not eligible for a federal grant, the applicant may still be eligible for other assistance, such as disaster unemployment assistance, low-interest federal disaster loans or free legal assistance.

For more information on Arkansas disaster recovery, go to fema.gov/disaster/4174. You can follow FEMA on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

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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.

The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) is the state’s homeland security and preparedness agency. The agency works to identify and lessen the effects of emergencies, disasters and threats to Arkansas by developing effective prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery actions for all disasters and emergencies. For additional information, contact ADEM at (501) 683-6700 or visit the website at www.adem.arkansas.gov.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6, Hurricane Preparedness website at www.fema.gov/about/regions/regionvi/updates.shtm 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 information about SBA programs, applicants can go to www.sba.gov/disaster or call (800) 659-2955 (TTY 1-800-977-8339).

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First Letter May Not Be the Last Word from FEMA

Free Legal Services for Arkansas Disaster Survivors

Little Rock, Ark. – Besides the physical, emotional and mental challenges they pose, disasters such as the April 27 severe storms, tornadoes and floods may leave some survivors with legal issues. Arkansans who need help with storm-related legal issues but can’t afford a lawyer may find one for free. If you’re in this situation or know someone who is, this is what you need to know:

How to request free legal help:

To request a lawyer, call 844-344-7904 toll free.
The phone is staffed between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Messages can be left at any time.
Callers should state they are seeking disaster-related legal assistance.
Those who qualify for the free service will be matched with Arkansas lawyers who have volunteered to help.
All calls are completely confidential.

Types of legal assistance include:

Assistance with insurance claims—life, medical, property, etc.
Help with replacing legal papers such as wills
Advice on problems with landlords
Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems
Help with home repair contracts and contractors or with building permits

This program is for survivors in the counties designated for federal disaster assistance to individuals:Faulkner, Pulaski, Randolph and White.

Disaster Legal Services are provided through a partnership among the Arkansas Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which funds some of the administrative costs.

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 http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6, the R6 Hurricane Preparedness website at www.fema.gov/about/regions/regionvi/updates.shtm and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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Free Legal Services for Arkansas Disaster Survivors

Disaster Recovery Center Opening in Hard-Hit Vilonia

Little Rock, Ark. – A State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will open Monday in Vilonia in Faulkner County, giving storm survivors there the chance to talk directly with qualified disaster assistance personnel.

Disaster Recovery Centers gather different state and federal agencies and programs under one roof, offering survivors convenient access to guidance from a number of resources.

At the center, visitors will be able to talk to specialists from the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Internal Revenue Service, the American Red Cross, plus other agencies and groups. Those professionals will be available to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available, including FEMA Individual Assistance grants and SBA low-interest disaster assistance loans for homeowners, renters and business owners.

Disaster Recovery Center Location:

Disaster Recovery Center
1122 Main St.
Vilonia, AR 72455
Hours: Monday to Saturday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sundays: 1 to 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams are canvassing affected areas in the county to help people register and provide information. All DSA team members wear FEMA shirts and have FEMA badges.

Survivors can continue to register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. They may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

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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 us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6, the R6 Hurricane Preparedness website at www.fema.gov/about/regions/regionvi/updates.shtm and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

Link –

Disaster Recovery Center Opening in Hard-Hit Vilonia

Hours to Change at Mayflower Disaster Recovery Center

Little Rock, Ark. – Effective Monday, May 12, the operating hours for the State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Mayflower, Ark., will change.

The new operating hours will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday–Saturday and 1 to 7 p.m. on Sundays. The center is located at 600 Highway 365, Mayflower, AR 72106.

Specialists from a number of federal, state and charitable agencies are at the center to meet face-to-face with survivors about assistance that may be available to help them recover.

It is not necessary to visit the center to register for state and federal disaster recovery assistance.

Survivors may register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or with an internet-enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov. To register by phone, call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Users of 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. Toll-free telephone numbers are staffed from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

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 http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6, the R6 Hurricane Preparedness website at www.fema.gov/about/regions/regionvi/updates.shtm and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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Hours to Change at Mayflower Disaster Recovery Center

Beware of Scams and Fraudulent Phone Calls

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – State and federal recovery officials urge Arkansas residents affected by the April 27 severe storms, tornadoes and floods to watch for and report any suspicious activity or potential fraud.

As government agencies and charitable groups continue to provide disaster assistance, scam artists, identity thieves and other criminals may attempt to prey on vulnerable survivors. Since the recovery effort began, authorities have received reports of unscrupulous individuals trying to do just that.

