Disaster Assistance Tops $2.4 Million for South Napa Earthquake

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Federal disaster assistance now exceeds $2.4 million for those affected by the South Napa earthquake, just one week after they became eligible to apply. At the state’s request, the federal disaster declaration expanded on Oct. 27 to include Individual Assistance for homeowners and renters in Napa and Solano Counties.

Nearly 1,900 households have applied for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Disaster assistance includes grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repair and other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical expenses, not covered by insurance or other sources.

Low-interest disaster loans are also available from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations. Disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

To apply for assistance, register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call FEMA at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585.  People who use 711-Relay or VRS may call 800-621-3362.

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA Helpline/Registration. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and FEMA have coordinated with the City of Vallejo and Solano County to open a Disaster Recovery Center and have partnered with the City and County of Napa to provide state and federal services in a Local Assistance Center. The centers provide face-to-face assistance for affected individuals to meet with specialists from Cal OES, FEMA and the SBA. To date, nearly 500 people have visited the centers.

Napa Earthquake Local Assistance Center
301 1st Street, Napa, CA 94559

Solano County Disaster Recovery Center
1155 Capitol Street, Vallejo, CA 94590

Standard hours for the centers are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends until further notice. On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, holiday hours will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 During a visit to a center, visitors may:

  • Discuss their individual disaster-related needs
  • Submit any additional documentation needed, such as occupancy or ownership verification documents and letters from insurance companies
  • Find out the status of an application
  • Obtain information about different types of state and federal assistance
  • Get help from SBA specialists in completing low-interest disaster loan applications for homeowners, renters and business owners
  • Meet with FEMA hazard mitigation specialists to learn about reducing future disaster losses and rebuilding safer and stronger

People should register with FEMA before going to a Disaster Recovery Center, if possible. For visitors with a disability or functional need, the centers may have:

  • Captioned telephones, which transcribe spoken words into text
  • The booklet Help After a Disaster, in both Braille and large print Spanish and English
  • American Sign Language interpreters available upon request
  • Magnifiers and assistive listening devices
  • 711-Relay or Video Relay Services available

If other accommodations are needed during any part of the application process, please ask any FEMA or Cal OES employee for assistance.

Stay in Touch with FEMA

After a person registers, a FEMA inspector will contact that person by phone to schedule an appointment. An applicant should give clear, accurate directions to the damaged property. An inspector will try three times to schedule an inspection appointment. To avoid unnecessary delays, FEMA asks applicants to make sure FEMA has their current phone number.

During the inspection, owners and renters must show proof of occupancy, such as a valid driver’s license. Owners must show proof of ownership and sign various forms. The length of the inspection will vary, depending on the amount and location of the damage.

FEMA inspectors document damage. They do not determine eligibility for disaster assistance. They do not condemn homes. When meeting with an applicant who owns a home that has been previously red-tagged, FEMA guidance allows inspectors to complete their inspection from a safe distance.

The SBA and insurance companies also have inspectors in the field.

Be Alert for Disaster Fraud

FEMA inspectors carry official photo identification. Please contact the local police if someone posing as an inspector asks for money.

Official inspectors never ask for money or use a vehicle bearing a FEMA logo. Inspectors must carry visible FEMA ID, which includes a photo and name, the FEMA seal and the ID’s expiration date. FEMA ID has a “property of the U.S. Government” disclaimer, a return address and a barcode.

Apply to Qualify

To be eligible for federal disaster assistance, at least one member of a household must be a U.S. citizen, Qualified Alien or non-citizen national with a Social Security number. Disaster assistance may be available to a household if a parent or guardian applies on behalf of a minor child who is a U.S. citizen or a Qualified Alien. FEMA will only need to know the immigration status and Social Security number of the child.

Disaster assistance grants are not taxable income and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, medical waiver programs, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Social Security Disability Insurance.

For more information on the California disaster recovery, go to http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4193.

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.

The Cal OES coordinates overall state agency preparedness for, response to and recovery from major disasters. Cal OES also maintains the State Emergency Plan, which outlines the organizational structure for state management of the response to natural and manmade disasters.

