PHOTO: Disaster Survivor Assistance Team member, Patricia Wiedmer

MONTGOMERY, Ala – Within two weeks in early May, Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams knocked on 3,000 doors in Alabama’s hardest hit areas to assess survivor needs after the April 28 to May 5 severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding.

In one instance, they were told about a woman with special needs who was unable to register with FEMA. The team visited her residence and registered her on the spot using their government-issued tablet computer.

These teams, totaling 67 FEMA specialists, are tasked with helping survivors by being the eyes and ears on the ground. They assess, inform and report issues to the proper authorities; assist survivors in their own homes or neighborhoods to apply for FEMA grants; guide survivors in the registration process, follow-up on pre- or post-survivor needs; and coordinate with local, tribal and state governments and other partners.

“They have the ability to help people on the spot,” said Albie Lewis, FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer for Alabama. “They serve as a walking Disaster Recovery Center going door-to-door and people have been very receptive to the service.”

FEMA DSA teams are made up of disaster specialists as well as FEMA Corp members, 18- to 24-year olds who for 10 months volunteer their time to FEMA and the emergency management field.

The teams currently are canvassing eight counties that sustained some of the worst damage. They visit homes, businesses, organizations and high-traffic areas providing survivor support and coordinating with officials. The counties include Baldwin, Blunt, DeKalb, Etowah Jefferson, Limestone, Mobile and Tuscaloosa.

DSA specialists, who travel in pairs, are easy to spot – they wear FEMA badges as well as navy blue shirts, jackets and/or hats that say FEMA.

Originally posted here:  

FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams Blanket Alabama to Meet Survivors’ Needs

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Disaster Recovery Center in Tuscaloosa will close Saturday, May 31 at 6 p.m.  An SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center will open in the same location on Monday, June 2, at 9 a.m.

The Recovery Center is located at the Salvation Army Building, 1601 University Blvd. East, Tuscaloosa, 35404. The FEMA center will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through the final day.

The SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Friday, June 6 at 6:00 pm. The Center will have both SBA and FEMA staff on hand.

After the center closes, survivors will still be able to contact FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone at  m.fema.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362; TTY 800-462-7585.  Multilingual operators are available. Survivors may also visit any of the open Recovery Centers.

Recovery Centers in Alabama are currently open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the following locations:

·    Baldwin County

o Elberta Town Hall,10352 Main St., Elberta, 36530

o Fairhope Civic Center (Delchamps Room), 161 North Section St., 3653

·    Blount County:

o Oneonta Recreation Park – City Depot, Chamber of Commerce Room, 28161 State Highway 75, Oneonta, 35121

(Closes May 31, 6 p.m.)

·    Jefferson County:

o Maurice C. West Community Center, 171 2nd St. SW, Graysville 35073

o Lawson State Community College, 1100 9th Ave SW, Bessemer, 35022

·    Limestone County:

o Ripley Woodmen of the World Hall, 11281 Ripley Road, Athens, 35611

·    Mobile County:

o Old Navy/Marine Corps Reserve Center, 4851 Museum Drive, Mobile, 36608

·    Tuscaloosa County:

o Salvation Army Building, 1601 University Blvd. East, Tuscaloosa, 35404

(Closes May 31, 6 p.m.)

The deadline to register for disaster assistance is July 1, 2014

The SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations for losses not covered by insurance. The SBA may lend up to $200,000 to repair or replace homes and up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property.

Loans to businesses, including non-profits are available up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged real estate, and other business assets.  Eligible businesses and non-profits can apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. The deadline for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is February 2, 2015.

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Recovery Center in Tuscaloosa to Close May 31; Re-Opens June 2 as SBA Center

JACKSON, Miss. – It was April 28 when tornadoes swept from west to east across Mississippi, the beginning of five days of severe storms that also brought rain and flooding. The National Weather Service confirmed 23 tornadoes in the state and 14 deaths. More than 1,200 homes and 90 businesses were destroyed or sustained major damage. Approximately 2,000 homes and 200 businesses were damaged in some way. Two days into the event, Governor Phil Bryant’s request for a federal disaster declaration was granted by President Obama.

