As North Carolina residents work to recover from the recent flooding resulting from Hurricane Matthew, they should be on guard for and report suspicious activity of potential fraud and scam artists, identity thieves and other criminals who prey on survivors. The following are a few common post-disaster fraud practices:

Fraudulent phone calls or visits: Individuals claiming to be from FEMA and who do not have proper FEMA photo identification.

  • Survivors will be asked to provide their Social Security number and banking information only when registering for FEMA assistance. They should never give this information to contractors.

Fake offers of federal aid: A phone or in-person solicitor promises to speed up the insurance, disaster assistance or building-permit process for a fee. Other scam artists promise a disaster grant and ask for large cash deposits or advance payments in full.

  • Federal workers do not solicit or accept money.

  • FEMA and SBA staffers will never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or for assisting individuals fill out applications.

  • If in doubt, survivors should not give out information.

Phony housing inspectors: If home damage is visible from the street, an owner/applicant may be especially vulnerable to fraudulent housing inspectors who claim to represent FEMA or the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Applicants should ALWAYS:

  • Ask to see the inspector’s identification badge. A FEMA or SBA shirt or jacket is not proof of someone’s affiliation with the government. ederal employees and contractors carry official photo identification.

  • FEMA inspectors will already have applicants’ nine digit registration number.

  • FEMA inspectors will never require banking or other personal information.

    North Carolina residents should also be aware that FEMA housing inspectors verify damage. They do not hire or endorse specific contractors to fix homes or recommend repairs nor do they determine your eligibility for assistance.

    (MORE)

    FS – North Carolina Survivors:  Avoid Disaster-Related Scams and Fraud – Page 2

    Fraudulent building contractors: Disasters also attract fraudulent contractors who offer to begin work immediately and request a cash advance payment. When hiring a contractor: 

  • Residents should only use licensed local contractors who are backed by reliable references and get written estimates from at least three contractors that include the cost of labor and materials. They should also read the fine print.

  • Residents should insist that contractors carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation. If he or she is not insured, you may be liable for accidents that occur on your property.

  • Don’t pay more than half the costs of repairs upfront.

Bogus pleas for post-disaster donations: Dishonest solicitors may play on the emotions of disaster survivors. These solicitations may come by phone, email, letter or face-to-face.

  • Residents should verify legitimate solicitations by asking for the charity’s exact name, street address, phone number and website address, then phone the charity directly and confirm that the person asking for funds is an employee or volunteer.

  • Residents should not pay donations with cash.

  • Residents should request a receipt with the charity’s name, street address, and phone number.

Unfair Price Gouging:  North Carolina residents should also be on the lookout for price gouging by gas stations, hotels and other businesses serving disaster survivors in the state.

If you suspect someone is perpetrating fraud, call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, your local police department or the North Carolinas Fraud Hotline at 877-5-NOSCAM.

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North Carolina Survivors: Avoid Disaster-Related Scams and Fraud

TALLAHASSEE—A Disaster Recovery Center has opened in Hernando County to help survivors affected by Hurricane Hermine’s severe storms and flooding that severely impacted the state between Aug. 31 and Sept. 11, 2016.

The location of the center is:

Westside Government Center

                    7405 Forest Oaks Blvd

                    Spring Hill, FL  34607

Open Monday – Saturday

9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Closed Sundays    

Disaster Recovery Centers serve as one-stop shops for eligible storm survivors seeking one-on-one help. Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and various state agencies will be at the center to answer questions Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Closed on Sundays.

FDEM and FEMA officials continue to work closely with local officials in hard-hit areas to identify suitable sites for additional centers. Survivors can also locate the center by visiting the  DRC locator.  Downloading the FEMA App to their mobile device will allow survivors to:

  • Apply for disaster assistance
  • Get directions to the nearest Disaster Recovery Center
  • Find shelter locations
  • Get weather alerts
  • Subscribe to disaster safety tips

Many services available at disaster recovery centers are also available by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Survivors with questions regarding the application or the appeals process, or who need to register for assistance, may visit online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone (voice, 711 or relay service) at 800-621-3362. (TTY users should call 800-462-7585.) The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

Survivors requiring a reasonable accommodation (ASL interpreting, Braille Large Print, etc.) while visiting a disaster recovery center may call the appropriate Helpline number above to receive support.

