WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal emergency aid has been made available to the State of New York to supplement state and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Sandy beginning on October 27, 2012, and continuing.

The President’s action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in all counties in the State of New York.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.  Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding. 

Philip E. Parr has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal response operations in the affected area. 

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.

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, 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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President Obama Signs New York Emergency Declaration

BATON ROUGE, La. – Barrels, drums and other potentially hazardous containers scattered on Louisiana’s coastal and inland areas after Hurricane Isaac will be collected and removed under a partnership funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the state of Louisiana.

Called “orphan drums,” the containers may contain chemicals, industrial products or unknown substances. Their owners are not identifiable.

Specialists from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard, in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, will begin inspecting six parishes where drums have been reported: Jefferson, Lafourche, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany and Terrebonne. Other parishes could be added to the mission if orphan drums are reported there. The mission is expected to last no more than 60 days.

“This is one way the state and federal government are ensuring the safety of Louisianians after the hurricane,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar. “Getting these containers picked up and properly disposed of is another step in the state’s recovery.”

Following hurricanes, orphan drums commonly are found scattered throughout the affected area. They may be in yards, fields and alongside roadways and coastlines. Orphan drums may be leaking unknown substances and contaminating local air, water and soil.

Anyone who discovers an orphan drum should report it to parish officials. Residents should not touch, move or open the containers as the contents may be under pressure.

Once a drum is retrieved, specialists will assess the containers to determine whether the contents are hazardous. Orphan drums containing hazardous materials will be shipped to hazardous waste facilities.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow FEMA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.
 

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Orphan Drum Removal to Begin in Louisiana

CLINTON, Miss. – Slow-moving Hurricane Isaac sat on the Mississippi coast for two days dumping rain, totaling up to 20 inches in places, and battering coastal areas with a 10-foot storm surge. Rivers reached near-historic flood levels. Flooding damaged or destroyed nearly 3,000 homes, according to state officials.

“Flooding is the most common disaster we see in our state each year,” said Mississippi Emergency Management Agency State Coordinating Officer Bill Brown. “Many who flooded during Isaac were not in high-risk flood zones. Having a flood insurance policy from the National Flood Insurance Program won’t keep the water out of your house, but it will protect the investment you have in it.”

Flood insurance is important regardless of your flood zone. In fact, people outside high-risk areas file more than 20 percent of NFIP claims. In Mississippi, 86,000 households have flood insurance. About 39,000 of those policies were bought by consumers living outside a high risk flood zone.

“Here are two important points people need to understand. First, homeowners’ policies do not cover flooding. Second, flood insurance policyholders can file a claim for flood damage even if a storm doesn’t trigger a federal disaster declaration,” said Terry L. Quarles, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer. “Flood insurance is available to homeowners, business owners and renters in communities that participate in the NFIP and enforce their local flood damage prevention ordinances.”

By law, federally regulated or insured mortgage lenders require flood insurance on properties that are located in areas at high risk of flooding, called special flood hazard areas. An interactive guide to determine your flood risk is available online at FloodSmart.gov.

Flood insurance, with the average premium running about $600 per year, can save homeowners thousands of dollars in repairs. Just 3 inches of floodwater in a home will require replacing drywall, baseboards, carpet, furniture and other necessary repairs can cost an estimated $22,590.

The deeper the floodwater, the more it will cost – 24 inches of water means repairs to the electrical system and the heating and cooling system. It also means replacement of doors, appliances and cabinetry, which could add another $40,000 to the bill.

Homeowners can insure their homes for up to $250,000 and contents for up to $100,000. Renters can cover their belongings for up to $100,000.  Nonresidential property owners can insure a building and its contents for up to $500,000 each.

There is normally a 30-day waiting period when purchasing a new policy so now is the time to get your policy, before the next disaster strikes. The NFIP is administered by FEMA, which works closely with nearly 90 private insurance companies to offer flood insurance to property owners and renters.

NFIP policies can be purchased from state licensed property and casualty insurance agents who already deal with other property insurance needs. NFIP can also put people in touch with agents.  Visit www.floodsmart.gov 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.

