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Survivors Urged to Stay in Touch with FEMA

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The deadline for Calaveras and Lake county wildfire survivors to register with FEMA has passed, but various forms of disaster assistance remain available. Survivors who registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency are urged to stay in touch with the agency.

“Even though the DRCs are closed, FEMA remains in California to work with the state and local governments to provide assistance with recovery,” said Tim Scranton, Federal Coordinating Official for this disaster. “FEMA will remain as long as needed.”

Charles Rabamad, the Deputy State Coordinating Officer added: “Recovery is ongoing, all this work could not be done without our federal, state and local partnerships. Cal OES continues to support and assist these communities in the rebuilding and redeveloping efforts.”

Applicants can track their claims and should notify FEMA of changes to their mailing addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and if they receive insurance settlements or discover additional damages.

How to reach FEMA:

Go online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or www.fema.gov
Dial the FEMA Helpline 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585
For those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services, call 800-621-3362
The toll-free numbers are operated from 6 a.m. to midnight daily

Survivors Advised to Stay in Touch with FEMA

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

Although the Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) are closed, the U.S. Small Business Administration will operate Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) at the DRC sites in San Andreas and Middletown. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

At the DLOCs disaster loan applications, started before Nov. 23, can be finalized. The two facilities will remain open until further notice.

For more information, contact the 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 or hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339. DLOCs will be closed from Thanksgiving Day through the weekend, reopening Monday, Nov. 30.

Other services available to survivors include:

Crisis Counseling is a service provided through your county Mental Health Department. Services, for children and adults, help survivors deal with the emotional affects of going through a crisis. Call the Calaveras County Mental Health Crisis Hotline: 800-499-3030 (main office number 209-754-6525). The Lake County Mental Health Crisis Hotline is 800-900-2075.
Legal Services is provided to survivors for free through the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association. Legal advice is limited to cases that will not produce a fee including assistance with insurance claims, advice on landlord/tenant problems, home repair contracts and contractors, mortgage-foreclosure problems, assisting in consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures and replacement of wills and other important

legal documents. Survivors unable to pay for legal services may call 800-657-0479 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. For TTY: call 711.

For more information on California’s wildfire recovery, visit: caloes.ca.gov or fema.gov/disaster/4240 and follow us on Twitter @femaregion9 and @Cal_OES and on Facebook at facebook.com/FEMA and facebook.com/CaliforniaOES.

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

Survivors Urged to Stay in Touch with FEMA

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 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 are referred to SBA for a disaster loan must apply to be eligible for additional FEMA assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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.

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Survivors Urged to Stay in Touch with FEMA

FEMA Reminds Survivors: One Call Gets You In

COLUMBIA, S.C. –Survivors of South Carolina flooding Oct. 1-23 can get help with one phone call.

Call the Federal Emergency Management Agency helpline at 800-621-3362 for information about many federal disaster assistance-related matters. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Survivors who use TTY may call 800-462-7585; those who use 711/VRS can call 800-621-3362. They can also visit www.disasterassistance.gov.

During the holiday period, FEMA encourages residents to assist South Carolina recovery by passing along to those affected by storms and flooding the various ways the helpline can assist them. They can:

Register for federal disaster assistance by the Friday, Dec. 4 deadline. FEMA allows one registration per household. Households should register only once.
Ask questions about FEMA decision letters.
Learn how to appeal FEMA decision letters. All applicants may appeal.
Inquire about the status of a registration.
Provide change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information to avoid disaster assistance processing delays.
Receive information about FEMA home inspections.
Get questions answered about federal disaster assistance and the application process.

Applicants should have their nine-digit FEMA registration number available if they want to discuss their application.

Survivors should have the following information before registering:

Date of loss
Social Security number
Current mailing address and damaged home address, including Zip Codes
Telephone numbers
Names of household members at the time of the disaster
Insurance information
Total gross income for the household
Bank account numbers if they want to have money deposited directly if eligible
Loss descriptions

For the latest information on South Carolina flood recovery operations, visit scemd.org and fema.gov/disaster/4241.