A dozen counties were so badly damaged they soon qualified for federal Individual Assistance to help individuals and households. Public Assistance was also included to help local governments, and certain private nonprofits in 10 counties.

The American Red Cross quickly opened shelters for those displaced by the tornadoes and eventually operated six shelters which provided 678 overnights stays, 21,512 meals and 25,721 snacks by the time they closed. The Salvation Army opened eight mobile kitchens (“Canteens”) and three fixed feeding sites. They served 10,256 meals, 13,547 beverages and 7,328 snacks.

Only a week after the Louisville tornado destroyed the Winston Medical Center, the only hospital in the area, MEMA and FEMA, with the assistance of the State of North Carolina, delivered a replacement. The National Mobile Disaster Hospital, which FEMA kept in a state of readiness in North Carolina, was loaded onto 27 tractor-trailers and delivered to Louisville for installation. MEMA leased another dozen mobile units in Mississippi to be installed as patient exam rooms.

Mississippi’s State Medical Assistance Team from University of Mississippi Medical Center provided emergency medical care to the citizens of Winston County while the National Mobile Disaster Hospital was transported and assembled.

Less than three weeks after their hospital was destroyed, the staff of the Winston Medical Center opened their new temporary facility at 7 a.m. on May 19.

Meanwhile, on May 3, MEMA and FEMA opened the first three disaster recovery centers where disaster survivors could obtain recovery information in person. Those centers were in Louisville and Tupelo, which briefly had two centers. On May 5, three more centers opened in Brandon, Columbus and Mantachie. Eventually 10 centers would be opened, the last on May 12 in Laurel. Six remained open this week. The centers have received nearly 4,000 visits so far.

The U.S. Small Business Administration also staffs the disaster recovery centers to help individuals, households and businesses understand the process for obtaining low-interest, long-term loans. Currently the SBA has approved 95 home loans for homeowners and renters totaling just over $6.6 million dollars for rebuilding, repairing and replacement of damaged property.   

SBA continues to have staff at all disaster recovery centers to provide assistance with the completion and return of the loan applications. SBA advises there is no need to wait on an insurance settlement and encourages those with SBA loan applications to complete and return them as soon as possible.

For many Mississippians, the face of FEMA was a member of its Disaster Survivor Assistance cadre who are the eyes and ears of FEMA in impacted communities. They meet with local officials, community and faith leaders, business owners, schools and service organizations to identify disaster survivors who may need one-on-one help in registering and receiving FEMA assistance. They have visited more than 8,500 homes and interacted with more than 6,000 disaster survivors in Mississippi.

Mitigation is the word FEMA uses to describe the job of helping residents reduce the risk of damage in a future disaster. FEMA mitigation outreach teams can be found in home improvement stores, armed with situation-specific advice, booklets and pamphlets explaining how to repair or rebuild safer and stronger.

On another front, MEMA and FEMA created a joint task force to tackle the complex housing problem the disaster created. Statewide, 767 households were left homeless in the aftermath of the tornadoes.

Upon official review of assistance applications of homeowners and renters, more than a dozen cases were referred to the voluntary agency liaison for possible volunteer assistance to repair or rebuild their homes. More than 30 other disaster survivor households were identified as having access and functional needs. Their cases were referred to appropriate agencies. Overall, adequate temporary housing was determined to be available in 11 of the 12 counties eligible for FEMA Individual Assistance.

On May 20, FEMA approved a direct housing mission for residents of Winston County, where the most severe and concentrated tornado destruction happened. New, FEMA-owned mobile homes can be provided as temporary living quarters where no rental housing or other appropriate housing is available.

Where possible, temporary mobile homes will be installed on private sites while homes are rebuilt. Available vacant mobile home sites in existing parks also will be utilized.

But first, the tornado debris has to be cleared from properties of disaster survivors eligible for temporary use of a FEMA mobile home. By law, FEMA is not authorized to pay for debris clearance on private property. But skilled, disaster-experienced volunteers responded to Mississippi. They are helping survivors move debris off their lots and to the roadsides.

