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Disaster Recovery Center in Harris County Texas Transitioning to SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center August 28

AUSTIN, Texas – To meet the needs of Texans affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding from May 4 to June 22, a State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Harris County will transition to a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Center on Friday, Aug. 28.

Thursday, Aug. 27, is the final day for survivors to register for FEMA recovery assistance or to apply for a loan from SBA.

The Disaster Recovery Center at Bayland Community Center, 6400 Bissonnet St., Houston, TX 77074, will close on Aug. 27, at 6 p.m. On Friday, Aug. 28, an SBA center will open at that location at 9 a.m. Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until further notice.

Representatives from the SBA will be available at the center to meet individually with residents and business owners to answer their questions, explain SBA’s disaster loan program, help them complete their applications and close their approved disaster loans.

SBA low-interest disaster assistance loans of up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 from SBA to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

SBA can also lend additional funds to businesses and homeowners to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

Applying for an SBA low-interest disaster loan is part of federal disaster assistance. Many people who apply to FEMA are automatically referred for a low-interest disaster assistance loan. Survivors should complete SBA loan applications so they can be considered for all available disaster assistance.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money to fund long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit 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 uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Survivors with questions regarding their FEMA applications or the appeals process after the DRC transitions to a Disaster Loan Outreach Center have several ways to obtain information:

Go online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
Call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. Multilingual operators are available.
Visit the Texas Disaster Recovery website fema.gov/disaster/4223.
Contact U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit SBA’s website at sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

For more information on Texas recovery, go to Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/.

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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).

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.

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.

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

Visit Texas Disaster Mitigation | FEMA.gov for publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger.

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Disaster Recovery Center in Harris County Texas Transitioning to SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center August 28

Hidalgo County, Texas Disaster Recovery Center to Close August 29

AUSTIN, Texas – The Disaster Recovery Center located at the Hidalgo County WIC Building, 1903 N. Knights Drive, Pharr, TX, 78577, will cease operations at 2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 29. The final day for survivors to register for FEMA recovery assistance or to apply for a loan from the U. S. Small Business Administration is Thursday, Aug. 27.

The DRC, operated by the State of Texas and the Federal Emergency Management Agency and supported by other agencies, has remained open to meet the needs of area residents. The center has served as a one-stop shop for information and guidance about disaster assistance.

After the DRC closes, survivors with questions regarding their applications or the appeals process have several ways to obtain information:

Go online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
Call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. Multilingual operators are available.
Visit the Texas Disaster Recovery website fema.gov/disaster/4223.

Contact U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit SBA’s website at sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has a call center to answer Texas policyholders’ flood insurance questions. Specialists can help with servicing claims, providing general information and offering technical assistance to aid in recovery. To speak with a flood insurance specialist, call 800-621-3362 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Visit http://www.fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation for publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger. For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4223, Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

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Hidalgo County, Texas Disaster Recovery Center to Close August 29

FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Goodell Fire

SEATTLE – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Goodell Fire in Skagit and Whatcom counties, Washington.

Two New Mexico firefighters walk up a hill to continue battling smoldering forest fires. Fire Management Assistance Grants can provide federal funds to support costs like firefighting tools and equipment, overtime compensation, mobilization and travel costs, meals, health and safety items.

Through Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs), federal funds are available to support firefighters battling wildfires if needed. Original photo by Andrea Booher/FEMA News Photo. Los Alamos, N.M., May 4, 2000 – “Hot Shot” members from Zuni, NM, continue their fight with smoldering forest fires.

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FEMA Region X Regional Administrator Kenneth D. Murphy determined that the fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Murphy approved the state of Washington’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) at 4:53 p.m. PDT on Aug. 24, 2015.

At the time of the request, the fire was threatening critical public infrastructure associated with the Gorge, Diablo and Ross Dams, including the Newhalem powerhouse that generates over 40 percent of the power for the City of Seattle service area. The fire was threatening transmission lines, maintenance and office facilities, and nearly 60 primary residences. Approximately 200 people had been evacuated from the threatened area and sheltered. There are impacts to significant natural resources, including critical habitat for multiple endangered species.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state of Washington’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants provide reimbursement for firefighting and life-saving efforts. They do not provide assistance to individuals, homeowners or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

FMAGs are provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

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FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Goodell Fire

FEMA provides federal funds to help fight the Renner Fire

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SEATTLE – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Renner Fire in Ferry and Stevens County, Washington.

