CHICAGO – Illinois residents who are not United States citizens may be eligible for federal disaster assistance for damage from the severe storms and flooding between April 16 and May 5.

Only one member of a household needs to be eligible to qualify the entire household for assistance, so parents and guardians may apply for aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on behalf of a minor child who was born here. The child’s information, including his or her social security number, will be needed to register for assistance.

Any citizen living in the affected household can apply for FEMA aid. FEMA does not collect information on the immigration status of other household members who are not registering for disaster assistance.

Non-citizen nationals, including those born in American Samoa or Swains Island, or those whose parents are U.S. non-citizen nationals (subject to certain residency requirements) also may qualify to register.

Applying for FEMA disaster assistance will not affect one’s eligibility to become a U.S. citizen.

Undocumented immigrants from a household with no one eligible to apply for federal financial assistance may still be eligible for programs run by state, local or voluntary agencies.

Those in the United States with temporary tourist visas, student visas, work visas and temporary resident cards are not eligible for disaster assistance.

To register for disaster assistance, go to www.disasterassistance.gov, via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov or 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 numbers operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Under the presidential declaration, disaster assistance is available for residents in the following counties: Bureau, Cook, Crawford, DeKalb, DuPage, Fulton, Grundy, Henderson, Kane, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, Peoria, Rock Island, Schuyler, Stark, Tazewell, Will and Woodford counties.

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

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, 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.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

 

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Citizenship Status May Not Limit Disaster Assistance Eligibility

AUSTIN, Texas – The state/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in West, Texas will be closed Sunday, May 26 and Monday, May 27. The center will reopen Tuesday, May 28 at 8 a.m. 

“The DRC will be closed this Sunday and Monday in honor of the men and women who have paid the ultimate price to secure our freedom,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin L. Hannes of FEMA. “If residents have questions or need assistance during that time, we encourage them to call our FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.”

“It is very important that survivors keep us up to date of any changes in their contact information. This includes their address or any telephone number changes or updates relating to their insurance settlements,” Hannes said.

Disaster Recovery Center Location:
POINTWEST Bank
210 N. Roberts Rd.
West, Texas 76691
Closed Sunday, May 26 and Monday, May 27

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

Survivors may register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. They also may 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.

Continued: 

West, Texas Disaster Recovery Center Closed Sunday and Monday for Memorial Day

TRENTON, N.J. — In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, the Federal Emergency Management Agency launched a coordinated effort to establish community-based recovery groups in affected counties of New Jersey.

Long Term Recovery Groups, also known as LTRGs, often become involved when personal resources, insurance and government grants or loans are not sufficient to meet the needs of disaster survivors. LTRGs identify long term recovery needs of individuals and families, utilize community volunteers and assist in determining the best recovery strategies.

There are currently 16 LTRGs established throughout New Jersey and are made up of representatives from different organizations that can provide resources for the long term disaster recovery process.

Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) support the recovery process when LTRGs are not needed in a community. This group organizes and coordinates local community resources in response to the unmet needs of disaster survivors.

The Bergen County organization is one example of a successful LTRG in New Jersey. Recently, they have recently approved $100,000 in unmet needs assistance to be allocated to survivors in their county, granted temporary use of non-residential buildings to house volunteers, as well as continued the food stamp outreach program. This group has also provided 1,325 volunteers who have contributed 15,000 hours of service.

The Long Term Recovery Center in Bergen County provides disaster survivors with access to local resources as well as the opportunity to fill out requests for assistance from Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) member agencies. There are currently more than 55 faith-based, governmental and non-profit organizations contributing to the recovery effort in the county.

LTRGs throughout the state often are made up of friends, neighbors and community leaders who are able to incorporate the values and priorities of their local cultures in their disaster relief efforts. Based

on their involvement in these areas, voluntary agencies are frequently able to identify specific individuals, families or groups that have special needs after a disaster.

To locate additional assistance, Superstorm Sandy survivors in New Jersey can visit www.nj211.org or call 2-1-1 or 1-800-JERSEY7 to locate additional assistance they may need. For more information on the Bergen County LTRG, please visit www.bergenvoad.org.

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

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

See original: 

Long Term Recovery Groups Help New Jersey Sandy Survivors

CHICAGO – If your home was damaged by the spring floods and you are beginning to make repairs, you can get advice on how to rebuild stronger, safer and smarter.

Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation specialists will be at two home improvement stores this week:

Ellis Ace Hardware

255 S. Main St.          

Seneca, IL 61360

Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

Lembke & Sons True Value Hardware

6734 Pershing Road   

Berwyn, IL 60402

Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; closed Sunday

FEMA specialists can answer your specific questions about building techniques that can reduce the potential for damage to your home, business and property from future storms.

Topics include:

  • Flood cleanup tips and techniques
  • Flood- and wind-resistant building methods
  • Elevating utilities
  • Flood insurance

FEMA publications are available online at www.fema.gov or can be ordered by calling toll-free 800-480-2520.

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.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

Read the article:  

Free Advice on Rebuilding Stronger, Safer, Smarter

CHICAGO – A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will open at 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 22, in Des Plaines for residents of Cook County to meet face-to-face with disaster recovery specialists, officials said today.

