Disaster Recovery Center Opens for Three Days in Livingston Parish

BATON ROUGE, La. —  A second State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center will be open Saturday through Monday in Livingston Parish to assist homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained uninsured or underinsured damage to their home or personal property as a result of Hurricane Isaac.

Specialists from the state of Louisiana, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are on hand to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors.

The center is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday at:

            American Legion Hall

24195 Highway 22

Maurepas, LA 70449

The other recovery center, which opened Sept. 7, is located at the Satsuma Village Mall, 28975 S. Satsuma Rd., Suite D in Livingston. That one will remain open every day but Sunday until further notice.

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

SBA offers federal low-interest disaster loans to residents and businesses. After registering with FEMA, visit any Disaster Recovery Center where SBA representatives will answer questions, explain the application process and help each resident or business owner apply to SBA. For SBA information or to apply online, visit www.sba.gov or call 1-800-659-2955. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call 1-800-877-8339.

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

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.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of funding for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339).

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Disaster Recovery Center Opens for Three Days in Livingston Parish

One Year After Tropical Storm Irene, FEMA, State and Locals Continue to Support Recovery of Vermont’s Covered Bridges

ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. – One year after Tropical Storm Irene, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the State of Vermont and local communities continue to support recovery of Vermont’s Irene-battered covered bridges.

“The devastation to so many of Vermont’s covered bridges, which are such important remnants of the past, is heart-wrenching,” said FEMA Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer Steve Ward. “FEMA is honored to be involved in the process of restoring eligible covered bridges to as close to their pre-storm conditions as possible.”

FEMA will cover 90 percent of eligible recovery costs for qualifying bridge projects. Under the federal Public Assistance cost-share program, storm-impacted towns will fund five percent of the nonfederal share of recovery costs; as part of Vermont’s Emergency Relief and Assistance Fund, the state of Vermont will contribute five percent.

After nearly one year since Irene, some of Vermont’s storm-ravaged portals to the past have reopened, and many are scheduled to reopen.

Bowers Bridge, Brownsville

On Saturday, August 4, a celebratory crowd gathered at Bible Hill Road on Mill Brook in West Windsor. The group watched as a reconstructed Bowers Bridge, a beloved local relic, reclaimed the spot it had occupied for 92 years before Tropical Storm Irene.

During the storm, Irene-powered flood waters thrashed hay bales against the wall of the single-lane timber truss bridge, uprooting it from its historical location and washing it about 150 yards downstream to where it came to rest in a field. Rushing water eroded the south abutment of the bridge, including the foundation base.

Built 45-feet-long in 1919, Bowers Bridge is an example of English engineering known as tied arch construction. The technique involves butting two low, wooden arches, one on either side of the bridge. Steel rods drilled through the arches support the bridge’s roadbed.

To view a FEMA video about the Bowers Bridge, visit: http://home.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/7006.

Brown Covered Bridge, Shrewsbury

Irene caused a high velocity flow of the Cold River in Shrewsbury, where the Brown Covered Bridge had carried Upper Cold River Road traffic over the river since 1880. River overflow caused extreme erosion to the bridge’s 131-year old cedar plank siding.  

A FEMA video titled “It is Our Bridge” tells the bridge’s story, including first-hand accounts from residents like Shrewsbury’s Department of Emergency Management Director Irene Gordon.

“I was impressed with the background and knowledge of the FEMA people that came here,” Gordon said. “The engineer was quite knowledgeable and very thorough in her investigation. She made sure she saw everything that needed to be seen – even crawling under the bridge to make sure she knew what the abutments were, what different materials would be needed and what needed to be done to restore the bridge to its pre-storm condition.” 

To view “It is Our Bridge,” visit: http://twzr.info/medialibrary/media_records/7486.

Bartonsville Bridge, Rockingham

Reconstruction of Bartonsville Bridge is expected to continue into November. Fast flood waters of the Williams River during Tropical Storm Irene clobbered the Bartonsville Bridge, which was once one of the world’s oldest and longest.

