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FEMA Closely Monitoring Hurricane Hermine

ATLANTA, Ga. — FEMA, through its regional office in Atlanta, Georgia, continues to monitor Hurricane Hermine, expected to make landfall in Florida and sweep through parts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina over the next 48 hours.

FEMA deployed a liaison officer to the emergency operations center in Florida to help coordinate any requests for federal assistance and support the state of Florida as needed in preparation for any impacts of Hermine. Additional FEMA liaison officers will arrive at emergency operations centers in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina tomorrow. A FEMA Incident Management Assistance Team is in Florida to support response activities and ensure there are no unmet needs.

FEMA encourages residents and visitors in areas potentially affected by the hurricane and tropical storms to monitor local radio or TV stations for updated emergency information, and follow the instructions of state, local, and tribal officials.

Storm tracks can change quickly and unexpectedly, so coastal residents should monitor weather conditions and take steps to prepare their home, family, and business. Those in potentially affected areas should be familiar with evacuation routes, have a communications plan, keep a battery-powered radio handy and have a plan for their pets.

There is the potential for flooding with this hurricane. Driving through a flooded area can be extremely hazardous. Nearly half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. Stay safe when in your car, by watching for flooding in low lying areas, at bridges and highway dips. As little as six inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

Visit www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov to learn more about preparing for hurricanes and severe weather.

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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.

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FEMA Closely Monitoring Hurricane Hermine

Digital Preliminary Flood Maps for Georgia Coast Ready for Public Viewing

ATLANTA, Ga. –Newly revised preliminary digital flood insurance rate maps for the Georgia coastal areas of Camden, Effingham, Glynn, and Long Counties will be available for residents to review at four public open houses the week of April 18-22. Flood maps show the extent to which areas are at risk for flooding, and when they become effective, updated maps will be used to help determine flood insurance and building requirements.

The open house provides residents of these coastal areas the opportunity to see the preliminary maps, learn about their risk of flooding, and ask questions about what the new maps will mean for their property. Residents can meet one-on-one with a variety of specialists who will be available to talk about flood insurance, engineering, building permits and more.

The open houses will be held between 5:00 and 7:30 p.m. The open house dates and locations are:

April 18, 2016

Glynn County

Ballard Complex

325 Old Jessup Rd.

Brunswick, GA 31520

April 19, 2016

Long County

Ludowici City Hall

469 North Macon St.

Ludowici, GA 31316

April 20, 2016

Camden County

PSA Building

1050 Wildcat Dr.

Kingsland, GA 31548

April 21, 2016

Effingham County

Effingham County Administrative Complex

601 North Laurel St.

Springfield, Georgia 31329

The new preliminary maps were released through a partnership among the counties, their municipalities, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They are more precise than older maps because better flood hazard and risk data make the maps more accurate. The ultimate goal is protecting property owners and the community from the risks associated with flooding. Over time, flood risks change due to construction and development, environmental changes, floodplains widen or shift, and other factors. Flood maps are updated periodically to reflect these changes.

Home and business owners, renters, realtors, mortgage lenders, surveyors and insurance agents are encouraged to attend the open house. All who attend can meet with specialists to ask questions and learn more about flood risk and hazard mitigation within their communities.

By law, federally regulated or insured mortgage lenders require flood insurance on buildings that are located in areas at high risk of flooding. Standard homeowners’, business owners’, and renters’ insurance policies typically don’t cover flood damage, so flood insurance is an important consideration for everyone. Flood insurance policies can be purchased from any state licensed property and casualty insurance agent. Visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 888-379-9531 for more information about flood insurance and to locate a local agent.

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.

Digital Preliminary Flood Maps for Georgia Coast Ready for Public Viewing

FEMA Offers Free Resources for Property Owners Rebuilding after Disaster

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – FEMA offers a wide range of free resources for Arkansas homeowners who are either rebuilding after the winter storms or preparing for the next time disaster strikes.