The 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 website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

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

 

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Disaster Assistance Tops $2.4 Million for South Napa Earthquake

FEMA Encourages Participation in Oct 16 Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill

With earthquakes possible in most states, all Americans should practice what to do.

Over 40 U.S. states are at risk of an earthquake—yet fewer than 1 in 3 adults participated in an earthquake drill within the past year, according to a recent survey by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. To increase earthquake preparedness, FEMA encourages all Americans to participate in this year’s Great ShakeOut earthquake drill this Thursday, October 16, at 10:16 a.m. local time.

“Past practice and previous participation in a drill can make all the difference in an emergency,” FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said. “Everyone should know how to drop to the ground, cover themselves under a sturdy table or desk, and hold on to it until the shaking stops. It needs to happen with enough regularity so that it becomes second nature during an actual earthquake.”

People who have mobility disabilities and cannot drop should still cover and hold on. They should then stay put and not try to transfer during the shaking. Everyone who is staying put should cover their head and neck with their arms or a pillow until the shaking stops. People who use wheelchairs should lock their wheels.

Nearly 25 million people worldwide are expected to participate in this year’s Great ShakeOut—including over 13 million students and nearly 1 million businesses. Anyone can register their involvement and learn how to participate for free at www.shakeout.org.

FEMA supports the Great ShakeOut as part of America’s PrepareAthon!, which is a community-based campaign that asks everyone to take an action—such as a disaster drill or group discussion—to increase their preparedness. Information on America’s PrepareAthon! is available at www.ready.gov/prepare.

Additional tips for preparing for earthquakes are also available www.ready.gov/earthquakes.

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The Great ShakeOut is an annual public earthquake drill coordinated and supported by the Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) and the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). NEHRP is a partnership of the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

 

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FEMA Encourages Participation in Oct 16 Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill

Know Your Neighbors, Get Involved In Community Preparedness

EATONTOWN, N.J. – Whether you just moved into your neighborhood a week ago or you’ve lived there for 25 years, getting to know your neighbors has always been an important part of a functioning society. It can also be helpful in a crisis, because after a disaster occurs, the people in closest proximity to you – and the people who will be able to help you most immediately – are your neighbors.

They may need your help as well. Research reported by FEMA says that people often are not as prepared for disasters as they think they are. Forty percent of survey respondents said they did not have household plans in the event of an emergency, and nearly 60 percent did not know their community’s evacuation routes. Almost 20 percent of responders said they had a functional disability that would affect their ability to respond during a disaster, but only 25 percent of those people have made arrangements to or alerted others to their disability in case of an event. In a different survey, 46 percent of people said they expect to rely on people in their neighborhood for assistance in the first 72 hours after a disaster.

There are several ways to find out what you can do to help. If you live in an area that is known for disaster events or has had them recently, it can be as simple as asking them how they dealt with any previous incidents. Their feedback can teach you what precautions are the most effective for the situation.

You can also organize your neighbors with the help of local service groups such as Citizen Corps Councils, Neighborhood Watch teams, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), as well as local fire and police departments and emergency management agencies. Their input can help you figure out your neighborhood’s biggest needs.

FEMA also recommends hosting meetings with family, friends and neighbors to plan service projects, set service goals, and learn about existing local emergency response plans. Community-based organizations often lack the capacity to manage large numbers of volunteers, so they need individuals to organize themselves and work alongside them.

The Community Preparedness Toolkit, available at www.ready.gov, offers specific steps and links to resources to help you take a proactive role in making your neighborhood safer, more resilient and better prepared.

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.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/fema, www.fema.gov/blog, 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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Know Your Neighbors, Get Involved In Community Preparedness

Disaster Awareness Is A Priority For Avalon Mayor, Cape May County OEM

EATONTOWN, N.J — When Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi was promoted to Director of Cape May County’s Emergency Management Communications Center in August 2013, he found himself with two things: another job title, and a problem that most people wouldn’t expect a county surrounded by open water on three sides to have.