The lattice-style bridge was built 15-feet-wide and 157-feet-long in 1870 to carry Pleasant Valley Road over the Williams River. It was one of the longest town lattice-style covered bridges in Vermont before Tropical Storm Irene.  

To raise funds to help cover some of the recovery costs, the town of Rockingham will host a barbecue at the site where Bartonsville Bridge stood before Irene. The event, which will be held on August 28, will also mark the one-year anniversary of the storm.

To learn more about the Bartonsville Bridge fundraiser and other Tropical Storm Irene anniversary events, visit: http://www.vermontdisasterrecovery.com/events/ireneanniversary.

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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Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at 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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One Year After Tropical Storm Irene, FEMA, State and Locals Continue to Support Recovery of Vermont’s Covered Bridges

Questions and Answers About FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant Program

BATON ROUGE, La. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program provides supplemental financial assistance to state and local government agencies, certain private nonprofit organizations and federally recognized tribal governments to help pay for response and recovery expenses incurred because of Hurricane Isaac. Assistance is available to eligible applicants in 55 Louisiana parishes.

What type of work is eligible for PA reimbursement? Two types of work are eligible:

  • Emergency Work including removal and disposal of disaster-related debris and emergency measures taken to protect lives and property before, during and after the storm
  • Permanent Repair to roads and bridges, water control facilities, public buildings and equipment, public utilities, and parks and recreational and other facilities that received disaster-related damage

What kinds of nonprofit organizations are eligible? Nonprofits that provide critical services to the public such as:

  • Hospitals and other medical treatment facilities
  • Fire, police and other emergency services
  • Power, water and sewer facilities
  • Educational institutions

And, those that provide essential services* to the public such as:

  • Libraries, museums and zoos
  • Community centers
  • Homeless shelters and rehabilitation centers
  • Senior citizen centers and daycare centers

*Private nonprofits that provide essential services are eligible for PA for emergency work. For permanent repairs they must apply to the U.S. Small Business Administration for a low-interest disaster loan before applying to FEMA.

Who manages the Public Assistance reimbursement program?

The PA program is based on a partnership among FEMA, the state and applicants. FEMA approves grants and provides technical assistance to the state and applicants. The state informs potential applicants about the process, works with FEMA to manage the program and is responsible for disbursing funds and monitoring the grants awarded. Applicants are responsible for identifying damage, providing information necessary for FEMA to approve grants, managing the funded projects and providing documentation to the state that project expenses have been paid.

Does FEMA reimburse 100 percent of eligible expenses?

FEMA’s PA program is a cost-sharing, reimbursement program. FEMA pays 75 percent of eligible costs and the state and/or applicant pays the remaining 25 percent.

What is the sequence of delivery for the PA process?

Submission – The state with FEMA support holds Applicant Briefings throughout the disaster-affected areas to provide an overview of the PA program and answer questions. Applicants usually have 30 days from the date of declaration or designation of the parish to submit a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. Applications are reviewed for eligibility by state and FEMA officials.

Approval – FEMA and state PA specialists meet individually with an applicant at a kick-off meeting to discuss specific needs. Teams visit damage sites and reach a consensus on work needed to return the site to pre-disaster condition.  Applicants have 60 days from kick-off to identify damage. A project worksheet is developed that outlines the scope of work, describes damages and dimensions and estimates the cost for the project. The project is reviewed by FEMA and state environmental and historic preservation specialists, and PA and mitigation specialists, to ensure it complies with all relevant state and federal regulations. If the project is approved it is funded. If the project is denied the applicant has 60 days to appeal the decision.

Emergency measure projects must be completed within 6 months of the declaration or designation of the parish. Permanent repair projects must be completed within 18 months of declaration or designation.

Reimbursement – FEMA provides the approved funds to the state. The state disburses the funds to the applicant. As the project proceeds, the applicant periodically requests funds from the state as invoices are submitted. The state holds the balance of funds until project completion.