MEMA and FEMA are connecting those volunteers with the resources to get the job done. MEMA, through its newly-launched Business Emergency Operations Center, worked with private sector companies willing to donate tools and equipment, plus the diesel fuel to operate the heavy equipment.

In the fourth week of the disaster, the first applications for temporary mobile homes were approved and sites deemed suitable. Two will be placed on homeowner properties in Noxapater, Miss., and four will be installed on vacant pads in a trailer court in Louisville. More applications are being processed as quickly as possible.

Two temporary mobile homes arrived in Mississippi Tuesday; both are 34-foot, one-bedroom “park models.” One meets Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards for use by a disabled applicant. More units will make the three-hour trip from FEMA’s staging area in Selma, Ala. as applicants are approved and sites are prepared.

Volunteers from Mennonite Disaster Services, under agreement with MEMA and FEMA, are clearing sites of debris using their own equipment and fuel as well as donated equipment and fuel. Other volunteer groups, including Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, Samaritan’s Purse and Team Rubicon, have placed tarps on roofs of damaged homes and cleared debris.

This week, Public Assistance “kick-off” meetings were completed for the 10 counties eligible for FEMA grants to help local governments cover the costs of debris removal and emergency protective measures. Nine of the 10 counties also are eligible for help funding the repair or replacement of damaged public property.

Public Assistance benefits all taxpayers of designated counties to the extent that it relieves them of bearing costs of disaster response and rebuilding public facilities.

Disaster survivors in Itawamba, Jones, Leake, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Montgomery, Rankin, Simpson, Warren, Wayne and Winston counties may be eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.

Individuals and households in those counties can register for FEMA Individual Assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone or tablet at m.FEMA.gov or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362). People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY should call 800-462-7585. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (central time) and assistance is available in multiple languages.

For more information on Mississippi disaster recovery, go to FEMA.gov/Disaster/4175. Visit the MEMA site at msema.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/msemaorg.

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.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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View original:

Whole-Community Rapid Response Marks First Thirty Days of Recovery

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — More than $12 million has been approved through FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program. The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $3 million through its low-interest disaster loan program.

The following numbers, compiled May 23, provide a snapshot of the Alabama/FEMA disaster recovery to date:

Funds approved

  • $10.3 million for Housing Assistance grants to help with recovery rental expenses and home repair costs.
  • $2 million for Other Needs Assistance to cover essential disaster-related needs, such as medical expenses and lost personal possessions.
  • $3.4 million approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest loans to eligible homeowners, renters or business owners.

Survivor recovery

  • 6,882 of the 7,899 damaged homes and property have been inspected (87 percent of requests).
  • 2,990 visits have been made to the nine disaster recovery centers located in designated counties.
  • 9 counties designated for Individual Assistance.

 

FEMA works with many volunteer agencies and the private sector to speed the recovery effort. But those affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding  need to register with FEMA for disaster aid.

No matter the degree of loss or insurance status, survivors are urged to apply for help. They can use the following methods:

  • By phone, call 800-621-3662 (FEMA) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time. Operators are multilingual. TTY 800-462-7585.
  • By computer, go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
  • By smartphone or tablet, use m.fema.gov.

County-by-County approved breakdown of Individual Assistance:

 

County

Approved Registrations

Housing Assistance

Other Needs Assistance

Baldwin

1,315

$5,618,245.47

$831,785.39

Blount

11

$88,865.68

3,189.15

DeKalb

16

$24,233.20

$10,343.47

Etowah

41

$379,218.80

35,910.51

Jefferson

342

$932,366.08

138,250.46

Lee

47

$206,609.16

51,907.93

Limestone

227

$725,883.91

$366,621.99

Mobile

1,445

$2,265,917.98

$544,046.56

Tuscaloosa

34

$128,910.34

$36,814.67

Total:

3,478

$10,370,249.90

$2,018,870.13

Recovery officials urge all Alabama residents who have registered for assistance to stay in close contact with FEMA throughout the recovery process. This is especially true during the first weeks after registering when FEMA housing inspectors must contact applicants to view damages. Those with mobile phones should provide that number to FEMA during the registration.