“There were no shelters in the county before I took over,” he said.

Pagliughi, who retired from an engineering company as the national industry manager, environmental division, went to work finding space and was able to secure four shelters in two months. Then Hurricane Sandy struck the New Jersey shore.

“We sheltered over 700 people,” he said.

Pagliughi was born in Vineland and has lived in Avalon since 1974. He was first elected to Avalon’s City Council in 1987 before becoming mayor in 1991. He is also the head of Avalon’s Office of Emergency Management, a role he assumed in 2001, making him very familiar with the unique difficulties Cape May County’s geography and demographics represent.

The county is a narrow peninsula with barrier islands, which makes evacuating people more of a challenge.

“We had an ice storm in 2006, and we had over 150 people who wouldn’t evacuate the barrier islands because they didn’t want to leave their pets behind,” he said.

That inspired one of his more ambitiousMayor Pagliughi stands before the emergency pet shelter.Mayor Pagliughi addresses residents in front of the emergency pet shelter. undertakings before Sandy hit. He purchased a 52-foot trailer and had it converted into a mobile animal shelter, which housed 120 pets during the storm, including several birds and a snake.  The trailer, which had heat, hot water and food storage for the animals, was parked next to a Red Cross shelter. The trailer cost Avalon $22,000. The borough received $24,000 in donations to pay for it. Cape May County has also purchased two trailers and is converting a third with the help of Cape May County Technical High School students who have made it their class project.

As Sandy made its way toward New Jersey, Pagliughi moved quickly to take preventive measures and prepare for the storm’s aftermath. He secured a debris cleanup contract and a reconstruction contract to repair any damage to government buildings the storm would cause. With those arrangements in place, debris was cleared out of Avalon in three days.

He also created an emergency website for Avalon that integrated reverse 911, allowing residents and other observers to get important, updated information during Hurricane Sandy, as well as photos and live video. During the storm’s pass across New Jersey, the site got 2.4 million hits.

He is now working on a similar site for Cape May County. “People thrive on information,” he said. “The more they have, the better.”

Some of the problems that arose during the storm proved to be far easier to solve than others. When the county’s shelters ran low on food, the Crest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Cape May Court House prepared 2,300 meals in two days and delivered them via the county’s fare-free bus network.

And even though Cape May County escaped the devastation that Sandy inflicted on other areas of New Jersey, three days passed before the state lifted the evacuation order for the county, causing problems for residents trying to re-enter the county and check on their homes and creating traffic issues when they were allowed to return. Pagliughi believes that municipal OEMs should be able to determine the safety of their own towns.

Pagliughi is already anticipating dealing with future incidents. Last year, the New Jersey National Guard sent four high-wheeled trucks to Cape May County to help with rescue and evacuations. However, a change in Guard policy means the New Jersey Guard will no longer deploy high-wheeled vehicles before a disaster. To compensate, Pagliughi went through the Army Surplus Program and bought 22 of the five-ton trucks, setting six aside as the county fleet and giving the rest to county municipalities.

He knows the county still needs more shelter space. “There’s not a lot of room here to build,” he said.

He has had to learn emergency management on the job, and each incident has added to his understanding of the processes involved in dealing with a disaster.

“We’ve had, I think, 10 disaster declarations since I took over” as the head of Avalon’s OEM, Pagliughi said. “We know the programs. We know how to get reimbursed.”

With Pagliughi’s new-found experience combined with his positions of authority and knowledge of the area, Cape May County can expect to be prepared when the next disaster strikes.

http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4086/updates/sandy-one-year-later

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. 

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Disaster Awareness Is A Priority For Avalon Mayor, Cape May County OEM

Don’t Wait Until it’s too Late: Have a Back-up Plan and Register by June 30

JACKSON, Miss. – If you sustained damage from the April 28 through May 3 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding, your insurance settlement may not cover all of your expenses. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration encourage you to register for disaster assistance by Monday, June 30, 2014, as it may help cover unexpected disaster expenses that arise later.

