Disaster Recovery: How Texans Can Volunteer and Help Texas Survivors

AUSTIN, Texas — In the face of disaster, Texans always come together with courage, compassion and unity to ask, “How can I help?”

If you want to volunteer for disaster work, there are many tasks that can aid in recovery – cleaning-up and rebuilding are two of the biggest. The Federal Emergency Management Agency suggests that volunteering through a local voluntary organization may be the best way to find meaningful volunteer work after the disaster.

Such organizations are often in the best position to know about opportunities for immediate volunteer needs as well as volunteers in the long and difficult recovery phase. In addition, going through an established organization provides a better chance of having insurance and liability protection when you work as a volunteer.

The Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (TXVOAD) is a good source to find the local organizations in need of volunteers. TXVOAD represents more than three dozen faith-based, community, nonprofit and non-governmental groups that include volunteer engagement as a key component of their operations. Showing up at a disaster site unexpectedly can create an additional burden for first responders. If you want to help, it is advised to first reach out to an organization that is coordinating recovery needs in your community.

For a complete list of these organizations, with links to their websites, visit Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.

In the immediate disaster response period there are often many people who want to volunteer at the same time. Be patient because it may not be clear until weeks after the incident how volunteers can get involved. There are often greater needs for volunteer help when the community enters the long-term recovery period which can be weeks or even months after a disaster.

Texans can learn more about volunteering and the benefits of volunteering during a disaster by viewing this video at go.usa.gov/cuX3V.

If you cannot volunteer your time or talent, FEMA officials say making a donation to an organization involved in disaster recovery is a sensible, efficient way of helping the people in need. Cash contributions to volunteer organizations make good sense for a number of reasons:

  • Financial contributions help ensure a steady flow of important services to disaster survivors in need;

  • Local organizations spend the money in the local disaster area, accelerating recovery of the local economy;

  • Cash donations – rather than unsolicited donated goods – avoid the complicated, costly and time-consuming process of collecting, transporting and distributing the goods; and

  • With a receipt, cash donations to recognized relief organizations are tax-deductible.

If a disaster survivor has needs, they can call 211 to be matched with a volunteer group that can help.

For more information on Texas recovery, visit us at Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

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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 – 

Disaster Recovery: How Texans Can Volunteer and Help Texas Survivors

President Declares Major Disaster for the Republic of the Marshall Islands

WASHINGTON –The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available under the Compact of Free Association between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as amended, due to ongoing severe drought.  

The President’s action makes federal funding available for U.S. Government emergency relief and reconstruction assistance to the Republic of the Marshall Islands in accordance with Public Law 108-188, as amended, including Article X of the Federal Programs and Services Agreement to the Compact of Free Association.  Republic of the Marshall Islands President Heine requested a disaster declaration on April 1, 2016.

The United States Agency for International Development’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance will coordinate U.S. Government disaster assistance efforts in conjunction with FEMA and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

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. 

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.

More here: 

President Declares Major Disaster for the Republic of the Marshall Islands

Mitigation Advice Available at Olive Branch Home Depot

RIDGELAND, Miss. – Are you repairing or rebuilding damaged property? Have questions about flood insurance? Want to protect your property from potential loss or damage from future disasters? Federal Emergency Management Agency mitigation specialists are in Olive Branch to answer questions on building stronger.

Advisers are available April 28 to May 3 at the Home Depot at 7740 Craft Goodman Road in Olive Branch. They will be in the store today from noon to 7 p.m. and Friday through Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information on Mississippi’s flood recovery, go to fema.gov/disaster/4268 or visit the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency site at msema.org.

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

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

 

Originally from – 

Mitigation Advice Available at Olive Branch Home Depot

FEMA Offers Advice for Texans on Lessening Disaster Damage in Gregg County

AUSTIN, Texas – A team of specialists from FEMA will offer tips and techniques to lessen the impact of disaster-related property damage at Hardin True Value in Gregg County.

 

Specialists will be available at the following location:

 

Hardin True Value, 106 Delwood Drive, Longview, TX 75605

Available: 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 28-29; 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday April 30; and 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, May 2-3

 

FEMA Mitigation specialists will be on hand to answer questions and offer home improvement tips to reduce damage in future disasters. Information is geared to both do-it-yourselfers and general contractors on topics such as storm shelters and safe rooms.

 

Booklets are available in both English and Spanish on protecting your home from flood damage and other natural disasters. If you are a person with a disability and need an accommodation to access materials such as Braille, large print, or ASL interpreters, please let our representatives know.  More information about strengthening property can be found at fema.gov/what-mitigation and fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation.

FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has a call center to answer policyholder questions, service claims, provide general information and offer technical assistance. To speak with a flood insurance specialist, call 800-621-3362 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

 

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage at fema.gov/disaster/4266, Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

 

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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.

 

Read this article:

FEMA Offers Advice for Texans on Lessening Disaster Damage in Gregg County

April Storms and Flooding: Texans in Four Counties Can Now Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance

AUSTIN, Texas – Texans who sustained damage or losses from the storms and flooding that

occurred April 17-24 can now register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency

Management Agency.

