Disaster Recovery Center in East Feliciana Parish Will Transition to Disaster Loan Outreach Center to Serve Louisiana Survivors

BATON ROUGE, La. – The U.S. Small Business Administration is opening a disaster loan outreach center on Monday, Sept. 19, in East Feliciana Parish to assist Louisiana flood survivors. The center will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, until further notice.

East Feliciana Parish
Location:  Gym at the Early Learning Center
9414 Plank Road
Clinton, LA 70722
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Monday through Friday)

The new disaster loan outreach center will be transitioning from the FEMA disaster recovery center that will close on Saturday, Sept. 17. With the community continuing to repair and rebuild, its need for the disaster recovery center has diminished and the facility will now be transitioning into a disaster loan outreach center to serve individuals with SBA loans.

Survivors can still visit any other disaster recovery center and may locate other centers near them by going online to fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers, calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362, or downloading the FEMA mobile app.

At the disaster loan outreach center, SBA customer service representatives are available to meet with business owners and residents to answer questions, explain SBA’s disaster loan program and close their approved disaster loans. Business owners and residents can meet with SBA representatives on the days and times indicated. No appointment is necessary.

Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA are available for businesses of all sizes including landlords, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters. Disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other resources.

Applicants for disaster loans may apply online using the electronic loan application via SBA’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visiting the SBA’s website at sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

Completed paper applications should be mailed to:

U.S. Small Business Administration
Processing and Disbursement Center
14925 Kingsport Road
Ft. Worth, TX 76155-2243

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Disaster Recovery Center in East Feliciana Parish Will Transition to Disaster Loan Outreach Center to Serve Louisiana Survivors

Child Care Service Available for Louisiana Survivors Visiting Celtic Studios Disaster Recovery Center

BATON ROUGE, La. – Child care service is now available for Louisiana survivors while they are visiting the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge.

The child care service is provided during the hours of the Disaster Recovery Center:    

East Baton Rouge Parish

Location:  Celtic Studios

10000 Celtic Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Monday through Sunday)

Parents of children ages 3-12 may use the free child care service while they conduct business at the Disaster Recovery Center. The child care service is not a day care and children cannot be left at the Disaster Recovery Center.

The child care service is provided by volunteers of Children’s Disaster Services, a ministry of the Church of the Brethren. All child care volunteers are trained in a 27-hour workshop.

The child care service is offered in a secure location at the Disaster Recovery Center. Upon check in, a parent is given a numbered badge that is identical to one placed on his or her child. This badging process ensures that only the child’s parent can check the child out of the care service.

Children’s Disaster Services will continue to provide their child care service at the Disaster Recovery Center as long as qualified volunteers are available.

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Child Care Service Available for Louisiana Survivors Visiting Celtic Studios Disaster Recovery Center

Louisiana Flood Survivors Can Get FEMA Rebuilding Advice in Gonzales

BATON ROUGE, La. — As Louisianans repair or rebuild their homes damaged by the August floods, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local hardware and 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 to provide information in an Ascension Parish Home Depot store from Sept. 1 to Sept. 10. They will be available to answer questions and offer home improvement tips and proven methods to prevent and lessen damage from future disasters. Most of the information is aimed at both do-it-yourselfers and general contractors.

FEMA advisors will be on hand from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Ascension Parish
Home Depot
2740 S. Cajun Ave.
Gonzales, La. 70737

Additional information on Louisiana’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting  fema.gov/disaster/4277, twitter.com/femaregion6, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA,  fema.gov/blog and www.fema.gov/louisiana-disaster-mitigation.

Survivors who have questions about their flood insurance policies and coverage should contact the National Flood Insurance Program call center at 800–621-3362 (Option 2) between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. Specialists can help service claims, provide general information regarding policies, and offer technical assistance to aid in recovery.

Free reference booklets, in English and Spanish, with information on protecting your home from flood damage, will be available at the Gonzales location. More information about strengthening property can be found at http://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation.

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Louisiana Flood Survivors Can Get FEMA Rebuilding Advice in Gonzales

Federal aid tops $94 million with two weeks left to apply to FEMA, SBA

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Just over six weeks after President Obama signed the major disaster declaration making West Virginia residents eligible for federal assistance following the June 22-29 storms, survivors are reminded they have only two weeks left to apply for federal grants or loans.

The deadlines to register for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as well as to file a physical disaster loan application with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), are both Wednesday, Aug. 24.

Storm survivors have been approved for grants and loans totaling more than $94 million. The federal disaster assistance is paid to survivors of the severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides in the 12 southeastern West Virginia counties named in the presidential declaration of June 25.

