FEMA to Evaluate Readiness of Pennsylvania

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency will evaluate a Biennial Emergency Preparedness Exercise at the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station.  The exercise will take place during the week of October 22nd to assess the ability of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to respond to an emergency at the nuclear facility.

“These drills are held every other year to evaluate government’s ability to protect public health and safety,” said Robert Welch, Acting Regional Administrator for FEMA Region III.  “We will assess state and local emergency response capabilities within the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone of the nuclear facility.”

Within 90 days, FEMA will send its evaluation to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for use in licensing decisions.  The final report will be available to the public approximately 120 days after the exercise.

FEMA will present preliminary findings of the exercise in a public meeting at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 26th, at the East Mountain Business Center, 1190 East Mountain Blvd., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.  Scheduled speakers include representatives from FEMA, NRC, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

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. FEMA Region III’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.  Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion3.

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FEMA to Evaluate Readiness of Pennsylvania

President Declares Disaster for Florida

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the State of Florida to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by Hurricane Isaac during the period of August 27-29, 2012. 

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Hurricane Isaac in Bay, Collier, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Martin, Monroe, Okaloosa, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, and Santa Rosa counties. 

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties and tribes within the state.

Gracia B. Szczech has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.  Szczech said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

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.  The social media links provided are for reference only. 

FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.  FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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

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President Declares Disaster for Florida

Isaac-Related Flood Insurance Claims Have Upcoming Deadlines

BATON ROUGE, La. — Most property owners whose homes or other structures were damaged during Hurricane Isaac have approaching deadlines for filing claims for their flood-related losses.

Most of these claims are due in the upcoming two weeks as the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requires them to be reported within 60 days from the date of loss. Hurricane Isaac made first landfall in Louisiana Aug. 28 with heavy rainfall and flooding occurring within several days before and after it hit.

NFIP is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Since Isaac made landfall, NFIP has paid out nearly $192 million on 9,736 claims in Louisiana.

“The flooding caused by Hurricane Isaac in many cases caused more damage than the wind,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar of FEMA. “We are reminding Louisianians with NFIP policies that time is running out to get their claims filed with their agents or insurance companies.”

If policy holders have questions about flood insurance or concerns about their claims, they may call FEMA’s Hurricane Isaac Flood Insurance Call Center. The toll-free number is 1-866-331-1679. Help is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Additional information is available at www.floodsmart.gov.

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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Isaac-Related Flood Insurance Claims Have Upcoming Deadlines

Disaster Assistance Deadline Extended

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today, the deadline to apply for disaster assistance in both Cleveland and Creek counties is being extended to Wednesday, Nov. 21.

“We want to make sure that all eligible residents have enough time to apply for assistance,” said State Coordinating Officer and OEM Deputy Director Michelann Ooten. “The two counties were not declared at the same time. That is why we are extending the deadline.”

“We hope this additional time will ensure that every one in Cleveland and Creek counties affected by the wildfires has an opportunity to register for state and federal assistance,” said Federal Coordinating Officer William J. Doran III of FEMA. “We want to be sure to reach all wildfire survivors who still need help.”     

Nov. 21 will be the last day for residents to apply for state and federal disaster assistance to help them recover from the Aug. 3-14 wildfires This deadline also applies to homeowners, renters and businesses submitting applications for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Residents with computers or smartphones may apply or track their status online at; www.disasterassistance.gov, or web-enabled phones at m.fema.gov or the FEMA app, or if they prefer, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585. If 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.

Homeowners, renters and businesses affected by the wildfires, can apply for an SBA disaster loan after registering with FEMA 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.

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.

To date, more than 750 residents of Cleveland and Creek counties have applied for assistance. Nearly $9.8 million in federal assistance has been distributed in Cleveland and Creek counties to help residents with their recovery efforts.

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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Disaster Assistance Deadline Extended

Disaster Recovery Center in Noble Changes Hours

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will  continue to provide application assistance to those impacted by the Aug. 3-14 wildfire in Cleveland County at the recovery center in Noble; however, the hours of operation will change beginning Friday, Oct.12.

The Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at Twelve Corners Baptist Church, 15601 E. Etowah Road will open and close one hour later to accommodate the needs of the applicants. The new hours are: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The center will officially close Saturday, Oct. 20.

To date, 132 Cleveland County residents have visited the center to register for assistance, update their information or to speak with representatives from OEM, FEMA and SBA who provided recovery information, answered questions about available programs and assisted with applications.

