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Third DRC Opens in Nicholas County

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Nicholas County now has three Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) with the July 15 opening of the latest center.

The newest center is located at the Birch River Elementary School, 379 Birch River Rd., Birch River, W.Va. 26610.

Survivors of the June 22-29 floods, severe storms, landslides and mudslides are finding a wealth of useful information at a DRC to assist their recovery from the disaster. Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), various state agencies, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) staff the centers, giving you a chance to discover what programs are available to help you, and to get your questions answered.

Weather permitting, all recovery centers currently are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. Beginning July 17, centers will be open six days a week, Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Sundays. To locate the closest center, you can visit http://go.usa.gov/x3NnJ or download the FEMA App to your mobile device. Before visiting a center, you can register with FEMA by going online to DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling 800-621-3362. Operators are multilingual and answer calls from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. Video Relay Service (VRS) or 711 users may call 800-462-7585.

The other centers are:

Clay County

Clay County High School, 1 Panther Dr., Clay WV 25043

Fayette County

Midland Trail High School, 26719 Midland Trail, Hico, WV 25854

Greenbrier County

Mobile Disaster Recovery Center, Southeastern Labor Council, AFL-CIO, 65 West Main St., White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986

Greenbrier County

Town Hall, 201 Kanawha Ave., Rainelle, WV 25962

Kanawha County

Kanawha County School Operations Center, 3300 Pennsylvania Ave.,

Charleston, WV 25302

Kanawha County

Tent in parking lot across from Dollar General Store, 120 Maywood Ave., W., Clendenin, WV 25045

Lincoln County

Morrisville Fire Department Substation, 2508 Straight Fork Rd., Alkol, WV 25501

Monroe County

Alderson Senior Center, 317 Monroe St., Alderson, WV 24910

Nicholas County

City of Richwood City Hall, 6 White Ave., Richwood, WV 26261

Nicholas County

Nicholas County High School, 30 Grizzly Ln., Summersville, WV 26651

Pocahontas County

McClintic Public Library, 500 8^th St., Marlinton, WV 24954

Roane County

Geary Elementary School, 9538 Clay Rd., Left Hand, WV 2521

Summers County

Summers County Memorial Building Gym, 451 1^st Av. Hinton, WV 25951

Webster County

Webster Springs Municipal Building, City Council Room, 143 McGraw Ave., Webster Springs, WV 26288

Registering with FEMA is the first step towards qualifying for disaster assistance which may include grants to help homeowners and renters pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs, personal property replacements and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

SBA offers low-interest disaster loans for businesses of all sizes, homeowners, renters and private non-profit organizations. SBA disaster loans may cover repairs, rebuilding, as well as the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property.

For more information about SBA loans, call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster. TTY users can call 800-877-8339. Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/FEMA, fema.gov/blog and www.twitter.com/femaregion3.

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Third DRC Opens in Nicholas County

Lincoln County DRC opens

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The latest Disaster Recovery Center opens in Lincoln County beginning July 8 to provide assistance to survivors of the June 22 severe storms, floods, landslides and mudslides.

The center is located at the Morrisville Fire Department Substation, 2508 Straight Fork Rd., Alkol, WV 25501. It is the twelfth center to open in West Virginia.

Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), various state agencies, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) staff the centers, giving survivors a chance to discover what programs are available to them, and to get their questions answered.

Weather permitting, all recovery centers are open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until further notice. To locate the closest center, survivors can either visit http://go.usa.gov/x3NnJ or download the FEMA App to their mobile device. Before visiting a center, survivors can register with FEMA by going online to DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling 800-621-3362. Video Relay Service (VRS) or 711 users can call 800-462-7585.

