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New Jersey Ahead Of Schedule On Public Assistance Closeouts

LINCROFT, N.J. — When Superstorm Sandy hit New Jersey in October 2012, the damage it wreaked created the need for thousands of necessary projects ranging from debris removal to bridge reconstruction. Sixteen months later, New Jersey’s progress in managing the projects stemming from the impact of the storm has exceeded expectations.

Doug Westermann, Public Assistance Branch Chief at the FEMA New Jersey Sandy Recovery Field Office, says that New Jersey is ahead of schedule on closing out projects on a disaster of this magnitude. New Jersey is planning the final group of projects and working with the state Office of Emergency Management to start closing completed projects.

“This has really only been made possible by the efforts put forth with the State OEM and our Sandy Recovery Office to move forward and not delay the process,” Westermann said.

The closeout process begins when a project is funded and completed. The applicant must certify to the State that the work is finished and all of the allocated money was spent. Small projects are often bundled together under one applicant and can be closed as a group when they are all complete. Large projects must be closed individually. The Final Inspection Report (FIR), which consists of reconciliation of costs for the work performed in dealing with large projects, is initiated. Supporting documents are audited and added to the report, and amendments may be written after overages and/or shortfalls are reconciled. After the report is reviewed by the applicant and grantee, it is then entered into the Emergency Management Mission Integrated Environment (EMMIE) grant tracking program. After that process, the project will be closed, if requested by the grantee.

The Public Assistance FAQ at www.fema.gov defines a large project as any incident with damage costs greater than $68,500. Of the estimated 5,103 Public Assistance projects in the system in New Jersey, 1,534 are considered large projects.

Through the Public Assistance program, FEMA grants state governments the funds to reimburse municipalities, county governments and eligible private nonprofit agencies for the repair or replacement of damaged roads and bridges, water-control facilities, public buildings and their contents, publicly owned utilities, and parks and recreation areas. It also includes funds for emergency services and eligible debris-removal costs related to the disaster. FEMA reimbursed these applicants 90 percent of the eligible cost.

Nearly $1.1 billion in Public Assistance grants have been obligated in New Jersey since Sandy struck. Emergency projects, including debris removal and emergency protective measures, have accounted for $729.25 million, while permanent repairs to roads, bridges, water control facilities, utilities and buildings, have cost $359.5 million.

Westermann said FEMA has received 63 projects from the State that are ready to be closed.

Many of the completed projects were short-term emergency projects in which the money was allocated and governmental issues were addressed. Westermann says that Congress mandated several critical changes that have affected how much time applicants have to spend allocated funds, placing greater emphasis on getting the money to them. The Applicants’ Handbook at www.fema.gov/applicant-handbook states that applicants have six months to complete emergency projects and 18 months for permanent projects.

“In order to keep money flowing to the applicants, it is critical to work on closing things out so the state can release the funds that FEMA had obligated during the project development phase,” he said.

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

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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New Jersey Ahead Of Schedule On Public Assistance Closeouts

FEMA Help Continues After Registration Deadline

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.— FEMA says Nov. 17 tornado survivors have until Monday Jan. 27 to register for possible disaster assistance, but that doesn’t mean help is ending.

Survivors who register by Jan. 27 may continue to receive federal disaster assistance after this date. The following assistance may be available:

Temporary housing for homeowners and renters.
Home repairs.
Other serious disaster-related expenses for homeowners and renters not met by insurance or other assistance programs. This includes financial help for damaged cars and personal contents.
Low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration that may cover losses for homeowners, renters and business owners not fully compensated by insurance.

Survivors with questions about their applications can continue calling FEMA’s helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362), 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, after Jan. 27.

Face-to-face help continues to be available at the Brookport Disaster Recovery Center at the Brookport Library on U.S. Highway 45 and the East Peoria Disaster Recovery Center at the Festival of Lights Building on East Washington Street in East Peoria. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Survivors can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA until Jan. 27.

For the latest information on Illinois’ recovery from the Nov. 17 storms, visit FEMA.gov/Disaster/4157. Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, facebook.com/fema and youtube.com/fema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of funding for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339).

FEMA News Desk: 217-522-2080

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Original article:

FEMA Help Continues After Registration Deadline

Illinois Tornado Recovery News: Capsule of Illinois tornado recovery news for weekly newspapers

Springfield, Ill. – This capsule of recent disaster recovery information is provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Don’t let misinformation keep you from registering for disaster assistance.

Sometimes unexpected, uninsured expenses arise weeks or even months after a disaster. For example, you might identify additional damage to your home in the spring when temperatures rise and contractors are able to conduct a more comprehensive inspection. If your insurance settlement is delayed, you may qualify for temporary rental assistance if your home is uninhabitable. Or you may exhaust the additional living expenses provided by your insurance company. FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration disaster assistance may help cover some of these expenses.