FEMA maintains an extensive online library, including bilingual and multimedia resources, which describe the measures contractors or do-it-yourselfers can take to reduce risks to property. FEMA publications can be viewed online and downloaded to any computer.

For rebuilding information, go to www.fema.gov and click on “Plan, Prepare and Mitigate.” There are numerous links to resources and topics including “Protecting Homes,” “Protecting Your Business” and “Safe, Strong and Protected Homes and Communities.” There are also links to information about disaster preparedness.

The decision to rebuild stronger, safer and smarter may save lives and property in a future disaster.

http://www.fema.gov/protect-your-property – offers a comprehensive overview of available publications to help protect your home or business against hazards including earthquakes, fire, flood, high winds and others.

http://www.fema.gov/small-business-toolkit/protect-your-property-or-business-disaster – provides links to resources for protecting your community, your business and places of worship, and offers helpful links like these:

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FEMA Offers Free Resources for Property Owners Rebuilding after Disaster

Communities Urged to Apply for Aid to Rebuild Disaster-Resistant Infrastructure

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – Federal assistance is being offered to help Arkansas communities rebuild infrastructure to higher, more disaster-resistant standards and state officials are encouraging local governments to take advantage of that funding.

The assistance to communities is part of the aid that became available following the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding Dec. 26, 2015 to Jan. 22, 2016.

“Generally, the federal Public Assistance program restores disaster damaged infrastructure to pre-disaster conditions,” said John Long, federal coordinating officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “But when cost effective and technically feasible, it makes sense to rebuild to higher standards that can prevent future loss. FEMA makes available the funds to do so.”

FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides federal funds to reimburse a minimum of 75 percent of the costs for removing debris, conducting emergency protective measures and repairing levees, roads, bridges, public utilities, water control facilities, public buildings and parks. Mitigation funding may be considered in each project category.

Eligible applicants may include:

state agencies
local and county governments
private nonprofit organizations that own or operate facilities that provide essential government-type services

“Studies show that every $1 paid toward mitigation saves an average of $4 in future disaster-related costs,” said State Coordinating Officer Scott Bass of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management Agency. “By adding mitigation money to repair costs, our goal is to reduce or eliminate damages from future disasters.”

As part of the process for applying for federal assistance, experts from ADEM and FEMA help identify projects that will qualify for the special mitigation program. Officials urge applicants to take advantage of the funds.

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Communities Urged to Apply for Aid to Rebuild Disaster-Resistant Infrastructure

Disaster Recovery Center Open in Benton County, March 8 – 12

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – A joint federal/state disaster recovery center will be open in Benton County March 8 – 12, 2016, to help those whose homes or businesses were affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding Dec. 26, 2015 – Jan. 22, 2016.

Representatives from the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Small Business Administration and other agencies are at the center to explain disaster assistance programs and help survivors apply for aid.

The center is located at the Centerton Fire Department, 755 W. Centerton Blvd., Centerton.

Hours are from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 8 through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 12.

Those seeking disaster assistance should register with FEMA before going to a recovery center. To do so:

Call 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA). If you are deaf, hard-of-hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.
Go to www.disasterassistance.gov.

The toll free lines operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

Each disaster recovery center has assistive technologies for people with disabilities. ASL interpreters are available at the DRCs by calling 800-621-3362.

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

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to help with residential and business losses not covered by insurance. The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the 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. Applying for these loans is also a way to qualify for other avenues of assistance.

For more information on SBA programs, 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.

Federal disaster assistance is available to eligible residents of Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Faulkner, Jackson, Jefferson, Lee, Little River, Perry, Sebastian and Sevier counties. Residents of those counties may visit any DRC.

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Disaster Recovery Center Open in Benton County, March 8 – 12

March 6 Deadline to Request Public Assistance Funding for Severe Storm Damage

NORTH LITTLE ROCK — State and local officials, county agencies and certain private nonprofit organizations in 32 Arkansas counties have only a few days remaining to submit a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) for federal funds to support the recovery from the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding and tornadoes, Dec. 26 – Jan. 22, 2016.

