CLINTON, Miss. Disaster recovery centers have opened in Wiggins and Quitman to help those with storm losses caused by Hurricane Isaac.  Center hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day until further notice.  Here are the addresses of the newest centers:

 

Clarke County

Sunflower Grocery Shopping Center

109 W. Donald St.

Quitman, MS 39355

Stone County

Stone County Safe Room

1084 Project Road

Wiggins, MS 39577

Recovery centers are also open in these counties. Visit any center for assistance.

 

Forrest County

Forrest County Community Shelter

946 Sullivan Drive

Hattiesburg, MS 39401

 

George County

George County Senior Center

7102 Highway 198 East

Lucedale, MS 39452

 

Hancock County

Hancock County Resource Center

454 Highway 90

Waveland, MS 39576

 

Harrison County

County Farm Road 361 Shelter 

15035 County Farm Road

Gulfport, MS 39503

 

 

Jackson County

Jackson County Fairgrounds

4761 Vega St.

Pascagoula, MS 39567

 

Lincoln County

Army National Guard Armory

182 Highway 84 East  

Brookhaven, MS 39601

Marion County

Marion County Development Partnership

412 Courthouse Square

Columbia, MS 39429

 

Pearl River County

Mississippi National Guard Armory

1251-B Highway 11 South

Picayune, MS 39466

 

 

Pearl River County

Baker Maid Building

403 South Main St.

Poplarville, MS  39470

 

Pike County

Community Safe Room

2017 Quinlivan Road

Magnolia, MS 39652

 

 

Walthall County

Walthall County Library

707 Union Road

Tylertown, MS  39667

 

 

Wilkinson County

Wilkinson County Industrial Complex

1495 U.S. Highway 61 South

Woodville, MS 39669

Representatives of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be at the centers to explain assistance programs and help survivors apply for disaster aid.

Before going to a disaster recovery center, people with storm losses are encouraged to register with FEMA online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone at m.fema.gov. Applicants also may call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. If you use 711 or Video Relay Service call
800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Federal disaster assistance can include grants for rental assistance and home repairs, low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help recover from the effects of the disaster.

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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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Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Clarke, Stone

CLINTON, MISS. Disaster recovery centers are open in Brookhaven and Tylertown to help those with storm losses caused by Hurricane Isaac.  Center hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day until further notice. 

Lincoln County

National Guard Armory

182 Highway 84 E  

Brookhaven, MS 39601

Walthall County

Walthall County Library

707 Union Rd.

Tylertown, MS  39667

 

Additional recovery centers opened last week. Residents with storm losses may visit any center for assistance.

Hancock County

Hancock County Resource Center

454 Highway 90

Waveland, MS 39576

 

Harrison County

County Farm Road Community Shelter 

15035 County Farm Rd.

Gulfport, MS 39503

 

Pearl River County

Mississippi National Guard Armory

1251-B Highway 11 South

Picayune, MS 39466

 

Jackson County

Jackson County Fairgrounds

4761 Vega St.

Pascagoula, MS 39567

 

Pearl River County

Baker Maid Building

403 South Main St.

Poplarville, MS  39470

 

 

 

 

 

Representatives of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be at the centers to explain assistance programs and help survivors apply for disaster aid.

Before going to a disaster recovery center, people with storm losses are encouraged to register with FEMA.

Survivors can register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone by going to FEMA’s mobile site at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Federal disaster assistance can include grants for rental assistance and home repairs, low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help recover from the effects of the disaster.

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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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Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Lincoln and Walthall Counties

ATLANTA— August 24 marks 20 years since Hurricane Andrew made landfall in South Florida, devastating Homestead, Florida City and parts of Miami.

When Andrew struck, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) coordinated across the entire federal government to deploy response assets, move personnel, equipment and supplies. FEMA provided more than $290 million in federal assistance to more than 108,000 people affected by the storm in Florida, and provided more than $746 million to help rebuild public infrastructure.  At the time, Hurricane Andrew was the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. 

