AUSTIN, Texas – Federal officials estimate more than $22.7 million in disaster assistance will help fund local governments’ recovery from the March 7-29 tornadoes and flooding.

The presidential declaration on March 19 made federal assistance available to 13 Texas counties including Erath, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hood, Jasper, Limestone, Marion, Newton, Orange, Parker, Shelby and Tyler

FEMA funds helping fuel the recovery in these counties include Public Assistance, an essential element of federal disaster response that benefits everyone—neighborhoods, cities and states, as well as certain private nonprofit organizations.

Public Assistance dollars help local governments:

  • clean up the community and repair roads and bridges;
  • put water systems and utilities back in order;
  • repair hospitals and emergency services;
  • rebuild libraries and replace damaged books;
  • rebuild schools and universities; and
  • restore damaged public parks for families to enjoy again.

FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides a minimum of 75 percent of the cost to repair or replace disaster-damaged infrastructure.

“Public Assistance grants support the work that helps an entire community recover,” said Federal Coordinating Officer William J. Doran III, who is in charge of FEMA’s operations in Texas. “These are federal tax dollars coming back to Texas to rebuild taxpayer-funded infrastructure.”

Public Assistance grant recipients can include:

  • state agencies;
  • local and county governments; and
  • private nonprofit organizations that own or operate facilities providing essential government services.

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the March storms at fema.gov/disaster/4266; or visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Follow us on Twitter @femaregion6.

Download fema.gov/mobile-app to locate open shelters and disaster recovery centers, receive severe weather alerts, safety tips and much more.

# # #

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.

 Download fema.gov/mobile-app to locate open shelters and disaster recovery centers, receive severe weather alerts, safety tips and much more.

Excerpt from – 

More Than $22.7 Million in Federal Disaster Aid to Help Texas Communities Recover from the March Storm

AUSTIN, TexasNearly $40 million in disaster assistance has been approved for individuals and families in Texas whose properties were damaged or destroyed in the March 7-29 tornadoes and flooding.

This includes more than $17 million in grants to help eligible survivors with home repairs and temporary rental costs and more than $2 million in grants for expenses related to personal property, transportation, medical, dental, funeral and moving costs.

The deadline to register for federal assistance was May 18.

In the 13 counties included in the March disaster declaration, 1,797 registrations were approved for assistance. Those counties are: Erath, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hood, Jasper, Limestone, Marion, Newton, Orange, Parker, Shelby and Tyler.

The nearly $40 million in federal assistance includes more than $18 million in low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration to businesses, homeowners and renters.

Texans who registered can update their registration information or check the status of their applications online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the March storms at fema.gov/disaster/4266; or visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Follow us on Twitter @femaregion6.

# # #

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.

 

Originally posted here:

Nearly $40 Million in Disaster Help Approved for Texas Survivors

AUSTIN, Texas – Texans who suffered damage or loss from the March tornadoes and flooding are running out of time to register with FEMA for federal disaster assistance.

Individuals who had disaster-related damage or losses living in the counties of Erath, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hood, Jasper, Limestone, Marion, Newton, Orange, Parker, Shelby and Tyler only have until Wednesday, May 18, to register for FEMA assistance.

Texans can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

Survivors should register even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims have been settled.

For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the March storms at fema.gov/disaster/4266; or visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Follow us on Twitter @femaregion6.

# # #

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.

See the original article here:  

Deadline to Seek Federal Aid for Texas March Floods is May 18

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — More than $18 million has been approved through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individuals and Households Program. The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $11 million through its low-interest disaster loan program.

The following numbers, compiled June 19, provide a snapshot of the Alabama/FEMA disaster recovery to date:

Funds approved

  • $15 million for Housing Assistance grants to help with recovery rental expenses and home repair costs.
  • $3.4 million for Other Needs Assistance to cover essential disaster-related needs, such as medical expenses and lost personal possessions.
  • $11 million approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest loans to eligible homeowners, renters or business owners.

Survivor Recovery

  • 14,035 damaged homes and property have been inspected (99 percent of requests).
  • 4,592 visits have been made to the 11 Disaster Recovery Centers located in designated counties. (All centers have closed; five have transitioned to Disaster Loan Outreach Centers, operated by the SBA.)
  • 9 counties designated for Individual Assistance.
  • 21 counties designated for Public Assistance.

 

FEMA works with many volunteer agencies and the private sector to speed the recovery effort. Those affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding need to register with FEMA for disaster assistance.

No matter the degree of loss or insurance status, survivors are urged to apply for help. They can use the following methods:

  • By phone, call 800-621-3362 (FEMA) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time. Operators are multilingual. TTY 800-462-7585.
  • By computer, go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
  • By smartphone or tablet, use m.fema.gov. 

