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Federal Low-Interest Disaster Loans Offered to Texas Storm Survivors

AUSTIN, Texas – Most Texans who have registered for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), following the October severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding, will receive an automated phone call from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

FEMA grants may not cover all damage or property loss. Private insurance and low-interest loans from the SBA are major sources of additional funding for disaster recovery.

The recorded message gives instructions on how to request an application for a low-interest disaster loan. Loans are available to help disaster survivors – including businesses, private non-profits, homeowners and renters with recovery efforts – in their recovery efforts.

Businesses of all sizes and nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

SBA also offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available to businesses regardless of any property damage.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

SBA provides one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants at any of the Disaster Recovery Centers in the affected area. Additional information is available online at sba.gov/disaster or by calling SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955. Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons may call 800-877-8339.

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, SBA encourages survivors to first register with FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone (voice, 711 or relay service) at 800-621-3362. TTY users should call 800-462-7585. The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

The presidential disaster declaration of Nov. 25 makes federal assistance available to eligible individuals and business owners in 16 counties: Bastrop, Brazoria, Caldwell, Cameron, Comal, Galveston, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Hays, Hidalgo, Liberty, Navarro, Travis, Willacy and Wilson.

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Federal Low-Interest Disaster Loans Offered to Texas Storm Survivors

Multiagency Team Working to Reduce Erosion and Flooding Threat in Eastern Washington

CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Washington’s devastating 2014 and 2015 wildfire seasons put vast areas of the state at risk of erosion and flooding, posing additional dangers to residents and communities. Today, a collaborative effort among all levels of government is finding ways to reduce that risk.

On Dec. 15-17, 2015, the Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division (EMD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will host a three-day workshop in Wenatchee to address topics such as assessments of burned areas in Eastern Washington, efforts already undertaken to reduce threats, analysis of unmet needs, and potential funding sources for new efforts to protect people and infrastructure.

The workshop will bring together partners on the Erosion Threat Assessment/Reduction Team, or ETART, a group first formed following Washington’s Carlton Complex Fire of 2014 and reactivated following the Oct. 20, 2015, federal disaster declaration for this summer’s historic wildfires.

Federal participants on the ETART include FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Weather Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, among others.

The state and local partners include Washington EMD, the Washington State Conservation Commission, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Okanagan and Whatcom conservation districts.

ETART relies on reports and assessments developed by various Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams. BAER is a process created by the U.S. Forest Service and modified and used by several local teams to determine erosion risks and recommend appropriate treatments.

“When the land is stripped of trees and other vegetation by fire, healthy roots that soak up rainwater are lost,” said Anna Daggett, FEMA’s ETART coordinator. “Even moderate rain on burn scars can cause flash flooding or debris flows that can severely damage infrastructure, homes and businesses downstream.”

After the president issued a major disaster declaration for the 2014 Carlton Complex Fire, FEMA’s Public Assistance program provided about $2.4 million in grants targeted specifically for ETART-identified projects to reduce immediate threats of significant additional damage to improved public or private property. The federal share amounted to 75 percent of the total cost of $3.2 million for these projects. The state and local partners covered 25 percent, or $800,000.

ETART assessments provided important information to EMD and FEMA to justify these grants.

The 2014 measures were able to reduce substantially the effects of the wildfires by clearing culverts and ditches of debris, installing straw wattles to counter erosion, shoring up breached pond dams, and spreading grass seed over vast areas that had burned.

“ETART has shown to be an effective way to address post-fire dangers,’ said Gary Urbas, EMD’s ETART coordinator. “Merging the work of so many experienced partners allows the team to tackle tough problems in our state.”

ETART now will be looking for additional financing streams, including other FEMA and federal programs as well as local and state sources, with the goal of significantly reducing damages resulting from post-fire flooding and erosion in Eastern Washington.

More information about the PA program is available at www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit and on the Washington EMD website at http://mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division/disaster-assistance/public-assistance.

Additional information regarding the federal response to the 2015 wildfire disaster, including funds obligated, is available at www.fema.gov/disaster/4243.

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Multiagency Team Working to Reduce Erosion and Flooding Threat in Eastern Washington

Help Remains Available After Disaster Recovery Center Closes in Bishopville

COLUMBIA, S.C. – One disaster recovery center will close Saturday, Dec. 12 at 3 p.m.:

Recreation Center at 397 Chappell Drive in Bishopville

Applicants in Bishopville may still visit other recovery centers to ask disaster assistance questions. They can locate their closest center by visiting asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

Representatives from the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration and other agencies are at centers to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest loans.

