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Free FEMA Tips at Joplin Home Improvement Store

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and a local home improvement store are teaming up to provide Joplin area residents with free information, tips and literature on making their homes stronger and safer.

FEMA mitigation specialists will be available at the Home Depot on East 20^th Street in Joplin between Friday, February 12 and Tuesday February 16 to answer questions and offer home improvement tips to prevent and lessen damage from future disasters. Most of the information is geared toward do-it-yourself work and general contractors.

Location:

Home Depot at 3110 E. 20^th Street, Joplin. MO 64801 (Jasper County)

Times:

Friday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Monday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Mitigation teams will also have free reference booklets on protecting your home from flood damage. More information about strengthening property can be found at www.fema.gov/what-mitigation.

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For breaking news about flood recovery, follow FEMA Region 7 on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion7 and turn on mobile notifications or visit the FEMA webpages dedicated to this disaster at www.fema.gov/disaster/4250.

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.

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 believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).

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.

Original article:

Free FEMA Tips at Joplin Home Improvement Store

Fact Sheet: Center Opens in Pulaski County to Help Missouri Flood Survivors

A temporary FEMA Disaster Recovery Center is opening Saturday in St. Robert for five days. The center offers in-person support to individuals and businesses who suffered losses in the December-January floods.

It is located at:

St. Robert Community Center

114 J. H. Williamson Dr.

St. Robert, MO 65584

The center opens Saturday, Feb. 13 at noon. Then it will be open Sunday through Wednesday, Feb. 17, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Recovery specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and other agencies will be at the center to discuss aid and assist anyone who needs help with an application.

Locations of six other recovery centers may be found online at fema.gov/drc.

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For breaking news about flood recovery, follow FEMA Region 7 on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion7 and turn on mobile notifications or visit the FEMA web pages dedicated to this disaster at www.fema.gov/disaster/4250.

Continued:

Fact Sheet: Center Opens in Pulaski County to Help Missouri Flood Survivors

Arkansas Storm Survivors Urged to Register for Federal Disaster Assistance

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – State and federal officials are encouraging Arkansas residents in the 11 counties hardest hit by the severe storms of late 2015 – January, 2016 to register for disaster assistance with FEMA as soon as possible.

Residents of Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Faulkner, Jackson, Jefferson, Lee, Little River, Perry, Sebastian and Sevier counties that suffered damage from the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding Dec. 26, 2015 – January 22, 2016 may be eligible for federal disaster assistance.

The first step is to register. To do so:

• Call 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- and hearing-impaired. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.
• Go to www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

The toll free telephone lines operate from 7 a.m.to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week.

“It is important to register with FEMA even though you may have contacted other agencies or volunteer organizations in your area,” said Scott Bass of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management. “Keep clear records and receipts of any repairs and take photos if possible.”

To speed the registration process, have the following readily available:

•   A current phone number where you can be contacted;
•   Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where they are now staying;
•   Your Social Security number, if available;
•   A general list of damages and losses; and
•   If insured, the insurance policy number, or the agent and company name.

Federal disaster assistance may include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest loans to cover underinsured or uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Disaster recovery loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available for businesses of all sizes (including landlords), private nonprofit organizations, as well as homeowners and renters. Call the SBA at 1-800-659-2955 or visit the website at: www.sba.gov/disaster.

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.

More –

Arkansas Storm Survivors Urged to Register for Federal Disaster Assistance

SBA Disaster Assistance Loan Application: Key to Continuing the Recovery Process

OXFORD, Miss. — If disaster survivors in Mississippi apply for assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and are referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration, it’s important for them to submit an SBA loan application to ensure that the federal disaster recovery process continues.

If you are a homeowner or renter and SBA determines you cannot afford a loan, you may be considered for FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance program. The program helps meet essential needs like medical and dental care, funeral costs and transportation expenses.

Next to insurance, an SBA loan is the primary source of funds for real estate property repairs and replacing lost contents following a disaster. Homeowners may be eligible for low interest loans up to $200,000 for primary residence structural repairs or rebuilding.

When applying for an SBA loan, survivors should start the process as soon as possible:

Do not wait on an insurance settlement before submitting an SBA loan application. Survivors can begin their recovery immediately with a low-interest SBA disaster loan. The loan balance will be reduced by the insurance settlement. SBA loans may be available for losses not covered by insurance or other sources.

Survivors 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 offered 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.

SBA can help renters replace their important personal items. Homeowners and renters may be eligible to borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace 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.

Survivors don’t have to accept the loan if they qualify for one. Survivors who don’t qualify could be eligible for more assistance from FEMA and other organizations.

March 4, 2016, is the last day survivors can register with FEMA and apply for an SBA disaster loan for physical damage. Oct. 4, 2016, is the last day a small business or private, nonprofit organization may apply for an economic injury disaster loan.