The disaster funds come to the state in the form of FEMA grants to individuals and households; FEMA public assistance grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations; low-interest disaster loans from the SBA, and claims paid by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

More than $31.7 million has been approved by FEMA for individual housing assistance, nearly $6 million in other needs assistance, $4.8 million in public assistance and $24,575 in Disaster Unemployment Assistance. In addition, the SBA approved 599 low-interest disaster loans totaling more than $39.3 million, and 941 NFIP claims have been filed totaling more than $12.7 million in payouts.

A total of 8,455 homeowners, renters and businesses have applied to FEMA for individual disaster assistance grants in the 12 affected counties: Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Roane, Summers, and Webster.

Disaster assistance for individuals may include grants to help homeowners and renters with temporary housing, essential home repairs, personal property replacement, and serious disaster-related needs. Disaster assistance grants are not taxable income and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicare and other federal and state programs. Grants do not have to be repaid to the federal government.

FEMA Public Assistance Grants provide funding to state, tribal and local governments, and certain types of private, nonprofit organizations to help them quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies declared by the president. Public assistance grants are available in Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Randolph, Upshur and Wayne counties and are also available in the 12 individual assistance counties.

FEMA-contracted housing inspectors have completed nearly 6,800 inspections of disaster-damaged properties to verify damage.

Registering with FEMA is the first step in qualifying for assistance. Aug. 24 is the last day for survivors to file an application. FEMA encourages all survivors who sustained disaster-related damage or losses to apply by phone (voice, 711 or relay service) at 800-621-3362 (TTY users should call 800-462-7585) or online at DisasterAssistance.gov . The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

In support of the State of West Virginia, Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) personnel are still canvassing flood-impacted neighborhoods. To date, DSA workers have made 18,089 visits to homes in storm-impacted neighborhoods. They are equipped to register survivors with FEMA and answer their questions about disaster assistance.

The State’s and FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) remain open in Clay, Greenbrier, Kanawha, and Nicholas counties. The centers report 8,081 visitors to date.  Effective Saturday, Aug. 13, the DRCs’ operating hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sundays. (Until Aug. 13, hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.) An easy-to-use DRC Locator is available at http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

FEMA mitigation advisors have hosted 18 free workshops throughout the storm-damaged area for West Virginia flood survivors repairing or rebuilding their damaged homes. This week and next experts will offer tips and answer questions at four more hardware stores and home improvement centers in Charleston and South Charleston.

The SBA, one of FEMA’s partners in disaster recovery, offers low-interest disaster loans to businesses, homeowners and renters. SBA disaster loans may cover repairs, rebuilding, as well as the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged real estate and personal property. SBA has staff on hand at all FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) to assist survivors, one-on-one.

For more information about SBA loans, call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster.  TTY users may call 800-877-8339. —Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. The deadline to file an SBA physical disaster loan application is Wednesday, Aug. 24.

If your SBA loan application is approved, you may be eligible to borrow additional funds to cover the cost of improvements that will protect your property against future damage. Examples include elevating utilities, water heaters and furnaces, and installing retaining walls and sump pumps.  Applicants may be eligible for an SBA loan increase, for mitigation purposes, of up to 20 percent of their physical damages.

In addition, the SBA operates three Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) to enable storm-impacted businesses to meet individually with SBA representatives and find out how a low-interest disaster loan can help them recover.

The BRCs are located at:

Greenbrier County

Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corp.

804 Industrial Park, Suite 5

Maxwelton, WV  24957

Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Kanawha County

Charleston Area Alliance

1116 Smith Street

Charleston, WV  25301

Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nicholas County

Summersville Village Hall

Conference Room

400 N. Broad Street

Summersville, WV 26651

Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

Other help available to individuals:

  • In conjunction with FEMA Work Force West Virginia is advertising open temporary positions in Kanawha, Greenbrier and Raleigh Counties. Interested “local hire” applicants may complete an enrollment form at http://workforcewv.org .

  • Free disaster legal assistance is available to storm survivors. This service offers counseling on insurance claims, landlord-tenant issues, home-repair contracts, and the replacement of lost or damaged legal documents and other legal matters. Call the toll-free hotline 877-331-4259.

Continued:  

Federal aid tops $94 million with two weeks left to apply to FEMA, SBA

Federal assistance hits $72 million for West Virginia flood survivors

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Seventy-two million dollars in federal disaster assistance have been approved to date for survivors of the June 22-29 severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides. The aid comes to West Virginia as a result of the major disaster declaration signed by President Obama on June 25.

