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Know How to Beat the Summer Heat

CHICAGO – The heat of summer is here, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) wants individuals and families to be safe when faced with extended periods of high temperatures.

“A combination of high temperatures and high humidity can be dangerous and even life-threatening for people who don’t take the proper precautions,” said Andrew Velasquez III, FEMA Regional Administrator. “Protect yourself by knowing what to do before and during a period of extreme heat.”

During extremely hot weather, you should take the following precautions:

Become familiar with the emergency plans of your community, school and workplace.
Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.
Consider spending the warmest part of the day in public buildings that are air conditioned.
Eat well-balanced, light, and regular meals.
Drink plenty of water.
Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored clothes.
Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning.
Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day.
Know the symptoms of heat-related illnesses and seek medical attention if your conditions are severe.

For more information and tips on being ready for extreme heat, visit www.fema.gov and http://www.ready.gov/heat.

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: Cassie Ringsdorf, 312-408-4455

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Know How to Beat the Summer Heat

One Week to Register for Disaster Assistance

Aurora, Ill. – Only one week remains for Illinoisans affected by the storms and flooding that took place from April 16 to May 5 to register for FEMA assistance. The deadline is Wednesday, July 24, 2013.

Some residents may have disqualified themselves for disaster assistance because of misinformation. Those who have received FEMA assistance in the past or have insurance should register anyway. Failure to register by the deadline will prevent possible eligibility for this disaster.

“We urge everyone who experienced storm damage during that period to register with FEMA to determine their eligibility for recovery of uninsured losses,” said W. Michael Moore, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer for the Illinois disaster declaration.

All it takes is one call to FEMA’s toll-free registration number, 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585. Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA registration lines. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

Applicants also may register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362. It is not necessary to visit a Disaster Recovery Center to register with FEMA

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

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Media Contact: 571-408-1835

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One Week to Register for Disaster Assistance

State, FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Fairbanks

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A state and federal Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is set to open Tuesday, July 16, in Fairbanks to assist individuals, households and businesses affected by the 2013 spring floods.

The center is located at 751 Old Richardson Hwy., Suite 202, Fairbanks, AK 99701. The center provides face-to-face help from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week until further notice.

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 in the Alaska Gateway Regional Educational Attendance Area (REAA), Lower Yukon REAA, Yukon Flats REAA, and the Yukon-Koyukuk REAA are encouraged to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (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 DRC, 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). Lookup 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 property damage 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.

From:

State, FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Fairbanks

FEMA Mitigation Outreach July 16 through July 21

AURORA, Ill. – Individuals who sustained storm damages can gain valuable information about repairing and rebuilding their damaged property in a stronger, safer and smarter way by visiting one of the FEMA mitigation teams located at home improvement centers throughout the area.

The mitigation teams will be available at three area home improvement centers Tuesday, July 16 through Sunday, July 21, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The locations of the centers are:

Cook County

Menards

6100 East Ave.

Hodgkins, IL 60525

Lake County

Home Depot

493 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Vernon Hills, IL 60061

Lake County

Menards

2700 W. Lake Cook Rd.

Long Grove, IL 60047

Individuals and families in 35 counties whose dwellings were damaged in the severe storms of April 16 to May 5 should register with FEMA by Tuesday, July 24, for federal and state assistance that may be available.

They can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. For more information visit the Illinois Disaster website www.fem a.gov/disaster/4116.

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

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Media Contact: 571-408-1835

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FEMA Mitigation Outreach July 16 through July 21

Federal Disaster Aid to Illinois Residents Tops $131.1 Million

AURORA, Ill. – Federal assistance in Illinois has reached more than $134.1 million, distributed among more than 54,540 individuals and households, since a major disaster was declared for storms and flooding that occurred April 16 through May 5.

Storm damage after May 5 is not included in the presidential disaster declaration for Illinois.

The latest summary of federal assistance includes:

More than $134.1 million in FEMA grants approved for individuals and households;
Of that amount, more than $115 million has been approved for housing assistance, including temporary rental assistance and home repair costs;
More than $18 million has been approved to cover other essential disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses and damaged personal possessions;
More than 81,500 home inspections have been completed to confirm disaster damage;
More than $33.2 million in loans to homeowners, renters or business owners has been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

To address unmet needs, LaSalle County has organized a Long-Term Recovery Committee (LTRC) with the help of FEMA’s Voluntary Agency Liaison division. LaSalle County experienced some of the most severe damage from the storms, especially in Marseilles where a large portion of the town’s residents were affected, with over 200 having to vacate their homes.

