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FEMA Continues Outreach on Rebuilding Safer and Stronger

NEW YORK – New Yorkers beginning the rebuilding process will have more opportunities to receive technical information on improvements to protect their homes from future storms.

Beginning Tuesday, Dec. 18, mitigation specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be at four new area locations to offer guidance on how to build back safer and stronger in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Residents can get advice on safe cleanup measures, repair and building techniques, as well learn more about flood insurance. This information is available to the public and provided at no cost.

FEMA advisors will be available at Home Depot and Lowe’s stores at the following locations:

Bronx County – Home Depot
600 Exterior St, Bronx 10451

Kings County – Home Depot
579 Gateway Dr. Brooklyn 11239

Nassau County – Lowe’s
90 Price Pkwy, Farmingdale 11735

Suffolk County – Home Depot
1550 Old Country Rd, Riverhead 11901

Hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 18, through Saturday, Dec. 22, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 23.
Every dollar spent on mitigation now saves four times that amount in repairs from the next disaster concluded a Penn State University-led research team in 2006.

More information on ways to protect your property from disasters to come is available at: www.fema.gov. Click on “Plan, Prepare and Mitigate.”

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4085, http://twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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FEMA Continues Outreach on Rebuilding Safer and Stronger

Governor Cuomo Announces FEMA Extends Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program in NY for an Additional Four Weeks

New York – Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, at the request of the state of New York, has approved a four-week extension to the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program, which allows eligible survivors from Hurricane Sandy, who cannot return to their homes, to stay in participating hotels or motels.

The new extension will allow applicants to remain in participating hotels during the holiday season. FEMA will call applicants eligible for the extension to notify them of the extended four-week period and the checkout date of Jan. 12, 2013.

“This much-needed extension will allow families who lost everything in Hurricane Sandy to have a place to stay throughout the holiday season,” Governor Cuomo said. “We will continue to work together with city and federal partners to help those displaced by this devastating storm find housing solutions.”

This is a short-term program that places families in hotels in areas with significant rental shortages. Families can stay in area hotels for a short time while they work toward a housing plan.

“Our top priority is to help get people into rental units and longer term housing as fast as we can,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne. “We recognize that the holidays can be an emotional time for disaster survivors and this extension will provide immediate shelter through the season.”

To be eligible for TSA, survivors must first apply for federal assistance through FEMA by:

Registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov;

Registering via smartphone or tablet by using the FEMA app or going to m.fema.gov; or

Registering by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) (TTY 800-462-7585). For 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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Governor Cuomo Announces FEMA Extends Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program in NY for an Additional Four Weeks

Guard Against Future Damage with Home Elevations; FEMA Can Help

WINDSOR, Conn. — Hurricane Sandy survivors along Connecticut’s coast are asking an important question: How can I protect my home from future flooding?

One of the most effective methods is for them to elevate their home.

“Elevation may be one of the best ways to protect your home, your family and your possessions,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Albert Lewis. “Home elevation isn’t simple or cheap, but it is extremely effective.”

The advantages of elevating homes include:

Reducing the flood risk to the house and its contents;
Eliminating the need to move vulnerable contents to areas above the water level during a flood;
Reducing the physical, financial and emotional strain that accompanies floods;
Providing additional parking and storage space at home; and
Decreasing flood insurance premiums by reducing the risk to a property.

Through the National Flood Insurance Program, local communities enact and enforce floodplain management regulations. Flood survivors should check on local code requirements before repairing or elevating their homes.

To get an idea of how home elevations are accomplished, view the following videos on FEMA’s website:

www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/1849

www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/2281

Related online FEMA publications include:

“Above the Flood: Elevating Your Flood Prone House” www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?fromSearch=fromsearch&id=1424

“Protecting Your Home and Property from Flood Damage” www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?fromSearch=fromsearch&id=4654

Homeowners also can get technical assistance by calling FEMA’s building science helpline at 866-927-2104 or submitting questions by email to FEMA-Buildingsciencehelp@dhs.gov.

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

Guard Against Future Damage with Home Elevations; FEMA Can Help

Changed Your Mind About Staying In Your Storm Damaged Home? Tell FEMA Now

TRENTON, N.J. – Nearly six weeks after Hurricane Sandy ravaged New Jersey, survivors have a chance to reconsider a decision they made in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.