The money has come to survivors in the form of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants to individuals and households; FEMA public assistance grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations; low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and claims paid by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Nearly five weeks into the recovery, FEMA has approved nearly $29.8 million in housing assistance, more than $5.4 million in other needs assistance and $1.43 million in public assistance. In addition, the SBA approved 426 low-interest disaster loans totaling more than $27.9 million, and 939 NFIP claims have been filed totaling more than $7.5 million in payouts.

A total of 8,034 households and businesses have applied to FEMA for disaster assistance. Individual disaster assistance grants for homeowners, renters and businesses affected are available to residents of 12 counties: Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Roane, Summers, and Webster.

Disaster assistance for individuals may include grants to help homeowners and renters with temporary housing, essential home repairs, personal property replacement, and serious disaster-related needs. Disaster assistance grants from FEMA are not taxable income and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicare and other federal and state programs. Grants do not have to be repaid to the federal government.

Public assistance grants are available in Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Randolph, Upshur and Wayne counties and are also available in the 12 individual assistance counties. FEMA Public Assistance Grants provide funding to state, tribal and local governments, and certain types of private, nonprofit organizations. These monies help communities quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies declared by the president.

FEMA-contracted housing inspectors have completed nearly 6,400 inspections of disaster-damaged properties to verify damage.

Registering with FEMA is the first step in qualifying for disaster assistance. Aug. 24 is the last day for survivors to file an application. FEMA encourages all survivors who sustained disaster-related damage or losses to apply by phone (voice, 711 or relay service) at 800-621-3362 (TTY users should call 800-462-7585) or online at DisasterAssistance.gov . The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

In support of the State of West Virginia, 89 Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) personnel have been canvassing storm-damaged neighborhoods. In the first 30 days of recovery operations, DSA workers visited 15,720 homes in severely storm-damaged neighborhoods. They are equipped to register survivors with FEMA and answer their questions about disaster assistance.

The State and FEMA operate Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Clay, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Monroe, Nicholas and Webster counties. The centers report 6,506 visitors to date.  DRCs  are  open  Monday  through  Saturday,  8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Sundays. An easy-to-use DRC Locator is available at http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm

The SBA, one of FEMA’s partners in disaster recovery, offers low-interest disaster loans to businesses, homeowners and renters. SBA disaster loans may cover repairs, rebuilding, as well as the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged real estate and personal property. SBA has staff on hand at all FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) to assist survivors, one-on-one.

For more information about SBA loans, call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster.  TTY users may call 800-877-8339. Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. The deadline to file an SBA physical disaster loan application is Aug. 24.

If your SBA loan application is approved, you may be eligible for additional funds to cover the cost of improvements that will protect your property against future damage. Examples of improvements can include something as simple as elevating to the first floor utilities, water heaters and furnaces, sump pumps, etc. Mitigation loan money would be in addition to the amount of the approved loan, but may not exceed 20 percent of total amount of physical damage to real property to a maximum of $200,000 for home loans.

In addition, the SBA operates three Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) to enable storm-impacted businesses to meet individually with SBA representatives and find out how a low-interest disaster loan can help them recover.

The BRCs are located at:

Greenbrier County

Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corp.

804 Industrial Park, Suite 5

Maxwelton, WV  24957

Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Kanawha County

Charleston Area Alliance

1116 Smith Street

Charleston, WV  25301

Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nicholas County

Summersville Village Hall

Conference Room

400 N. Broad Street

Summersville, WV 26651

Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Other help available to individuals:

  • For those who lost work as a result of the storms, Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available. New claims for DUA must be filed within 30 days of the date of the announcement of availability of DUA. For more information, visit WorkForce West Virginia at workforcewv.org.

  • In conjunction with FEMA, WorkForce West Virginia is advertising open temporary positions in Kanawha, Greenbrier and Raleigh Counties. Interested “local hire” applicants may complete an enrollment form at workforcewv.org.

  • Free disaster legal assistance is available to storm survivors. This service offers counseling on insurance claims, landlord-tenant issues, home-repair contracts, and the replacement of legal and other legal matters. Call the toll-free hotline 877-331-4259.