The other centers are:

Clay County

Clay County High School

1 Panther Dr.

Clay, WV 25043

Fayette County

Midland Trail High School

26719 Midland Trail

Hico, WV 25854

Greenbrier County

Mobile Disaster Recovery Center

Southeastern Labor Council, AFL-CIO

65 West Main St.

White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986

Town Hall

201 Kanawha Ave.

Rainelle, WV 25962

Kanawha County

Kanawha County School Operations Center

3300 Pennsylvania Ave.

Charleston, WV 25302

Nicholas County

City of Richwood City Hall
6 White Ave.

Richwood, WV 26261

Nicholas County High School

30 Grizzly Ln.

Summersville, WV 26651

Pocahontas County

McClintic Public Library

500 8th St.

Marlinton, WV 24954

Roane County

Geary Elementary School

9538 Clay Rd.

Left Hand, WV 25251

Summers County

Summers County Memorial Building Gym

451 1^st Ave.

Hinton, WV 25951

Webster County

Webster Springs Municipal Building

City Council Room

143 McGraw Ave.

Webster Springs, WV 26288

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/region3 and fema.gov/blog.

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Lincoln County DRC opens

SBA Low-Interest Disaster Loans Critical to West Virginia Recovery

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials are urging disaster relief applicants to complete and return the loan application forms from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Completing the loan application is a critical part of the disaster assistance process. It can keep the door open to all federal assistance, including possible additional grants, from FEMA.

Assistance from FEMA may not cover all damage or property loss. The SBA loan application, however, may make FEMA assistance available to replace essential household items, replace or repair a damaged vehicle, or pay storage costs. It is critical that the SBA loan application be completed and returned before further FEMA assistance may be considered.

Many West Virginians who register for disaster assistance through FEMA may receive an automated call from SBA with information on how to complete the loan application process. Completing and submitting the SBA loan application, even if you do not want a loan or think you may not qualify for one, is a required step in obtaining some forms of disaster assistance.

SBA provides low-interest loans to businesses of all sizes (including landlords) and to homeowners, renters and eligible private nonprofit organizations that sustained disaster damage or losses during the severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides that began on June 22. There is no cost to apply for a loan.

Storm-impacted homeowners, renters and businesses in the designated 12 West Virginia counties may be eligible for federal assistance: Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Roane, Summers and Webster Counties.

SBA has staff at all state and FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) to assist businesses, homeowners and renters in completing their loan applications. Additionally, SBA Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) are now up and running to help businesses get back on their feet from damage they sustained during the storms. The BRCs, in Greenbrier, Kanawha and Nicholas counties, are a resource where businesses can meet face-to-face with SBA representatives to learn how a low-interest disaster loan can help them recover. The centers are located at:

Greenbrier County

Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corp.

804 Industrial Park, Suite 5 (click to link to map)

Maxwelton, WV 24957

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Kanawha County

Charleston Area Alliance

1116 Smith St. (click to link to map)

Charleston, WV 25301
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Nicholas County
Summersville City Hall
Conference Room
400 N. Broad St.
Summersville, WV 26651
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Additional information on the disaster loan program may be obtained by calling SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or 800-877-8339 (TTY/TDD) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov (link sends e-mail). Loan applications can be downloaded from www.sba.gov. Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

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SBA Low-Interest Disaster Loans Critical to West Virginia Recovery

Businesses, Nonprofits Can Seek Low-interest Disaster Loans to Aid Recovery

AUSTIN, Texas – Businesses and nonprofit organizations that sustained damage or losses from the May-June storms and floods can apply for a low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration to help with their recovery.

“SBA disaster loans are the major source of federal disaster recovery aid,” said Federal Coordinating Officer William J. Doran III, who is in charge of FEMA’s operations in Texas. “The interest rates are low—as low as 4 percent for businesses and 2.625 percent for nonprofits for the life of the loan.”

SBA offers two types of disaster loans to businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, aquaculture and most nonprofits, including faith-based ones: physical disaster loans and economic injury disaster loans.

Physical disaster loans are used to repair or replace damaged buildings and business assets. Economic injury disaster loans help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, aquaculture businesses and most private nonprofits meet financial obligations they cannot meet because of the disaster.

