Improve Protection Of Home Or Business With SBA Loan

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jerseyans may use low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration to better protect their home or business structures from future disasters.

Home and business owners can choose to borrow up to an additional 20 percent of the approved loan amount for mitigation improvements including building elevation, retaining walls, seawalls, sump pumps and relocating utilities.

Survivors can indicate on their SBA loan applications that they want to apply for additional mitigation funds and specify how they would protect their home or business.

Homeowners can receive loans up to $200,000 to repair or replace damaged property while businesses can receive loans up to $2 million.

SBA disaster loans for building code requirements can increase the total of the loan up to 100 percent.

The deadline to apply for a low-interest SBA disaster loan is Jan. 30.

SBA is the primary source of federal funds for long-term rebuilding. In most cases, Federal Emergency Management Agency funds will not cover all of the repair needs of homeowners. Money for a temporary rental home is the form of help FEMA largely provides so obtaining a low-interest SBA disaster loan is a survivor’s best option for repairing their home, replacing property and mitigating their home.

For additional information on 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. SBA customer service representatives are available at all disaster recovery centers throughout the state. Centers can be found online at fema.gov/DRC.

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.

SBA’s Disaster Assistance Program provides long term, low-interest loans to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes. For more information, visit www.sba.gov. All SBA’s program and services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis.

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Improve Protection Of Home Or Business With SBA Loan

New Jersey Disaster and Business Recovery Centers to Close for Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

TRENTON, N.J. — Disaster and business recovery centers in New Jersey will close for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday Monday, Jan. 21.

The centers will return to normal hours of operation on Tuesday, Jan. 22. Disaster recovery centers are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Six business recovery centers in Monmouth, Hudson, Essex, Passaic and Union counties are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

  • The Ocean County center is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
  • The Cape May County center is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • The centers in Atlantic and Bergen counties are open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Business recovery centers are staffed by SBA customer service representatives who provide help to businesses who suffered losses caused by Hurricane Sandy. To find a business recovery center visit SBA.gov.

To find the nearest disaster recovery center, the following options are available:

Survivors can visit any of the disaster recovery centers to meet with recovery specialists who can answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration.

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.

SBA’s Disaster Assistance Program provides long term, low-interest loans to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes. For more information, visit www.sba.gov. All SBA’s program and services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis.

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New Jersey Disaster and Business Recovery Centers to Close for Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

Montgomery County Added to Hurricane Sandy Disaster Declaration

Montgomery County Added to Hurricane Sandy Disaster Declaration

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Montgomery County has been added to the Public Assistance (PA) declaration for Hurricane Sandy recovery in Pennsylvania, according to officials from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

This announcement makes categories A-G of the federal Public Assistance program available to eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations in Montgomery County.

FEMA manages the PA program, approves grants and provides technical assistance to the Commonwealth and applicants. The Commonwealth educates potential applicants, works with FEMA to manage the program and is responsible for implementing and monitoring the grants awarded under the program. Local officials are responsible for identifying damage, providing information necessary for FEMA to approve grants and managing each project funded under the program.

Through the PA program, FEMA provides supplemental federal disaster grant assistance for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged, publicly owned facilities and the facilities of certain private nonprofit organizations. The PA program also encourages protection of these damaged facilities from future events by providing assistance for hazard mitigation measures during the recovery process.

The addition of Montgomery County brings the total number of counties in Pennsylvania eligible to apply for federal assistance for Hurricane Sandy recovery to 17. The 16 counties in the major disaster declaration when it was signed by President Obama on January 10 include: Bedford, Bucks, Cameron, Dauphin, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Potter, Somerset, Sullivan and Wyoming. 

All counties within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Mitigation may lessen the impact of disasters.

For a list of frequently asked questions about the federal PA process see http://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-frequently-asked-questions.

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 http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion3.

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Montgomery County Added to Hurricane Sandy Disaster Declaration

FEMA Approves More than $1 Million to Help with Storm Recovery

CHARLESTON, W.Va – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has dispersed more than $1 million in Public Assistance to help state and local governments pay for expenses incurred as a result of October’s Hurricane Sandy massive debris cleanup, infrastructure repair and emergency protective measures.   

Gary Brand, FEMA’s Public Assistance Branch Chief in Charleston, said, “This is the largest  debris mission in the history of West Virginia. More than 1.5 million cubic yards of woody debris were scattered over the 18 declared counties. FEMA dollar totals for the Hurricane Sandy public assistance cleanup and infrastructure repair in West Virginia may top $11 million.”      