Affected survivors and business owners in the nine designated counties may apply for assistance. Those counties are: Baldwin, Blount, DeKalb, Etowah, Jefferson, Lee, Limestone, Mobile and Tuscaloosa.                                    

Alabama/FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are located in Baldwin, Blount, Jefferson, Limestone, Mobile and Tuscaloosa counties. These centers will be open Monday, Memorial Day, May 26, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The DRC in Etowah County closes Saturday, May 24.

The deadline to register is Tuesday, July 1.

Taken from:

Federal Aid for Alabama Disaster Tops $12 Million

Little Rock, Ark. – Survivors of the April 27 severe storms, tornadoes and floods in Pulaski County have until 7 pm on Saturday, May 24 to visit the Mobile Disaster Recovery Center at 27025 Kanis Rd. in Little Rock.

State and FEMA personnel closely monitor visitor traffic at all Arkansas disaster recovery centers. Traffic to this center has significantly decreased, indicating the information needs of survivors in the area have been met. 

Survivors can visit the remaining Disaster Recovery Centers at:

  • 600 Highway 365
    Mayflower, AR
  • 1122 Main St.
    Vilonia, AR 72173

Hours for both centers are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Saturday. Both will be closed Monday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day.

Disaster Recovery Centers gather different state and federal agencies and programs under one roof, offering survivors convenient access to guidance from a number of resources. Recovery centers are one-stop shops for eligible tornado survivors to get help as quickly as possible. Representatives of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available at all DRCs to provide information and answer questions about SBA low-interest disaster recovery loans.

Survivors can continue to register and get information about their applications 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.

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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.

The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) is the state’s homeland security and preparedness agency. The agency works to identify and lessen the effects of emergencies, disasters and threats to Arkansas by developing effective prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery actions for all disasters and emergencies.  For additional information, contact ADEM at (501) 683-6700 or visit the website at www.adem.arkansas.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 us on Twitter at http://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 information about SBA programs, applicants can go to www.sba.gov/disaster or call (800) 659-2955 (TTY 1-800-977-8339).

 

 

See the article here – 

Last Chance to Visit FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Pulaski County

Little Rock, Ark. – Survivors of the April 27 severe storms, tornadoes and floods in White County have until 7 p.m. Thursday, May 22, to visit the Mobile Disaster Recovery Center at 4103 Highway 36 West in Searcy.

State and FEMA personnel closely monitor visitor traffic at all Arkansas disaster recovery centers. Traffic to this center has significantly decreased, indicating the information needs of survivors in the area have been met. 

Survivors can visit the remaining Disaster Recovery Centers at:

  • 600 Highway 365
    Mayflower, AR
  • 1122 Main St.
    Vilonia, AR 72173

Hours for both centers are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Saturday. Both will be closed Monday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day.

Disaster Recovery Centers gather different state and federal agencies and programs under one roof, offering survivors convenient access to guidance from a number of resources. Recovery centers are one-stop shops for eligible tornado survivors to get help as quickly as possible. Representatives of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available at all DRCs to provide information and answer questions about SBA low-interest disaster recovery loans.

Survivors can continue to register and get information about their applications 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.

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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.

The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) is the state’s homeland security and preparedness agency. The agency works to identify and lessen the effects of emergencies, disasters and threats to Arkansas by developing effective prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery actions for all disasters and emergencies.  For additional information, contact ADEM at (501) 683-6700 or visit the website at www.adem.arkansas.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 us on Twitter at http://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 information about SBA programs, applicants can go to www.sba.gov/disaster or call (800) 659-2955 (TTY 1-800-977-8339).

Visit site:  

Last Chance to Visit FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Searcy

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabamians are urged to file for disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) if their homes were damaged during the storms, tornadoes and flooding between April 28 and May 5, 2014.

