Call FEMA Hotline to Report Suspicions of Fraud

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Disasters frequently bring out the best in people but sometimes the worst. When fraud occurs, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a responsibility to take action.

People who intentionally defraud the federal government are taking money away from those who truly need disaster assistance. FEMA must ensure that taxpayer dollars go only to people who incurred legitimate losses. This may include prosecuting anyone who makes a fraudulent claim.

Most cases where possible fraud is detected are not deliberate attempts to defraud the government. FEMA recommends survivors receiving disaster assistance awards to keep receipts for at least three years that document how the funds were used.

Anyone with information about individuals who may have defrauded the government in connection with the 2013 spring floods should call the FEMA fraud hotline at 800-323-8603 or email DHSOIGHOTLINE@DHS.GOV. This can include information on contractors, inspectors, disaster survivors or anyone posing as any of these. Complaints also can be made via the FEMA disaster assistance helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585) or with state or local law enforcement officials or consumer agencies.

Survivors who feel they have made a mistake in reporting damages or losses should call the FEMA disaster assistance helpline at 800-621-3362.

FEMA’s Office of Inspector General routinely audits individuals, local governments and nonprofit organizations that receive FEMA disaster assistance funds. The audits are independent assessments to determine whether recipients spent the funds according to federal regulations and FEMA guidelines. Auditors look at expenditures on ineligible items or instances of duplicate payments from insurance companies or other sources.

Link: 

Call FEMA Hotline to Report Suspicions of Fraud

Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station Exercise And Public Meeting Postponed Until Further Notice

Kansas City, Mo. –The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region VII office announced today the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station public meeting and emergency response exercise, scheduled to take place this week near Fort Calhoun, Nebraska has been postponed until further notice. High wind speeds reaching approximately 90 mph were reported during a severe thunderstorm this morning, and power was lost. The power has since been restored and there are no safety concerns.

The states of Nebraska and Iowa along with Washington County in Nebraska and Pottawattamie and Harrison Counties in Iowa will work with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), FEMA and the Omaha Public Power District to reschedule the exercise for a future date to be determined.

The exercise is a biennial requirement to determine the adequacy of the state and local radiological emergency preparedness and response plans. It tests the abilities of the state, the utility company, and participating counties to protect the health and safety of the public living and working in the vicinity of the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station.

The exercise requires the activation of emergency facilities operated by state, county and local units of government, all of which generating response activities that are evaluated by the FEMA Region VII Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program. Concurrently, the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station on-site performance is evaluated by officials from the NRC.

Members of the public and the media will be informed when the exercise and the public meeting outlining the full-scale response exercise process, has been rescheduled.  

For more information about FEMA’s REP Program, visit http://www.fema.gov/radiological-emergency-preparedness-program.

Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Find regional updates from FEMA Region VII at www.twitter.com/femaregion7. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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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Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station Exercise And Public Meeting Postponed Until Further Notice

Disaster Preparedness Costs Little, Saves A Lot

LINCROFT, N.J. — Just as every home should have a smoke alarm, every home should have an emergency supply kit packed and ready. Being prepared doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.

“Although federal, state and local governments are ready to assist the public during times of emergencies and disasters, you should be prepared to take care of yourself and members of your family for the first 72 hours – that’s three days – following a disaster such as a hurricane, severe winter storm or an ice storm,” said Gracia Szczech, FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer for New Jersey. “A big part of disaster preparation is knowledge and FEMA has developed a comprehensive guide to help folks prepare.”

FEMA’s disaster preparedness website, www.ready.gov is a destination site for information about getting your family prepared for a disaster.

Commercially available disaster kits can range from $75 to $300 and up, but most of the pieces of a disaster kit are already in the home and just need to be gathered together and stored in one place.

An emergency preparedness kit needs to include food and a minimum of one gallon of water for each member of the family, including pets, per day for three days, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlight, spare batteries, first aid kit, non-electric can opener, local maps and personal sanitation items such as hand sanitizer, moist towelettes, toilet paper, garbage bags and plastic ties.

Your kit should include important family papers such as wills or property deeds and personal identification and any prescription medicines a family member may be taking.

Other items to consider include sleeping bags or blankets, paper towels, books, puzzles and games for children, food and medications for family pets.

It’s helpful to have cash in case banks are closed and there is no power for ATMs.

Remember, many shelters will not accept pets, so make sure you have a plan that protects all your family members.

The emergency supplies can be stored in an easy-to-carry plastic storage container or sports bag, making them easy to grab and go when an emergency forces people to leave their homes.

Experts agree being displaced during and after a disaster is especially difficult for children and the elderly.  

