Learn to Build Back Stronger in St. Johns County

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–Do you have questions about how you can reduce damage to your property from future flooding and other natural disasters?  FEMA Mitigation specialists may have answers.

 

You can visit Lowe’s Home Improvement Center in St. Augustine from Friday, Nov. 11 through Tuesday Nov. 15, 2016 to speak with FEMA mitigation specialists who can answer questions and offer tips on topics such as flood proofing a home, elevating utilities and removing and replacing wet drywall.

 

WHERE:      

Lowe’s

1955 US Highway 1 South

St. Augustine, FL 32086

 

WHEN:         

Friday Nov. 11, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday Nov. 12 and Sunday Nov. 13, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Monday Nov. 14 and Tuesday Nov. 15, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

This free information is geared to both homeowners and general contractors.

Residents can also contact FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program helpline for help with policy questions, service claims, technical assistance and general information. To speak with a flood insurance specialist, call 800-621-3362 (voice, 711/VRS-Video Relay Service) (TTY: 800-462-7585). After choosing your language, press 2.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4283, twitter.com/femaregion4, facebook.com/FEMA, and fema.gov/blog, floridadisaster.org or #FLRecovers. For imagery, video, graphics and releases, see www.fema.gov/Hurricane-Matthew.

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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 800-621-3362 (voice, 711/VRS – Video Relay Service) (TTY: 800-462-7585). Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish).

Read article here – 

Learn to Build Back Stronger in St. Johns County

Disaster Assistance Is for Georgia Renters, Too

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Renters in 10 Georgia counties where homes and property were damaged by Hurricane Matthew may be eligible for federal disaster assistance.

Federal grants can help pay for temporary housing not covered by insurance. These rental grants are initially for two months.

Federal assistance is available to eligible individuals and households in Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh and Wayne counties. Damage or losses from Hurricane Matthew must have occurred Oct. 4-15.

Also, the U.S. Small Business Administration offers low-interest disaster loans to help Georgia renters repair or replace disaster-damaged personal property, including automobiles. Loan terms can be as long as 30 years, and renters may be eligible for up to $40,000 to replace personal property.

Both renters and homeowners may qualify for grants for other disaster-related necessary expenses and serious needs such as clothing, child care, room furnishings and appliances, medical and dental costs, vehicles and moving and storage expenses. Eligibility for some grants requires first submitting an SBA loan application.

Applying for disaster assistance is a two-step process that ensures consideration for all FEMA programs and the SBA disaster loans. First, register with FEMA, then complete and return the SBA loan application, if one is offered.

Disaster survivors may register the following ways:

Survivors should register even if they have insurance. Insurance is a property owner’s first line of defense. Most homeowner’s policies will cover wind damage; only a policy through the National Flood Insurance Program covers flood-related losses. Those who suffered damage may need to file claims under both the flood insurance policy and FEMA disaster assistance, which may be available to cover uninsured or underinsured losses.

For more information about SBA disaster loans, call SBA’s disaster assistance customer service center at 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visit sba.gov/disaster. TTY users can call 800-877-8339.  Applicants may also apply online using the electronic loan application via SBA’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

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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Continued here:

Disaster Assistance Is for Georgia Renters, Too

A Mobile Disaster Recovery Center Visits Bamberg County

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Monday, Nov. 14) –A mobile Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is making a three-day stop in Bamberg County Nov. 14-16. The center will serve homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained damage or losses from Hurricane Matthew.

The DRC is located at:

Bamberg County Emergency Management 847 Calhoun St.
(next to the water tower) Bamberg, S.C. 29003
9 a.m. to 7 p.m., through Wednesday, Nov. 16
At the center, representatives from the State of South Carolina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), nongovernmental organizations and the local community will be on hand to provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors.

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

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

If possible, register for FEMA assistance by phone or online before visiting a center. Going to a DRC is not a requirement of registration, but specialists there can provide guidance regarding disaster recovery and rental resources, explain written correspondence received from FEMA, inform survivors of the status of their application, make referrals to other organizations and answer questions.

