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Disaster Assistance Tops $53 Million for Hurricane Survivors in South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Thursday, Nov. 10) — One month after the federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Matthew, the amount of federal assistance to help South Carolina recover has climbed to $53 million.

That $53 million total includes:

More than $28.5 million in disaster grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for homeowners and renters.
More than $12.2 million in low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for businesses of all sizes (including landlords), private nonprofit

organizations, homeowners and renters.

More than $12.2 million in flood insurance payments from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
While progress continues, here’s a look at recovery highlights to date:
More than 39,000 households have applied for disaster assistance from FEMA. The declaration now designates 24 counties for Individual Assistance: Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg, Sumter and Williamsburg.
Disaster assistance from FEMA includes $23.9 million in Housing Assistance grants and $4.6
million in Other Needs Assistance, including grants for the replacement of flood-damaged vehicles and reimbursements for serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance. The incident covers damage incurred between Oct. 4 and Oct. 31, 2016.
The SBA has approved 349 low-interest disaster loans, totaling $12.2 million. Disaster loans help fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. SBA has approved 341 home loans, 2 business loans and 6 Economic Injury Disaster Loans, which help small businesses and private-nonprofits with working capital needs as a direct result of the disaster.

The SBA has opened 3 Business Recovery Centers to enable storm-impacted businesses to meet individually with SBA representatives and find out how a low-interest disaster loan can help them recover. Additionally, SBA has staff at all Disaster Recovery Centers to provide one-on- one assistance.
FEMA-contracted housing inspectors have completed more than 26,000 inspections of disaster- damaged properties to verify damage.

In support of the State of South Carolina, 196 Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) personnel

have been canvassing storm-damaged neighborhoods. In the first 30 days of recovery operations, DSA teams have visited more than 28,000 homes and spoken with 18,000 people. Team members are equipped to register survivors with FEMA and answer their questions about disaster assistance.

The NFIP, which is administered by FEMA, has paid out partial and advanced payments totaling

$12.2 million to 6,335 policyholders

The State and FEMA have opened 16 Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) to serve survivors. The centers report 3,830 visitors to date. More DRCs will open and close according to community need and visitor demand.

The federal disaster declaration on Oct. 11, 2016, also made FEMA Public Assistance—help for hard-hit communities—available in 26 South Carolina counties: Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Kershaw, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg, Richland, Sumter and Williamsburg.

Public Assistance grants reimburse local, state and tribal governments and certain nonprofit organizations for 75 percent of their disaster-related expenses, including emergency protective measures, debris removal, and infrastructure repair and replacement.

Although the millions of dollars in Public Assistance go to government entities and nonprofits, Public Assistance benefits everyone—communities, cities and states. The monies help pay for efforts to keep people and property safe, clean up disaster-related debris, and put roads, utilities and public works back in order after the disaster.

Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

For Individual Assistance, survivors can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 800-621- 3362 (voice, 711 or relay service) or 800-462-7585 (TTY). The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual operators are available.

Survivors who have questions about their flood insurance policies and coverage should contact the NFIP call center at 800-621-3362 (Option 2) between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Specialists can help with service claims, provide general information regarding policies and offer technical assistance to aid in recovery.

FEMA mitigation specialists are also available at DRCs to provide literature to survivors on NFIP and guidance on cost-effective rebuilding and repair techniques to make homes more flood- and wind- resistant.

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.

To find a complete list of DRC locations and hours, download the free FEMA app to your mobile device or visit asd.fema.gov/inter/locator. DRCs are accessible to people with disabilities. The centers have magnifiers, tools to amplify sound, materials in alternative formats, and video remote interpretation.

Sign language interpreters are available upon request.

For more information about the disaster recovery operation, please visit fema.gov/disaster/4286 or the South Carolina Emergency Management Division at scemd.org/recovery-section/ia.

All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

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/femaregion4 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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.

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Disaster Assistance Tops $53 Million for Hurricane Survivors in South Carolina

Second Berkeley DRC Opens

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Monday, Nov. 7) – A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) opens in Dillon County on Tuesday at 9 a.m. It will be open weekdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed Sundays until further notice.

Located at the Latimer Elementary School, 134 Latimer St., Latta, SC 29565, the DRC is staffed by representatives from the State of South Carolina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration and representatives from various state agency and voluntary organizations. Survivors of the storms and floods that came with Hurricane Matthew can expect information on federal disaster assistance programs, guidance on disaster recovery, an explanation of written FEMA correspondence, and help with other disaster-related questions.

FEMA mitigation specialists are available at DRCs to provide literature to survivors on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and guidance on cost-effective rebuilding and repair techniques to make homes more flood resistant. For more specific NFIP questions, you can call the NFIP Support Call Center by dialing 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) and pressing 2.

