Pittsburg County, Oklahoma Flood Maps Become Final in June

DENTON, Texas –– New flood maps become effective in Pittsburgh County on June 2, 2015.

Local, state and federal officials encourage everyone to view the maps before Tuesday, June 2, 2015 in order to understand their flood risk and then consider buying flood insurance.

Most homeowner insurance policies do not cover the effects of flooding. People in the special flood hazard areas (SFHA) and with a federally backed mortgage are required to insure their structure and contents, either through a private policy or through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  This is a voluntary program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  NFIP policies are available to anyone living in a participating community, including business owners.   

Flooding is the #1 natural disaster in the U.S. and only flood insurance covers these unexpected, damaging and sometimes fatal events. “It is critical that everyone is prepared for the hazards and risks in their communities.  Knowing your risk of flooding is the first step in taking the appropriate actions to prepare,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson.  To learn if your community participates in the NFIP and to review the new flood maps, contact your local floodplain administrator (FPA). Randy Gropp is the FPA for the Town of Kiowa and can be reached at (918) 432 5841. Richard Howry is the FPA for Pittsburg County, his phone number is (918) 423-4726.

FEMA map specialists and flood insurance experts also are available to answer questions. They can be reached by phone and online chat.  
•    To use the live chat service, visit http://go.usa.gov/r6C.  Click on the “Live Chat” icon.
•    To contact a FEMA Map Specialist, call 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or send an email to FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com.
•    To view a Preliminary Interactive Flood Map: http://maps.riskmap6.com/OK/Pittsburg;

FEMA encourages communities not currently participating in the NFIP to look at the benefits of joining the program. Contacting a local insurance agent is the first step to obtaining information about insurance. Folks can visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531 to locate an agent in their area.
                                                                                              
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 www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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Pittsburg County, Oklahoma Flood Maps Become Final in June

Deadline Nears For Youth Preparedness Council Applications

DENTON, Texas —The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is now accepting applications for its Youth Preparedness Council. The Council supports FEMA’s commitment to involving young people in preparedness-related activities and provides an opportunity for them to offer their perspectives, feedback and insights on how to help make the United States more resilient.
 
Council members are selected based on their dedication to public service, their efforts in making a difference in their communities and their potential to expand their impact as national advocates for youth preparedness.
 
While FEMA’s National Youth Preparedness Council was first formed in 2012, FEMA Region 6’s Youth Preparedness Council got its start in 2014. The Council is made up of young people from each Region 6 state – Casey Williams of Vilonia, Ark.; Lanie Comeaux of Thibodaux, La.; Samantha Adams of Las Cruces, N.M.; Rosie Niles of Oologah, Okla.; and Obie Jones of Austin, Texas. Jones is also a member of the National Youth Preparedness Council.
 
“Young people are such an important part of the emergency management team,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “They bring fresh and new ideas to the table, as well as new energy and can be a positive catalyst for change. We are so proud of our Region 6 Youth Preparedness Council members. They are doing great work, helping all of us be better prepared for disasters.”
 
Membership on the National Youth Preparedness Council is open to all applicants of any state or tribal nation between 13 and 17 years old. They must also be engaged in individual and community preparedness or have experienced a disaster that motivated them to make a positive difference in their community. Individuals who applied for 2014 are encouraged to apply again. Current Council members have an option to extend for an additional year, upon FEMA request. Adults working with youth or on community preparedness are encouraged to share the application with young people who might be interested in applying for the Youth Preparedness Council.
 
To be eligible for consideration, applicants must submit a completed application form and two letters of recommendation. Completed applications and all supporting materials must be received no later than March 2, 2015, 9:59 p.m. MDT/10:59 p.m. CDT. New Youth Preparedness Council members will be announced in May 2015.
 
For more information about completing and submitting the application, please visit: www.ready.gov/youth-preparedness-council.