More than 6,600 residents’ registrations have been approved in the nine affected counties in the two weeks following the presidential disaster declaration.

More than $9 million has been approved through FEMA’s Individual and Household program. The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $650,000 through its low-interest disaster loan program.

The following numbers, compiled May 15, provide a snapshot of the Alabama/FEMA disaster recovery to date:

Funds approved

  • $7.8 million for Housing Assistance grants to help with recovery rental expenses and home repair costs.
  • $1.3 million for Other Needs Assistance to cover essential disaster-related needs, such as medical expenses and lost personal possessions.
  • $650,000 approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest loans to eligible homeowners, renters or business owners.

Survivor recovery

  • 3,583 of the 4,860 damaged homes and property have been inspected (74 percent of requests).
  • 1,331 visits have been made to the nine disaster recovery centers located in designated counties.
  • 9 counties declared for individual assistance.

FEMA works with many volunteer agencies and the private sector to speed the recovery effort. But those affected by the severe storms (between April 28 and May 5) need to register with FEMA for disaster aid.

No matter the degree of loss or insurance, survivors are urged to apply for help. They can use the following methods:

  • By phone, call 800-621-FEMA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time. Operators are multilingual. TTY 800-462-7585.
  • By computer, go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
  • By smartphone or tablet, use m.fema.gov.

County-by-County approved breakdown of Individual Assistance:

 

County

Approved Registrations

Housing Assistance

Other Needs Assistance

Baldwin

2,314

$4,764,322.56

$608,804.69

Blount

60

$52,725.68

$3,189.15

DeKalb

70

$17,360.38

$9,614.48

Etowah

149

$370,992.16

$27,877.67

Jefferson

1,123

$840,844.04

$117,580.16

Lee

137

$199,237.62

$45,284.56

Limestone

682

$637,792.33

$305,879.43

Mobile

1,951

$891,169.54

$180,944.97

Tuscaloosa

189

$10,2661.50

$30,082.54

Total:

6,675

$7,877,105.09

$1,329,257.65

 

Recovery officials urge all Alabama residents who have registered for assistance to stay in close touch with FEMA throughout the recovery process. This is especially true during the first weeks after registering when FEMA Housing Inspectors must contact applicants to view damages. Those with mobile phones should provide that number to FEMA during the registration and/or a good contact number.

Affected survivors and business owners in the nine designated counties may apply for assistance. Those counties are: Baldwin, Blount, DeKalk, Etowah, Jefferson, Lee, Limestone, Mobile and Tuscaloosa.                                 

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). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

For more information on Alabama’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or http://www.ema.alabama.gov/

For the joint Facebook page, go to www.facebook.com/AlabamaEMA. To receive Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/AlabamaEMA  or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

Taken from:  

Federal Disaster Aid To Alabama Nears $10 Million

CLANTON, Ala. – State and local governments and certain nonprofit organizations in thirteen additional Alabama counties may now apply for federal disaster assistance under the Public Assistance program for eligible response and recovery expenses.

Blount, Butler, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Geneva, Lamar, Perry, Pickens, and Tuscaloosa counties were added Tuesday to the May 2 major disaster declaration for severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that overwhelmed parts of Alabama from April 28 through May 5.

The thirteen additional counties are now eligible to apply for all seven categories listed under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance program.

Categories A and B cover debris removal and emergency protective measures, while categories C through G include more permanent work on infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, public buildings and contents, as well as water facilities, public utilities and parks.

The five counties previously designated for Public Assistance for categories A and B are now eligible to apply for all seven categories. These counties are Baldwin, Jefferson, Lee, Limestone and Mobile.

Under the Public Assistance program, FEMA reimburses applicants a minimum of 75 percent of their eligible expenses. The remaining 25 percent non-federal share comes from state and local sources. The state manages the grants for all projects.

The eighteen total counties in Alabama now eligible for Public Assistance categories A through G are Baldwin, Blount, Butler, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Geneva, Jefferson, Lamar, Lee, Limestone, Mobile, Perry, Pickens, and Tuscaloosa.

