In Ravaged West Liberty, Volunteers Drive Recovery

In Ravaged West Liberty, Volunteers Drive Recovery 

Release Date: March 22, 2012
Release Number: 4057-028

» More Information on Kentucky Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding

WEST LIBERTY, Ky. — Tears well in the corners of Anna Roller’s eyes as she watches Mennonite volunteers clear debris from her once heavily-wooded property.

Anna Roller considers herself lucky.

The tornados and storms that destroyed most of the business district and many homes in this tiny Kentucky town damaged or destroyed over 2800 homes across the Commonwealth. The storms left the Rollers’ house mostly intact but crushed their garage and turned a hardwood-studded hillside into a pile of kindling.

The folks helping Anna Roller are volunteer members of a Mennonite Disaster Services team using bobcats, tractors and log skidders to remove splintered trees from the Rollers’ property and other damaged homes in West Liberty.

Mennonite Disaster Services is one of the more than 250 volunteer agencies that rushed to aid West Liberty and Kentucky following the tornado. FEMA helps the Commonwealth of Kentucky match volunteers with storm-damaged areas where help is needed.

“The volunteer response has truly been amazing. So many people stepping up to help their neighbors and strangers helping strangers,” said Jim Garrett, Volunteer Coordinator for Kentucky Emergency Management. He continued, “This is just a testament to the goodness of the American Spirit!”

“Seeing volunteers come from all over the country to help people in Kentucky is one of the many rewards of my job,” said Libby Turner, the federal officer in charge of recovery operations in Kentucky. “It is truly heart-warming to see how many folks want to help people who are hurting.”

West Liberty University near Wheeling, W.Va., provided transportation and equipment for a group of their students to come to the town in Kentucky that shares the name of their college and help the town begin its long recovery.

“Helping people who need us gives us all joy,” said Peggy Morris, an 80-year old from Cadiz, Ky., and a member of a Kentucky Baptist Convention team stacking broken trees and limbs left by the tornado in the yard of another of the almost 850 homes damaged or destroyed in Morgan County and West Liberty.

Dee Bost, Farah Price and Carolyn Kenney and six other members of their church in Searcy, Ark., left at 5 a.m. the Sunday morning following the West Liberty tornado. After a 10-hour drive, they settled in to help the people of West Liberty get their lives back together.

“I don’t know what I would have done if these folks had not come to help us clean up,” said Anna Roller. “I really don’t know how we would have been able to get up all the trees and trash.”

Follow this link to FEMA video:
www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/7806.

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.

Last Modified: Thursday, 22-Mar-2012 11:57:00

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In Ravaged West Liberty, Volunteers Drive Recovery

Senior Citizens Won’t Lose Benefits If They Receive Disaster Aid

Senior Citizens Won’t Lose Benefits If They Receive Disaster Aid 

Release Date: March 22, 2012
Release Number: 4057-027

» More Information on Kentucky Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky senior citizens who receive disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a result of the recent severe storms and tornadoes will not lose their Social Security benefits nor have their benefits cut.

Disaster grants will not affect income levels, which might cause a senior citizen to become ineligible for Medicaid, welfare assistance, food stamps or Aid to Families with Dependent Children. Seniors also should know that state/federal grants do not have to be repaid.

“FEMA stands ready to assist disaster survivors, especially senior citizens, in a quick and efficient way so that they can get on with rebuilding their lives,” said Libby Turner, the federal officer in charge of recovery operations in Kentucky. “FEMA urges all senior citizens in the designated counties whose homes or other property were damaged or destroyed during the recent storms and tornadoes to register as soon as possible.”

After registering with FEMA, seniors can visit any Disaster Recovery Center to get answers to questions they may have. Most recovery centers are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. All Disaster Recovery Centers are closed Sundays.

While it is recommended that registration be completed before visiting a recovery center, if a disaster survivor requires help to register with FEMA, they can visit a recovery center for this purpose.

To register for assistance by phone, call 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. If seniors use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), they can call 800-621-3362. Operators are multilingual and calls are answered seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. It’s also possible to register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. Again, if disabled seniors need help registering, they should not hesitate to contact FEMA to ask for help.

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.

Last Modified: Thursday, 22-Mar-2012 11:51:18

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Senior Citizens Won’t Lose Benefits If They Receive Disaster Aid

Disaster Recovery Centers Opening Thursday In Hamilton, McMinn And Monroe Counties

Disaster Recovery Centers Opening Thursday In Hamilton, McMinn And Monroe Counties 

Release Date: March 21, 2012
Release Number: 4060-002

» More Information on Tennessee Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding

ATLANTA, Ga. — The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency announce the openings of disaster recovery centers in Hamilton, McMinn and Monroe counties to help those whose homes or businesses were affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding Feb. 29 – March 2. The centers will open at noon Thursday, March 22 and will remain open that day until 6 p.m.

