In Route to Be Better Prepared

SAN JUAN, PR – They are young, enthusiastic and prepared to respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards in their school and communities. A few weeks ago a group of teenagers in Humacao, led by Gabriela Rodriguez-Boria, completed their Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training as part of Gabriela’s project as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region II Youth Council Representative.

While seeking opportunities to prepare youngsters to be ready before and after a disaster strikes, Gabriela’s project includes CERT training for teenagers. CERT is a program that educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. With a solid commitment to encourage that generations are better aware of emergency preparedness, FEMA counts on programs, such as CERT and projects like Gabriela’s to help communities become smarter and more resilient sooner.

“As we prepare our plans, we have to keep in mind the importance of including younger audiences in the process. Youngsters have a significant influence on their peers and families, and we see Gabriela and her project as a good example. She drives this preparedness message further on,” said FEMA’s Caribbean Area Division Director, Alejandro De La Campa.

Thirteen-year old Gabriela, organized a CERT of approximately 15-20 students at the school she attends, the Colegio Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro in Humacao. Her parents and this private school have been very supportive and involved in Gabriela’s activities to the point of completing various emergency preparedness courses.

“We are organizing a Preparedness Day at our school and plan to replicate the Teen CERT training in other schools in neighboring communities.  We can get our schools, neighbors, churches, families and friends involved in similar activities so they can learn surviving techniques for future emergencies. This is my goal,” said Gabriela, who represents FEMA Region II in the Youth Preparedness Council. Puerto Rico is one of the jurisdictions under this Region, which also includes New York, New Jersey and the US Virgin Islands. 

This week, March 3-9, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and FEMA have partnered again for the National Severe Weather Preparedness Week, futhering the readiness message and encouraging every one in our communities to get better prepared for severe weather events.  Gabriela’s project represents an innovative and personal approach to improve emergency preparedness in her community.

There is additional information about Gabriela’s project and the Youth Council at www.citizencorps.gov/getstarted/youth/youthindex. If you are interested in becoming a CERT member, locate the nearest CERT team or check for upcoming training opportunities, visit www.citizencorps.gov/cert. Learn more about emergency preparedness and how to improve your community resiliency to emergency situations by visiting www.fema.gov, www.weather.gov or www.ready.gov.

FEMA News Desk (787) 296-3554, 3560

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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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In Route to Be Better Prepared

Disaster Recovery Centers In Three Counties To Close This Week

TRENTON, N.J. — Disaster recovery centers in three New Jersey counties will close at the end of this week.

State and federal officials have been paying close attention to how many applicants are visiting centers throughout the state.

Over the past weeks, the number of individuals seeking help at disaster recovery centers in Monmouth, Ocean and Cape May counties has dropped, indicating the information needs of survivors in the area have mostly been met. 

In Ocean County, the Brick Township Center, located in the Brick Township Civic Center, 270 Chambers Bridge Rd., will close at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 1. Since the Brick Township center opened Nov. 5, 2012, there have been more than 6,012 visits from Hurricane Sandy survivors.

The Little Egg Harbor Center, located in the Little Egg Harbor Senior Center, 641 Radio Rd., will close at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28. Since the Little Egg Harbor center opened Nov. 23, 2012, there have been more than 3,965 visits from Hurricane Sandy survivors.

The Toms River Center, located in the BellCrest Plaza, Storefront 4C, 953 Fischer Blvd., will close at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 2. Since the Toms River center opened Nov. 11, 2012, there have been more than 9,558 visits from Hurricane Sandy survivors.

In Monmouth County, the Leonardo Disaster Recovery Center, located in the Henry Hudson Trail Activity Center, 945 Highway 36, will close on Thursday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. Since the Leonardo center opened Nov. 6, 2012, there have been more than 4,573 visits from Hurricane Sandy survivors.

The Union Beach Center, located in the Union Beach Municipal Building, 650 Poole Ave., will close at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 2. Since the Union Beach center opened Nov. 5, 2012, there have been more than 5,811 visits from Hurricane Sandy survivors.

In Cape May County, the Ocean City Center in the Ocean City Community Center, 1735 Simpson Ave., will close on Thursday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. Since the Ocean City center opened Nov. 17, 2012, there have been more than 2,950 visits from Hurricane Sandy survivors.