The deadline to submit the one-page RPA is Sunday, March 6, 2016.

The counties eligible for PA are: Benton, Boone, Bradley, Calhoun, Carroll, Clay, Crawford, Dallas, Drew, Franklin, Greene, Independence, Izard, Lawrence, Little River, Logan, Madison, Marion, Mississippi, Montgomery, Ouachita, Perry, Pike, Polk, Randolph, Scott, Searcy, Stone, Washington, White, Woodruff, and Yell.

Representatives from the Arkansas Emergency Management Agency, with support from FEMA, held detailed briefings for officials of governmental organizations, local officials and private non-profit organizations throughout the disaster areas to address application procedures, administrative requirements, funding and program eligibility.

Public officials and other eligible applicants who were unable to attend the briefings and want to file an RPA can download the RPA form at ADEM/PA/Applicant Packet. They may also call ADEM at (501) 683-6700 and ask to speak to the Recovery Branch.

Once a RPA is received it is processed by the state and a FEMA public assistance officer is assigned to work in partnership with the applicant to provide comprehensive information, explanations and technical assistance.

The public assistance officer focuses on the eligibility and documentation requirements that are most pertinent to an applicant. The FEMA project officer and the applicant then work together to prepare subgrant applications.

Eligible costs include debris removal, emergency protective measures (such as police, fire and medical), road and bridge repair, and repair and restoration of public buildings, utilities and recreational facilities.

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March 6 Deadline to Request Public Assistance Funding for Severe Storm Damage

Disaster Recovery Center Open in Jackson County

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – A joint federal/state disaster recovery center is open in Jackson County to help those whose homes or businesses were affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding Dec. 26, 2015 – Jan. 22, 2016.

The center is located at the Newport Fire Department Training Center, 1206 Hwy. 367 N., Newport.

Hours are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sundays until further notice.

Those seeking disaster assistance should register with FEMA before going to a recovery center. To do so:

Call 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA). If you are deaf, hard-of-hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.
Go to www.disasterassistance.gov.

The toll free lines operate from 7 a.m.to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

Each disaster recovery center has assistive technologies for people with disabilities. ASL interpreters are available at the DRCs by calling 800-621-3362.

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

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Disaster Recovery Center Open in Jackson County

Federal Assistance Tops $1 Million for Arkansas Recovery

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – More than $1 million in aid to date is helping the residents of 11 Arkansas counties recover from the severe storms, Dec. 26 – Jan. 22, 2016.

Aid is still available to residents of Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Faulkner, Jackson, Jefferson, Lee, Little River, Perry, Sebastian and Sevier counties who suffered disaster-related damage. They are encouraged to register for assistance with FEMA before the April 5, 2016 deadline.

According to FEMA and the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, 171 persons have been approved for disaster assistance as of close of business Feb. 29, 2016.

That assistance includes $922,237 in housing aid to help homeowners and renters:

Rent temporary housing for a limited period of time;
Repair damage from the disaster to a homeowner’s primary residence that is not covered by insurance; and
Help replace homes destroyed in the disaster.

The assistance also includes $77,839 to help pay for:

Disaster-related medical and dental costs;
Disaster-related funeral and burial costs;
Clothing, household items, tools required for work and necessary educational materials;
Clean-up items;
Disaster-damaged vehicles;
Moving and storage expenses related to the disaster; and
Other necessary expenses or serious needs as determined by FEMA.

Also, $431,200 in low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofit organizations has been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

To register for assistance:

Call 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA). If you are deaf, hard-of-hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.
Go to www.disasterassistance.gov.

The toll free lines operate from 7 a.m.to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to help with residential and business losses not covered by insurance. 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. Applying for these loans is also a way to qualify for other avenues of assistance.