Survivors can submit their SBA loan applications one of two ways: online at https://DisasterLoan.SBA.gov/ela or by mailing their paper application to:

U.S. Small Business Administration

Processing and Disbursement Center

14925 Kingsport Rd.

Ft. Worth, TX 76155-2243

For additional information about SBA low-interest disaster loans, contact the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339, emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or visiting sba.gov/disaster.

Survivors who haven’t yet registered with FEMA can do so online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling FEMA’s helpline at 800-621-3362, which is video relay service accessible. Survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or who have difficulty speaking may call TTY 800-462-7585.

For more information on Mississippi disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4248 and www.msema.org.

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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.

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

Originally from:

SBA Disaster Assistance Loan Application: Key to Continuing the Recovery Process

FEMA Public Assistance Approved for 25 Texas Counties

AUSTIN, Texas— Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) has been made available to state and local governments, and certain private nonprofits, in 25 counties, to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe winter storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of Dec. 26, 2015 to Jan. 21, 2016.

The 25 counties designated for PA, in President Obama’s Major Disaster Declaration of Feb. 9, are Bailey, Castro, Childress, Cochran, Dallas, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Ellis, Hall, Hardeman, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Kaufman, Kent, King, Lamb, Lubbock, Navarro, Parmer, Rains, Red River, Rockwall, Titus and Van Zandt.

FEMA Public Assistance reimburses a minimum of 75 percent of the cost of eligible projects, which can include repair of roads and bridges, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utilities and parks and recreational facilities affected by the December storms. The cost of debris removal and emergency protective services, such as police overtime for extra work caused from responding to the disaster, also may be eligible for reimbursement.

Applicants apply through the state using a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) form alerting FEMA that an applicant will seek assistance from the agency. State Public Assistance personnel will conduct briefings for applicants on how to prepare projects for submission.

FEMA ensures that all projects meet environmental quality standards and gives final approval for all projects. The federal share goes directly to the state, with the applicant paying the remaining 25 percent. The state forwards the federal funds to eligible applicants when documentation is complete.

For more information on Texas recovery, visit our disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4255, Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

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Visit www.fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation for publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger.

Continue at source:

FEMA Public Assistance Approved for 25 Texas Counties

Center Opens in Greene County to Help Missouri Flood Survivors

JEFERSON CITY, Mo. – A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center is opening Thursday, Feb. 11, in Springfield. The center offers in-person support to individuals and businesses in any of the 33 Missouri counties included in the Jan. 21, 2016, Missouri federal disaster declaration.

The Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, MO 65810

The center joins these five others already in operation:

Cape Girardeau County center is at the Salvation Army, 701 Good Hope St., Cape Girardeau, MO 63703.
St. Louis County center is at Jefferson Barracks Visitor Center, 345 North Road, St. Louis, MO 63125.
St. Charles County center is at Immaculate Conception Community Center, 14060 N. State Route 94, West Alton, MO 63386.
Franklin County center is at Tri-County Senior Center, 800 W. Union Street, Pacific, MO 63069.
Jefferson County center is at Arnold City Hall, 2101 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold, MO 63010.

All recovery centers are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The centers are closed on Sundays. Centers will be open on Presidents’ Day, Monday, Feb. 15.

Disaster survivors may visit any of the centers for assistance. Locations of recovery centers may be found online at fema.gov/drc.

There are two main types of federal disaster assistance. FEMA provides grants to qualified individuals for rental assistance, home repairs, or other serious disaster-related losses. SBA makes low-interest disaster loans to help homeowners, renters, most nonprofits, and businesses of all sizes rebuild and recover.

Individuals and businesses are encouraged to register with FEMA before visiting a disaster recovery center. Register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling toll-free 800-621-FEMA (3362), 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual registration assistance is available. Survivors may also register using the fema.gov app for smartphones.

Disaster assistance applicants who are hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use TTY should call 800-462-7585. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) should call 800-621-3362.

The only way to access FEMA assistance is by registering with FEMA. Registering with any other agency does not register you with FEMA.

The federal disaster declaration covers eligible losses caused by flooding and severe storms between December 23, 2015, and January 9, 2016, in these counties: Barry, Barton, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Cole, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Jefferson, Laclede, Lawrence, Lincoln, Maries, McDonald, Morgan, Newton, Osage, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, Scott, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright.

# # #

For breaking news about flood recovery, follow FEMA Region 7 on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion7 and turn on mobile notifications or visit the FEMA webpages dedicated to this disaster at www.fema.gov/disaster/4250.

