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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.

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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

By Building Stronger, One Family’s Home Withstood the Storm

NEW YORK – When Thomas O’Grady decided to build a house on East Atlantic Beach, the neighborhood he grew up in, he wasn’t very happy learning that he couldn’t build his main floor because of new local building codes that would require him to elevate his home to the area base flood elevation (BFE).

BFE is the elevation of surface water resulting from a flood that has a 1 percent chance of equaling or exceeding that level in any given year. Despite their hesitation, the O’Gradys built four feet over the required 11 foot BFE, which conforms to the minimum National Flood Insurance Program requirements as well as state and local building codes. Their decision ultimately paid off.

“My parents have lived in this neighborhood, right next door, since 1967 and we’ve never had an inch of water on our street,” said O’Grady.

However, when Hurricane Sandy made landfall in October 2012 and severely damaged many homes throughout Long Island, because their home was elevated, the O’Gradys survived the storm. Though the slow-moving storm swamped other houses in their area, the O’Grady home stayed snug and dry.

In addition to elevating their home well above the BFE, O’Grady built to other state and local codes that would enable the structure to withstand hurricane force winds. By building stronger, the family ensured that their home could withstand a disaster like Sandy. “We were upstairs during the storm and we felt the wind,” O’Grady said. But we were never worried about any serious damage from the wind.”

The storm surge came up about three feet above the water line and breached the dunes on the beach near the O’Grady home. In contrast, all their neighbors who had not elevated their homes received at least three feet of water in their living areas. As for the O’Grady house, the living area received no water at all. “The water went through the crawl space, through the flood vents and out the flood vents, so once the tide subsided, the water was gone,” O’Grady said.

When a structure is elevated and tied together with the proper hardening measures, evidence shows it survives significantly better. “They [local building officials] all know how upset I was in the beginning that I could not build that main floor, said O’Grady. Now they are all laughing at me saying, ‘Aren’t you thankful now you elevated your home?’ I sure am.”

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.

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By Building Stronger, One Family’s Home Withstood the Storm

National Flood Insurance Program Probation for Port Vincent, Louisiana

DENTON, Texas- Efforts are ongoing by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist the village of Port Vincent, Louisiana hold on to its National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) status; a status that it is in jeopardy of losing if it does not correct current floodplain management violations.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) makes flood insurance available in communities where minimum local floodplain management standards are adopted and enforced. FEMA recently issued a letter to Port Vincent that establishes a deadline of March 1, 2013 for the village to correct certain violations and program deficiencies.

The deficiencies cited in the probation letter include the failure to manage floodplain development in accordance with the village’s floodplain program and a lack of adequate administrative procedures and record keeping.

While the village works to correct these violations, property owners will still be able to purchase and renew flood insurance coverage during the probationary period. However, a $50 surcharge will be added to any policy sold or renewed in the community for the next year beginning on March 1, 2013. There are currently 103 flood insurance policies in the village.

If the village fails to make progress by Sept. 1, 2013, it could be suspended from the program. The result of suspension is the loss of federally backed flood insurance in the community. Residents in the village will not be able to purchase or renew their flood insurance policies after the suspension occurs.

Additionally, if a flood disaster occurs in a suspended community, most types of federal disaster assistance for structures within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), including federal assistance to individuals and households is not available. Also, the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 prohibits federal agencies from making grants, loans, or guarantees for the acquisition or construction of structures located in a SFHA.

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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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National Flood Insurance Program Probation for Port Vincent, Louisiana

Financial Disaster Aid Available for U.S. Citizens, Non-Citizen Nationals and Qualified Aliens

NEW YORK – The Federal Emergency Management Agency is committed to helping all eligible New York disaster survivors recover from Hurricane Sandy, including U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals and Qualified Aliens.

“New York is a city of neighborhoods,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne. “We are reaching out to all neighborhoods in the disaster-designated counties, recognizing their diversity, their different traditions and dialects and their sense of community. We do not want eligible survivors to miss out on the opportunity for aid.”

FEMA Community Relations specialists are visiting neighborhoods, putting out the word in more than 20 languages that certain groups of Qualified Aliens may be eligible for monetary disaster assistance. They are encouraging Sandy survivors to register with FEMA.

Qualified Aliens who may be eligible for FEMA monetary disaster assistance include Green Card holders – individuals with U.S. government permission to live and work in the country permanently.