Closeout – The state determines the final cost of accomplishing the eligible work and submits information on the completed project to FEMA. The state certifies the actual costs were incurred to complete the eligible work. Applicants must maintain records of completed work for three years after the official closeout. Projects are subject to state and federal audits.

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 www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

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.  Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6, the R6 Hurricane Preparedness website at www.fema.gov/about/regions/regionvi/updates.shtm and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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Questions and Answers About FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant Program

Questions and Answers About FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant Program

BATON ROUGE, La. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program provides supplemental financial assistance to state and local government agencies, certain private nonprofit organizations and federally recognized tribal governments to help pay for response and recovery expenses incurred because of Hurricane Isaac. Assistance is available to eligible applicants in 55 Louisiana parishes.

What type of work is eligible for PA reimbursement? Two types of work are eligible:

  • Emergency Work including removal and disposal of disaster-related debris and emergency measures taken to protect lives and property before, during and after the storm
  • Permanent Repair to roads and bridges, water control facilities, public buildings and equipment, public utilities, and parks and recreational and other facilities that received disaster-related damage

What kinds of nonprofit organizations are eligible? Nonprofits that provide critical services to the public such as:

  • Hospitals and other medical treatment facilities
  • Fire, police and other emergency services
  • Power, water and sewer facilities
  • Educational institutions

And, those that provide essential services* to the public such as:

  • Libraries, museums and zoos
  • Community centers
  • Homeless shelters and rehabilitation centers
  • Senior citizen centers and daycare centers

*Private nonprofits that provide essential services are eligible for PA for emergency work. For permanent repairs they must apply to the U.S. Small Business Administration for a low-interest disaster loan before applying to FEMA.

Who manages the Public Assistance reimbursement program?

The PA program is based on a partnership among FEMA, the state and applicants. FEMA approves grants and provides technical assistance to the state and applicants. The state informs potential applicants about the process, works with FEMA to manage the program and is responsible for disbursing funds and monitoring the grants awarded. Applicants are responsible for identifying damage, providing information necessary for FEMA to approve grants, managing the funded projects and providing documentation to the state that project expenses have been paid.

Does FEMA reimburse 100 percent of eligible expenses?

FEMA’s PA program is a cost-sharing, reimbursement program. FEMA pays 75 percent of eligible costs and the state and/or applicant pays the remaining 25 percent.

What is the sequence of delivery for the PA process?

Submission – The state with FEMA support holds Applicant Briefings throughout the disaster-affected areas to provide an overview of the PA program and answer questions. Applicants usually have 30 days from the date of declaration or designation of the parish to submit a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. Applications are reviewed for eligibility by state and FEMA officials.

Approval – FEMA and state PA specialists meet individually with an applicant at a kick-off meeting to discuss specific needs. Teams visit damage sites and reach a consensus on work needed to return the site to pre-disaster condition.  Applicants have 60 days from kick-off to identify damage. A project worksheet is developed that outlines the scope of work, describes damages and dimensions and estimates the cost for the project. The project is reviewed by FEMA and state environmental and historic preservation specialists, and PA and mitigation specialists, to ensure it complies with all relevant state and federal regulations. If the project is approved it is funded. If the project is denied the applicant has 60 days to appeal the decision.

Emergency measure projects must be completed within 6 months of the declaration or designation of the parish. Permanent repair projects must be completed within 18 months of declaration or designation.

Reimbursement – FEMA provides the approved funds to the state. The state disburses the funds to the applicant. As the project proceeds, the applicant periodically requests funds from the state as invoices are submitted. The state holds the balance of funds until project completion.

Closeout – The state determines the final cost of accomplishing the eligible work and submits information on the completed project to FEMA. The state certifies the actual costs were incurred to complete the eligible work. Applicants must maintain records of completed work for three years after the official closeout. Projects are subject to state and federal audits.

