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Guidance for Old Town Galena Residents on FEMA Decision Regarding Permanent Construction

Release date:

September 5, 2013

Release Number:

FS-004

Because of the continuous threat posed by flood and ice to residents and property in Old Town Galena, FEMA has decided federal funds will not be used to rebuild permanently in Old Town. The decision, supported by our State of Alaska partner, will help ensure that FEMA funds are directed to helping Galena grow stronger and safer for the future. This fact sheet outlines the types of work that will and will not be covered by FEMA and our affiliated agencies in Old Town.

FEMA’s Individual Assistance program can provide:

Assistance dollars directly to households to repair their home
Assistance dollars directly to households to pay rental assistance (only available if applicant does not choose any type of direct assistance)

FEMA purchases repair materials, and households ship and perform repairs
FEMA purchases and ships repair materials, and households perform repairs

Additionally:

Emergency assistance work (muck out and gut homes, and minor debris removal) performed by AmeriCorps can continue

Repairs currently happening by FEMA-sponsored voluntary organizations can proceed

FEMA’s Public Assistance program can provide:

Assistance awards to help reimburse the city of Galena for the cost of emergency measures, including debris removal and establishing emergency access, restoring power, etc.

NFIP insurance can be provided in Old Town:

No limitations other than requirements outlined in individual standard flood insurance policy; will require an elevation certificate in the SFHA or “A” flood zone
If eligible, and there is room within the Individual Assistance award cap, a certificate for the 3-year Group Flood Insurance Policy (GFIP)

Others may assist in Old Town:

Non-FEMA entities are not subject to these limitations
Individuals can contract labor or repairs
Volunteers not sponsored by FEMA are not prevented from assisting with repairs
Other federal, state, tribal or local agencies and organizations can still assist at their discretion

FEMA cannot provide:

FEMA-funded permanent infrastructure repair
FEMA-funded direct contract repairs to structures
FEMA-sponsored voluntary agency (UMVIM, Disciples of Christ, etc.) repair work to structures going forward
FEMA-funded rebuilding of homes and infrastructure
FEMA-funded relocation or elevation of homes and infrastructure

Last Updated:

September 13, 2013 – 12:51

State/Tribal Government or Region:

Alaska

Related Disaster:

Alaska Flooding

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Guidance for Old Town Galena Residents on FEMA Decision Regarding Permanent Construction

Ineligible? FEMA May Just Need More Information

CHICAGO – If you’ve registered for federal disaster assistance and received a letter saying you’re ineligible, make sure to double check that you provided all the necessary information when you initially applied.

Federal Emergency Management Agency eligibility determinations are based on information an individual supplies in an online application or during a phone call with a FEMA representative.

Since May 10, when the disaster was declared for the spring storms and flooding, homeowners and renters in 11 Illinois counties have been applying for disaster assistance. To date, more than $38.4 million has been approved for more than 12,100 eligible applicants.

Applicants who received a determination letter, but were deemed ineligible may just need to supply additional information to FEMA.

“We want to make sure eligible Illinois residents who suffered damages or uninsured losses as a result of the spring storm receive disaster assistance,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Michael Moore. “The best thing for applicants to do to make sure this happens is to read the FEMA correspondence carefully and follow up with us.”

Following are just a few of the reasons an applicant may have received an ineligibility notification and can follow up.

Sometimes a first ineligibility determination is simply a clerical error, such as a name is misspelled, an address doesn’t match or a signature has been left out.
If more than one person from the same home address registered, the applications will be flagged until the head of household can be determined.
The applicant has insurance, and more information about the policy is needed. FEMA cannot duplicate benefits. However, once you receive insurance payment, FEMA may be able to assist with uninsured losses.
Proof of occupancy is required. Whether a homeowner or renter, the damaged dwelling must be a primary residence where the applicant lived at the time of the disaster.
Identity verification is needed. Sometimes an applicant simply needs to submit documentation—such as a passport or military issued ID—so a social security number can be verified. If an applicant was recently married, a marriage certificate or license may be required to verify any name change.