Others in the Qualified Alien category include those who have legal U.S. resident status because of:

Asylum;
Refugee status;
Parole (admission into the United States for humanitarian purposes) for at least one year;
Withholding of deportation;
Immigration from Cuba or Haiti; and
Severe forms of human trafficking, including persons with “T” and “U” visas.

Applicants should consult an immigration expert concerning whether or not their immigration status falls within the Qualified Alien category.

FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program is available to disaster-stricken U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals and Qualified Aliens in counties with a federal disaster declaration. Federal disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs for owners, personal property loss and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for FEMA cash assistance or Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

However, in households with varying citizenship status, only one member needs to be eligible to qualify that home for FEMA aid.

An undocumented parent or guardian may apply for monetary aid on behalf of a minor child who is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or Qualified Alien. Although the adult will be expected to sign a Declaration and Release (FEMA Form 009-0-3) in the child’s name, no information will be gathered on the person signing for the child.

All individuals, regardless of citizenship status, affected by a major disaster may be eligible for other non-monetary, in-kind emergency disaster relief programs. These include search and rescue, medical care, shelter, food and water as well as Disaster Legal Services and Crisis Counseling.

People who don’t qualify for monetary assistance may still call the FEMA registration line for referrals to voluntary agencies.

Individuals can register for help online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. They may also call 800-621-3362. The TTY number is 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.

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.

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Financial Disaster Aid Available for U.S. Citizens, Non-Citizen Nationals and Qualified Aliens

FEMA, State Join Forces to Kick Off Flood Insurance Education Initiative in Connecticut

WINDSOR, Conn. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency, in partnership with the state of Connecticut and the Independent Insurance Agents of Connecticut, Inc., is kicking off a flood insurance education initiative this week.

The goal is to provide insurance agents with more in-depth knowledge of the National Flood Insurance Program — its policies and processes — to better serve Connecticut property owners and renters affected by Hurricane Sandy.

FEMA is mailing an NFIP “Agent Tool Kit” to each member of the Independent Insurance Agents of Connecticut. The material is informative, practical and can be shared with policyholders.

The NFIP Flood Response Office is now open in Meriden. The office is staffed by a lead general adjuster and support staff with knowledge of policy provisions. They are capable of assisting insurance agents and their policyholders with any questions about NFIP claims.

The office is located at 1064 E. Main St., Meriden, CT 06450. Operating hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday. The office will remain open for as long as there is a need for the service in the wake of Sandy. The Flood Response Office can be reached at 203-634-1118.

The Connecticut Insurance Department has a number that policyholders can call if they are having issues with their insurance companies related to homeowners insurance claims or other insurance claims matters in the wake of Sandy. Call the Consumer Helpline at 860-297-3900 or 800-203-3447. Policyholders can also e-mail their questions or complaints to the Insurance Department at: cid.ca@ct.gov or visit the Department’s Web site at www.ct.gov/cid.

FEMA’s NFIP insurance specialists are meeting with all agents in the hardest-hit coastal communities to discuss procedures, claims and recovery efforts. These visits started the week of Dec. 2 and will continue throughout the recovery phase of operation.

FEMA is offering special NFIP informational webinars and agent training workshops to be held in Connecticut over the next two months.

Another goal of this initiative is to improve insurance agents’ working knowledge of how Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) coverage, included in most NFIP flood insurance policies, can help policyholders pay the added cost of rebuilding to comply with local floodplain ordinances.

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.

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FEMA, State Join Forces to Kick Off Flood Insurance Education Initiative in Connecticut

FEMA Awards First of Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power Program Grants

NEW YORK – The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today it is awarding nearly $4 million to two local governments to help pay for costs associated with implementing the Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power (STEP) Program.

STEP funds emergency residential essential and necessary repairs such as restoration of temporary electricity, heat and hot water so that survivors can remain in their homes while permanent repair work continues.

The FEMA Public Assistance program is providing at least 75 percent of the eligible expenses for STEP; the remaining 25 percent will be provided by non-federal funds. FEMA has awarded $2.8 million to Nassau County and $1.1 million to Suffolk County.

“FEMA’s first priority is getting New Yorkers home,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne. “We understand that survivors are hard at work repairing and rebuilding houses. STEP is an emergency program that will enable them to move out of hotels and shelters and safely return to their homes during renovation.”

