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FEMA: As Severe Weather Approaches, Prepare, Stay Informed and Make a Plan

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – With the potential for severe weather across the plains and several Midwestern states the remainder of this week and into the weekend, staff at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region VII office are coordinating with state and local officials in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska and urge the public to prepare to stay safe.

“With the threat of severe weather developing, we urge residents to listen to NOAA Weather Radio and local newscasts, monitor digital media feeds for updates and follow the instructions provided by local emergency officials,” said FEMA Region VII Administrator Beth Freeman. “As folks make their weekend plans, this severe weather threat is a reminder everyone needs to remain vigilant as we can’t always anticipate when or where a disaster might strike.”

Make A Plan!
Your family may not be together when a disaster strikes so it is important to plan in advance. For more information on creating your family’s emergency plan, visit http://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan.

Have an Emergency Supply Kit!
To prepare for power outages and the disruption of essential services, FEMA urges families to prepare an emergency supply kit for their homes and cars. For more information, visit http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit. When preparing a kit, remember water, medications, and items needed for the well-being of your pets.

Stay Informed!
Pay attention to and follow instructions from local emergency officials.

FEMA App Has Weather Alerts (NEW!)
Download the FEMA app (available in English and Spanish, for Apple, Blackberry and Android) to get severe weather alerts from the National Weather Service, https://www.fema.gov/mobile-app.

Social Media—A great monitoring tool!
Most local emergency managers, state and government agencies, including the National Weather Service, have an active social media presence and use it to provide fast, current and critical information before, during and after emergencies. Consider following the Facebook, Twitter or Instagram handles of your local emergency management office, as well as hospitals, schools and voluntary organizations serving your community.

If you don’t already have one, consider using a social media list to monitor the severe weather threat; how local officials are responding; and what they may ask of you and your family. @FEMARegion7 on Twitter has created social media lists for Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Subscribe to your state’s list, www.twitter.com/femaregion7/lists, or use it as a template to create your own. Learn and chat about creating Twitter and Facebook lists using #PrepList.

Tips for Severe Weather Safety!

If you have severe weather in your area, keep these safety tips in mind:

Become familiar with the terms used to identify a severe weather hazard and talk to your family about what you will do if a watch or warning is issued. Here are the terms you need to know:

WATCH: Meteorologists are monitoring an area or region for the formation of a specific type of threat (e.g. flooding, severe thunderstorms, or tornados).

WARNING: Specific life and property threatening conditions are occurring and imminent. Take appropriate safety precautions.

If there’s a tornado warning, you’ll need to know what to do no matter where you are. Learn more before the storms arrive, http://www.ready.gov/tornadoes.

DISTANCE TO SAFE ROOM MATTERS: While community safe rooms offer significant reassurance and protection during a severe weather event, always make the safe and certain choice about where to seek shelter – particularly if there is little time to travel to the location of the community safe room. It is always best to seek shelter in your basement or in the lowest possible structure in your residence if time and warning are limited when severe weather hits.

LOCATION MATTERS: Know your surroundings and your structures if you’re planning to attend an event, take vacation, visit family, or if you are staying in a location other than your home like a hotel, campground or cabin. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the facility’s emergency plans including: sirens and warnings, how to shelter in place, and steps to be taken in the event of an evacuation.

MOBILE HOMES: Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes and should be abandoned. A mobile home can overturn very easily even if precautions have been taken to tie down the unit. Residents of mobile homes must plan in advance and identify safe shelter in a nearby building.

FLOODING: Be aware that flash flooding can occur within minutes and with little notice. If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Do not wait for instructions to move. Do not drive through flood water. When you see flood waters ahead: Turn Around, Don’t Drown!

SAFETY AFTER THE STORM: Injury may occur when people walk amid disaster debris and enter damaged buildings. Wear sturdy shoes or boots, long sleeves and gloves when handling or walking on or near debris.
Be aware of possible structural, electrical or gas-leak hazards in or around your home. Contact your local city or county building inspectors for information on structural safety codes and standards and before going back to a property with downed power lines, or the possibility of a gas leak. Do not touch downed power lines or objects in contact with downed lines. Report downed power lines and electrical hazards to the police and the utility company. They may also offer suggestions on finding a qualified contractor to do work for you.

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Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Find regional updates from FEMA Region VII at www.twitter.com/femaregion7. 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.