County-by-County approved breakdown of Individual Assistance:

 

 

Approved Registrations

Housing Assistance

Other Needs Assistance

Baldwin

1,863

$7,009,138.94

$1,228,108.08

Blount

24

138,544.00

9,189.78

DeKalb

24

70,327.76

20,674.77

Etowah

55

423,654.46

52,307.04

Jefferson

407

1,047,685.38

185,538.87

Lee

52

262,661.60

54,150.10

Limestone

286

889,358.37

475,760.43

Mobile

3,668

4,904,206.19

1,364,776.16

Tuscaloosa

59

270,328.58

66,951.64

Total:

6,438

$15,015905.28

$3,457,456.87

 

Recovery officials urge all Alabama residents who have registered for assistance to stay in close contact with FEMA throughout the recovery process. This is especially true during the first weeks after registering when FEMA housing inspectors must contact applicants to view damages. Those with mobile phones should provide that number to FEMA during the registration.

Affected survivors and business owners in the nine designated counties may apply for assistance from FEMA and/or the SBA. Those counties are: Baldwin, Blount, DeKalb, Etowah, Jefferson, Lee, Limestone, Mobile and Tuscaloosa.                                                

Disaster Loan Outreach Centers, operated by the SBA to assist survivors with questions about federal loans, are located in Baldwin, Jefferson, Limestone and Mobile counties. The locations are:

  • Elberta Town Hall, 10352 Main Street, Elberta, AL 36540.
  • Fairhope Civic Center (Delchamps Room), 161 North Section Street, Fairhope, AL 36532.
  • Graysville Public Library, 315 South Main Street, Graysville, AL 36073.
  • Ripley Woodmen Of the World Hall, 11281 Ripley Road, Athens, AL 35611.
  • Old Navy/Marine Corps Reserve Center, 4851 Museum Drive, Mobile, AL 36608.

These facilities, which also are staffed with a FEMA specialist, are open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. until further notice.

The deadline to register is Tuesday, July 1.

Source: 

Federal Aid for Alabama Reaches More Than $29 Million

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — More than $17 million has been approved through FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program. The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved nearly $10 million through its low-interest disaster loan program.

The following numbers, compiled June 12, provide a snapshot of the Alabama/FEMA disaster recovery to date:

Funds approved

  • $14.5 million for Housing Assistance grants to help with recovery rental expenses and home repair costs.
  • $3.1 million for Other Needs Assistance to cover essential disaster-related needs, such as medical expenses and lost personal possessions.
  • $9.6 million approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest loans to eligible homeowners, renters or business owners.

Survivor Recovery

  • 13,312 damaged homes and property have been inspected (98 percent of requests).
  • 4,539 visits have been made to the 11 disaster recovery centers located in designated counties. (By 9 a.m. Saturday, June 14, all centers have been closed, five have transitioned to Disaster Loan Outreach Centers, operated by the SBA.)
  • 9 counties designated for Individual Assistance.
  • 21 counties designated for Public Assistance.

FEMA works with many volunteer agencies and the private sector to speed the recovery effort. Those affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding need to register with FEMA for disaster assistance.

No matter the degree of loss or insurance status, survivors are urged to apply for help. They can use the following methods:

  • By phone, call 800-621-3362 (FEMA) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time. Operators are multilingual. TTY 800-462-7585.
  • By computer, go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
  • By smartphone or tablet, use m.fema.gov.

County-by-County approved breakdown of Individual Assistance:

 

 

County

Approved Registrations

Housing Assistance

Other Needs Assistance

Baldwin

1,797

$6,769,925.27

$1,136,381.21

Blount

23

138,544.00

8,659.79

DeKalb

24

70,327.76

20,674.77

Etowah

54

422,530.39

52,307.04

Jefferson

402

1,041,335.23

173,912.30

Lee

51

259,892.40

53,860.11

Limestone

277

863,464.41

431,775.50

Mobile

3,464

4,664,254.57

1,244,435.76

Tuscaloosa

54

264,644.81

60,675.78

Total:

6,146

$14,494,918.84

$3,182,682.26

 

 

Recovery officials urge all Alabama residents who have registered for assistance to stay in close contact with FEMA throughout the recovery process. This is especially true during the first weeks after registering when FEMA housing inspectors must contact applicants to view damages. Those with mobile phones should provide that number to FEMA during the registration.

Affected survivors and business owners in the nine designated counties may apply for assistance from FEMA and/or the SBA. Those counties are: Baldwin, Blount, DeKalb, Etowah, Jefferson, Lee, Limestone, Mobile and Tuscaloosa.                             

        

Alabama/FEMA’s last remaining Disaster Recovery Center in Jefferson County will be open until 6 p.m. today. That center is located at the Maurice C. West Community Center, 171 Second Street SW, Graysville, AL 35073.