DRCs are accessible to people with disabilities. The centers have tools to amplify sound, magnifiers and materials in alternative formats along with video remote interpretation. Sign language interpreters are available upon request at the center.

If possible, you should register with FEMA before visiting the DRC. You can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362 (voice, 711 or video services) or 800-462-7585 (TTY). The toll-free lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice. Multilingual operators are available.

You can find the locations of other DRCs online at DisasterAssistance.gov, at “Quick Links.”

After registering with FEMA, survivors may also be eligible for low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA offers such loans to businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters. SBA loans are for uninsured or underinsured disaster losses. SBA advises it is not necessary to wait for an insurance settlement before submitting the loan application.

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).

You can receive weather alerts, safety tips and learn about disaster resources by downloading the free FEMA App, available for Apple, Android, and Blackberry mobile devices. Visit fema.gov/mobile-app for more information.

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Second Berkeley DRC Opens

Registration Deadline for Disaster Assistance Is Two Weeks Away

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana disaster survivors affected by August flooding have two weeks left to register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The deadline to register is Monday, Nov. 14, 2016.

Survivors may register with FEMA by going online with any computer, smartphone or tablet to DisasterAssistance.gov, calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362, or downloading the FEMA mobile app. Survivors who use a TTY may call 800-462-7585 to register.

Survivors can also register for assistance at any FEMA disaster recovery center. To find a disaster recovery center near you, call the FEMA helpline or text DRC and your zip code to 43362. You can also find a center near you by downloading the FEMA mobile app or going online to fema.gov/drc.

FEMA assistance for homeowners and renters may include grants for rent, temporary housing and home repair to their primary residence, as well as other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs.
Survivors should also be sure to submit their disaster loan application to the U.S. Small Business Administration by Nov.14.

Submitting a loan application does not imply acceptance of a loan, but it is a necessary step to being considered for other forms of disaster assistance.

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. SBA representatives are also available at any disaster recovery center, disaster loan outreach center, or business recovery center.

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Registration Deadline for Disaster Assistance Is Two Weeks Away

Three South Carolina Counties Added for Individual Assistance

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Tuesday, Oct. 25) – Homeowners and renters in three more South Carolina counties – Berkeley, Charleston and Chesterfield – are now eligible to receive Individual Assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help them recover from flooding caused by Hurricane Matthew.

There are now 24 South Carolina counties eligible for federal disaster assistance. Of those counties, 23 also are eligible for 75 percent cost reimbursement for debris removal and emergency protective measures resulting from the hurricane. Additional reimbursement is available to 18 of those counties for repair or replacement of public works facilities damaged or destroyed by the hurricane and flooding, also at 75 percent of cost.

The county itself, its cities and towns and certain nonprofits that perform quasi-government functions are eligible to apply for public assistance grants.

All Public Assistance reimbursements are a benefit to taxpayers in those counties to the extent that they do not have to pay for the needed repairs and replacements through higher tax assessments.

Individual Assistance is available to homeowners and renters in these 24 counties: Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg, Sumter and Williamsburg.

The first step for individuals and households to receive assistance is to register with FEMA. There are no costs involved to receive FEMA assistance.

Disaster survivors may register in any of the following ways:

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov;
On the FEMA Mobile App;
Calling 800-621-3362 (FEMA);
Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362;
People 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 11 p.m., seven days a week; Multilingual operators are available.

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. Also, low-interest disaster loans from the U. S. Small Business Administration are available for businesses of all sizes (including landlords), private nonprofits, homeowners and renters.

The grants are intended to enable repair of a dwelling to the extent necessary to be safe, sanitary and secure for the number of occupants who live there. It is not a substitute for insurance coverage.

Households that have flood insurance are not eligible for an Individual Assistance grant unless their flood insurance is not enough to match FEMA’s minimum repair standard.

Renters and homeowners with flood insurance should register with FEMA in case their insurance coverage does not provide the necessary level of repair. The registration period ends 60 days after the initial disaster declaration, but those who register remain eligible to receive benefits after registration closes.

In South Carolina, the “One SC Fund” supports and directs funds to nonprofit organizations providing disaster relief & recovery assistance. http://yourfoundation.org/community-impact/one-sc-fund-sc-flood- relief/. Survivors in the state who need food, clothing, and shelter to call 2-1-1, and for storm clean up to call 800-451-1954.

For more information, visit the South Carolina Emergency Management Division at http://scemd.org/.

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.

Three South Carolina Counties Added for Individual Assistance

Nassau and Seminole Counties Designated for Individual Assistance

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Homeowners, renters and business owners in Nassau and Seminole counties may now apply for federal disaster assistance for uninsured and underinsured damages and losses resulting from Hurricane Matthew.

Brevard, Duval, Flagler, Indian River, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties are already designated for Individual Assistance.