Originally posted here:

FEMA: As Severe Weather Approaches, Prepare, Stay Informed and Make a Plan

Natchitoches Parish Flood Maps Become Final in July

DENTON, Texas ––In early July, new flood maps for Natchitoches Parish will become effective.

Local, state and federal officials encourage everyone to view the maps before Monday, July 6, 2015 in order to understand their flood risk and then consider buying flood insurance.

Most property insurance policies do not cover the effects of flooding. People without flood insurance, either through a private policy or through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a voluntary protection program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), risk uninsured losses to their homes, personal property and businesses.

Flooding is the #1 natural disaster in the U.S. and only flood insurance covers these unexpected, damaging and sometimes fatal events. “It is critical that everyone is prepared for the hazards and risks in their communities. Knowing your risk of flooding is the first step in taking the appropriate actions to prepare,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson.

To learn if your community participates in the NFIP and to review the new flood maps, contact your local floodplain administrator.

FEMA map specialists and flood insurance experts also are available to answer questions. They can be reached by phone and online chat.

•   To use the live chat service, visit http://go.usa.gov/r6C. Click on the “Live Chat” icon.
•   To contact a FEMA Map Specialist, call 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or send an email to FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com.
•   To view a Preliminary Interactive Flood Map: http://maps.riskmap6.com/LA/Natchitoches

FEMA encourages communities not currently participating in the NFIP to look at the benefits of joining the program. Contacting a local insurance agent is the first step to obtaining information about insurance. Folks can visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531 to locate an agent in their area.

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Natchitoches Parish Flood Maps Become Final in July

Pulaski County, Arkansas Flood Maps Become Final in July

DENTON, Texas ––In early July, new flood maps for Pulaski County will become effective.

Local, state and federal officials encourage everyone to view the maps before Monday, July 6, 2015 in order to understand their flood risk and then consider buying flood insurance.

To learn if your community participates in the NFIP and to review the new flood maps, contact your local floodplain administrator.

FEMA map specialists and flood insurance experts also are available to answer questions. They can be reached by phone and online chat.

FEMA encourages communities not currently participating in the NFIP to look at the benefits of joining the program. Contacting a local insurance agent is the first step to obtaining information about insurance. Folks can visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531 to locate an agent in their area.

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Pulaski County, Arkansas Flood Maps Become Final in July

When It Comes To Hurricanes, Lightning Really Can Strike Twice

LINCROFT, N.J. — With another hurricane season just getting under way, residents of New Jersey may look upon the prospect of another storm with a great deal more apprehension than they felt before Hurricane Sandy struck the Jersey coast.

New Jersey residents have witnessed firsthand the destructive power of a storm like Sandy.

Sandy was not the first storm to wreak havoc in New Jersey, but she was one of the most powerful to strike the state in many decades, and the damage she inflicted was widespread.

Today, more than 18 months after the storm, New Jerseyans are still recovering. The good news is that they are rebuilding stronger, safer and smarter.

Up and down the New Jersey coast, towns are engaged in restoring infrastructure and taking steps to ensure that their communities will never again be caught in the bull’s eye of a hurricane without preparation.

Hundreds of homes along the Jersey Shore have been elevated. Many municipalities have moved critical facilities away from areas vulnerable to flooding.

Thanks to extensive outreach efforts by FEMA and the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, residents and business owners are far better informed about how to plan for, protect against, and recover from storms and other possible disasters than ever before.

Weather experts are predicting a less active hurricane season on the Atlantic Coast than in recent years due to the fact that water temperatures are projected to be cooler than they have been under the influence of El Nino.

While a storm of the magnitude of Sandy may not occur again for many years, it is always a good idea to prepare for the possibility that a storm or other disaster may interrupt the usual summer cycles of rainy and sunny days and present the state with a major weather challenge.

If that occurs, it’s up to each of us to be ready to respond effectively.

That means using the tools of preparedness that can mean the difference between life and death, danger and safety, when a storm arrives.

Perhaps the most important thing you can do is create a family communications plan. Make cards for each family member with names and contact numbers. Have a contact in another state, or at least another town, that family members can get in touch with, as making a long-distance call or even sending a text message may be easier than a local call during a disaster.

Know how to get to higher ground if you need to evacuate, what your community’s evacuation route is, and where it goes. New Jersey has several state roads, U.S. highways and interstates designated as state coastal evacuation routes along with county and local routes.

You also want to know just how vulnerable your home and property are to flooding. Learn the elevation level of your property and whether there are any levees or dams in the area that might pose a flood threat.