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 www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

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.  Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6, the R6 Hurricane Preparedness website at www.fema.gov/about/regions/regionvi/updates.shtm and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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Questions and Answers About FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant Program

FEMA Announces 2012 Community Resilience Innovation Challenge

WASHINGTON — Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that the application period is open for a new funding opportunity to build local resilience, through a Whole Community approach, in communities across America: the Community Resilience Innovation Challenge.

Though National Preparedness Month comes to a close at the end of September, FEMA and its partners know that preparedness must continue in communities year-round. This new opportunity is designed to continue to move community preparedness forward and assist local areas in building and revitalizing community-based partnerships to advance the nation’s resilience to disasters.

“The best resiliency ideas originate in our states and communities – not from Washington, DC,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “The goal of this program is to empower communities to collaborate and develop innovative ways to effectively respond to disasters.”

The opportunity is provided through the Rockefeller Foundation and FEMA and will be administered by the Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Foundation who will act as a third-party intermediary to encourage local communities to engage in creative activities that enhance disaster resilience. Funding levels will range, with a maximum award of $35,000, and applications are open to most local, state, and tribal agencies and governments; business entities; associations; organizations and groups. Submissions will be accepted through October 26.

Key assessment areas for the awards will be the applicants’ demonstration that their approach to community resilience is innovative, collaborative with community stakeholders, sustainable, repeatable—in that the approach enables other communities to replicate their successful outcomes—and  beneficial to the community in measurable ways. 

FEMA recognizes that a government-centric approach to disaster management is insufficient to meet the challenges posed by a catastrophic incident. To meet our Nation’s preparedness goals, the Whole Community must be actively involved in all phases of the preparedness, response, and recovery cycle. These awards are designed to invest in and enhance the Whole Community effort.

Additional information on the Challenge program criteria and application process can be found at www.fema.gov and www.ResilienceChallenge.org.  

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

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FEMA Announces 2012 Community Resilience Innovation Challenge

Follow Community Guidelines on Debris Cleanup

BATON ROUGE, La. – As survivors of Hurricane Isaac continue cleaning up after the storm, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urges everyone to check with their local officials regarding their community’s plan for storm debris cleanup and disposal.

“Our first recommendation is for everyone to carefully follow the community’s guidelines,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall. “Debris created by a hurricane has unique challenges and we want everyone to help clean up and start getting their neighborhoods back to normal. But, we want them to do it safely.”

To get current information about the types and schedules of debris disposal, storm survivors should contact their local officials, city or parish waste disposal online sites, or local waste-disposal agency.

Affected communities have varying methods of disposing of storm debris.  That debris may include: household garbage; construction debris such as wood, drywall and carpet; household hazardous waste such as motor oil and batteries; vegetation debris; electronic items; and white goods such as refrigerators, washers and dryers, and air conditioners. Residents should clearly mark the contents on the debris containers.

If your community offers curbside pickup, please leave all household debris at the curbside.  Do not leave debris leaning against trees or poles or on private property, as this makes it harder to retrieve the debris.

If a community does not offer curbside pickup, residents should contact local officials for instructions.

Survivors can register for disaster aid 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 daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

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.

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.  Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6, the R6 Hurricane Preparedness website at www.fema.gov/about/regions/regionvi/updates.shtm and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

Continued: 

Follow Community Guidelines on Debris Cleanup

President Declares Major Disaster for the State of Washington

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 Washington to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe storm, straight-line winds and flooding on July 20, 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 the severe storm, straight-line winds, and flooding in Ferry and Okanogan counties and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

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

Kenneth K. Suiso has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.  Suiso 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.