FEMA Reminds Survivors: One Call Gets You In

Sumter Disaster Recovery Center Reopens at New Location on Tuesday

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The disaster recovery center formerly at the Sumter County Civic Center will reopen at the following location at 8 am. Tuesday, Nov. 24:

Central Carolina Technical College building located at 853 Broad St. in Sumter

The center will be open six days a week Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. until further notice. The center will be closed Thanksgiving Day.

Representatives from the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business Administration and other agencies will be at the center to explain disaster assistance programs and help survivors apply for aid.

If possible, before going to a disaster recovery center, people with flooding losses should register with FEMA. They can go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages, and lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week until further notice.

Disaster assistance applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing should call 800-462-7585 (TTY). For Video Relay Service or accommodations to visit a center, call 800-621-3362.

Federal disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for temporary rental assistance and essential home repairs for primary residences not covered by insurance.

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Sumter Disaster Recovery Center Reopens at New Location on Tuesday

FEMA Grants to Help Washington Communities Recover Costs from August Windstorm

CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – As Washington responders pick up the pieces from the latest round of severe weather, specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Washington State Emergency Management Division (EMD) are working with local and tribal officials to help communities recover from last summer’s severe wind event.

The presidential disaster declaration and the subsequent amendment stemming from the August 29 windstorm make FEMA Public Assistance (PA) grants available to eligible applicants in Clallam, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, Snohomish and Whatcom counties.

The PA program reimburses state and local governments, federally recognized tribes and certain private nonprofit organizations for eligible expenses they incurred in protecting lives and property ahead of the storm and in any subsequent cleaning up and needed repairs.

“Washington’s responders made enormous efforts to protect our citizens and get power lines fixed and debris removed during and after the August windstorm,” said State Coordinating Officer Kurt Hardin of EMD. “FEMA grants will go a long way toward reimbursing applicants for much of their expenses.”

To date, 31 potential applicants have filed a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) to initiate a disaster claim under the Oct. 15 disaster declaration.

Since the declaration, the EMD, with FEMA support, has held a series of briefings for potential applicants to provide a general overview of the grant program, outline program deadlines and answer any questions.

Also taking place are initial meetings among applicants and project officers from EMD and FEMA to discuss which types of emergency expenses and projects are federally reimbursable. They also discuss the process of rebuilding structures to resist damage in the future. These meetings are an important step in getting assistance dollars back into the communities.

“By helping state, local and tribal governments, and looking for ways to reduce future damages, the Public Assistance program has an impact on every person who lives in those communities,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Thomas Dargan of FEMA.

Under the PA program, FEMA reimburses qualifying applicants for 75 percent of their eligible expenses, while the other 25 percent is the nonfederal share. The federal portion is paid directly to the state, which then makes disbursements to the local and tribal jurisdictions and other entities that incurred costs directly related to the disaster.

More information about the PA program is available at www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit and on the Washington EMD website at http://mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division/.

Additional information regarding the federal response to the windstorm disaster, including funds obligated, is available at www.fema.gov/disaster/4242.

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FEMA Grants to Help Washington Communities Recover Costs from August Windstorm

FEMA’s Pacific Northwest Region wishes you #SafeTravels for the holidays

SEATTLE, Wash. – With so many people on the move for the holidays, FEMA’s regional office in the Pacific Northwest is running two week-long social media campaigns to encourage holiday travelers to stay safe Nov. 22 – 28, and Dec. 20 – 26. The campaign has tips for families, pet owners, smartphone users, and people traveling domestically by car and plane, and internationally.

Here are three tips from the campaign:

Pack a small emergency kit for your suitcase. Batteries, a flashlight, a portable radio and USB power bank are good items to start with.
Download FEMA’s app, which lets you receive with weather alerts for up to five locations – set one for your holiday destination to stay informed.
Use STEP, the Department of State’s the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program if you’re traveling abroad. This will help the U.S. Embassy contact you in an emergency in the event of a natural disaster, civil unrest or family emergency.