The presidential disaster declaration of April 25 makes federal assistance available to eligible

individuals and households in four Texas counties: Fayette, Grimes, Harris, and Parker.

Survivors can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362 or (TTY)

800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call 800-621-3362.

Multilingual operators are available. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.,

seven days a week.

Applicants will be asked for the following information:

  • Social Security number;
  • Address of the damaged primary residence;
  • Description of the damage;
  • Information about insurance coverage;
  • A current contact telephone number;
  • An address where they can receive mail; and
  • A bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.

Before starting repairs or rebuilding a home or business, it is important to contact your local

building code official or floodplain manager.

Visit www.fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation for free publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger.

For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4269, Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

More here – 

April Storms and Flooding: Texans in Four Counties Can Now Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance

Vernon Parish Disaster Survivors Can Get Rebuilding Tips at a Local Home Improvement Center

Baton Rouge, La. — Disaster Survivors from Vernon Parish who are rebuilding after the March 8 – April 8 severe storms and floods can receive a free consultation with hazard mitigation specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The mitigation representatives will be available at Lowe’s Home Improvement in Leesville from Tuesday, April 26 until Saturday, April 30.

The mitigation specialists will answer questions about protecting homes from future disaster-related damage, as well as offer tips and techniques to build hazard resistant homes. Most of the information and the free publications provided are geared for do-it-yourself work and general contractors.

Recovery topics to be covered include roof repair and rebuilding flooded homes.

The store location is as follows:

Lowe’s Home Improvement
2200 Mcrae St.
Leesville, La.

The mitigation specialists will be available on Tuesday, April 26 to Saturday, April 30 from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Survivors can register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. They may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

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We urge everyone to continue to use caution in areas where floodwaters remain. Monitor DOTD’s www.511la.org website for updated road closure information. Look for advisories from your local authorities and emergency managers. You can find the latest information on the state’s response at www.emergency.la.gov. GOHSEP also provides information at www.gohsep.la.gov, Facebook and Twitter. You can receive emergency alerts on most smartphones and tablets by downloading the new Alert FM App. It is free for basic service. You can also download the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide and find other information at www.getagameplan.org.

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). If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

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 twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover 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. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

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This article is from – 

Vernon Parish Disaster Survivors Can Get Rebuilding Tips at a Local Home Improvement Center

Temporary Housing Help Available from FEMA for Displaced Survivors

JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippians whose homes were destroyed or made unlivable by the recent storms and flooding can turn to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance.

FEMA and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, as well as local communities, are committed to helping survivors find options for safe housing following the disaster that began March 9. FEMA also wants to help survivors return to their homes.

Those who are unable to remain in their homes made unsafe, unlivable or inaccessible by the disaster, can contact FEMA for assistance in finding temporary housing. Financial assistance for renting temporary housing is available for eligible survivors.

To be considered eligible, survivors first must register with FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling FEMA’s Helpline (voice, 711 or relay service) at 800-621-3362. (TTY users should call 800-462-7585.) The toll-free lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

Other eligibility requirements include:

  • Proof that the primary residence is unsafe, unlivable or uninhabitable and within the disaster-designated county;

  • Insured survivors must have filed for insurance benefits and found that the damage to the property is not covered by insurance, the insurance settlement is insufficient or the settlement has not yet been received.

  • Damage must have occurred between March 9 and 29, 2016.

FEMA rental assistance is temporary and is not designed to be a permanent housing option. Rental assistance serves as a bridge until survivors secure permanent housing.

The U.S. Small Business Administration can provide long-term rebuilding assistance in the form of low-interest disaster loans to qualified individuals in their recovery.

Businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters may obtain information on SBA disaster loan applications by calling 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the hard of hearing) or by visiting SBA.gov. Survivors may also apply for disaster loans at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Both FEMA and SBA are prohibited by law from duplicating insurance benefits. But, if the survivor’s insurance falls short of meeting the need, the survivor may be eligible for help from either or both agencies.

For more information on Mississippi’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster4268 and msema.org.

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

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is the federal government’s primary source of money to help business of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters rebuild and recover after a disaster. SBA low interest disaster loans repair and replace property losses not fully compensated by insurance and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

 

 

 

 

From – 

Temporary Housing Help Available from FEMA for Displaced Survivors

FEMA, NWS Urge Families and Communities to Take Steps to Prepare for Hazards

Officials Encourage Individuals to Register to Participate in an Exercise or Drill, Make a Family Communication Plan, Download Alerts and Know Local Hazards

WASHINGTON – Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) National Weather Service (NWS) urge Americans to take actions to prepare for a wide array of hazards by developing a family communication plan and downloading alerts and learning about local hazards. FEMA is encouraging people to take these actions in conjunction with America’s PrepareAthon!SM, a grassroots, community-based campaign for action designed to increase preparedness and resilience.

America’s PrepareAthon! provides an important opportunity for individuals, organizations and communities to take action to prepare for specific hazards through group discussions, drills and exercises. Visit the America’s PrepareAthon! website, ready.gov/prepare, to register your participation, for more information, and to sign up.

“Some disasters come with warning and others with little or no warning,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “Families, businesses and organizations need to prepare today – know your hazards, assemble supplies and practice what to do in case a disaster strikes.”

