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Thirteen NC Counties Eligible for FEMA Public Assistance Grants

RALEIGH, N.C. – Thirteen counties are eligible for additional FEMA Public Assistance grants for permanent repair and replacement of disaster-damaged infrastructure resulting from Hurricane Matthew.

The counties are Anson, Bladen, Chatham, Cumberland, Franklin, Halifax, Hoke, Johnston, Lee, Nash, Richmond, Scotland and Wake. All of the counties except Franklin had previously been approved for Categories A and B (debris removal and emergency protective measures). Franklin was added for all categories this week.

The additional eligibility is for categories C through G, which includes permanent work on infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utilities, parks and recreational facilities.

Damage assessments continue in North Carolina to determine eligibility for the Public Assistance Program.

For more information on the North Carolina recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4285 and readync.org. Follow FEMA on Twitter @femaregion4 and North Carolina Emergency Management @ncemergency.

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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 800-621-3362 or TTY at 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. Follow FEMA on twitter at @femaregion4. Download the FEMA app with tools and tips to keep you safe before, during, and after disasters.

Dial 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162 to speak with a trained call specialist about questions you have regarding Hurricane Matthew; the service is free, confidential and available in any language. They can help direct you to resources. Call 5-1-1 or 877-511-4662 for the latest road conditions or check the ReadyNC mobile app, which also has real-time shelter and evacuation information. For updates on Hurricane Matthew impacts and relief efforts, go to ReadyNC.org or follow N.C. Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook. People or organizations that want to help ensure North Carolina recovers can visit NCdisasterrelief.org or text NCRecovers to 30306.

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 more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

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Thirteen NC Counties Eligible for FEMA Public Assistance Grants

FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Dare County

RALEIGH, N.C. – FEMA and North Carolina Emergency Management will open a Disaster Recovery Center in Dare County Saturday, Nov. 12, to provide information about available state and federal disaster assistance and other recovery information. The center will operate for three days, closing at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15.

Manteo Location: Arts and Crafts Activity Room

Dare County Center

950 Marshall C Collins Drive

Manteo, NC 27954

Regular hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

(Closed Sunday)

DRCs are staffed with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, North Carolina Emergency Management and the U.S. Small Business Administration. You can receive help applying for federal disaster assistance, learn about the types of assistance available, learn about the appeals process and obtain updates regarding your application.

To locate the center nearest you, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, use the ReadyNC and FEMA mobile apps or go online to FEMA.gov/DRC or readync.org.

Registering with FEMA is the first step to federal disaster assistance. Register:

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service. If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585.
Download the FEMA Mobile App and apply.

Survivors requiring a reasonable accommodation such as American Sign Language interpreting, Braille, large print, etc. while visiting a disaster recovery center may call the Helpline number for support. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Help is available in most languages, and information on the registration process is available in ASL at fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/111546.

FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare or other federal benefits.

Register even if you have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but if you are underinsured you may receive help after your claim has been settled.

For more information on the North Carolina recovery, visit the disaster webpage at fema.gov/disaster/4285; or visit the North Carolina Emergency Management website at readync.org. Management @ncemergency.

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FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Dare County

Disaster Recovery Centers Hours Change in Chesapeake and Norfolk

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va— Effective Monday, Nov. 14, 2016, Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Chesapeake and Norfolk will begin operating under new hours. The new operating hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.

The Virginia Beach DRC operating hours will remain 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. Disaster survivors are urged to register with FEMA right away, and can visit the DRC nearest them or call the FEMA help line at 800-621-3362 for assistance. To find a DRC location closest to you, go to: https://www.fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers and click on ‘Search for a Disaster Recovery Center.’

DRCs are operated by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The centers provide FEMA registration assistance and disaster information to residents in the cities of Chesapeake, Newport News, Norfolk and Virginia Beach with damage from Hurricane Matthew.

Specialists at the recovery centers can review applicant cases, answer questions about claims, review information needed to process claims, and talk with a U.S. Small Business Administration representative.