Three remaining disaster recovery centers will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Saturday, March 9. Their addresses are listed below:

Hudson County Government Building                                                                                                                                                                            830 Bergen Ave.                                                                                                                                                                                                            Jersey City, N.J. 07306                                                         

Ocean County Southern Resource Center                                                                                                                                                                   179A South Main St.                                                                                                                                                                                                      Manahawkin, N.J. 08050         

Hamilton Mall                                                                                                                                                                                                                 4403 Blackhorse Pike                                                                                                                                                                                                    Mays Landing, N.J. 08330

Help and information are always available online or by phone. Survivors can check on the status of their disaster assistance applications at DisasterAssistance.gov, by using a smartphone or tablet at m.FEMA.gov, or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 800-462-7585 or 711/VRS. They also can call those numbers to inquire about rental recertification.                                 

They can ask questions about their Small Business Administration disaster home or business loan applications by calling 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339 or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Additional resources are available online at FEMA.gov/SandyNJ and SBA.gov/Sandy. Survivors who have questions about flood insurance claims and the appeals process can call toll-free 888-379-9531.

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 FEMA online at http://www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. 

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

FEMA’s 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.

See the original article here:  

Disaster Recovery Centers In Three Counties To Close This Week

Five Days Remain To Register For Disaster Assistance In New Jersey

TRENTON, N.J. — Hurricane Sandy survivors in New Jersey have five days remaining to register for recovery assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Survivors can register by phone until 10 p.m. March 1 or online until midnight.

March 1 is also the deadline to return applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest disaster loans, which is the primary source of federal funds for long-term rebuilding.

The quickest way to apply for an SBA disaster home or business loan is to fill out an online application at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.           

New Jerseyans who applied for federal disaster assistance are urged to stay in touch with FEMA and SBA. Applicants should notify FEMA and SBA of changes to their mailing addresses, phone numbers or email addresses.

To date, more than $361.7 million in grants has been approved for home repairs or replacement, rental assistance and other needs. Another $495.7 million in SBA low-interest disaster loans has been approved for nearly 7,300 homes and businesses.

Survivors can register online and check on the status of their applications at DisasterAssistance.gov, via web-enabled phone or tablet at m.fema.gov until midnight March 1. They also can call 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362. Recovery assistants remain available daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.         

Survivors can ask questions about their SBA disaster home or business loan applications by calling 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339 or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Additional resources are available online at FEMA.gov/SandyNJ and SBA.gov/Sandy.

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 FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. 

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

FEMA’s 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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Five Days Remain To Register For Disaster Assistance In New Jersey

Two Weeks Left For Survivors To Register For Disaster Assistance In New Jersey

TRENTON, N.J. — Just two weeks remain for Hurricane Sandy survivors in New Jersey to register for potential recovery assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The deadline is Friday, March 1 at 10 p.m. local time by phone and at midnight for those who register online.

March 1 is also the deadline to return applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest disaster loans, which is the primary source of federal funds for long-term rebuilding. The quickest way to apply for an SBA disaster home or business loan is filling out an online application at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

New Jerseyans who applied for federal disaster assistance are urged to stay in touch with FEMA and SBA. Applicants can track their claims and should notify FEMA and SBA of changes to their mailing addresses, phone numbers or email addresses.

To date, more than $358.1 million in grants has been approved for home repairs or replacement, rental assistance and other needs. Another $446.7 million in SBA low-interest disaster loans has been approved for more than 6,400 homes and businesses.

Survivors can register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, via web-enabled phone or tablet at m.fema.gov until midnight March 1. New Jerseyans can also register by telephone until 10 p.m. March 1 via FEMA’s toll-free numbers: 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 1-800-621-3362. Recovery assistants remain available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

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 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.

Link to article – 

Two Weeks Left For Survivors To Register For Disaster Assistance In New Jersey

New Jersey Disaster Recovery Centers Closed Saturday

TRENTON, N.J. — All disaster recovery centers in New Jersey will be closed Saturday, Feb. 9, due to forecasted severe weather. Centers will reopen Monday, Feb. 11, at 9 a.m.

Help and information are always available online or by phone. Survivors can check on the status of their disaster assistance applications at DisasterAssistance.gov, by using a smartphone or tablet at m.FEMA.gov, or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 800-462-7585 or 711/VRS.

