Federal aid to Saipan passes $25 million

SAIPAN, CNMI – Federal aid to Typhoon Soudelor survivors on Saipan has passed $25 million.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved just over $20 million in Individual Assistance to households on the island, and the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved nearly $5.9 million in low-interest disaster loans to Saipan homeowners, renters and businesses.

FEMA provides grants while SBA lends money at below-market rates to survivors.

FEMA has approved nearly $14.1 million in Household Assistance (HA) and more than $5.9 million in Other Needs Assistance (ONA). HA provides help such as rental assistance, reimbursement for lodging, and repairs to the damaged home. ONA may provide help, on a case-by-case basis, for miscellaneous personal property needs such as uninsured damage to an essential vehicle, disaster-related moving and storage expenses, and certain medical and dental expenses.

SBA approvals include 70 loans to homeowners and renters totaling nearly $2.3 million and 25 business loans for more than $3.6 million.

Saipan survivors can still register for disaster assistance until Oct. 5. Registering with FEMA starts the process toward both FEMA and SBA help. Survivors can register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-321-3362 (FEMA). Those with speech or hearing disability and use 711 or Video Relay Service can register through the regular 800 number, and those who use TTY can call 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.

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover 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. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

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Federal aid to Saipan passes $25 million

FEMA Says Disaster Assistance Good Holiday Topic

Springfield, Ill.— FEMA wants anyone who was affected by the Nov.17 tornadoes to apply for disaster assistance, and family gatherings this holiday season could be a good time to ask around the table:  Have you registered with FEMA? 

Applying for assistance may unlock valuable FEMA grants to pay for a temporary place to live while your home is being repaired and to help pay for those repairs.  Even lost personal items may be covered. 

Applying is easy.  You can apply on line or use that smart phone to call or connect to the FEMA app, and it only takes about 20 minutes.

FEMA grants can fill insurance gaps.  Uninsured and underinsured losses may be covered by FEMA grants.  Register and let FEMA determine if you’re eligible, and don’t wait on the insurance settlement to register.      

Return that completed SBA loan application.  Registering with FEMA may refer you to SBA for you to complete and return a disaster loan application.  Not submitting the disaster loan application could stop the FEMA grant process.  Receive every FEMA dollar you may qualify for.  Get that  disaster loan application in today, and remember, qualifying for a loan doesn’t mean you have to accept it. 

Grants and loans ease later worries.  Let FEMA and the SBA determine the extent of your damage and help with your recovery.  FEMA grants are a helping hand while SBA disaster loans – up to $40,000 for contents and up to $200,000 for home repairs can help finance your full recovery.  The SBA disaster loan balance will be reduced by your insurance settlement.

Insurance first, then FEMA.  A FEMA application must wait on an applicant’s insurance settlement, so when you receive a letter from FEMA describing documents needed to process your FEMA grant, mail or fax those documents right away.  Don’t leave a possible FEMA grant on the table.  

Survivors can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or with a smartphone or tablet by visiting m.fema.gov. They can also register and get questions answered over the phone by calling FEMA’s helpline, 800-621-FEMA (3362). Survivors who use a TTY can call 800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

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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FEMA Says Disaster Assistance Good Holiday Topic

Illinois Residents Urged to Register for Federal Disaster Assistance

CHICAGO, IL — Illinois residents affected by the late April flooding and storms may now call or go online to register for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), state and federal officials announced today.

“Registering is an important way to help get you on the path to a variety of recovery programs,” said Federal Coordinating Officer W. Michael Moore. “We’re urging people with disaster-related damages in federally declared counties to apply as soon as possible.”

The major federal disaster declaration, signed by President Obama May 10, offers Individual Assistance in the counties of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Fulton, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry, and Will. Additional counties may be included at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Disaster survivors have several ways to apply.

  • Individuals can call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- and hearing-impaired. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.
  • Another option is to register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT, seven days a week.