Many services available at disaster recovery centers are also available by calling the FEMA helpline. Applicants can get help by calling 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585; those who use 711/VRS can call 800-621-3362. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

For the latest information on South Carolina flood recovery operations, visit scemd.org and fema.gov/disaster/4241.

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Help Remains Available After Disaster Recovery Center Closes in Bishopville

Cameron County Joins Texas Disaster Declaration

AUSTIN, Texas – At the request of the state, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has added Cameron County to the Texas disaster declaration of Nov. 25. The counties now designated for Individual Assistance include Bastrop, Brazoria, Caldwell, Cameron, Comal, Galveston, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Hays, Hidalgo, Liberty, Navarro, Travis, Willacy and Wilson Counties.

Homeowners and renters with damage or loss as a result of the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred Oct. 22 to Oct. 31 may immediately register for disaster assistance.

Survivors can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone (voice, 711 or relay service) at 800-621-3362. TTY users should call 800-462-7585. The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Applicants will be asked to provide:

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
Bank account and routing numbers for those preferring direct deposit of funds

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are available for businesses of all sizes (including landlords), private nonprofits, homeowners and renters. Disaster loans help to fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. Economic Injury disaster loans are available to businesses and private-nonprofits to assist with working capital needs as a direct result of the disaster.

Eligible survivors should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but under-insured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

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All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).

The SBA 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.

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

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Cameron County Joins Texas Disaster Declaration

Long-Term Recovery Groups Provide Safety Net for Calaveras and Lake County Wildfire Survivors

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – To date, $27 million in total federal assistance has made a large impact on helping survivors of the Butte and Valley wildfires repair and rebuild. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) know it takes a whole community effort to recover.

When personal resources, insurance, and government loans and grants are not sufficient to meet the needs of disaster survivors, local long-term recovery groups (LTRG) are formed to provide safety nets.

LTRGs are coordinated with support from Cal OES and FEMA to help individuals, families, and their communities recover. These groups, which are comprised of representatives from local, state, non-profit, and faith-based organizations, help identify the unmet needs of individuals and families.

“Calaveras Recovers” and “Team Lake County” have established themselves as the LTRGs in their respective counties. Each team consists of organizations that can bring experience, money, manpower, and material to assist with recovery needs. They have executive boards, mission statements, by-laws and subcommittees. Fiduciary sponsors participate to ensure monetary donations are properly managed.

The LTRGs organize community volunteers; provide technical assistance to help nonprofit organizations access whole community resources; and assist in determining the most effective and efficient recovery strategies.

“These LTRGs bring together a wealth of local knowledge, from what people are lacking, to who can provide the help. They truly are a safety net for disaster survivors,” said Tim Scranton, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer for the fires in Calaveras and Lake Counties.

“The services and information provided by LTRGs is another valuable resource to help wildfire survivors recover,” said Charles Rabamad, California’s deputy state coordinating officer for the wildfires.

Backing and guiding the LTRGs are the Voluntary Agency Liaisons (VAL). VALs, consisting of state and FEMA representatives, serve as a source of knowledge for LTRGs based on years of providing disaster recovery efforts and addressing unmet needs.

An LTRG team that is well integrated with local emergency management and is following best practices can have a dramatic positive impact on community recovery. It can become an ongoing resource to address unmet survivor needs, support community efforts to recover, and increase awareness of hazard mitigation measures.

Calaveras Recovers has established a website, www.calaverasrecovers.net, to maintain communication with the public. Site visitors can learn about meetings and see the list of LTRG member organizations.

Team Lake County has created a public Facebook page, www.facebook.com/teamlakecounty, which enables conversation and comments from viewers. Facebook membership is not required. A website is available at www.teamlakecounty.org.

For more information on California’s wildfire recovery, visit: caloes.ca.gov or fema.gov/disaster/4240 and follow us on Twitter @femaregion9 and @Cal_OES and on Facebook at facebook.com/FEMA and facebook.com/CaliforniaOES.

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

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Long-Term Recovery Groups Provide Safety Net for Calaveras and Lake County Wildfire Survivors

FEMA Extends South Carolina’s Disaster Assistance Application Deadline

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The deadline for survivors of South Carolina’s historic floods to register for Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster assistance has been extended an additional 30 days to Jan. 3, 2016.

The extension agreed upon by the state and FEMA is for survivors living in 24 counties designated for FEMA’s Individuals and Households Assistance program: Bamberg, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dorchester, Fairfield, Florence, Georgetown, Greenville, Greenwood, Horry, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, Marion, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, Spartanburg, Sumter and Williamsburg.