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Hurricane Isaac Demonstrates the Need for Flood Insurance

BATON ROUGE, La. – Thousands of Louisianians affected by Hurricane Isaac are finding help with their unmet needs through the Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) members — groups that arrived before the hurricane made landfall, that kept coming during the rain and flooding, and that will remain in communities for months to come.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has partnered with more than 150 voluntary, community- and faith-based organizations to provide crucial assistance as Louisiana recovers from the storm. FEMA assists the organizations by providing information about available federal assistance programs, offering technical assistance with volunteer management, donation intake and distribution, and helping with unmet needs for the longer term.

“Voluntary groups work together to help survivors get on the road to recovery and to stay on it in the months to come,” said Gerard M. Stolar, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer for Hurricane Isaac recovery. “Volunteers are the backbone of disaster recovery. They go where the need is. They are the first to arrive and the last to leave when disaster strikes.”

Since Isaac hit, volunteer agencies have worked in survivors’ homes, on the affected communities’ streets and public spaces, and in community institutions to help with the recovery effort. Volunteers have mucked mold and mud out of houses and apartments, and installed tarps on roofs as temporary repairs.

Groups from Louisiana and elsewhere in the country have removed trees and debris from neighborhoods and roadways. Other volunteers have worked at call centers, provided support in offices with data analysis, for example, and staffed emergency operations centers for Louisiana VOAD members.

“Sometimes their work is simple and short term. Sometimes these groups are deeply involved in communities for years,” Stolar said. “Always, the work is appreciated.”

Most importantly, perhaps, volunteers have helped survivors directly first with evacuation before the storm made landfall and then by providing food, water, ice, replacement clothing and household items, and cleaning kits after it passed through. As recovery continues, volunteers are acting as counselors and advisers, staffing crisis and legal hotlines and helping survivors navigate and determine their eligibility for federal programs.

Sometimes the volunteers’ motivation comes from a general sense of wanting to contribute to recovery. Sometimes it’s very personal.

“Unfortunately, sometimes it takes having gone through the experience yourself in order to fully appreciate the sufferings and heartaches of what people are going through at a time like this,” said Father John Tran of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. “There is a mutual understanding of heartache shared between the volunteers who have been there and the residents now dealing with it.”

Volunteer organizations involved in the Hurricane Isaac recovery effort are not funded by the federal government. Voluntary agencies will continue to help storm survivors and to provide disaster relief services in all affected parishes and any other area in need regardless of the federal declaration status.

Also, if disaster survivors sustained uninsured or underinsured damages because of Hurricane Isaac, they should apply for FEMA assistance as soon as possible even if they have already registered with voluntary organizations. Registering with voluntary organizations doesn’t mean that they have automatically registered with FEMA.

Survivors can register online with FEMA at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. For 711 Relay or Video Relay Services call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

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Voluntary Organizations Assist Hurricane Isaac Survivors

CLINTON, Miss. – The rebuilding of Mississippi public infrastructure in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac is underway, with more than $55 million in damage identified as potentially eligible for federal assistance.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are assisting local governments and certain non-profits in the 48 designated counties and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians with identifying eligible projects, and requesting funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance program. There are 12 teams helping to develop project worksheets on each project to be repaired.

 “Through our Public Assistance program, we partner with the state and local governments to identify facilities with eligible damages,” said Terry Quarles, FEMA federal coordinating officer. “Our goal is to assist them in getting the funds to restore critical infrastructure within the state.”

FEMA assigns public assistance coordinators who work with applicants in evaluating damages and determining estimated costs of repair. 

“The Public Assistance program is a very important part of helping our state, local governments and private nonprofits recover,” said State Coordinating Officer Bill Brown. “The faster we get them back on their feet, the faster our residents will also be able to recover from a disaster.”

Public Assistance projects are categorized as small projects, with costs less than $64,200, and large projects, with costs above that threshold. There are 479 small projects identified in Mississippi, and 79 large projects, according to federal officials.