FEMA Region X Regional Administrator Kenneth D. Murphy determined that the Renner Fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Murphy approved the state’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) on August 21, 2015 at 4:52 p.m. PDT.

The fire started on August 14, 2015 and has burned in excess of 3,000 acres of federal, state, private lands. At the time of the request, the fire had threatened 185 homes in and around the communities of Orient and Boyds. Nearly 2,800 residents were impacted and mandatory and voluntary evacuations were issued. Approximately 90% of the threatened homes are primary residences and 10% are secondary homes. The fire was also threatening high value timberland, cultural resources, camp grounds, wildlife areas, power lines, communications, water supplies, natural gas lines and community infrastructure in the area. There are multiple other large fires burning uncontrolled within the state. The fire was 0 percent contained.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the State of Washington’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants provide reimbursement for firefighting and life-saving efforts. They do not provide assistance to individuals, homeowners or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

Fire Management Assistance Grants are provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

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FEMA provides federal funds to help fight the Renner Fire

Thousands of Policyholders Taking Part in Hurricane Sandy Claims Review

FEMA Continues to Make Additional Payments to Eligible Policyholders

Over 11,000 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders who filed claims for damage are in the Hurricane Sandy Claims Review process, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today. FEMA has already validated and begun providing additional funds to policyholders taking part in the Hurricane Sandy Claims Review.

“If you believe your flood claim was underpaid for any reason, we encourage you to do what so many of your neighbors are doing and ask FEMA to take another look,” said Roy Wright, Deputy Associate Administrator for FEMA’s Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, which runs the NFIP.

FEMA reminds policyholders that September 15, 2015 is the last day to request a review of their Hurricane Sandy claims.

To be eligible, policyholders must have experienced flood damage between Oct. 27, 2012 and Nov. 6, 2012. Policyholders can call the NFIP’s Hurricane Sandy claims center at 866-337-4262 to request a review. Alternately, policyholders can go online to www.fema.gov/hurricane-sandy-nfip-claims to download a form requesting a review. The completed form may be emailed to FEMA-sandyclaimsreview@fema.dhs.gov to start the process.

For individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and use 711 or VRS, please call 866-337-4262. For individuals using a TTY, please call 800-462-7585 to begin the review process.

When policyholders call, they should have available the name on the policy, address of the damaged property, the name of the insurance company and the policy number that was in effect at the time of the loss. Policyholders will be asked a series of questions to determine whether they qualify for review. Once qualified, policyholders will be called by an adjuster, acting as a case worker, to begin the review. The timing of the adjuster’s initial call may be affected by the volume of requests for review. Most reviews can be concluded within 90 days.

Files will be assigned to an NFIP-certified adjuster who will review the claim file. Adjusters will contact policyholders to guide them through the review process. Policyholders who have already requested their review can call 866-337-4262 if they have questions or need more information.

After a policyholder receives the results of their claims review in writing from FEMA, they may seek reconsideration by a neutral third party reviewer if they are dissatisfied with the result. The review is an optional process established by FEMA to give policyholders an opportunity to seek further reexamination of their claim file by a neutral third party reviewer. FEMA will give substantial weight to the recommendation made by the officials in making its final determination on the file.

Policyholders who have already requested a Hurricane Sandy claims review do not need to take any additional action and can expect to be contacted by their adjuster.

The Sandy claims review process is intended to be simple for the policyholder and does not require paid legal assistance. Additionally, there are several nonprofit service providers ready to offer free advice and answer questions policyholders may have. A list of these advocacy groups can be found on the claims review website at www.fema.gov/advocacy-groups-and-services-referral-list.

Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/FEMASandy,www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/fema, www.fema.gov/blog, 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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Thousands of Policyholders Taking Part in Hurricane Sandy Claims Review

Flood Insurance Can Provide Peace of Mind for Texans

Main Content

Release date:

August 20, 2015

Release Number:

FS-013

Flood insurance can save Texas homeowners and renters thousands of dollars in repairs. It also can provide peace of mind considering that flooding is the most frequent natural disaster in the United States.

Flood Insurance in Texas:

Flooding comes from a variety of sources in Texas, such as rainstorms, tropical storms, and hurricanes.
Last year, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) paid out more than

$58.5 million in claims for Texans. So far this year, the agency has paid out more than quadruple that amount – exceeding $277.6 million, as of Aug. 19.

Nearly 600,000 Texas households had flood insurance as of May 31, according to the NFIP. While that number may seem large, it is a small percentage of the 8.9 million total Texas households.