Under the Hurricane Sandy federal disaster declaration signed by President Obama on Nov. 27, 18 West Virginia counties became eligible for Public Assistance. To date, FEMA has approved more than 35 projects submitted by local governments.  

The 18 WV counties eligible for FEMA Public Assistance aid are Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Lewis, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Preston, Raleigh, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker, Upshur, Webster and Wyoming.  

FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Dolph Diemont noted that funding for FEMA’s Public Assistance Program is not solely through FEMA. 

“Public Assistance dollars come to the community through a cost share agreement between FEMA and the State. FEMA pays 75% and the State 25%,” said Diemont.   

State Coordinating Officer Jimmy Gianato, said, “We are working closely with FEMA as well as cities and counties in the damaged areas to make certain debris from Hurricane Sandy is removed in a timely manner and infrastructure repairs are completed on time.”

Jan. 26 is the deadline for State and local governments to apply for reimbursements for recovery and cleanup costs incurred after Hurricane Sandy and for aid to repair or replace public buildings and infrastructure damaged by the windstorm.  

In addition to debris removal and emergency protective measures, Public Assistance funds may be used for such projects as:

Repair of roads and bridges

  • Repair or replacement of buildings, including their contents and the repair or replacement of heavy equipment and vehicles
  • Repair and restoration of recreational facilities such as parks, playgrounds and pools.

Public Assistance funds are also available to private non-profit organizations such as volunteer fire departments.

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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.

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.

Continued here: 

FEMA Approves More than $1 Million to Help with Storm Recovery

For Rapid Response To Disaster Loan Application, Apply Online

TRENTON, N.J. — The quickest way to get a Small Business Administration disaster loan approved  is filling out an online application.

The online application is the most user-friendly way for homeowners, renters and business survivors    of Hurricane Sandy to request a loan from the SBA. An electronic loan application is a convenient alternative to visiting a disaster recovery center or mailing a paper loan application.

Regardless of the method, the deadline is the same:  Jan. 30, 2013.

There’s no guess work with an online application. The program checks for errors and prompts for more information when needed. To apply online, visit https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

The long-term, low-interest loans are designed to fund repairs to and replacement of homes, personal property and businesses. About 85 percent of all SBA disaster loans go to homeowners and renters.

Interest rates are as low as 1.688 percent for homeowners and renters and 4 percent for businesses, with a maximum of 30-year repayment terms. 

SBA disaster loans are the primary form of federal assistance for homeowners, renters and businesses  of all sizes. 

For additional information, contact an SBA disaster assistance customer service center by calling 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visiting sba.gov. SBA customer service representatives are available at all disaster recovery centers throughout the state. The centers can be found online at http://www.fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

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.

SBA’s Disaster Assistance Program provides long term, low-interest loans to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes. For more information, visit www.sba.gov. All SBA’s program and services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Link: 

For Rapid Response To Disaster Loan Application, Apply Online

Transitional Sheltering Assistance Winds Down

TRENTON, N.J. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state of New Jersey will continue to help the dwindling number of families needing transitional sheltering assistance during a two-week extension of the program.

FEMA has continuously been in contact with households in the transitional sheltering program to determine their housing needs and how to help them. From those contacts, FEMA and the state of New Jersey recognized the declining need for the program.

Approximately 1,300 households currently using the program have told FEMA that they have worked out longer-term housing. Transitional sheltering is a short-term solution for housing and the extension will end Jan. 26.

Since the program began on Nov. 1, 2012, more than 5,400 people have stayed in more than 430 hotels and motels. The average stay is 25 days.

FEMA provides disaster survivors with rental resources and referrals to partner agencies to help with temporary housing needs.

FEMA reminds applicants to call the FEMA Helpline or visit a disaster recovery center for assistance if their needs or living situation change. Call 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. 

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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Transitional Sheltering Assistance Winds Down

FEMA Provides Checklist for Rebuilding

FEMA Provides Checklist for Rebuilding

Main Content

Release date:

January 10, 2013

Release Number:

NR-132

NEW YORK – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has developed a checklist to help Hurricane Sandy survivors rebuild smarter, stronger and safer so their homes are protected in future storms.

“We want survivors to plan for the future, to ensure their homes and communities are stronger when the next storm hits,” said Michael F. Byrne, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer.

The checklist can be downloaded at www.fema.gov/SandyNY.

