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FEMA Helps People with Disabilities Access Disaster Assistance

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AURORA, Ill. – To help entire communities recover from the severe storms and flooding between April 16 to May 5, FEMA is working to make sure Illinois residents with disabilities and those with functional needs have equal access to disaster assistance programs.

To achieve this goal, FEMA coordinates efforts with state and local agencies and volunteer organizations to identify needs and locate appropriate resources. FEMA has a Disability Integration Advisor on site in Illinois to coordinate the various elements of the program.

FEMA provides physical access to facilities and reasonable program modifications as needed. For example, brochures are translated into large print, Braille and most languages. Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are accessible to people with disabilities, and assistance is offered to complete forms. Amplified phones, assisted listening devices, captioned phones, magnifiers, Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) and Video Relay Services (VRS) are available at DRCs. On-site interpreters, including American Sign Language interpreters, are available upon request.

Notify FEMA staff if you need an accommodation during part of the assistance process.

Disaster assistance grants are not taxable income and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, medical waiver programs, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance.

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 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or VRS can call 800-621-3362. For more information visit the Illinois Disaster website www.fema.gov/disaster/4116.

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

The deadline to register for FEMA disaster assistance is Tuesday, July 9.

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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FEMA Helps People with Disabilities Access Disaster Assistance

FEMA DRC Transitions to SBA Center

AURORA, Ill. – The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) located at the Lisle Police Department, 5040 Lincoln Ave., Lisle, IL 60532, will transition to a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) beginning Monday, June 17, 2013.

At the DLOC, SBA customer service representatives will issue disaster loan applications, answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process, help individuals complete their application and close their approved disaster loans.

“At this stage in the recovery process, the emphasis for assistance is to meet long-term needs of survivors,” said W. Michael Moore, the federal official in charge of disaster recovery. “We believe the transition of the DRC to an SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center will better meet the current needs of residents.”

The Lisle DRC was opened May 16, to provide one-stop disaster assistance information to individuals and business owners who suffered damage during the April 16 to May 5 severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding.

“Just because the Lisle DRC has closed does not mean FEMA is leaving. There will continue to be FEMA representatives in the DLOC to answer questions about individual assistance and mitigation,” added Moore.

Hours of operation at the DLOC will be Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., until further notice.

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 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. For more information visit the Illinois Disaster website www.fem a.gov/disaster/4116.

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

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. Information and assistance from SBA is available at 1-800-659-2955, (TTY) 1-800-877-8339 or online at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

Link to article –

FEMA DRC Transitions to SBA Center

Fifteen Illinois Counties Added for Public Assistance

AURORA, Ill. – Fifteen additional Illinois counties are now eligible for FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program as part of the federal disaster declaration for severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding during the period of April 16 to May 5.

This eligibility means that cities, counties, and certain private nonprofit organizations can apply for reimbursement for eligible costs incurred during the spring severe weather. Categories of eligible work that may be funded by FEMA are debris removal, emergency protective measures, repair or replacement of roads and bridges, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utilities, and parks and recreational facilities.

This brings to 39 the total number of Illinois counties designated for PA. The counties (new counties are bold faced) are Adams, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Clark, Crawford, DuPage, Fulton, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Henderson, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Lawrence, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, Mercer, Monroe, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Pike, Putnam, Rock Island, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, Will and Woodford.

PA is a cost-sharing program with FEMA paying 75 percent. The remainder is the responsibility of the state and local governments.

Federal Hazard Mitigation funding for the entire state was included in the original disaster declaration on May 10.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

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Fifteen Illinois Counties Added for Public Assistance

President Declares Disaster for Vermont

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Vermont to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms and flooding during the period of May 22-26, 2013.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and flooding in Chittenden, Essex, and Lamoille counties.

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

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

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

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

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President Declares Disaster for Vermont

FEMA Urges Residents to Follow Direction of Local Officials Ahead of Severe Weather

Areas from Chicago to Washington, D.C. Should Prepare Now and Monitor Conditions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency urges residents to follow the direction of state, local and tribal officials ahead of severe weather forecast to affect the upper Midwest and Ohio Valley, eastward to the Mid-Atlantic states, tonight and tomorrow. FEMA, through its National Watch Center in Washington, D.C and its regional offices in Chicago, Kansas City, and Philadelphia, is closely monitoring the storm system.

FEMA has been in touch with its emergency management counterparts, and also is in close contact with federal partners at the National Weather Service. The severe weather is forecast to include the threat of widespread damaging winds, along with the possibility of isolated tornadoes, through the evening and overnight hours from extreme eastern Iowa, across northern and central Illinois and Indiana, and including southwest Michigan and western Ohio. The severe weather threat will shift east on Thursday and a moderate risk for severe thunderstorms is forecast for the Mid-Atlantic region from southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey and southward into southern Virginia. The area of risk includes the eastern third of the United States from Florida to New England.