The loss of familiar surroundings, schools, favorite toys and pets all contribute to the sense of loss.  Including a few favorite toys or stuffed animals in the kit can help with this, but parents should be alert for behavior changes which can be an indication of stress.

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.

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Disaster Preparedness Costs Little, Saves A Lot

Floods Happen: Protect Your Home & Family

Tropical Storm Irene, Hurricane Sandy, and severe snow and rain storms in New England illustrate our region’s vulnerability to damage at the hands of nature. While New England’s states, cities and towns work to rebuild and clean up after these events, we urge you to prepare your home and family for future storms, and to practice smart risk management. Anticipating disasters while putting plans and insurance in place can help you protect homes, businesses, and finances, and recover more quickly.

Sandy survivors know all too well that one damaging storm can wipe out a home’s history of durability, and cause flooding in areas that seemed safe from harm. Flooding is a major risk for both coastal and inland communities in New England, and many residents need to have flood insurance – an important piece of risk management and preparedness.

Last year Congress passed the Biggert Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 with the goals of making the National Flood Insurance Program more financially stable, and more accurately identifying flood risks. This reform means rate increases for many policyholders living both inland and on the coast.  Now is the time to find out how this law impacts you:

  • You may be required to purchase flood insurance, even if you weren’t required to in the past. Floodplain maps which are used to determine flood risks are being revised with the use of better science and technology, and structures which were not formerly in the high hazard flood  areas might now be in harm’s way based on the new mapping data.
  • Flood insurance rates are increasing annually for older buildings in the high hazard floodplain zones. Find out if this will affect you and your property.

To find out how these changes will affect you, start by taking these steps:

  • Contact your local town government to determine if you’re in the floodplain:
  • Find out if you or your community are eligible for federal grants to help pay for elevating or modifying your home
  • Contact your insurance agent to learn about options for protecting your home and family:
  • Ask about premium quotes and Elevation Certificates, and consider the annual premium savings that elevating or modifying your home may provide.
  • Find out how your community can save you some of the cost of flood insurance – learn more about the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System here.

For more information about recent changes to the National Flood Insurance Program, and how those changes may affect you, click here. To find out more about risk management visit ready.gov.

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

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Floods Happen: Protect Your Home & Family

Fema Inspectors Continue To Help Recovery In New Jersey

TRENTON, N.J. — As New Jersey continues recovery from Sandy inspectors from many different program areas of the Federal Emergency Management Agency are working in the Garden State.

FEMA inspectors may be:

  • verifying damage to homes
  • working with the National Flood Insurance Program to estimate substantially damaged structures in hard-hit areas.

Many but not all FEMA inspectors will be wearing FEMA clothing however, all FEMA inspectors will carry official FEMA identification.

The arrival of an inspector from FEMA means the damage to a home will be identified and recorded.

Identifying damage is an important step in determining both the amount and the types of assistance FEMA may provide.

In addition to FEMA inspectors, other government agencies, such as Housing and Urban Development or the SBA, may also have inspectors working in communities across the state.

FEMA inspectors never charge a fee to inspect damage.

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: 

Fema Inspectors Continue To Help Recovery In New Jersey

Illinois Continues to Make Strides in Reducing Flood Risks

AURORA, Ill.  – Flooding accounts for more than 90 percent of declared disasters in Illinois. And, it is no wonder – Illinois has one of the largest inland systems of rivers, lakes and streams in the United States with nearly 15 percent of its total land area flood prone.

To protect its residents, most counties and communities have adopted and enforce floodplain management ordinances that prevent new development from increasing flood heights and take actions that reduce the risk of future flooding. 

“In Illinois, 82 counties and 770 communities have adopted floodplain ordinances,” said W. Michael Moore, FEMA federal coordinating officer, who along with state officials, is assisting in the recovery effort from the most recent disaster that occurred this spring affecting 47 counties in the state.

“While much of the attention for flood insurance is focused on Gulf and Atlantic coast states, state officials here have made a tremendous effort and we applaud them. But, more needs to be done to help residents understand the risks they face.”

Floods are an inevitable force of nature. But development in those vulnerable areas that doesn’t take into account the potential for floods is a prescription for property damage and even loss of life.

To aid local communities, FEMA and state officials periodically identify areas vulnerable to flooding. Maps are reviewed by local officials and residents.

When vulnerable areas are first identified, local governments must take action by adopting floodplain ordinances within one year. They must also enforce the regulations that set standards for building or repairing structures in the floodplain.

In exchange, communities become eligible to join the National Flood Insurance Program, which enables home and business owners as well as renters to purchase flood insurance. To date, more than 3,500 NFIP flood insurance claims have been filed for the April 16 to May 5 flooding event.

