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FEMA Hires Local Residents for Disaster Recovery Jobs

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Monday, Nov. 14) — In partnership with the State of South Carolina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) aims to hire dozens of workers for a variety of temporary jobs in Blythewood, Florence and North Charleston.

Those selected will join the team—made up of state and federal workers, voluntary agencies, and community leaders—already in place to help the state recover from Hurricane Matthew. Through local hires, FEMA can gain community insight and give an added boost to the area’s economy.

Many FEMA employees started as local hires in their own states following a declared disaster.

Nationwide the FEMA workforce of 8,000 people includes full-time employees and reservists who travel across the country to help survivors recover after a disaster, including floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires and hurricanes.

In South Carolina, FEMA has the following positions currently available:

Environmental Specialist
Historic Preservation (Structures) Specialist
Couriers
Voluntary Agency Liaison
Administrative Assistant
Hazard Mitigation Program Community Outreach Education Specialist

Salaries are between $14 and $28 an hour. If needed, FEMA will post more jobs to take advantage of the large pool of talented workers in South Carolina. Positions are temporary. Qualified applicants should possess strong customer service skills, whether the job entails helping survivors in the field or serving as support staff in the office.

To become part of FEMA, go online to SCworks.org. Once there, interested parties should conduct a job search by employer. Then filter by “government” and enter “FEMA” as their keyword.

Each FEMA job candidate must be a U.S. citizen 18 years of age or older. Candidates must pass a complete background investigation, fingerprint check and credit check prior to being hired by FEMA. Disaster work may require 10-hour workdays seven days a week.

FEMA remains committed to employing a highly qualified workforce that reflects the diversity of our nation and the people we serve. The federal government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, political affiliation, non-disqualifying physical handicap, sexual orientation and any other non-merit factor.

For more information about the disaster recovery operation, please visit fema.gov/disaster/4286.

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 https://twitter.com/femaregion4 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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FEMA Hires Local Residents for Disaster Recovery Jobs

If you didn’t register with FEMA, you didn’t register

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — If you are among the thousands of Virginians who have registered for disaster assistance since Hurricane Matthew struck the Commonwealth, and you didn’t register directly with FEMA, you didn’t register.

Registering with your city’s emergency management agency, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), the Red Cross, with any other charitable organization, or having FEMA flood insurance is NOT the same as registering with FEMA.

You still need to register with FEMA before it’s too late. The deadline is January 3, 2017.

After you have registered, if you receive a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan application, officials urge you to fill it out and return it to the SBA—even if you do not want a loan. If you do not qualify for the SBA loan, your application can trigger other types of assistance, allowing the SBA to refer you back to FEMA.

You do not have to accept the SBA loan, but sometimes-unanticipated needs arise so having the loan in your ‘back pocket’ can make a difference.

FEMA and the SBA offer a variety of programs to help in your recovery. FEMA grants will not affect your government benefits, such as Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid and you will not pay additional income taxes or see any reduction in your Social Security checks or any other federal benefits.

VDEM and FEMA are working closely with other commonwealth and federal partners, the private sector, faith-based organizations, and voluntary agencies to help match survivors with avenues of assistance. Two common misconceptions regarding registering with FEMA are:

Registering for disaster assistance with other agencies or organizations registers you for FEMA disaster assistance. It does not.
Having FEMA flood insurance registers you for disaster assistance. It does not. It also does not disqualify you from applying for assistance. Flood insurance claims are handled separately and you may find that you had uninsured losses.

If you haven’t registered because English is not your first language, don’t let that stop you. If you or someone you know needs language assistance, FEMA has interpreters who speak many languages. Translators are available and can help you in the registration process.

Also know that you may apply if you are a non-citizen national with a Social Security number or a qualified alien who holds permanent residency, refugee, or asylum status. If you are the parent of a U.S. citizen in your household, you may apply for federal disaster assistance on behalf of your child.

If you are a renter and haven’t registered, know that you too, may be eligible for federal disaster assistance and referrals to Commonwealth agencies that may be able to help.

If you wish to donate, go to the Virginia Relief Fund site at: http://www.vaemergency.gov/get-involved/virginia-disaster-relief-fund/ for a list of approved charitable organizations.

As an applicant, your information is confidential. FEMA does not share your information with other agencies unless you want us to do so.