These disaster centers are open Monday through Sunday until further notice:

Virginia Beach: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library

4100 Virginia Beach Blvd

Virginia Beach, VA 23452

Enter main door, turn right, near Cafe

Starting Monday:

Chesapeake: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Chesapeake Department of Human Services

City of Chesapeake

100 Outlaw St.

Chesapeake, VA 23320

Enter main door, turn right

Norfolk: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Norfolk City Work Force Development Center

201 Little Creek Road

Room 208

Norfolk, VA 23505

You don’t need to visit a DRC to register for Federal assistance, survivors can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov, on the FEMA Mobile App, or by calling 800-621-3362. TTY users can call 800-462-7585. Phone lines are open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. EDT until further notice. Help is available in almost any language.

Additional information about this disaster is available at www.fema.gov and www.vaemergency.gov. Virginians seeking information about disaster-related services needs should call Virginia 211, a statewide information and referral service.

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Disaster Recovery Centers Hours Change in Chesapeake and Norfolk

Joint FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center to Open in Camden County

RALEIGH, N.C. – FEMA and North Carolina Emergency Management will open a Disaster Recovery Center in Camden County Friday, Nov. 11, to provide information about available state and federal disaster assistance and other recovery information. The center will operate for four days, closing at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15.

Location: South Mills Volunteer Fire Department

127 Keeter Barn Road

South Mills, NC 27976

Hours of Operation: Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

(Closed Sunday)

Recovery specialists from FEMA, NCEM and the U.S. Small Business Administration are available to speak with you face-to-face to answer questions you may have regarding the disaster assistance process, other assistance available and help you register if you haven’t already.

If you have registered, they can provide you with an update of your application status and if needed, discuss the appeal process.

To locate the center nearest you, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, use the ReadyNC and FEMA mobile apps or go online to FEMA.gov/DRC or readync.org.

Registering with FEMA is the first step to federal disaster assistance. Register:

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service. If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585.
Download the FEMA Mobile App and apply.

Survivors requiring a reasonable accommodation (American Sign Language interpreting, Braille, large print, etc.) while visiting a disaster recovery center may call the appropriate Helpline number listed above for support. These toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Help is available in many languages, and information on the registration process is available in ASL at www.fema.gov/media-library/assestss/videos/111546.

FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare or other federal benefits.

Register even if you have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but if you are underinsured you may receive help after your claim has been settled.

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Joint FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center to Open in Camden County

FEMA/State DRCs in Craven and Greene Counties to Close Saturday, Nov. 12

FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Centers in Craven and Greene Counties to Close Saturday, Nov. 12

RALEIGH, N.C. –After weeks of operation assisting the survivors of Hurricane Matthew, the Disaster Recovery Centers in Craven and Greene counties will close at 1 p.m. Saturday,

Nov. 12. The centers are located at:

Craven County

Old Family Dollar Store

281 NC Highway 43

Vanceboro, NC 28586

Greene County

Snow Hill Fire Department

201 Carolina Drive

Snow Hill, NC 28580

As of Nov. 9, more than 1,000 individuals had called the FEMA Helpline or visited the recovery centers in Craven and Greene counties to register for assistance. At this time, visits to the center have decreased. Therefore, FEMA and the state will close the center and relocate resources to other centers in the affected counties.

Survivors can still get help by calling the FEMA Helpline or visiting one of the other recovery centers.

To locate the center nearest you, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, use the ReadyNC and FEMA mobile apps or go online to FEMA.gov/DRC or readync.org.

Registering with FEMA is the first step to federal disaster assistance. Register:

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service. If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585.

Download the FEMA Mobile App and apply.

FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare or other federal benefits.

Register even if you have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but if you are underinsured you may receive help after your claim has been settled.