Costs Add up Quickly:

Just three inches of floodwater in a home will require replacing drywall, baseboards, carpet, furniture and other necessary repairs that can cost $22,500 in a 2,000-square foot house.
The deeper the floodwater, the higher the repair costs – 12 inches of water in a 2,000-square foot house can cost $50,000 or more.

Common Misconceptions:

Understanding the value of flood insurance is important, yet many people remain uninsured, in part due to common misconceptions.
Many policyholders believe their insurance covers all hazards and flood insurance isn’t needed. However, standard homeowner policies do not cover flooding.
A federal disaster declaration is not necessary to make a claim on an NFIP flood insurance policy.
Homes located outside flood-prone areas need flood insurance, too. Nationally, 25 percent of the total structures that flood each year belong to policyholders whose properties are not in high-risk areas.

Obtaining Flood Insurance:

There is normally a 30-day waiting period when purchasing a new policy. Flood insurance is sold through private insurance companies and agents and is backed by the federal government.

Flood insurance is available to homeowners, business owners and renters in communities that participate in the NFIP and enforce their local flood plain management ordinances. To determine if a community participates in NFIP, go online to www.floodsmart.gov
Homeowners in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) must buy flood insurance if they have a mortgage from a federally regulated lender.
An interactive guide to determine flood risk is available online at www.floodsmart.gov. This site also provides additional information on the NFIP and a list of insurance agents in a homeowner’s area who sell NFIP flood coverage.

Costs and Coverage:

Flood insurance premiums average about $700 per year for homeowners.
Homeowners can insure their homes for up to $250,000 and contents for up to $100,000.
A number of factors determine rates for renters. Renters can cover their belongings in amounts up to $100,000.
Nonresidential property owners can insure a building and its contents for up to $500,000 each.

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Last Updated:

August 20, 2015 – 15:02

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Flood Insurance Can Provide Peace of Mind for Texans

More than $159 million Obligated for Safe Rooms from Katrina

BILOXI, Miss.– In the last 10 years, FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program has obligated more than $159 million from Hurricane Katrina recovery to build community safe rooms throughout Mississippi to protect people during storms. HMGP provides grants to state, local and tribal governments to implement long-term mitigation measures to reduce the loss of life and property from a disaster.

Safe rooms can be built as multipurpose shelters to protect communities from tornadoes, hurricanes and floods. These community safe rooms are built to FEMA 361 specifications, which include hardening of walls and roofs to withstand 200 mph winds.

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency officials have made the construction of safe rooms a priority since Katrina. A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control found that safe rooms are the best option to reduce the number of deaths during tornadoes.

“We always tell folks to get out of mobile homes and manufactured homes, and to consider going to a more substantial structure to wait out the storm,” said Robert Latham, executive director of MEMA. “By providing a secure place for them to go, we make our communities safer. Citizens need to incorporate safe room locations into their plans, or know where a substantial structure is located.”

“In so many cases, the death toll would be much higher were it not for safe rooms for people to take shelter in,” said Acting Director of FEMA’s Mississippi Recovery Office, Loraine Hill.

To date, 42 public safe rooms have been added to schools; 34 have been built as stand-alone structures for general use, and 9 constructed for first responders. Populations served by these safe rooms include approximately 44,000 students and staff; 28,000 citizens in the general population, and 3,500 first responders.

During the threat of an outbreak of tornadoes in the state earlier this year, 70 residents sought shelter; in a community safe room in Rankin County, built to FEMA 361 standards.

Another $205 million in HMGP funding was made available to Mississippi for mitigation projects, such as elevating buildings, flood control, sirens, generators and grants to individuals to retrofit areas of their home or build stand-alone safe room units.

For more information on building a public safe room to FEMA 361 specifications, go to http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/3140.

A video on community safe rooms in Mississippi.

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More than $159 million Obligated for Safe Rooms from Katrina

FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Twisp River Fire

SEATTLE – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Twisp River Fire, burning in Okanogan County, Washington.

FEMA Region X Regional Administrator, Kenneth D. Murphy determined that the Twisp River Fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Murphy approved the state’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) on August 19, 2015 at 7:12 p.m. PDT.

The fire started on August 19 and has burned in excess of 1,500 acres of Federal, State, and private land. At the time of the request, three firefighters had lost their lives with multiple others injured. The fire threatened 1,200 homes in and around the communities of Twisp, Winthrop and neighboring areas with a total population of 2,600. Approximately 95% of the threatened homes are primary residences and 5% are secondary homes. The fire was also threatening timberland, cultural resources, camp grounds, wildlife areas, power lines, communications and community infrastructure in the area. Mandatory and voluntary evacuations were issued for approximately 2,600 people. There are currently three shelters open.