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 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.

Source:  

New Jersey Disaster Recovery Centers Closed Saturday

After 100 Days, New Jersey Communities On Road To Recovery From Sandy

TRENTON, N.J. — One hundred days after Hurricane Sandy made landfall, storm survivors in New Jersey are rebuilding with a hand from neighbors, nearly 28,000 volunteers and more than $1 billion in state-federal response and recovery assistance.

Following Sandy’s landfall on Oct. 29, a dozen states deployed 440 personnel and equipment to support New Jersey and the more than 2,200 New Jersey National Guardsmen. It was the state’s largest domestic emergency mobilization.

Thirty-five federal agencies contributed more than 2,600 employees and took on 349 assignments at a cost of $169 million. They did everything from cleaning up hazardous fuels to providing bus transportation during the New Jersey transit system outages.

Survivors Repair Homes and Replace Property

To help those affected by Sandy, the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved more than 58,000 individuals and households for assistance totaling $352 million. Of that financial help, $308 million has gone to help repair homes or pay for a place to rent and $44 million to meet serious needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs. Another $26.4 million has provided temporary shelter to those still unable to return home.

FEMA coordinated a housing mission that included the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which used $3.3 million to refurbish 115 housing units at Fort Monmouth.

FEMA and the state also temporarily sheltered 5,538 individuals and families in hotels and motels through the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program that enables survivors to work on longer-term housing solutions.

Two hundred FEMA Corps members and team leaders conducted door-to-door outreach at more than 53,300 homes, providing information about disaster assistance to more than 51,800 survivors.

Low-interest SBA Disaster Loans Fill Recovery Gaps

Low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration remain a critical source of money for rebuilding. SBA also provides working capital for small businesses to help alleviate economic losses. SBA has approved more than 5,600 disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses totaling $397.7 million.

Disaster recovery centers have offered one-on-one help to storm survivors. This personal approach helped people with their FEMA applications and SBA loans. More than 71,000 visits have already been made to the 34 centers that have served New Jersey.

At least 40 volunteer groups contributed 760,000 hours of their time during Hurricane Sandy’s response and recovery.

Help with rebuilding homes and infrastructure

To protect lives and property in future disasters, FEMA seized the opportunity to publish advisory base flood elevation maps to guide rebuilding (go to Region2Coastal.com).

FEMA’s Public Assistance program has approved $148.5 million to assist the recovery of state and local governments as well as certain nonprofits.

FEMA has approved 465 projects to help remove hurricane debris and restore disaster-damaged roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Among the largest grants was $11.2 million to the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission for emergency repairs to a wastewater treatment plant that serves 48 communities and treats 330 million gallons of sewage daily.

In the weeks after the storm hit, FEMA also hired 160 local residents in New Jersey to help with disaster recovery operations.

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 FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. 

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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

Link:  

After 100 Days, New Jersey Communities On Road To Recovery From Sandy

Disaster Recovery Center Hours Change Saturday

TRENTON, N.J. — Saturday hours for New Jersey disaster recovery centers will change to 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 2. Monday through Friday the hours will remain 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Survivors can locate their closest center online at FEMA.gov/DRC.

Help and information are always available online or by phone. Survivors can apply for disaster assistance or check on the status of their applications at DisasterAssistance.gov, by using a smartphone or tablet at m.FEMA.gov, or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 800-462-7585 or 711/VRS.

Survivors can ask questions about their Small Business Administration disaster home loan applications by calling 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339 or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Additional resources are available online at FEMA.gov/SandyNJ. 

There have been more than 67,000 survivor visits to New Jersey centers since opening in November.

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 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.

Continued here – 

Disaster Recovery Center Hours Change Saturday

Summary Of Hurricane Sandy News For Weekly Newspapers

Deadline for Hurricane Sandy Assistance Extended to March 1

TRENTON, N.J. — Hurricane Sandy survivors now have until March 1 to register for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

FEMA can provide money to homeowners to repair uninsured damage to essential living areas. Also, homeowners and renters may receive money to replace essential personal property.   

Registering with FEMA can be done online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by a smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585.

Survivors also have until March 1 to return disaster loan applications to the Small Business Administration.