The most common post-disaster fraud practices include phony housing inspectors, fraudulent building contractors, bogus pleas for disaster donations and fake offers of state or federal aid. Authorities in Arkansas have reported one resident received a phone call claiming to be from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The caller attempted to get the person’s bank account information and debit card number.

“No government disaster assistance agency will call you and ask for your financial account information,” said State Coordinating Officer David Maxwell of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM). “Unless you place the call yourself, don’t give out that information over the phone. It can lead to identity theft.”

Survivors should also keep in mind that federal and state workers never ask for or accept money, and always carry identification badges. There is no fee required to apply for or to get disaster assistance from FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) or the state.

“Scam attempts can be made over the phone, by mail or email, or in person,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Timothy J. Scranton of FEMA. “Unfortunately, there seems to be no limit to the inventiveness of these con artists. We urge Arkansans to remain alert, ask questions and require identification when someone claims to represent a government agency.”

Those who suspect fraud should call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at 1-866-720-5721. Complaints may also be made to local law enforcement agencies and through the Arkansas Attorney General Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-482-8982.

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 http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6, the R6 Hurricane Preparedness website at www.fema.gov/about/regions/regionvi/updates.shtm and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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Beware of Scams and Fraudulent Phone Calls

Oceanport’s Chris Baggot: From Sandy Survivor to Sandy Recovery Coordinator

LINCROFT, N.J. — As Deputy Coordinator of the Oceanport, N.J. Office of Emergency Management, Chris Baggot has weathered a lot of storms.

But nothing so profoundly altered the landscape of his community like Hurricane Sandy.

The 3.7 square mile town on the Shrewsbury River was devastated by the storm. Five hundred of the 2000 homes in this close-knit community were substantially damaged or destroyed. Oceanport also lost its police station, its borough hall, its ambulance squad building, its library and its courthouse.

Some 18 months after the Oct. 29, 2012 hurricane, 71 families were still unable to return home.

The Baggot family is among them. The Baggots have been renting a one-bedroom apartment in the nearby community of Eatontown while they await the demolition and reconstruction of their home on Blackberry Bay.

While they were approved for an RREM grant of $150,000 to underwrite the rebuilding, a rough winter delayed the start of construction on their replacement home. Once the weather improves and contractors break ground, it will be another six to nine months before Chris, his wife, Wendy, and college-age son, Zachary, will be able to enjoy life in Oceanport once again.

“I’m a Sandy survivor. We don’t use the word ‘victim,’’’ he says.

He carries A picture of Chris Baggott Chris Baggot: From Sandy Survivor to Sandy Recovery Coordinatorthat perspective into his role at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s New Jersey Sandy Recovery Office, where he recently became a CORE employee after joining FEMA as a Local Hire in December of 2012.

It was his second time assisting his fellow New Jerseyans as a FEMA employee: Baggot was also recruited as a Local Hire in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene in 2011.

Hired initially as a project specialist for Public Assistance, Baggot moved on to become a Cost Estimating Format reviewer, Quality Assurance lead, Operations task force lead and finally, CORE Operations Task Force Lead.

In that capacity, he explains, “I oversee the life cycle of a Public Assistance project from the writing stage all the way through to obligation.”

Baggot’s personal experience with the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy has underlined his understanding of the importance of the FEMA mission in helping communities rebuild and become more resilient.

“It sure is nice when people say to you, ‘Look, we need this; we need that,’ and you can give it to them in a reasonable way,” says Baggot, “and it’s nice when you can manage expectations when people ask for the moon and stars. That’s not really what we’re there to provide. We’re there to get them back to pre-disaster conditions.”

He has plenty of praise for his colleagues at FEMA, who came here in the immediate aftermath of the storm to help the hard-hit residents of New Jersey get back on their feet.

“The FEMA people that I’ve had the opportunity to work with have really been great.” He’s also enjoyed observing their surprise at how different New Jersey is from its “What exit?” stereotype.

“They talk about how beautiful it is – they thought it was all blacktop,” Baggot says with a laugh.

http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4086/updates/sandy-one-year-later

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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Oceanport’s Chris Baggot: From Sandy Survivor to Sandy Recovery Coordinator

Completed SBA Loan Application May Trigger Additional FEMA Grants

EVERETT, Wash. – SR530 Slide survivors who are notified by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that they may be eligible for low-interest disaster loans should work with the SBA to complete the application, according to officials with the Washington Emergency Management Division (WEMD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Whether a loan is wanted or not, the SBA loan application may trigger additional grant assistance through FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program. The State of Washington administers the ONA grant funding for survivors who are not offered an SBA loan but who need additional recovery assistance.