The DRC, operated jointly by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will operate from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.  The location is:

Cook County

Des Plaines

1486 Miner St (next door to the Des Plaines Theatre)

Des Plaines, IL 60616

Hours: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., 7 days a week

Disaster recovery officials work closely with community leaders to find DRC locations that provide safe and easy access for all survivors.  More centers will open as sites are identified and approved.

It is not necessary to visit a DRC to register with FEMA. Individuals 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. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 1-800-621-3362.

DRCs offer an additional service for those who may have questions or need additional help in applying for disaster aid. Information about other disaster programs is also available from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), state and local agencies, and voluntary organizations. Residents should apply with FEMA even if they already provided damage information to local officials, other agencies or organizations.

SBA low-interest disaster loans may be available for homeowners, renters, businesses and private non-profit organizations of all sizes to repair or replace real estate, contents and/or personal property damaged in the severe storms and flooding. SBA customer service representatives will be present to answer questions and assist survivors with their loan applications. Information and assistance from SBA is also available at 1-800-659-2955, (TTY) 1-800-877-8339 or online at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

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

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, 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.

 

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

 

Originally posted here – 

Second Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Cook County

WASHINGTON — The Administration, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)  remains in close contact with emergency officials and continues to coordinate federal support to state, tribal and local officials in Oklahoma through FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center in Washington, DC and Regional Response Coordination Center in Denton, Texas. At the President’s direction, FEMA is already providing resources to support the response.

Last night, the President declared a major disaster for the State of Oklahoma, supporting state, local and tribal emergency work in affected areas.  Federal disaster aid also is available to affected individuals in Cleveland, Lincoln, McClain, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie counties. 

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in these affected areas are encouraged to apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by web-enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov, or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Survivors who 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. CDT seven days a week.

Today, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano briefed the President on response and recovery efforts, and at the direction of the President, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate traveled to Oklahoma to ensure all federal resources are supporting state, local, and tribal partners in life saving and safety operations including search and rescue.

“First responders are providing critical, life-saving assistance in the impacted area,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “Oklahoma residents can help the emergency response by keeping mobile phone lines free from congestion and staying in touch with friends and family by text messaging, email or social media. I urge residents to follow guidance from state, local and tribal officials who are requesting individuals to remain away from the affected areas so first responders can have access to reach hard-hit areas.”

In coordination with the state, FEMA deployed a liaison officer, a national Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) and two regional IMATs to the state emergency operations center in Oklahoma City to coordinate with state and local officials in support of recovery operations. Three national Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams and an additional Incident Support Team have been deployed to support the immediate response efforts.  Two Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) teams are in Oklahoma to provide self-sustaining telecommunications, logistics and operations support elements.

Preliminary damage assessment (PDA) teams, comprised of representatives from the state, FEMA and the Small Business Administration, are on the ground and will begin assessments today, which will assist the state in identifying additional eligible federal assistance that may be warranted.

Three Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams (DSATs) are scheduled to arrive in affected areas later today to help federal, state, local, and tribal partners gather detailed information on the affected communities during the critical first hours, days and weeks. DSATs will address immediate and emerging needs of disaster survivors including: on-site registration, applicant status checks, on-the-spot needs assessments, and access to partners offering survivor services.

The Red Cross Safe and Well secure website provides a way for people to find information on survivors affected by the storms. To register, visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell. Open Red Cross shelters can also be found on www.redcross.org/find-help/shelter.     

Individuals with a Blackberry, Android or Apple device can download the FEMA app to access safety tips, shelter locations, and more.

Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema; Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fema and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fema.

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, Federal Partners Mobilize in Response to Severe Storms in Oklahoma

The Federal Emergency Management Agency urges property owners to take steps now to minimize damage in future storms. To better protect your family and yourself in the event of an emergency, ensure that your home is a safe structure.

The following are some house maintenance tips from Ready.gov, FEMA.gov and FloodSmart.gov on how to strengthen and protect your property from rain, wind and flood damages:

RAIN AND FLOODS

Be aware of flood hazards no matter where you live or work, but especially if you are in low-lying areas, near water, behind a levee or downstream from a dam.

  • Elevate the furnace, water heater and electric panel in your home if you live in an area that has a high flood risk.
  • Make sure your sump pump is working and then install a battery-operated backup in case of a power failure.
  • Clear debris from gutters and downspouts.
  • Anchor any fuel tanks.
  • Raise your electrical components (switches, sockets, circuit breakers, and wiring) at least 12 inches above your home’s projected flood elevation.

For more information, go to Ready.gov/floods.

HIGH WINDS AND HURRICANES

  • Cover all of your home’s windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8” marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking.
  • Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure. This will reduce roof damage.
  • Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed so they are more wind resistant.
  • Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
  • Reinforce your garage doors. If wind enters a garage it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage.

For more information, go to Ready.gov/hurricanes or fema.gov/protect-your-property-or-business-disaster.

For all emergencies, you should build an emergency kit and make a communications plan. To learn how, visit Ready.gov.

