HUNT VALLEY, Md. – People who live near water are not the only ones who experience flooding.  Floods can move and spread for miles. Flash floods can begin and end within just hours, cutting a path of major destruction.

One of the ways you can protect yourself is with flood insurance.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers this important insurance coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP was created by Congress in 1968 to provide flood insurance at a reasonable cost in exchange for careful management by local communities of flood-prone areas.

Flood insurance provides coverage that your homeowners or renters insurance doesn’t – coverage for damages caused by floods.

Here are some facts you should know about flood insurance:

  1. Homeowners, business owners and renters all can purchase flood insurance as long as their community participates in the NFIP.
  2. Flood insurance claims are paid even if a federal disaster is not declared by the President.
  3. You do not have to live in a floodplain to buy flood insurance. In fact, more than 20 percent of flood insurance claims come from medium- or low-risk flood areas.
  4. Compared to a fire, people in floodplains are nearly four times more likely to have a flood during their 30-year mortgage.
  5. You can buy flood insurance from licensed insurance agents.
  6. Flood insurance coverage is available for residential and business structures and contents.  A single-family home can be insured for up to $250,000.  An additional $100,000 can be purchased for contents.  Commercial buildings can be insured for up to $500,000.  Business contents can be covered for up to $500,000.
  7. Renters can purchase contents coverage for up to $100,000 to cover personal belongings.
  8. If you have a home-based business, you’ll need to purchase separate coverage for the business and/or contents. Coverage is not automatically included under a homeowner’s flood insurance policy, even if the business is located inside your home.
  9. A flood insurance policy can be written to cover actions taken to prevent flood damages.  These actions can include moving the insured contents to a safe place and/or the cost of purchasing sandbags, plastic sheeting, lumber, pumps, etc.
  10. A flood insurance claim will reimburse you for your covered losses and never has to be repaid, unlike a disaster assistance loan.

Okay, so now you’re interested in flood insurance.  How do you go about getting a policy and what else do you need to know?

  • Contact your insurance agent and tell them you would like more information about flood insurance.  The agent will be able to determine whether your community participates in the NFIP.  Flood insurance from the NFIP is only available in participating communities.  The agent should also be able to tell you what is covered and how much your policy will cost.
  • The cost will be determined in part by whether you live in a floodplain, also known as Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).  Your local building official(s) should have maps showing if there are Special Flood Hazard Areas and where they are.  You can determine whether you are in a low, medium or high-risk area by checking these maps.
  • Those who are located outside the floodplain may be able to get a Preferred Risk Policy.  These policies offer fixed combinations of building and contents coverage at set prices.
  • Another way to reduce your premium is through an elevation rating.  If the lowest floor of your house is above the base flood elevation (predicted flood depth in your area), you can qualify for lower rates.  Local officials can help determine the base flood elevation for your home, however, the homeowner will need to provide an elevation certificate.

Even so, the cost of flood insurance is far cheaper than having to pay thousands of dollars to repair your home or replace contents because a flood caught you off guard.

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:

Buying Flood Insurance Now Will Save Dollars, Heartache Later

BATON ROUGE, La. — Holidays can bring great joy — and great stress — for everyone, from toddlers to seniors. But for families disrupted by Hurricane Isaac, this year’s holiday season may bring added anxiety for children if they lost their homes, pets or treasured possessions.

While the support of their families can help many children work through their fears and sense of loss, the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) remind parents and other caregivers that free crisis counseling is available now and well into next year.

The counseling is available in the parishes designated for Individual Assistance under the major disaster declaration. The program, funded by FEMA and administered by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH), is open to any adult or child in designated parishes.

Children are particularly vulnerable to emotional stress after a disaster. Stress symptoms for all children may include excessive fear of the dark, fear of being alone, crying and constant worry. In addition to their feelings of loss, younger children may believe they somehow caused the hurricane. Depending on their developmental stage, those youngsters may not be able to express their emotions through words, so counselors who use therapies that do not rely on talking may be a better fit.

“Parents are the experts on their own children – they know when something’s out of line,” said Tom Davis, associate professor of psychology at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. “Three months after a disaster, if my child was still having difficulties, with symptoms like nightmares, flashbacks, not wanting to talk about it and always being in startle mode, I would consider counseling.”