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FEMA provides federal funds to help fight Twisp River Fire

Major Disaster Declaration for CNMI (FEMA-4235-DR) amended to include the Islands of Saipan and Tinian for Public Assistance Categories C-G.

SAIPAN – On August 18, 2015, the Major Disaster Declaration for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (FEMA-4235-DR) as a result of damages occurred August 1-3 by Typhoon Soudelor, was amended to include the Islands of Saipan and Tinian for Public Assistance [Categories C-G].

Public Assistance (PA) is the assistance for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities. The Islands of Saipan and Tinian are included for Public Assistance Categories C-G, which are as follows: Category C: Roads and Bridges, Category D: Water Control Facilities, Category E: Public Buildings and Equipment, Category F: Utilities, Category G: Parks, Recreational Facilities, and Other Items.

The Islands of Rota, Saipan, and Tinian were also included for debris removal and emergency protective measures (Categories A and B), including direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program.

The Government of CNMI agencies and certain private nonprofit agencies, that may be eligible for federal and commonwealth disaster assistance, must submit Request for Public Assistance (RPA) forms to Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Homeland Security. The deadline for RPAs for original categories A-B is September 4, 2015. The deadline for RPAs for categories C-G is September 18, 2015.

The Public Assistance Program provides grants to commonwealth governments and certain private non-profit entities to assist them with the response to and recovery from disasters.

PA funds are available to eligible applicants as part of the federal disaster declaration of August 5, 2015, for the typhoon that occurred August 1-3, 2015 in CNMI.

The primary goal of the Public Assistance program, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and CNMI, is to provide reimbursement for eligible expenses for emergency response as well as the repair and replacement of damaged public facilities.

Under the PA program, FEMA reimburses successful applicants for 75 percent of their eligible expenses, while the other 25 percent is the non-federal share. The CNMI government pays 75 percent of the non-federal share of eligible costs incurred by the commonwealth agencies and special districts with local agencies picking up the remaining 25 percent.

Commonwealth agencies and certain private nonprofits are responsible for the entire non-federal share. The federal portion is paid directly to the territory, with CNMI being the grantee, which then makes disbursements to sub-grantees, the local jurisdictions and organizations.

For forms and more information on the PA program, contact CNMI Public Affairs Officer, Ivan Blanco at 670-237-8040.

The RPA form can be submitted via email to: Nerissa Benavente at Nerissa.cip@gmail.com

September 4, 2015 is the deadline to submit RPAs for Categories A-B. September 17, 2015 is the deadline to submit RPAs for Categories C-G.

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Major Disaster Declaration for CNMI (FEMA-4235-DR) amended to include the Islands of Saipan and Tinian for Public Assistance Categories C-G.

Disaster Recovery Centers to Open at CAP Offices

PINE RIDGE, S.D. – The Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are establishing Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in six locations for individuals who experience damage during the severe storms from May 8-29. The centers will be located at the CAP offices in the following locations:

Aug 19-22: Wounded Knee District ,Manderson
Aug 23-25: Porcupine District, Porcupine
Aug 26-29: Medicine Root District, Kyle
Aug 30-Sep 1: Eagle Nest District, Wanblee
Sep 2-4: Pass Creek District, Allen
Sep 5-7: LaCreek District, Martin

Another DRC is open at the SuAnne Big Crow Recreational Center, 1 Positive Pl. – E HWY 82, Pine Ridge. In addition, transportation to Pine Ridge DRC from the Oglala District office every other hour starting at 9:00 a.m. Individuals are free to visit any DRC location.

The DRCs will be open from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. until further notice. The DRC is set up for residents who would like to speak one-on-one to recovery representatives, but it’s not necessary to visit a center to receive disaster assistance. Individuals who want to register with FEMA can call 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585) or go online at www.fema.gov or www.disasterassistance.gov. The registration line is open daily from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. until further notice. Individuals may also register by smart phone at m.fema.gov.

Even if residents previously registered with the tribe, with a voluntary agency, or provided damage reports they must still register with FEMA to access federal disaster assistance programs.

Customer service representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will be at the centers to answer questions about SBA’s federal low-interest disaster loans and help business owners and residents complete their application.

FEMA Mitigation specialists are scheduled to be on hand at the DRC to provide information and answer questions about cost-effective rebuilding and repair techniques to reduce property damage in future disasters.

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Disaster Recovery Centers to Open at CAP Offices

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