After registering with FEMA, survivors may also be eligible for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA. Disaster loans help fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. SBA offers loans to businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the SBA are available to small businesses and private-nonprofits to assist with working capital needs as a direct result of the disaster. SBA loans are for uninsured or underinsured disaster losses.  SBA advises it is not necessary to wait for an insurance settlement before submitting a loan application.

Eligible survivors should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but FEMA may be able to help with uninsured or underinsured losses.

FEMA mitigation specialists are available at DRCs to provide information to survivors on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and guidance on cost-effective rebuilding and repair techniques to make homes more flood- and wind-resistant.

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

To find a complete list of DRC locations and hours, download the free FEMA app to your mobile device or visit asd.fema.gov/inter/locator.  DRCs open and close based on community need and visitor demand.

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

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

All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (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. Follow us on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/femaregion4 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property.

These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

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A Mobile Disaster Recovery Center Visits Bamberg County

Even if you have insurance—register for disaster assistance

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. —Even if you have homeowners’, renters’ or flood insurance, you are urged to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Registering with FEMA is a primary step in qualifying for disaster assistance after contacting your insurance agent to see if disaster damage is covered.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, FEMA is advising survivors who live in Chesapeake, Newport News, Norfolk or Virginia Beach with property damage to contact both their insurance company and FEMA. Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017 is the last day to apply to FEMA for disaster assistance.

If you are a homeowner or renter with insurance and your home or personal property was damaged by the storm:

  • You must contact your insurance agent to file a claim with your insurance company.

  • You should be prepared to fully describe to your agent the damage caused by the storms.

  • You should keep a record of all contact you have with the agent and the insurance company.

  • You should keep a record of the claim number and the date you called to make the claim.

  • Always keep all damage repair receipts.

  • FEMA will send you a letter requesting insurance claim documentation, such as a decision letter (settlement or denial) from your insurance company, in order to further process your application.

FEMA cannot duplicate benefits that are covered by insurance, but you may be eligible for help with losses not covered or those in excess of your insurance coverage. However, you will not be considered for this assistance until FEMA receives a decision letter from your insurance company.

Homeowners and renters may be eligible for FEMA Other Needs Assistance (ONA) grants to help with uninsured or underinsured expenses and serious needs caused by the disaster, including:

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Child care and

  • Funeral cost

Survivors who register and receive a Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loan application should return the application. SBA applicants are not obligated to accept a loan; however, completing the application may make available additional FEMA assistance. Applicants who may not qualify for a SBA loan may be eligible for Other Needs Assistance.

FEMA encourages both insured and uninsured survivors who sustained disaster-related damage or losses to apply by phone (voice, 711 or relay service) at 800-621-3362 (TTY users should call 800-462-7585) or online at DisasterAssistance.gov. The toll-free lines are available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available. Jan. 3, 2017 is the last day for survivors to file an application.

 

Taken from:  

Even if you have insurance—register for disaster assistance

Mobile Disaster Recovery Center to Visit Hampton Fire House

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Wednesday, Nov. 9) – A mobile Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will make a three-day stop in Hampton County at the Town of Hampton Fire Department Nov. 10-12. The center will serve homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained damage as a result of Hurricane Matthew.

At the center, specialists from the State of South Carolina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), nongovernmental organizations and the local community can answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors.

The Hampton DRC will be located at:

Town of Hampton Fire Department 600 West 2nd St.

Hampton, SC 29924

9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday

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

If possible, register for FEMA assistance by phone or online before visiting a center. Going to a DRC is not a requirement of registration, but specialists there can provide guidance regarding disaster recovery and rental resources, explain written correspondence received from FEMA, inform survivors of the status of their application, make referrals to other organizations and answer questions.

To find a complete list of DRC locations and hours, download the free FEMA app to your mobile device or visit asd.fema.gov/inter/locator.