More information about FEMA’s Public Assistance program is available at fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit.

For more information on Alabama disaster recovery, click fema.gov/disaster/4176. Visit the Alabama Emergency Management Agency website at ema.alabama.gov/ or Facebook page at facebook.com/AlabamaEMA.

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Additional Alabama Counties Now Eligible for FEMA Public Assistance

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Applicants who receive a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) saying they are ineligible for disaster assistance after the severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding on April 27 may discover that a “no” can be turned into a “yes.”

“Please don’t be discouraged if you get a letter from FEMA saying you are ineligible for aid,” said State Coordinating Officer David Maxwell of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM). “That letter may be just one step in the process. You can ask FEMA for a fresh review of your situation.”

“A denial may simply mean that we need more information to make a decision regarding your application,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) Timothy J. Scranton. “Please work with us. Help us help you.”

The most common reasons for a denial of housing assistance include:

  • The applicant needs to provide FEMA with a copy of an insurance settlement.
  • The applicant did not sign the required documents.
  • The applicant did not prove occupancy or ownership.
  • The damage is to a secondary home or a rental property, not a primary residence.
  • Someone else in the household has already applied and received help.
  • A FEMA housing inspector cannot reach the applicant by phone.
  • The applicant did not maintain the required flood insurance coverage for the damaged property.

An applicant has the right to appeal a denial in writing within 60 days from the date of the decision letter from FEMA. Instructions for appeals can be found in the “Help After a Disaster” handbook that each applicant receives.

Applicants can call the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362, or TTY 1-800-462-7585, to ask for an explanation of why they were denied and instructions for submitting information that was missing or has changed from their initial registration. For those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services, call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Applicants may also get assistance at a Disaster Recovery Center, where specialists from the state of Arkansas, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration are on hand to answer questions, accept required documents and review applications, including disaster loan applications. DRCs are currently operating in Mayflower, Pocahontas and Vilonia, with Mobile DRCs open in Searcy and Little Rock.

If FEMA determines that an applicant is not eligible for a federal grant, the applicant may still be eligible for other assistance, such as disaster unemployment assistance, low-interest federal disaster loans or free legal assistance.

For more information on Arkansas disaster recovery, go to fema.gov/disaster/4174. You can follow FEMA on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

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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.

The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) is the state’s homeland security and preparedness agency. The agency works to identify and lessen the effects of emergencies, disasters and threats to Arkansas by developing effective prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery actions for all disasters and emergencies.  For additional information, contact ADEM at (501) 683-6700 or visit the website at www.adem.arkansas.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 us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6, Hurricane Preparedness website at www.fema.gov/about/regions/regionvi/updates.shtm 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 information about SBA programs, applicants can go to www.sba.gov/disaster or call (800) 659-2955 (TTY 1-800-977-8339).

 

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First Letter May Not Be the Last Word from FEMA

CLANTON, Ala. – Survivors in Blount, DeKalb, Etowah, Mobile and Tuscaloosa counties may now apply for federal disaster assistance, as they were added Thursday to the major disaster declaration for the recent tornadoes and flooding in Alabama.

Individuals and households in the five counties may now register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance, and report their uninsured or underinsured property damage from the severe storms during the period of April 28 through May 5.

A total of nine counties have been designated for the Individual Assistance program. The other four counties are Baldwin, Jefferson, Lee and Limestone.

Disaster assistance for uninsured and underinsured individuals may include:

  • Money to help pay for temporary housing and emergency home repairs.
  • Money for serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance.
  • Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Survivors can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

Alabama residents 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.

Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if the person has registered with another disaster-relief organization. FEMA registrants must use the name that appears on their Social Security card.

Applicants will be asked for the following information:

  • 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 receive mail
  • Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.

For more information on Alabama disaster recovery, click fema.gov/disaster/4176. Visit the Alabama Emergency Management Agency website at ema.alabama.gov/ or Facebook page at facebook.com/AlabamaEMA.

Read more: 

Five More Alabama Counties Added for FEMA Individual Assistance

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