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Evans, Liberty and Long Counties May Apply for Disaster Assistance for Matthew Damage in Georgia

ATLANTA – Homeowners, renters and business owners in Evans, Liberty and Long counties may apply for federal disaster assistance for Hurricane Matthew damage and losses in Georgia. In addition to the three counties now eligible to apply for assistance under FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program, seven counties had already received approval to apply for assistance, including Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, McIntosh and Wayne.

Damage and losses from the hurricane and flooding must have occurred Oct. 4-15.

Survivors are encouraged to register with FEMA the following ways:

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
Download the FEMA mobile app
Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. Toll-free numbers are open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

People with disabilities are eligible to receive the same services and assistance offered to everyone in the declared disaster area, and FEMA is committed to ensuring those services are available.

Survivors requiring a reasonable accommodation (American Sign Language interpreting, braille, assistive technology equipment, etc.) may call the appropriate helpline number for support. Help is available in most languages, and information on the registration process is available in ASL at http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/111546.

FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

Survivors should contact their insurance company to file an insurance claim and register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help from FEMA after their claims have been settled.

For updates on Georgia’s Hurricane Matthew response and recovery, follow @GeorgiaEMA and @FEMARegion4 on Twitter and visit gemhsa.ga.gov and fema.gov/disaster/4284.

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Evans, Liberty and Long Counties May Apply for Disaster Assistance for Matthew Damage in Georgia

Pine Ridge Recovery: By The Numbers

1 First ever FEMA Individual Assistance Declaration Granted Directly to a Tribal Nation

8 Communities that hosted Disaster Recovery Centers (Pine Ridge, Oglala, Manderson, Porcupine,
Kyle, Wanblee, Allen, Martin)

25 Number of Oglala Sioux tribal members hired to support disaster recovery operations

58 SBA disaster loans approved for tribal individuals and businesses

108 Homes repaired under the Permanent Housing Construction Program.

196 New manufactured homes provided under the Permanent Housing Construction Program.

1,720 Miles of tribal road assessed by Recovery Roads Task Force

1,890 Registrations for assistance from tribal members

2,621 Individual visits to the many federal/tribal Disaster Recovery Centers

$217,684 Direct financial aid to address housing needs of disaster survivors

$219,042 Financial Aid provided from FEMA/Tribal Other Needs Assistance* Program

*ONA provides funding for personal property and other items like vehicles and tools

$943,000 Low-interest disaster loans approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration

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Pine Ridge Recovery: By The Numbers

Five Years of Progress after Historic Tornadoes

Atlanta — Five years after tornadoes devastated the southeast and resulted in four federal disaster declarations in five days, hard-hit communities are building back stronger. To date, assistance to residents and communities in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee from the Federal Emergency Management Agency totals more than $504 million.

“The success of community recovery comes through strong partnerships at the local, state and federal levels. Together we have focused on rebuilding communities that are stronger and more sustainable for the future,” said Gracia Szczech, FEMA’s Region IV Regional Administrator.

Alabama by-the-numbers:

To date, assistance to Alabama’s residents and communities from the Federal Emergency Management Agency totals more than $361 million.

In Alabama, 88,229 individuals and families received $77,332,325 in Individual Assistance grants. More than $70 million was provided within a year of the storms, giving residents a helping hand in rebuilding their lives and restoring livelihoods.

The state and FEMA provided $343,990 in Disaster Unemployment Assistance to 333 survivors who lost jobs as a result of the tornadoes.

FEMA provided $4,810,399 to fund crisis counseling programs to help adults and children deal with the trauma and stress of surviving and recovering from the tornadoes.

Through collaborative efforts, FEMA and the state of Alabama provided temporary housing units to 307 families.

More than $202 million has been obligated as federal share reimbursements through FEMA’s Public Assistance program to state and local governments, and eligible private nonprofit organizations; and more than $1.36 million was obligated as part of these Public Assistance projects to build stronger, safer, more resilient communities and mitigate against future damage. To date, nearly 96 percent of the projected repair and replacement costs under the Public Assistance program have been disbursed to the State.

Some 4,492 residential and community tornado safe rooms have been approved to be built with $76.8 million obligated through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant program. Mitigation forms the foundation of a community’s long-term strategy to reduce disaster losses and break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction and repeated damage.