See the article here:

President Declares Major Disaster for the State of Washington

Recovering Important Records Burned in Creek County Wildfire

OKLAHOMA CITY–The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offer the following contact information to help Creek County residents who need to replace important documents lost in the wildfire:

• Oklahoma birth certificate: call the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Records Service at 405-271-4040, Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. or visit www.ok.gov/health/Birth_and_Death_Certificates for more information.
• Social Security card: call the U.S. Social Security office at 800-772-1213, Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m.-7 p.m. For TTY call 800-325-0778 or visit www.ssa.gov/ssnumber for more information.
• Driver’s license and/or state-issued identification card: visit your nearest Driver License office or call the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety at 405-425-2300, Mon.-Fri., 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. or visit www.dps.state.ok.us/dls for more information.
• Federal tax records: call toll-free 800-829-1040, Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., or visit www.irs.gov.
• Oklahoma tax records: call toll-free (in Oklahoma) 800-522-8165, Mon.-Fri., 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., or visit www.tax.ok.gov.

Residents can contact their local utility company, financial institution or insurance provider and speak with a customer service representative for copies of their most recent records. The utility company should be able to provide the most recent utility bill; the bank, credit union, or savings and loan should provide copies of bank statements, loan applications, and mortgage payment receipts; and insurance companies should provide insurance policies, recent billing statements, and cash-value statements.

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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Recovering Important Records Burned in Creek County Wildfire

Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Jefferson Parish

BATON ROUGE, La. —  Two State/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Jefferson Parish through Oct. 2 to assist homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained damage to their home or personal property as a result of Hurricane Isaac.

The recovery centers are located at:

Marrero

 5801 Leo Kerner Pkwy.

 Marrero, LA 70072

Jefferson

            6716 W Metairie Ave.

  Metairie, LA 70003

The centers are open every day except Sunday through Oct. 2. Hours for both centers are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

At the recovery centers, hurricane survivors in Jefferson Parish can speak directly with federal specialists who can provide answers to their questions about the types of assistance available to eligible applicants, check on the status of a survivor’s application, provide answers about ineligibility letters and filing an appeal, and explain other programs that may be available to them. The agency representatives do not distribute cash, checks or debit cards.

“Visiting a center is a great opportunity for people to talk with recovery specialists and get questions answered,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall. “Although it’s a good idea to register with FEMA before visiting a center, these caring professionals are there to walk you through the process if you need help.”

Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will be on hand to answer questions, explain the application process and help each resident or business owner apply to SBA. For SBA information or to apply online, visit www.sba.gov or call 1-800-659-2955. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call 1-800-877-8339.

Survivors can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585.  If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

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.

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.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of funding for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339).

Continue at source – 

Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Jefferson Parish

FEMA Reaches Out to Survivors with Lapsed Flood Insurance

BATON ROUGE, La. — After receiving federal assistance for past disaster-declared storms and hurricanes, thousands of Louisianians were required to purchase flood insurance policies through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programs. In the Hurricane Isaac disaster, FEMA is reaching out to survivors who let those policies lapse.

The insurance policy, issued under a FEMA Group Flood Insurance Policy, is a three-year, nonrenewable, group flood policy funded by a portion of the survivor’s FEMA grant money. After the policy expires, renters and homeowners are required to purchase and maintain a flood insurance policy from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to continue their insurance protection.

Applicants who did not maintain the required flood insurance coverage for their previously damaged homes are not eligible for disaster loans or grants to repair that same property after Hurricane Isaac.

Survivors may, however, still be eligible for grants to pay for rental assistance, other serious disaster-related expenses and Transitional Sheltering Assistance, which may allow families to stay in a hotel for a limited period of time.

“FEMA and our partners in the community may have some programs to help Louisianians who were not able to keep flood insurance coverage for properties damaged during previous storms,” said Mike Hall, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer. “We encourage you to register and find what assistance is available to you.”

FEMA recently opened a Hurricane Isaac Flood Insurance Call Center for use by storm survivors who have questions or concerns about flood insurance or flood insurance adjusters. The toll-free number is 1-866-331-1679. The call center is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.

Currently, more than 486,000 Louisianians have flood insurance protection, representing nearly $112 billion in coverage through the NFIP. To date, this program has paid out more than $49 million in claims for Hurricane Isaac.

Applying for disaster assistance is quick and simple. 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.

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.

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.

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FEMA Reaches Out to Survivors with Lapsed Flood Insurance

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