WASHINGTON—Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate today reached out to the governors of Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and the mayors of New York and Washington, D.C., to make sure the governors’ and mayors’ teams had the support they need as they continue to prepare for Hurricane Sandy.

“At the direction of the President, DHS and FEMA continue to work closely with our state and local partners to identify and address needs early as communities prepare for this storm,” said Secretary Napolitano. “FEMA and other federal partners are already sending teams and resources into potentially impacted areas to support state and local preparedness efforts, and Administrator Fugate and I continue to urge those along the East Coast to closely monitor the progress of Hurricane Sandy and continue to follow the guidance and direction of their state and local officials.”

Earlier today, President Obama convened a call with Secretary Napolitano, Administrator Fugate, National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Rick Knabb, and Homeland Security Advisor John Brennan to receive an update on ongoing federal actions to prepare for Hurricane Sandy as it moves toward the United States mainland. The President reiterated his direction to Administrator Fugate to ensure that federal partners continue to bring all available resources to bear to support state and local responders in potentially affected areas along the Eastern seaboard as they prepare for severe weather.

Residents in potentially impacted states are encouraged to listen to the directions of state and local officials and have an emergency plan, including local evacuation routes, places to evacuate or seek shelter, family contact information and important paperwork. For more information, visit Ready.gov (Listo.gov para español) for tips on creating a family emergency plan, getting an emergency kit and taking other steps to prepare.

For more information, visit www.ready.gov.

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Readout of Secretary Napolitano and FEMA Administrator Fugate’s Calls to Governors and Mayors as Preparations for Hurricane Sandy Continue

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has obligated nearly $1.3 million to the Louisiana Department of Public Safety to help cover some of its costs for responding to the emergency needs of Louisianians before, during and after Hurricane Isaac.

“This Public Assistance grant demonstrates FEMA’s efforts to help communities get back to normal following Hurricane Isaac,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar of FEMA. 

FEMA reimbursed the Louisiana Department of Public Safety $1,295,319 to pay for overtime expenses associated with patrolling the roadways, working food stamp distribution centers, staffing call centers and traffic control centers, and performing other emergency protective support functions.

The obligated funds are a portion of the nearly $46.7 million in total Public Assistance disaster funds obligated to the state so far as a result of Hurricane Isaac.

Supplementary funding under the PA program goes to the state and its agencies, local governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations. Under the program, FEMA obligates funds to the state for 75 percent of eligible costs, while the applicant covers the remaining 25 percent. The state forwards the federal funds to the eligible local governments or organizations that incurred costs.

In all, current federal disaster declaration designates a total of 55 parishes as eligible to apply for some level of FEMA Public Assistance.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow FEMA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

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FEMA Awards Nearly $1.3 Million to Louisiana Department of Public Safety

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through our regional offices in Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston, continues to closely monitor Hurricane Sandy located in the eastern Caribbean Sea about 85 miles south-southeast of the central Bahamas with maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour, and remains in close coordination with state emergency management partners in Florida and the potentially affected southeast, Mid-Atlantic and New England states. 

With hurricane season lasting through November 30, FEMA stands prepared and ready to support state, local, tribal and territorial partners in responding to storms. The agency has a federal coordinating officer and staff that are currently in Florida working previously declared disasters.  They continue to work closely with the state on recovery operations.

Regional Administrators and other senior officials in FEMA’s regional offices along the East Coast have been in contact with their state counterparts in order to ensure coordination for any emergency response. FEMA Incident Management Assistance Teams are on alert for potential deployment to states in order to help with coordination, should emergency response assistance be needed or requested. At all times, FEMA maintains commodities, including millions of liters of water, millions of meals and hundreds of thousands of blankets, strategically located at distribution centers throughout the United States and its territories, including Atlanta, Ga. and Frederick, Md., if needed and requested.

“As Hurricane Sandy proceeds closer toward southeast Florida, residents should listen to local officials for updates and follow their instructions,” urged FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.  “As the storm moves northward, it serves as a reminder that we all need to be prepared for severe weather.  Now is the time to update your family communication plans, check your supplies, and stay informed.  A hurricane isn’t a point on a map – it’s a big storm and its impact will be felt far from the center. FEMA is in contact with states and tribal governments and stands ready to support their preparedness efforts.”