Davis specializes in work with children’s issues, particularly child anxiety. He suggests parents and family members remember that children take their cues from the adults in their lives.

“If we’re talking about how bad things are, kids pick up on that,” Davis said. “Kids see how others respond to negative events, and model that fear, that anxiety, that worry.”  

Trained counselors are provided by the network of state Human Services authorities and districts. Calls to the crisis lines are free of charge, as are face-to-face follow-up sessions for children (and adults) whose needs cannot be fully served through phone counseling.

The health department team encourages parents to help children through the season by listening and talking about their feelings, while reassuring them they are loved and that it’s OK to have these feelings. Children are resilient, and with reassurance, guidance and love, they will be able to take a life-changing event and develop the coping mechanisms to assist them in the future.

To learn more, call the DHH-Office of Behavioral Health Louisiana Spirit Crisis Line at 1-866-310-7977 or the Louisiana Behavioral Health Partnership at 1-800-424-4399.

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

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

Excerpt from – 

Free Crisis Counseling Offers Holiday Hope for Louisiana Youth and Adults

NEW YORK – Federal disaster assistance for Hurricane Sandy survivors tops $1 billion in New York.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved grants of more than $802 million for rental assistance, home repairs and other needs. The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved low-interest disaster loans of more than $232 million to help homeowners and renters recover from uninsured property loss and other damages.

SBA has also issued loans totaling nearly $17 million to help business owners recover from damages caused by Hurricane Sandy.

“This billion dollar milestone follows President Obama’s words to me,” said Michael F. Byrne, FEMA federal coordinating officer. “He told me ‘stay on it’ after he saw the devastation first hand. As a New Yorker, I can speak for FEMA and all of our partners when I promise that we will stay on it right through recovery.”

Hurricane Sandy caused damage in 13 New York counties that were designated for Individual Assistance grants to help survivors repair homes, replace lost property and pay for other essential disaster-related needs.

The 13 counties designated for Individual Assistance include: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester.

Disaster Recovery Centers are still open in most designated counties where FEMA and SBA specialists are on hand to answer questions. To find the nearest recovery center, the following options are available: Text DRC and a Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA), and a text message will be sent back with the address. Also, check out the Disaster Recovery Center locator at www.FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

Individuals can also find a recovery center – and register for disaster assistance – online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet by going to m.fema.gov or by downloading the FEMA app. They may also call FEMA’s helpline at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) should call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.

Hurricane Sandy survivors in New York have until Jan. 28, 2013 to register for federal disaster assistance.

President Barack Obama declared a major disaster on Oct. 30, 2012 following Hurricane Sandy’s impact on New York beginning Oct. 27.  

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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FEMA, SBA Assistance to New York Survivors Tops $1 Billion

NEW YORK – The Federal Emergency Management Agency is committed to helping all eligible New York disaster survivors recover from Hurricane Sandy, including U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals and Qualified Aliens.

“New York is a city of neighborhoods,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne. “We are reaching out to all neighborhoods in the disaster-designated counties, recognizing their diversity, their different traditions and dialects and their sense of community. We do not want eligible survivors to miss out on the opportunity for aid.”

FEMA Community Relations specialists are visiting neighborhoods, putting out the word in more than 20 languages that certain groups of Qualified Aliens may be eligible for monetary disaster assistance. They are encouraging Sandy survivors to register with FEMA.  

Qualified Aliens who may be eligible for FEMA monetary disaster assistance include Green Card holders – individuals with U.S. government permission to live and work in the country permanently.

Others in the Qualified Alien category include those who have legal U.S. resident status because of:

  • Asylum;
  • Refugee status;
  • Parole (admission into the United States for humanitarian purposes) for at least one year;
  • Withholding of deportation;
  • Immigration from Cuba or Haiti; and
  • Severe forms of human trafficking, including persons with “T” and “U” visas.

Applicants should consult an immigration expert concerning whether or not their immigration status falls within the Qualified Alien category.

FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program is available to disaster-stricken U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals and Qualified Aliens in counties with a federal disaster declaration. Federal disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs for owners, personal property loss and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.            

Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for FEMA cash assistance or Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

However, in households with varying citizenship status, only one member needs to be eligible to qualify that home for FEMA aid. 

An undocumented parent or guardian may apply for monetary aid on behalf of a minor child who is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or Qualified Alien. Although the adult will be expected to sign a Declaration and Release (FEMA Form 009-0-3) in the child’s name, no information will be gathered on the person signing for the child.

All individuals, regardless of citizenship status, affected by a major disaster may be eligible for other non-monetary, in-kind emergency disaster relief programs. These include search and rescue, medical care, shelter, food and water as well as Disaster Legal Services and Crisis Counseling. 

People who don’t qualify for monetary assistance may still call the FEMA registration line for referrals to voluntary agencies.

Individuals can register for help online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. They may also call 800-621-3362. The TTY number is 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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Financial Disaster Aid Available for U.S. Citizens, Non-Citizen Nationals and Qualified Aliens

TRENTON, N.J. — Feeling blue?  Disoriented?  Powerless?

For disaster survivors who may feel overwhelmed after Hurricane Sandy, help is just a phone call away.

The New Jersey Disaster Mental Health Helpline at 877-294-4357, or TTY 877-294-4356, is open and ready for talk from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

“The help is free and confidential,” said Lynn Kovich, Assistant Commissioner in charge of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. “Simply talking with a counselor can sometimes ease the symptoms. We can help folks in distress move forward on their path to recovery.

“The majority of calls are from people having temporary reactions, people who before the disaster were healthy and functioning normally. Hotline crisis counseling can help keep the symptoms from escalating into major mental health concerns,” she said.

Disaster-induced mental distress may include:

  • Sleeping too much or too little.
  • Stomach aches or headaches.
  • Worrying a lot of the time; feeling guilty but not sure why.
  • Lack of energy or always feeling tired.
  • Severe disorientation or confusion. 
  • Overwhelming sense of guilt.
  • Depression, sadness and feelings of hopelessness.
  • Increased use of substances like drugs or alcohol.

Disaster survivors often doubt that happiness will ever be possible again.  Talking about those feelings with friends or counselors can help, according to experts.

Talking to someone can help survivors keep perspective.  Eventually, these out-of-balance times will improve.  In the meantime, it is important to connect with others.

Rest, exercise, and healthy eating help the body deal with stress.

FEMA also supports a Disaster Mental Health Helpline run by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, where counselors are available 24/7.  The number is 800-985-5990.

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.

Credit: 

Help Offered For Stressed Survivors Of Hurricane Sandy

NEW YORK – As New Yorkers remain in their homes or begin to consider returning home following Hurricane Sandy, the State of New York and the Federal Emergency Management Agency urge them to be careful, remain safe and plan properly for their future well-being. 

Some suggestions:

Look for external damage
Examine the foundation, roof and chimney for cracks or other damage. If obvious damage is found or serious safety doubts exist, contact a building inspector.  
 
Keep generators outside
Those who remain without power should only use generators or other fuel-powered machines outdoors. Such machines emit deadly carbon monoxide fumes, which are odorless and can quickly overwhelm you indoors. 
 
Clean safely and beware of mold
Flooding causes dampness where mold, mildew and various organisms thrive. Mold may induce respiratory problems, so it is important to use proper procedures when cleaning. Use a combination of household bleach and soap or detergent (but never mix bleach with ammonia) to wash down walls and other mold-contaminated areas. You can also open windows and doors and turn on fans to help dry out interiors. For more information about mold, go to: http://www.health.ny.gov/publications/7287/

Avoid Scam Artists
As you plan long-term repair and rebuilding projects, be aware that natural disasters can bring out criminals looking to prey on victims by offering fraudulent services. Among other precautions, get three estimates for repair work, check the credentials of contractors and consult your local Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce to learn about any complaints against the contractors.

Ways to get help:

Register with FEMA for federal disaster assistance
Survivors who haven’t yet registered should call FEMA’s toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362. Lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice, and assistance is offered in most languages. Individuals may register for help online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. If you have a speech disability or hearing impairment and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; call 800-621-3362 if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS). 

“Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power (STEP)” Program is in effect
The STEP Program helps restore temporary electricity, heat and hot water by funding emergency residential repairs through local governments for those whose homes can be used to shelter in place while permanent repair work continues.

  • If you live in the five boroughs of New York City, call 311 for information about STEP.
  • If you live in Suffolk County, call 211.
  • If you live in Nassau County, call 888-684-4267.

Expedited partial flood-insurance payments may be available
To allow National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders to remain safely in damaged residences, FEMA in some circumstances is allowing claim payments to be made even before inspections and repair estimates are obtained for equipment that provides heat and hot water. The inspection and report still have to be completed later. For complete details on the accelerated NFIP payment program, policyholders must contact their insurance company or agent.

Low-interest disaster loans from SBA
U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans are a major source of federal rebuilding funds for homeowners, renters and businesses. Completing a disaster loan application is part of the FEMA grant process. Homeowners and renters may qualify for loans of up to $200,000 for repair or replacement of damaged real estate. Up to $40,000 may be available to repair or replace personal property. Applications can be completed online via SBA’s secure website at https://DisasterLoan.SBA.gov/ELA. More information is available by calling 800-659-2955  (TTY 800-877-8339). Assistance also is available by sending an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or by visiting www.sba.gov .

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4085, http://twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

Source article: 

Take Precautions in Your Home After Hurricane Sandy

WINDSOR, Conn. – Some survivors of Hurricane Sandy are discovering that getting turned down for a low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration may lead to other forms of assistance.

“In most cases, referral to these resources is automatic if SBA rejects your loan application,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Albert Lewis of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “But applicants who don’t return their applications to SBA close the door on these resources.”

Many survivors receive a loan package from SBA after they register for assistance with FEMA. While SBA’s low-interest disaster loans represent the major source of federal funding for recovery, the application itself may open the door to other grant programs. People who do not qualify for a loan may be eligible for grants from FEMA.

Federal grants cover necessary expenses and serious needs, including:

  • Disaster-related medical and dental expenses
  • Disaster-related funeral and burial expenses
  • Disaster-related car repair expenses
  • Clothing and household items, such as room furnishings and appliances
  • Tools required for work
  • Computers and schoolbooks required for education
  • Oil and gas for heating furnaces
  • Moving and storage expenses related to the disaster

The deadline to complete an SBA application for a low-interest disaster loan is Dec. 31.

The SBA offers online applications through its Electronic Loan Application site at https://DisasterLoan.SBA.gov/ela. Survivors can call the SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, or visit the SBA’s website at www.SBA.gov/sandy.

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 800-621-3362. For TTY, call 800-462-7585.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private, nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and covers the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

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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A ‘No’ from SBA May Open Doors to More Assistance

WINDSOR, Conn. – Hurricane Sandy survivors are putting low-interest disaster loans to good use.

The loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are being used to:

• Make home repairs not covered by insurance;
• Replace clothing, appliances and vehicles;
• Make improvements to reduce the risk of future damage; and
• Refinance existing liens or mortgages on homes.

SBA loans are the major source of federal disaster recovery funding and may be available for other uses as well. For example, renters may be eligible for loans to cover some of their personal property losses, including vehicles. There are also loans for businesses and nonprofit organizations as well.

Applications from the SBA are mailed to most survivors who register for assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Returning the loan application is an important step in the recovery process because it may qualify the applicant for more FEMA grants. No one is obligated to accept a loan, if offered.

“Even the maximum amount FEMA is allowed to award won’t replace a home destroyed in a hurricane,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Albert Lewis. “Most disaster recovery is funded by low-interest loans from the SBA.”

SBA can lend homeowners up to $200,000 to repair or replace their home and up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property.

Disaster loans have distinct advantages:
• Home loans are as low as 1.688 percent
• There are no points or application fees
• Loans are available before insurance settlements are made 
• SBA can write loans based on the cost of replacing the home today

The deadline to file for an SBA Home Disaster Loan is Dec. 31.

SBA offers online application through its Electronic Loan Application site at https://DisasterLoan.SBA.gov/ela. Survivors can call the SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, or visit the SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/sandy.