 “Hurricane Andrew was a life-changing event for many people,” said FEMA Region IV Administrator Phil May. “As the Federal Coordinating Officer for the disaster, I saw the destruction first hand as FEMA worked with disaster survivors and community officials throughout the area.  We knew we had years of recovery ahead of us given the severe impact that this storm had on South Florida communities, and it was clear the government couldn’t do it alone. At FEMA we often highlight the importance of working together as a team in emergency management—storms like Andrew remind us how critical that team really is. Federal, state and local partners, the private sector, the faith-based and non-profit groups, and especially the public–everyone rolled up their sleeves and worked together to help people recover from the storm.”

“We learned a lot from Hurricane Andrew and today our team is stronger than ever,” said May. “Over the years, the emergency management community has evolved and improved the way it communicates and leverages resources to prepare for the next emergency or disaster. We’ve expanded our relationships with the private sector, our coordination with our state emergency management partners is better, and we communicate more effectively with the public.  Weather forecasting technology has also improved to give us more lead time before a storm. But the most critical members of the team are still the public. The better prepared individuals and families are, the safer our communities will be across the country.”

Hurricane Andrew’s anniversary is a reminder that now is the time to get ready for disasters and other emergencies. Next month marks the ninth annual National Preparedness Month, and this year’s slogan is “Pledge to Prepare”.  Individuals, families, and organizations in all sectors can support this effort and find resources on emergency preparedness by ‘pledging’ on the National Preparedness Coalition Online Community. The goal this year is to transform awareness into action by encouraging all Americans to take specific steps to ensure that their homes, workplaces and communities are ready for disasters and emergencies of all kinds.

“Preparedness is important not just for governments and first responders, but for the public.  I encourage everyone to pledge to prepare and visit www.Ready.gov for more information.”

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

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Hurricane Andrew 20th Anniversary Is A Reminder To Prepare For Emergencies

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency and Home Depot are teaming up to provide information and advice on cleaning up and rebuilding homes after Tropical Storm Debby.

FEMA mitigation specialists, who can explain disaster-resistant ways to repair and rebuild, will be in Duval County beginning Wednesday, Aug. 8.

Mitigation specialists offer suggestions on cleaning mold and mildew. They also provide information on flood insurance.

The specialists will be available for questions at Home Depot from Wednesday, Aug. 8, through Sunday, Aug. 12, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Monday, August 13, from 8 a.m. to 2 pm. The address is 3790 Third Street South in Jacksonville Beach.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or www.floridadisaster.org. On Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/FloridaSERT. To receive Twitter updates: www.twitter.com/FLSERT or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

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). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

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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See more here – 

FEMA Mitigation Specialists to Answer Questions in Duval County

ATLANTA – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that a grant of more than $1.7 million will be awarded to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources in support of its floodplain mapping program.

FEMA will provide $1,757,805 in federal funds toward projects to improve existing flood insurance rate maps and flood risk data, which will strengthen local communities’ ability to understand and communicate their flood risk and make informed decisions about flood risk reduction.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources will update flood maps and develop a watershed report for the Seneca Watershed including Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties.  This funding will also help the following communities identify areas at risk for flooding and solutions for reducing that risk: the Upper Savannah, Middle Savannah and the Stevens watersheds including Abbeville, Anderson, Greenwood, McCormick, Aiken, Allendale, Barnwell, Edgefield, Greenwood, McCormick and Saluda counties. Flood risk data will also be developed for: Clarendon, Orangeburg, Williamsburg, Greenwood, Laurens, and Newberry counties; for the entire Congaree River Watershed including Calhoun, Lexington and Richland counties; and for Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Georgetown, Horry and Jasper counties.

Flood maps and flood risk data are being updated for communities across the country with the ultimate goal of protecting property owners and the community from the risks associated with flooding. This is a collaborative process, during which FEMA works closely with states and local communities to incorporate the latest and most accurate information into flood risk products.

Flood risks can change over time due to factors such as construction and development, environmental changes, floodplain widening or shifting, and other natural or manmade changes—which is why it’s important that flood maps and flood risk data are updated periodically to reflect these changes. Additionally, the information developed for these projects will be more precise because the latest science available is applied in gathering flood risk data and creating flood maps.

Updated flood maps and flood risk data will ultimately assist local area governments in planning for future development and rebuilding efforts.

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

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FEMA Grants More Than $1.7 Million To South Carolina To Update Flood Maps And Flood Risk Data

ATLANTA – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that a grant of nearly $4.6 million will be awarded to the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program in support of its efforts to update flood risk information throughout the state.