Registering with FEMA is quick and easy. You should register even if you have insurance and regardless of your income level or the level of damage your home sustained. Register online at DisasterAssistance.gov, with a mobile device by using the FEMA app or going to m.fema.gov, or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362). People who are deaf or hard of hearing and use a TTY can call 800-462-7585.

SBA low-interest disaster loans are a major recovery funding source for Illinois.

If you apply for assistance with FEMA and are referred to the SBA, it’s important to submit a low-interest disaster loan application to assure that the federal disaster recovery process continues. You are not obligated to accept a loan, but failure to complete and submit the application may stop the FEMA grant process. Homeowners may be eligible for loans up to $200,000 for repairs. Homeowners and renters may be eligible to borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property. For businesses, loans are available up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged real estate, and other business assets. Eligible small businesses and non-profits can apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster.

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

Rental assistance is available if you have been displaced as a result of the storms.

If you are making repairs to or rebuilding your home, you may be eligible for assistance from FEMA to cover temporary rental expenses if your home is uninhabitable – but you must register with FEMA to be considered. Call 800-621-FEMA (3362) or visit a Disaster Recovery Center if you have questions or need help finding a rental property. You can also go Nestrent.com or IlHousingSearch.org to identify available rental properties.

FEMA decision letters are not the end of the line for disaster assistance.

After registering with FEMA, you will receive a letter explaining the status of your application. The letter may state that you’re ineligible for assistance, but this isn’t necessarily a final decision. It is important to read the entire letter carefully because it states exactly what needs to be submitted for potential federal assistance. If you have insurance, you must submit all of your insurance information for FEMA to review your eligibility. Sending your insurance declaration page is not sufficient. You need to submit actual insurance settlement information. If you are unsure of how to obtain this document, contact your insurance company, call the FEMA helpline (800-621-FEMA) or visit a Disaster Recovery Center. Insurance documents will be reviewed, then an inspector may arrange a visit to the damaged home or apartment to determine if there are uninsured, eligible losses. Federal disaster assistance may assist in covering some expenses not covered by insurance. You can appeal FEMA’s decision. Appeals must be filed within 60 days of the date of the determination letter. More information is available by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or by taking the letter to a Disaster Recovery Center. You can locate the nearest center by going to fema.gov/drclocator.

Help is available to repair damaged vehicles.

If you had a vehicle damaged or destroyed in one of the counties affected by the Nov. 17 Illinois tornadoes, you may be eligible for federal disaster assistance. Even if you are not a resident of one of the designated counties, you may still be eligible for this assistance if you were working or visiting one of the counties. You must register with FEMA to be considered for eligibility. In addition to FEMA assistance, homeowners and renters may be eligible to borrow up to $40,000 through SBA’s low-interest disaster loan program to repair or replace personal property, including automobiles damaged or destroyed in the disaster.

Illinois recovery photos and videos available

Visit fema.gov/disasters/4157 to access FEMA’s online library of photos and videos documenting response and recovery efforts to the Nov. 17 storms and tornadoes in Illinois. The page also includes updated information and important messages regarding Illinois’ recovery.

NEWS DESK: 217-522-2080

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Excerpt from:

Illinois Tornado Recovery News: Capsule of Illinois tornado recovery news for weekly newspapers

Volunteer Agencies Continue the Colorado Recovery Process

Main Content

Release date:

December 10, 2013

Release Number:

NR-105

DENVER, CO – Volunteer agencies are the fuel for every recovery after a disaster and nowhere is that more evident than today in Colorado after September’s severe weather.

FEMA is only one part of a large team working to address Colorado survivors’ unmet needs.

Today, Coloradans are donating to hundreds of charities by participating in Colorado Gives. To donate, go to ColoradoGives.org

Survivors who have unmet needs and require additional support as they continue their recovery should call 2-1-1 Colorado. This independent resource is free, confidential and provides multi-lingual services that refer callers to non-emergency health and human services. It’s a collaboration of eight organizations hosting six call centers across the state.

2-1-1 Colorado is also available if you want to make a donation to your community or look for volunteer opportunities. Referrals are also available by dialing 2-1-1.

The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has established web portal helpcoloradonow.org/ to coordinate donations and volunteers. Cash is preferred because it offers the most flexibility in obtaining the most-needed resources and pumps money into the local economy to help businesses recover.