Nassau County had earlier received a designation for Public Assistance.

To be eligible for federal aid under FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program, storm damage and losses from the hurricane and flooding beginning on October 3 must have occurred as a result of Hurricane Matthew.

Survivors are encouraged to register with FEMA as soon as possible. If you preregistered with FEMA, you do not have to apply again. If you have phone and/or internet access, you may register:

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov, or
On the FEMA Mobile App, or by
Calling 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. People 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 (press 2 for Spanish).

Don’t be discouraged if you do not have access to telephone or internet service. Disaster survivor assistance specialists are helping people register for assistance in designated counties.

Long-term, low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also may be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Survivors should contact their insurance company to file their insurance claim. FEMA is unable to duplicate insurance payments. However, those without insurance or those who may be underinsured may still receive help.

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Nassau and Seminole Counties Designated for Individual Assistance

Applying for Individual Assistance in South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Homeowners, renters and business owners in Marion and Orangeburg counties must register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to be eligible for federal disaster assistance for Hurricane Matthew damages and losses in South Carolina.

Disaster survivors may register in any of the following ways:

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov;
On the FEMA Mobile App;
Calling 800-621-3362 (FEMA)
Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362
People 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 11 p.m., seven days a week
Multilingual operators are available.

Additionally, Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams will soon will be stationed in Marion and Orangeburg counties and visiting damaged neighborhoods to help people register. Disaster Recovery Centers are planned to open in the near future in the declared counties.

Survivors should contact their insurance company to file an insurance claim. FEMA is unable to duplicate insurance payments. However, those without insurance or those who are underinsured may be eligible for help.

The assistance process is faster if only one person per household registers with FEMA, preferably the head of the household. FEMA’s Individual Assistance program applies only to damage to the survivor’s primary residence. Damage to secondary homes is not eligible.

The following information is needed when registering with FEMA:

Social Security number;

Address of the location where the damage occurred;
Current address;
Current telephone number;
Insurance information;
Total household annual income;

Routing and account number for your checking or savings account (this allows FEMA to directly transfer disaster assistance funds into your bank account);
A description of disaster-caused damage and losses.

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. Long-term, low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also may be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or benefits from other agencies or organizations.

Survivors who cannot afford to repay an SBA loan may be eligible for additional grant assistance. They will have to submit an SBA loan application before that can be determined.

After registering with FEMA, applicants will be contacted by a FEMA-contracted housing inspector to schedule an appointment to inspect the house and determine the extent of damage. An adult must be present for the inspection. When registering, applicants should provide a contact telephone number where they always can be reached or receive messages.

Homes that remain flooded cannot be inspected until the water recedes.

FEMA assistance is limited to the amount necessary to make the home safe, sanitary and secure for the number of occupants who live there. The cost of repairing additional spaces such as family rooms, dens or extra bedrooms is not considered. Repair cost estimates are based on standard material and construction costs.

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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 800-621-3362 or TTY at 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 FEMA on twitter at @femaregion4. Download the FEMA app with tools and tips to keep you safe before, during, and after disasters.

Dial 2-1-1 to speak with a trained call specialist about questions you have regarding Hurricane Matthew; the service is free, confidential and available in any language. They can help direct you to resources. Call 5-1-1 for the latest road conditions.

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 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.

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Applying for Individual Assistance in South Carolina

Two South Carolina Counties Now Designated for Individual Assistance

Multilingual operators are available.

For those who do not have access to telephone or internet service, don’t be discouraged. Disaster survivor assistance specialists will soon be helping people register for assistance. Additionally, disaster recovery centers are planned to open in the near future in impacted counties.

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. Long-term, low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also may be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

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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 on twitter at @femaregion4. Download the FEMA app with tools and tips to keep you safe before, during, and after disasters.

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Two South Carolina Counties Now Designated for Individual Assistance

You Can Help to Move Your FEMA Assistance Request Forward

BATON ROUGE, La. — You can make a big difference in getting fast action on your FEMA application by providing all the information needed and then staying in touch. The state and FEMA rely on that information to process each claim.

When you register with FEMA, the facts you provide are used to determine what types of assistance you may be eligible to receive. When all the information is complete, FEMA is able to make a decision regarding your disaster aid.

There are a number of reasons flood survivors receive ineligibility letters and yet may qualify for assistance. For example, you may still need to:

Return insurance information
- If you have flood insurance, contact your insurance company and ask for a settlement letter detailing exactly what is covered under your claim.
- Hand in the letter at a disaster recovery center or mail insurance settlement information to FEMA – Individuals & Households Program
  - National Processing Service Center,
    P.O. Box 10055
    Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055
- FEMA cannot provide money to individuals or households for losses already covered by insurance.
Provide information to prove occupancy or ownership of the damaged property
- Utility bills, tax receipts, rental receipts are all proof you lived at the address.
Fill out all necessary paperwork and update your contact information
- Answer all questions on the form.
- Let FEMA know each time you move or change a phone number:
  - By going online to DisasterAssistance.gov;
  - By calling 800-621-3362 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily;
  - Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362;
  - By talking face-to-face with a specialist at a disaster recovery center. Find the closest one at fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362; or
  - By downloading the FEMA mobile app.
Complete and return the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan application.
- Be sure to return the completed SBA loan application even if you choose to decline the loan.
- Filling out the loan application is a necessary step so you can be considered for additional forms of disaster assistance.