If you have questions about any FEMA correspondence you receive, call 800-621-FEMA (3362), the toll-free line used for registration and follow-up. Have your FEMA application number available so the representative can find your case easily.

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

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Ineligible? FEMA May Just Need More Information

Deer Park, Texas Celebrates a Safer Community

DENTON, Texas – Residents, business and residential renters, and business owners in Deer Park, Texas can now enjoy a 5 to 10 percent reduction in flood insurance premiums because of the city’s active participation in the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS).

This means those policyholders who reside in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) will receive a 10 percent reduction on flood insurance premiums, and policyholders located outside the SFHA will enjoy a 5 percent discount.

In addition to lower premiums, the rating program helps to reduce the threat of damage from flooding, according to officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “The flood insurance program rewards communities for implementing programs and policies that protect their residents from flooding,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “Deer Park’s higher regulatory standards, public education outreach, property acquisition programs and open space preservation initiatives, among other activities, have earned the parish lower premiums as a CRS Class 8 Community.”

The reduction in flood insurance premiums represents an annual savings in premium costs for Deer Park policy holders and will take effect at the time a new policy is written or an effective policy is renewed. Those individuals and business owners with a Preferred Risk Policy will not receive premium rate credits under the CRS because it already has a lower premium than other policies.

Since joining CRS in 2000, the city’s participation in the program has been beneficial in many respects. In addition to the reduction in insurance premiums, local officials are more knowledgeable about floodplain management and residents are more knowledgeable about mitigation and flood insurance. The CRS program has helped make Deer Park a safer place to live, reduced the economic impact of flood hazards and saved their citizens money on flood policy premiums.

CRS is a voluntary program for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)-participating communities. The intended goals of the CRS are to reduce flood losses; facilitate accurate insurance ratings; and to promote the awareness of flood insurance. For more information on the NFIP’s CRS program, visit www.fema.gov/business/nfip/crs.shtm.

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

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Deer Park, Texas Celebrates a Safer Community

No Discrimination in FEMA Disaster Assistance

WINDSOR, Conn. — Storms don’t discriminate and neither does FEMA, federal officials emphasized today.

“Everybody’s circumstances are different and people won’t all be helped the same way. But our promise is to treat everybody equally,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Albert Lewis. “We are not a law enforcement agency; we are a helping agency. That’s why we’re here.”

FEMA has a mission to ensure disaster assistance is made available to all people in the whole community. That means reaching out to everyone, regardless of race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.

Those areas are written into federal law as an equal rights statement of policy that permeates FEMA’s approach to providing fully inclusive disaster recovery services.

FEMA may provide assistance in many ways, not all of them financial, to disaster survivors through connections with its state and local partners. But to help survivors, FEMA needs to know who they are through FEMA registration.

FEMA’s Voluntary Agency Liaison works specifically with voluntary and faith-based organizations, which provide case management support for applicants, whether they are citizens or not.

An applicant’s information is confidential. FEMA does not share anyone’s information with other agencies unless an applicant wants us to do so and that agency’s purpose is to provide assistance to those in need after a disaster.

“Disaster recovery includes everyone,” Lewis added. “The individual, the community, FEMA, the state, voluntary agencies and faith-based partners—everyone has a role. We may not be able to help you directly, but we’ll know what’s available. There may be other programs to get you where you want to go.”

The deadline to register is Jan. 28. Survivors can register online anytime day or night at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or with a smartphone or other Web-enabled device at m.fema.gov. Survivors can also register by phone 24 hours a day at 800-621-3362. Effective at 7 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, hours will be 7 a.m. until 1 a.m. the following day. The TTY number is 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available during the same hours at the close of the English message.

Registering for disaster assistance with other agencies or organizations does not register survivors for FEMA disaster assistance. Having FEMA flood insurance does not register policyholders for disaster assistance, nor does it disqualify anyone from applying for assistance. Flood insurance claims are handled separately.