Disaster Loan Outreach Centers, operated by the SBA to assist survivors with questions about federal loans, are located in Baldwin, Jefferson and Limestone and Mobile counties. The locations are:

  • Elberta Town Hall, 10352 Main Street, Elberta, AL 36540.
  • Fairhope Civic Center (Delchamps Room), 161 North Section Street, Fairhope, AL 36532.
  • Graysville Public Library, 315 South Main Street, Graysville, AL 36073.
  • Ripley W.O.W. Hall, 11281 Ripley Road, Athens, AL 35611.
  • Old Navy/Marine Corps Reserve Center, 4851 Museum Drive, Mobile, AL 36608.

These facilities, which also are staffed with a FEMA specialist, are open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. until further notice.

The deadline to register is Tuesday, July 1.

Read original article: 

Six Weeks After Disaster, Federal Aid for Alabama Totals More Than $27 Million

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — More than $16 million has been approved through FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program. The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $7 million through its low-interest disaster loan program.

The following numbers, compiled June 5, provide a snapshot of the Alabama/FEMA disaster recovery to date:

Funds approved

  • $13.7 million for Housing Assistance grants to help with recovery rental expenses and home repair costs.
  • $2.9 millionfor Other Needs Assistance to cover essential disaster-related needs, such as medical expenses and lost personal possessions.
  • $7.6 million approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest loans to eligible homeowners, renters or business owners.

Survivor recovery

  • 12,194 damaged homes and property have been inspected (98 percent of requests).
  • 3,976 visits have been made to the eight disaster recovery centers located in designated counties.
  • 9 counties designated for Individual Assistance.
  • 21 counties designated for Public Assistance. Most recently, Bullock, Houston and Washington counties have been added.

FEMA works with many volunteer agencies and the private sector to speed the recovery effort. Those affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding need to register with FEMA for disaster assistance.

No matter the degree of loss or insurance status, survivors are urged to apply for help. They can use the following methods:

  • By phone, call 800-621-3662 (FEMA) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time. Operators are multilingual. TTY 800-462-7585.
  • By computer, go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
  • By smartphone or tablet, use m.fema.gov.

County-by-County approved breakdown of Individual Assistance:

County

Approved Registrations

Housing Assistance

Other Needs Assistance

Baldwin

1,729

$6,596,255.81

$1,049,181.31

Blount

22

106,144.00

4,879.54

DeKalb

24

70,327.76

20,674.77

Etowah

49

419,199.49

38,049.04

Jefferson

394

1,030,823.74

164,657.17

Lee

50

255,097.11

53,860.11

Limestone

261

811,612.92

405,121.86

Mobile

3,134

4,254,685.70

1,111,002.92

Tuscaloosa

50

213,218.68

58,583.49

Total:

5,713

$13,757,365.21

$2,906,010.21

Recovery officials urge all Alabama residents who have registered for assistance to stay in close contact with FEMA throughout the recovery process. This is especially true during the first weeks after registering when FEMA housing inspectors must contact applicants to view damages. Those with mobile phones should provide that number to FEMA during the registration.

Affected survivors and business owners in the nine designated counties may apply for assistance. Those counties are: Baldwin, Blount, DeKalb, Etowah, Jefferson, Lee, Limestone, Mobile and Tuscaloosa.

Alabama/FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are located in Baldwin, Jefferson, Limestone and Mobile counties. These centers are open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

One of the DRCs in Jefferson County, located at the Lawson State Community College, 1098 9th Ave., SW, Bessemer, AL, will close today, June 6 at 6 p.m. This center will transition from a DRC to an SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center on June 7 with hours of 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, then 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, June 12.

The deadline to register is Tuesday, July 1.

Original link: 

Federal Aid for Alabama Disaster Totals More Than $24 Million

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — More than $14 million has been approved through FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program. The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $5 million through its low-interest disaster loan program.

The following numbers, compiled May 29, provide a snapshot of the Alabama/FEMA disaster recovery to date:

Funds approved

  • $12.2 million for Housing Assistance grants to help with recovery rental expenses and home repair costs.
  • $2.5 million for Other Needs Assistance to cover essential disaster-related needs, such as medical expenses and lost personal possessions.
  • $5.4 million approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest loans to eligible homeowners, renters or business owners.

Survivor recovery

  • 9,968 of the 10,464 damaged homes and property have been inspected (95 percent of requests).
  • 3,285 visits have been made to the eight disaster recovery centers located in designated counties.
  • 9 counties designated for Individual Assistance.

FEMA works with many volunteer agencies and the private sector to speed the recovery effort. Those affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding need to register with FEMA for disaster assistance.