According to NOAA, flooding, which can occur anywhere in America, proved to be the most costly hazard in 2015, costing more than $2.7 billion in damages. Natural disasters left a destructive mark in 2015, putting people at risk and causing approximately $4.8 billion in damages.

“People can improve America’s resilience to extreme weather by knowing their risk, having quick access to weather forecasts and making a plan to follow when forecasters issue a warning,” said Louis W. Uccellini, Ph.D., director of NOAA’s NWS. “We urge everyone to take a moment this weekend to review weather safety information, develop or update their family communication plan and check to make sure their emergency kit is ready for severe weather season.

FEMA offers free, easy-to-use guides, checklists and resources to help individuals, organizations and communities practice the simple, specific actions they can take for emergencies relevant to their area. Examples include:

  1. Create a family emergency communication plan. Visit ready.gov/prepare and download Be Smart. Take Part: Create Your Family Emergency Communication Plan. Collect the information you need, decide on the places you will meet in case of an emergency, share the information with your family and practice your plan. 
  2. Download the FEMA app for disaster resources, weather alerts and safety tips. Earlier this month, FEMA launched a new feature to its free smartphone app that will enable users to receive push notifications to their devices to remind them to take important steps to prepare their homes and families for disasters. The app also provides a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, maps of open shelters and open recovery centers, tips on how to survive natural and manmade disasters, and weather alerts from NWS for up to five locations across the nation.
  3. Sign up for local text alerts and warnings, get the latest forecast at weather.gov and download weather apps to stay aware of worsening weather conditions. Visit ready.gov/prepare and download Be Smart: Know Your Alerts and Warnings to learn how sign up for local alerts and weather apps that are relevant for hazards that affect your area.
  4. Gather important documents and keep them in a safe place. Have all of your personal, medical and legal papers in one place, so you can evacuate without worrying about gathering your family’s critical documents at the last minute. Visit ready.gov/prepare and download Be Smart: Protect Your Critical Documents and Valuables for a helpful checklist.

 

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America’s PrepareAthon! was established to provide a comprehensive campaign to build and sustain national preparedness as directed by Presidential Policy Directive-8. The campaign is coordinated by FEMA in collaboration with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments; the private sector; and non-governmental organizations.

Taken from – 

FEMA, NWS Urge Families and Communities to Take Steps to Prepare for Hazards

Richland Parish Disaster Survivors Can Get Rebuilding Tips at a Local Home Improvement Center

Richland Parish Disaster Survivors Can Get Rebuilding Tips at a Local Home Improvement Center

Baton Rouge, La. — Disaster survivors from Richland Parish who are rebuilding after the March severe storms and floods can receive a free consultation with hazard mitigation specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The mitigation representatives will be available at Home Hardware Center in Rayville from Monday, April 25 until Saturday, April 30.

The mitigation specialists can answer questions about protecting homes from future disaster-related damage, as well as offer tips and techniques to build hazard resistant homes. Most of the information and the free publications provided are geared for do-it-yourself work and general contractors.

Recovery topics to be covered include roof repair and rebuilding flooded homes.

The store location is as follows:

Home Hardware Center
2004 South Julia St.
Rayville, La

The mitigation specialists will be available on Monday, April 25 to Friday, April 29 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 30 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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

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We urge everyone to continue to use caution in areas where floodwaters remain. Monitor DOTD’s www.511la.org website for updated road closure information. Look for advisories from your local authorities and emergency managers. You can find the latest information on the state’s response at www.emergency.la.gov. GOHSEP also provides information at www.gohsep.la.gov, Facebook and Twitter. You can receive emergency alerts on most smartphones and tablets by downloading the new Alert FM App. It is free for basic service. You can also download the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide and find other information at www.getagameplan.org.

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). If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

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 twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover 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. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

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Originally from: 

Richland Parish Disaster Survivors Can Get Rebuilding Tips at a Local Home Improvement Center

FEMA Offers Advice for Texans on Lessening Storm Damage in Jasper County

AUSTIN, Texas – A team of specialists from FEMA will offer tips and techniques to lessen the impact of disaster-related property damage at Lowe’s Home Improvement store in Jasper County.

Specialists will be available at the following location:

Lowe’s: 900 W Gibson, Jasper, TX 75951

Available: 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 15; 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 16 and 17; and 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, April 18 and 19.  

FEMA Mitigation specialists will be on hand to answer questions and offer home improvement tips to reduce damage in future disasters. Information is geared to both do-it-yourselfers and general contractors on topics such as storm shelters and safe rooms.

Booklets are available in both English and Spanish on protecting your home from flood damage and other natural disasters. If you are a person with a disability and need an accommodation to access materials such as Braille, large print, or ASL interpreters, please let our representatives know.  More information about strengthening property can be found at http://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation and www.fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation.

FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has a call center to answer policyholder questions, service claims, provide general information and offer technical assistance. To speak with a flood insurance specialist, call 800-621-3362 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage at http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4266, Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

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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 original: 

FEMA Offers Advice for Texans on Lessening Storm Damage in Jasper County

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