According to NOAA’s National Weather Service, Sandy is now a Category 2 hurricane expected to produce storm conditions along the east coast of Florida tonight and Friday.  Also, rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are possible across the Florida Keys into southeast and east-central Florida.  Tropical Storm watches and warnings issued by the National Weather Service remain in effect in southeast Florida.  Tropical Storm warnings are in effect for Florida east coast from Ocean Reef to Flagler Beach and Lake Okeechobee.  A Tropical Storm watch is in effect for the Florida east coast from  north of Flagler Beach to Fernandina Beach; for  the Florida Upper Keys from Ocean Reef southward to Craig Key; and Florida Bay. 

 

FEMA urges residents in potentially impacted areas, including the Florida Keys, southern Florida peninsula to listen to NOAA Weather Radio and local news, monitor for severe weather updates and warnings, and follow instructions of local officials.  State and local officials make determinations and announcement about evacuations, and if local officials give the order to evacuate, leave immediately.  While the exact track of the storm is uncertain, according to the National Weather Service, storm conditions associated with Hurricane Sandy may impact additional states throughout the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast early next week.

While tropical storms are unpredictable, those in the possible path of the storm should be preparing. If you haven’t done so already, take the time now to put together a family emergency plan and emergency kit.  Some of the items in a basic emergency kit include: one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation; at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food; battery-powered radio and a NOAA Weather Radio; flashlight and extra batteries; and First Aid kit.  Having a kit can help you weather the storm.

Everyone should familiarize themselves with the terms that are used to identify a severe weather hazard.  A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours.  A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within 48 hours. 

We urge coastal and inland residents to be familiar with flood and flash flood terminology and safety tips:

  • Driving through a flooded area can be extremely hazardous. Almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. When in your car, look out for flooding in low lying areas, at bridges, and at highway dips. As little as six inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.  Remember – turn around, don’t drown.
  • Flood Watch: Flooding is possible. Tune in to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
  • Flood Warning: Flooding is occurring or will occur soon; if local officials give notice to evacuate, do so immediately.
  • Flash Flood Watch: Rapid rises on streams and rivers are possible. Be prepared to move to higher ground; listen to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
  • Flash Flood Warning: Rapid rises on streams and rivers are occurring; seek higher ground on foot immediately.

More information about what to do before, during and after a disaster can also be found visiting ready.gov and listo.gov.  FEMA Applications for mobile devices are also available visiting http://www.fema.gov/smartphone-app.  Sharing information using social media tools is also a good way for residents to stay informed.  Follow FEMA online at http://blog.fema.gov, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema

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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As Hurricane Sandy Nears Southeast Florida, FEMA Urges Residents to Prepare for Extreme Weather

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through our regional offices in Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston, continues to closely monitor Hurricane Sandy located in the eastern Caribbean Sea about 85 miles south-southeast of the central Bahamas with maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour, and remains in close coordination with state emergency management partners in Florida and the potentially affected southeast, Mid-Atlantic and New England states. 

With hurricane season lasting through November 30, FEMA stands prepared and ready to support state, local, tribal and territorial partners in responding to storms. The agency has a federal coordinating officer and staff that are currently in Florida working previously declared disasters.  They continue to work closely with the state on recovery operations.

Regional Administrators and other senior officials in FEMA’s regional offices along the East Coast have been in contact with their state counterparts in order to ensure coordination for any emergency response. FEMA Incident Management Assistance Teams are on alert for potential deployment to states in order to help with coordination, should emergency response assistance be needed or requested. At all times, FEMA maintains commodities, including millions of liters of water, millions of meals and hundreds of thousands of blankets, strategically located at distribution centers throughout the United States and its territories, including Atlanta, Ga. and Frederick, Md., if needed and requested.

“As Hurricane Sandy proceeds closer toward southeast Florida, residents should listen to local officials for updates and follow their instructions,” urged FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.  “As the storm moves northward, it serves as a reminder that we all need to be prepared for severe weather.  Now is the time to update your family communication plans, check your supplies, and stay informed.  A hurricane isn’t a point on a map – it’s a big storm and its impact will be felt far from the center. FEMA is in contact with states and tribal governments and stands ready to support their preparedness efforts.”

According to NOAA’s National Weather Service, Sandy is now a Category 2 hurricane expected to produce storm conditions along the east coast of Florida tonight and Friday.  Also, rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are possible across the Florida Keys into southeast and east-central Florida.  Tropical Storm watches and warnings issued by the National Weather Service remain in effect in southeast Florida.  Tropical Storm warnings are in effect for Florida east coast from Ocean Reef to Flagler Beach and Lake Okeechobee.  A Tropical Storm watch is in effect for the Florida east coast from  north of Flagler Beach to Fernandina Beach; for  the Florida Upper Keys from Ocean Reef southward to Craig Key; and Florida Bay. 