This campaign a combined effort with partners in Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. You can get these tips from FEMA’s Twitter account @FEMARegion10 and Facebook page, and by watching the hashtag #SmartTravels.

FEMA’s Pacific Northwest Region wishes you #SafeTravels for the holidays

Help Remains Available After Disaster Recovery Centers Close in Andrews and Conway

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Two disaster recovery centers will close Saturday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. due to a lack of visitors:

Potato Bed Ferry Community Center at 531 Big Dam Swamp Drive in Andrews
Horry County Government and Justice Center at 1301 Second Ave. in Conway

Applicants in Andrews and Conway may still visit other recovery centers to ask disaster assistance questions. They can locate their closest center by visiting asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

Representatives from the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration and other agencies are at centers to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest loans.

Applicants also can get help by calling 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585; those who use 711/VRS can call 800-621-3362. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

For the latest information on South Carolina flood recovery operations, visit scemd.org and fema.gov/disaster/4241.

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Help Remains Available After Disaster Recovery Centers Close in Andrews and Conway

Keep Your Important Documents Safe from a Disaster

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Fumbling through files for important papers can be frustrating. But when an emergency strikes, trying to gather up all those documents can be downright frightening.

There is a way around all the late-minute hassle, but it will take some time and a way to organize and contain them so that you can grab and go when a disaster strikes. And, with predictions of more severe weather and flooding this winter due to El Nino, now is a good time to organize your papers.

Container options can range from a fireproof lock box or safe, a safety deposit box or something as simple as a three-ring binder with plastic sleeves into which you can insert the documents.

The list of documents and records you will want to have is long, but will be invaluable after you have evacuated your home. You will need access to some of these items sooner than others, but all are important enough to include in your “must have” list:

Vital Records: Driver’s licenses, birth certificates, adoption papers, Social Security cards, passports, citizenship papers (such as a “green card” or naturalization documents), marriage license, divorce decrees, child custody papers, current military ID, military discharge (DD Form 214), medical and vaccination records for pets along with current photos and ID chip numbers in case you are separated.
Insurance Policies: Homeowners, renters, flood, earthquake, auto, life, health, disability, long-term care; have at least the policy number and insurance company contact information for each type of coverage.

Keep Your Important Documents Safe from a Disaster

Property Records: Real estate deeds of trust and mortgage documents (at least the two-page settlement statement provided by the title company showing the actual cost of the house and purchase expenses); rental agreement or lease; auto/boat/RV registration and titles; video, photos or a list of household inventory.
Medical Information: Immunization and other medical records, prescription information (drug name and dosage), health insurance identification cards, physician names and phone numbers, powers-of-attorney for health care, and living wills.
Estate planning documents: Wills, trusts, funeral instructions, powers-of-attorney, attorney names and phone numbers.
Financial records: First two pages of your previous year’s federal and state tax returns, stock and bond certificates, investment records, brokerage and retirement account information, credit card, checking and savings account numbers, contact information for credit unions, banks, financial institutions, credit card companies and financial advisers.
Other: Personal address book, a letter with instructions for family or friends (for use in a situation where you’re not present), backups of important computer files, a list of usernames and passwords for online accounts, a key to your safe deposit box, a recent photograph, fingerprints and dental records for each member of the household (some police stations and nonprofits fingerprint children free);, account and contact information for utilities and other services (you may have to provide a new billing address or cancel certain services), a list of important documents and where originals and copies are located.

Those who don’t have the time or ability to gather all of these documents should focus on the most important and most difficult to replace.

In addition, take time now to think about the priceless personal items you would want to protect from danger or take with you if you had to suddenly evacuate your home.

The first step is to take an inventory of your household valuables. Those who wish more complete checklists or guidance on collecting and safeguarding this important information, go to www.ready.gov/financialpreparedness.

If you have lost documents in the Butte or Valley fires, go to www.fema.gov/disaster/4240 to learn how to replace them.