Additional information about this disaster is available at www.fema.gov and www.vaemergency.gov. Virginians seeking information about disaster-related services and unmet needs should call Virginia 211, a statewide information and referral service. Survivors are encouraged to register with FEMA as soon as possible. You can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov, on the FEMA Mobile App, or by calling 800-621-3362 (FEMA).

Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.

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If you didn’t register with FEMA, you didn’t register

Four Additional North Carolina Counties Now Designated for Disaster Assistance

RALEIGH, N.C. – Homeowners, renters and business owners in Craven, Martin, Tyrrell and Washington counties may apply for federal disaster assistance for Hurricane Matthew damage and losses in North Carolina.

The 23 counties already eligible to apply for assistance, under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individual and Households Program, are: Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Harnett, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lenoir, Nash, Pender, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson, Wayne and Wilson.

Storm damage and losses from the hurricane and flooding must have occurred, as a result of Hurricane Matthew, beginning on October 4.

Survivors are encouraged to register with FEMA as soon as possible. If you have phone and/or internet access, you may register in one of the following ways:

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
Download the FEMA Mobile App
Phone 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call
800-621-3362. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585.
The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.
Multilingual operators are available.

For those who do not have access to telephone or internet service, don’t be discouraged. North Carolina Emergency Management and FEMA are coming to you. Teams of State and FEMA disaster survivor assistance specialists will soon be moving into affected communities to help people register for assistance. Additionally, Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Edgecombe, Harnett, Nash and Wilson counties with more planned to open in the near future.

Assistance for eligible survivors can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs. Long-term, low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also may be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Survivors should contact their insurance company to file their insurance claim. FEMA is unable to duplicate insurance payments. However, those without insurance or those who may be underinsured may still receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

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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 800-621-3362 or TTY at 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.

The latest updates on road closures can be found at ReadyNC.org or by calling 5-1-1. Residents can also get real-time traffic and weather on the ReadyNC mobile app. People or organizations that want to help ensure North Carolina recovers can visit NCdisasterrelief.org or text NCRecovers to 30306. Follow us on Facebook at NCEmergencyManagement and Twitter @NCEmergency or @femaregion4.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money 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 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 Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

Survivors in Greene, Hartnett and Sampson Counties May Apply for Disaster Assistance

RALEIGH, N.C. – Homeowners, renters and business owners in Greene, Harnett and Sampson counties may apply for federal disaster assistance for Hurricane Matthew damage and losses in North Carolina.

The fourteen counties already eligible to apply for assistance under FEMA’s Individual and Households Program are Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Edgecombe, Hoke, Johnston, Lenoir, Nash, Pitt, Robeson, Wayne and Wilson counties.

Storm damage and losses from the hurricane and flooding must have occurred beginning October 4^th.

Survivors are encouraged to register with FEMA as soon as possible. If you have phone and/or internet access, you may register in one of the following ways:

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
Download the FEMA Mobile App
Phone 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call

800-621-3362. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use TTY may call 800-462-7585.
The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.
Multilingual operators are available.

For those who do not have access to telephone or internet service, don’t be discouraged. North Carolina Emergency Management and FEMA are coming to you. Teams of State and FEMA survivor assistance specialists will be moving into affected communities soon to help people register for assistance. Additionally, disaster recovery centers are being planned and will open in the near future in affected counties.

Survivors should also contact their insurance company to file an insurance claim. FEMA is unable to duplicate insurance payments. However, those without insurance or those who may be underinsured may still receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

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The latest updates on road closures can be found at ReadyNC.org or by calling 5-1-1. Residents can also get real-time traffic and weather on the ReadyNC mobile app. People or organizations that want to help ensure North Carolina recovers can visit NCdisasterrelief.org or text NCRecovers to 30306. Follow us on Facebook at NCEmergencyManagement and Twitter @NCEmergency or @femaregion4.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money 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 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 Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800)877-8339.

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Survivors in Greene, Hartnett and Sampson Counties May Apply for Disaster Assistance

Survivors in Greene, Harnett and Sampson Counties May Apply for Disaster Assistance

RALEIGH, N.C. – Homeowners, renters and business owners in Greene, Harnett and Sampson counties may apply for federal disaster assistance for Hurricane Matthew damage and losses in North Carolina.

Storm damage and losses from the hurricane and flooding must have occurred beginning October 4^th.