Register for FEMA assistance and you may avoid unexpected, uncovered expenses, such as:

  • Your insurance settlement is delayed, but you need to relocate because your home is uninhabitable.
  • Damage in your home is not revealed until contractors are able to conduct a more comprehensive inspection of your home’s structure.
  • You exhaust the additional living expenses provided by your insurance company and still need help with your disaster-related temporary housing.

Not registering with FEMA may disqualify you for assistance that could help with unexpected expenses. You have until Monday, June 30, 2014, to register. Take a few minutes now to give yourself peace of mind in the future. You can register any of three ways: online at DisasterAssistance.gov, on a mobile device at m.fema.gov, or by phone at 800-621-FEMA (3362.) People who are deaf or hard of hearing and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585.

If you have registered with FEMA and were referred to SBA’s disaster loan program, it’s wise to follow through and keep your options open by submitting the application before June 30.

Some of the top reasons for submitting an SBA application by the deadline include:

  • A future insurance settlement may fall short. You may find you are underinsured for the amount of work it takes to repair or replace your damaged home. An SBA low-interest loan can cover the uninsured costs. By submitting the loan application on time, you may have loan money available when it is needed. SBA can approve a loan for the repair or replacement of a home up to $200,000. The loan balance may be reduced by your insurance settlement. However, the opportunity for an SBA disaster loan may be lost if you wait until after the June 30 application deadline.
  • SBA can help renters repair or replace disaster damaged personal property. Homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace clothing, furniture, appliances and damaged vehicles.
  • By submitting an SBA loan application, you keep the full range of disaster assistance available as an option. If you do not qualify for a loan, SBA may refer you back to FEMA for grants to replace essential household items, replace or repair a damaged vehicle, or cover storage expenses, among other serious disaster-related needs. But if you do not submit your disaster loan application, the assistance process may stop. You are not required to accept a loan if one is offered. 

Complete the SBA disaster loan application online at https://DisasterLoan.SBA.gov/ELA. For additional information about SBA low-interest disaster loans, contact the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339 or by emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. For more information on SBA disaster loans, go to sba.gov/disaster.

For more information on Mississippi disaster recovery, click fema.gov/disaster/4175. Visit the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency website at msema.org or the Facebook page at facebook.com/msemaorg.

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.

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 temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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Don’t Wait Until it’s too Late: Have a Back-up Plan and Register by June 30

Misconceptions May Hinder Survivor Recovery

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Some survivors of the recent Alabama storms may not have registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance because of misconceptions or lack of accurate information. Here are some examples:

I didn’t know there was assistance available.
FEMA tries to let everyone know about disaster assistance, but some people miss the message. Please be sure to spread the word among your co-workers, neighbors and friends.

I thought my income was too high for me to qualify.
FEMA provides housing grants and other programs such as help with medical, dental and funeral expenses that are not income dependent. Anyone in a designated county with disaster damage or loss may be eligible for help.

My insurance agent told me I wouldn’t be able to get help from FEMA, because I have insurance.
Everyone with insurance should register. FEMA may be able to help with uninsured or underinsured costs.

I thought assistance would affect my Social Security benefits, taxes, food stamps or Medicaid.
FEMA assistance does not affect benefits from other federal programs and it is not reportable as taxable income.

I thought it was too late for me to apply since I already cleaned up and made the repairs.
You may be eligible for reimbursement of your clean up and repair expenses.

I thought FEMA only made loans. I don’t want a loan.
FEMA does not make loans, only grants to help survivors recover. These are not loans and do not have to be repaid.   The United States Small Business Administration does make loans to cover disaster damage to uninsured or under insured property for homeowners, renters and business owners.

I’m a renter. I thought FEMA assistance was only for homeowners to repair their homes.
FEMA makes grants to help renters with temporary housing and help with disaster-related losses of personal property.

I’m going to register just as soon as I can find the time to get all the paperwork done.
There is no paperwork to register with FEMA. You can do it with one phone call that takes about 20 minutes. Don’t wait, because the deadline is July 1.