Last Updated:

December 10, 2013 – 19:02

State/Tribal Government or Region:

Colorado

Related Disaster:

Colorado Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

Volunteer Agencies Continue the Colorado Recovery Process

FEMA Says File Insurance Claims Before Calling Agency

SPRINGFIELD, IL — The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends that survivors with homeowner’s insurance affected by the Nov. 17 Illinois tornadoes file a claim with their insurance company and then register for federal disaster assistance.

Once Illinois residents have filed their insurance claim and registered for assistance, it’s important to be aware of the next steps in the process:

Insured applicants will receive a determination letter from FEMA — survivors should read the entire letter carefully. The letter may state that they’re ineligible for assistance, but this isn’t necessarily a final decision.
FEMA cannot duplicate insurance benefits. To continue processing their application, survivors must submit insurance settlement documents to FEMA.
The insurance documents will be reviewed; then an inspector may arrange a visit to the damaged home or apartment to determine if the applicant has uninsured, eligible losses.
Federal disaster assistance may then be available to assist in filling the gaps that a survivor’s insurance has not covered.
Survivors can call 800-621-FEMA (3362) if they have any questions.

Applicants can mail insurance settlement information to:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency

P.O. Box 10055

Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055

Insurance settlement information can also be faxed to 800-827-8112. Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) will also be opening to serve people who were affected by the recent severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes. Visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4157 for information on these recovery centers.

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

Media Contact: Don Jacks, 304-542-6258

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FEMA Says File Insurance Claims Before Calling Agency

Registered with FEMA for Assistance? Be Sure to Stay in Touch

LINCROFT, N.J. — New Jersey residents who registered with FEMA for disaster assistance prior to the registration deadline of May 1 need to keep in touch with FEMA as they recover and rebuild.

Disaster assistance may be available for losses not covered by insurance. Survivors should get in touch with FEMA as soon as they receive their insurance settlement. Be sure to have the registration number FEMA assigned to your application at hand.

Survivors who registered for disaster assistance before the May 1 deadline may check the status of their applications online at www.disasterassistance.gov or call the FEMA Helpline, 800-621-3362, as soon as receive their insurance settlement.

If you received a letter from FEMA saying you were not eligible for assistance, one reason may be that you had not yet received an insurance settlement and it could not be factored into your application.

If you have already filed an appeal of the original FEMA decision, you are entitled to amend your appeal based on the insurance settlement you received.

These are just a few of the reasons for Sandy survivors to stay in touch with FEMA.

Make sure that you provide current contact information to FEMA to ensure timely delivery of important assistance updates.

Applicants who need to update their contact information or who have questions regarding their application can call the toll-free FEMA helpline, 800-621-3362, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., seven days a week. Help is available in most languages.

New Jersey residents with questions about the National Flood Insurance Program and mitigation techniques have a helpline to call to get the most up-to-date information.

That number is 877-287-9804 for people who need information about flood insurance, flood maps or other mitigation topics and issues. Flood insurance policyholders with questions or concerns about their claims may also speak with NFIP specialists.

The flood insurance-mitigation helpline operates from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. Additional information is available at www.floodsmart.gov.

Video Timeline of the Sandy Recovery Effort

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.

Link:

Registered with FEMA for Assistance? Be Sure to Stay in Touch

Two Disaster Recovery Centers Transition to Disaster Loan Outreach Centers

DENVER – Colorado’s recovery from severe weather continues with changes at three Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC).

The DRCs in Colorado Springs and Golden will close at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26 and both will transition on Monday, Oct. 28 to Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOC).

DLOCs are operated by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). At each DLOC, SBA representatives will answer questions, explain the application process and help survivors apply for low-interest disaster loans.

Due to reduced numbers of survivors needing disaster assistance, the DRC in Fort Collins will close at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26.

DRCs are operated by the Colorado Office of Emergency Management (COEM) and FEMA in partnership with the SBA, county and local governments.

EL PASO COUNTY

Colorado Springs Fire Training Center

375 Printers Parkway

Colorado Springs, CO 80910

Converting to DLOC on Monday, Oct. 28

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., MDT, Monday through Friday

JEFFERSON COUNTY

Jefferson County Courthouse

100 Jefferson County Parkway

Golden, CO 80401

Converting to DLOC on Monday, Oct. 28

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., MDT, Monday through Friday

LARIMER COUNTY

Foothills Mall

215 East Foothills Parkway

Fort Collins, CO 80525

Closing at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26

At the seven other DRCs, survivors can continue to receive in-person assistance from representatives of FEMA, COEM and the SBA. A variety of specialists are available to explain programs and help survivors apply for disaster aid. Recovery specialists also help disaster survivors get in touch with volunteer and other programs.