Survivors are encouraged to register with FEMA as soon as possible. If you have phone and/or internet access, you may register in one of the following ways:

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
Download the FEMA Mobile App
Phone 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call

800-621-3362. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use TTY may call 800-462-7585.
The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.
Multilingual operators are available.

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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money 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 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 Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800)877-8339.

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Survivors in Greene, Harnett and Sampson Counties May Apply for Disaster Assistance

FEMA Urges Residents to Heed Direction of Local Officials Regarding Flooding; Exercise Caution When Returning Home

WASHINGTON –The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urges residents returning home or in affected areas to listen to state, local and tribal officials as dangerous flooding following Hurricane Matthew impacts areas throughout the Southeast United States. People returning home should exercise extreme caution as emergency crews respond to affected areas and avoid driving through flooded roadways.

National Weather Service experts predict that Matthew should move well east of the North Carolina coast by this afternoon and should weaken over the next 48 hours. However, an extensive and significant freshwater flood event is unfolding over northeastern South Carolina into central and eastern North Carolina. Between six to 12 inches of rain, with isolated amounts up to 20 inches, have been reported mainly from Savannah to eastern North Carolina. An additional one to three inches are possible across eastern North Carolina and southeast Virginia. Numerous rivers are expected to reach moderate to major flood levels from northeast South Carolina into central and eastern North Carolina later today. The rivers will be slow to recede, with the flooding continuing through the week.

For people who evacuated and are returning today, do so only when authorities indicate it is safe. Watch out for debris and downed power lines and avoid walking or driving through flood waters. Flood waters may be electrically-charged from underground or downed power lines and may hide dangerous debris or places where the ground is washed away.

You are also advised to photograph damaged property in order to assist in filing an insurance claim and do what is possible to prevent further damage to property (e.g., putting a tarp on a damaged roof).

“Flash floods are the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States,” said FEMA Administrator W. Craig Fugate. “As people head back home to assess damage it is vital they do not drive through flooded roadways, avoid downed power lines, and stay off the roads to let first responders do their work. Turn around, don’t drown.”

Shelters remain open across the impacted states. You can download the FEMA mobile app for shelter information, disaster resources, weather alerts, and safety tips, in English and in Spanish. The app provides a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, maps of open shelters and recovery centers, disaster survival tips, and weather alerts from the National Weather Service. The app also enables users to receive push notifications reminding them to take important steps to prepare their homes and families for disasters.

After the Hurricane – Safety and Preparedness Tips as you Return to Your Home

· Listen to local officials for updates and instructions. Return home only when authorities indicate it is safe.

· Check-in with family and friends by texting or using social media.

· When you return to the impacted area, watch out for debris and downed power lines.

· Avoid flood water as it may be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines and may hide dangerous debris or places where the ground is washed away.

· Avoid walking or driving through flood waters. Just six inches of moving water can knock you down, and fast-moving water can sweep your vehicle away.

· Photograph the damage to your property in order to assist in filing an insurance claim.

· Do what you can to prevent further damage to your property (e.g., putting a tarp on a damaged roof), as insurance may not cover additional damage that occurs after the storm.

File an Insurance Claim then Register with FEMA (or for Federal Assistance)

· Contact your insurance company and file a claim. Get your company’s contact information online at the Department of Insurance for the state where the damage occurred.

· If you have flood insurance questions call 800-621-3362 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT and select option two. Call center staff are available to assist with information regarding your policy, offer technical flood guidance to aid in recovery and answer other flood insurance questions. You can be transferred to your insurance carrier for additional assistance if you have further questions.

· For those in Georgia and Florida who have been affected by Hurricane Matthew, you can pre-register for federal disaster assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362. Lines are open every day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT. Survivors who use TTY may call 800-462-7585.

Communications

If you live in areas affected by Hurricane Matthew or know someone in those areas, social media sites like Facebook or Twitter are good way to let friends and family know you’re safe or to inquire about your loved ones.

However, the National Coordinating Center recommends keeping your calls to the minimum and to using several alternative communication methods as networks in the area may become congested. People in the emergency area should still call 9-1-1 if they need emergency services.

Please keep in mind a few recommended best practices for placing calls during a large emergency:

Limit non-emergency phone calls.
Keep all phone calls brief.
For non-emergency calls, try text messaging, also known as short messaging service (SMS) when using your wireless phone.
If possible, to reduce congestion, try a variety of communications services if you are unsuccessful in getting through with one.
Wait 10 seconds before redialing a call. On many wireless handsets, to re-dial a number, you simply push “send” after you’ve ended a call to redial the previous number.