 

FEMA urges residents in potentially impacted areas, including the Florida Keys, southern Florida peninsula to listen to NOAA Weather Radio and local news, monitor for severe weather updates and warnings, and follow instructions of local officials.  State and local officials make determinations and announcement about evacuations, and if local officials give the order to evacuate, leave immediately.  While the exact track of the storm is uncertain, according to the National Weather Service, storm conditions associated with Hurricane Sandy may impact additional states throughout the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast early next week.

While tropical storms are unpredictable, those in the possible path of the storm should be preparing. If you haven’t done so already, take the time now to put together a family emergency plan and emergency kit.  Some of the items in a basic emergency kit include: one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation; at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food; battery-powered radio and a NOAA Weather Radio; flashlight and extra batteries; and First Aid kit.  Having a kit can help you weather the storm.

Everyone should familiarize themselves with the terms that are used to identify a severe weather hazard.  A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours.  A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within 48 hours. 

We urge coastal and inland residents to be familiar with flood and flash flood terminology and safety tips:

  • Driving through a flooded area can be extremely hazardous. Almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. When in your car, look out for flooding in low lying areas, at bridges, and at highway dips. As little as six inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.  Remember – turn around, don’t drown.
  • Flood Watch: Flooding is possible. Tune in to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
  • Flood Warning: Flooding is occurring or will occur soon; if local officials give notice to evacuate, do so immediately.
  • Flash Flood Watch: Rapid rises on streams and rivers are possible. Be prepared to move to higher ground; listen to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
  • Flash Flood Warning: Rapid rises on streams and rivers are occurring; seek higher ground on foot immediately.

More information about what to do before, during and after a disaster can also be found visiting ready.gov and listo.gov.  FEMA Applications for mobile devices are also available visiting http://www.fema.gov/smartphone-app.  Sharing information using social media tools is also a good way for residents to stay informed.  Follow FEMA online at http://blog.fema.gov, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema

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.

This article is from:  

As Hurricane Sandy Nears Southeast Florida, FEMA Urges Residents to Prepare for Extreme Weather

BATON ROUGE, La. — The State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center closing Saturday in St. Tammany Parish will convert to a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) on Monday, Oct. 22.

At the DLOC, SBA representatives will answer questions, explain the application process and help survivors apply for low-interest disaster loans.
FEMA Individual Assistance and Hazard Mitigation specialists will also be on hand at the DLOC to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to Hurricane Isaac survivors.

The DLOC will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday until further notice at:

Mandeville Public Works Department
1100 Mandeville High Blvd.
Mandeville, LA 70471

To be considered for state/federal disaster assistance, survivors should first register with FEMA, online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. They may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585.  Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

SBA provides federal low-interest disaster loans up to $200,000 to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate.  Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Businesses of any size and private, non-profit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.  SBA can also lend additional funds to homeowners and businesses to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

For small businesses and most private, nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster.  EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered property damage during the storm.

For SBA information or to apply online, visit www.sba.gov or call 1-800-659-2955. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call 1-800-877-8339.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, visit online at www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.
 

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Mandeville Disaster Recovery Center Transitions to SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center

OKLAHOMA CITY – Cleveland County residents impacted by the Aug. 3-14 wildfire have until Saturday to take advantage of the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at 15601 E. Etowah Road, Noble, OK 73068. The center is scheduled to close at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20.

More than 180 residents have visited the DRC to speak with representatives from the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and others.

Visiting the center is not required to be considered for assistance. Homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and certain nonprofit organizations can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov, via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov, or by calling FEMA’s toll-free numbers: 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Anyone using 711 Relay or Video Relay Services can call the same number: 1-800-621-3362. Specialists are available by phone from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time seven days a week.

To date, more than 175 Cleveland County residents registered for assistance and nearly $1.5 million in disaster assistance has been approved.

SBA representatives are also available at the center and will assist applicants with filling out their loan applications. SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofits for their uncompensated physical disaster losses (homes, personal property and business assets).  For small businesses and most private nonprofits, SBA disaster loans are available to cover working capital needs caused by the disaster, whether or not the business suffered physical damage.

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.

After registering with FEMA, homeowners, renters and businesses affected by the wildfire, can apply for an SBA disaster loan by going online to SBA’s secure site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela; calling 1-800-659-2955 or TTY 1-800-877-8339. For information on SBA disaster assistance, go to www.sba.gov.

For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click on www.fema.gov/disaster/4078 or www.oem.ok.gov. Information can also be accessed via smartphone at m.fema.gov or the FEMA app.