Residents also are eligible for disaster aid, which so far amounts to $129.8 million, and communities are eligible for mitigation grants.

Communities that develop more stringent floodplain ordinances can become eligible for discounted flood insurance premiums. Forty-five Illinois communities are eligible for these reduced rates.

Communities where the floodplains have been mapped but take no action, failed to comply with their floodplain ordinances or dropped out of the program are called sanctioned. In addition to being ineligible for flood insurance and certain federal grants or loans, other consequences will apply.

Federal mortgage insurance or guarantees for loans from, for example, the Federal Housing Administration and the Department of Veteran affairs may not be provided in identified flood hazard areas. Also, banks, credit unions and other federally-insured financial institutions may refrain from making home loans for similarly situated houses in sanctioned communities.

Sanctioned communities can be reinstated – the first step is to adopt the floodplain ordinance.

The state of Illinois estimates that more than 250,000 structures are located in floodplain areas. Since 1993, nearly half of these structures have been mitigated, saving taxpayers millions of dollars every year. FEMA and the state are dedicated to continue these efforts that will save lives and property.

To find out more about the National Flood Insurance Program go to www.floodsmart.gov.

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

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.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

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Illinois Continues to Make Strides in Reducing Flood Risks

Federal disaster declared for spring 2013 floods – Federal Public and Individual Assistance activated for flood-affected Alaskans

On Tuesday, June 25, President Obama approved Alaska Governor Sean Parnell’s request for Federal Assistance in the disaster affected areas of the Alaska Gateway, Yukon Flats, Yukon Koyukuk, and Lower Yukon Regional Attendance Areas, with Copper River Regional attendance area for Public Assistance only. The Federal Disaster Declaration makes federal funds and resources available to support the recovery of these areas affected by the 2013 Spring Floods.

The Federal Assistance programs offer help to individuals and families affected by the disaster, as well as funds to assist the state, tribal, and affected local governments with infrastructure damages and costs incurred during the response and recovery from the floods.

Based on eligibility, Individual Assistance includes many different programs to help individuals and families affected by the floods including:

  • Temporary housing.
  • Grants to repair or replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs.  
  • Unemployment assistance benefits.
  • Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. 
  • Loans for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations.
  • Loans for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence. 
  • Other relief programs: Crisis counseling assistance for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans’ benefits and social security matters.

Those in the area designated for assistance to affected individuals and business owners can begin the disaster application process by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov.  Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.

FEMA is working to set up a Joint Field Office (JFO) in conjunction with the State of Alaska Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (DHS&EM) to begin recovery efforts for the communities. More information at: www.DisasterAssistance.gov and ready/alaska.gov

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

Link:  

Federal disaster declared for spring 2013 floods – Federal Public and Individual Assistance activated for flood-affected Alaskans

FEMA Announces New, Returning Members to National Youth Preparedness Council

OAKLAND, Calif. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced newly selected members and distinguished returning Council members of the FEMA National Youth Preparedness Council (YPC). The Council supports FEMA’s emphasis on and dedication to involving the “Whole Community” in preparedness planning and activities.

FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council was formed last year to bring together youth leaders from across the country that are highly interested and engaged in advocating youth preparedness and to making a difference in their communities. The Council supports FEMA’s commitment to involving youth in preparedness-related activities, and provides an avenue to engage young people, taking into account their perspectives, feedback and opinions. Council members will attend a Youth Preparedness Council Summit on youth disaster preparedness and will also complete a Council project with FEMA support.

In its second year, interest in the Youth Preparedness Council has increased based on the number of applications received this year for the five seats available. The five newest members of the Council from across the country have been selected based on their dedication to public service, efforts in making a difference in their community, and their potential to expand their impact as national advocates for youth preparedness.

The returning Council members from FEMA Region IX are as follows:

•   FEMA Region IX: Divya Saini (California)

•   FEMA Region IX: Tiffany Espensen (California)

•   FEMA Region IX: Christian Chowen (Hawaii)

Over the past year, the Youth Preparedness Council members have been promoting preparedness in their communities and across the nation. Several members achieved noteworthy results, including:

 • Tiffany Espensen (California), is a 14-year old Teen CERT graduate from one of the first classes held by Julian/Cuyamaca CERT organization where she participated in numerous drills and classes and helps teach skills to other youth and promoting CERT in interviews. She currently starts on Nickelodeon’s “Bucket and Skinner” show. Tiffany developed “Tiffy’s Tip Tuesday” in which she relays disaster preparedness tips via her Twitter account and has more than 17,000 Twitter followers and almost 1,000 Facebook likes on her fan page, helping her spread the word through social media.

