AUSTIN, Texas – Recovery officials are cautioning Texans who have received disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to use the funds for their intended purpose and to keep disaster spending receipts for three years.

Disaster assistance is to help residents meet basic disaster-related needs and funds are distributed via check or direct deposit. A letter explaining what the payment is to be used for arrives within a day or two of the check or direct deposit payment.

If an applicant spends the payment on anything other than the purpose for which it is directed, he/she may be denied assistance the next time the need arises. In some cases, FEMA will ask the funds be returned.

Those receiving aid are urged to keep receipts of their disaster spending for three years to document the money was used to meet disaster-related needs. If a recipient receives an insurance settlement to cover the same expenses, he or she must reimburse FEMA. Random audits confirm funds were spent properly.

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.    

Homeowners, renters and businesses in Erath, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hood, Jasper, Limestone, Marion, Newton, Orange, Parker, Shelby and Tyler counties are eligible for federal disaster assistance as a result of the severe storms in March.

The first step is to register with FEMA at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone (voice, 711 or video relay service) at 800-621-3362, TTY 800-462-7585. Toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week and multilingual operators are available.

For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage at fema.gov/disaster/4266, Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Visit fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation for publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger.

See the article here:  

FEMA Aid Recipients Cautioned on Using Funds for Intended Purpose

NEW YORK — FEMA has approved more than $2.5 million in Hurricane Sandy assistance to fund emergency efforts and help repair and rebuild public infrastructure in Orange County.

To date, local, state and federal recovery officials have identified 81 projects from applicants in Orange County that are eligible for Public Assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The $2,597,561 in assistance represents 90 percent of the cost of approved PA projects that will be reimbursed by FEMA. The state manages the PA program and disburses funding.

A breakdown by category of work:

         Debris Removal                                                   $1,596,191

         Emergency Protective Measures                         $   776,408

         Buildings and Equipment                                    $   137,982

         Utilities                                                                $     30,071

         Parks, Recreational, and Other Facilities           $     56,908

$30,740 is included in the funding for Orange County for permanent work to reduce or eliminate repeat disaster damage.

PA applicants included:

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

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. 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.

See original article here – 

$2.5 Million in Federal Funding Supports Orange County’s Sandy Recovery

Public Open Houses Scheduled to Share Map Changes and Flood Risk Information

DENTON, Texas –Homeowners, renters and business owners in Orange County, Texas are encouraged to look over newly released preliminary flood maps in order to determine their flood risks and make informed decisions.

Orange County officials and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are presenting the preliminary maps to communities and unincorporated areas in order to help leaders and residents identify known flood risks and use that information to make decisions about buying flood insurance and how the community should move forward with any development.

The Texas-based coastal flood mapping effort follows the release of a new, comprehensive storm surge study from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) that gives updated information on coastal flood risks. To share that data, two public workshops have been scheduled in the county where interested citizens can obtain more information about the proposed changes.

Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 15 & 16, 2013                                      

Bridge City Community Center                          

105 Parkside

Bridge City, TX 77611

2 p.m. – 8 p.m.

“As we work together with our state and local partners to bring this critical information to the county, we ask that everyone review the maps to understand what flood risks are involved,” said FEMA R6 acting Regional Administrator Tony Robinson. “The role of the community as an active partner in the flood mapping process is very important.”

Additional information is available, including links to the interactive mapping website on www.txchart.com. Residents can also contact the Orange County Floodplain Administrator for more details.

###

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 us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

 

Source: 

Preliminary Flood Maps in Orange County, Texas Ready for Public View

Learn Rebuilding Techniques at Stores in Milford, New Haven and Orange

Main Content

Release date:

December 4, 2012

Release Number:

038

WINDSOR, Conn. – Outreach teams from FEMA will be at Lowe’s home improvement stores in Milford, New Haven and Orange this weekend to explain techniques that may reduce potential damage to homes, businesses and property from future flooding.

Mitigation specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will offer “how-to” information for retrofitting buildings and elevating utilities. Specialists can also provide clean up tips for removing mold and mildew from a storm-damaged home.

FEMA teams will be at the following locations from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, and Sunday, Dec. 9:

 

  • Lowe’s – 311 Old Gate Lane, Milford, CT 06460
  • Lowe’s – 115 Foxon Blvd., New Haven, CT 06513
  • Lowe’s – 50 Boston Post Road, Orange, CT 06477

 

Information will include instructions on how to:

 

  • Relocate circuit breaker panels, outlets and switches above potential floodwaters;
  • Move washer and dryer hookups to a higher floor;
  • Elevate furnaces and water heaters; and
  • Prevent sewer backups with a backflow valve.

 

More information on ways to protect your home from future disasters is available at www.fema.gov/safer-stronger-protected-homes-communities.

Last Updated:

December 4, 2012 – 14:50

State or Region:

Related Disaster:

Credit:

Learn Rebuilding Techniques at Stores in Milford, New Haven and Orange

federal, state and local PARTNERS TEAM UP TO IDENTIFY Texas COASTAL FLOOD RISKS  

Storm surge study provides update on flood risks in Jefferson and Orange Counties

DENTON, Texas – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is updating flood maps in Jefferson and Orange, Texas counties following the release of a new, comprehensive storm surge study from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) that gives updated information on coastal flood risks

As FEMA works to update the new flood maps, the agency is working closely with its federal, state and local partners to help these two coastal counties better understand the current flood risk so that action can be taken to reduce that risk.

Meetings with local officials have already taken place and open houses for the general public are currently being scheduled.  The local workshops provided an opportunity for local officials to review the storm surge study methods and get an update on the project’s progress.  The Open Houses help to educate the public about the current flood risks in their area.

The Texas-based coastal flood mapping effort is part of FEMA’s comprehensive approach to integrating flood hazard identification and analysis with risk communications for affected coastal counties. In addition to the two counties, the effort also includes Aransas, Brazoria, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Kleberg, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria and Willacy counties.

Media note:  If media would like to join an online, informational briefing beginning at 1 p.m. (CST) Wednesday, Aug. 22 please call us at 940-898-5454 for details.

###

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 us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

Continued here: 

FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS TEAM UP TO IDENTIFY TEXAS COASTAL FLOOD RISKS – Storm surge study provides update on flood risks in Jefferson and…