Follow the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook at twitter.com/okem and www.facebook.com/oklahomadepartmentofemergencymanagement. FEMA tweets about the Oklahoma disaster are at twitter.com/femaregion6. Additional FEMA online resources include blog.fema.gov, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.

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Saturday is the Last Day to Visit the Disaster Recovery Center in Noble

WASHINGTON – In less than two days, more than 13 million people nationwide are expected to participate in the Great ShakeOut earthquake drill.

“Earthquakes occur all year long across our country – in a lot of places you wouldn’t expect,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “For the Great ShakeOut, we’re asking everyone to take just a minute out of your day to drop, cover and hold on, and practice what you would do during an actual earthquake.”

Plan now to take part in the drill on Thursday, October 18 at 10:18 a.m., your local time. When an earthquake happens, you only have seconds to react. The best protective action is to “Drop, Cover and Hold On.”

  • DROP to the ground;
  • Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table; and
  • HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.

If it’s not possible to get to the floor to safely take cover, before the exercise, identify an inside corner of the room near your work station or the other locations you may be in, away from windows and objects that could fall on you.  The Earthquake Country Alliance advises getting as low as possible to the floor. People who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices should lock their wheels and remain seated until the shaking stops. Protect your head and neck with your arms, a pillow, a book, or whatever is available.

This year marks the first time that southeastern states and jurisdictions will participate in a regional Great Shakeout, just weeks after the one year anniversary of the 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Mineral, Virginia. Participating states nationwide include: Alaska, Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Guam, Idaho, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington.

ShakeOut participants are supported by the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC), FEMA and many other local, state, federal and volunteer partners.  In February 2012, CUSEC coordinated a similar drill across nine Central U.S. states.

To learn more about what to do before, during and after an earthquake, including information for seniors and those with disabilities, visit http://www.ready.gov/earthquakes

Earthquakes strike suddenly, without warning, and can have disastrous and far-reaching effects.  Earthquake hazards vary from region to region.  To learn more about reducing your risks during an earthquake visit http://www.fema.gov/quakesmart

There are many ways for individuals, households, businesses, schools, faith-based organizations, community groups, and others to participate in the ShakeOut.  Those interested in participating in the ShakeOut are encouraged to first register online at www.shakeout.org .  Once registered, participants will be listed with thousands of other participants, and receive information on how to participate in the drill. 

For details on U.S. earthquake information by state and territory, visit http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/

Follow FEMA online at http://blog.fema.gov, 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 .

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 Urges National Participation in Great Shakeout on October 18

BATON ROUGE, La. – As Louisianians continue to recover from Hurricane Isaac, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issues this reminder: Keeping contact information current is as important as registering for disaster assistance.

“We encourage all survivors to stay in touch with FEMA,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar of FEMA. “This is especially important for those eligible survivors in newly added parishes who have not received their FEMA assistance.”

Survivors who change their addresses, telephone numbers, or bank account or insurance information should update that information with FEMA. Outdated contact information could lead to missed correspondence or telephone calls. Without accurate banking information, eligible survivors could miss disaster assistance grants that are sent to accounts via direct deposit.

Survivors can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone at m.fema.gov. They may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow FEMA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.
 

Source – 

Updating Contact Information as Important as Registering with FEMA

OKLAHOMA CITY – As Cleveland County residents work to rebuild following the devastating Aug. 3-14 wildfire, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials are cautioning them about phony, unscrupulous building contractors and other scam artists that often take advantage of people following a disaster.

“In the wake of a disaster, it’s common to see the generous side of human nature. Unfortunately, there are also those people who may try to take advantage of victims during this stressful time,” said OEM Deputy Director and State Coordinating Officer Michelann Ooten.

“Disasters often bring out the best and worst in people,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer William J. Doran III. “We strongly recommend that those who are rebuilding their homes and lives take a few simple steps to make sure they’re dealing with a reputable person.”

The first and best defense is to know the most common post-disaster fraud practices:

Phony housing inspectors: If a home’s damage is visible from the street, the homeowner may be especially vulnerable to the phony housing inspector who claims to represent FEMA or the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
What to do to help protect yourself?

  • Ask to see the inspector’s identification badge. All federal employees and contractors carry official, laminated photo identification. A FEMA or SBA shirt or jacket is not proof of someone’s affiliation with the government.
  • Don’t give bank account numbers to an inspector claiming to be affiliated with the federal government. FEMA inspectors never require banking information.
  • Don’t believe anyone that says they are endorsed by FEMA. FEMA does not endorse specific contractors to fix homes or recommend repairs. FEMA contracts with inspectors to verify losses.