FEMA encourages survivors to register as soon as possible. Those who may have registered with their county emergency management office, the American Red Cross or other community organizations are reminded to also register with FEMA.

Disaster assistance may include grants to help homeowners and renters pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs, personal property replacement, and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

SBA offers low-interest disaster loans for businesses of all sizes, homeowners, renters, and private non-profit organizations. SBA disaster loans may cover repairs, rebuilding, as well as the cost of 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, 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.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4280, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA, and fema.gov/blog.

Follow this link – 

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Hernando County for Hurricane Hermine

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana recovery continues with the energy and work of businesses, voluntary, faith-based, and community-based organizations along with government agencies and committed citizens.

Unfortunately, disasters also bring out criminals looking to prey on survivors who appear to be rich targets for their fraudulent services.

Being cautious is essential to preventing rip-offs.  Don’t offer personal financial information over the phone. Know who you are dealing with. Never be shy about asking for identification. Government workers will never ask for a fee or payment. They always wear an official government photo ID.

Homeowners and registered FEMA applicants should watch out for housing inspectors claiming to represent FEMA or the U.S. Small Business Administration. Inspectors already have each applicant’s nine-digit registration number and a FEMA inspector will not ask for this number. FEMA inspectors never require banking or other personal information. The job of FEMA housing inspectors is to verify damage. Inspectors do not hire or endorse specific contractors to fix homes or recommend repairs. They do not determine eligibility for assistance.

Watch out for middlemen who promise you will receive disaster grants or money, especially if they ask for an upfront payment.

Many survivors have been living in damaged homes or in hotels and motels or other emergency accommodation while their primary residences are being repaired and rebuilt.

Keep these consumer safety tips in mind when working with contractors:

  • Verify the license or registration number with the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors at www.lacontractor.org or call 800-256-1392.

  • Get three written estimates for repair work. Then check credentials and contact your local Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce to learn about any complaints against the contractor or business.

  • Before work begins, make sure you get a written contract detailing all the work to be performed, the costs, a projected completion date, and how to negotiate changes and settle disputes.

  • Louisiana, Attorney General Jeff Landryencourages you to use the following tips:

    • Take a picture of your contractor, his/her vehicle, and its license plate.
    • Take a picture of the contractor’s business card and his/her driver’s license.
    • Photograph or scan his/her contracting license and insurance.
    • Photograph or scan the contract made with him/her.
    • Photograph or scan all checks and money orders made as payments to the contractor.
    • Preserve all these photographs by emailing them to yourself and a trusted companion and/or by saving them in a cloud-based application.
  • If you suspect anyone – an inspector, disaster survivor, or someone posing as one of these – of fraudulent activities, call the FEMA toll-free Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or your local law enforcement officials.

  • To report a scam or sign up for consumer alerts, call Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-351-4889 or visit www.AGJeffLandry.com.

Charity scams take many forms, including emails containing links or attachments that direct users to phishing or malware-infected websites. Donation requests from fraudulent charitable organizations commonly appear after major natural disasters.

US-CERT encourages users to take the following measures to protect themselves:

Review the Federal Trade Commission warning at FTC alert and its information on Charity Scams.

  • Do not follow unsolicited web links or attachments in email messages.
  • Keep antivirus and other computer software up-to-date.
  • Check this Better Business Bureau (BBB) list for helping Louisiana flood victims before making any donations to this cause.
  • Verify the legitimacy of any email solicitation by contacting the organization directly through a trusted contact number. You can find trusted contact information for many charities on the BBB National Charity Report Index.