Business owners may also be eligible to refinance existing liens or mortgages.

SBA low-interest disaster loans for businesses have several advantages:

SBA requires no collateral for both physical loans or economic injury loans less than $25,000. SBA requires the borrower to pledge as collateral only what is available, plus satisfactory credit and the ability to repay.
Applicants don’t have to wait for insurance settlements to obtain loans.
Loans are written for a length of time appropriate to the type of loan, but SBA may make adjustments in the length of the loan to lower the monthly payments. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
SBA offers mitigation loans to help pay for improvements to reduce potential for future damage. These mitigation funds are available for up to 20 percent of the total amount of disaster damage.
SBA never charges an application fee or points for its disaster loans.

By law, SBA business loans cannot exceed $2 million. If a business is a major employer, SBA may waive the limit.

The deadline to file for a physical damage disaster loan is August 10. The deadline for an economic injury disaster loan is March 11, 2017.

No one is obligated to accept a loan if approved. SBA gives applicants six months to decide whether to accept a loan.

Applicants may apply online using the electronic loan application via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster loan information, application forms and a list of counties eligible for assistance are available online at SBA.gov/disaster, from SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or by emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call 800-877-8339.

SBA representatives are also available at disaster recovery centers to provide information about disaster loans, the application process or help completing an SBA application. To find the nearest one, go online to the disaster recovery center locator at asd.fema.gov/inter/locator.

Completed applications can be mailed to:
U.S. Small Business Administration
Processing and Disbursement Center
14925 Kingsport Rd.
Fort Worth, TX 76155

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Businesses, Nonprofits Can Seek Low-interest Disaster Loans to Aid Recovery

Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams Working Across State

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — Twelve teams of disaster survivor assistance (DSA) specialists are now working in affected areas across West Virginia, helping survivors of the devastating floods, mudslides and landslides that began June 22.

The teams are made up of disaster specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Using the latest mobile technology, DSA teams can register survivors with disaster assistance, update their records and make referrals to whole community partners. Team members tailor the information and services they provide to the individual survivor’s needs.

Like all FEMA field personnel, team members carry official identification. Residents are encouraged to ask for official identification before providing personal information.

In addition to the registration opportunity offered by recovery teams, survivors can register for assistance by the following methods:

Visit DisasterAssistance.gov.
Call 800-621-3362. TTY users can call 800-462-7585. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362 to register.

By registering with FEMA, survivors may qualify for federal disaster assistance such as:

Grants to rent a temporary place to live.
Grants for essential home repairs not covered by insurance.
Grants for disaster-related needs not covered by insurance — such as medical, dental, transportation, funeral expenses, moving and storage fees, personal property loss and child care.

Registering with FEMA is also the first step in qualifying for help from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Low-interest disaster loans from SBA are available to businesses of all sizes (including landlords), homeowners, renters, and private non-profit organizations to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance. Low-interest disaster loans help fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged real estate and personal property. Economic injury disaster loans are available to businesses and private non-profits to assist with working capital.

Business owners can find an electronic loan application on the U.S. Small Business Administration’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Questions can be directed to the SBA Disaster Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955/ (TTY) 800-877-8339 or by visiting sba.gov.

West Virginians seeking information about disaster-related services and unmet needs should call West Virginia 211, a statewide information and referral service. Contact 211 for help finding food, childcare, crisis counseling, and many other resources in your local community.

The West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) has set up a hotline for flood survivors needing free cleanup services: 800-451-1954. Volunteers who wish to help with flood response and recovery may sign up at www.volunteerwv.org or www.wvvoad.org. To make a financial donation, visit https://wvvoad.communityos.org/cms/home

To find current shelter locations for displaced survivors who need a place to stay overnight, please call the American Red Cross at 800-RED-CROSS or download the FEMA App on a mobile device.