In the next several weeks, the Lutheran Disaster Response will be providing guidance to the LTRC to canvass affected areas to determine who may have unmet needs for housing and rental assistance, construction and repair help, food, clothing, spiritual and emotional guidance or financial support.

In Illinois, 82 out of its 102 counties and 770 communities have adopted and enforce floodplain ordinances, making residents eligible to purchase flood insurance. Flooding accounts for more than 90 percent of declared disasters in Illinois. The state has one of the largest inland systems of rivers, lakes and streams in the United States with nearly 15 percent of its total land area flood prone.

Two additional counties have been added to the major disaster declaration for individual assistance. Putnam and Warren county survivors along with survivors of the 33 counties already declared for individual assistance now have until July 24 to register for federal disaster assistance.

Individuals can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. For more information, visit the Illinois Disaster website www.fema.gov/disaster/4116.

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

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Federal Disaster Aid to Illinois Residents Tops $131.1 Million

Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator Helps Focus Resources To Assist Recovery

TRENTON, N.J. — In the weeks after a large-scale disaster or catastrophic event, a range of work begins to help impacted communities focus not only on a path out of destruction but on enhancing their resilience to future hazards.

The Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator (FDRC) plays a significant role in that strategy, primarily serving to focus federal resources on the most pertinent recovery needs. Peter Martinasco was named to the role of FDRC in New Jersey for Superstorm Sandy recovery.

The FDRC is activated under the National Disaster Recovery Framework, which provides a structure for seamless coordination between federal, state, tribal and local governments, the private sector, and voluntary, faith-based and community organizations.

“The Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinators do long-term planning with municipalities that have been devastated,” said Bill Vogel, FEMA’s Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer for Sandy recovery in New Jersey. “These communities need help determining what their priorities are and how they want to look after they recover.”

In major disasters or catastrophic events the FDRC is empowered to recommend activation of six key areas of assistance, or Recovery Support Functions. The RSFs are led by designated federal coordinating agencies: Housing (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development); Infrastructure Systems (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers); Economic (U.S. Department of Commerce); Health and Social Services (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services); Natural and Cultural Resources (U.S. Department of Interior); and Community Planning and Capacity Building (FEMA).

Working in partnership with a State Disaster Recovery Coordinator and a Hazard Mitigation Adviser, the FDRC oversees an assessment of impacted communities and a recovery support strategy. That strategy helps ease access to federal funding, decrease gaps in assistance, and establish recovery goals in terms of outcomes, milestones and budget.

For communities that seek assistance, the FDRC also provides a team of recovery specialists with a broad array of skills. Among them: civil engineering, architecture, land-use planning, economic development, environmental science and disabilities integration.

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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Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator Helps Focus Resources To Assist Recovery

Protecting A Home From Storms And Flooding Begins On The Inside

TRENTON, N.J. — To protect a home from damage from a flood or a hurricane takes more than just making the outside stronger. The inside of the house can be better protected from wind and water with a little planning and preparation.

Several things can be done to minimize damage inside a structure. Here are some ideas:

Floors:

Consider using one or more area rugs or carpet remnants rather than wall-to-wall carpet; smaller pieces can be rolled up and stored on an upper floor in a heavy rain event.
Completely dry subflooring before laying new flooring.
Do not use laminate flooring on top of concrete – especially in a basement – where the floor could retain moisture or get wet.

Drains:

Install a sewer backflow valve to prevent sewage from backing up into the house.
Install a sump pump or pumps in the basement floor to help keep groundwater from entering a structure. Sump pumps are used to remove water from basements and other low areas. Consider choosing a model with a battery backup so that it continues to work if the power goes out.

Electrical System:

Raise wiring and electrical components – panel boxes, switches, outlets – at least 1 foot above the Base Flood Elevation. Homeowners who are not in a designated floodplain, should consider raising these components an extra 1 foot above the level required by building codes.
Use wire rated for underground use if it has to run into areas that could get wet.
Ensure that all junctions are in approved junction boxes.
Change all outlets to Ground Fault Interrupters (GFI).
Raise electric baseboard heaters above the Base Flood Elevation.
Hire a licensed electrician for all wiring work and be sure the work is properly permitted and approved by the local building department.
For questions about a home or building’s Base Flood Elevation contact the local building or floodplain management department.

