BATON ROUGE, La. — To continue serving Hurricane Isaac survivors in St. John Parish, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has partnered with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide assistance specialists at the SBA’s new Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC), which opens Friday in LaPlace.

“Even though the registration period ends today, we know many Louisianians still have questions regarding their applications for assistance, or simply prefer to talk with someone face to face,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar. “The continued presence of Individual Assistance professionals in the new SBA center highlights our commitment to helping eligible hurricane survivors here in Louisiana.”             

The DLOC is located at:

2015 W. Airline Hwy.

LaPlace, LA 70068

The center opens at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 30. Its hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, until further notice.

Hurricane Isaac survivors throughout Louisiana can still contact FEMA online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585.  Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, visit online at www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

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 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.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of funding 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 uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339).

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FEMA to Maintain Presence at New SBA Center in St. John Parish

BATON ROUGE, La. — Holidays can bring great joy — and great stress — for everyone, from toddlers to seniors. But for families disrupted by Hurricane Isaac, this year’s holiday season may bring added anxiety for children if they lost their homes, pets or treasured possessions.

While the support of their families can help many children work through their fears and sense of loss, the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) remind parents and other caregivers that free crisis counseling is available now and well into next year.

The counseling is available in the parishes designated for Individual Assistance under the major disaster declaration. The program, funded by FEMA and administered by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH), is open to any adult or child in designated parishes.

Children are particularly vulnerable to emotional stress after a disaster. Stress symptoms for all children may include excessive fear of the dark, fear of being alone, crying and constant worry. In addition to their feelings of loss, younger children may believe they somehow caused the hurricane. Depending on their developmental stage, those youngsters may not be able to express their emotions through words, so counselors who use therapies that do not rely on talking may be a better fit.

“Parents are the experts on their own children – they know when something’s out of line,” said Tom Davis, associate professor of psychology at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. “Three months after a disaster, if my child was still having difficulties, with symptoms like nightmares, flashbacks, not wanting to talk about it and always being in startle mode, I would consider counseling.”

Davis specializes in work with children’s issues, particularly child anxiety. He suggests parents and family members remember that children take their cues from the adults in their lives.

“If we’re talking about how bad things are, kids pick up on that,” Davis said. “Kids see how others respond to negative events, and model that fear, that anxiety, that worry.”  

Trained counselors are provided by the network of state Human Services authorities and districts. Calls to the crisis lines are free of charge, as are face-to-face follow-up sessions for children (and adults) whose needs cannot be fully served through phone counseling.

The health department team encourages parents to help children through the season by listening and talking about their feelings, while reassuring them they are loved and that it’s OK to have these feelings. Children are resilient, and with reassurance, guidance and love, they will be able to take a life-changing event and develop the coping mechanisms to assist them in the future.

To learn more, call the DHH-Office of Behavioral Health Louisiana Spirit Crisis Line at 1-866-310-7977 or the Louisiana Behavioral Health Partnership at 1-800-424-4399.

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 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.

Excerpt from – 

Free Crisis Counseling Offers Holiday Hope for Louisiana Youth and Adults

BATON ROUGE, La. Lafourche Parish will receive a $1.1 million federal grant to help reimburse its costs for cleaning up debris from public rights of way following Hurricane Isaac, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced.

The FEMA grant, totaling $1,144,692, is obligated to the parish for its work in removing and disposing of more than 107,000 cubic yards of vegetative and other debris cause by high winds and flooding during the storm.

“Cleaning up debris is an important step in the recovery process,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar of FEMA. “This grant demonstrates our strong support for the city’s efforts to clear debris and thus protect public health and safety.”

The FEMA grant covers the federal share of the parish’s eligible costs for the work. Under a cost-sharing formula, FEMA reimburses the state for 75 percent of the total costs, while the state and/or applicant pay the remaining 25 percent.

The newly obligated funds are a portion of the more than $144.1 million in total Public Assistance recovery dollars approved for the state since the Aug. 29 declaration for Hurricane Isaac.

Once FEMA reimburses the state of Louisiana it is the state’s responsibility to manage the funds, which includes making disbursements to local jurisdictions and organizations that incurred costs.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow FEMA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

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FEMA Obligates $1.1 Million to Lafourche Parish for Debris Removal

NEW YORK – Federal disaster assistance for Hurricane Sandy survivors tops $1 billion in New York.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved grants of more than $802 million for rental assistance, home repairs and other needs. The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved low-interest disaster loans of more than $232 million to help homeowners and renters recover from uninsured property loss and other damages.

