Recovery Includes a Plan for Long-Term Housing

BATON ROUGE, La — For Louisiana flood survivors, recovery may include short-term FEMA assistance. Keep in mind that FEMA’s housing assistance comes with periodic checks on the need for continued help—and housing plans. Recovery is about planning.

Applicants may qualify for continued assistance if they demonstrate their need and develop a longer-term or permanent housing plan or demonstrate progress in one. A contractor’s estimate on repairs or a report on repairs can point to progress. Applicants need to keep rental receipts, canceled checks or money orders showing proper use of previous rental assistance. Recovery progress can be marked by accepting the first offer of adequate, alternate housing when it becomes available.

FEMA housing occupants with no housing plans will be given information and tools to help them find available housing. The FEMA helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY, at 800-462-7585 can assist with a list of rental properties. For a rental-unit database, check https://asd.fema.gov/inter/hportal/home.htm. Survivors should keep in contact with their insurance companies, their case managers if assigned, and with FEMA; each may open a door to another recovery opportunity.

FEMA aims to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars by requiring applicants to demonstrate they have a continuing need for temporary assistance. Applications for continued assistance will be mailed to homeowners. Renters can call the FEMA helpline and ask for an application. Renters need to contact their previous landlords to find out if they will be permitted to move back into their former units.

Recovery for many Louisiana flood survivors began with finding a place to stay, a temporary refuge. With others it began with removing debris, mucking out a home or re-opening a business.  Each recovery story has a beginning, a middle and an outcome defined by a more stable situation. FEMA’s assistance will not make Louisiana flood survivors whole again, but can help in making the first few important steps to recovery.

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Recovery Includes a Plan for Long-Term Housing

Crisis Counseling Can Help Louisianans Cope with Disaster-Related Distress

BATON ROUGE, La. — Recovery efforts in Louisiana continue following the historic August floods, and many survivors are still coping with the immediate effects of the disaster. While obvious problems such as home repair preoccupy some Louisianans, there is a quieter, more ominous issue that may threaten flood survivors.

Disaster-related distress is a silent, serious threat to any individual affected by a major disaster. It can manifest in the form of depression, anxiety or even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to the National Center for PTSD, more than 50 percent of those affected by major disasters develop some kind of clinically significant stress disorder.

Disaster-related distress is particularly treacherous because it is virtually unpredictable. While individuals with preexisting stress disorders or addictions are more likely to suffer from disaster-related distress, it can attack anyone at any time. Even individuals who show no signs of stress-related disorders immediately after a disaster may develop a condition years later.

Disaster-related distress, like any other illness, is most easily recognized by its symptoms. While symptoms vary by case and may be mistaken for symptoms of other illnesses, disaster-related stress disorders usually produce a combination of the following warning signs:

  • Headaches
  • Chest or muscle tightening
  • Fatigue
  • Inability to sleep

  • Overall restlessness

  • Uncontrollable anger, sadness or fear

  • Lack of appetite

  • Substance abuse

  • Social withdrawal

  • Suicidal thoughts

Individuals exhibiting many or all of these symptoms should seek treatment from a licensed therapist immediately. If left untreated, disaster-related distress can contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, diabetes and/or suicidal tendencies.

While the diagnosis and treatment of disaster-related distress may seem like a daunting process, it is not one that flood survivors and their loved ones need to go through alone. All survivors of the August flooding can take advantage of free disaster crisis counseling available through FEMA and the state of Louisiana.

The Crisis Counseling Program is funded by FEMA and implemented by the state. The purpose of the program is to provide survivors with free, local counseling services that promote resilience, empowerment and recovery.

The crisis counselors available through the Crisis Counseling Program are local people, many of whom have also been affected by flooding. These counselors are not therapists; they come from all careers and walks of life. However, they have all been trained to educate, support and inform survivors. If necessary, the crisis counselors can refer survivors to therapists for diagnosis and treatment.

Crisis counselors are available at all FEMA disaster recovery centers. To find a center near you, call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or text DRC and your ZIP code to 43362. You can also find a center near you by downloading the FEMA mobile app or going online to fema.gov/drc.