There is no fee to apply for FEMA disaster assistance or to receive it. The only ways to register for FEMA help are to:

  • Call 800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585)

  • Visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov or speak to a FEMA employee at a Discovery Recovery Center.

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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 https://twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

    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 U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

    For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800)877-8339.

    Download the FEMA mobile app for disaster resources, weather alerts, and safety tips. The app provides a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, maps of open shelters and weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations across the Nation. The latest feature of the app allows you to send notifications to your device to remind you to take important steps to prepare your home and family for disasters. Go to Ready.gov for more details.

Link to original – 

Flood Survivors Urged to Avoid Fraud and Other Scams

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More:  

Disaster Recovery Progress at Pine Ridge, One Year Later

WASHINGTON –The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available under the Compact of Free Association between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as amended, due to ongoing severe drought.  

The President’s action makes federal funding available for U.S. Government emergency relief and reconstruction assistance to the Republic of the Marshall Islands in accordance with Public Law 108-188, as amended, including Article X of the Federal Programs and Services Agreement to the Compact of Free Association.  Republic of the Marshall Islands President Heine requested a disaster declaration on April 1, 2016.

The United States Agency for International Development’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance will coordinate U.S. Government disaster assistance efforts in conjunction with FEMA and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

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. 

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.

More here: 

President Declares Major Disaster for the Republic of the Marshall Islands

BATON ROUGE, La. – The disaster recovery centers in Homer, Leesville and Slidell will transition to U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Centers beginning Monday, April 25.

The disaster recovery centers in Homer and Slidell will remain open until 6 p.m. Friday, April 22, while the disaster recovery center in Leesville will remain open until 6 p.m. Saturday, April 23.

The new SBA centers will be located at the following addresses:

Parish Police Jury Complex
507 W Main St.
Homer, La.
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
 

The Towers Government Building
520 Old Spanish Trail
Slidell, La.
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
 

Vernon Parish Fairgrounds Agricultural Exhibit
276 HM Stevens Blvd., (off LA Highway 8 West)
Leesville, La.
9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

These centers will be open Monday through Friday, and representatives from the SBA will be available at the centers to meet individually with Louisiana residents and business owners who sustained damage as a result of the severe storms and flooding from March 8 to April 8. Representatives will answer questions, explain SBA’s disaster loan program, help complete loan applications and close approved disaster loans.

Louisiana disaster survivors in Homer, Slidell and Leesville may still visit other recovery centers to meet with recovery officials. For other locations, go to fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or call 800-621-3362.

Residents can still register for disaster assistance or ask questions by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Those who use 711/VRS can call 800-621-3362. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. They can also register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or FEMA.gov/disaster/4263.

Call the helpline to:

  • Ask questions about FEMA determination letters.
  • Learn how to appeal FEMA determinations. All applicants have the right to appeal.
  • Inquire about the status of a registration.
  • Provide change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information to avoid disaster assistance processing delays.
  • Receive information about FEMA home inspections.
  • Get other questions answered about federal disaster assistance.

FEMA advises applicants to have their nine-digit FEMA registration number on hand when they call. They also will be asked to verify their identity if they want access to their information.

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

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service, 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 twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at blog.fema.gov.

The U.S. Small Business Administration 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.

 

Original source:  

Disaster Recovery Centers in Homer, Claiborne Parish; Slidell, St. Tammany Parish and Leesville, Vernon Parish Transition to SBA Loan Centers for…

RIDGELAND, Miss. – All applicants receive letters from FEMA explaining the status of their applications and whether or not they are eligible for assistance from FEMA. Some may receive text messages about their application.

Take the time to read the document thoroughly. Sometimes people do not immediately qualify for financial help and the reason may be fixed simply. The following are some common reasons for not qualifying:

  • The applicant did not sign the required documents;

  • Proof of ownership or occupancy was not supplied;

  • No proof the damaged property was the primary residence at the time of the disaster.

  • Someone else in the household may have applied and received assistance.

  • No paperwork showing the damaged property was the primary residence at the time of the disaster.