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Original source:

You Can Help to Move Your FEMA Assistance Request Forward

Disaster Recovery Center in East Feliciana Parish Closing Saturday

BATON ROUGE, La. – The disaster recovery center at the following address is closing at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17:

East Feliciana Parish

Location: Gym at the Early Learning Center
9414 Plank Road (Highway 67)
Clinton, LA 70722

With the community continuing to repair and rebuild, its need for this disaster recovery center has diminished, leading to the facility’s closure.

Survivors can still visit any other disaster recovery centers and may locate other centers near them by going online to fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers, calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, or downloading the FEMA mobile app.

For more information or to register with FEMA, go online with any computer, smartphone or tablet to DisasterAssistance.gov, call the FEMA Helpline, or download the FEMA mobile app. Help is available in most languages and the FEMA Helpline is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice.

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Disaster Recovery Center in East Feliciana Parish Closing Saturday

FEMA, SBA continue recovery efforts for West Virginia storm survivors

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – It has been more than 10 weeks since disaster assistance personnel from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) deployed to West Virginia in response to President Obama’s major disaster declaration of June 25, 2016. The president’s signature on the decree made federal assistance available to eligible survivors of the June 22-29 severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides in 12 counties.

Although the deadline for registering for individual financial assistance from FEMA has passed, the recovery continues and FEMA disaster recovery specialists remain on the scene. Survivors of the June storms and flooding, who have registered for FEMA assistance, still have access to the agency for information about temporary housing, help with insurance claims, questions about filing an appeal, and other disaster services and resources.

Registered individuals have access to FEMA’s toll-free Helpline, seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT. Call 800-621-3362 (TTY users should call 800-462-7585). Multilingual operators are available.

Applicants receiving temporary rental assistance and who have a need for continuing housing assistance must apply to FEMA for approval. FEMA will evaluate the information to determine if the applicant qualifies for ongoing federal rental assistance, based on financial need. Contact the FEMA Helpline for information on how to apply.

FEMA urges registered individuals to “keep in touch” and notify FEMA of address or phone number changes, initiate appeals or reschedule inspection appointments. It is important to keep all contact information current to avoid delays in getting assistance.

As of the Sept. 7 deadline, 8,974 West Virginia homeowners and renters have applied to FEMA for disaster assistance. To date more than $33.3 million in individual housing assistance grants and nearly $6.4 million in other needs assistance have been approved for residents of the 12 designated counties: Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Roane, Summers and Webster.

Disaster assistance for individuals may include grants to help homeowners and renters with temporary housing and essential home repairs. Other needs assistance provides funding for repair or replacement of furnishings and other personal property, transportation and other disaster-related needs such as transportation and childcare. Disaster assistance grants are not taxable income and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicare and other federal and state programs. Grants do not have to be repaid to the federal government.

Since the June 25 disaster declaration, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), one of FEMA’s partners in disaster recovery, has approved 735 low-interest disaster loans totaling nearly $47.7 million. SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners and renters who have applied for FEMA assistance, as well as to businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations. SBA disaster loans may cover the cost of repairing, rebuilding or replacing lost or disaster-damaged real estate and personal property.

For more information about SBA loans, call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955. (TTY users should call 800-877-8339). Individuals and businesses may also email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster.

The State’s and FEMA’s 15 area Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) served 9,531 visitors between June 28 and Aug. 31, while FEMA-contracted housing inspectors have completed more than 7,200 inspections of disaster-damaged properties to verify damage.

Other help available to individuals:

Free disaster legal assistance is available to storm survivors. This service offers counseling on insurance claims, landlord-tenant issues, home-repair contracts, and the replacement of lost or damaged legal documents and other legal matters. Call the toll-free hotline 877-331-4259.
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. In addition, you can contact the Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746.
Contact West Virginia 211 ( for help finding food, childcare, crisis counseling, and many other resources available in your community.
West Virginians seeking information about disaster-related services and unmet needs, as well as volunteering and donating, should visit the state’s Help for West Virginia Disaster website wvflood.com.
Individuals who wish to help with flood response and recovery may sign up with West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) at www.volunteerwv.org or wvvoad.org.
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.

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FEMA, SBA continue recovery efforts for West Virginia storm survivors

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