  • Survivors may be eligible for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (D-SNAP) benefits through the Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. D-SNAP benefits can be used to buy food, but cannot be used for alcoholic beverages, tobacco or non-food items. Storm survivors can apply for these benefits from July 25 through July 31. More information is available at www.dhhr.wv.gov

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Federal assistance hits $72 million for West Virginia flood survivors

FEMA offers advice at local stores on repairing, rebuilding

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — As West Virginians repair or rebuild their homes damaged by last month’s storms, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and five local hardware and 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 this week to answer questions and offer home improvement tips along with proven methods to prevent and lessen damage from future disasters. A variety of free workshops for storm-impacted homeowners on such topics as repairing or installing flooring and what to do with rain-soaked drywall will be presented daily. Most of the information is geared for do-it-yourselfers and general contractors.

FEMA advisors will be at:  

Ace Hardware

326 Main Street

Rainelle, WV 25962

Through Aug. 6

8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday

 

Byrnside Hardware

107 4th Street,

Danville, WV 25053

July 28 to Aug. 3 – (Workshop closed Sunday)

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday

7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday

 

The Home Depot

1100 Liberty Park Drive,
Hurricane, WV 25526

July 28 to Aug. 3 (Workshop closed Sunday)

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

Lowes Home Improvement

1155 Oakvale Road

Princeton, WV  24740

July 28 to Aug. 3 (Workshop closed Sunday)

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

Sears Home Improvement

RR 1 Box 17-A

Ronceverte, WV 24970

July 28 to Aug. 3 (Workshop closed Sunday)

9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday

 

Free reference booklets, in English and Spanish, with information on protecting your home from flood damage, will be available at all locations. More information about strengthening property can be found at http://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation.

West Virginians who have questions about their flood insurance policies and coverage should contact the National Flood Insurance Program call center at 800-621-3362 (Option 2) between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. Specialists can help with service claims, provide general information regarding policies and offer technical assistance to aid in recovery.

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/femaregion3, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA, fema.gov/blog and the flood information pages at http://wvflood.com

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FEMA offers advice at local stores on repairing, rebuilding

SBA disaster assistance loans key to continuing the recovery process

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SBA disaster assistance loans key to continuing the recovery process

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – If you are a disaster survivor in West Virginia applying for assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and are referred to the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA), it’s important to submit a low-interest disaster loan application. This will ensure that the federal disaster recovery process continues and you keep your options open. 

Next to insurance, an SBA low-interest disaster loan is the primary source of funds for real estate property repairs and for replacing contents destroyed in the June 22-29 storms.

FEMA and SBA encourage homeowners, renters and businesses to apply for low-interest disaster loans to help fund your recovery and to ensure the federal disaster recovery process continues.  

  • Many survivors who register with FEMA will be contacted by the SBA. If you are, you need to advise SBA how you will be submitting your loan application. 
  • You can submit your SBA disaster loan applications in one of three ways:  online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/; in person at a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC); or by mail.
  • Do not wait on an insurance settlement before submitting an SBA loan application. You can begin your recovery immediately with a low-interest SBA disaster loan. The loan balance will be reduced by the insurance settlement if you receive one. SBA loans may be available for losses not covered by insurance or other sources.
  • You should complete and return the applications as soon as possible. Failure to complete and submit the home disaster loan application may stop the FEMA grant process. Homeowners and renters who submit an SBA application and are not approved for a loan may be considered for certain other FEMA grants and programs that could include assistance for disaster-related car repairs, clothing, household items and other expenses.
  • Homeowners may be eligible for these home disaster loans up to $200,000 for primary residence structural repairs or rebuilding.
  • SBA may be able to help homeowners and renters replace important personal items. personal property, including automobiles damaged or destroyed in the disaster.
  • SBA can help businesses and private nonprofit organizations with up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate, and other business assets. Eligible small businesses and nonprofits can apply for economic injury disaster loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster.
  • SBA has staff at all DRCs to provide one-on-one assistance to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes in submitting their application.
  • Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes.  Eligible mitigation improvements may now include a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster. 
  • SBA Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) help businesses get back on their feet from damage they sustained during the storms. The BRCs are a resource where businesses can meet face-to-face with SBA representatives to learn how a low-interest disaster loan can help them recover. The centers are located at:           

  • Greenbrier County

    Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corp.

    804 Industrial Park, Suite 5

    Maxwelton, WV 24957

    Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

  • Kanawha County

    Charleston Area Alliance

    Charleston, WV 25301
    Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

  • Nicholas County
    Summersville City Hall
    Conference Room
    400 N. Broad St.
    Summersville, WV 26651
    Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

  • You don’t have to accept the loan if you qualify for one.

  • If you have not registered with FEMA:

    • You can apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by telephone at        800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services, you should call 800-621-3362. Operators are multilingual and calls are answered from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time seven days a week.

    • Or you can visit a DRC.

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/femaregion3, twitter.com/FEMA and fema.gov/blog.