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Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams Working Across State

Roane County Gets Disaster Recovery Center

CHARLESTON, W Va.—A new Disaster Recovery Center has opened in Roane County to help survivors affected by the severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides that began June 22.

Disaster Recovery Centers are one-stop shops for eligible storm survivors seeking one-on-one help. Representatives from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and various state agencies are at the centers to answer questions. Weather permitting, centers are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. All centers will be open July 4.

The centers currently open are:

Roane County

Geary Elementary School

9538 Clay Rd.

Left Hand, WV 25251

Greenbrier County

Mobile Disaster Recovery Center

Southeastern Labor Council, AFL-CIO

65 West Main St.

White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986

Town Hall

201 Kanawha Ave.

Rainelle, WV 25962

Kanawha County

Kanawha County School Operations Center

3300 Pennsylvania Ave.

Charleston, WV 25302

Nicholas County

City of Richwood City Hall
6 White Ave.

Richwood, WV 26261

Summers County

Summers County Memorial Building Gym

451 1^st Ave.

Hinton, WV 25951

State and FEMA officials continue to work closely with local officials in hard-hit areas to identify suitable sites for additional centers. Survivors can locate the center closest to them, by visiting http://go.usa.gov/x3NnJ or downloading the FEMA App to their mobile device to:

Apply for disaster assistance
Get directions to the nearest Disaster Recovery Center
Find shelter locations
Get weather alerts
Subscribe to disaster safety tips

Survivors do not have to visit a Disaster Recovery Center to register with FEMA.

Those who have not yet registered can do so by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov. Survivors may also register by calling toll-free 800-621-3362. For those who use 711 or the Visual Relay Service, call 800-462-7585. FEMA encourages survivors to register as soon as possible.

Disaster assistance may include grants to help homeowners and renters pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs, personal property replacement, and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

SBA offers low-interest disaster loans for businesses of all sizes, homeowners, renters, and private non-profit organizations. SBA disaster loans may cover repairs, rebuilding, as well as the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged real estate and personal property.

For more information about SBA loans, call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster. TTY users may call 800-877-8339. Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

For more information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA, and fema.gov/blog.

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Roane County Gets Disaster Recovery Center

Disaster Assistance Tops $10.4 Million for West Virginia Survivors

CHARLESTON, WV – One week after President Obama issued a major disaster declaration for West Virginia, more than $10.4 million has been approved for homeowners and renters affected by the severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides that began June 22, 2016.

That total includes more than $8.6 million in housing assistance and nearly $1.8 million in other needs assistance. More than 5,200 households and businesses have registered with FEMA to date.

Disaster assistance may include grants to help homeowners and renters pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs, personal property replacement, and serious disaster-related needs. Nearly 70 housing inspectors have completed more than 2,000 inspections of disaster-damaged properties to verify damage.

Federal disaster assistance is now available to residents of 12 counties: Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Roane, Summers, and Webster.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) encourages all survivors who sustained disaster-related damage or losses to apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone (voice, 711 or relay service) at 800-621-3362. (TTY users should call 800-462-7585.) The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

In support of the State of West Virginia, FEMA has deployed 12 Disaster Survivor Assistance teams to canvass shelters and visit storm-damaged homes in hard-hit areas to register people and answer their questions about disaster assistance.

Other help available to individuals:

The State and FEMA have opened five Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in hard-hit areas, with more scheduled to open soon. The centers report 934 visitors to date. DRCs

are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. The centers will be open for the July 4^th holiday.
An easy-to-use DRC Locator is available at http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm
For those who lost work as a result of the storms, Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available. For more information, visit Work Force West Virginia at workforcewv.org
Free disaster legal assistance is available to West Virginia storm survivors. This service offers counseling on insurance claims, landlord-tenant issues, home-repair contracts, the replacement of legal documents destroyed by the storm and other legal matters. Call the toll-free hotline (877) 331-4279.

Disaster assistance grants from FEMA are not taxable income and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, welfare assistance, food stamps and several other programs. Disaster grants are just that—grants that do not have to be paid back to the government.