For approved projects, FEMA will pay 75 percent of eligible costs. The state and the applicant are responsible for 25 percent.

Only damage that occurred as a result of the storm is eligible for reimbursement.

Public Assistance projects may include debris removal, emergency response, and repair or replacement of damaged culverts, roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure.

Certain private nonprofits may also receive Public Assistance funding if they provide services of a public nature, such as hospitals, utilities and schools, but they are responsible for the full 25 percent
cost share.

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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.

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Mississippi Damage from Isaac Being Identified for Repair

BATON ROUGE, La. – Residents of Pointe Coupee Parish working to recover from Hurricane Isaac may now apply for federal and state disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as the parish was added Wednesday to the major disaster declaration for the hurricane.

“Our Individual Assistance experts are ready to get help to eligible Hurricane Isaac survivors in Pointe Coupee Parish,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar. “Survivors should register with FEMA as soon as possible so we can begin to work with them and determine their needs.”

Homeowners, renters and business owners with uninsured or underinsured property damage may register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Disaster assistance for individuals may include: 

  • Grants to help pay for temporary housing and emergency home repairs to make a home habitable;
  • Grants for serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance;
  • Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Survivors should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if the person has registered with another disaster-relief organization or local community or church organization. FEMA registrants must use the name that appears on their Social Security card. Applicants will be asked to provide: 

  • Social Security number
  • Address of the damaged home or apartment
  • Description of the damage
  • Information about insurance coverage
  • A current contact telephone number
  • An address where they can get mail
  • Bank account and routing numbers if they want direct deposit of any financial assistance.

The latest addition brings to 26 the total number of parishes for which Individual Assistance has been made available in Louisiana: Allen, Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Morehouse, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow FEMA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

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FEMA Adds Pointe Coupee Parish for Individual Assistance

BATON ROUGE, La. — Most property owners whose homes or other structures were damaged during Hurricane Isaac have approaching deadlines for filing claims for their flood-related losses.

Most of these claims are due in the upcoming two weeks as the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requires them to be reported within 60 days from the date of loss. Hurricane Isaac made first landfall in Louisiana Aug. 28 with heavy rainfall and flooding occurring within several days before and after it hit.

NFIP is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Since Isaac made landfall, NFIP has paid out nearly $192 million on 9,736 claims in Louisiana.

“The flooding caused by Hurricane Isaac in many cases caused more damage than the wind,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar of FEMA. “We are reminding Louisianians with NFIP policies that time is running out to get their claims filed with their agents or insurance companies.”

If policy holders have questions about flood insurance or concerns about their claims, they may call FEMA’s Hurricane Isaac Flood Insurance Call Center. The toll-free number is 1-866-331-1679. Help is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Additional information is available at www.floodsmart.gov.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, visit online at www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

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Isaac-Related Flood Insurance Claims Have Upcoming Deadlines

FUNDING APPROVED FOR BRATTLEBORO HOUSING AUTHORITY WORK

ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. –  A public housing project in Brattleboro that was damaged during Tropical Storm Irene will receive federal funding for subsequent clean up and repairs as well as steps to flood proof the structures for the short term.

The Brattleboro Housing Authority’s Melrose Terrace facility will receive $290,000 through the federal Public Assistance program for the recovery work and steps to make any future flooding less costly for residents there.

“Planning is underway to find new locations for these affordable homes and move them out of harm’s way,” said Jennifer Hollar, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development. “The state is grateful for FEMA’s assistance and BHA’s efforts to ensure the buildings are made as safe as possible in the interim.”

Melrose Terrace, built in 1965, is located in the floodplain of nearby Whetstone Brook, which spilled its banks during Irene and inundated the 17 buildings that make up the complex. No one was injured because the Brattleboro Housing Authority (BHA) had evacuated the residents as a precaution the previous day.

While FEMA typically does not invest in repairing or flood-proofing buildings that are as flood-prone as Melrose Terrace, FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer for Vermont Mark Landry said that officials at FEMA’s Region I office in Boston agreed to the plan because not only did BHA have an evacuation plan in place, but it committed to finding a new location for these vulnerable populations as soon as possible.