If questions arise, call the FEMA helpline (voice, 711 or relay service) at 800-621-3362. (TTY users should call 800-462-7585.) The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. You also can take the letter to a visit a disaster recovery center and talk with staff individually. To locate the nearest center, visit FEMA.gov/DRC or call the FEMA helpline.

FEMA can never duplicate insurance benefits or other government sources, but if insurance is not enough to cover all the eligible damage, FEMA’s initial determination of ineligibility may change.

Every applicant has the right to file an appeal. The original letter provides an explanation of what steps need to be taken to appeal FEMA’s decision. Bring the letter to a disaster recovery center for help with the appeals process or call the FEMA helpline. Appeals must be filed in writing within 60 days of the date of the determination letter. The letter must explain why the initial decision was wrong and provide any new or additional information.

Appeals can be mailed to:

FEMA – Individuals & Households Program

National Processing Service Center

P.O. Box 10055

Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055

For more information on Mississippi’s disaster recover, visit FEMA.gov/Disaster/4268 and MSEMA.org.

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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.

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). If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is the federal government’s primary source of money to help business of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters rebuild and recover after a disaster. SBA low interest disaster loans repair and replace property losses not fully compensated by insurance and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

 

 

 

 

See more here: 

Understanding the FEMA Eligibility Letter

BATON ROUGE, La. –Disaster recovery centers will open Monday, March 21, in Monroe and Slidell to help Louisiana flood survivors. The centers are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday until further notice. The centers will be closed on Easter Sunday, March 27.

The disaster recovery centers are located at the following addresses:

Monroe Civic Center
401 Lea Joyner Expressway
Monroe, Ouachita Parish, La.

The Towers Government Building
520 Old Spanish Trail
Slidell, St. Tammany Parish, La.

 

More centers are planned to open in affected parishes.

Representatives from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration, volunteer groups and other agencies are at the center to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest disaster loans. They can also help survivors apply for federal disaster assistance.

It is not necessary to visit a center to register for and receive federal disaster assistance. If possible, survivors should register with FEMA before visiting a recovery center.

To register, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages and phone lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Disaster survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585 to register. Those who use 711 or VRS (Video Relay Service) or require accommodations while visiting a center may call 800-621-3362. All disaster recovery centers are accessible and equipped with tools to accommodate disaster survivors who need disability-related communication aids.

For information, call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov or www.fema.gov/disaster/4263.

Link:

Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Two Louisiana Parishes

PINE RIDGE, S.D. – For six months, FEMA has had a continued presence on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, supporting the Oglala Sioux Tribe in response and recovery efforts following a series of severe storms and flooding in May 2015.  As part of that team, FEMA has hired about 20 tribal members to assist in operations.  FEMA frequently hires within communities impacted by disasters for the local knowledge and expertise that such individuals can bring, and at Pine Ridge that has been no exception.

Ellen Martinez is a caseworker.  In this role, she partners with a FEMA Individual Assistance program specialist and serves as a liaison to tribal members who have applied for disaster aid.

“One of the challenges is that people don’t want to let their damaged home go because of all the family history there,” Martinez said. “They are used to what they have.  So we need to talk to them and explain that the new home will be healthier, safer and more secure, because people struggle with letting go of what they have.”

Martinez, like many of the local hires, started as an emergency liaison, going out with FEMA inspectors to view damage of homes.  She is also in the unique position of being a disaster survivor in addition to working with FEMA.  Her home was damaged in the storm and she received a new manufactured home.  She shares her experience with the other applicants that she works with.

 “FEMA is changing people’s lives”, Martinez said. “A lot of people didn’t know what FEMA is.  They just registered but they didn’t understand the process.  I can help explain that to them.  I like helping people.  I like the look on their face when they receive a new home.  They are so grateful.”

Nancy S. Hussman came to FEMA after a lengthy career of service with tribal government.  That background gave her a solid understanding of how the tribe works and how to get things done, helpful in her current position as a Voluntary Agency Liaison (VAL).  As a VAL, she coordinates with agencies that seek to come on to the reservation and provide aid to tribal members in ways that FEMA can’t.