###

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

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema,

and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

Source:  

Prepare Your Property Now For A Future Storm

CHICAGO – If you’ve registered for federal disaster assistance and received a letter saying you’re ineligible, make sure to double check that you provided all the necessary information when you initially applied.

Federal Emergency Management Agency eligibility determinations are based on information an individual supplies in an online application or during a phone call with a FEMA representative. 

Since May 10, when the disaster was declared for the spring storms and flooding, homeowners and renters in 11 Illinois counties have been applying for disaster assistance. To date, more than $38.4 million has been approved for more than 12,100 eligible applicants.

Applicants who received a determination letter, but were deemed ineligible may just need to supply additional information to FEMA.

“We want to make sure eligible Illinois residents who suffered damages or uninsured losses as a result of the spring storm receive disaster assistance,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Michael Moore. “The best thing for applicants to do to make sure this happens is to read the FEMA correspondence carefully and follow up with us.”

Following are just a few of the reasons an applicant may have received an ineligibility notification and can follow up.

  • Sometimes a first ineligibility determination is simply a clerical error, such as a name is misspelled, an address doesn’t match or a signature has been left out.
  • If more than one person from the same home address registered, the applications will be flagged until the head of household can be determined.
  • The applicant has insurance, and more information about the policy is needed.  FEMA cannot duplicate benefits. However, once you receive insurance payment, FEMA may be able to assist with uninsured losses.
  • Proof of occupancy is required. Whether a homeowner or renter, the damaged dwelling must be a primary residence where the applicant lived at the time of the disaster.
  • Identity verification is needed. Sometimes an applicant simply needs to submit documentation—such as a passport or military issued ID—so a social security number can be verified. If an applicant was recently married, a marriage certificate or license may be required to verify any name change.

If you have questions about any FEMA correspondence you receive, call 800-621-FEMA (3362), the toll-free line used for registration and follow-up.  Have your FEMA application number available so the representative can find your case easily.

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

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, 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.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

See original:

Ineligible? FEMA May Just Need More Information

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its federal partners, including the National Weather Service, continue to closely monitor the effects of severe weather that has impacted the Central United States, including parts of central Oklahoma and Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.  Residents are urged to continue to follow the guidance of state, local and tribal officials. FEMA’s regional offices in Denton, Texas and Kansas City, Mo., have been in contact with state emergency management counterparts and with tribal emergency managers in the path of the storm. While there have been no requests for federal assistance, FEMA has deployed a liaison officer to the Oklahoma emergency operations center and stands ready to assist if support is needed and requested.  Additional personnel are on standby and are ready to deploy as needed and requested to support the state.

According to the National Weather Service, there continues to be a moderate risk of severe weather today across areas of the southern Plains including Oklahoma and parts of Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas and severe weather is possible further north including parts of Illinois and Wisconsin.

When natural disasters, such as tornadoes and severe storms strike, the first responders are local emergency and public works personnel, volunteers, humanitarian organizations, and numerous private interest groups who provide emergency assistance required to protect the public’s health and safety and to meet immediate human needs.

FEMA encourages those in the areas affected or potentially affected by these storm systems to monitor local radio or TV stations or the National Weather Service at www.weather.gov or a NOAA weather radio for the latest information, including additional or changing weather watches and warnings and to follow the instructions of state, local, and tribal officials. 

If you haven’t already, now is the time to get prepared for severe weather.  Visit www.ready.gov to learn more about how to be better prepared.

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.

Jump to original: 

FEMA, Federal Partners Monitor Effects of Storm in Central Plains and Urge Preparedness

CHICAGO, IL – You’ve cleaned up and started making the necessary repairs from last month’s storms and flooding. Now the bills are coming due.

Your insurance may cover some of those costs, but if you haven’t registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), you may be missing out on additional assistance you need to recover. Until you register for assistance, FEMA has no way of knowing who you are, where you are, or what you need.

  • Calling your insurance agent does not register you with FEMA.
  • Contacting county or municipal agencies does not register you with FEMA.
  • Receiving assistance from volunteer agencies does not register you with FEMA.

The only way to determine whether you’re eligible for federal disaster assistance is to register with FEMA by phone or online, or by visiting a Disaster Recovery Center. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are also registering applicants for assistance in neighborhoods throughout the declared disaster area.

Individuals can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 800-462-7585.

If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS), call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CDT seven days a week.

FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration representatives are available at all five state-federal Disaster Recovery Centers now open in Illinois. These centers are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week.

Cook County

Forest View Fire Department

7010 46th Street

Forest View, IL

 

DuPage County

Lisle Police Department

5040 Lincoln Avenue

Lisle, IL

 

Grundy County

Morris Fire Department

2301 Ashton Road

Morris, IL

 

LaSalle County

Marseilles Fire Department

205 Lincoln Street

Marseilles, IL

 

Fulton County

Fulton County Health Department

700 East Oak Street

Canton, IL

 

Anyone from a declared county in Illinois can go to any of the above Disaster Recovery Centers. Come with questions – leave with answers.

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

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, facebook.com/fema, and 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.

Media Contact: 609-508-2238

Link: 

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