Appliances:

Elevate appliances – water heaters, furnaces, washers and dryers.
When possible, move them from a basement or lower level to an upper floor. Otherwise, relocate appliances on a masonry or pressure-treated lumber base that’s at least 1 foot above the Base Flood Elevation (or at least 6 inches tall if there is no Base Flood Elevation).
Make sure washers/dryers will not vibrate off the platform during use.
Hire a licensed contractor when plumbing or electrical changes are needed.

Interior Walls:

Wash and disinfect the studs and sills if the drywall and insulation have been removed. Give the studs and sills plenty of time to dry before hanging new drywall.
Use a moisture meter to be doubly sure.
Cut drywall so that it is one-half to 1 inch off the floor, especially in basements.
Concrete floors commonly absorb ground moisture – especially in winter months.
- That moisture can wick up the wallboard if it’s touching the floor, allowing mold to grow out-of-sight within the walls. (Hide the gap with wood or rubberized floor trim).
- If greenboard or other moisture-resistant drywall got wet, replace it. These materials can present the same health hazards as regular drywall when soaked with floodwaters.

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

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

Original source –

Protecting A Home From Storms And Flooding Begins On The Inside

FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Open in Galena

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A state and federal Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is open in Galena to assist individuals, households and businesses affected by the 2013 spring floods.

The center is located at Building 1847, Composite Building, Galena Interior Learning Academy, 359 Challenger Road, Galena, AK 99741. GPS Coordinates: N 64 44.505, W 156 57.222. The DRC will be open seven days a week until further notice.

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 www.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 DRC will quickly 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 DRC, 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). Lookup your bank routing number.
A description of your losses that were caused by the disaster.

You can apply in person for an SBA disaster loan at the DRC and receive one-on-one help from an SBA representative. For additional information on SBA disaster loan assistance, call SBA at 800-659-2955, or visit www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and use TTY may call 800-877-8339 directly.

Continue at source –

FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Open in Galena

Disaster Officials Recommend Registering Now With FEMA

Anchorage, Alaska – Survivors of the 2013 spring floods should register now with FEMA even if they have also registered with the State of Alaska, the American Red Cross, or other disaster relief organization.

Individuals living in the Alaska Gateway Regional Educational Attendance Area (REAA), Lower Yukon REAA, Yukon Flats REAA, and the Yukon-Koyukuk REAA and affected by the flooding that occurred between May 17 and June 11, 2013, may be eligible for disaster-recovery assistance from various sources. FEMA can help you obtain all the assistance that you qualify for.

If you suffered losses in one of these REAAs, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) now or go online to register with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). If you are not sure which REAA your residence is located in, operators will help.

Registering is the essential first step. There are several ways to do it:

You can call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Disaster assistance applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 1-800-462-7585 directly. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) should call 1-800-621-3362.
Another option is to register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone or tablet at www.m.fema.gov.

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

The State of Alaska Individual Assistance (IA) is available for residents of the Copper River REAA. Call the state IA Hotline at 1-855-445-7131 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The State of Alaska and FEMA opened the first Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) serving survivors of the 2013 Spring flooding. The Galena DRC is located in Building 1847, Composite Building, at the Galena Interior Learning Academy (GILA), 359 Challenger Road, Galena, AK 99741. GPS Coordinates: N 64 44.505, W 156 57.222. The DRC will be open seven days a week until further notice.

If you have not yet registered and do not yet have your letter from FEMA, you can also register in person at the DRC. If you intend to register at the DRC, 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) Lookup your bank routing number.
A description of your losses that were caused by the disaster

If you have questions about FEMA assistance, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). You can also visit www.disasterassistance.gov or www.fema.gov.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.

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Disaster Officials Recommend Registering Now With FEMA

FEMA Mitigation Outreach July 9 through July 14

The mitigation teams will be available at three area home improvement centers Tuesday, July 9 through Sunday, July 14, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The locations of the centers are:

Cook County

Home Depot

655 Lake Cook Rd.

Deerfield, IL 60015

DuPage County

Menards

521 E. North Ave.

Glendale Heights, IL 60139

Lake County

Lowe’s Home Improvement

1660 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Vernon Hills, IL 60061

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

Link:

FEMA Mitigation Outreach July 9 through July 14

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