To find the DRC closest to you, go to fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

Survivors with losses from the storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides will save time by registering for help from FEMA before going to the DRCs.

Register with FEMA by phone, 800-621-3362, from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., MDT, seven days a week. Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA Helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages. People who have a speech disability or are deaf or hard of hearing may call (TTY) 800-462-7585; users of 711 or Video Relay Service can call 800-621-3362.

Register online: DisasterAssistance.gov or by Web-enabled device, tablet or smartphone: type m.fema.gov in the browser.

For individuals who have hearing and visual disabilities or are deaf, Disaster Recovery Centers can provide accommodations such as:

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

For more information on the Colorado disaster operation, visit fema.gov/disaster/4145.

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Two Disaster Recovery Centers Transition to Disaster Loan Outreach Centers

State, FEMA Fairbanks Disaster Recovery Center Has New Hours

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The state and federal Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Fairbanks to assist individuals, households and businesses affected by the 2013 spring floods has new hours of operation.

Located at 751 Old Richardson Hwy., Suite 202 in Fairbanks, AK 99701, the center provides
face-to-face help, currently from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week.

Starting Sunday, July 21, 2013, the new hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 12 noon Sunday.

The center is staffed by disaster recovery specialists who can provide information and answer questions about flood-related assistance.

Those with 2013 spring flooding losses are encouraged to register with FEMA by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or online at DisasterAssistance.gov. Registration by mobile device is also available at www.m.fema.gov. Those with a speech disability or hearing loss who use TTY can call 800-462-7585 (TTY). Multilingual registration can be done by phone.

Staff at the recovery centers can review and update applicant information and address individual questions and concerns.

Those individuals unable to register by phone or online may register at the DRC. If you intend to register at the center, please bring:

Your Social Security number
Current and pre-disaster address
Block and lot number
A telephone number where you can be contacted
Insurance information

Total household annual income

A routing and account number from your bank (only necessary if you want to have disaster assistance funds transferred directly into your bank account). Look up your bank routing number.
A description of your losses that were caused by the disaster.

FEMA disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for housing, replace personal property and reimburse medical, storage and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or charities. Assistance may also include low-interest federal disaster loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA).

SBA offers disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, nonprofit organizations for their uncompensated losses. Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence. Homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 to replace personal property. Businesses may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace their disaster-damaged property and/or economic losses.

There are three ways to apply for an SBA disaster loan: After registering with FEMA, go online to SBA’s secure site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela; call 1-800-659-2955 (deaf and hard-of-hearing call 1-800-877-8339); or, visit the Disaster Recovery Center for one-on-one service. For more information on SBA disaster assistance, go to www.sba.gov.

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State, FEMA Fairbanks Disaster Recovery Center Has New Hours

State, FEMA Galena Disaster Recovery Center Has New Hours

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The state and federal Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Galena to assist individuals, households and businesses affected by the 2013 spring floods, has new hours of operation.

Located in the Galena Interior Learning Academy, 359 Challenger Road, the center provides
face-to-face help, currently from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week.

Starting Sunday, July 21, 2013, the new hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 12 noon Sunday.

The center is staffed by disaster recovery specialists who can provide information and answer questions about flood-related assistance.

Staff at the recovery centers can review and update applicant information and address individual questions and concerns.

Those individuals unable to register by phone or online may register at the DRC. If you intend to register at the center, please bring:

Your Social Security number
Current and pre-disaster address
Block and lot number
A telephone number where you can be contacted
Insurance information

Total household annual income

A routing and account number from your bank (only necessary if you want to have disaster assistance funds transferred directly into your bank account). Look up your bank routing number.
A description of your losses that were caused by the disaster.

Originally from –

State, FEMA Galena Disaster Recovery Center Has New Hours

Only Two Weeks Remain to Register for Disaster Assistance

Aurora, Ill. – Illinoisans who were affected by the April 16 to May 5 severe weather and who have not yet registered for federal disaster assistance have only two weeks left to call FEMA’s toll-free registration line at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585 to find out if they are eligible for disaster assistance.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013, is the deadline to register for assistance.

Multilingual phone operators are available. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

Residents also may register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. It is not necessary to visit a Disaster Recovery Center to register with FEMA.

“As the registration deadline approaches, we urge homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained uninsured losses during the severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding of April 16 to May 5, to register for assistance,” said W. Michael Moore, the federal official in charge of disaster recovery. “It is important that applicants leave determination of eligibility for assistance to federal program experts and not automatically disqualify themselves.”

For more information visit the Illinois Disaster website www.fema.gov/disaster/4116.

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

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

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Only Two Weeks Remain to Register for Disaster Assistance

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