The U.S. Small Business Administration provided $114,494,500 in low-interest disaster recovery loans to help businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters in Alabama rebuild.

Tennessee by-the-numbers

Tennessee residents and communities have received more than $70.8 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Nearly $8.6 million in Individual Assistance grants were provided to 8,845 individuals and families. More than $8.28 million of the total was provided within a year of the storms.

FEMA provided more than $690,000 to fund crisis counseling programs to help adults and children deal with the trauma and stress of surviving and recovering from the tornadoes.

More than $52 million has been obligated as federal share reimbursements through FEMA’s Public Assistance program to the state and local governments, and eligible private nonprofit organizations. To date, more than 96 percent of the projected repair and replacement costs under the Public Assistance program have been disbursed to the state.

FEMA obligated nearly $8.7 million to Tennessee through its Hazard Mitigation Grant program. Projects include eight safe rooms.

The U.S. Small Business Administration provided more than $10 million in low-interest disaster recovery loans to help businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters rebuild.

Mississippi by-the-numbers

Mississippi’s residents and communities have received more than $38.9 million from the FEMA.

More than $10.7 million in Individual Assistance grants were provided to 7,259 individuals and families. More than $9.9 million of the total was provided within a year of the storms.

More than $24.3 million has been obligated as FEMA’s share reimbursements through the Public Assistance program to the state and local governments, and eligible private nonprofit organizations. To date, more than 96 percent of the projected repair and replacement costs under the Public Assistance program have been disbursed to the state.

FEMA, MEMA and local jurisdictions also considered the safety of residents in the future. With more than $3 million in FEMA assistance through its Hazard Mitigation Grant program, communities across the state are using the funds to implement safe and smart building practices.

The U.S. Small Business Administration provided more than $10 million in low-interest disaster recovery loans to help businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters rebuild.

Georgia by-the-numbers

FEMA provided Georgia’s residents and communities more than $12 million in recovery assistance.

Individual Assistance grants of nearly $5.6 million were provided to 5,461 individuals and families. More than $5 million of the total was provided within a year of the storms.

FEMA provided $350,807 to fund crisis counseling programs to help adults and children deal with the trauma and stress of surviving and recovering from the tornadoes.

More than $21 million has been obligated as federal share reimbursements through FEMA’s Public Assistance program to the state and local governments, and eligible private nonprofit organizations. To date, more than 91 percent of the projected repair and replacement costs under the Public Assistance program have been disbursed to the State.

FEMA has obligated more than $4 million through its Hazard Mitigation Grant program for communities across the state to become more resilient from disasters.

The U.S. Small Business Administration provided $8,492,000 million in low-interest disaster recovery loans to help businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters rebuild.

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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.

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Five Years of Progress after Historic Tornadoes

Commonly Asked Questions about Federal Disaster Aid

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – After the severe storms and flooding that occurred in Missouri between December 23, 2015 and January 9, 2016, residents in the 33 declared counties became eligible for federal assistance. People who suffered losses and damage in the wake of the disaster are urged to seek help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The eligible counties are Barry, Barton, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Cole, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Jefferson, Laclede, Lawrence, Lincoln, Maries, McDonald, Morgan, Newton, Osage, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, Scott, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright.

There are many misconceptions about getting help from FEMA. Often, people who would qualify for assistance miss out on assistance because they don’t have access to correct information.

Commonly asked questions about disaster aid from FEMA:

Q: Who should apply for federal disaster assistance?
A: Missouri homeowners and renters in disaster-designated counties who sustained damage to their homes, vehicles or personal property as a result of the severe storms and flooding from December 23, 2015 through January 9, 2016 can apply for FEMA grants.

Q: How do I apply?
A: Residents who were affected can apply for assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362. The application deadline is March 21.

Q: What kinds of FEMA grants are available?
A: Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, emergency home repairs, uninsured and underinsured personal property losses and medical, dental and funeral expenses caused by the disaster, along with other serious disaster-related expenses.

Q: What happens after I register?
A: You will receive a phone call from a FEMA inspector to arrange for a survey of the damages. This will come just days after you register. All FEMA inspectors will have official identification. They do not approve or deny claims or requests; those come after the inspection results are submitted. FEMA inspectors do not ask for money and do not recommend contractors to make repairs.