“We are pleased that we are able to help the residents of Melrose Terrace, many of whom are seniors or people with disabilities, while the Brattleboro Housing Authority seeks a long-term housing solution for these residents,” said Landry.

While BHA’s insurance paid most of the roughly $1 million costs of the repairs, FEMA agreed to contribute $90,000 in uninsured costs through its Public Assistance (PA) program, which provides funding to state, municipalities, and certain non-profits to repair roads and bridges, hospitals and schools, and other infrastructure damaged in disasters.

In addition, FEMA agreed to use its Mitigation program funding, which pays to help make future disasters less costly, to flood-proof the most vulnerable buildings by providing approximately $200,000 for:

  • Installing aluminum flood shields in the doorways and around exterior electric panels;
  • Replacing baseboard electric heaters with elevated electric heaters;
  • Raising both the kitchen stove outlets and electric water heaters a foot above the 100-year flood elevation.

“FEMA recognizes that these are temporary measures, and that relocating these people safely outside the floodplain is the preferred solution,” Landry said. “But until that is accomplished, these steps, coupled with BHA’s evacuation plan, will allow the residents to continue to live in Melrose Place and to avoid the kind of costly property damages if another flood occurs similar in magnitude to Irene.”

So far FEMA has obligated, or paid to the state, approximately $129 million in reimbursement for Public Assistance projects related to Tropical Storm Irene, as well as $23 million in Individual Assistance to individuals and families for losses.

To learn more visit: http://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit.

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

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Funding Approved For Brattleboro Housing Authority Work

BATON ROUGE, La. – Critical recovery information has reached more than 2.3 million Hurricane Isaac survivors in Louisiana via Private Sector pathways, including businesses and nonprofit groups.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has partnered with the Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center, chambers of commerce and trade associations to share messaging such as how to register for federal disaster assistance in prominent locations. Examples include:

  • The Outdoor Advertising Association of America displaying important registration information on electronic billboards,
  • In Lafourche Parish, Water District #1 and South Coast Gas Co. included registration information with their bills, while Vision Communication posted that information on its community access channel, and  
  • Lodgenet Interactive Corporation flashing that same registration information on screens in 23,000 local hotel rooms.

Businesses have even asked their workers to spread the word, helping the registration message reach more Hurricane Isaac survivors.   

FEMA’s Private Sector and Community Relations specialists have also teamed up to reach out to small, independent and owner-operated businesses, going door to door to learn about the challenges they face and to inform them of possible resources that may help them recover faster.

“The private sector plays an essential role in a community’s recovery,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall of FEMA. “Their partnership and collaboration with government agencies helps all of us carry out the mission of recovery in Louisiana.”

The major disaster declaration for Hurricane Isaac made federal assistance available to eligible survivors in 21 parishes: Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington and West Feliciana.

Individuals, families and business owners who sustained uninsured and underinsured damages in those parishes can register for assistance at www.disasterassistance.gov, via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

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). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

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.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of funding for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations 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. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339).

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FEMA, Private Sector Partner to Share Critical Information with Millions of Survivors

OKLAHOMA CITY – As Creek County residents work to rebuild following the devastating Aug. 3-14 wildfire, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials are cautioning them about phony, unscrupulous building contractors and other scam artists that often take advantage of people following a disaster.

“In the wake of a disaster, it’s common to see the generous side of human nature. Unfortunately, there are also those people who may try to take advantage of victims during this stressful time,” said OEM Deputy Director and State Coordinating Officer Michelann Ooten.

“In times of crisis, most Oklahomans and others from around the country will pull together for one another. There are those who will try to take advantage of people at their most vulnerable time,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer William J. Doran III. “We strongly recommend that those who are rebuilding their homes and lives take a few simple steps to make sure they’re dealing with a reputable person.”