No matter the degree of loss or insurance status, survivors are urged to apply for help. They can use the following methods:

  • By phone, call 800-621-3662 (FEMA) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time. Operators are multilingual. TTY 800-462-7585.
  • By computer, go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
  • By smartphone or tablet, use m.fema.gov.

County-by-County approved breakdown of Individual Assistance:

County

Approved Registrations

Housing Assistance

Other Needs Assistance

Baldwin

1,577

$6,242,607.13

$968,722.75

Blount

16

99,152.38

3,189.15

DeKalb

23

37,845.10

20,674.77

Etowah

46

416,163.67

38,049.04

Jefferson

373

993,188.44

147,512.20

Lee

48

207,679.16

51,907.93

Limestone

247

761,540.29

390,040.69

Mobile

2,393

3,365,319.90

849,947.13

Tuscaloosa

43

157,684.42

46,744.85

Total:

4,766

$12,281,180.49

$2,516,788.51

Recovery officials urge all Alabama residents who have registered for assistance to stay in close contact with FEMA throughout the recovery process. This is especially true during the first weeks after registering when FEMA housing inspectors must contact applicants to view damages. Those with mobile phones should provide that number to FEMA during the registration.

Affected survivors and business owners in the nine designated counties may apply for assistance. Those counties are: Baldwin, Blount, DeKalb, Etowah, Jefferson, Lee, Limestone, Mobile and Tuscaloosa.

Alabama/FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are located in Baldwin, Blount, Jefferson, Limestone, Mobile and Tuscaloosa counties. These centers are open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The DRC in Blount County will close Saturday, May 31 at 6 p.m. The Tuscaloosa DRC will transition from a DRC as of 6 p.m. Saturday, May 31, to a Disaster Loan Outreach Center with hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The deadline to register is Tuesday, July 1.

Original article:

One Month After Disaster: Federal Aid for Alabama Disaster Tops $20 Million

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabamians are urged to file for disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) if their homes were damaged during the storms, tornadoes and flooding between April 28 and May 5, 2014.

More than 6,600 residents’ registrations have been approved in the nine affected counties in the two weeks following the presidential disaster declaration.

More than $9 million has been approved through FEMA’s Individual and Household program. The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $650,000 through its low-interest disaster loan program.

The following numbers, compiled May 15, provide a snapshot of the Alabama/FEMA disaster recovery to date:

Funds approved

  • $7.8 million for Housing Assistance grants to help with recovery rental expenses and home repair costs.
  • $1.3 million for Other Needs Assistance to cover essential disaster-related needs, such as medical expenses and lost personal possessions.
  • $650,000 approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest loans to eligible homeowners, renters or business owners.

Survivor recovery

  • 3,583 of the 4,860 damaged homes and property have been inspected (74 percent of requests).
  • 1,331 visits have been made to the nine disaster recovery centers located in designated counties.
  • 9 counties declared for individual assistance.

FEMA works with many volunteer agencies and the private sector to speed the recovery effort. But those affected by the severe storms (between April 28 and May 5) need to register with FEMA for disaster aid.

No matter the degree of loss or insurance, survivors are urged to apply for help. They can use the following methods:

  • By phone, call 800-621-FEMA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time. Operators are multilingual. TTY 800-462-7585.
  • By computer, go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
  • By smartphone or tablet, use m.fema.gov.

County-by-County approved breakdown of Individual Assistance:

 

County

Approved Registrations

Housing Assistance

Other Needs Assistance

Baldwin

2,314

$4,764,322.56

$608,804.69

Blount

60

$52,725.68

$3,189.15

DeKalb

70

$17,360.38

$9,614.48

Etowah

149

$370,992.16

$27,877.67

Jefferson

1,123

$840,844.04

$117,580.16

Lee

137

$199,237.62

$45,284.56

Limestone

682

$637,792.33

$305,879.43

Mobile

1,951

$891,169.54

$180,944.97

Tuscaloosa

189

$10,2661.50

$30,082.54

Total:

6,675

$7,877,105.09

$1,329,257.65

 

Recovery officials urge all Alabama residents who have registered for assistance to stay in close touch with FEMA throughout the recovery process. This is especially true during the first weeks after registering when FEMA Housing Inspectors must contact applicants to view damages. Those with mobile phones should provide that number to FEMA during the registration and/or a good contact number.

Affected survivors and business owners in the nine designated counties may apply for assistance. Those counties are: Baldwin, Blount, DeKalk, Etowah, Jefferson, Lee, Limestone, Mobile and Tuscaloosa.                                 

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

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.  If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

For more information on Alabama’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or http://www.ema.alabama.gov/

For the joint Facebook page, go to www.facebook.com/AlabamaEMA. To receive Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/AlabamaEMA  or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

Taken from:  

Federal Disaster Aid To Alabama Nears $10 Million