To report a missing child, please contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-866-908-9570. Anyone who finds an unaccompanied child who may have been separated from his/her parents or caregivers because of the hurricane can enter basic information and/or a photo into the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s Unaccompanied Minors Registry (UMR): http://umr.missingkids.org or call 1-866-908-9570.

For more information about Hurricane Matthew, including resources deployed, imagery, and b-roll go to: http://www.fema.gov/hurricane-matthew

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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.

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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FEMA Urges Residents to Heed Direction of Local Officials Regarding Flooding; Exercise Caution When Returning Home

Louisiana: Keep in Touch and Update Info with FEMA to Avoid Delays

BATON ROUGE, La. –You may find yourself frequently moving if you’re a survivor of Louisiana’s recent severe storms and floods.

If you’ve had any changes to your contact information it’s important to let FEMA know so the disaster assistance process stays on track.

FEMA may need to contact you to schedule an inspection or to get additional information to help process your application. That’s why it’s important to let them know as soon as possible if you’ve moved or have a new phone number.

You may update contact information two ways:

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
By calling 800-621-3362
- People who use TTY may call 800-462-7585
- Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) may call 800-621-3362.

If you had storm or flood damage in Louisiana you may also use those resources to apply for FEMA help if you haven’t done so already. Survivors in Acadia, Ascension, Avoyelles, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Livingston, Point Coupee, St. Helena, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Vermilion, Washington and West Feliciana parishes may be eligible.

It’s important to note that FEMA disaster assistance checks cannot be forwarded. If you cannot access your home address, you can request the postal service to hold your mail. You can also have the funds sent via direct deposit to your financial institution.

Residents are urged to contact their insurance company to file their flood insurance claims. For flood insurance policyholders who may have questions, FEMA has streamlined its process to better service claims and answer questions. Policyholders may call 800-621-3362 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and select Option 2. Call center staff are available to assist policyholders with information regarding their policy, offer technical flood guidance to aid in recovery, and respond to general as well as complicated questions about the NFIP. Policyholders with questions specifically about an insurance claim can be transferred to their insurance carrier for additional assistance.

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also may be available to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. 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. The loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

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We urge everyone to continue to use caution in areas where floodwaters remain. Monitor DOTD’s www.511la.org website for updated road closure information. Look for advisories from your local authorities and emergency managers. You can find the latest information on the state’s response at www.emergency.la.gov. GOHSEP also provides information on Facebook and Twitter. You can receive emergency alerts on most smartphones and tablets by downloading the new Alert FM App. It is free for basic service. You can also download the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide and find other information at www.getagameplan.org.

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 https://twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (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 SBA.gov/disaster Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

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Louisiana: Keep in Touch and Update Info with FEMA to Avoid Delays

Louisiana Residents Urged to Register with FEMA

Baton Rouge, La – Louisiana disaster survivors in East Baton Rouge, Livingston, St. Helena, and Tangipahoa parishes are urged to register for federal disaster assistance with FEMA.

Individuals and business owners in the designated parishes who had severe storm or flood damage may register for assistance the following ways:

Online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov
By calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
- People who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 1-800-462-7585.
- For those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.
- These toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

Assistance provided by FEMA for homeowners and renters can include grants for rent, temporary housing and home repairs to their primary residences, as well as other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs.

Residents and business owners should apply as quickly as they can, even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments but underinsured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

Residents are urged to contact their insurance company first to file their flood insurance claims. For flood insurance policyholders who may have questions, FEMA has aligned its call center to better support them with the servicing of their claims and getting answers to their questions quickly. Policyholders may call 1-800-621-3362 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and select Option 2. Call center staff are available to assist policyholders with information regarding their policy, offer technical flood guidance to aid in recovery, and respond to general as well as complicated questions about the NFIP. Policyholders with questions specifically about an insurance claim can be transferred to their insurance carrier for additional assistance.

Survivors seeking information on flood clean up, repairing, and rebuilding can find valuable tips and guidance at www.fema.gov/Louisiana-disaster-mitigation.