Federal disaster assistance for individuals and families may include money for temporary housing; rental assistance; emergency home repairs; personal property losses; medical, dental and funeral expenses; and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance.

There are several ways to register. Individuals may register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585 toll free from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Survivors who use 711 or Video Relay Service or require accommodations while visiting a disaster recovery center may call 800-621-3362.

Survivors may also register at a disaster recovery center. They can locate their closest center by visiting asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

For more information on South Carolina’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4241.

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FEMA Extends South Carolina’s Disaster Assistance Application Deadline

Texas Receives Federal Disaster Declaration; Texans Urged to Apply for Disaster Aid

Texas Receives Federal Disaster Declaration; Texans Urged to Apply for Disaster Aid

DENTON, Texas – Texans affected by the recent severe storms should register now with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

President Barack Obama issued a major disaster declaration Nov. 25 for 15 Texas counties. It makes federal Individual Assistance available to eligible families, individuals, renters and business owners in Bastrop, Brazoria, Caldwell, Comal, Galveston, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Hays, Hidalgo, Liberty, Navarro, Travis, Willacy and Wilson counties.

People in these 15 counties who had damage from the Oct. 22-31 storms can register for FEMA assistance three ways:

Online, or via smartphone or web-enabled device, at www.DisasterAssistance.gov;
By calling 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. The registration hotline will be open on Thanksgiving Day.

Assistance for eligible survivors can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs. Long-term, low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also may be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if the person has registered with another disaster-relief organization such as the American Red Cross, or local community or church organization. FEMA registrants must use the name that appears on their Social Security card. Applicants will be asked to provide:

Social Security number
Address of the damaged home or apartment
Description of the damage
Information about insurance coverage
A current contact telephone number
An address where they can get mail
Bank account and routing numbers if they want direct deposit of any financial assistance.

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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. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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 non-profit organizations 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 Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800)877-8339.

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Texas Receives Federal Disaster Declaration; Texans Urged to Apply for Disaster Aid

President declares major disaster for Texas

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 Texas to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of October 22-31, 2015.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Bastrop, Brazoria, Caldwell, Comal, Galveston, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Hays, Hidalgo, Liberty, Navarro, Travis, Willacy, and Wilson counties.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

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

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance today by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov. 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 will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

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.

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President declares major disaster for Texas

FEMA Reminds Survivors: One Call Gets You In

COLUMBIA, S.C. –Survivors of South Carolina flooding Oct. 1-23 can get help with one phone call.

Call the Federal Emergency Management Agency helpline at 800-621-3362 for information about many federal disaster assistance-related matters. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Survivors who use TTY may call 800-462-7585; those who use 711/VRS can call 800-621-3362. They can also visit www.disasterassistance.gov.

During the holiday period, FEMA encourages residents to assist South Carolina recovery by passing along to those affected by storms and flooding the various ways the helpline can assist them. They can:

Register for federal disaster assistance by the Friday, Dec. 4 deadline. FEMA allows one registration per household. Households should register only once.
Ask questions about FEMA decision letters.
Learn how to appeal FEMA decision letters. All applicants may appeal.
Inquire about the status of a registration.
Provide change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information to avoid disaster assistance processing delays.
Receive information about FEMA home inspections.
Get questions answered about federal disaster assistance and the application process.

Applicants should have their nine-digit FEMA registration number available if they want to discuss their application.

Survivors should have the following information before registering:

Date of loss
Social Security number
Current mailing address and damaged home address, including Zip Codes
Telephone numbers
Names of household members at the time of the disaster
Insurance information
Total gross income for the household
Bank account numbers if they want to have money deposited directly if eligible
Loss descriptions

For the latest information on South Carolina flood recovery operations, visit scemd.org and fema.gov/disaster/4241.

FEMA Reminds Survivors: One Call Gets You In

FEMA Mitigation Advisers Offer Guidance to Flood Survivors in Dorchester County

COLUMBIA, S.C. – As South Carolinians rebuild and repair after the recent historic floods, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and local home improvement stores have teamed up to provide free information, tips and literature on making homes stronger and safer.

FEMA mitigation specialists will be on hand in Dorchester County to answer questions and offer home improvement tips to prevent and lessen damage from future disasters. Most of the information is geared towards do-it-yourself work and general contractors.

Advisers will be available at two locations through Nov. 24. Hours and locations are as follows:

Lowe’s located at 1207 North Main St. in Summerville (Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Monday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Tuesday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Ace located at 713 Old Trolley Road in Summerville (Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Monday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Tuesday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

Mitigation teams will also have free reference booklets in English and Spanish on protecting your home from flood damage. More information about strengthening property can be found at fema.gov/what-mitigation.