Although no reports of unscrupulous practices or fraud have been reported in Creek County to date, the first and best defense is to know the most common post-disaster fraud practices:

Phony housing inspectors: If a home’s damage is visible from the street, the homeowner may be especially vulnerable to the phony housing inspector who claims to represent FEMA or the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
What to do to help protect yourself?

  • Ask to see the inspector’s identification badge. All federal employees and contractors carry official, laminated photo identification. A FEMA or SBA shirt or jacket is not proof of someone’s affiliation with the government.
  • Don’t give bank account numbers to an inspector claiming to be affiliated with the federal government. FEMA inspectors never require banking information.
  • Don’t believe anyone that says they are endorsed by FEMA. FEMA does not endorse specific contractors to fix homes or recommend repairs. FEMA contracts with inspectors to verify losses.

Fraudulent building contractors: Damage visible from the street also can bring out scam contractors who visit your home offering to begin work immediately, usually for an upfront payment. Most legitimate contractors will have more work than they can handle after a disaster and will provide you a written estimate for completion.
When you hire a contractor: 

  • Use licensed local contractors backed by reliable references when possible. Get a written estimate from at least three contractors, including the cost of labor and materials, and read the fine print.
  • Demand that contractors carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation. If they don’t, you may be liable for accidents that occur on your property.
  • Note that the state of Oklahoma doesn’t license residential construction contractors, except in the electrical, mechanical and plumbing trades. But there are some special requirements for non-resident contractors.
  • To find out if an electrician, plumber or mechanical contractor is licensed in Oklahoma, call the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board at 1-405-521-6550 or toll-free at 1-877-484-4424 or check online at http://cibverify.ok.gov.

Bogus pleas for post-disaster donations: Understand that disaster aid solicitations may arrive by phone, email, letter or face-to-face visits.  You can ensure the solicitation is legitimate if you:

  • Ask for the charity’s exact name, street address, phone number, and web address, then phone the charity directly and confirm that the person asking for funds is an employee or volunteer.
  • Think before you give cash — instead, pay by check made out to the charity in case you must stop funds later.
  • Request a receipt with the charity’s name, street address, phone number and web address (if applicable). Legitimate nonprofit agencies routinely provide receipts for tax purposes.

Fake offers of state or federal aid:

  • If someone claiming to be from FEMA or the state visits, calls or emails asking for your Social Security number, bank account number or other sensitive information, be cautious. Don’t provide any personal information unless you made the initial call.
  • Do not trust any phone or in-person solicitor who promises to speed up the insurance, disaster assistance or building-permit process.
  • Some scam artists may promise to provide a disaster grant in return for large cash deposits or advance payments in full.  Never agree to pay any amount of money for a disaster grant.

It is important to know that federal and state workers do not solicit or accept money. FEMA and SBA never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or help in filling out applications. If ever in doubt, do not give out personal information and report people claiming to be government workers to local police.

Provide your Social Security number and banking information only when registering for FEMA assistance; online at www.disasterassistance.gov; via a web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov; by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585; using 711-Relay or Video Relay
Services call 1-800-621-3362. FEMA phone lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT seven days a week; multilingual operators are available.

Register with the SBA online at its secure site:  https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela; call 1-800-659-2955 or TTY 1-800-877-8339; or visit a Disaster Recovery Center.  For more information on SBA disaster assistance, go to www.sba.gov.

If you suspect someone is perpetrating fraud, call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at
1-866-720-5721. Complaints may also be made to local law enforcement agencies and to the Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General at 1-918-581-2885 or online at www.oag.state.ok.us.

Disaster survivors who have any questions can call FEMA’s toll-free helpline at 1-800-621-3362.

For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click on www.fema.gov/disaster/4078 or www.oem.ok.gov.

Follow OEM on Twitter and Facebook at twitter.com/okem and www.facebook.com/oklahomadepartmentofemergencymanagement.

FEMA tweets about the Oklahoma disaster are at twitter.com/femaregion6.
Additional FEMA online resources include blog.fema.gov, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.

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Creek County Residents Cautioned to Watch Out for Post-Disaster Scam Artists

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