Under the program, residents of Nassau and Suffolk counties will be able to have the damage to their residences assessed and, where safe and practicable, have electricity restored and other basic repairs made so they can move back into their homes. This may include making temporary repairs to ramps and other related elements needed to make the homes accessible for residents with disabilities and others with physical accommodation requirements.

The STEP program was initiated after Hurricane Sandy to allow New Yorkers who do not have power to shelter-in-place in their homes while permanent repairs are completed. The STEP program is ongoing; these are the first funds awarded through this pilot program. FEMA officials expect that funds to reimburse local governments for STEP will increase in the coming weeks.

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.

Originally posted here:

FEMA Awards First of Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power Program Grants

FEMA Opens Flood Response Office for Connecticut Flood Insurance Policyholders

National Flood Insurance policyholders who suffered damage from Hurricane Sandy and who have questions about their flood insurance claims can get help from a new office in Meriden.

Those with questions about their homeowners insurance, which does not cover flood-related claims, should direct their inquiries to the state Insurance Department.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program has opened a Flood Response Office to service both National Flood Insurance Program policyholders and the agents who write those policies.

The Flood Response Office is located at 1064 E. Main St., Meriden, CT 06450. Operating hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, until further notice. The contact person at the office is NFIP General Adjuster Jim Cavazos. The office will remain open for as long as there is a need for the service.

The Flood Response Office will coordinate with insurance companies that write flood policies and the NFIP Direct Servicing Agent to provide guidance, define the scope of coverage, assist with the reinspection of losses and answer policyholders’ questions. The office number is 203-634-1118.

Policyholders can also email their questions or complaints to the Insurance Department at: cid.ca@ct.gov or visit the Department’s Web site at http://ct.gov/cid

For more information on National Flood Insurance, visit www.floodsmart.gov.

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FEMA Opens Flood Response Office for Connecticut Flood Insurance Policyholders

FEMA’s Public Assistance Dollars Help Rebuild Connecticut Communities

WINDSOR, Conn. — Public Assistance grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency help Connecticut communities recoup much of the costs for Hurricane Sandy response and recovery.

The grants reimburse eligible jurisdictions a minimum of 75 percent of the costs for emergency protective measures, debris removal, and the repair and replacement of disaster-damaged infrastructure – such as utilities, hospitals and city halls – to pre-disaster condition. The state and its agencies, local jurisdictions, tribal nations and certain nonprofit organizations may apply for reimbursement under the program.

“Public Assistance helps communities overwhelmed by the cost of response and recovery efforts,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Albert Lewis of FEMA. “It’s vital that critical services and facilities that contribute to the life of the community be restored.”

Eligible work is divided into two categories:

Emergency work, which includes emergency protective measures, and removal and disposal of disaster-related debris; and
Permanent work, which includes repair or replacement of roads and bridges; water control facilities; public buildings and contents; public utilities; and parks, recreational and other facilities.

Emergency work must be completed within six months of the disaster declaration, and permanent work within 18 months.

The state of Connecticut, with FEMA support, is conducting Applicants’ Briefings for local jurisdictions interested in applying for Public Assistance. The applicants can ask questions, clarify issues and submit their formal Request for Public Assistance to the state.

After the request is submitted, FEMA and state program officials meet with each applicant individually to discuss damage and prepare applications. To qualify for Public Assistance, applicants must document eligibility of the facilities and work, and the costs must be reasonable.

Under the program, the state is the grantee, and state agencies, local and tribal governments, and eligible nonprofit organizations are the subgrantees. In other words, FEMA grants the money to the state, which then distributes the funds to the applicants after all documentation is received.

The deadline for applicants to submit a Request for Public Assistance is Dec. 30.

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FEMA’s Public Assistance Dollars Help Rebuild Connecticut Communities

Frequently Asked Questions about FEMA Disaster Assistance

NEW YORK – State and federal disaster officials urge survivors of Hurricane Sandy to come forward and ask questions they may have about registering for disaster assistance. Accurate information is readily available and can help dispel misleading rumors.

Here are some questions that are commonly asked:

Q. How do I apply for FEMA disaster assistance?
A. You can apply at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or m.fema.gov, or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you have a speech disability or hearing impairment and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly. If you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

Q. What happens after I apply for disaster assistance?
A. FEMA will mail you a copy of your application and a copy of Help After a Disaster: Applicant’s Guide to the Individuals and Households Program that will answer many of your questions.