One of FEMA’s federal partners in disaster recovery, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), offers low-interest disaster loans for businesses of all sizes, homeowners, renters and private non-profit organizations. SBA disaster loans may cover repairs, rebuilding, as well as the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged real estate and personal property.

For more information on the West Virginia recovery operation—including fact sheets about Individual Assistance, Public Assistance and Disaster Unemployment Assistance—visit the disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4273 and www.dhsem.wv.gov/Pages/WV-Flood-Information.aspx

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Disaster Assistance Tops $10.4 Million for West Virginia Survivors

DHS Announces Grant Allocations for Fiscal Year 2016 Preaparedness Grants

WASHINGTON— As part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) ongoing efforts to support state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, Secretary Jeh Johnson today announced final allocations of $275 million for six Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 DHS competitive preparedness grant programs. These allocations, in addition to the more than $1.3 billion in non-competitive grant funding announced by Secretary Johnson in February, total more than $1.6 billion in FY 2016 to assist states, urban areas, tribal and territorial governments, nonprofit agencies, and the private sector with their preparedness efforts.

“In an ever-changing threat environment, our homeland security grants demonstrate the Department’s continued commitment to strengthening the nation’s preparedness and ability to respond to a wide variety of emergencies,” said Secretary Johnson. “These 2016 homeland security grant allocations will support our partners at all levels of government and the private sector, ensuring we remain vigilant and keep the homeland secure.”

Together with previous grant funding awarded since 2002, DHS has awarded more than $47 billion to these partners. Preparedness grants strengthen our nation’s ability to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies in support of the National Preparedness Goal and the National Preparedness System.

The FY 2016 grants focus on the nation’s highest risk areas, including urban areas that continue to face the most significant threats. Consistent with previous grant guidance, dedicated funding is provided for law enforcement and terrorism prevention activities throughout the country to prepare for, prevent, and respond to pre-operational activity and other crimes that are precursors or indicators of terrorist activity.

Competitive Grant Program Allocations for Fiscal Year 2016:

Port Security Grant Program (PSGP)—a competitive grant that provides $100 million to help protect critical port infrastructure from terrorism, enhance maritime domain awareness, improve port-wide maritime security risk management, and maintain or reestablish maritime security mitigation protocols that support port recovery and resiliency capabilities.

Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP)—a competitive grant that provides $87 million to owners and operators of transit systems to protect critical surface transportation and the traveling public from acts of terrorism and to increase the resilience of transit infrastructure.

Operation Stonegarden (OPSG)—a competitive grant that provides $55 million to enhance cooperation and coordination among local, tribal, territorial, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to jointly enhance security along the United States’ land and water borders where there are ongoing Customs and Border Protection missions.

Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)—a competitive grant that provides $20 million to support target hardening and other physical security enhancements for nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack and located within one of the 29 Fiscal Year 2016 UASI-eligible urban areas.

Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP)—a competitive grant that provides $10 million to eligible tribal nations to implement preparedness initiatives to help strengthen the nation against risk associated with potential terrorist attacks and other hazards.

Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP)—a competitive grant that provides $3 million to assist operators of fixed-route intercity and charter bus services within high-threat urban areas to protect bus systems and the traveling public from acts of terrorism, major disasters and other emergencies.

In addition to the competitive grants announced today, in February 2016, Secretary Johnson announced more than $1.3 billion in preparedness grant program funding.

Non-Competitive Grant Program Allocations for Fiscal Year 2016:

Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Program— a non-competitive grant that provides more than $350 million to assist local, tribal, territorial, and state governments in enhancing and sustaining all-hazards emergency management capabilities.

Intercity Passenger Rail – Amtrak (IPR) Program—a non-competitive grant that provides $10 million to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism and increase the resilience of the Amtrak rail system.

Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)—provides more than $1 billion for states and urban areas to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other threats. The HSGP grants are:

State Homeland Security Program (SHSP)—a non-competitive grant that provides $402 million to support the implementation of the National Preparedness System to build and strengthen preparedness capabilities at all levels.
Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI)—a non-competitive grant that provides $580 million to enhance regional preparedness and capabilities in 29 high-threat, high-density areas.

Awards made to the states and urban areas for HSGP carry pass-through requirements. Pass-through is defined as an obligation on the part of the State Administrative Agency (SAA) to make funds available to local units of government, combinations of local units, tribal governments, or other specific groups or organizations. The SAA must obligate at least 80 percent (80%) of the funds awarded under SHSP and UASI to local or tribal units of government.

Per section 2006 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended (6 U.S.C. § 607), DHS/FEMA is required to ensure that at least 25 percent of grant funding must be used for law enforcement terrorism prevention activities.

Further information on DHS’s preparedness grant programs is available at www.dhs.gov and http://www.fema.gov/grants.

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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.

Original article –

DHS Announces Grant Allocations for Fiscal Year 2016 Preaparedness Grants

West Virginia Response & Recovery: Rising Above the Flood

CHARLESTON, W.v. – As skies clear and the floodwaters recede, responders, volunteers and teams dedicated to assisting West Virginians devastated by flooding have been arriving and making a difference. The West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (WV VOAD) have been working with state and local emergency managers and officials to coordinate resources through its network of disaster relief agencies. They have been asking kind-hearted individuals seeking ways to help disaster survivors to make a donation to the WV VOAD Disaster Relief Fund or register as a volunteer. Financial donations are the best way to support the effort at this time. Donations will be used to support the disaster related needs of families through a network of voluntary agencies and a statewide disaster relief fund.

Financial donations are accepted and more information can be found at: https://wvvoad.communityos.org.

Volunteers wishing to help more directly with flood response and recovery can register online at www.volunteerwv.org. Volunteer West Virginia has partnered to match volunteers with organizations statewide to assist with response and recovery. When road hazards are clear and needs are identified, a volunteer coordinator will contact registered volunteers to schedule a volunteer shift or overnight deployment.

State and federal officials have announced the opening of a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) with tentative plans to open more. DRCs are one-stop shops for eligible storm survivors to provide one-on-one, face-to-face help from local, state and non-government organizations. Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will also be present to provide information on low-interest loans and help applicants complete disaster loan applications for homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes.

A DRC has been established at the Kanawha County Crede Warehouse 3300 Pennsylvania Ave. in Charleston, WV 25302. The center will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Additionally, a Mobile Disaster Recovery Center (MDRC) in Greenbrier County is open from 7 a.m. – 7.p.m until Friday with additional hours to be determined. The center is currently located at 65 West Main St. in White Sulfur Springs, WV 24986.

However, individuals do not have to visit a Disaster Recovery Center to register for assistance. If you have been affected by flooding and need assistance, visit DisasterAssistance.gov or register with your smartphone at m.fema.gov. For those without access to the internet, FEMA has a toll-free number at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585 for the deaf or hard of hearing.

To learn more about Disaster Recovery Centers, go to FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

FEMA officials have reported that over $290,000 of federal funding has been approved for individuals and households affected by the disaster. 2,600 individual registrations have already been received, 800 of which have already been referred to inspectors. Federal disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property loss and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

For more information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA and fema.gov/blog.

DEBRIS REMOVAL TIPS

Storm and flooding-related debris is eligible for pickup and disposal by the county or municipality if residents place the following types of debris on the public right-of-way in front of their property for pick-up. When placing debris at the roadside, residents should be careful not to cover or impede access to utility meters or mailboxes.