Q. I’ve already cleaned up and made repairs to my property. Am I still eligible to register with FEMA?
A. Yes. You may be eligible for reimbursement of your clean-up and repair expenses. Before and after photos of the damaged property can help expedite your application for assistance.

Q: Does my income need to be under a certain dollar amount to qualify for disaster aid?
A: FEMA’s Housing Assistance program is available, regardless of income, to anyone who suffered damages or losses in disaster-declared counties. However, aid for other losses such as personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses is income-dependent and officials make decisions on a case-by-case basis. To be considered for a grant for these types of losses, the applicant must complete an application for an SBA loan.

Q. I have flood insurance. Should I still register with FEMA?
A. Yes. But please contact your insurance company first.

Q: Does the Small Business Administration (SBA) offer loans to homeowners and renters?
A: Yes. The SBA is the primary source of financial assistance following a disaster and provides low-interest disaster loans to homeowners and renters.

Q: Do I have to be turned down by my bank before I can apply for a disaster loan?
A: No. The SBA has its own criteria for determining each loan applicant’s eligibility.

Q: If I rent an apartment, can I get help to replace my damaged personal property?
A: Yes. Renters may qualify for a FEMA grant. Renters may also qualify for SBA disaster loans.

Q: Will FEMA pay for all home repairs or contract work?
A: No. FEMA does not pay to return your home to its pre-disaster condition. FEMA provides grants to qualified homeowners to repair damage not covered by insurance, but these grants may not pay for all the damage. However, an SBA disaster loan may return a home to its pre-disaster condition.

Q: Do I have to repay money I receive for disaster relief?
A: No. You do not have to repay grant money, however SBA disaster loans must be repaid.

Q: Do I have to be a legal U.S. resident to receive Individual Assistance?
A: No. If you have a child living at home who is a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien, you may apply for Individual Assistance on that child’s behalf and you may be eligible to receive Individual Assistance. FEMA may provide undocumented, eligible immigrants with short-term, non-cash emergency aid.

Q: How can I check the status of my case?
A: You may go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call the toll-free FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (FEMA) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. If you need face-to-face assistance, visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) or speak with someone from one of FEMA’s Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams currently going door-to-door in Missouri’s disaster-declared counties. All DRCs are accessible and equipped with tools to accommodate disaster survivors who need disability related communication aids.

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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion7.

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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Commonly Asked Questions about Federal Disaster Aid

Three Mississippi Counties Designated for Individual Assistance After December Storms

OXFORD, Miss. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has amended a recent disaster declaration for severe storms in December in order to make survivors in Monroe, Panola and Prentiss counties eligible for its Individual Assistance program.

Survivors who sustained disaster-related losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance by calling 800-621-3362. Disaster assistance applicants who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired should call 800-462-7585 (TTY); those who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. until further notice.

Survivors can also apply by going online to DisasterAssistance.gov using a computer, tablet, iPhone, Android or other mobile device.

Benton, Coahoma, Marshall, Tippah and Quitman counties were previously designated by the presidential declaration on Jan. 4.

Individual Assistance can include money for temporary housing and essential home repairs for primary homes, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help survivors recover from the effects of the disaster.

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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 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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Three Mississippi Counties Designated for Individual Assistance After December Storms