For more information regarding the Crisis Counseling Program or to set up an appointment for counseling, call the Louisiana Office of Behavioral Health at 866-310-7977 or the Disaster Distress Hotline at 800-985-5990.

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Crisis Counseling Can Help Louisianans Cope with Disaster-Related Distress

How FEMA Flood Maps Helped a Man Evacuate Safely

BATON ROUGE, La. – FEMA flood-insurance rate maps identify areas subject to flooding and establish various zones in a community on which to base premiums. But they can do something else: help first responders, government officials and others prepare for an oncoming deluge.

It was these maps that kept an older gentleman from being trapped during the floods of August. William Wilson grew concerned as the rains fell heavily in the area around his southern Louisiana home, between the Amite River and Jones Creek. Wilson’s son, Houston landscape architect Kirk Wilson, routinely uses FEMA flood maps in his work. He knew the maps might be critical in assessing his father’s looming problem.

“My dad called to tell me that local authorities expected the Amite to crest at 46 feet, higher than the devastating 1983 flood, and he feared his home would be inundated.”

Kirk Wilson, who vividly remembered the devastating ‘83 floods from his childhood, shared his father’s concerns. He told his dad to go online to the Louisiana State University’s AgCenter’s online map center. They studied the maps, with Kirk guiding his father through the data by phone.

He explained to his father how to determine his property’s Base Flood Elevation (commonly called BFE). Once they had that number, the Wilsons looked at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s projections for the rising waters. “So we estimated the crest would be 36 feet, two feet higher than dad’s BFE,” said Wilson.

Wilson warned his father that while the house itself might not be in danger, his evacuation routes would almost surely be under water. A small, narrow bridge over Jones Creek was William’s only route to higher ground. Kirk told his father he was certain the bridge would be flooded and impassable, urging him to get out as soon as possible. The elder Wilson took the advice. The floodwaters lapped up just short of the house; the bridge was swamped.

Anyone can call FEMA’s Map Information Exchange and talk to an expert (877-336-2627, open 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., EST). The specialist will explain the basics of reading and interpreting maps. The website is www.msc.fema.gov/portal. The LSU AgCenter website is www.lsuagcenter.com (scroll down to “flood maps”).

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How FEMA Flood Maps Helped a Man Evacuate Safely

Registration Deadline for Disaster Assistance Is One Week Away

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana disaster survivors affected by August flooding have one week left to register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The deadline to register is Monday, Nov. 14, 2016.

Survivors may register with FEMA by going online with any computer, smartphone or tablet to DisasterAssistance.gov, calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362, or downloading the FEMA mobile app. Survivors who use a TTY may call 800-462-7585 to register.

Survivors can also register for assistance at any FEMA disaster recovery center. To find a disaster recovery center near you, call the FEMA helpline or text DRC and your zip code to 43362. You can also find a center near you by downloading the FEMA mobile app or going online to fema.gov/drc.

FEMA assistance for homeowners and renters may include grants for rent, temporary housing and home repair to their primary residence, as well as other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs.

Survivors should also be sure to submit their disaster loan application to the U.S. Small Business Administration by Nov.14. Submitting a loan application does not imply acceptance of a loan, but it is a necessary step to being considered for other forms of disaster assistance.  

For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at SBA.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339. SBA representatives are also available at any disaster recovery center, disaster loan outreach center, or business recovery center.

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Registration Deadline for Disaster Assistance Is One Week Away

Disaster Unemployment Assistance to Louisiana Residents Tops

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana residents whose jobs were affected by the August flooding have received more than $1 million in Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance supports Louisiana residents who:

  • Have had at least a week of unemployment as a consequence of the flooding;
  • Were unable to reach work because of flooded routes or damaged transportation;
  • Were prevented from starting a new job because of the flooding;
  • Became the monetary support for a household whose head died from the flood; or
  • Cannot work because of an injury caused by the flooding. 