If you do not have insurance: An inspector will contact you after you apply to schedule a time to meet you at your damaged home.
If you have insurance: You need to file your insurance claim and provide FEMA with a decision letter (settlement or denial) from your insurance company before FEMA issues an inspection.
- There is an exception for damages caused by flooding; if you have flood insurance, FEMA will issue an inspection before receiving a copy of your flood insurance decision letter to evaluate your eligibility for temporary living expenses since these are not covered by flood insurance.
About 10 days after the inspection FEMA will decide if you qualify for assistance. If so, FEMA will send you a check by mail (or direct deposit) with an explanation of what the money covers (i.e. rent or home repair).
If FEMA determines that you are ineligible for any reason, you will receive a letter and be given a chance to appeal. Appeals must be in writing and mailed within 60 days of the determination. Read the letter carefully for the reason of ineligibility before filing your appeal.
If you get a Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan application in the mail, you must complete and return it to be considered for a loan or certain types of grant assistance, such as transportation, personal property, and moving and storage.

Q. Why didn’t I receive rental assistance when my home can’t be lived in?
A. If you cannot live in your home because of disaster damage and you did not receive rental assistance, please contact FEMA to check on your status. It could be that during the inspection you indicated that you were unwilling to relocate. If so, FEMA would not move forward to issuing a rental assistance check for you to move to another location.

Q. I received a rental assistance check, how do I find a new place to rent?
A. The FEMA Housing Portal is intended to help individuals and families, who have been displaced by a disaster, find a place to live. The portal consolidates rental resources to help individuals and families find available rental units in their area. This information can be accessed by visiting www.fema.gov and searching “Housing Portal,” or by calling 800-621-3362.

Q. Will my family get assistance faster if we each apply separately?
A. No. If two members of the same household apply for the same damaged home, FEMA assistance could actually be delayed. If more than one member of a household has applied, the additional registrants should call the FEMA Helpline, 800-621-3362 to withdraw their applications. Once this occurs, the original registration for the household can be processed for assistance.

Q. If I received a settlement from my insurance but still have additional needs, what can I do?
A. As soon as you receive an insurance settlement, you should provide a copy to FEMA and identify any unmet needs you have. Although FEMA cannot duplicate benefits that your insurance provided, FEMA may be able to assist you with lost essential items not covered by insurance and can also help you find resources through other recovery partners.

Q. Why did I get a different amount of home repair assistance than my neighbor?
A. Each survivor’s case is unique. There are several factors involved, including insurance status and the extent and type of damage found during the home inspection.

If you feel that the assistance you received does not cover your needs – for example, the funding you received for repairs are less than the estimates you’ve received from contractors and you have not yet met the FEMA maximum grant – you can appeal.

Q. Will FEMA provide additional rental assistance beyond the initial assistance period if I still cannot return to my home?
A. Rental assistance can be provided for up to 18 months from the date of declaration while you are setting up your permanent housing plan. After your initial period of assistance, you will be sent a letter on how to “recertify” if you need additional rental assistance.

Q. Could FEMA assistance affect my Social Security benefits, federal taxes, food stamp (SNAP) eligibility, or Medicaid?
A. No. FEMA assistance does not affect benefits from other federal programs and is not considered taxable income.

Q. I’ve already cleaned up the damage to my home and made repairs. Is it too late to register once the work is done?
A. No. You may be eligible for reimbursement of your cleanup and repair costs, even if repairs are complete. The important thing is to document the expenses you incur. It is a good idea to take before-and-after photos for your records.

Q. If I received disaster assistance last year, could I get it again this year?
A. Assistance may be available if you also suffered damages from a previously federally declared disaster.

Q. My child is a U.S. citizen, but I am not. Can I apply for FEMA disaster assistance?
A. If anyone in an affected household is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien (a “Green Card” holder), they are eligible to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. If a minor child is eligible by these criteria, even when other members of the family are not, the family can file an application on the child’s behalf.

In this case, all identification documents have to be in the child’s name and Social Security number. The copy of the child’s Social Security card and birth certificate are acceptable verification. This information can be mailed to FEMA or brought to a Disaster Recovery Center.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4085, http://twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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Frequently Asked Questions about FEMA Disaster Assistance

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