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SBA disaster assistance loans key to continuing the recovery process

FEMA Offers Advice for Texans on Lessening Storm Damage

AUSTIN, Texas – A team of specialists from FEMA will visit Lowe’s in Fort Bend County July 14-19 to offer tips and techniques to lessen the impact of disaster-related property damage.

Specialists will be available at the following location:

Where:
Lowe’s, 28005 Southwest Freeway, Rosenberg TX 77471

When:
7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, July 14-15

8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 16-17

7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, July 18

7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 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.

Booklets are available in both English and Spanish on protecting your home from flood damage and other natural disasters. If you need an accommodation to access Braille or large print, please let our representatives know. American Sign Language interpreters can be available, if requested, by calling Everett Sedgwick at 202-870-4129. More information on how to strengthen homes, businesses and communities 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 (FEMA) between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the May storms at fema.gov/disaster/4272, or visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at dps.texas.gov/dem/. Follow us on Twitter @femaregion6.

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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.

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FEMA Offers Advice for Texans on Lessening Storm Damage

FEMA Urges You to Spend Disaster Funds Wisely

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – More than $23.5 million in federal assistance has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help West Virginians recover from the devastating severe storms, floods, landslides and mudslides that struck the state during the incident period of June 22-29, 2016.  While assistance is tax-free and grants don’t have to be repaid, FEMA urges you to use the funds quickly, wisely and only for disaster-related expenses.

When a grant is awarded, FEMA will send you a letter listing approved uses including:

  • home repairs (e.g., structure, water, septic and sewage systems)

  • rental assistance for a different place to live temporarily

  • repair or replacement of a flooded essential vehicle

  • medical care for an injury caused by the disaster

  • repair, cleaning or replacement of clothing, specialized tools

  • necessary educational materials (e.g., computers, school books, supplies)

  • moving and storage expenses related to the disaster

  • other disaster-related expenses

You may spend your FEMA grant in any way that helps you achieve the goal of permanent, safe, sanitary and functional housing.

  • Rental assistance grants are provided for temporary housing when a disaster leaves your home uninhabitable or inaccessible.

  • You, as a homeowner or renter, can choose to rent an apartment, house, mobile home or some other temporary rental unit.

  • If you intend to seek continued rental assistance, you’ll need receipts to show you used the grant for rent.

Disaster grants should not be used for regular living expenses, such as utilities, food, medical or dental bills not related to the disaster, travel, entertainment or any discretionary expense not related to the disaster.

It’s important to remember that federal law prohibits duplicating federal grants from other sources, i.e., “double-dipping.” FEMA also encourages you to keep your receipts for three years to show how the funds were spent. After every major disaster FEMA conducts audits of disaster assistance payments to ensure taxpayer dollars were properly provided by the agency and appropriately used by recipients.

When you get a letter from FEMA, read it carefully. If you have any questions, call the FEMA Helpline, 800-621-3362; TTY users can call 800-462-7585. You can visit one of the 11 Disaster Recovery Centers open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Sunday, weather permitting. To locate the closest center, call the Helpline or visit http://go.usa.gov/x3NnJ, or download the FEMA APP to your mobile device. 

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FEMA Urges You to Spend Disaster Funds Wisely

FEMA in Houston (Harris County) With Advice on Lessening Storm Damage

AUSTIN, Texas – A team of specialists from FEMA will visit a Lowe’s home improvement store in Houston to offer tips and techniques to lessen the impact of disaster-related property damage.

Specialists will be available on the following dates, times and location:

Harris County

Location:      
Lowe’s Southeast Houston, 1000 Gulfgate Center Mall, Houston, TX 77087      

Hours:           

7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 17-18
8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, June 19
7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, June 20-21

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 flood proofing a home, how to elevate utilities and removing and replacing wet drywall.  

Booklets are available in English and Spanish on protecting your home from flood damage and other natural disasters. If you have a disability and need an accommodation to access Braille or large print, please let our representatives know. American Sign Language interpreters can be available, if requested, by calling Everett Sedgwick at 202-870-4129. More information on how to strengthen homes, businesses and communities 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 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the April storms at fema.gov/disaster/4269; or visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Follow us on Twitter @femaregion6.

Download fema.gov/mobile-app to locate open shelters and disaster recovery centers, receive severe weather alerts, safety tips and much more.

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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.

Download fema.gov/mobile-app to locate open shelters and disaster recovery centers, receive severe weather alerts, safety tips and much more.

Continued here:

FEMA in Houston (Harris County) With Advice on Lessening Storm Damage

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