Fraudulent building contractors: Damage visible from the street also can bring out scam contractors who visit your home offering to begin work immediately, usually for an upfront payment. Most legitimate contractors will have more work than they can handle after a disaster and will provide you a written estimate for completion.
When you hire a contractor:

  • Use licensed local contractors backed by reliable references when possible. Get a written estimate from at least three contractors, including the cost of labor and materials, and read the fine print.
  • Demand that contractors carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation. If they don’t, you may be liable for accidents that occur on your property.
  • Note that the state of Oklahoma doesn’t license residential construction contractors, except in the electrical, mechanical and plumbing trades. But there are some special requirements for non-resident contractors.
  • To find out if an electrician, plumber or mechanical contractor is licensed in Oklahoma, call the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board at 1-405-521-6550 or toll-free at 1-877-484-4424 or check online at http://cibverify.ok.gov.

Bogus pleas for post-disaster donations: Understand that disaster aid solicitations may arrive by phone, email, letter or face-to-face visits.  You can ensure the solicitation is legitimate if you:

  • Ask for the charity’s exact name, street address, phone number, and web address, then phone the charity directly and confirm that the person asking for funds is an employee or volunteer.
  • Think before you give cash — instead, pay by check made out to the charity in case you must stop funds later.
  • Request a receipt with the charity’s name, street address, phone number and web address (if applicable). Legitimate nonprofit agencies routinely provide receipts for tax purposes.

Fake offers of state or federal aid:

  • If someone claiming to be from FEMA or the state visits, calls or emails asking for your Social Security number, bank account number or other sensitive information, be cautious. Don’t provide any personal information unless you made the initial call.
  • Do not trust any phone or in-person solicitor who promises to speed up the insurance, disaster assistance or building permit process.
  • Some scam artists may promise to provide a disaster grant in return for large cash deposits or advance payments in full.  Never agree to pay any amount of money for a disaster grant.

It is important to know that federal and state workers do not solicit or accept money. FEMA and SBA never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or help in filling out applications. If ever in doubt, do not give out personal information and report people claiming to be government workers to local police.

Provide your Social Security number and banking information only when registering for FEMA assistance; online at www.disasterassistance.gov; via a web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov; by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585; using 711-Relay or Video Relay
Services call 1-800-621-3362. FEMA phone lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT seven days a week; multilingual operators are available.

Register with the SBA online at its secure site:  https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela; call 1-800-659-2955 or TTY 1-800-877-8339; or visit the Noble Disaster Recovery Center.  For more information on SBA disaster assistance, go to www.sba.gov.

If you suspect someone is perpetrating fraud, call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at
1-866-720-5721. Complaints may also be made to local law enforcement agencies and to the Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General at 1-918-581-2885 or online at www.oag.state.ok.us.

Disaster survivors who have any questions can call FEMA’s toll-free helpline at 1-800-621-3362.

For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click on www.fema.gov/disaster/4078 or www.oem.ok.gov.

Follow OEM on Twitter and Facebook at twitter.com/okem and www.facebook.com/oklahomadepartmentofemergencymanagement.

FEMA tweets about the Oklahoma disaster are at twitter.com/femaregion6.
Additional FEMA online resources include blog.fema.gov, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.

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Cleveland County Residents Cautioned to Protect Themselves from Post-Disaster Scam Artists

BATON ROUGE, La – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), at the request of the state of Louisiana, has approved a third extension to the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program. The initiative allows eligible Hurricane Isaac survivors whose houses have been severely damaged or destroyed to stay in a hotel or motel for a limited time and have the cost of the room and taxes paid directly to the hotel by FEMA.

“We are aware that some survivors in hard-hit parishes are facing critical challenges to getting back into their homes,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall. “We are working in close coordination with our state and parish partners to arrive at thoughtful solutions to those challenges. Meanwhile, the TSA extension will offer eligible survivors some relief.”

The program, which began Sept. 3, now runs through Oct. 28, with checkout on Oct. 29. Meals, telephone calls and other incidental charges are not covered, and applicants are responsible for any lodging costs above the authorized allowance.  The program does not reimburse previously incurred hotel expenses.

FEMA continues to work in coordination with the state and local parishes to connect survivors in the program to recovery resources in their communities.

Home inspections do not have to be completed before an applicant can be considered for the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program. After a housing inspection is performed, applicants in the sheltering program may remain eligible for this third extension if their home is still unlivable, inaccessible or without power.

TSA is open to eligible applicants whose damaged dwellings are in St. John Parish or in designated zip codes in Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles. St. Helena, St. James, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne and Washington parishes.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow FEMA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

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FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program Extended Again in Louisiana

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