Hurricane Rita In Texas: 10 Years Later

DENTON, Texas – Texas faced multiple challenges in September 2005. Hurricane Rita made landfall in the state while it was also housing and sheltering Hurricane Katrina evacuees who were displaced less than a month earlier.
More than $1 billion in federal disaster assistance has fueled Texas’ recovery efforts in the last decade. The assistance includes funds to repair and rebuild infrastructure, housing for disaster survivors and mitigating against future disaster events.
A decade ago, many emergency management partners assisted FEMA with the disaster-related events. Local, state and federal government partners, voluntary agencies, private sector entities, nonprofits, community and faith-based groups and individuals made significant contributions.
“Texas benefited immensely from our government and non-government disaster recovery partnerships,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “Hurricane Rita devastated southeast Texas and we successfully worked with our partners to rebuild communities to make them stronger.”
Funding includes more than $618.7 million in Individual Assistance grants provided to more than 252,000 individuals and families affected by Hurricanes Rita in Texas. The funds helped survivors by providing temporary housing and grants for disaster-related losses while they rebuilt their lives.
The total also includes approximately $361.9 million in Public Assistance reimbursements to the state and local governments, and eligible nonprofit organizations; and more than $89.4 million for mitigation projects to build stronger, safer and more resilient communities.
Some of this funding included:
•   Nearly $48.9 million for debris removal;
•   Almost $265.2 million for emergency protective measures, such as labor, equipment and materials to reduce threats to lives;
•   More than $134.2 million for permanent work, including the repair of roads, water control facilities, public and non-profit buildings and utilities and parks.
Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation projects, in conjunction with FEMA’s state and local partners, continue to move forward to help Texas storm-ravaged communities meet the challenges of repairing and rebuilding damaged and destroyed infrastructure.
While Texas was preparing for Hurricane Rita’s landfall, it also had begun assisting with emergency sheltering and housing for displaced Hurricane Katrina survivors. The state received more than $500 million from FEMA to cover costs including opening more than 200 shelters, transportation services, overtime costs for emergency operations centers and medical care.
“Texas has overcome so much since Hurricane Rita,” Robinson said. “The storm devastated so much here the same time it was helping survivors from other parts of the country following Hurricane Katrina. Thankfully, these federal disaster dollars have made Texas stronger than ever and make it better prepared for future disaster events.”

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Hurricane Rita In Texas: 10 Years Later

FEMA Honors Two Louisiana Groups’ Achievements in Community Emergency Preparedness

DENTON, Texas – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has recognized two Louisiana groups for accomplishments in working to prepare their communities for emergencies. New Orleans Medical Reserve Corps won the award for Outstanding Citizen Corps Partner Program in the 2015 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards. The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana received an honorable mention in the category of Technological Innovations.

The New Orleans Medical Reserve Corps (NOMRC) was honored for its emergency preparedness outreach and education to vulnerable populations in the city by working with the whole community. NOMRC coordinated with emergency preparedness agencies in the city to plan for the 2014 hurricane season. Working with agencies and health care providers that serve at-risk groups, NOMRC developed easy-to-understand hurricane preparedness messages and materials targeted to the elderly, mobility-impaired, non-English speakers and other vulnerable populations. Innovative partnerships with many local organizations and meeting people where they are in the community are hallmarks of NOMRC’s success. Some of their accomplishments include:

Providing presentations on mandatory evacuations, sheltering in place and preparing disaster supplies at community events, health fairs, in senior citizen living facilities, and through door-to-door campaigns.
Hosting 10 training sessions on emergency preparedness and resiliency for agencies serving at-risk groups.
Using Medicare data to locate individuals on oxygen or dialysis for targeted outreach.
Using New Orleans Regional Transit Authority data to survey people with limited mobility.
Discussing hurricane preparedness with elementary school children at a hurricane hunter aircraft site.

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana worked with a number of community partners to design a Flood Risk and Resilience Viewer. The web-based tool displays flood risk data in an easy-to-understand format for a specific location. It helps individuals and communities understand their current and future flood risks, shows probable land loss and climate changes in the future, and how flood depths could impact the community and its infrastructure.

Each year, FEMA’s Individual and Community Preparedness Division recognizes the preparedness efforts of organizations around the country. This year 138 organizations applied for recognition. There were 11 award winners and 37 honorable mentions. The 11 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Award recipients were recognized on Sept. 8, 2015, in Washington, D.C. During the recognition ceremony, recipients shared their experiences, success stories, and lessons learned with fellow emergency management leaders.

Visit www.ready.gov/citizen-corps/citizen-corps-awards for more information on this year’s award recipients and honorable mentions.

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Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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FEMA Honors Two Louisiana Groups’ Achievements in Community Emergency Preparedness

FEMA Extends Incident Period in Oklahoma to June 22

OKLAHOMA CITY – Additional Oklahoma residents and business owners affected by severe storms, flooding, tornadoes, and straight-line winds that occurred from June 5-22 may now be eligible for state and federal assistance under the disaster declaration already approved for the state.

At the request of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has expanded the official disaster declaration to May 5 through June 22.