Although the deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance has passed, eligible individuals who applied for the program before the deadline may receive payments until Feb. 18, 2017, as long as their unemployment continues to be disaster-related.

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Disaster Unemployment Assistance to Louisiana Residents Tops

Disaster Unemployment Assistance to Louisiana Residents Tops $1 Million

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana residents whose jobs were affected by the August flooding have received more than $1 million in Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance supports Louisiana residents who:

  • Have had at least a week of unemployment as a consequence of the flooding;
  • Were unable to reach work because of flooded routes or damaged transportation;
  • Were prevented from starting a new job because of the flooding;
  • Became the monetary support for a household whose head died from the flood; or
  • Cannot work because of an injury caused by the flooding. 

Although the deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance has passed, eligible individuals who applied for the program before the deadline may receive payments until Feb. 18, 2017, as long as their unemployment continues to be disaster-related.

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Disaster Unemployment Assistance to Louisiana Residents Tops $1 Million

Many Services Still Available for Survivors at Disaster Recovery Centers

BATON ROUGE, La. — Every Louisiana flood survivor has unique needs that arise along the road to recovery, so FEMA’s disaster recovery centers and their staffs are still available to meet as many of those needs as possible.
While each disaster recovery center provides services to fit the needs of its community, most disaster recovery centers are staffed by representatives who can help with:

  • Registering for FEMA disaster assistance
  • Applying for a loan with the U.S. Small Business Administration
  • Determining the current status of disaster assistance applications
  • Appealing a determination letter for FEMA or SBA assistance
  • Finding volunteer or charitable organizations that provide disaster assistance
  • Crisis counseling
  • Disaster-related legal advice

All services may not be available at every disaster recovery center. To find the services you need at a disaster recovery center near you, call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or text DRC and your zip code to 43362. You can also find a center near you by downloading the FEMA mobile app or going online to fema.gov/drc.

The SBA has also established business recovery centers and disaster loan outreach centers to assist Louisiana businesses and residents with their SBA-specific needs. To locate a center near you, contact the SBA at 800-659-2955 or online at www.sba.gov/disaster.

find a disaster recovery center. Visit FEMA.gov/DRC. Install the FEMA App. Meet one-on-one with FEMA staff at a recovery center or call us at 800-621-3362 (711 or Video Relay Service) and TTY 800-621-3362.

This graphic explains two ways survivors can look up disaster recovery center locations in their area online: visit FEMA.gov/DRC or use the FEMA app.

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Many Services Still Available for Survivors at Disaster Recovery Centers

Survivors Can Help Avoid Delays in the Manufactured Housing Unit Process

BATON ROUGE, La. –Louisiana disaster survivors who are eligible for Manufactured Housing Units (MHUs) can help FEMA make the process go as smoothly as possible.

If you’re eligible for an MHU, FEMA will contact you to schedule a site inspection if you want to place a unit on your property. Keep in mind the following steps to avoid slowing the process:                    

  • Be available. You must be present for a site inspection. FEMA will arrange to place an MHU on your property if the agency determines it is feasible. A FEMA representative will provide information during the inspection process so you can contact them if you have questions about the status of your MHU.
  • Contact your power company to install a second service and meter on your property. Your parish or city will then inspect the installation and notify the power company that power may be turned on. Tell the power company it is for a FEMA MHU installation.
  • Help FEMA obtain right-of-entry from your neighbors. FEMA may need permission to trench utility lines or gain access to the site.

If defects are discovered in the air-conditioner, water, lighting, toilets or other parts of the unit, FEMA must repair them before turning over the keys to you. FEMA will also arrange for safety modifications such as elevation and anchoring.

MHUs are a last resort for survivors whose primary home is uninhabitable, have uninsured housing needs, and have no practicable temporary housing options within a reasonable commuting distance.  

FEMA has expanded its services to accommodate your questions about MHUs. Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use TTY, call 800-462-7585. If you use 711 or Video Relay Service, call 800-621-3362. You may also visit their closest disaster recovery center by going online to fema.gov/drc or by calling the FEMA helpline.