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. For TTY, call 800-462-7585.

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 nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and covers 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.

Source article:

No Discrimination in FEMA Disaster Assistance

Dickinson, Texas Celebrates a Safer Community

DENTON, Texas – Residents and business owners in Dickinson, Texas can now enjoy a 5 to10 percent reduction in flood insurance premiums because of the city’s active participation in the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS). In addition to lower premiums, the CRS program has helped reduce the threat of damage due to flooding.

“The flood insurance program rewards communities for implementing programs and policies that protect their residents from flooding,” said Tony Robinson the Region 6 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) acting regional administrator. “Dickinson’s higher regulatory standards, public education and outreach, buyout programs and open space preservation initiatives, among other activities, have earned the city lower premiums as a CRS Class 8 Community.”

The city of Dickinson’s flood insurance policyholders who reside in Special Flood Hazard Areas will receive a 10 percent reduction on flood insurance premiums and policyholders located outside Special Flood Hazard Areas will enjoy a 5 percent discount. The reduction in flood insurance premiums represents an annual savings in premium costs for Dickinson’s policy holders and will take effect at the time a new policy is written or an effective policy is renewed. Those individuals and business owners with a Preferred Risk Policy will not receive premium rate credits under the CRS because it already has a lower premium than other policies.

The city’s participation in the CRS is beneficial in many respects. In addition to the reduction in insurance premiums, Dickinson officials are more knowledgeable about floodplain management and its residents are more knowledgeable about mitigation and flood insurance. The CRS program has helped make Dickinson a safer place to live, reduced the economic impact of flood hazards and saved their citizens money on their flood policy premiums.

The community rating system (CRS) is a voluntary program for NFIP-participating communities. The intended goals of the CRS are to reduce flood losses; facilitate accurate insurance ratings; and to promote the awareness of flood insurance. For more information on the NFIP’s CRS program, go to http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip/crs.shtm.

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

Original post:

Dickinson, Texas Celebrates a Safer Community

Buying Flood Insurance Now Will Save Dollars, Heartache Later

HUNT VALLEY, Md. – People who live near water are not the only ones who experience flooding. Floods can move and spread for miles. Flash floods can begin and end within just hours, cutting a path of major destruction.

One of the ways you can protect yourself is with flood insurance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers this important insurance coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP was created by Congress in 1968 to provide flood insurance at a reasonable cost in exchange for careful management by local communities of flood-prone areas.

Flood insurance provides coverage that your homeowners or renters insurance doesn’t – coverage for damages caused by floods.

Here are some facts you should know about flood insurance:

Homeowners, business owners and renters all can purchase flood insurance as long as their community participates in the NFIP.
Flood insurance claims are paid even if a federal disaster is not declared by the President.
You do not have to live in a floodplain to buy flood insurance. In fact, more than 20 percent of flood insurance claims come from medium- or low-risk flood areas.
Compared to a fire, people in floodplains are nearly four times more likely to have a flood during their 30-year mortgage.
You can buy flood insurance from licensed insurance agents.
Flood insurance coverage is available for residential and business structures and contents. A single-family home can be insured for up to $250,000. An additional $100,000 can be purchased for contents. Commercial buildings can be insured for up to $500,000. Business contents can be covered for up to $500,000.
Renters can purchase contents coverage for up to $100,000 to cover personal belongings.
If you have a home-based business, you’ll need to purchase separate coverage for the business and/or contents. Coverage is not automatically included under a homeowner’s flood insurance policy, even if the business is located inside your home.
A flood insurance policy can be written to cover actions taken to prevent flood damages. These actions can include moving the insured contents to a safe place and/or the cost of purchasing sandbags, plastic sheeting, lumber, pumps, etc.
A flood insurance claim will reimburse you for your covered losses and never has to be repaid, unlike a disaster assistance loan.

Okay, so now you’re interested in flood insurance. How do you go about getting a policy and what else do you need to know?