For more information on SBA programs, 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. Persons with speech disability, are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call TTY (800) 877-8339.

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Federal Assistance Tops $1 Million for Arkansas Recovery

FEMA Home Inspectors Help Start Arkansas Recovery from Severe Winter Storms

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – Residents and business owners who have registered for disaster assistance with FEMA should expect a housing inspector to verify damage soon after they’ve applied.

Identifying damage helps determine both the amount and the types of assistance FEMA or other state and federal agencies may provide. There is no fee for the inspection. The inspector does not determine the amount of assistance an applicant will receive.

The inspector is required to carry identification that includes his or her photo and ID number. When the inspector comes to your home, ask to see the identification.

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 disaster assistance.

Being ready when the inspector visits can help speed assistance.

If you’ve registered with FEMA for disaster assistance, here’s what to expect: A FEMA inspector will contact you to schedule an appointment to inspect your damaged home. If you have a disability and require an accommodation when the inspector arrives, please call 800-621-3362 during regular business hours.

Provide the inspector with clear, accurate directions to the damaged property. Post office boxes do not show locations.

Be prepared to provide written proof of ownership or rental occupancy, such as a tax receipt, deed, mortgage payment book, rental agreement, or home insurance policy with the damaged property’s address. Having the necessary documentation will help speed up the inspection process.

The inspector will not ask you for your Social Security number, your bank account or credit card account numbers or for medical information. If someone claiming to be with FEMA asks you to provide such information, call your local law enforcement immediately.

Whether you are an owner or a renter, you must show that the damaged property was your primary residence at the time of the disaster. Inspectors will accept a valid driver’s license or current utility bill (such as an electric, gas or water bill) as proof you live there.

The inspection is free. It usually takes between 45 minutes and an hour, and consists of measuring the real property, inspecting its contents, and recording the findings.

Using a handheld electronic device, the inspector creates a digital “model” of the damaged home and uses it to indicate where damage occurred. The device — called an inspector’s pad —transmits information electronically to FEMA. This speeds up the process of providing assistance.

The inspector will ask to see damage to both real property and personal property in all areas of your home. This is to inventory both the type and extent of loss. For example, not all disaster damage results in a complete loss. The inspector’s report will show which items are total losses; which items can be repaired; and those that are not affected. FEMA will not replace damaged items that can be repaired with new items.

Typically, in 10 days or less after the inspector’s visit, you will receive a letter from FEMA containing a decision.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621- 3362 (FEMA).

Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability, are deaf or hard of hearing 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 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

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FEMA Home Inspectors Help Start Arkansas Recovery from Severe Winter Storms

FEMA Teams Visiting Arkansas Communities to Link Residents with Resources for Recovery

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – The residents of 11 Arkansas counties included in a federal disaster declaration may see FEMA’s Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams in their communities, offering a personal link to the resources for recovery.

Using the latest mobile technology, DSA team members are there to help survivors register for disaster assistance; provide up-to-date information on applications; help determine ongoing needs; and make referrals to help fill any outstanding needs.

The DSA teams are there in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management and local officials. DSA team members wear FEMA attire and carry FEMA photo IDs. If the photo ID is not displayed, ask to see it. This helps prevent fraud.

The DSA teams may request the following information:

• A phone number where you can be reached;

• Your social security number;

• Your current mailing address;

• The address of the affected property;

• A brief description of the damages; and

• Insurance information including your policy number.

DSA teams will visit Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Faulkner, Jackson, Jefferson, Lee, Little River, Perry, Sebastian and Sevier counties to meet with residents who suffered damage from the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding Dec. 26, 2015 – January 22, 2016.

Registering for assistance with FEMA is an important first step toward recovering. Registration is available online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA).

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 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Multilingual operators are available. Reasonable accomodations, including assistive technologies, may also be available by calling the 800 number, or by making a request with a DSA team member.

Disaster assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

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FEMA Teams Visiting Arkansas Communities to Link Residents with Resources for Recovery

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