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Survivors Can Help Avoid Delays in the Manufactured Housing Unit Process

Louisiana Flood Survivors Can Get FEMA Rebuilding Advice

BATON ROUGE, La. —Local home-improvement stores and FEMA have teamed up to provide free information to survivors repairing or rebuilding their homes safer and stronger following Louisiana’s August severe storms and floods.

FEMA mitigation specialists will provide information at the following area Doug Ashy Building Materials, Home Depot, Lowe’s and Stine Lumber stores Monday, Oct. 17 through Saturday, Oct. 29. They will be available to answer questions and offer home-improvement tips and proven methods to prevent and lessen damage from future disasters. Most of the information is aimed at people who prefer “do-it-yourself” projects and general contractors.

Mitigation specialists are in this Doug Ashy Building Materials store 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday:

Lafayette Parish

  • 302 E. Texas Ave., Rayne, La.

Mitigation specialists are in this Home Depot store 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday:

East Baton Rouge Parish

  • 10300 Coursey Blvd. Baton Rouge, La.

Mitigation specialists in these Lowe’s stores 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday:

East Baton Rouge Parish

  • 9460 Cortana Blvd. Baton Rouge, La. 
  • 10303 S. Mall Drive, Baton Rouge, La.

Lafayette Parish

  • 120 East Gloria Switch Road, Lafayette, La.
  • St. John the Baptist 300 W. Airline Highway, Laplace, La.

Mitigation specialists are in this Stine Lumber store 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday:

Lafayette Parish

  • 6501 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Broussard, La.

Free reference booklets, in English and Spanish, with information on protecting your home from flood damage, are available at all locations. More information about strengthening property can be found at http://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation.

Survivors who have questions about their flood insurance policies and coverage should contact the National Flood Insurance Program call center at 800-621-3362 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Additional information on Louisiana’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4277, twitter.com/femaregion6, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA, fema.gov/blog and http://www.fema.gov/louisiana-disaster-mitigation.

Two female FEMA employees handing mitigation information to a resident at local hardware store.

September 30, 2016 – St. Martin Parish — FEMA partnered with local hardware stores to provide an opportunity for customers to talk face-to-face with experienced personnel about building requirements, regulations and preventive measures to mitigate damages to property and life. FEMA is emphasizing alertness among communities that have been affected by past severe flood August 14, 2016 and future natural disasters to be ready for all types of emergencies. ( In the photo: local resident, Mrs. Jeanne Heller and Mrs. Cynthia H. Rawles from FEMA Mitigation division ) Photo by: Rossyveth Rey-Berríos/FEMA

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Louisiana Flood Survivors Can Get FEMA Rebuilding Advice

Louisiana Disaster Assistance Deadline Extended to November 14

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisianans in parishes affected by August flooding now have until Monday, Nov.14, 2016, to register for federal disaster assistance. The State of Louisiana and FEMA advise that the deadline to apply for disaster assistance has been extended, so that all eligible residents have enough time to apply for assistance.

Federal officials hope this additional time will ensure that everyone affected by the August severe storms and flooding has an opportunity to register for FEMA assistance. The goal is to reach all flood survivors who still need help.  

Registration is open to survivors in Acadia, Ascension, Avoyelles, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. James, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Vermilion, Washington, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana Parishes. 

This new deadline also applies to homeowners, renters and businesses submitting applications for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

You can apply for assistance or track your status online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by using the FEMA app. If you prefer, call 800-621-FEMA (3362). 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. FEMA phone lines are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily; multilingual operators are available.

Homeowners, renters and businesses affected by the floods, can apply for a low-interest SBA disaster loan after registering with FEMA by going online to SBA’s secure site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela, calling 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339). For information on SBA disaster assistance, go to www.sba.gov.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. 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.

For more information on the Louisiana recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the flooding at fema.gov/disaster/4277; or visit the website for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at gohsep.la.gov. Follow FEMA on Twitter @femaregion6.
 

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Louisiana Disaster Assistance Deadline Extended to November 14

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