FEMA will provide $4,591,847 in federal funds toward projects to improve existing flood insurance rate maps and flood risk data, which will strengthen local communities’ ability to understand and communicate their flood risk and make informed decisions about flood risk reduction.

The North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program will update flood maps and develop watershed reports for the Lower Yadkin Watershed including portions of Rowan, Stanly, Montgomery and Randolph counties; the Lynches Watershed including Union County; the Lumber Watershed including portions of Montgomery and Richmond counties; the Rocky Watershed including portions of Anson, Cabarrus, Iredell, Rowan, Stanly and Union counties; the South Yadkin Watershed including Davie, Iredell and Rowan counties; and the Upper Pee Dee Watershed including portions of Anson, Montgomery, Randolph, Richmond, Stanly and Union counties.  This funding will also help the following communities identify areas at risk for flooding and solutions for reducing that risk: the Chowan, Upper Yadkin, South Yadkin and Broad River Basins including portions of Chowan, Gates, Hertford, Northampton, Davidson, Forsyth, Surry, Wilkes, Yadkin, Cleveland, Polk and Rutherford counties.

Flood maps and flood risk data are being updated for communities across the country with the ultimate goal of protecting property owners and the community from the risks associated with flooding. This is a collaborative process, during which FEMA works closely with states and local communities to incorporate the latest and most accurate information into flood risk products.

Flood risks can change over time due to factors such as construction and development, environmental changes, floodplain widening or shifting, and other natural or manmade changes—which is why it’s important that flood maps and flood risk data are updated periodically to reflect these changes. Additionally, the information developed for these projects will be more precise because the latest science available is applied in gathering flood risk data and creating flood maps.

Updated flood maps and flood risk data will ultimately assist local area governments in planning for future development and rebuilding efforts.

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

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FEMA Grants Nearly $4.6 Million To North Carolina To Update Flood Maps And Flood Risk Data

Subtropical Storm Beryl Expected To Make Landfall Today 

Individuals are Advised to Follow the Directions of Local Officials

Release Date: May 27, 2012
Release Number: HQ-12-39

WASHINGTON — Although the Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1, two storms have already formed in the Atlantic, and recently formed subtropical storm Beryl is expected to make landfall today. According to National Weather Service, tropical storm warnings remain in effect for the Volusia/Brevard county line in Florida to Edisto Beach, South Carolina. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is advising residents in these areas to follow the directions of local officials.

FEMA, through our regional office in Atlanta, Ga., is monitoring subtropical storm Beryl, and deployed a liaison to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. to share information on current conditions with the FEMA regional office and affected states.

According to the National Weather Service, the storm has maximum sustained winds near 50 miles per hour, with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected before subtropical storm Beryl makes landfall. Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach the coast within the warning area from northeastern Florida to southern South Carolina late this morning or this afternoon, and continue throughout tonight. Dangerous surf conditions, including rip currents, are expected along the coast from northeastern Florida to North Carolina for the remainder of the Memorial Day Weekend.

FEMA encourages individuals to monitor local radio and television news outlets or listen to NOAA Weather Radio for the latest developments.

On this first day of Hurricane Preparedness Week, FEMA encourages all individuals in hurricane-prone areas, to “Be a Force of Nature”: know your risk, make a pledge to prepare at www.ready.gov/hurricanes, complete your emergency preparedness plan, update your emergency kit and share your preparedness efforts with family and friends.

You can save a life by sharing your readiness tips with others and encouraging them to do the same. Make a YouTube video on how you prepared, post information on Facebook, comment about the importance of preparing on a blog or sending a tweet. You can also share FEMA’s preparedness widget on your website and through your social media network.

More information on how we can all be prepared for this hurricane season can be found by visiting www.Ready.gov/hurricanes.

For information about the hurricane outlooks and National Hurricane Preparedness Week, visit http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare.

Stay informed. Sign up for local weather alerts and warnings at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/.