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FEMA/State DRCs in Craven and Greene Counties to Close Saturday, Nov. 12

Federal Disaster Assistance Includes the Right to Appeal

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Georgia disaster survivors have the right to appeal a FEMA decision about what assistance they are eligible to receive. They can question the amount or type of help FEMA provided or any other decision about federal disaster assistance.

To submit an appeal, survivors should explain in writing why they disagree with the FEMA decision and be specific.

There are many reasons for denial of assistance but the simplest could be: An applicant did not submit all the necessary documents to support the claim including, for instance, an insurance settlement letter, proof of residence, proof of ownership of the damaged property or contractor’s estimate for repairs not covered.

Federal assistance is available to eligible individuals and households in Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh and Wayne counties. Damage or losses from Hurricane Matthew must have occurred Oct. 4-15.

Applicants from the 10 eligible counties have 60 days from the date on FEMA’s decision letter to file an appeal. The appeal letter should include:

· Applicant’s full name

· Date and place of birth

· Address

· Supporting documents

The letter should be notarized and include a copy of a state-issued identification card or the following statement: “I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.”

The letter must be signed by the applicant, dated and mailed to:

FEMA

National Processing Service Center

P.O. Box 10055

Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055

Letters may also be faxed to 800-827-8112 with a cover sheet marked: Attention – FEMA or uploaded to the applicant’s account on DisasterAssistance.gov.

For updates on Georgia’s Hurricane Matthew response and recovery, follow @GeorgiaEMA and @FEMARegion4 on Twitter and visit gemhsa.ga.gov and fema.gov/disaster/4284.

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Federal Disaster Assistance Includes the Right to Appeal

Disaster Assistance Tops $3.1 Million for Virginia Survivors

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – One week after President Obama issued a major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Virginia, more than $3.1 million has been approved for homeowners and renters affected by Hurricane Matthew on Oct. 7, 2016.

This assistance comes in the form of federal grants to individuals and households as part of a joint effort by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials. More than 1,970 households have applied to FEMA for disaster grants for homeowners and renters. Assistance is currently available to residents in four cities, Chesapeake, Newport News, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach.

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 programs. Grants do not have to be repaid to the federal government and do not count as taxable income.

FEMA-contracted housing inspectors have completed more than 1,035 inspections of disaster-damaged properties to verify damage.

Although $3.1 million has been approved in FEMA grants, flood insurance policies have paid more than $12.3 million to those who were covered by flood insurance. To date 2,179 claims have been filed.

Everyone in the disaster declared municipalities is eligible to buy flood insurance, whether they are a business owner, reside in, rent, or own a primary or secondary residence inside or outside a high risk or special flood hazard area. Even condominium complexes can purchase flood insurance. Flood insurance is the best tool for economic recovery after a flood event.

One of FEMA’s federal partners in disaster recovery, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), offers low-interest disaster loans for businesses of all sizes, homeowners, renters and private non-profit organizations. SBA disaster loans may cover repairs, rebuilding, as well as the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged real estate and personal property.

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.

Registering with FEMA is the first step in qualifying for disaster assistance. January 3, 2017 is the deadline 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 800-621-3622. TTY users should call 800-462-7585. Go online at DisasterAssistance.gov. The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

The Commonwealth and FEMA operate Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Chesapeake, Norfolk and Virginia Beach. DRCs are open Monday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. An easy-to-use DRC Locator is available online at //asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

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Disaster Assistance Tops $3.1 Million for Virginia Survivors

FEMA Authorizes Federal Funds to Help Battle Tennessee Wildfires

ATLANTA, Ga.–The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized federal funds to reimburse costs to Tennessee to fight the Flippers Bend Fire burning in Hamilton County.

This authorization makes FEMA grant funding available to reimburse 75 percent of the eligible firefighting costs for managing, mitigating and controlling the fire. Eligible costs can include labor, equipment and supplies used for fighting the fire and costs for emergency work such as evacuations and sheltering, police barricading and traffic control.