 • Divya Saini (California) participates in the block Preparedness Coordinator Program and volunteers at local emergency preparedness events to encourage preparedness. She is the founder of Movers and Shakers, a teen club designed to keep Palo Alto resilient. Divya was recently recognized with a grant from Palo Alto High School Board to further her efforts in helping teens be prepared. Recently, Divya was awarded the “Disney Friends for Change” grant for her Block Preparedness Coordinator work, and has authored and published three articles about preparedness in the Palo Alto Weekly Newspaper.

These young people have proven to be positive influencers, leaders, and first responders for their families, peers, and neighbors in taking the preparedness message to heart and to home. The Youth Preparedness Council will continue to provide a venue to engage an often overlooked population and take into account their perspectives, feedback, and opinions.

 This year, Council members will have the opportunity to participate in a community preparedness roundtable event in Washington D.C., where they will advise and ask questions on youth disaster preparedness with the leadership of national organizations working on this critical priority. Council members will also determine their Council project and meet with FEMA Community Preparedness staff, who will be their ongoing FEMA support contacts and mentors. Members will also meet virtually with FEMA leadership on a regular basis throughout the year and will provide ongoing input on strategies and initiatives as well as updates on their projects.

To learn more about FEMA’s youth preparedness efforts please visit: www.ready.gov/youth-preparedness.

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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.

Excerpt from – 

FEMA Announces New, Returning Members to National Youth Preparedness Council

Two Regional Youth Leaders Participating in FEMA’s National Youth Preparedness Council

KANSAS CITY, Mo – Today the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency announced five newly selected members, including Emily Rosenblum of Wentzille, Mo., have joined FEMA’s National Youth Preparedness Council (YPC). Also from our region and joining the council for a second year, is Nimansha Jain of Omaha, Neb. As council members, these young ladies support FEMA’s emphasis on and dedication to involving the whole community in disaster-preparedness related activities.  

“We’re very excited to have two young leaders from our region on the council. In addition to harnessing their ideas to improve how FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards today, the council grows leaders who will be amongst future stewards of our communities and country,” said Region VII Administrator Beth Freeman. “These young people will learn, share and influence their families and friends to make America more disaster resilient.”

FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council was formed last year to bring together youth leaders from across the country that are highly interested and engaged in advocating youth preparedness and making a difference in their communities. The Council supports FEMA’s commitment to involving youth in preparedness-related activities, and provides an avenue to engage youth population, taking into account their perspectives, feedback and opinions. Council members will attend a Youth Preparedness Council Summit on youth disaster preparedness and will also complete a Council project with FEMA support.

Young people are capable of playing an important role in emergency preparedness, and have the unique potential to help their communities be safe, stronger and more resilient before, during and after a disaster. Youth involved in preparedness programs are able to effectively spread important messages about preparedness to their family, school and community. By participating in youth preparedness programs, young individuals are empowered to become leaders at home, in their schools and communities.

In its second year, interest in the Youth Preparedness Council has increased based on the number of applications received this year for the five seats available. The five newest members of the Council from across the country have been selected based on their dedication to public service, efforts in making a difference in their community, and their potential to expand their impact as a national advocate for youth preparedness.

The distinguished members selected in 2013 are as follows:

• FEMA Region II: Sophie Friedfeld-Gebaide (New York)

• FEMA Region III: Alex Pasculle (Pennsylvania)

• FEMA Region IV: Louyankkah Justilien (Florida)

• FEMA Region V: Daniel Wernsman (Wisconsin)

• FEMA Region VII: Emily Rosenblum (Missouri) ** See biography below
 

The returning Council members are as follows:

• FEMA Region I: Rachel Little (Massachusetts)

• FEMA Region II: Gabriela Rodriguez Boria (Puerto Rico)

• FEMA Region V: Jason Reed (Indiana)

• FEMA Region VI: Jonathan DeLong (Texas)

• FEMA Region VII: Nimansha Jain (Nebraska) ** See biography below

• FEMA Region VIII: Ashley Houston (Utah)

• FEMA Region IX: Divya Saini (California)

• FEMA Region IX: Tiffany Espensen (California)

• FEMA Region IX: Christian Chowen (Hawaii)

• FEMA Region X: Cayman Kirkhart (Idaho)

Over the past year, the Youth Preparedness Council members have been promoting preparedness in their communities and across the nation. Several members achieved noteworthy results, including:

• Rachel Little (Region I) authored a FEMA blog post about the importance of preparing for severe weather.