Contact your insurance agent and tell them you would like more information about flood insurance. The agent will be able to determine whether your community participates in the NFIP. Flood insurance from the NFIP is only available in participating communities. The agent should also be able to tell you what is covered and how much your policy will cost.
The cost will be determined in part by whether you live in a floodplain, also known as Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). Your local building official(s) should have maps showing if there are Special Flood Hazard Areas and where they are. You can determine whether you are in a low, medium or high-risk area by checking these maps.
Those who are located outside the floodplain may be able to get a Preferred Risk Policy. These policies offer fixed combinations of building and contents coverage at set prices.
Another way to reduce your premium is through an elevation rating. If the lowest floor of your house is above the base flood elevation (predicted flood depth in your area), you can qualify for lower rates. Local officials can help determine the base flood elevation for your home, however, the homeowner will need to provide an elevation certificate.

Even so, the cost of flood insurance is far cheaper than having to pay thousands of dollars to repair your home or replace contents because a flood caught you off guard.

Originally posted here:

Buying Flood Insurance Now Will Save Dollars, Heartache Later

Insured Rhode Islanders May Qualify for FEMA Aid

WARWICK, R.I. — Insured Rhode Islanders with Hurricane Sandy losses related to their primary homes may benefit from registering for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, because insurance may not cover all storm-related costs.

If you’re insured, you must file a claim with your insurance company and let FEMA know what your policy covers before you can be eligible for federal aid. By law, federal disaster assistance cannot duplicate insurance benefits.

When insurance doesn’t cover all your disaster related expenses FEMA may be able to help. Here are some examples:

You have Additional Living Expenses (ALE) your insurance doesn’t cover. If you were displaced from your home due to disaster damage, you may have additional living expenses for temporary housing until you are back in permanent housing (your repaired home or a new rental). Some policies–and this includes National Flood Insurance–do not provide benefits for Additional Living Expenses. Other policies may provide some coverage, but not enough. FEMA may be able to help.
You have losses that were not insured, such as: Sandy may have damaged your vehicle and you have no coverage for that. You may have been injured by the hurricane and have uninsured medical or dental expenses. You may be a student who lost your books and computer or a worker who lost tools that your insurance doesn’t cover.

After registering, many insured applicants will initially receive a letter from FEMA stating they are ineligible because they have insurance. FEMA can reconsider this determination after you provide information about storm-related losses your insurance didn’t cover. You will receive instructions on how to do this with your letter from FEMA or call the FEMA Helpline, 800-621-3362, for more information.

It’s important not to put off registering even if you don’t yet know whether insurance covers all your losses. Registration is open only until January 14. After that, even if you later discover uninsured losses, it will be too late to ask FEMA for help.

FEMA evaluates each situation on a case-by-case basis. By registering before the deadline, you will be assured of access to all available FEMA aid even if you do have insurance.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for medical and dental expenses, 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.

SBA disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people with speech or hearing disabilities) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Applications can also be downloaded from www.sba.govor completed on-line at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

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Insured Rhode Islanders May Qualify for FEMA Aid

FEMA Urges Quick Filing of Insurance Claims

NEW YORK – Property owners who sustained flood damages and are insured by policies underwritten by the Federal Emergency Management Agency are strongly urged to file claims immediately.

“The faster the claim is filed, the sooner the settlement process can begin,” said David Passey of FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program. “Individuals start the claim process by calling their insurance agent or company.”

The policyholder should provide the name of the issuing agent or company, the policy number and a phone number or email address where he or she can be reached, Passey said. After filing a claim, an adjuster will contact the policyholder within a few days to schedule an appointment for the initial inspection.

A “Proof of Loss” statement is required, which includes the detailed estimates of the cost to repair or replace damaged property. In most cases, the adjuster will provide a suggested Proof of Loss, but the ultimate responsibility for making sure the document is complete, accurate and filed on time is with the policyholder.

Should further damage be discovered after the adjuster has made an inspection, policyholders can file a supplemental claim.