Follow this link –

Center Opens in Greene County to Help Missouri Flood Survivors

Fact Sheet: Missouri’s 2-1-1 Help Line

Missouri’s 2-1-1 Help Line

Missouri residents impacted by the recent severe storms and floods can dial 2-1-1, a free telephone service that helps people find the local resources they need before, during and after a disaster. All calls are private and confidential.
In Missouri, United Way 2-1-1 has partnered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other agencies to provide answers, services, relief and vital information on a number of topics including medical needs, home repairs, debris clearance, crisis counseling, and disaster unemployment assistance, as well as food, water and clothing needs.
The 2-1-1 line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Missouri residents can also call 800-427-4626 to speak with a trained resource specialist. TTY (866-385-6525) and multilingual services are also available.
Missourians can also call 2-1-1 to volunteer support for disaster relief or donate help to agencies.
In addition to dialing 2-1-1, Missouri residents can click onto the local United Way websitewww.211helps.org) for advice and information on where to find help. The site includes an easy-to-use search tool to locate disaster-related services in your city or county. These services cover a wide range from food banks, home repair and health care to legal services, disaster shelters and mental health support.
The website also includes an online chat function (available Mon–Fri 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) as well as links to downloadable United Way 2-1-1 Missouri and Southwest Illinois mobile apps for iPhone and Android phones.
During the telephone session or online chat, callers may be asked to provide United Way with some basic demographic information such as email address, zip code and age. United Way 2-1-1 Missouri and Southwest Illinois is committed to caller privacy and agrees to keep this information confidential. United Way does not sell, rent or exchange any caller information.

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Read this article –

Fact Sheet: Missouri’s 2-1-1 Help Line

Disaster Recovery Progress at Pine Ridge

PINE RIDGE, S.D. – Recovery efforts continue in the aftermath of severe storms and flooding that struck the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation last spring. In the six months since President Obama’s disaster declaration, hundreds of households have received assistance funds and FEMA and the Oglala Sioux Tribe have engaged in the largest housing effort in the tribe’s history. To support this effort, FEMA has established offices on the reservation, as well as in Hot Springs and Rapid City.

To address the severe housing need on the reservation following the disaster, FEMA initiated a program used for the first time in the continental United States. Under the effort, more than 300 households have been identified as eligible for either repairs to their damaged home, or replacement with a new manufactured home. As of Feb. 5, 40 new homes have been provided on the reservation, and another 10 homes have been repaired. The program will continue until an expected completion date in mid-summer. The manufactured homes are being staged at Ellsworth Air Force Base prior to their final delivery to the reservation.

In addition to the housing construction program, FEMA has provided more than $380,000 in financial aid to tribal members. Of that, more than $170,000 was for home repairs and $210,000 was for personal property and other emergency needs. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $943,000 in low-interest loans to 58 tribal residents and businesses.

A federal interagency disaster recovery coordination team is also partnering with the OST Government to support longer term Tribal priorities such as improving housing and roads, enhancing self-governance capacity, and reducing home and business energy bills. In addition to FEMA and the Tribal Departments, federal agencies involved in this effort include the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Agriculture Rural Development, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the Federal Highways Administration Tribal Transportation Program.

HUD and Oglala Lakota Sioux Housing are co-leading a Tribal Housing Task Force to support the “One Nation One Number” initiative that will assess housing conditions and housing needs on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The OST Department of Transportation is co-leading a Tribal Roads Task Force with the US Army Corps of Engineers to perform similar assessments and recommend solutions for addressing issues related to Tribal roads.

Link:

Disaster Recovery Progress at Pine Ridge

Federal Aid Programs for the Arkansas Declaration

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s disaster declaration issued for the State of Arkansas.

Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:

Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs. (Source: FEMA funded at 75 percent of total eligible costs; 25 percent funded by the state.)
Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals. (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.)
Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
Loans up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster’s adverse economic impact. This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $2 million. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence. (Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.)
Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans’ benefits and social security matters.

How to Apply for Assistance:

Affected individuals and business owners in designated areas can begin the disaster application process by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.

Assistance for the State and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for emergency protective measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health. Emergency protective measures assistance is available to state and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
Payment of not less than 75 percent for snow assistance, for a specific period of time during or proximate to the incident period. Snow Assistance may include snow removal, de-icing, salting, snow dumps, and sanding of roads. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)

How to Apply for Assistance:

Application procedures for state and local governments will be explained at a series of federal/state applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders and 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.

Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts available at www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema; follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fema and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fema.

Original post –

Federal Aid Programs for the Arkansas Declaration

Federal Aid Programs for the State of Louisiana Emergency Declaration

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s emergency disaster declaration issued for the State of Louisiana.

Assistance for State and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

FEMA is authorized to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the designated areas.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to provide emergency protective measures (Category B), including Direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent Federal funding.

Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts available at www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema ; follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fema and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fema.

Source:

Federal Aid Programs for the State of Louisiana Emergency Declaration

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