• Gabriela Boria (Region II) developed a preparedness group called REACT that holds “Preparedness Days” and started a Teen CERT program at her school.

• Ashley Houston (Region VIII) was requested to speak about youth preparedness on a panel at the 2013 Institute of Medicine Workshop (to be held in June 2013).

• Divya Saini (Region IX) was awarded the “Disney Friends for Change” grant for her Block Preparedness Coordinator work, and has authored and published three articles about preparedness in the Palo Alto Weekly Newspaper.

• Tiffany Espensen (Region IX) developed “Tiffy’s Tip Tuesday” in which she relays disaster preparedness tips via her Twitter account, which currently has 16,880 followers.

This summer council members will have the opportunity to participate in the Youth Preparedness Council Summit in Washington, D.C. During the summit they will ask questions of and make recommendations to organizations working on this critical priority—disaster resiliency. Council members will also choose a Council project and meet with FEMA Community Preparedness staff, who will be their ongoing support contacts and mentors. Members will also meet virtually with FEMA leadership on a regular basis throughout the year and will provide ongoing input on strategies and initiatives as well as updates about their projects.

To learn more about FEMA’s youth preparedness efforts please visit: www.ready.gov/youth-preparedness.

Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Find regional updates from FEMA Region VII at www.twitter.com/femaregion7. 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 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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Emily Rosenblum of Wentzville, MO                      

Emily Rosenblum’s passion and dedication to emergency preparedness is demonstrated through her involvement with CERT and other community groups. As a Teen CERT instructor assistant, Emily participates in numerous countrywide disaster exercises, is an active Teen CERT spokesperson and continues to advocate disaster preparedness at her high school. Emily always considers those with learning disabilities and access and functional needs when making decisions during disaster response exercises. She has also volunteered hundreds of hours to helping the Boy Scouts of America with merit badges and award requirements, in addition to the Sam “Ready I Am” program that educates youth about natural disaster hazards.

 

Nimansha Jain of Omaha, NE                                  

Nimansha is a member of the Ralston Fire Explorer’s Unit, which provides training for fire and medical emergency preparedness and is certified in CPR. She has been elected to the University of Nebraska Medical Center Student Advisory Group, which works with high school students to promote public health and preparedness messages through monthly community sessions to almost 100 teens. Because some teens could not attend every session, Nimansha started to use social media to help share information from the sessions and get the word out on various volunteer opportunities for youth.

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Two Regional Youth Leaders Participating in FEMA’s National Youth Preparedness Council

Disaster Assistance May be Available for HVAC Systems

AURORA, Ill. – The summer cooling season has arrived in Illinois and those in areas affected by the April 16 to May 5 storms may be eligible for repair or replacement of heating, ventilation and cooling systems (HVAC) if they were damaged or destroyed by flooding and were not covered by insurance.

“FEMA’s mission includes ensuring that all homes affected by the flooding are habitable,” said W. Michael Moore, federal coordinating officer for the disaster. “In order for homes to be habitable, furnaces and central air conditioning systems must be in good working order.”

Federal disaster assistance may cover the cleaning and testing of a flood-damaged HVAC system and replacement if the unit was destroyed because of storms during the incident period. To be considered, Illinois residents must first register for assistance from FEMA by the Tuesday, July 9 deadline.

Those who discover their HVAC system needs repair or replacement after they already received a FEMA grant for this disaster that did not include money to repair their HVAC system can file an appeal for additional disaster funds. However, the appeal must be made within 60 days of the date of the original grant or determination letter.

When filing an appeal, survivors must submit a letter requesting additional funds and a verifiable estimate or an itemized receipt by a contractor that states that the estimate or actual cost paid is not an upgrade, that the repair was necessary to make the home habitable and is disaster related.

Applicants may be eligible for costs related to the repair or replacement of the furnaces, including the cost for labor. If the furnace is located on the ground-level floor or basement, FEMA encourages the applicant to elevate the unit.

Low interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also cover repairs to HVAC systems.  Disaster survivors with insurance should not wait for an insurance settlement before applying to the SBA.  If survivors do not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, the SBA will consider making a loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay their SBA loan.

It is important that anyone receiving an SBA disaster loan application complete and return it. Returning the application does not obligate you to accept an SBA loan; however, it is a necessary step to be considered for other additional forms of federal disaster assistance.

It is not necessary to visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) to register with FEMA. Individuals can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. For more information visit the Illinois Disaster website www.fema.gov/disaster/4116.

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

The deadline to register for FEMA disaster assistance is Tuesday, July 9.

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.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

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Disaster Assistance May be Available for HVAC Systems

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