Thousands of New Jersey survivors answered “will not relocate” when FEMA housing inspectors asked what they planned to do while repairs are being made on their homes or apartments. That response made them ineligible for FEMA temporary housing assistance.

Some who would like FEMA help today may find the window still open.

Here’s what to do:

If it has been less than 30 days since you received a FEMA determination letter, call 800-621-3362 and tell FEMA that your housing situation has changed and that you’d like temporary housing assistance.
However, if it has been more than 30 days since you received a FEMA determination letter, you will need to reply in a letter to FEMA stating that you want to change your earlier response, explain how your circumstances have changed and that you’d like FEMA temporary housing assistance.

Survivors can follow up on previous applications online at DisasterAssistance.gov, or by web-enabled mobile device at m.FEMA.gov. By phone or 711/VRS, call 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585. Help is also available at FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers, which can be found at www.fema.gov/DRCloc.

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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Changed Your Mind About Staying In Your Storm Damaged Home? Tell FEMA Now

Federal Disaster Assistance Is for Connecticut Renters, Too

WINDSOR, Conn. — Renters in Connecticut counties whose homes and property were damaged by Hurricane Sandy may be eligible for federal disaster assistance.

“Sandy did not discriminate between homeowners and renters,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Albert Lewis. “We’re here to help everyone who is eligible for assistance, and that definitely includes renters.”

Renters who were displaced from their homes by the storm may be eligible for a FEMA grant to help them pay rent for temporary housing. These rental grants are for a 30-day period, subject to assistance review, until renters’ previous homes are again habitable or they find another home.

There is a free referral service to help applicants find safe, replacement rental property.

Go to: http://go.usa.gov/gKve.

Both renters and homeowners may also be eligible for Other Needs Assistance, designed to help survivors with uninsured or underinsured necessary expenses and serious needs caused by the disaster.

Eligibility for these grants is determined through completing and returning the U.S. Small Business Administration application that many applicants receive after registering for disaster assistance. There is no requirement to take out a loan.

Grants can be used for:

Disaster-related medical and dental expenses;
Replacement or repair of necessary personal property lost or damaged in the disaster, such as room furnishings or appliances, and tools and equipment required by the self-employed for their jobs;
Primary vehicles and approved second vehicles damaged by the disaster; and
Disaster-related funeral and burial expenses.

The deadline to register is Dec. 31. Survivors can register online anytime day or night at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or with a smartphone or other Web-enabled device at m.fema.gov. Survivors can also register by phone anytime by calling FEMA at 800-621-3362. The TTY number is 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Wait for the English message to finish to reach multilingual operators.

Registering for disaster assistance with other agencies or organizations does not register survivors for FEMA disaster assistance. Having FEMA flood insurance does not register policyholders for disaster assistance; flood insurance claims are handled separately.

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, nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and covers 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.

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Federal Disaster Assistance Is for Connecticut Renters, Too

Natural Disasters Happen … Take Steps to Minimize Home Damage

HUNT VALLEY, Md. – Weather happens. Sometimes it’s severe enough to cause flooding and wind damage like Superstorm Sandy did in Maryland, especially on the Eastern Shore.

You can take steps before the next disaster to protect your family and minimize property damage. It’s called “hazard mitigation.”

Mitigation experts from the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency suggest that families have a disaster preparedness plan and make their homes less vulnerable to high winds and torrential rains that accompany tropical storms or hurricanes.

Some things you can do yourself, such as stowing outside furniture when there’s a forecast for severe weather. Other measures may need the expertise of an electrician, plumber, contractor or other professional. Also, remember to check with your local officials for any permit requirements.

Anchor a fuel tank. Whether it’s in a basement or outside of your dwelling, attach the tank to structural supports. Keep it topped-off to reduce the possibility of the tank floating away.

Raise electrical boxes, major appliances, and HVAC components. Survey the “infrastructure” of your home and elevate vulnerable items, such as furnaces, hot-water heaters, washers and dryers.

Stop water backup. If flood waters enter the sewer system, sewage can back up and enter your home. To prevent this, install a backflow valve.

Protect your home against high winds. If you are considering replacing doors and windows, look for impact-tested doors and think about adding storm shutters.