Beginning Friday, March 23, center hours will be 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The centers will remain open until further notice.

Representatives from the state, FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and other agencies will be at the center to explain assistance programs and help survivors register for disaster aid.

The disaster recovery centers will be located at the following addresses:

Hamilton County

Chattanooga Fire Dept. Station #7
6911 Discovery Dr.
Chattanooga, TN 37416

McMinn/Polk counties

Etowah Rural Fire and Rescue
1018 Tennessee Ave.
Etowah, TN 37331

Monroe County

Tellico Plains Community Center
132 Bank St.
Tellico Plains, TN 37385

If possible, before visiting a disaster recovery center, people with storm losses should register with FEMA by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), which is video relay service accessible. Applicants using TTY can call 800-462-7585. Help is available in most languages and lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week until further notice.

Survivors can also register by computer online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. If using a smartphone or tablet, register at m.fema.gov.

Federal disaster assistance for individuals and families can include grants for rental assistance and home repairs, low-interest loans from the SBA to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help recover from the effects of the disaster.

For more information, visit www.TNEMA.org and www.FEMA.gov/assistance.

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.

Last Modified: Thursday, 22-Mar-2012 10:50:21

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Disaster Recovery Centers Opening Thursday In Hamilton, McMinn And Monroe Counties

Community Disaster Loan Program Aids Pennsylvania Municipalities

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Community Disaster Loan Program Aids Pennsylvania Municipalities

New Flood Maps Show Current Risks in Washita County, Oklahoma

New Flood Maps Show Current Risks in Washita County, Oklahoma 

Release Date: March 22, 2012
Release Number: R6-12-066

» 2012 Region VI News Releases

DENTON, Texas — Washita County, Oklahoma homeowners, business and residential renters, and business owners who do not have flood insurance are encouraged to buy coverage now to get the best possible premiums before new flood insurance rate maps go into effect.

The new Washita County flood maps, which include all of the communities in Washita County, become effective on Tuesday, April 3 giving those who haven’t purchased flood insurance yet, time to get the best possible premiums to protect their property from potential flooding.

“While many people are required by mortgage and lending companies to have flood insurance, FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) strongly recommend that everyone have flood insurance,” said Region 6 Administrator Tony Russell. “The reason is simple: You don’t have to be in a mapped floodplain to flood.”

Current policy holders and those planning to purchase NFIP protection are strongly encouraged to contact their insurance agent or company to ensure that they have adequate coverage for building and contents that accounts for new flood risk data.

Those who purchase flood insurance prior to April 3 may be able to grandfather the current flood zone, saving money on flood insurance. For more information on estimated rates for flood insurance, whether you are eligible for grandfathering, and the Preferred Risk Policy extension, or to locate an agent in your area, visit www.floodsmart.gov.

Anyone who hasn’t had a chance to participate in local flood insurance meetings or to review the new flood maps is encouraged to contact their floodplain administrator who may be located at City Hall or the county administration offices.

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. 

Last Modified: Thursday, 22-Mar-2012 09:41:40

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New Flood Maps Show Current Risks in Washita County, Oklahoma

Workshop Participants Innovate to Increase Youth Preparedness

Workshop Participants Innovate to Increase Youth Preparedness 

Release Date: March 21, 2012
Release Number: R7-12-003

» 2012 Region VII News Releases

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Community leaders and educators filled the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Beacon Office Facility today to attend the first-ever Federal Emergency Management Agency-sponsored youth preparedness workshop in Kansas City.

The workshop provided participants with the tools and organizational how-to needed to build programs that teach young people about disaster preparedness so they can make the communities they live in more resilient.

Youth Preparedness experts from FEMA led discussions with attendees from the public and private sectors in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Leaders in businesses, not-for-profit organizations, state and local governments shared ideas and best practices about how to create curriculum for, implement and manage successful youth preparedness programs.

“When we think about how strong we want America to be in the future, we have to think about resiliency. As a nation, we’re as strong and able to recover from disaster emergency situations as each individual is, so preparing our youth is like taking an insurance policy out on the American way of life.” said FEMA Regional Administrator Beth Freeman. “When we educate young people about disaster preparedness they share it and spread the word to their peers, their families and on social media. They act as leaders and influencers and if we’re successful, they will transform American culture into a culture of preparedness.”

FEMA Region VII partnered with the American Red Cross and the U.S. Department of Education to host the event. Similar FEMA-sponsored workshops have been and will continue to be conducted nationwide.

If you would like additional information about youth programs, please visit FEMA’s Youth Preparedness (www.citizencorps.gov/ready/kids.shtm) page, which includes a Catalogue of Youth Preparedness Resources (www.citizencorps.gov/ready/resources.shtm). In addition, see the U.S. Department of Education Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) (rems.ed.gov/) Website.

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.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 21-Mar-2012 14:25:43

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Workshop Participants Innovate to Increase Youth Preparedness

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