SBA has also issued loans totaling nearly $17 million to help business owners recover from damages caused by Hurricane Sandy.

“This billion dollar milestone follows President Obama’s words to me,” said Michael F. Byrne, FEMA federal coordinating officer. “He told me ‘stay on it’ after he saw the devastation first hand. As a New Yorker, I can speak for FEMA and all of our partners when I promise that we will stay on it right through recovery.”

Hurricane Sandy caused damage in 13 New York counties that were designated for Individual Assistance grants to help survivors repair homes, replace lost property and pay for other essential disaster-related needs.

The 13 counties designated for Individual Assistance include: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester.

Disaster Recovery Centers are still open in most designated counties where FEMA and SBA specialists are on hand to answer questions. To find the nearest recovery center, the following options are available: Text DRC and a Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA), and a text message will be sent back with the address. Also, check out the Disaster Recovery Center locator at www.FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

Individuals can also find a recovery center – and register for disaster assistance – online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet by going to m.fema.gov or by downloading the FEMA app. They may also call FEMA’s helpline at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) should call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.

Hurricane Sandy survivors in New York have until Jan. 28, 2013 to register for federal disaster assistance.

President Barack Obama declared a major disaster on Oct. 30, 2012 following Hurricane Sandy’s impact on New York beginning Oct. 27.  

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, SBA Assistance to New York Survivors Tops $1 Billion

NEW YORK – Nonprofit organizations that suffered damage from Hurricane Sandy may apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance (PA) funding to help them get back to the business of helping others.

“We encourage eligible nonprofit organizations to apply,” said Michael F. Byrne, FEMA federal coordinating officer. “FEMA is committed to assisting qualifying nonprofits as they recover from Hurricane Sandy.”

Private non-profit agencies that provide what are defined as critical services to the community may file a Request for Public Assistance from FEMA for reimbursement of costs incurred for emergency work performed as a result of Hurricane Sandy.

Facilities that provide critical services include:

  • Hospitals and other medical-treatment facilities;
  • Fire, police and other emergency services;
  • Power, water and sewer utilities; and
  • Educational institutions.

Private nonprofits that provide what are defined as essential services to the community may also be eligible for PA to repair damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. However, these private non-profits must first apply to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for a low-interest loan.
Facilities that provide essential services include: 

  • Libraries, museums and zoos;
  • Community centers;
  • Disability advocacy and service providers;
  • Homeless shelters and rehabilitation facilities; and
  • Senior citizen centers and day-care centers.

FEMA reimburses no less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for emergency protective measures and permanent restoration costs, including debris removal and infrastructure repair or replacement. FEMA specialists are available to help nonprofits through the application process.

To be eligible for PA, a private nonprofit organization must have a ruling letter from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or provide other, satisfactory, evidence from the state of New York that it is a nonprofit organization doing business under state law.

The deadline for requests for Public Assistance, which was due to expire, has been extended. 

The new deadlines are:

  • Jan. 28, 2013: for Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Richmond, Suffolk and Queens counties;
  • Feb. 1, 2013: for Rockland and Westchester counties; and
  • Feb. 11, 2013: for Orange, Putnam, Sullivan and Ulster counties.

Public Assistance is a program administered by New York State and funded by FEMA.

Nonprofit organizations interested in learning more about FEMA Public Assistance should visit: www.dhses.ny.gov/oem/recovery.

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.

View article – 

FEMA May be Able to Help Some Nonprofits with Public Assistance Disaster Grants

WARWICK, R.I. — Insured Rhode Islanders with Hurricane Sandy losses related to their primary homes may benefit from registering for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, because insurance may not cover all storm-related costs.

If you’re insured, you must file a claim with your insurance company and let FEMA know what your policy covers before you can be eligible for federal aid. By law, federal disaster assistance cannot duplicate insurance benefits.

When insurance doesn’t cover all your disaster related expenses FEMA may be able to help. Here are some examples:

  • You have Additional Living Expenses (ALE) your insurance doesn’t cover. If you were displaced from your home due to disaster damage, you may have additional living expenses for temporary housing until you are back in permanent housing (your repaired home or a new rental). Some policies–and this includes National Flood Insurance–do not provide benefits for Additional Living Expenses. Other policies may provide some coverage, but not enough.  FEMA may be able to help.
     