Individuals in the risk areas are encouraged to monitor weather conditions and follow the guidance provided by state, local or tribal officials. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are available on many cell phones on participating wireless carriers’ networks. Tune to local news media for further emergency details in your area, and take immediate action to keep safe. WEAs sent by public safety officials, such as the National Weather Service, are designed to provide brief, critical instructions to warn about imminent threats like severe weather or flash flooding. More information is available about the WEA program is available at www.fema.gov/wireless-emergency-alerts. You can also tune to local news media for further emergency details in your area, and take immediate action to keep safe.

Everyone should become familiar with the terms used to identify a severe weather hazard and discuss with your family what to do if a watch or warning is issued. Some of the more common terms used to describe severe weather and tornado hazards include the following:

Severe Thunderstorm Watch – Tells you when and where severe thunderstorms are likely to occur. Watch the sky and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio or television for information.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning – Issued when severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property to those in the path of the storm.

Tornado Watch – Tornadoes are possible. Remain alert for approaching storms. Watch the sky and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio or television for information.

Tornado Warning – A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Take shelter immediately.

Now is the time for residents to prepare their emergency supplies and plan for a possible loss of electrical power that could result from downed trees and debris. For detailed information about how to prepare for severe weather, including a list of items you will want to have in your emergency kit tonight, please visit www.Ready.gov.

Link:

FEMA Urges Residents to Follow Direction of Local Officials Ahead of Severe Weather

FEMA Releases Preliminary Work Maps for New York City

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today released Preliminary Work Maps for New York City that reflect the latest refinements to the ongoing analysis of coastal flood hazards. The release of the Preliminary Work Maps is the next step in the coastal Flood Insurance Study update. The Preliminary Work Maps replace the Advisory Base Flood Elevation Maps for New York City that were released earlier this year. Property owners should use these new maps to inform rebuilding and other ongoing construction.

The changes between the Advisory Base Flood Elevation Maps and the Preliminary Work Maps released today include a reduction in the area designated as a V-zone (area at risk of experiencing waves greater than 3 feet in height). The new maps are extremely important as FEMA and the City continue to work in partnership to support sustainable disaster resilient communities; and to avoid or reduce the loss of life, loss of property, and financial impacts of coastal flood hazards.

The Preliminary Work Maps are an interim step in the process of developing Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). The Preliminary Work Maps precede the Preliminary FIRMs, which upon becoming effective will determine flood insurance rates, though the risks reflected in the two sets of maps will be the same. The Preliminary FIRMs are estimated to become effective sometime in2015. The Preliminary Work Maps and the Preliminary FIRMs that follow will help property owners make decisions about how high to elevate their homes and businesses to reduce their flood risk and potential future flood insurance costs.

New York City’s housing recovery program, NYC Build It Back, will help homeowners impacted by Hurricane Sandy rebuild and meet the new elevation and freeboard standards to reduce their flood risk. Information on that program is available on www.nyc.gov.

As compared to the effective FIRMs for New York City, the Preliminary Work Maps show that the majority of areas will see increases in the floodplain and Base Flood Elevations (BFEs); however some areas may see decreases. These changes are due primarily to more precise ground elevation data and more detailed analysis.

There is an indication that the overall size of the coastal high hazard area will increase in comparison to the effective FIRMs. Estimates indicate that about 2 percent of the New York City land area is subject to high velocity wave action, which is roughly twice the area shown on the current effective FIRMs.

FEMA encourages communities to use this information in instances where BFEs have increased and/or new Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) are shown on the Preliminary Work Maps. This will help community members make decisions to reduce their flood risk until the preliminary FIRMs become effective. Please visit www.Region2Coastal.com for more information on the Preliminary Work Maps.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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FEMA Releases Preliminary Work Maps for New York City

Apply for FEMA Assistance Even if You Have Flood Insurance

AURORA, Ill. – FEMA disaster assistance may sometimes cover damages that flood insurance does not.

Illinois residents affected by the severe storms and flooding from April 16 to May 5 need to apply for disaster assistance even if they have insurance. You must apply directly with FEMA. Filing a flood insurance claim or meeting with your insurance agent does not register you with FEMA.

However, you do need to file your insurance claim with your insurance company, and you must apply with FEMA before the deadline of July 9. Failure to do so will affect your eligibility for FEMA disaster assistance.

Once you have applied, you have 12 months to tell FEMA if your insurance coverage was sufficient and to be considered for FEMA disaster assistance. By law, FEMA cannot provide money to individuals or households for losses that are covered by insurance.