In most cases, a FEMA inspector will call you within a few days of registering to arrange a visit to your damaged home or apartment. A FEMA inspector will always have an official badge visible during the inspection.  Request to see identification before allowing the inspector to enter your home.

If you qualify for FEMA assistance, you will receive a federal government check or the funds will be directly deposited into your designated bank account. A separate letter also will be sent to you explaining how you may use the funds.  

If you have questions about FEMA assistance, call 1-800-320-FEMA (3362). You can also visit www.disasterassistance.gov or www.fema.gov.

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 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.

 

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Media Contact: Dick Gifford, 609-508-2238

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Illinois Residents Urged to Register for Federal Disaster Assistance

Federal Disaster Assistance Includes Right of Appeal

WINDSOR, Conn. – Not every Connecticut resident who registered for federal disaster assistance following Hurricane Sandy will qualify for aid. But an appeal process can ensure those affected by the storm will receive all aid to which they are legally eligible.

An applicant has 60 days from the day a determination letter arrives to appeal the FEMA decision.

To file an appeal, write a letter explaining why the decision about the amount or type of assistance received is not correct. The letter should include any documents supporting the applicant’s claim.

The letter should also include:

  • the FEMA Disaster number (DR-4087-CT);
  • the applicant’s FEMA registration number;
  • the last four digits of the applicant’s Social Security number; and
  • the applicant’s name on all pages of the letter.

Additional information is available on Pages 9-11 of the FEMA booklet, “Help after a Disaster: Applicant’s Guide to the Individuals & Households Program.”

The letter must be signed, dated and mailed to:

FEMA

National Processing Service Center
P.O. Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055

Letters may also be faxed to 800-827-8112 with a cover sheet to: Attention – FEMA.

If applicants do not get the assistance they expected, the FEMA appeal process is a way to revisit the survivor’s application and information.

Applicants who do not understand the FEMA determination letter should ask questions via the FEMA helpline, 800-621-3362, or visit a Disaster Recovery Center. For the location of a convenient recovery center, go to: http://go.usa.gov/g2Td.

For a video on filing an appeal: http://go.usa.gov/ggkF

The deadline to register is Dec. 31. 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.

Register online anytime day or night at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or with a smartphone or other Web-enabled device at m.fema.gov. Register or get questions answered by phone 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 the multilingual operators.

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Federal Disaster Assistance Includes Right of Appeal

Things You Should Know About Recovering From Hurricane Isaac

CLINTON, Miss.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RECOVERING FROM HURRICANE ISAAC

  • There are four ways to reach FEMA in Mississippi:
    • You can register with FEMA on-line at DisasterAssistance.gov
    • With your smartphone at m.fema.gov
    • By calling toll-free at 1-800-621-3362 and 800-462-7585 (TTY), or
    • Visit any of the disaster recovery centers

 

  • Even if you have insurance, you should register. FEMA assistance may help pay for repairs that insurance doesn’t cover.

 

  • If you rent or are a homeowner, you should apply for federal disaster assistance. You may be eligible for rental assistance, a grant to replace personal destroyed property or a low-interest SBA disaster home loan.

 

  • FEMA disaster assistance is not income sensitive – your income does not affect your eligibility.

 

  • FEMA disaster assistance does not affect other government assistance like Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid or pensions.

 

  • Accepting disaster assistance does not keep other people from receiving it.

 

  • Disaster assistance from FEMA is not taxable.

 

  • Non U.S. citizens may be eligible for FEMA assistance if they are lawful permanent residents or otherwise have legal status.

 

  • Registering with the American Red Cross or calling 2-1-1 is not registering with FEMA. To be eligible for federal disaster assistance, you have to register with FEMA.

 

  • The U.S. Small Business Administration – SBA – offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners and renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and personal property. SBA also offers loans to businesses to repair and replace disaster-damaged property and offers economic injury disaster loans to assist with working capital.

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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.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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Things You Should Know About Recovering From Hurricane Isaac