Brace garage doors. During a hurricane, garage doors are vulnerable. Adding braces across the back of the door and strengthening glider wheel tracks can help. If you are constructing a new home, consider installing a garage door built to withstand high winds.

FEMA publications can point you in the right direction for information about how to reinforce your home against high winds and flooding and how to secure important personal property. Go online to FEMA’s “How To” series at www.go.usa.gov/CR9 or order copies by calling FEMA Publications at 800-480-2520.

Information also is available on the website of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency at www.mema.maryland.gov.

Other sources of helpful information are www.disastersafety.org and www.flash.org, the website of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes – FLASH Inc.

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Natural Disasters Happen … Take Steps to Minimize Home Damage

FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance Available for Hurricane Sandy Evacuees With Inaccessible or Unlivable Homes

ALBANY, NY -– The Federal Emergency Management Agency, at the request of the state of New York, has activated its Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program, which allows eligible evacuees from Hurricane Sandy, who cannot return to their homes, to stay in hotels or motels until more suitable housing accommodations are available.

This federal assistance is intended to provide a place to stay for a longer period of time for evacuees whose neighborhoods are not accessible or whose houses have been destroyed. The initial period of assistance is from Nov. 3, 2012 to Nov. 17, 2012. However, this federal program will not reimburse applicants for previously incurred hotel expenses. Applicants are responsible for their own meals and for any lodging costs above the authorized allowance.

“To be eligible to receive this federal assistance you must register with FEMA,” said Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) Michael F. Byrne. “Keep in mind the TSA initiative is only a temporary fix. We are working diligently with our state and local partners to develop a long-term housing solution to help people until their homes and communities are repaired or rebuilt. But, again, you must register with FEMA to be able to benefit from this short-term aid.”

You can register for FEMA assistance online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smart phone or tablet at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY)
1-800-462-7585. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

Eligible evacuees must fit the following criteria:

FEMA must be able to verify the identity of the evacuee;
The primary residence of the evacuee must be in one of the counties that has been designated a disaster area; and
The primary residence is inaccessible or unlivable due to damage or lack of power.

TSA allows eligible individuals or families to stay in a hotel or motel for a limited time and have the cost of the room and taxes paid directly to the hotel by FEMA. Meals, telephone calls and other incidental charges are not covered.

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FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance Available for Hurricane Sandy Evacuees With Inaccessible or Unlivable Homes

Important Information For Louisianians Living In Special Flood Hazard Areas

BATON ROUGE, La. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is urging owners of homes and other buildings to get appropriate building permits before they begin any construction work on properties damaged by Hurricane Isaac.

This is especially important for structures located in Special Flood Hazard Areas, also known as regulatory floodplains.

Communities that participate in FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) enforce a requirement called the “substantial damage rule.” Properties subject to the rule are those in a regulatory floodplain for which repairs will cost at least 50 percent of the structure’s pre-disaster market value.

For example, if a structure’s market value before the damage was $200,000 and repairs are estimated to cost $120,000, that structure is “substantially damaged.” Land value, which is determined by local officials, is excluded from the determination.

Buildings in regulatory floodplains that are substantially damaged must comply with local floodplain management regulations. Owners who decide to rebuild may need to elevate or retrofit their structures or change them in some other way to comply and to avoid future flood losses. Owners of nonresidential structures have the additional option of making the buildings floodproof.

Owners can obtain specific information about building permits from local officials who enforce the “substantial damage” rule and other requirements.

Floodplain management regulations are designed to mitigate future losses of life and property. FEMA, the state and local communities are working together throughout the areas impacted by Hurricane Isaac to help Louisianians rebuild and recover with safety and security.

Individuals, families and business owners who sustained uninsured and underinsured damages in those parishes can register for assistance at www.disasterassistance.gov, via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow FEMA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

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Important Information For Louisianians Living In Special Flood Hazard Areas

Mildew, Mold Likely in Flooded Homes

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Mold in flood-damaged homes and other structures can cause health problems if it is not eliminated. People with asthma, allergies and other breathing conditions may be more sensitive to mold, and people with immune suppression are more susceptible to infections caused by mold, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Quick action can minimize the damage caused by mold and stop its spread. Do not wait for an inspector to begin cleanup. If possible, take pictures of the damage.