“It is a good idea to separate damaged items from those that are OK,” Passey said. “And if possible, take lots of photographs of water in the property and things that are damaged. In case you are required to dispose of certain things, the photos will provide a record of what was ruined and removed.”

FEMA National Flood Insurance Program representatives can be reached at 800-427-4661 should policyholders have questions that cannot be answered by agents. More information is available at www.floodsmart.gov.

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FEMA Urges Quick Filing of Insurance Claims

New Flood Maps Show Current Risks in Santa Fe County, New Mexico

DENTON, Texas – Santa Fe County, New Mexico, homeowners, business and residential renters and business

owners who do not have flood insurance are encouraged to buy coverage now to get the best possible premiums

before new flood insurance rate maps go into effect.

The new Santa Fe County flood maps become effective on Tuesday, Dec. 4, giving those who haven’t purchased

flood insurance yet, time to get the best possible premiums to protect their property from potential flooding.

“While many people are required by mortgage and lending companies to have flood insurance, FEMA and the

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) strongly recommend that everyone have flood insurance,” said Acting

Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “The reason is simple: You don’t have to be in a mapped floodplain to

flood.”

Current policy holders and those planning to purchase NFIP protection are strongly encouraged to contact their

insurance agent or company to ensure that they have adequate coverage for building and contents that accounts

for new flood risk data.

Those who purchase flood insurance prior to Dec. 4 may be able to grandfather the current flood zone, saving

money on flood insurance. For more information on estimated rates for flood insurance, whether you are eligible

for grandfathering and the Preferred Risk Policy extension, or to locate an agent in your area, visit

www.floodsmart.gov.

Anyone who hasn’t had a chance to participate in local flood insurance meetings or to review the new flood maps

is encouraged to contact their floodplain administrator who is most likely located at the County or City Offices.

• To view the preliminary maps online visit http://maps.riskmap6.com/NM/SantaFe/.
• To use the live chat service, visit http://go.usa.gov/r6C. Click on the “Live Chat” icon.
• To contact a FEMA Map Specialist, call 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or send an email to

FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com.

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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New Flood Maps Show Current Risks in Santa Fe County, New Mexico

FEMA Reaches Out to Survivors with Lapsed Flood Insurance

BATON ROUGE, La. — After receiving federal assistance for past disaster-declared storms and hurricanes, thousands of Louisianians were required to purchase flood insurance policies through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programs. In the Hurricane Isaac disaster, FEMA is reaching out to survivors who let those policies lapse.

The insurance policy, issued under a FEMA Group Flood Insurance Policy, is a three-year, nonrenewable, group flood policy funded by a portion of the survivor’s FEMA grant money. After the policy expires, renters and homeowners are required to purchase and maintain a flood insurance policy from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to continue their insurance protection.

Applicants who did not maintain the required flood insurance coverage for their previously damaged homes are not eligible for disaster loans or grants to repair that same property after Hurricane Isaac.

Survivors may, however, still be eligible for grants to pay for rental assistance, other serious disaster-related expenses and Transitional Sheltering Assistance, which may allow families to stay in a hotel for a limited period of time.

“FEMA and our partners in the community may have some programs to help Louisianians who were not able to keep flood insurance coverage for properties damaged during previous storms,” said Mike Hall, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer. “We encourage you to register and find what assistance is available to you.”

FEMA recently opened a Hurricane Isaac Flood Insurance Call Center for use by storm survivors who have questions or concerns about flood insurance or flood insurance adjusters. The toll-free number is 1-866-331-1679. The call center is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.

Currently, more than 486,000 Louisianians have flood insurance protection, representing nearly $112 billion in coverage through the NFIP. To date, this program has paid out more than $49 million in claims for Hurricane Isaac.

Applying for disaster assistance is quick and simple. Survivors with uninsured or underinsured damages can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone at m.fema.gov. They 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.

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 Reaches Out to Survivors with Lapsed Flood Insurance

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