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 http://twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA

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Deadline Nears For Youth Preparedness Council Applications

Flood Map Meetings Scheduled in Ocean County

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Ocean County residents and property owners will be able ask questions and obtain information on their property’s flood hazard risk at two Open Houses scheduled to take place in Ocean County on Wednesday, Feb. 25 and Thursday, Feb. 26 from 4 to 8 p.m.

During the past year and a half, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region II office has released updates to the flood hazard maps, known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), for New Jersey’s coastal communities. The FIRMs identify areas of flood risk in these coastal communities.

Community and county officials in Ocean County’s coastal communities have arranged for the Flood Risk Open Houses to assist residents and property owners with questions and concerns regarding flood hazards and flood insurance rate maps.

If you think you may be in a flood zone, or already know you are, feel free to attend the open house that is most convenient for you at any time between the hours of 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. No formal presentation will be made and no appointment is necessary.

The preliminary flood hazard maps that will be shared at the Open House are an update of the existing FIRMs. These preliminary FIRMs and the associated Flood Insurance Study (FIS) provide the basis for flood risk education and floodplain management measures. Each community is required to adopt updated maps to continue participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which makes flood insurance available to the community.

Insurance companies use FIRMs to determine flood insurance rates for buildings, and lenders utilize this information to determine flood insurance requirements. Residents and property owners in these areas are encouraged to learn more about their flood risk and the updates shown on the preliminary flood hazard maps by entering their property’s address in the “What’s my BFE?” tool at www.region2coastal.com. 

Using interactive flood hazard maps at this Open House, representatives from the State, County, FEMA and their mapping partners, will be available to answer flood risk and insurance questions, and explain the preliminary flood hazard maps. Residents are encouraged to bring their elevation certificates and/or flood insurance policies to the event in order to get the best information about how their flood insurance rates may change as a result of the new preliminary flood maps and legislative reforms.

The Flood Risk Open Houses will take place at these locations:

  • Ocean:
    • Wednesday, February 25th, 2015 at the Ocean County Government Complex, Building 5 Cafeteria, 129 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, NJ 08753
    • Thursday, February 26th, 2015 at the Ocean County Southern Service Center, 179 South Main Street, Manahawkin, NJ 08092

 

The Open Houses will cover flood hazard and FIRM map information only. No information will

be available concerning outstanding insurance claims or disaster-related recovery efforts.

Please plan to attend this event if your property is currently mapped within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), newly mapped into an SFHA, or if you are unsure of your flood risk and/or you have any questions on flood insurance. If you cannot attend or want to learn more about your flood risk, please refer to the Preliminary FIRMs which are available on the FEMA Map Service Center website, https://msc.fema.gov/portal, call the FEMA Map Information eXchange (FMIX) at 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or call your local flood plain administrator or building official.

If you are in a high-risk flood zone, known as the SFHA, you may be required by your lender to carry flood insurance. FEMA staff will be available at the Open House to talk about these changes.

Flooding is the number one natural disaster in the United States. It is vital for property owners to understand their risk and taking advantage of tools and programs available to them. Property owners can take action by purchasing flood insurance and implementing mitigation actions to help reduce future flooding impacts.

For additional information on flood hazard risk and the mapping process, please visit www.region2coastal.com

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

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

 

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Flood Map Meetings Scheduled in Ocean County

Revised Preliminary Flood Maps in El Paso County, Texas Ready for Public View

DENTON, Texas – Homeowners, renters and business owners in El Paso County in Texas are encouraged to look over newly-revised preliminary flood maps in order to determine their flood risks and make informed decisions.

County officials and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) presented the revised preliminary maps to communities and unincorporated areas in order to help leaders and residents identify known flood risks in their area.  Residents and business owners can use this information to make decisions about buying flood insurance and other building decisions.  Community leaders can use this information to identify how the community should move forward with any development.   