The CDC and the Environmental Protection Agency recommend the following steps:

Open windows and doors and use fans to dry out the building as quickly as possible. If possible, use wet vacuums to remove water and use dehumidifiers in closed spaces.
When working in an affected building, wear eye protection, latex or rubber gloves and a mask.
Remove baseboards and soaked drywall to a foot above the watermark and discard. Drain walls by drilling holes or pulling non-porous paneling away from the studs. Check the interior of walls for mold.
Remove porous items that have been wet for more than 48 hours and cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried – carpeting and carpet padding, upholstery, wallpaper, drywall, floor and ceiling tiles, insulation, leather, wood, paper, food and clothing. If there is any doubt about whether the item has been affected by mold, discard it.
Hard, non-porous surfaces (metal, glass, solid wood, plastic, etc.) should be washed with non-ammonia detergent and hot water. Scrub rough surfaces like concrete. Disinfect all cleaned surfaces with a solution of water and bleach; rinse after 10 minutes. Never mix bleach with ammonia.

If the area to be cleaned exceeds 10 square feet or if assistance is required to complete cleanup, consult a professional contractor. For more information, go to http://epa.gov/mold/cleanupguidelines.html.

People who need help cleaning their homes can call the Florida Volunteer and Donation Hotline, which can connect survivors with a local volunteer agency. The number is 800-FL-HELP-1 (800-354-3571).

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or www.floridadisaster.org. On Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/FloridaSERT. To receive Twitter updates: www.twitter.com/FLSERT or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

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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Mildew, Mold Likely in Flooded Homes

Hope Village: Helping Volunteers Help the Souris Valley

Release Date: June 11, 2012
Release Number: 1981-ANF004

» More Information on North Dakota Flooding

» 2012 Region VIII News Releases

Volunteers are often the lifeblood of a disaster recovery effort. Following the Souris River flooding, volunteers have already helped countless families return to their flood-damaged homes. But the same housing shortage that is affecting displaced residents has limited the number of volunteers that can come in to the area and help. On the grounds of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in south Minot, a unique solution to that problem has sprung up in the form of Hope Village.

Hope Village is a temporary community that will house incoming volunteers. It includes trailers that provide sleeping quarters, bathroom and shower facilities, and a large dining tent that serves three meals a day. It is the culmination of efforts from a coalition of local faith-based and community volunteer organizations. Much like Henry Ford’s original assembly line, the different volunteer agencies have divided up the tasks for managing the facility, playing to their strengths. For example, cooking duties are being handled by the Southern Baptists.

“Hope Village was borne out of necessity and we now have a place to house and feed the teams that are coming in from the various agencies and churches,” says Bob Lower, a United Methodist volunteer coordinator and lay leader at Faith United Methodist Church in Minot. “There was nowhere for people that wanted to come and help to stay. With the oil boom, everything was tied up. As a part of the Hope Village mission, we took on the challenge of housing these people and feeding them for the whole summer.”

But Hope Village does much more than provide food and shelter for volunteers. It is also a hub of activity, working closely with the Resources Agencies Flood Team (RAFT) to direct the volunteers to pre-identified individuals and families who are in need of assistance. It’s a streamlined process to ensure donated labor and resources are used as efficiently as possible.

“Our focus is on helping those people who have been affected by the flood get back into a safe and secure space,” says Lower. “We do that by providing assistance in coordination with the case management system. The case management system takes people through the process, assessing what they need to get back in, be it materials, labor and the appropriate skill sets. It dovetails with what the homeowner can do by themselves. We will complete enough of the home to get them back in. For example, with a couple living in a four bedroom home, we completely finish one bedroom along with the common use areas needed for safe and secure living.”

With the large number of homes impacted by the flooding, Hope Village and its resident volunteers have their work cut out for them. However, those involved are prepared for a marathon rather than a sprint.

“We will be here for a number of years to get through all of the need that there is,” says Lower. “We can’t do all of the homes in one year, but we are going to make a significant impact this first year. This year we opened the first week of April and will go to the first of October. We’ve already set the 2013 work year. That’s going to be from the April 8 to September 28. During the winter months, we will organize local volunteers from the community to keep work going inside homes.”

To learn more about Hope Village visit hopevillagend.org.

Last Modified: Monday, 11-Jun-2012 10:01:20

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Hope Village: Helping Volunteers Help the Souris Valley

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