Last Modified: Sunday, 27-May-2012 14:24:31

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Subtropical Storm Beryl Expected To Make Landfall Today

Pay it Forward: Volunteers Make the Difference 

Local Municipalities Learn ‘Secrets’ to Earning FEMA Matching Dollars

Release Date: April 24, 2012
Release Number: 4056-004

» More Information on Washington Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

LACEY, Wa — In the January 2009 flood, the small town of South Prairie in east Pierce County was inundated by mud. A local high school initiated an MLK Day service project for its students. Coordinating efforts with the mayor, nearly 75 kids showed up to be a ‘mud brigade,’ shoveling mud out of critically needed roadways, buildings, and the town’s only Fire Station driveway.

Volunteers are the lifeblood in any community-but more so in those communities struck by swirling floodwaters, damaging mudslides or landslides slamming over roadways, compounded by ice, heavy snow, and rain.

And minimizing damage in the midst of a devastating maelstrom such as was handed to Washington citizens in the January 2012 severe winter storms is where volunteers can do double duty. Not only are they working amidst disaster, they are also ‘paying it forward’ by offsetting some of the unanticipated and unbudgeted emergency costs swamping affected cities and counties.

The time citizens and volunteer groups spend sandbagging, clearing debris from clogged drains, taking and logging calls, staffing warming centers, and many other duties may be an “allowable reimbursement under the FEMA Public Assistance programs,” according to the state’s Emergency Management Division Public Assistance Program Manager Gary Urbas. “But volunteer efforts need to be organized and documented correctly. The sad thing is that many states throughout the country do not even apply for donated resources.”

At least two Washington counties, Pierce and Snohomish, found a bright spot in a declared disaster recovery process: the tracking and documenting of volunteer worker efforts, generally called ‘Donated Resources.’ This process has nearly reimbursed their share of matching funds required by FEMA Public Assistance Programs for declared disasters.

For South Prairie, according to Barbara Nelson, Pierce County’s neighborhood emergency team (PC-NET) liaison, “we sent the town forms for documenting the sign-in and sign-out of each of these kids. They collected permission slips from parents, and the County’s Department of Emergency Management (DEM) was able to count those substantial volunteer hours toward reimbursement.”

This one volunteer effort brought nearly $11,000 to South Prairie. Pierce County’s volunteer efforts netted reimbursements totaling $29,000.

Once a presidential disaster declaration is issued and damages are documented, FEMA can provide up to a 75 percent cost reimbursement for eligible projects. State and local entities then must come up with a 25 percent shared cost match.

“Our contribution of donated resources allows us to meet our local match requirement and be eligible to receive additional funding to cover our emergency work costs,” said Veronica Hill, Pierce County’s DEM administrative program manager.

Snohomish County, hard hit by the winter storms in 2006, had already developed a County Disaster Assistance Program complete with disaster assistance employee job descriptions. By using sign-in/sign-out sheets and capturing detailed information, they were able to document these volunteer hours, assign a pay rate for each volunteer job, and submit a detailed claim. In doing so, Snohomish County was able to meet the County’s 12.5% match and received 75 percent of its claim for $42,700 in donated resources-adding about $32,000 into its general fund.

“We’ve approached the donated resources issue in a more institutionalized method,” according to John E. Pennington, Snohomish County’s Department of Emergency Management (DEM) director. Staff developed this method of how to best track volunteer hours within its Disaster Assistance program by creating position descriptions and pay rates.

Since then, Snohomish County has emerged as a leader for programmatically implementing a Disaster Assistance Program according to Urbas, by codifying task responsibility and job descriptions. According to Diana Rose, DEM’s admin finance program manager, the county is also able to actually ‘hire’ temporary Disaster Assistance Employees to cover critical jobs during emergency situations, if needed, because the job description and pay rate already exists.

Yet still, in the heat of disaster, counties and cities often miss out on documenting many hours of disaster volunteer help because many jurisdictions haven’t approached volunteer management systemically and citizens don’t realize their efforts really do count.

For a complete listing of volunteer groups or to get additional information, contact Barbara Nelson, Pierce County Neighborhood Emergency Teams Liaison, Pierce county Citizen Corps, bnelso1@co.pierce.wa.us or 253 798-2168.

For additional information about Snohomish County’s donated resources program, contact Diana Rose at Diana.Rose@co.snohomish.wa.us or 425.388.5062.

For additional information about Pierce County’s donated resources program, contact Richard Schroedel, at rschroe@co.pierce.wa.us or 253.798.6596.

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.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 25-Apr-2012 08:44:19

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Pay it Forward: Volunteers Make the Difference

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