“Working together with our state and local partners to bring this critical information to the county, we hope that everyone reviews the maps to understand what flood risks are involved,” said Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “Having the community as an active partner in the flood mapping process is very important.”

To view the revised flood maps, please contact your local floodplain administrator who may be located at City Hall or the local courthouse. You can also visit http://msc.fema.gov/portal or http://maps.riskmap6.com. To contact a FEMA Map Specialist, call 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or send an email to FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com.

Once a flood risk is identified, the next step is to consider the purchase of a flood policy from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  Visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531 to locate an agent in your area.
 
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 http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6, and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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Revised Preliminary Flood Maps in El Paso County, Texas Ready for Public View

FEMA Housing Mission Sees Continued Progress

DENVER – As 2014 comes to an end, the temporary housing program managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the aftermath of the September 2013 foods continues to assist Colorado families while helping them secure permanent housing.  There are 13 households in Boulder, Weld and Larimer counties still residing in FEMA-provided manufactured housing units, with the program scheduled to be completed by mid-March. Over the course of this housing program, a total of 47 households in the three counties have found housing in FEMA-provided manufactured homes. 

FEMA continues to meet with residents on a monthly basis to assist them with developing a long-term housing plan, and those meetings will continue until the housing mission concludes. The agency is also working with the state and local recovery committees and non-profits to utilize other assistance programs to help residents.

In addition to providing direct housing, FEMA has also provided more than $61.8 million in emergency housing assistance to Colorado residents to make repairs to their damaged homes or rent another home.  Another $300 million in assistance has been provided for Colorado communities to make repairs to or replace damaged public infrastructure, conduct debris removal and perform emergency work during the initial response.

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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FEMA Housing Mission Sees Continued Progress

Disaster Assistance Tops $30 Million for South Napa Earthquake

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – State and federal disaster assistance now totals more than $30 million for people and businesses affected by the South Napa Earthquake. The current total includes $8.8 million in grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), as well as $21.2 million in low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

In addition, FEMA has provided more than $750,000 in grants to local governments and state agencies to help them defray response costs and repair infrastructure damage. Thus, the total amount of federal aid to the disaster area is $30.8 million.

A recap of the disaster recovery operation by the numbers, as of Dec. 17:

Households Registered: 5,296
Total Grants Approved: $8,778,527.58
• Housing Assistance Grants: $8,106,469.99
• Other Needs Assistance Grants: $672,057.59

SBA Loans Approved: 549
• Home Loans: 504
• Business Loans: 45
Total SBA Loans: $21,151,000

Disaster Recovery Centers:

• Napa Earthquake Local Assistance Center – 301 First Street, Napa, CA 94559
Center Total Visit: 2,223
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat., Closed Sundays. In observance of Christmas, the center will be closed Dec. 24-26. FEMA’s presence in the Local Assistance Center operations will conclude COB 12/29.

• SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Vallejo- 505 Santa Clara St 3rd Floor, Vallejo, CA 94590
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon-Thurs, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fri., Closed Saturday and Sunday. The SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center operations in Vallejo will conclude COB 12/23.

FEMA Inspections Completed: 4,707

FEMA reimbursement to local governments and state agencies: $768,526.10

People in Napa and Solano Counties who had damage from the South Napa Earthquake have until Dec. 29, 2014 to apply to FEMA for disaster assistance. Disaster assistance includes grants to help pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other sources.

Low-interest disaster loans are also available from the SBA for homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations. Disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.
Disaster recovery officials urge those who registered with FEMA and received an SBA loan application to complete and return the application. Doing so will ensure the applicants are considered for the full range of disaster assistance that may be available to them.
SBA serves as the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps fund repair or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property.
Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 – with interest rates as low as 2.063 percent –for the repair or replacement of their primary residence not fully compensated by insurance. Anyone who had damage in the two counties may also borrow up to $40,000 with interest rates as low as 2.063 percent for replacement of personal property, including vehicles.
Businesses and nonprofits may apply to borrow up to $2 million for the following:
• Business Physical Disaster Loans – Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.

• Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.

Those who apply for an SBA loan and are declined, as well as those who are not issued a loan application, may be referred to the FEMA Other Needs Assistance (ONA) grant program. Anyone who receives an SBA application must return the completed application to be considered for ONA.

ONA provides reimbursements for personal property losses, vehicle repair or replacement, moving and storage fees, and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other sources. FEMA provides 75 percent of the funding for ONA, and Cal OES provides 25 percent.

To apply for assistance, register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call FEMA at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or VRS may call 800-621-3362.

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA Helpline/Registration in 93 various languages. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages. Phone lines remain open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (PST) Sun.-Sat. until further notice.

Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) Teams

Two-two person DSA teams continue to visit quake-damaged communities. On assignment in Napa County, the teams are walking door-to-door to speak with residents and business owners.

To date, DSA teams have registered 231 residents, updated 120 FEMA applications, completed 200 case inquiries and referred 310 people to other community resources.

Apply to Qualify

To be eligible for federal disaster assistance – such as disaster grants and loans at least one member of a household must be a U.S. citizen, Qualified Alien or non-citizen national with a Social Security number. Disaster assistance may be available to a household if a parent or guardian applies on behalf of a minor child who is a U.S. citizen or a Qualified Alien. FEMA will only need to know the immigration status and Social Security number of the child.

Disaster assistance grants are not taxable income and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, medical waiver programs, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Social Security Disability Insurance.

Those who suspect someone of engaging in unscrupulous activity should call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721. Complaints may also be made to local law enforcement agencies.

For unmet disaster-related needs, the United Way operates 2-1-1 that covers Napa and Solano Counties. Available 24/7 in 150 languages, the Bay Area 211 helpline connects callers with hundreds of programs to help people find food, housing, healthcare, senior services, childcare, legal aid and more.

For more information on the California disaster recovery, go to www.fema.gov/disaster/4193.

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.

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.

The Cal OES protects lives and property, builds capabilities and supports our communities for a resilient California. Cal OES achieves its mission by serving the public through effective collaboration in preparing for, protecting against, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating the impacts of all hazards and threats.

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations 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.

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

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Disaster Assistance Tops $30 Million for South Napa Earthquake

FEMA Announces Launch of the Interim Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate

WASHINGTON –  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate today announced the launch of the Interim Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate, led by the Acting Flood Insurance Advocate, David Stearrett. The Interim Flood Insurance Advocate office will stand up effective December 22, 2014.

The Interim Office will begin work on specialized assistance to citizens and policyholders on National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) issues; as well as regional mapping outreach and education support.  The Interim Office will operate until a permanent Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate is established pursuant to Section 24 of the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 (subject to budget resources).  To best carry out its mission, duties and responsibilities, the Interim Office will be an independent office within FEMA with direct alignment to the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA) Associate Administrator and the FEMA Administrator. 

“Floods are the most common disaster affecting communities in America,” said David Miller, Associate Administrator for the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration.  “Through the National Flood Insurance Program, FEMA is working hard to ensure that families are able to protect themselves from flood damage and accelerate efforts to recover should something happen. As someone who has worked tirelessly on behalf of policyholders for many years, I know Mr. Stearrett will fight each day to ensure that policyholders have the information they need to navigate the flood insurance process and ensure any concerns are addressed.”   

Until funding is available to establish the permanent office, a number of FEMA employees will be detailed to the Interim Office.  FEMA spent several months developing options to implement this new provision, and met with a number of Advocate and Ombudsman offices at other federal agencies and identified areas of greatest policyholder and property owner needs. These findings were leveraged to build the interim office.  