Survivors can register for FEMA assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362; TTY 800-462-7585; 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362. Registration ends Nov. 23.

Keep Your Important Documents Safe from a Disaster

For more information on California’s wildfire recovery, visit: caloes.ca.gov or fema.gov/disaster/4240 and follow us on Twitter @Cal_OES and @femaregion9 and at Facebook.com/California OES and Facebook.com/FEMA.

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). 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 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 are referred to SBA for a disaster loan must apply to be eligible for additional FEMA assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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Keep Your Important Documents Safe from a Disaster

Keep Your Options Open – Submit an SBA Application Now

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Wildfire survivors, don’t miss out on additional grants and loans that can help you recover – submit an application to the U.S. Small Business Administration today.

This notice applies to disaster survivors in Calaveras and Lake counties, California, who applied for assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and were referred to the SBA. You must complete a disaster loan application in order to keep your options open and to maintain eligibility for additional FEMA dollars.

The deadline for submitting the application is Monday, Nov. 23 for wildfire losses that occurred between Sept. 9 and Oct. 30, 2015 in the two California counties. As long as the initial loan application is submitted by the deadline, survivors can finalize their preliminary SBA application and loan at a later date.

While SBA’s low-interest disaster loans represent the major source of federal funding for recovery, the application itself may open the door to other FEMA grant programs. People who do not qualify for an SBA loan may be eligible for other FEMA grants.

Here are some key points to consider:

Completing and returning a loan application can be done in one of three ways: in person at a Disaster Recovery Center, online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela or by mail.
Filing the loan application does not obligate people to accept the loan and there is no cost to apply for an SBA loan. Homeowners and renters who are declined for an SBA disaster loan may be considered for certain FEMA grants and programs.
Next to insurance, an SBA loan is the primary funding source for real estate property repairs and replacing lost contents following a disaster like the recent wildfires. Homeowners may be eligible for low-interest loans up to $200,000 for repair or replacement of their primary residents. In some instances, SBA can refinance all or part of an existing mortgage.

Keep Your Options Open – Submit an SBA Application Now

The SBA can help homeowners and renters replace their essential 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 a disaster.
Loans are available for businesses of all sizes and private non-profit organizations. Loans are available for up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged real estate and other business assets. Eligible small businesses and non-profits also can apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to help meet working capital needs caused by a disaster.
Do not wait for an insurance settlement before applying. Insurance may not pay for all of the damage. Survivors can begin their recovery immediately with an SBA disaster loan. The eligible loan amount will be reduced by any insurance settlements.

For more information about SBA low-interest disaster loans, contact the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, TTY 800-877-8339, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or at sba.gov/disaster. SBA customer service representatives are available at all disaster recovery centers. Centers can be found online at FEMA.gov/DRClocator.

Survivors can apply for FEMA assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362; TTY 800-462-7585; 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362. Registration continues through Nov. 23.

For more information on California’s wildfire recovery, visit: caloes.ca.gov or fema.gov/disaster/4240 and follow us on Twitter @femaregion9 or on Facebook.com/FEMA, Twitter @Cal_OES and Facebook.com/CaliforniaOES.

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Keep Your Options Open – Submit an SBA Application Now

Replacing personal documents after a natural disaster

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Wildfire survivors in Calaveras and Lake counties who lost important documents can use this guide to help obtain replacements.

All of the organizations listed below offer online resources. If personal computers aren’t available, public libraries and other agencies may have computers available to the general public.

Document	Who to Contact for Replacement
EBT Card	California’s CalFresh is part of the federal program known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP – formerly known as Food Stamps). Lost EBT card replacements – Call 877-328-9677 right away, or contact your local county social services worker.
Birth and Death Certificates	Birth and Death Certificates-California Department of Public Health or online at www.cdph.ca.gov or by calling 916-445-2684. $25 fee for replacement.
Lost Green Card	Go to www.uscis.gov and complete the Form I-90, application to replace a permanent resident card, and file it online or by mail. Call 800-375-5283 to check the status of your application.
California Driver License	Visit a California DMV office to complete an application. Replacement license forms must be delivered in person. For more information, call 800-777-0133.