I already received disaster assistance last year. I thought I couldn’t get it again this year.
If you had damage from a previous federally declared disaster and you had damage from this declared disaster, you may register for new assistance.

Other people need the help more than I do.
FEMA has enough funding to assist all eligible survivors. You will not be taking from others, if you register for aid.

Residents of Baldwin, Blount, DeKalb, Etowah, Jefferson, Lee, Limestone, Mobile or Tuscaloosa counties who suffered storm damage during the period April 28 through May 5 should apply for assistance by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone at m.fema.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362, TTY 800-462-7585.  Multilingual operators are available. The deadline to register for FEMA assistance is July 1, 2014.

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Misconceptions May Hinder Survivor Recovery

Recovery Centers Have Closed but FEMA Still Here to Help Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Closure of the FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Centers in Alabama does not mean FEMA has left Alabama.

All the assistance services available at the Recovery Centers are easily accessible online and by phone.   There also is a FEMA representative at the SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers, many of which are in the same location of the Recovery Centers.

“FEMA is available to help folks in Alabama get their lives back together,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Albie Lewis, who heads the federal disaster recovery effort in Alabama.  “People can call the FEMA helpline, or go to FEMA’s website.”

Residents of Baldwin, Blount, DeKalb, Etowah, Jefferson, Lee, Limestone, Mobile and Tuscaloosa counties who suffered storm damage during the period April 28 through May 5 should apply for assistance by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone at m.fema.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362, TTY 800-462-7585.  Multilingual operators are available.  

Survivors also can meet with the FEMA representative at the SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers. SBA is operating Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in many of the same locations as the Recovery Centers. 

The deadline to register for FEMA assistance is July 1, 2014.

When applicants register with FEMA, they are given a unique “registration number” which identifies them in the FEMA system. When calling with a question, applicants should have this number handy. 

Applicants can reach the helpline by dialing 800-621- 3362 – the same number they called to register. 

Applicants may use the helpline to find out when a housing inspector will arrive, check the status of their assistance applications, change their applications to include additional damage, inquire about additional assistance or review their right to appeal FEMA decisions on eligibility or compensation. 

“Closing the recovery centers does not mean we are closing down registrations for disaster assistance,” said Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director, Art Faulkner, “Alabamians whose homes and businesses were damaged in the recent storms have only until July 1 to register with FEMA. If you have not registered, do it today.”

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Recovery Centers Have Closed but FEMA Still Here to Help Alabama

Nearly $16.5 Million Approved for Mississippi Disaster Survivors

JACKSON, Miss. – Federal assistance approved for disaster survivors in 12 Mississippi counties has reached almost $16.5 million.

Here is a summary through Thursday, June 12, of all federal assistance to individuals and households in the 12 counties designated for FEMA Individual Assistance. The severe storms, tornadoes and flooding occurred from April 28 through May 3, 2014.

  • Nearly $16.5 million in total federal disaster assistance has been approved by FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
  • Nearly $11.6 million in low-interest disaster loans has been approved by SBA for 170 homeowners, renters and businesses.
  • More than $4.9 million in FEMA Individual Assistance grants has been approved to help Mississippi disaster survivors recover, including:
    • Almost $3.7 million approved for housing grants, including short-term rental assistance and home repair costs.
    • Nearly $1.3 million approved to help cover other essential disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses and household possessions. Included is approval of assistance with funeral expenses for 11 disaster-related deaths. Other funeral expense requests are pending.
  • More than 5,000 people have contacted FEMA for help or information regarding disaster assistance.
    • In addition to FEMA grants for individuals and families, other forms of disaster assistance are provided by SBA and other partner agencies such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. FEMA refers some survivors to those agencies.
    • All businesses that contact FEMA are also referred to SBA.
    • Others may be interested in other programs such as disaster unemployment assistance and disaster legal services.
  • 2,705 home inspections completed.
  • More than 4,700 visits to disaster recovery centers by people affected by the disaster.
  • FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance crews have visited more than 11,000 dwellings and assisted more than 7,600 survivors.