SR530 Slide survivors have only a few weeks remaining to register with FEMA for possible assistance. FEMA registration is possible through June 2. Registration is available online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at (800) 621-3362. TTY survivors should use (800) 462-7585 with Video Relay Service survivors calling (800) 621-3362. Phone lines are open seven days a week from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m., PDT.

The SBA is authorized, when a federal disaster is declared, to offer low interest loans to individual homeowners and renters as well as businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations. Eligible homeowners may receive up to $200,000 for home repair or replacement of primary residences and eligible homeowners and renters up to $40,000 to replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.

Small businesses suffering economic impact due to the SR530 slide can apply for up to $2 million for any combination of property damage or economic injury under SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.

Interest rates for SBA disaster loans can be as low as 2.25 percent for homeowners and renters, 2.625 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 4 percent for businesses, with terms up to 30 years. SR530 Slide survivors have until June 2, 2014 to apply for SBA loans. Small businesses applying for only the EIDL program have until Jan. 2, 2015.

SBAs important phone numbers:

SBA Customer Service Center – (800) 659-2955

TTY – (800) 877-8339

To access online applications click www.sba.gov/disaster.

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Completed SBA Loan Application May Trigger Additional FEMA Grants

Tuckerton Restaurant Rebuilds With Improved Disability Access

LINCROFT, N.J .— When the Panini Bay Waterfront Restaurant in Tuckerton was damaged by Superstorm Sandy, owner and chef Ivar Johnson had several critical decisions to make. Chief among them was how to maintain wheelchair access for customers with disabilities while elevating the remaining structure and adding additional mitigation features.

When Sandy struck, the first floor was flooded with a foot of water, ruining the floors and walls. Waves 10 to 15 feet high destroyed the windows and damaged the mechanical equipment and duct work built underneath the original floor. The ramp and stairs leading to the restaurant were also severely damaged.

The restaurant’s main floor was elevated onto 9-foot high pylons. A new seating area was built on a raised platform and the kitchen was relocated to the center of the building. A multilevel staircase was added.

But the main feature of the rebuilt Panini Bay is the enclosed wheelchair lift outside the restaurant that transports customers up to the entrance.

Mr. Johnson stands inside the wheelchair lift to demonstrate. Panini Bay Waterfront owner and chef Ivar Johnson demonstrates the wheelchair lift.“Better price,” Johnson said when asked why he decided to go with the wheelchair lift instead of a full elevator. “And it fits the architecture of the building.”

Tuckerton had recently passed an ordinance making its base flood elevation 11 feet, “and at the time, it was an additional 3 feet on top of that,” Johnson said. Though the ordinance forced Johnson to elevate the building, he said it also allowed him to rebuild with better materials and re-do elements, particularly the plumbing, that were built improperly the first time.

The lift cost $25,000. Two people, along with a rider using a wheelchair, can fit inside comfortably. The lift has a seat, a seat belt, and an emergency phone inside. The enclosure cost an additional $12,000 and completely surrounds the lift and its mechanics. It is made out of nearly 40 3x7s and measures 14 feet from top to bottom.

Johnson found the firm that designed the lift through an architect friend. Construction took six months to complete. A short ramp leads from the ground to the chair lift. The restaurant had a wheelchair ramp before Sandy, but rebuilding it was not feasible given the height of the elevation.

“The lift gets plenty of use,” Johnson said.

Johnson admits the new design is not perfect. However, the new structure and elevation protect the restaurant, which sits on the Tuckerton Inlet, better from wind, salt water and storm surges, and the improved wheelchair access will serve the needs of the new restaurant for many years to come.

http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4086/updates/sandy-one-year-later
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

Link:

Tuckerton Restaurant Rebuilds With Improved Disability Access

Florida Panhandle Counties Now Eligible for Federal Disaster Assistance

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Survivors in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties who sustained property damage as a result of the recent severe storms and flooding in Florida are urged to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as they may be eligible for disaster assistance.

Disaster survivors have several ways to apply:

By phone at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.
Online at DisasterAssistance.gov any time day or night.
Via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

Assistance can include money 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 the U.S. Small Business Administration may also be available to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance.

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.

Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if the person has registered with another disaster-relief organization. Applicants will be asked for the following information:

Social Security number
Address of the damaged home or apartment
Description of the damage
Information about insurance coverage
A current contact telephone number
An address where they can receive mail
Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.

For more information on Florida disaster recovery, click fema.gov/disaster/4177. Visit the Florida Division of Emergency Management website at floridadisaster.org or Facebook page at facebook.com/FloridaSERT.

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

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Florida Panhandle Counties Now Eligible for Federal Disaster Assistance

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