Secure your home’s windows, roof, and garage. Permanent storm shutters are best for windows, but plywood five-eighths of an inch thick and cut to fit is an effective temporary solution and will also work on windowed garage doors. Secure the roof to the frame of the house by adding straps or additional clamps, and while you’re up there, make sure the gutters are clear.

Keep any trees and shrubs around your home trimmed to improve their wind resistance. Bring in outdoor furniture, decorations, plants in stands, and anything else outside that isn’t nailed down. If you own a boat, decide ahead of time where and how you plan to secure it.

For more tips on hurricane preparedness, visit www.fema.gov or www.ready.nj.gov.

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.

Originally posted here –

When It Comes To Hurricanes, Lightning Really Can Strike Twice

Contact FEMA If Insurance for Tornado-Related Living Expenses Expires

JACKSON, Miss. – Disaster survivors whose additional living expenses (sometimes termed “loss of use”) from their insurance company are running out and who still have a temporary housing need should contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency helpline (800-621-3362) immediately if they have not registered for disaster assistance.

Those who have registered should fax or mail a letter to the address below, explain the situation, document the use and expiration of living expenses from insurance and update their permanent housing plan.

Applicants may mail letters to:

FEMA

National Processing Service Center

P.O. Box 10055

Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055

Applicants may fax letters to:

800-827-8112

Attention: FEMA

People who were displaced from their homes and others who sustained damage from the April 28 through May 3 storms, tornadoes and flooding in designated disaster counties (Itawamba, Jones, Leake, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Montgomery, Rankin, Simpson, Warren, Wayne and Winston) may be eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program, which can include temporary housing assistance. Monday, June 30, 2014, is the deadline to register with FEMA for individual assistance.

Survivors who have not yet registered with FEMA can do so online at DisasterAssistance.gov, with a mobile device at m.FEMA.gov or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability can call TTY 800-462-7585.

Contact the helpline with any questions or concerns regarding temporary rental assistance from FEMA.

For more information on Mississippi disaster recovery, go to fema.gov/disaster/4175. Visit the MEMA site at msema.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/msemaorg.

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 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 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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Contact FEMA If Insurance for Tornado-Related Living Expenses Expires

$4 Million Federal Grant for Disaster Counseling

Main Content

Release date:

April 8, 2014

Release Number:

NR-119

DENVER-Crisis counseling services will continue over the next nine months for survivors of the Colorado flooding disaster in September 2013 because of a $4 million federal grant. FEMA and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration have awarded the $4,058,060 grant to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment through the 2014 Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP).

The new grant will allow counselors to continue door-to-door services and community outreach counseling programs. Since the disaster, Colorado Spirit crisis counselors have:

Talked directly with 18,178 people and provided referrals and other helpful information to more than 88,000;
Met with nearly 1,200 individuals or families in their homes.

CCP was established by the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to provide mental health assistance and training activities in designated disaster areas. The program provides the following services:

Individual crisis counseling and group crisis counseling to help survivors understand their reactions and improve coping strategies, review their options and connect with other individuals and agencies that may assist them;
Development and distribution of education materials such as flyers, brochures and website information on disaster-related topics and resources;
Relationship building with community organizations, faith-based groups and local agencies.

Last Updated:

April 8, 2014 – 12:56

State/Tribal Government or Region:

Colorado

Related Disaster:

Colorado Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

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$4 Million Federal Grant for Disaster Counseling

FEMA Provides Federal Funding to Combat Colby Fire in Los Angeles County, California

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

On January 16, 2014, the State of California submitted a request for a fire management assistance declaration for the Colby Fire. The authorization makes FEMA funding available to reimburse up to 75 percent of the eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling the fire.

At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 500 homes in the areas of Glendora and San Dimas with a combined population of 100,000. All of the homes threatened are primary residences. The fire is also threatening Little Canyon Reservoir, potable water supplies, secondary power lines, and wilderness preserves. Mandatory evacuations are taking place for approximately 7000 people. The fire started on January 16, 2014, and has burned in excess of 1700 acres of State and private land.

The President’s Disaster Relief Fund provides funding for federal fire management grants made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible costs covered by the grant can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; tools, materials and supplies; and mobilization and demobilization activities.