Monday, June 30, 2014, is the deadline to register with FEMA for individual assistance and to submit an SBA disaster home loan application.

Disaster survivors in Itawamba, Jones, Leake, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Montgomery, Rankin, Simpson, Warren, Wayne and Winston counties may be eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.

Individuals and households in those counties can register for FEMA Individual Assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone or tablet at m.FEMA.gov or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362). People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY should call 800-462-7585. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (central time) and assistance is available in multiple languages. FEMA assistance does not affect benefits from other federal programs such as Social Security, SNAP or Medicaid and is not considered taxable income.

For additional information about SBA low-interest disaster loans, contact the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339, emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or visiting sba.gov/disaster.

SBA disaster loan outreach centers are now open in Louisville and Tupelo at the former disaster recovery center locations. Survivors who need help completing their SBA disaster loan applications can visit the centers to talk with SBA representatives and get help with their applications. MEMA and FEMA will also have representatives at the centers to answer questions about the FEMA disaster assistance process. The disaster loan outreach centers are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday at the following locations:

Lee County

Old Tupelo Water and Light

320 Court St.

Tupelo, MS 38804

Winston County

Georgia Pacific

826 S. Church Ave.

Louisville, MS 39339

 

For more information on Mississippi disaster recovery, go to fema.gov/disaster/4175. Visit the MEMA site at msema.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/msemaorg.

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. 

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). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for childcare, medical, dental expenses and/or funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, those who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, transportation, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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Nearly $16.5 Million Approved for Mississippi Disaster Survivors

FEMA Rebuilding Specialists to Provide Advice in West Point

JACKSON, Miss. – Residents in the West Point area can learn how to build or rebuild to reduce the likelihood of damage the next time severe storms, tornadoes or floods hit. Federal Emergency Management Agency mitigation specialists know how and they are sharing their knowledge.

FEMA mitigation specialists will be at Phillip’s Hardware in West Point Monday and Tuesday to discuss specific methods with anyone who stops by. They will have free booklets and pamphlets with additional details.

8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday, June 9, and Tuesday, June 10

Phillip’s Hardware829 U.S. Hwy. 45 AlternateWest Point, Miss. 39773

Disaster survivors in Itawamba, Jones, Leake, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Montgomery, Rankin, Simpson, Warren, Wayne and Winston counties may be eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program. The deadline to register is Monday, June 30, 2014.

Individuals and households in those counties can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone or tablet at m.FEMA.gov or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362). People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY should call 800-462-7585. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (central time) and assistance is available in multiple languages.

For more information on Mississippi disaster recovery, go to FEMA.gov/Disaster/4175. Visit the MEMA site at msema.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/msemaorg.

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. 

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. If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

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FEMA Rebuilding Specialists to Provide Advice in West Point

Less than Thirty Days Remain for Mississippians to Register for FEMA Assistance

JACKSON, Miss. – The June 30 deadline is less than thirty days away for individuals and households to register with FEMA for assistance to recover from damage caused by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding between April 28 and May 3.

Disaster survivors in Itawamba, Jones, Leake, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Montgomery, Rankin, Simpson, Warren, Wayne and Winston counties may be eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.

Assistance 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. Low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes from the U.S. Small Business Administration may also be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance. SBA has the same filing deadline of June 30 to receive loan applications for physical damages.

Mississippi residents should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but under-insured 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. FEMA registrants must use the name that appears on their Social Security card.

Applicants will be asked for the following information:

  • 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 receive mail
  • Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.

Individuals and households in the 12 eligible counties can register for FEMA assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone or tablet at m.FEMA.gov or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362.) People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY should call 800-462-7585. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (central time) and assistance is available in multiple languages.

For more information on Mississippi disaster recovery, go to FEMA.gov/Disaster/4175. Visit the MEMA site at msema.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/msemaorg.

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. 

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). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for childcare, medical, dental expenses and/or funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, those who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, transportation, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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Originally posted here: 

Less than Thirty Days Remain for Mississippians to Register for FEMA Assistance

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