Here are some of the key points on the checklist:

  • Know your risk. Review local flood maps to understand the property’s flood risk.
  • Develop a plan to protect the property and reduce the impact of flooding. 
  • Finalize the plan. Contact local building officials before rebuilding, renovating or retrofitting. Make sure plans meet local and state government requirements.
  • Get insurance. The National Flood Insurance Program helps cover costly losses associated with flooding. Visit www.floodsmart.gov.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

Last Updated:

January 10, 2013 – 16:29

State or Region:

New York

Related Disaster:

New York Hurricane Sandy

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FEMA Provides Checklist for Rebuilding

Help for Renters Who Lost Personal Property in Hurricane Sandy

TRENTON, N.J. — Renters who need to repair or replace essential items lost in Hurricane Sandy can get help from the Small Business Administration.

Many survivors are learning that their insurance is not enough to cover all of their losses. Only 43 percent of renters have insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Survivors may qualify for long-term, low-interest SBA loans to repair or replace personal property  items such as clothing, furniture, cars, or appliances damaged or destroyed in the disaster. The deadline to return a disaster loan application is Jan. 30.

Money is available for necessary expenses and serious needs caused by Hurricane Sandy that are not covered by insurance or other programs. Items such as textbooks and computers used for education, professional tools, household furnishings, disaster-related medical, dental, or funeral costs and storm damage to vehicles may qualify for FEMA grants. Renters must return their SBA loan application to be considered for these grants.

Survivors may apply online using the electronic loan application via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoan.sba.gov/ela. For additional information, contact an SBA disaster assistance customer service center by calling 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visiting sba.gov. SBA customer service representatives are available at all disaster recovery centers throughout the state. Centers can be found online at fema.gov/DRC.

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.

SBA’s Disaster Assistance Program provides long term, low-interest loans to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes. For more information, visit www.sba.gov. All SBA’s program and services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Link:

Help for Renters Who Lost Personal Property in Hurricane Sandy

FEMA Registration Open to All Storm Survivors, Helps Speed Recovery

WINDSOR, Conn. — Registering for FEMA disaster assistance won’t take money away from another disaster survivor, federal officials said today.

Federal Emergency Management Agency grants are available to all who qualify for them. But many Connecticut residents who suffered damage from Hurricane Sandy haven’t registered. Reasons vary, but some people mistakenly believe that accepting help somehow reduces the amount of money available to qualified registrants.

The truth is, not registering could slow recovery of the community because federal dollars infuse money into the local economy when disaster survivors hire contractors, buy supplies and replace damaged property.

“People who are approved for assistance to repair their homes and replace damaged property put their assistance grant money into the local economy,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Albert Lewis. “We know this helps the whole community’s economic recovery.”

Finding out if the damage to your property qualifies your household for federal help is simple.

First, the damage must have happened in a county that has been declared eligible for FEMA Individual Assistance. In Connecticut, these are Fairfield, Middlesex, New Haven and New London counties, and the Mashantucket Pequot and the Mohegan Tribal Nations located within New London County.

 

Second, 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 anytime by calling FEMA at 800-621-3362. The TTY number is 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Wait for the English message to finish to reach multilingual operators.

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; flood insurance claims are handled separately.

It is important to note that you may be eligible for disaster assistance even if you have insurance. If insurance does not meet all your needs, FEMA assistance may be able to help with the difference.

FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program has two types of assistance, “Housing Needs” and “Other Needs Assistance,” which may be available to individuals and families whose property has uninsured or underinsured damage from the storm.

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  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.

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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FEMA Registration Open to All Storm Survivors, Helps Speed Recovery

League City, Texas Celebrates a Safer Community

DENTON, Texas – Residents and business owners in League City, Texas can now enjoy a 10 to 20 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.  “League City’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 6 Community.”

League City’s flood insurance policyholders who reside in Special Flood Hazard Areas will receive a 20 percent reduction on flood insurance premiums and policyholders located outside Special Flood Hazard Areas will enjoy a 10 percent discount. The reduction in flood insurance premiums represents an annual savings in premium costs for League City’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.

Since joining the CRS as a Class 9 Community in 1997, the city’s participation in the CRS has been beneficial in many respects.  In addition to the reduction in insurance premiums, League City officials are more knowledgeable about floodplain management and its residents are more knowledgeable about mitigation and flood insurance.    The CRS program has helped make League City 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.

 

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League City, Texas Celebrates a Safer Community

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