  • You have losses that were not insured, such as: Sandy may have damaged your vehicle and you have no  coverage for that. You may have been injured by the hurricane and have uninsured medical or dental expenses. You may be a student who lost your books and computer or a worker who lost tools that your insurance doesn’t cover.

After registering, many insured applicants will initially receive a letter from FEMA stating they are ineligible because they have insurance. FEMA can reconsider this determination after you provide information about storm-related losses your insurance didn’t cover. You will receive instructions on how to do this with your letter from FEMA or call the FEMA Helpline, 800-621-3362, for more information.

It’s important not to put off registering even if you don’t yet know whether insurance covers all your losses. Registration is open only until January 14. After that, even if you later discover uninsured losses, it will be too late to ask FEMA for help.

FEMA evaluates each situation on a case-by-case basis. By registering before the deadline, you will be assured of access to all available FEMA aid even if you do have insurance.
 

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 medical and dental expenses, 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.

SBA disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people with speech or hearing disabilities) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Applications can also be downloaded from www.sba.govor completed on-line at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

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Insured Rhode Islanders May Qualify for FEMA Aid

TRENTON, N.J. — Survivors of Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey now have until January 30, 2013 to register for disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

People with storm losses in all counties can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

Survivors also can register by phone or 711/VRS by calling 800-621-3362, TTY 800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.

At the request of the state, FEMA extended the registration deadline beyond the original 60 day window due to the magnitude of the Hurricane Sandy disaster.

The disaster registration process serves as a referral point for FEMA programs and those of partner agencies such as the U.S. Small Business Administration, American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

FEMA disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property losses and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

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

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

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

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FEMA Extends Registration Deadline For New Jersey Hurricane Sandy Survivors

NEW YORK – Disaster Recovery Centers throughout New York will continue to provide prompt one-on-one, face-to-face assistance for survivors of Hurricane Sandy during the holiday season.

The centers will open at their usual times on Christmas Eve and will operate until noon. They will not be open on Christmas Day, but normal hours will resume on Wednesday, Dec. 26. The following week, recovery centers will host storm survivors until noon on New Year’s Eve, will not be open on New Year’s Day and will return to business as usual on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013.

Since Nov. 1, New York Disaster Recovery Centers have offered information and help to more than 100,000 people affected by Hurricane Sandy. Individuals may visit any of the centers to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration or seek assistance in a variety of other ways. 

County by county and borough by borough, New York Disaster Recovery Centers currently are located at:

Nassau

Recreation and Ice Arena
700 Magnolia Blvd.
Long Beach, NY 11561
Normal hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Sacred Heart Parish
RR station parking lot
127 Long Beach Rd.
Island Park, NY 11558
Normal hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Mitchell Field Athletic Center
1 Charles Lindbergh Blvd.
Uniondale, NY 11553
Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Sat., Dec. 22
 
Cedar Creek Park
Merrick Rd. East
Seaford, NY 11783
Normal hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Marjorie Post Community Center
477 Unqua Rd.
Massapequa, NY 11758
Normal hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Young Israel
Gymnasium
859 Peninsula Blvd.
Woodmere, NY 11598
Normal hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.
8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fri.
Closed Sat.

Freeport Recreation Center
130 E. Merrick Rd.
Freeport, NY 11520
Normal hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Queens

Fort Tilden Park
415 State Rd.
Breezy Point, NY 11697
Normal hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mon.-Sat.

Community Church of the Nazarene
1414 Central Ave.
Far Rockaway, NY 11691
Normal hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

American Legion
209 Cross Bay Blvd.
Broad Channel, NY 11693
Normal hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Storefront
1001 Beach 20th St.
Far Rockaway, NY 11691
Normal hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon.-Sat.

Arverne by the Sea
68-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd.
Arverne, NY 11692
Normal hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon.-Sat.

Richmond

Miller Field
600 New Dorp Lane
Staten Island, NY 10306
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Kia in Staten Island
1976 Hylan Blvd.
Staten Island, NY 10306
Normal hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.

Suffolk

Town Hall West
401 Main St.
Islip, NY 11751
Normal hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Mastic Recreation Community Center
15 Herkimer St.
Mastic, NY 11950
Normal hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Lindenhurst Library
1 Lee Ave.
Lindenhurst, NY 11757
Normal hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Kings

Holy Family R.C. Church
9719 Flatlands Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11236
Normal hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Coffey Park
85 Richards St.
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Normal hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.