After filing a flood insurance claim, if any of the following situations occurs, FEMA may be able to provide some assistance:

Your settlement was delayed longer than 30-days from the time you filed a claim.
Your settlement doesn’t cover all of your disaster-related needs.
You exhausted the additional living expenses provided by your insurance.
You are unable to locate rental resources in your area.

Fax (1-800-827-8112) or mail a letter to FEMA explaining the circumstances to:

FEMA – Individuals & Households Program

National Processing Service Center

P.O. Box 10055

Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055

It is not necessary to visit a Disaster Recovery Center (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 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. For more information visit the Illinois Disaster website www.fema.gov/disaster/4116

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

Continued:

Apply for FEMA Assistance Even if You Have Flood Insurance

Assistance for Four Massachusetts Counties’ Bombing Expenses

PORTSMOUTH, N.H.—On April 17, President Obama authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reimburse government and some private non-profit entities in Middlesex, Norfolk and Suffolk, Massachusetts, counties for their eligible emergency response costs due to the Marathon bombings. On June 5, Bristol County was added to the counties eligible for this aid.

The emergency declaration authorizes FEMA’s Public Assistance program to reimburse 75 percent of eligible costs, such as police and fire department overtime and equipment expenses. The period for which expenses are eligible is April 15-22, 2013.

One Month Left for Illinois Residents to Register With FEMA

AURORA, Ill. – Illinois residents who had damage from the severe storms and flooding between April 16 and May 5 have only 30 days left to register for FEMA disaster assistance.

Federal disaster assistance for homeowners and renters can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs.

FEMA provides several ways for residents of the 33 counties included in the major disaster declaration to register by the deadline of Tuesday, July 9.

Currently, Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) crews are going door-to-door in hard-hit areas and also visiting senior centers, churches and other community gathering places. The crews are meeting with local officials and community leaders to provide additional support for determining where unmet needs exist.

The goal is to identify anyone who needs help – homeowners, renters, business owners, eligible nonprofit agencies and faith-based organizations. This includes people with disabilities, those with access and functional needs, seniors and people with limited English proficiency.

It is important to remember that FEMA staff members who assist residents with registration are federal employees. They have received federal security clearances and carry photo identification badges. Always ask to see an ID before giving personal information to anyone.

Another way to register for federal disaster assistance is to visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) operated by the state of Illinois and FEMA. The eight DRCs currently open are in Chicago and in Cook, DuPage, Peoria, Rock Island and Woodford counties; however, three are closing later this week. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Chicago

North Park Village

5801 N. Pulaski, Bldg. C

Chicago, IL 60646

Chicago

Royal Savings Bank

9226 S. Commercial Ave.

Chicago, IL 60617

Cook County

Forest View Fire Department

7010 W. 46^th St.

Forest View, IL 60402

Cook County

1486 Miner St. (Next to Des Plaines Theater)

Des Plaines, IL 60016

DuPage County

Lisle Police Department

5040 Lincoln Ave.

Lisle, IL 60532

Peoria County (Closing June 14)

Chillicothe Fire Department (Fire Hall)

217 W. Chestnut St.

Chillicothe, IL 61523

Rock Island County (Closing June 12)

Rock Island County Emergency Management Agency

6120 78^th Ave.

Milan, IL 61264

Woodford County (Closing June 14)

Woodford County Emergency Management Agency

301 S. Main St.

Roanoke, IL 61561

However, it is not necessary to visit a Disaster Recovery Center (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 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. For more information, visit the Illinois Disaster website www.fema.gov/disaster/4116

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

Have the following information handy to speed the process:

Social Security number;
Telephone number where you can be reached;
Address of the damaged property;
Current mailing address;
Brief description of disaster-related damages and losses;
Insurance information; and
Direct deposit information to speed delivery of funds.

The 33 Illinois counties designated for FEMA Individual Assistance include: Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Clark, Cook, Crawford, DeKalb, Douglas, DuPage, Fulton, Grundy, Henderson, Henry, Kane, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, Peoria, Pike, Rock Island, Schuyler, Stark, Tazewell, Whiteside, Will, Winnebago and Woodford.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

One Month Left for Illinois Residents to Register With FEMA

Disaster Recovery Center in Woodford County to Close

AURORA, Ill. – The federal/state Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Woodford County will close at
7 p.m. Friday, June 14.

Woodford County

Woodford County Emergency Management Office

301 S. Main St.

Roanoke, IL 61561

After the DRC closes, registration continues to be available in several ways: online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. For more information, visit the Illinois Disaster website www.fema.gov/disaster/4116

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

Continue reading:

Disaster Recovery Center in Woodford County to Close

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