The updated incident period applies to Individual Assistance for residents and business owners as well as Public Assistance for government entities and certain nonprofits.

Survivors who have registered with FEMA already do not have to apply again. Claims for damage or loss that occurred during the additional dates will be processed automatically.

Those with storm damage that occurred during the additional dates who have not yet registered with FEMA are urged to do so as soon as possible. Homeowners, renters and businesses can register online with any computer, smartphone or tablet at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362. Phone-registration hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time seven days a week. Registration with other agencies or non-profits does not count as a FEMA registration.

The deadline to register is August 26.

Additionally, homeowners, renters and businesses affected during the new Incident Period might also be eligible for low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The designated counties for the Individual Assistance are Atoka, Beckham, Bryan, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Choctaw, Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton, Grady, Jefferson, Johnston, Kiowa, Latimer, Le Flore, Marshall, Mayes, McClain, McCurtain, McIntosh, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Pittsburg, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Rogers, Seminole, Stephens, Tillman, Tulsa and Wagoner.

For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click on http://www.fema.gov or visit the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management at www.oem.ok.gov.

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FEMA Extends Incident Period in Oklahoma to June 22

Texans in Four Additional Counties May Now Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance

AUSTIN, Texas – The federal disaster declaration for Texas has been expanded to include Individual Assistance for four additional counties as a result of the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred between May 4 and June 19 according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The four Texas counties newly designated for Individual Assistance are:

Hood, Madison, Shelby and Wharton.

They join 42 counties already designated for Individual Assistance: Angelina, Bastrop, Blanco, Bowie, Brazoria, Caldwell, Cherokee, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Eastland, Ellis, Erath, Fannin, Fayette, Fort Bend, Frio, Gaines, Grayson, Guadalupe, Harris, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Jim Wells, Johnson, Liberty, Milam, Montague, Montgomery, Navarro, Nueces, Rusk, Smith, Travis, Trinity, Walker, Wichita, Williamson, Wise and Van Zandt.

Residents in the now 46 designated counties are eligible to apply for state and federal disaster assistance. Disaster assistance, for homeowners and renters, may include grants to help pay for rent, temporary housing and home repairs, as well as other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs.

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available for eligible survivors. 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 from other agencies or organizations.

Residents and business owners should apply right away with SBA as part of the overall federal disaster recovery process, and not wait for insurance claims to settle.

Texans who had storm damage should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but under-insured applicants may be eligible for help after their insurance claims have been settled.

People can apply for FEMA assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362 toll free from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) daily until further notice. Multilingual operators are available.

Disaster assistance applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call800-621-3362.

The deadline for applying is Aug. 27.

FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has a call center to answer Texas policyholders’ flood insurance questions. Specialists can help with servicing claims, providing general information and offering technical assistance to aid in recovery. To speak with a flood insurance specialist, call 800-621-3362 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

For more information on Texas disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4223. You can follow us on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA.

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Funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, those who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, transportation, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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

Texans in Four Additional Counties May Now Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance

Texans in Five Additional Counties May Now Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance

AUSTIN, Texas – The federal disaster declaration for Texas has been expanded to include Individual Assistance for five additional counties as a result of the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred between May 4 and June 19, according to the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The five Texas counties newly designated for Individual Assistance are:

Bowie, Brazoria, Cherokee, Ellis and Harrison.

They join 31 counties already designated for Individual Assistance: Bastrop, Blanco, Caldwell, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Eastland, Fannin, Fayette, Fort Bend, Gaines, Grayson, Guadalupe, Harris, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Johnson, Liberty, Milam, Montague, Navarro, Nueces, Rusk, Smith, Travis, Walker, Wichita, Williamson, Wise and Van Zandt. Residents in the now 36 designated counties are eligible to apply for state and federal assistance.

Disaster assistance for homeowners and renters may include grants to help pay for rent, temporary housing and home repairs, as well as other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs.

Residents and business owners should apply right away with SBA as part of the overall federal disaster recovery process, and not wait for insurance claims to settle.

Disaster assistance applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call
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.

The deadline for applying is July 28.

For more information on Texas disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4223. You can follow us on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA.

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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.

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

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

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Texans in Five Additional Counties May Now Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance

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