Knights of Columbus Hall
2882 Gerritsen Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11229
Normal hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Social Security Building
Gravesend
10 Bouck Court
Brooklyn, NY 11223
Normal hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.

Jewish Community Center
YM-YWHA
3300 Coney Island Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11235
Normal hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

MCU parking lot
1904 Surf Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11224
Normal hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.

Westchester

Westchester County Center
198 Central Ave.
White Plains, NY 10606
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Fri., Dec. 21

To find the nearest recovery center, the following options are available: Text DRC and a Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA), and a text message will be sent back with the address. Also, check out the Disaster Recovery Center locator at www.FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

Individuals can find a recovery center – and register for FEMA help – online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet by going to m.fema.gov or downloading the FEMA app. They may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) should call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.

Federal disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property losses and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

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.

Originally posted here: 

Holiday Hours Announced For Disaster Recovery Centers

NEW YORK – New Yorkers beginning the rebuilding process will have more opportunities to receive technical information on improvements to protect their homes from future storms.

Beginning Tuesday, Dec. 18, mitigation specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be at four new area locations to offer guidance on how to build back safer and stronger in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.  

Residents can get advice on safe cleanup measures, repair and building techniques, as well learn more about flood insurance. This information is available to the public and provided at no cost. 

FEMA advisors will be available at Home Depot and Lowe’s stores at the following locations:

Bronx County – Home Depot 
600 Exterior St, Bronx 10451 

Kings County – Home Depot
579 Gateway Dr. Brooklyn 11239

Nassau County – Lowe’s 
90 Price Pkwy, Farmingdale 11735 

Suffolk County – Home Depot
1550 Old Country Rd, Riverhead 11901

Hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 18, through Saturday, Dec. 22, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 23.
Every dollar spent on mitigation now saves four times that amount in repairs from the next disaster concluded a Penn State University-led research team in 2006.  

More information on ways to protect your property from disasters to come is available at: www.fema.gov. Click on “Plan, Prepare and Mitigate.”

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4085, http://twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

Originally posted here – 

FEMA Continues Outreach on Rebuilding Safer and Stronger

NEW YORK – Five tools new to help people who are deaf, hard of hearing or blind are being used for Hurricane Sandy disaster response by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

At New York disaster recovery centers, survivors who are blind or have low vision are using text-to-speech software and a variety of magnifiers to access FEMA information. Survivors who are deaf or hard of hearing are offered enhanced listening devices, iPad 3s with real-time-video remote sign language interpreting apps, and captioned phones to get disaster recovery information accessible to them.

These five assistive technology tools are part of a kit that costs FEMA less than $4,000. For price comparison, a single sign-language interpreter at one disaster recovery center can cost more than $400-a-day. (Federal law mandates that equal access to effective communication be available the entire time that a recovery center is open, usually eight hours daily.) On-site interpreters are available upon request, but for immediate access, interpreters are provided via on-line Wi-Fi and cellular connections, similar to the use of Skype. 

“The tools were selected after considering many options that would work in the aftermath of a disaster,” says Marcie Roth, director of FEMA’s Office of Disability Integration and Coordination.

“We’ve been engaging the real experts, people who use these tools on a regular basis, as our planning partners,” she explains. “We are so far ahead of where we were, even a year ago, but that doesn’t mean that we’re there yet. We’re in a position where we’re using for the first time some of the most advanced technology in one of the worst disasters. This is a great teachable moment, but we have to make sure no one falls through the cracks in this learning curve.”

The five new tools at each disaster recovery center are:

  • iPad 3 – this device has many apps to provide enlarged text for people with low vision, picture symbols for people with low literacy or communication disabilities, immediate access to sign language interpreters for people who are deaf and many other tools for immediate communication access
  • Magnifying Readers – Enlarges text for people with low vision
  • Enhanced Listening Devices – improves the clarity of sound for people who are hard of hearing, especially helpful for older adults in noisy settings like a Disaster Recovery Center.
  • Live Video Interpreting – provides immediate access to sign language interpreters standing by at a remote location to provide access to people who are deaf.
  • Captioned Phones – provide real-time voice-to-text for people who can speak on the phone but cannot hear the caller on the other end.“We’re not working for people with disabilities,” adds Marcie Roth, “we’re working with people with disabilities.”
  • Accessibility Tools in a DRC: http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/7188
  • Assistive Technologies at Disaster Recovery Centers: http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/9367
  • Disability Integration (Use of Interpreters in the DRC): http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/7506

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 Continues Innovations to Meet Access and Functional Needs Integration

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