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

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

After registering with FEMA, survivors may also be eligible for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA. Disaster loans help fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. SBA offers loans to businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the SBA are available to small businesses and private-nonprofits to assist with working capital needs as a direct result of the disaster. SBA loans are for uninsured or underinsured disaster losses. SBA advises it is not necessary to wait for an insurance settlement before submitting a loan application.

Eligible survivors should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but FEMA may be able to help with uninsured or underinsured losses.

FEMA mitigation specialists are available at DRCs to provide information to survivors on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and guidance on cost-effective rebuilding and repair techniques to make homes more wind- and flood-resistant.

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

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

section/ia.

All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (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. Follow us on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/femaregion4 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

Read More:

Mobile Disaster Recovery Center to Visit Hampton Fire House

Second Berkeley DRC Opens

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).

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

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion4 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster- damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at  www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

This article is from: 

Second Berkeley DRC Opens

Matthew, Hermine Survivors: FEMA Assistance Helps Bridge the Gap

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida hurricane survivors may be eligible for FEMA assistance to help supplement insurance claims or fill unmet needs.

The FEMA Individuals and Households Program (IHP) provides financial help or direct assistance in the form of grants for both homeowners and renters. The maximum amount of assistance provided by these grants is limited, and is not intended to restore your home to pre-storm condition. These funds can be used to pay for temporary housing or emergency home repairs to make sure your residence is safe and sanitary.

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.

By law, FEMA assistance cannot duplicate assistance received from an insurance settlement. Secondary homes or rental properties are ineligible for this program. Federal guidelines only allow housing assistance to be used on primary residences affected by disaster.              

Before starting repairs or rebuilding a home, it is important to contact your local building code official or floodplain manager. Visit floridadisaster.org/Mitigation/index.htm for free information on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger.

Renters and homeowners with insurance should contact their insurance agent right away to file a claim. Insurance is the main source of recovery funding for disaster related losses, but if insurance does not cover all expenses, disaster programs may be able to help.

If a decision on your insurance settlement is delayed longer than 30 days from the time you filed a claim, you will need to write a letter to FEMA explaining the circumstance. Include:

  • Proof from the insurance company that you filed the claim;

  • The claim number;

  • Date you filed your claim;

  • An estimate of how long it will take to receive your settlement.

While waiting for a settlement decision, any help awarded by FEMA would be considered an advance and must be repaid once an insurance settlement is received. 

Even if you are insured you should apply for disaster assistance with FEMA. Survivors in the designated counties may register for assistance the following ways:

  • Online at DisasterAssistance.gov

  • Phone 800-621-3362 (voice, 711/VRS-Video Relay Service) (TTY: 800-462-7585). Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish).

  • At a Disaster Recovery Center. To find the nearest one, go online to the Disaster Recovery Center Locator at asd.fema.gov/inter/locator.

For more help understanding FEMA’s disaster assistance program download the free guide Help After a Disaster at fema.gov/help-after-disaster.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4280, fema.gov/disaster/4283, twitter.com/femaregion4, facebook.com/FEMA, and fema.gov/blog, floridadisaster.org or #FLRecovers. For imagery, video, graphics and releases, see fema.gov/Hurricane-Matthew.

See more here – 

Matthew, Hermine Survivors: FEMA Assistance Helps Bridge the Gap

Hermine Survivors Get 30 More Days to Submit Proof of Loss

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Homeowners who have a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy and have damages or losses from Hurricane Hermine have been granted a 30-day extension to turn in a Proof of Loss.

A Proof of Loss is a policyholder’s statement of the amount of money being requested, signed and sworn to by the policyholder, along with documentation to support the amount requested initially, and any requests for additional payment. Policyholders must submit a Proof of Loss (www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/9343) directly to their flood insurance company within 90 days after the date of the flood loss.

The Proof of Loss statement is included in the claims package that documents your flood losses. It is important to understand the Proof of Loss is not the claim. A policyholder who suffers flood damage to NFIP insured property has only one claim arising from that event, regardless of the number of Proofs of Loss with documentation packages the policyholder may submit in support of that claim.