Call FEMA With Questions About Determination Letters

Hurricane survivors who have received a determination letter from FEMA saying they are ineligible for assistance and they disagree with that determination should contact FEMA and file an appeal.

Applicants with questions about any correspondence from FEMA should call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362)/TTY 800-462-7585 or visit a disaster recovery center and speak to a representative about their particular situation.

Disaster Recovery Centers Provide One-on-one Assistance

At a disaster recovery center, Sandy survivors can get clarification on determination letters, check on the status of their applications and get information on other agencies that may provide help.

SBA representatives are available to help survivors apply for low-interest disaster loans as well as FEMA mitigation specialists who can provide information on cost-effective building and repair techniques to reduce property damage.

Centers serving New Jersey’s coastal counties are still open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. They are located in:

  • Ocean County

Brick-Brick Township Civic Center, 270 Chambers Bridge Road.

Toms River-Bell Crest Plaza Store Front 4C, 863 Fischer Blvd.

Little Egg Harbor-Little Egg Harbor Senior Center, 641 Radio Road.

Manahawkin-Ocean County Southern Resource Center, 179A South Main St.

  • Monmouth County

Leonardo-Henry Hudson Trail Activity Center, 945 Highway 36.

Union Beach-Union Beach Municipal Building, 650 Poole Ave.

Monmouth-Belmar Municipal Building  601 Main St.

Long Branch-Long Branch Fire Station No. 4, 205 Union Ave.

  •  Atlantic County

Atlantic City-Boardwalk Hall, 2301 Boardwalk.

Mays Landing-Hamilton Mall, 4403 Blackhorse Pike.

  • Cape May County

Ocean City-Ocean City Community Center, 1735 Simpson Ave.

  • Hudson County

Jersey City-Hudson County Government Building, 830 Bergen Ave.

  • Middlesex County

Sayreville-Sayreville Senior Center, 423 Main St.

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 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.

Link: 

Summary Of Hurricane Sandy News For Weekly Newspapers

Help Is Available For Building To a Higher Standard

TRENTON, N.J. — For many New Jersey homeowners, rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy will mean meeting a higher standard – literally.

Communities up and down the Jersey coast are reviewing new advisory base flood elevation maps published in December by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The maps show how high buildings should be elevated to minimize damage from future flooding.

Building higher means higher costs, but federal resources may be available to help with the additional expense.

Flood insurance policyholders in high-risk areas, also known as special flood hazard areas, can get up to $30,000 to help pay the costs of meeting the requirements of their community’s floodplain ordinance. The National Flood Insurance Program includes Increased Cost of Compliance coverage for all new and renewed standard flood insurance policies.

The money can be used to raise your home to, or above, the flood elevation level adopted by your local government or to move your home out of harm’s way. The Increased Cost of Compliance coverage can also be used to tear down and remove flood-damaged buildings.

Increased Cost of Compliance claims are paid only on flood-damaged homes in a high-risk area that don’t already comply with the local flood plain ordinances. The amount of flood damage has to be declared by local authorities as substantial. The coverage can only be used to pay for costs of meeting the floodplain management ordinance in your community.

For more information on ICC coverage, call your insurance company or agent, or call the NFIP toll-free at 800-427-4661 or TTY 800-427-5593. Information can also be found online at http://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program.

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 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.

Original source:  

Help Is Available For Building To a Higher Standard

New Jersey Disaster and Business Recovery Centers to Close for Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

TRENTON, N.J. — Disaster and business recovery centers in New Jersey will close for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday Monday, Jan. 21.

The centers will return to normal hours of operation on Tuesday, Jan. 22. Disaster recovery centers are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Six business recovery centers in Monmouth, Hudson, Essex, Passaic and Union counties are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

  • The Ocean County center is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
  • The Cape May County center is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • The centers in Atlantic and Bergen counties are open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Business recovery centers are staffed by SBA customer service representatives who provide help to businesses who suffered losses caused by Hurricane Sandy. To find a business recovery center visit SBA.gov.

To find the nearest disaster recovery center, the following options are available:

Survivors can visit any of the disaster recovery centers to meet with recovery specialists who can answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration.

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 FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. 

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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

Source article:  

New Jersey Disaster and Business Recovery Centers to Close for Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

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