As of close of business Oct. 10, FEMA provided nearly $1.4 million in grants to help Cleveland County residents recover from the wildfire. Assistance is available to help with temporary housing, emergency home repairs or other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other sources.

Visiting a center is not required to be considered for assistance. It is provided to assist those who would like help in filling out forms, checking the status of their claim and even registering. It also provides an opportunity to speak face-to-face with representatives from OEM, FEMA, SBA and others.

There are several ways for homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and nonprofit organizations to register for FEMA’s disaster assistance or check the status of a registration. They include registering online at www.disasterassistance.gov, using web-enabled phones at m.fema.gov or the FEMA app, or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585. If 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.

To apply for an SBA disaster loan:  After registering with FEMA, go online to SBA’s secure site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela; call 1-800-659-2955 or TTY 1-800-877-8339; or visit the DRC in Noble.  For more information on SBA disaster assistance, go to www.sba.gov.

The deadline to apply for federal assistance from FEMA and the SBA is Nov. 21. Anyone receiving an SBA loan package will need to return it as soon as possible.

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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Disaster Recovery Center in Noble Changes Hours

Flood Hazard Information Being Updated for Southeast Coastal Communities

ATLANTA – People living in coastal communities throughout the Southeast will have a more accurate picture of their flood risk as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and other flood hazard information are being updated in these areas.

Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the U.S., with coastal areas being particularly vulnerable. Nearly 40 percent of the nation’s population lives in coastal communities, so it is important that people know their flood risk and take steps to protect themselves and their property.

Flood risks change over time because of construction, development, environmental changes, shoreline erosion, and other natural or manmade factors. These changes send water flowing in new directions, creating flood risks that did not exist previously — precisely why flood maps are updated periodically.

Throughout the next several years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regional Office in Atlanta, along with regional, state and local partners throughout the Southeast, will update the effective FIRMs for coastal areas using more recent data and the latest scientific engineering tools. Click here to see a list of the organizations that will be involved in this effort with FEMA. 

To see the progress, visit the FEMA Region IV Coastal Analysis and Mapping website at www.southeastcoastalmaps.com.  This site provides information on the status of coastal mapping projects in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, as well as other flood hazard information.

Updated FIRMs for coastal communities in Mississippi, including Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties, were completed in 2007. Visit the Mississippi webpage for more information.

Community planners and local officials use flood hazard information to improve local planning activities. Builders and developers use the information to make decisions on where to build and how construction can affect flood risk. Insurance agents, insurance companies, real estate agents and lending institutions use the information for insurance rating purposes and to help residents better understand how flood hazards affect their property. Property owners and renters can use flood hazard information to help make better financial decisions about protecting their properties.

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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Flood Hazard Information Being Updated for Southeast Coastal Communities

FEMA Advisers to Offer Home Repair Tips in Three Parishes

BATON ROUGE, La. – Survivors who are rebuilding after Hurricane Isaac can receive a free consultation with hazard mitigation advisers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at home improvement centers in Jefferson and St. Tammany parishes starting Friday.

Survivors can also meet with advisers at the Louisiana Gumbo Festival in Lafourche Parish located at Chackbay Fairgrounds, 326 Hwy 304 in Thibodaux, on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The advisers can offer tips and techniques on how to protect homes from future disaster-related damage and other measures to make homes stronger and safer; they also offer advice on topics such as:

  • emergency preparedness
  • roof repair
  • rebuilding flooded homes
  • home elevation
  • flood insurance
  • mold and mildew cleanup

Most of the information and free publications provided are geared for do-it-yourself work and general contractors. The mitigation stations are open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Oct. 12 in St. Tammany parish and the city of Marrero. The Gretna location will open Oct.14. All four mitigation stations will remain open through Oct. 28.

Jefferson Parish
Home Depot
62 Westbank Expressway
Gretna, LA 70345

Jefferson Parish
Home Depot
4600 Lapalco Blvd.
Marrero, LA 70072

St. Tammany Parish
Home Depot
40 Park Place Drive
Covington, LA 70433

St. Tammany Parish
Home Depot
874 I- 10 Service Road
Slidell, LA  70461

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.

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FEMA Advisers to Offer Home Repair Tips in Three Parishes

Survivors With Lapsed Flood Insurance Can Still Get FEMA Help

CLINTON, Miss. – Hurricane Isaac survivors in Mississippi who let their flood insurance policies lapse may be able to receive federal disaster assistance.