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

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money 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 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 Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

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Louisiana Residents Urged to Register with FEMA

Recovery on Pine Ridge – One Year Later: Oglala Sioux Tribal Members Aiding Efforts

PINE RIDGE, S.D. – Hundreds of people from all over the country have contributed to recovery efforts at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservations following severe storms and flooding in May 2015. The response triggered the largest permanent housing construction effort in FEMA’s history. As part of that effort, the agency has hired 25 local tribal members to assist in that effort, and their role has been vital.

On all disasters, FEMA tries to hire people from the impacted area to provide important local knowledge. At Pine Ridge, this process was even more important, as the local hires also served to bridge the cultural gap and assisted more seasoned FEMA individuals in dealing with disaster survivors.

Glenda Red Feather performs clerical work and has served as a guide, traveling with FEMA staff around the reservation and helping to explain to disaster survivors the assistance they are receiving. Being part of positive change in her community is what attracted her.

“The reason I wanted to work with FEMA was the fact that they were providing safety and security for our people throughout the reservation,” she said. “FEMA has had such a huge impact and brought much change to the lifestyles in numerous areas around the Pine Ridge Reservation. Things like that don’t come around too often so I found it hard not to want to be able to participate in that!”

Besides assisting the disaster survivors, the local hires have also helped other FEMA staff acclimate to the reservation, as many were unfamiliar or had never been on one previously. Staff have held numerous potlucks and informal lunches, serving as a meeting of different cultures.

“Throughout our time with FEMA we were able to teach our colleagues our cultural beliefs, customs and values,” said Red Feather. “All of that now comes across when we are meeting with the disaster survivors.”

For the local hires, like all the FEMA staff, the rewards coming in assisting those impacted by the disaster. But that has extra meaning when those people are neighbors, friends and family.

“The highlight of working with the FEMA agency would most definitely have to be seeing the look on the applicants face when their keys were being handed over to them,” said Red Feather. “Some didn’t know how to express their feelings while others weren’t able to control it. It’s an amazing feeling knowing you’re a part of such a program that is changing ones’ life (or many for that matter) for the better. This job has been such an overwhelming yet remarkable job.”

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Recovery on Pine Ridge – One Year Later: Oglala Sioux Tribal Members Aiding Efforts

More than $2 million flows to Oregon for recovery projects

SALEM, Ore. –The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today that it has awarded Oregon more than $2 million as a portion of the FEMA Public Assistance program allocation for recovery from the severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides occurring December 6-23, 2015. This is one of several awards that are expected to be distributed as a result of the nearly month-long weather events.

FEMA’s Public Assistance grants will go to more than 400 eligible projects in 14 counties covering Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington and Yamhill.

The Public Assistance program offers supplemental financial assistance on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities in designated counties. The program encourages protection of these facilities from future events by providing assistance for certain hazard mitigation measures.

Current estimate of eligible damage is approximately $40 million. FEMA reimburses 75 percent of eligible costs and makes grant awards to the state. Oregon manages the grant awards to applicants and is accountable for their use.

Of the current grants, approximately $1.2 million is being awarded for three large projects, and about $1 million for water and electric lines, equipment, roadway and trench repairs, and a host of other small projects. Reimbursements for costs of emergency measures taken during response to the storms throughout the 14 affected counties are also flowing to disaster recovery grant applicants.

“A $425,000 award went to Lake Oswego for replacement of a collapsed storm drain and repair of a 12-foot deep sinkhole, while another went to Columbia River People’s Utility District for about $380,000,” said Clint Fella, State Coordinating Officer for the Oregon Office of Emergency Management. “The electric cooperative in Columbia County sustained pole, line and other damage along 113 miles of 154 different roads during the weather event.”

The Port of Brookings Harbor is also scheduled to receive $416,250 for sediment hauling and removal.

“This funding for Oregon’s recovery marks a difference in the way we deliver assistance,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Dolph Diemont. “It also points to the State of Oregon’s hard work in this recovery process. They help determine project eligibility.”

FEMA is implementing a new business model to deliver funding for public infrastructure recovery after a disaster. The new model does not represent a change in FEMA’s mission or in what it does, but is intended to improve the quality and efficiency of the recovery process for communities affected by disasters.

The disaster declaration signed by President Obama on Feb. 17, 2016 made FEMA’s Public Assistance recovery program available to declared counties. The state and FEMA have been working closely with local officials since Feb. 17 to identify damage, develop project costs and to deliver funding to assist in the recovery from the December, 2015 storms.

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More than $2 million flows to Oregon for recovery projects

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