The claims packages should include:

  • Photos or video of your flood damage;
  • A comprehensive and itemized list of what was damaged;
  • Receipts, if possible, for damaged items along with any other supporting documents that show the value of what you lost.

Both state and federal officials encourage you to closely monitor the insurance claims process after reporting your loss. Once the documentation is submitted, an insurance adjuster hired by the NFIP insurer will inspect the property. The adjuster may also provide information about the flood insurance claims process.

Here are some tips to guide you through the process to ensure you receive all eligible insurance funds for your recovery:

What to Do Before an Adjuster Visits

  • Take pictures of the damage.
  • Write down a list of your damaged contents.
  • Immediately dispose of flood-damaged items which pose a health risk, such as perishable food items, clothing, cushions and pillows. Cut off and keep a 12-square-inch sample of building materials like carpets and drywall to show your flood adjuster, and set aside other damaged personal property items like furniture, televisions and electronics.
  • Have documents related to your damage ready for inspection. This may include contractor’s estimates and repair receipts.
  • Also keep your policy number and insurance company information handy.

What Happens During an Adjuster’s Visit

  • An insurance adjuster will contact you within 24 to 48 hours to schedule an appointment.
  • Ask to see the adjuster’s official identification when he or she visits.
  • The adjuster will take measurements and photographs and document your damage. They will provide you with their contact information and, if required, the adjuster may revisit your property.
  • After your home is inspected, the adjuster will complete the covered estimate of loss and provide you with a copy of it, along with a Proof of Loss form.
  • A FEMA inspector or flood insurance adjuster will never ask for money, approve or disapprove claims, or tell you whether your flood insurance company will approve your claim.

What Happens After an Adjuster’s Visit

  • The adjuster will collect all of the necessary information and documentation during the initial visit and will contact the policyholder as the claim progresses to an agreement and closure.
  • If you disagree with the resolution of your claim, ask the adjuster to show how they arrived at the figure(s) and explain the policy if an item was excluded from coverage, even though you feel it should be covered.
  • If the adjuster and insured are unable to come to an amicable agreement, the policyholder may hire an independent contractor to prepare an estimate for flood related damage.
  • Within 60 days after the loss, send the insurer a signed and sworn Proof of Loss.

Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to begin processing your claim.

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

View original post here – 

Hermine Survivors Get 30 More Days to Submit Proof of Loss

Manatee, Taylor and Wakulla Counties Designated for Individual Assistance

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Homeowners, renters and business owners in Manatee, Taylor and Wakulla counties may now apply for federal disaster assistance for uninsured and underinsured damages and losses resulting from Hurricane Hermine.

Citrus, Dixie, Hernando, Hillsborough, Leon, Levy, Pasco, and Pinellas counties are already designated for Individual Assistance.

Twenty-two Florida counties had earlier received a Public Assistance designation as a result of Hurricane Hermine. 

To be eligible for federal aid under FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program, storm damage and losses must have occurred as a result of Hurricane Hermine. 

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

  • Online at DisasterAssistance.gov, or

  • On the FEMA Mobile App, or by

  • Calling 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585.

  • The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week until further notice.

  • Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish).

Assistance for eligible survivors can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs.

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

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

More:

Manatee, Taylor and Wakulla Counties Designated for Individual Assistance

Colleton DRC Opens

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Wednesday, Nov. 2) – A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) opens in Colleton County on Wednesday at 1 p.m.  It will be open weekdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed Sundays until further notice.

Located at 280 Recreation Lane, Walterboro, SC 29488, the DRC is staffed by representatives from the State of South Carolina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration and representatives from various state agency and voluntary organizations.

Survivors of the storms and floods that came with Hurricane Matthew can expect information on federal disaster assistance programs, guidance on disaster recovery, an explanation of written FEMA correspondence, and help with other disaster-related questions.

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

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

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

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

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

All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).

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

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion4 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster- damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at  www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

Excerpt from – 

Colleton DRC Opens

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