FEMA is designating an Acting Flood Insurance Advocate and an interim Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate as part of its commitment to immediately begin providing assistance to homeowners and policyholders.  At launch, the Acting Advocate and staff will focus on assisting the public as they navigate through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) processes by leveraging FEMA resources to address specific public inquiries or concerns. The Acting Advocate will also develop a long-term regional mapping outreach and education strategy to maximize support to the public. The Interim Flood Insurance Advocate office will operate with existing resources and further expansion is subject to future funding, as FEMA is operating under a Continuing Resolution. 

The Flood Insurance Advocate will be an independent office within FEMA and have direct access on an advisory basis to the FEMA Administrator. 

Initially, the public can reach the Acting Flood Insurance Advocate by email, at  insurance-advocate@fema.dhs.gov.  In the next month, the Flood Insurance Advocate will establish a phone number to receive inquiries from the public.  FEMA recommends that policyholders continue to also work with their insurance agents to resolve any questions or concerns that they have related to flood insurance, or contact Floodsmart at 1-888-379-9531. 

The NFIP is a Federal program created by Congress to mitigate future flood losses nationwide through sound, community-enforced building and zoning ordinances and to provide access to affordable, federally backed flood insurance protection for property owners. The NFIP is designed to provide a way for Americans to address the escalating costs of repairing damage to buildings and their contents caused by floods. 

Continued here:

FEMA Announces Launch of the Interim Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate

FEMA Flood Help Ending: Register by Sunday

WARREN, Mich. – Sunday is the final day to register for FEMA disaster assistance for Michigan residents affected by the August floods.

As the registration and application deadline nears more than 125,000 residents in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties have registered for assistance and more than $240 million in federal disaster assistance has been approved.

FEMA has approved nearly $139 million in grants, while the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved more than $101 million in low-interest loans.

Eligible residents who register and receive an SBA low-interest disaster loan application should return the application by the Dec. 15 deadline. SBA applicants are not obligated to accept a loan; however, completing it may lead to additional FEMA assistance. Survivors are encouraged to consider all sources of aid.

Survivors who have delayed registration for any reason should apply for potential assistance that could include:

  • Housing Assistance offers temporary rental assistance and home repair grants to eligible survivors. FEMA’s ultimate goal is to ensure survivors’ dwellings are safe, sanitary and functional.
  • Other Needs Assistance is available for disaster related costs associated with personal property, transportation, moving and storage, or other necessary expenses.

FEMA disaster grants may be available for cleaning and testing a flood-damaged furnace for repairs or for replacement if the furnace is destroyed. With winter fast approaching Michiganders should make sure their home-heating systems are in good working order.

Individuals can register for help online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. They may also call the FEMA helpline 800-621-3362 (Voice, 7-1-1/Relay) or (TTY) 800-462-7585. The helpline is available 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT, seven days a week.

To apply for a low-interest SBA disaster loan, go to https://DisasterLoan.SBA.gov/ELA.

For assistance, call the SBA Disaster Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955,

TTY users call 800-877-8339 or send an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

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

English: http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4195
Spanish: http://www.fema.gov/es/disaster/4195
 

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FEMA Flood Help Ending: Register by Sunday

Michigan’s Disaster Assistance Tops $215 Million; Registration Deadline Nears

WARREN, MICH. – The Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) report more than 122,000 southeast Michigan residents affected by the August floods have registered for assistance and nearly $216 million in federal disaster assistance has been approved. Survivors are strongly encouraged to register for FEMA assistance by the Dec. 14 deadline.           

FEMA has approved $131 million in grants, while the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $84.9 million in low-interest loans. Applications must be received by the December date to be considered for assistance from FEMA and the SBA; however, disaster funds will continue to flow beyond that date.

Storm-affected homeowners and renters in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties may be eligible for federal grants to help cover various disaster-related expenses including essential home repairs, personal property losses and other disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

Homeowners are eligible to apply for SBA low-interest loans up to $200,000 to repair or replace disaster damaged primary homes.

  • Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for loans up to $40,000 for replacement of personal property including automobiles.
  • Businesses and private nonprofits are eligible to apply for up to $2 million to repair or replace storm-damaged property.
  • Small businesses and private nonprofits are eligible to apply for working capital loans.

The SBA loan application deadline is Dec. 15, 2014

Residents can register for Individual Assistance or check the status of their registrations online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone at m.fema.gov, or by calling 800-621-3362 or

TTY users 800-462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 800-621-3362. FEMA phone lines operate from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.

Survivors who have questions regarding the registration process, the status of their application and available disaster assistance programs are encouraged to visit a Business Recovery Center or recovery support site, or contact FEMA at 800-621-3362.

Recovery Center locator is available online at www.FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

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

English: http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4195
Spanish: http://www.fema.gov/es/disaster/4195
 

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Michigan’s Disaster Assistance Tops $215 Million; Registration Deadline Nears

FEMA Announces Second Meeting of the Technical Mapping Advisory Council

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced the second public meeting of the Technical Mapping Advisory Council (TMAC), scheduled for December 4 – 5, 2014, in Arlington, Virginia. The public meeting will be held at the FEMA South Arlington Office on December 4 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and December 5 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (EST) located at 1800 South Bell Street, Arlington, Virginia 20598.

Authorized under the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 and Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014, the TMAC was established to review and make recommendations to FEMA on matters related to the national flood mapping program. The TMAC is tasked with developing recommendations for FEMA’s flood mapping program to ensure that flood insurance rate maps reflect the best available science and are based on the best available methodologies for considering the impact of climate change and future development on flood risk.  They will also be required to produce a Review of the Mapping Program Report; a Future Conditions Risk Assessment and Modeling Report; and an Annual Report on Activities to include recommendations. 

During the public meeting, members will continue to discuss current and future possibilities for the flood mapping program to support the development of their recommendations and required reports. In addition, TMAC members will receive briefs from FEMA officials on the current mapping program and related activities and receive presentations from invited subject matter experts addressing the overall production of mapping components, future conditions, and examples of next generation mapping.

TMAC members will also discuss current and future possibilities for map development by considering how mapping data is acquired, maintained, and distributed; how maps are produced; how risk is accessed and communicated; how maps of risk are translated into insurance ratings; federal agency coordination and delegation of responsibility; and identify opportunities to emphasize mitigation throughout the process.

A public comment period will also be held on December 4 from 11:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. EST and on December 5 from 9:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. EST. Comments should be specifically related to and addressed to the TMAC. Those interested in speaking during the public comment period must contact FEMA by email at FEMA-TMAC@fema.dhs.gov or by calling 202-646-3432 to register as a speaker by November 25, 2014. Those not attending and who wish to submit written comments on issues to be considered by the TMAC can do so via one of the following methods:

  • Federal eRulemaking Portal:  http://www.regulations.gov.  Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
  • E-mail:  Address the email to FEMA-RULES@fema.dhs.gov and cc: fema-tmac@fema.dhs.gov.  Include the docket number FEMA-2014-0022 in the subject line of the message. Include name and contact detail in the body of the email.
  • Mail:  Regulatory Affairs Division, Office of Chief Counsel, FEMA, 500 C Street SW., Room 8NE, Washington, DC 20472-3100. 

All submissions received must include the words “Federal Emergency Management Agency” and docket number, FEMA-2014-0022. Comments received will be posted without alteration at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. 

For those planning to attend in person and for additional information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact FEMA at FEMA-TMAC@fema.dhs.gov. Attendees must contact FEMA and register by December 2, 2014 to receive important information on the meeting location.

FEMA is excited to be a part of the TMAC and is looking forward to the expertise and recommendations they will provide. For more information on the TMAC meeting, visit http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-11-19/pdf/2014-27396.pdf or www.fema.gov/TMAC.

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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.

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.

Excerpt from: 

FEMA Announces Second Meeting of the Technical Mapping Advisory Council

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