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 800-621-3362. For TTY, call 800-462-7585.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private, nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and covers the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

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.

 

 

Original post: 

Low-Interest Disaster Loans Fuel Connecticut Recovery

WASHINGTON — Today, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate traveled to New York and New Jersey to meet with federal, state and local officials and to discuss ongoing recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy. During his visit, Administrator Fugate emphasized that communities in impacted states have the continued, full support of FEMA and the federal family.

In Freeport, NY, Administrator Fugate met with state and local officials to discuss recovery planning for Freeport and Nassau County and how federal programs can support local efforts. Following the meeting, Administrator Fugate surveyed damage in some of the county’s hardest hit areas.

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, for designated counties in New York and New Jersey.

Administrator Fugate next traveled to New Jersey, where he visited the Middlesex County Emergency Operations Center and met with state and local officials to discuss recovery efforts, both in the county and throughout the state of New Jersey. At the Sayreville Water Pumping Station, Administrator Fugate was briefed on the impact of Sandy on the station and the emergency efforts undertaken during the storm to restore operations at the facility.

In both New York and New Jersey, Administrator Fugate reiterated FEMA’s continued support for communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy and encouraged impacted residents to register for federal assistance.

President Obama declared major disasters for New York and New Jersey on October 30, making federal assistance available to affected individuals and businesses. Impacted residents in designated counties can apply for assistance online at www.disasterassistance.gov, by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).  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 are operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.

 

Link – 

Readout of FEMA Administrator Fugate’s visit to New York & New Jersey

TRENTON, N.J. – When a disaster strikes, volunteers are a vital resource. They represent the compassionate face that brings comfort to disaster survivors and provides for their immediate needs.

“Working together as friends and neighbors is spontaneous after a disaster” said FEMA Volunteer Agency Liaison Manager Ken Skalitzky. “This approach is really what makes a community whole again.”

One group of volunteers recently was recognized when Middletown, N.J. Mayor Anthony P. Fiore presented the Key to the City to Dave Karr, whose volunteer staff from the Southern Baptist Convention, Oklahoma Disaster Relief, prepared more than 1.5 million meals for disaster survivors. 

“It was a real honor,” Karr said. “I was told they rarely do this. I accepted on behalf of the whole Oklahoma team.”

Karr’s team and the organization they represent are typical of the volunteers working in New Jersey, both locally and from out of state. More than 100 organizations manage thousands of dedicated volunteers. Here are some of the major organizations and their services:

  • Adventist Community Services – manages warehouse distribution of supplies for disaster survivors.
  • Mennonite Disaster Service – doing clean up, repairs, and rebuilding homes.
  • The Salvation Army – provided Thanksgiving dinner or lunch in several locations throughout the state. The Transitional Sheltering Assistance social services programs connect needs with available resources.
  • Samaritans Purse – doing muck outs, removing dirt and debris; cleaning up and sanitizing homes to prevent mold.
  • Southern Baptist Convention/Oklahoma Disaster Relief – 117 volunteers prepared more than 1.5 million meals to date, and is deploying 41 emergency relief vehicles across New Jersey to continue feeding disaster survivors.
  • The Red Cross – more than 4,000 volunteers assisting with meals, sheltering, essential supplies, and health services.
  • United Methodist Committee on Relief – volunteers working on “muck outs.”
  • Catholic Charities – 363 volunteers serving at relief sites offered financial and other material assistance to some 3,000 families.  The sites are now closed.

Voluntary Agency Liaison staff at FEMA work with the state umbrella organization, New Jersey Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD). FEMA provides information on the extent

of damage from the disaster to VOAD. The organization then contacts its local partners who provide direct services to disaster survivors.

Disaster assistance is coordinated over the long term by VOAD to make sure everyone who needs help receives help.

 

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Video of volunteers in action and of Volunteer Agency Liaison Manager Ken Skalitzky are available

for your use at: http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/10552.

For still photos of volunteer activities, go to: http://www.fema.gov/photolibrary/photo_search.do.

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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Volunteers Are A Vital Resource In The Aftermath Of Sandy

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