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FEMA Provides Federal Funding to Combat Colby Fire in Los Angeles County, California

Disaster Preparedness Costs Little, Saves A Lot

LINCROFT, N.J. — Just as every home should have a smoke alarm, every home should have an emergency supply kit packed and ready. Being prepared doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.

“Although federal, state and local governments are ready to assist the public during times of emergencies and disasters, you should be prepared to take care of yourself and members of your family for the first 72 hours – that’s three days – following a disaster such as a hurricane, severe winter storm or an ice storm,” said Gracia Szczech, FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer for New Jersey. “A big part of disaster preparation is knowledge and FEMA has developed a comprehensive guide to help folks prepare.”

FEMA’s disaster preparedness website, www.ready.gov is a destination site for information about getting your family prepared for a disaster.

Commercially available disaster kits can range from $75 to $300 and up, but most of the pieces of a disaster kit are already in the home and just need to be gathered together and stored in one place.

An emergency preparedness kit needs to include food and a minimum of one gallon of water for each member of the family, including pets, per day for three days, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlight, spare batteries, first aid kit, non-electric can opener, local maps and personal sanitation items such as hand sanitizer, moist towelettes, toilet paper, garbage bags and plastic ties.

Your kit should include important family papers such as wills or property deeds and personal identification and any prescription medicines a family member may be taking.

Other items to consider include sleeping bags or blankets, paper towels, books, puzzles and games for children, food and medications for family pets.

It’s helpful to have cash in case banks are closed and there is no power for ATMs.

Remember, many shelters will not accept pets, so make sure you have a plan that protects all your family members.

The emergency supplies can be stored in an easy-to-carry plastic storage container or sports bag, making them easy to grab and go when an emergency forces people to leave their homes.

Experts agree being displaced during and after a disaster is especially difficult for children and the elderly.

The loss of familiar surroundings, schools, favorite toys and pets all contribute to the sense of loss. Including a few favorite toys or stuffed animals in the kit can help with this, but parents should be alert for behavior changes which can be an indication of stress.

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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Disaster Preparedness Costs Little, Saves A Lot

Renters with Flood Damage May Be Eligible for FEMA Help

AURORA, Ill. – Renters who had damage from the severe storms and flooding between April 16 and May 5 may be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance.

Homeownership is NOT a requirement for FEMA help.

Under the FEMA Housing Assistance program, both homeowners and renters who are displaced from their homes may be eligible for rental assistance grants. Immediate hotel/motel lodging may be covered, as well as longer term rental while the original home or rented quarters is repaired, or they move into replacement housing.

Both renters and homeowners also may qualify for a grant under the FEMA Other Needs Assistance program for essential personal property and to meet medical, dental, funeral and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state or charitable-aid programs.

Renters and homeowners may qualify for a low-interest, long-term disaster assistance loan of up to $40,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to replace lost or damaged personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses. Homeowners also may qualify for loans of up to $200,000 for damages to their home.

It is not necessary to visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) to register with FEMA. Individuals can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. For more information visit the Illinois Disaster website www.fema.gov/disaster/4116

The deadline to register for FEMA disaster assistance is Tuesday, July 9.

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

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Renters with Flood Damage May Be Eligible for FEMA Help

For Rapid Response To Disaster Loan Application, Apply Online

TRENTON, N.J. — The quickest way to get a Small Business Administration disaster loan approved is filling out an online application.

The online application is the most user-friendly way for homeowners, renters and business survivors of Hurricane Sandy to request a loan from the SBA. An electronic loan application is a convenient alternative to visiting a disaster recovery center or mailing a paper loan application.

Regardless of the method, the deadline is the same: Jan. 30, 2013.

There’s no guess work with an online application. The program checks for errors and prompts for more information when needed. To apply online, visit https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

The long-term, low-interest loans are designed to fund repairs to and replacement of homes, personal property and businesses. About 85 percent of all SBA disaster loans go to homeowners and renters.

Interest rates are as low as 1.688 percent for homeowners and renters and 4 percent for businesses, with a maximum of 30-year repayment terms.

SBA disaster loans are the primary form of federal assistance for homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes.

For additional information, contact an SBA disaster assistance customer service center by calling 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visiting sba.gov. SBA customer service representatives are available at all disaster recovery centers throughout the state. The centers can be found online at http://www.fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

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.

SBA’s Disaster Assistance Program provides long term, low-interest loans to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes. For more information, visit www.sba.gov. All SBA’s program and services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Link:

For Rapid Response To Disaster Loan Application, Apply Online

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