Residents opting for curbside pick-up must separate debris into categories:

Vegetative debris (tree limbs, shrubs, etc.)
Construction/Demolition debris
White goods (appliances, etc.)
E-goods (TV’s, electronics)
Household hazardous (cleaning solutions, automotive chemicals, etc.)
DEBRIS HANDLED BY CONTRACTORS: Some homeowner’s insurance policies may cover debris removal. Residents are reminded that if they choose to hire their own contractor, they should not place that debris on the right-of-way. The cost of debris disposal is typically included in the contractor’s estimates. Homeowners should review their insurance policies to determine if their policy covers debris removal. Under no circumstances will reconstruction debris or demolition debris created by the property owner or the private contractor be pushed to the curb. The property owner, insurance company or contractor is responsible for removing and transporting all demolition and/or reconstruction debris to an approved designated

AFTER A DISASTER – QUICK TIPS TO HELP YOU ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

Injuries may occur when people walk amid disaster debris and enter damaged buildings. Wear sturdy shoes or boots, long sleeves and gloves when handling or walking on or near debris.
Be aware of possible structural, electrical or gas-leak hazards in or around your home.
- Contact your local city or county building inspectors for information on structural safety codes and standards and before going back to a property with downed power lines, or the possibility of a gas leak.
- Do not touch downed power lines or objects in contact with downed lines.
- Report downed power lines and electrical hazards to the police and the utility company. They may also offer suggestions on finding a qualified contractor to do work for you.
If your power is out, safely use a generator or candles.
- Never use a generator inside a home, basement, shed or garage even if doors and windows are open.
- Keep generators outside and far away from windows, doors and vents. Read both the label on your generator and the owner’s manual and follow the instructions.
- If using candles, please use caution. If possible, use flashlights instead. If you must use candles, do not burn them on or near anything that can catch fire.
Outside your home or business: Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded. Roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a car.
Use extreme caution when entering buildings; there may be hidden damage, particularly in foundations.

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. FEMA Region III’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at fema.gov/medialibrary and youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion3.

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Originally posted here –

West Virginia Response & Recovery: Rising Above the Flood

Low-interest Disaster Loans Help Fuel Texas Recovery

AUSTIN, Texas – Federal officials urge those with damage or losses from the May storms and floods to complete a no-obligation disaster loan application from the U.S. Small Business Administration to help with their recovery.

Completing the application can open the door to all federal assistance, including possible additional grants from FEMA. If approved, and the loan is not accepted, survivors may find themselves ineligible for some forms of federal assistance.

Many Texans who register for disaster assistance with FEMA will receive an automated call from SBA with information on how to complete the loan application process. These low-interest SBA loans are the major source of funding for disaster recovery.

Assistance from FEMA is limited to help jump-start the recovery; it may not cover all damage or property loss. Completing the SBA loan application may make FEMA assistance available to replace essential household items, replace or repair a damaged vehicle, or pay for storage costs.

Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 2.625 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 1.813 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. The rates are locked in for the life of the loan.

Businesses of all sizes can qualify for up to $2 million in low-interest loans to help cover physical damage.
Small businesses and most private nonprofits suffering economic impact due to the severe weather and flooding can apply for up to $2 million for any combination of property damage or economic injury under SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.
Eligible homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 for home repair or replacement of primary residences, and eligible homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 to replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property, including a vehicle.

Applicants may apply online using the electronic loan application via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster loan information and application forms are available online at SBA.gov/disaster, from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955 or emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call 800-877-8339.

SBA representatives are also available at disaster recovery centers to provide information about disaster loans, the application process or help completing an SBA application. To find the nearest one, go online to the Disaster Recovery Center Locator at asd.fema.gov/inter/locator.

Completed applications should be mailed to:

U.S. Small Business Administration
Processing and Disbursement Center
14925 Kingsport Road
Fort Worth, TX 76155

The 19 counties affected by the May storms are Austin, Bastrop, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Eastland, Fort Bend, Grimes, Hidalgo, Hood, Lee, Liberty, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Stephens, Travis, Tyler, Waller and Washington.

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Originally from:

Low-interest Disaster Loans Help Fuel Texas Recovery

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