In addition to supporting the current disaster recovery effort, the experience gained by the tribal FEMA employees will end up serving the community in the future.

“It’s so great that FEMA has hired tribal members”, said Hussman. “When FEMA leaves there will be people who have been trained.  We hope to keep a VAL department and we will be prepared to address a new disaster if we have one.  And we will have one, whether it be tornado, fires or floods and we want to be better prepared.  This is something that FEMA is teaching us.”

The tribal local hires have been able to help bridge the gap between federal government officials and the tribal community.

 “We have been able to teach the FEMA people about our culture,” said Martinez. “How people look at things differently on the reservation.  We’ve been able to show them how to approach tribal members as someone from off the reservation.”

“I think the FEMA staff have been receptive and they are learning about our culture,” said Hussman. “And that means a lot to our people.  Because in general, many people are leery of the government.  But FEMA has hired tribal members and because of that people have welcomed us into their homes and we have been able to do inspections and provide assistance.”

The newest members of the FEMA team have played an integral role, serving both the agency and their tribal community.

View original post here:

Oglala Sioux Tribal Members Valuable Part of FEMA Team

AUSTIN, Texas – Holiday hours for Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) have been announced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In addition, the DRC in Hays County will transition to a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC).

Representatives from the SBA will be available at the DLOC to meet individually with residents and business owners to answer their questions, explain SBA’s disaster loan program, help them complete their applications and close their approved disaster loans.

The Hays County DRC located at the Hays County Government Center, 712 S. Stagecoach Trail, San Marcos, will close at 6 p.m., Dec. 30, and will reopen as an SBA DLOC on Jan. 4. Hours of operation at the DLOC will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday.

All State/FEMA DRCs in Texas will be closed Dec. 23 to Dec. 27 and Jan. 1 to Jan. 3 for the Christmas and New Year holidays, respectively. All DRCs will close for the day at 2 p.m., Dec. 31.

Visiting a DRC is not required to register for FEMA assistance. Survivors with questions regarding the application or the appeals process, or who decide to register for assistance after a DRC closes can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone (voice, 711 or relay service) at 800-621-3362. (TTY users should call 800-462-7585.) The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, which will remain open throughout the holiday. Multilingual operators are available.

Specialists from the State of Texas, FEMA, SBA, nongovernmental organizations and the local community are available at DRCs to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained damage as a result of the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding from Oct. 22 to Oct. 31.

Active DRCs in eight Texas counties are listed here:

Caldwell County
Allen Bates River Park
Intersection of FM 1979 and Fannin St.
Martindale, TX 78655

Cameron County
Bob Clark Social Service Center
9901 California Rd.
Brownsville, TX 7

Harris County
Denver Harbor
Multi-Service Center
6402 Market St.
Houston, TX 77020

Hays County
Hays County Government Center
712 S. Stagecoach Trail
San Marcos, TX 78666
(Closing at 6 p.m. Dec. 30. Reopens as an SBA Loan Center at 9 a.m. Jan. 4)

Navarro County
Navarro Center Mall
800 N. Main St.
Corsicana, TX 75110

Hidalgo County
Porter P. Doss Memorial Library
515 South Kansas Ave.
Weslaco, TX 78596

Travis County
Elroy Community Library
13512 FM 812
Del Valle, TX 78617

Dove Springs Recreation Center
5801 Ainez Drive
Austin, TX 78744

Willacy County
Willacy County EMS
693 South 7th St.
Raymondville, TX 78580

 

All DRCs have the same normal hours of operation:

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday – Friday
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
Closed Sunday
All DRCs will close at 2 p.m. on Dec. 31 and will be closed for the holidays Dec. 23 to Dec. 27 and Jan. 1 to Jan.3

For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4245, 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.

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

Read the article:

Holiday Hours Posted for DRCs; SBA to Open Loan Center in Hays County

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