Bank Checks, ATM/Debit Cards, or Safe Deposit Boxes	Contact your financial institution or get contact information from the FDIC by calling 877-275-3342 or going to www.fdic.gov.
Credit Cards	Contact the issuing institution: American Express 800-992-3404 or www.home.americanexpress.com Discover 800-347-2683 or www.discover.com/credit-cards/help-center/ Master Card 800-622-7747 or www.mastercard.com/cgi-bin/emergserv.cgi Visa 800-847-2911 or www.usa.visa.com NOTE: If you don’t remember all the credit cards you had, obtain a credit report from any of the three major credit bureaus.
Credit Report	Equifax, Experian or TransUnion 877-322-8228 or www.annualcreditreport.com
Social Security Card	Social Security 800-772-1213 or www.ssa.gov
Fraud Alerts or a Credit Freeze	Fraud Alerts: Call the identity theft helpline at 877-438-4338; contact the FTC at: www.ftc.gov
Medicare Cards	Social Security Administration 800 772-1213 or www.socialsecurity.gov/medicarecard/
Passport	U.S. Department of State, Passport Services, Consular Lost/Stolen Passport Section 202-955-0430 or 877-487-2778 or www.travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/lost-stolen.html
U.S. Savings Bonds	U.S. Department of Treasury 800-722-2678 or www.treasurydirect.gov
Tax Returns	Internal Revenue Service 800-829-1040 or download the Request for Copy of Tax Return at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf
Military Records	National Archives and Records Administration 866-272-6272 or www.archives.gov/contact/

The deadline to register with FEMA for disaster assistance is Monday Nov. 23. Survivors can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362; TTY 800-462-7585; 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

For more information on California’s wildfire recovery, visit: caloes.ca.gov and follow us on Twitter @cal_OES, and on Facebook.com/CaliforniaOES. For FEMA, go to fema.gov/disaster/4240 and follow us on Twitter @femaregion9 and at Facebook.com/FEMA.

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Replacing personal documents after a natural disaster

Churches and other nonprofits may rebuild with SBA disaster loans

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Churches, temples, mosques and other religious centers, as well as other private nonprofit organizations affected by wildfires in California’s Calaveras and Lake counties, are eligible to apply for U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loans to help rebuild. The deadline to apply is Monday, Nov. 23, 2015.

When the President declares a disaster, the SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance is the primary source of federal funds for long-term recovery for businesses of any size, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters for disaster damage not fully covered by insurance or other compensation. SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance is working in conjunction with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help survivors recover as much as possible from this disaster.

Eligible private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million with an interest rate of 2.625 percent to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, furniture, fixtures, appliances, equipment, vehicles, other assets and leasehold improvements.

The terms of the loan may be up to 30 years. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition. Interested organizations may apply before their insurance claims are settled.

The SBA loan also may include mitigation funding for improvements to protect against future disaster damage. This amount can be up to 20 percent of the total physical loss, as verified by the SBA.

For more information, nonprofits may call the SBA at 800-659-2955 (TTY) 800-877-8339, visit a disaster recovery center, or go to sba.gov/disaster. To locate the nearest disaster recovery center, go to fema.gov/drc. Or, nonprofits may apply directly on SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Registration with FEMA is also recommended; call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Online registration is available at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Churches and other nonprofits may rebuild with SBA disaster loans

Churches and other nonprofits also should investigate sources of aid from charitable agencies, volunteer groups and private donors.

For more information on California’s wildfire recovery, visit: caloes.ca.gov or fema.gov/disaster/4240 and follow us on Twitter @femaregion9 at Facebook.com/FEMA and on Twitter @Cal_OES at Facebook.com/CaliforniaOES.

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Churches and other nonprofits may rebuild with SBA disaster loans

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