Survivors who received their policies through a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant but let their policies lapse are ineligible for federal disaster loans or grants to be used for home repairs. However, FEMA is reaching out to them because they are eligible for grants that would pay for a temporary place to stay if their primary residence is uninhabitable as a result of the storm.

Some insurance policies are issued under a FEMA Group Flood Insurance Policy, which are funded by a portion of a survivor’s FEMA grant money. Once policies expire after three years, renters and homeowners are required to purchase and maintain flood insurance policies from the National Flood Insurance Program to continue their insurance protection.

Only survivors who have maintained their NFIP policies can be considered for home repair disaster grants or loans if the property had damages during Hurricane Isaac. However, all survivors are eligible to be considered for grants that would pay for temporary housing assistance.

Survivors with uninsured or underinsured damages 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.

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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Survivors With Lapsed Flood Insurance Can Still Get FEMA Help

Free Crisis Counseling Can Help Hurricane Isaac Survivors Cope

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisianians who survived Hurricane Isaac — or saw neighbors or family experience loss — may suffer emotional stress as real as the hurricane’s physical destruction.

To help people experiencing post-disaster emotional stress, free crisis counseling is available in the parishes designated for Individual Assistance under the major disaster declaration. The program, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and administered by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH), is open to any child or adult in designated parishes.

“FEMA funds this important program because counseling can help people understand and process their emotional reactions to the disaster,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall of FEMA. “The right support can help most survivors regroup and move on with their lives.”

Those who have suffered losses may be likely to experience at least one of several emotional responses, including anger, fatigue, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, nightmares, depression, inability to concentrate, hyperactivity, or increased alcohol or drug use. Children are particularly vulnerable to emotional stress after a disaster. Their stress symptoms may include excessive fear of the dark, crying, fear of being alone, and constant 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 adults and children whose needs cannot be fully served through phone counseling.

Participating districts/authorities, the parishes they serve and their phone numbers are:

  • Florida Parishes Human Services Authority 
    Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington 
    1-800-272-8367
  • Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority 
    Jefferson 
    504-832-5123
  • Metropolitan Human Services District
    Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard 
    504-826-2675
  • South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority 
    Assumption, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, St. Mary, Terrebonne 
    1-877-500-9997

Statewide resources include:

  • DHH-Office of Behavioral Health Louisiana Spirit Crisis Line: 1-866-310-7977
  • Louisiana Behavioral Health Partnership: 1-800-424-4399
  • SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: 1-800-985-5990

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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Free Crisis Counseling Can Help Hurricane Isaac Survivors Cope

When in Doubt, Register for Disaster Assistance

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urge Cleveland and Creek County residents who sustained property damage or losses from the Aug. 3-14 wildfires to apply for disaster assistance even if they think they may not qualify.

Register even if:

  • You have insurance
  • Your well and septic system was damaged
  • You already started to rebuild – save receipts for work already done
  • You think you may not qualify

You can call the same number you called when you registered to:

  • Confirm your registration
  • Check your status if you called before your county was declared a major disaster
  • Change your contact information or report additional damages

“Don’t prejudge your eligibility. You may be eligible for assistance you didn’t think was available,” said State Coordinating Officer and OEM Deputy Director Michelann Ooten.

“Registering provides access to a host of Federal, State and voluntary programs.  We are here to provide assistance for all eligible applicants,” said Federal Coordinating Officer William J. Doran III. “FEMA may provide assistance that can address a person’s specific needs, not just housing.”

Federal disaster assistance may include FEMA’s grants to help pay for temporary housing, emergency home repairs or other serious disaster-related expenses, such as wells or septic tanks, medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs, not covered by insurance or other sources.

Since the disaster declaration, 596 individuals in Creek County and 150 in Cleveland County affected by the wildfires applied for assistance with FEMA.
Homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations, that have not yet registered should do so now by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585, visiting www.disasterassistance.gov or m.fema.gov via web-enabled phones or using the FEMA app. Anyone using 711 Relay or Video Relay Services can call 1-800-621-3362. Phone lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT seven days a week; multilingual operators are available.

To apply for a disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA):  After registering with FEMA, go online to SBA’s secure site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela; call 1-800-659-2955 or TTY 1-800-877-8339; or visit the Disaster Recovery Center in Noble.  For more information on SBA disaster assistance, go to www.sba.gov.

SBA’s low-interest disaster loans are available 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

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 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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When in Doubt, Register for Disaster Assistance

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