“FEMA approved this request to ensure that Tennessee has the resources to combat this fire and protect lives, structures and property,” said FEMA Regional Administrator Gracia Szczech. “State responders will continue the hard work to fight the fire with the help of this funding.”

The state requested a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG), and it was granted after 9:00 PM EST on November 9, 2016. The fire started on November 5, and has burned in excess of 800 acres of state and private land. There are 47 other large fires burning uncontrolled across the state. At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 45 homes in and around the Boston Branch community. Mandatory evacuations are taking place for approximately 15 to 20 homes and evacuations are expected to increase. The fire is also threatening the Town of Mont Lake and the Mile Straight community.

Federal fire management assistance is provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to fight fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible state firefighting costs covered by the aid must first meet a minimum threshold for costs before assistance is provided.

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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 the FEMA mobile app for disaster resources, weather alerts, and safety tips.

Link:

FEMA Authorizes Federal Funds to Help Battle Tennessee Wildfires

A FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center Is Coming to Taylor County

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – With the application deadline for Hurricane Hermine quickly approaching, a FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is opening in Taylor County to bring information about available state and federal assistance. The deadline to register for federal disaster assistance under Hurricane Hermine is Nov. 28, 2016.

The DRC will be open from Monday Nov. 14, through Wednesday Nov. 16, 2016 at the following location and times:

WHERE: Steinhatchee Community Center

1013 S. Riverside Dr.

Steinhatchee, FL. 32359

WHEN: Monday Nov. 14, through Wednesday Nov. 16, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

DRCs are staffed with representatives from FEMA, Florida Division of Emergency Management and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). You can receive help applying for federal disaster assistance, learn about the types of assistance available, learn about the appeals process and obtain updates regarding your application.

Many services offered at DRCs are also available by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 (voice/711/VRS-Video Relay Service) (TTY: 800-462-7585). Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish). The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, until further notice. Survivors with questions regarding the application or the appeals process, or who need to register for assistance, may also visit online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Floridians who already registered for disaster assistance with FEMA are encouraged to stay in touch. If addresses or phone numbers change they should be updated with FEMA as soon as possible. Missing or erroneous information could result in delays in getting a home inspection or receiving assistance.

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

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4280, twitter.com/femaregion4, facebook.com/FEMA, and fema.gov/blog, floridadisaster.org or #FLRecovers.

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A FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center Is Coming to Taylor County

Disaster Survivors Can Get Free Legal Help

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016) — A toll-free legal aid hotline is now available to South Carolinians affected by Hurricane Matthew. The service allows callers to request the assistance of a lawyer to aid in flood-related matters.

Disaster survivors who face legal issues and are unable to afford a lawyer may call 877-797- 2227 ext. 120 (toll-free) or 803-576-3815 (local) between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to request assistance.

When connected to the hotline recording, callers should identify that they are seeking disaster- related legal assistance; briefly describe the problem they have, and the county in which they live. Individuals who qualify for assistance will be matched with South Carolina lawyers who have volunteered to provide free legal assistance.

Flood survivors may also request assistance by e-mailing a description of their problem to:

admin@scdisasterrelief.com.

The service is provided by a partnership of the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, the South Carolina Bar, the South Carolina Bar Young Lawyers Division and South Carolina Legal Services.

Counseling and assistance cover a wide range of topics, including:

Life, medical and property insurance claims
Home repair contracts and contractors
Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster
Consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures
Mortgage-foreclosure problems
Landlord-tenant issues

Flood survivors in Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillion, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg, Sumter and Williamsburg counties are eligible to use the disaster relief legal assistance program.

Callers should be aware that there are limitations on disaster legal services. For example, assistance is not available for cases that will produce a fee (those cases where attorneys are paid part of the settlement by a court). Such cases are referred to a local lawyer referral service.

People in other counties who need legal help may contact South Carolina Legal Services at 888-346-5592.

All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. 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 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 https://twitter.com/femaregion4 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters 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 more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

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Disaster Survivors Can Get Free Legal Help

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