Two Disaster Recovery Centers To Open

Two Disaster Recovery Centers to Open to Help Kentucky Storm Survivors

FRANKFORT, Ky.  – Two disaster recovery centers operated by the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will open at noon Friday, May 8, in Carter and Jefferson counties.

The centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The centers are located at 671 South State Highway 7 (Utility Commission Building) in Grayson and 8501 Preston Highway (Fire Station No. 1) in Louisville.

Specialists from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be on hand to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors.

People who suffered losses in Bath, Bourbon, Carter, Elliott, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Madison, Rowan and Scott counties can get person-to-person assistance at the centers from specialists skilled in many disaster-related subjects.

Specialists can help with registration; check an individual’s case; answer questions about their claim; or review information needed to process their claim.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses from the severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides April 2  through April 17, 2015, should register for assistance before visiting a center.

Registration is available online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362 or by smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov.  Disaster assistance applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 800-462-7585 directly; those who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call 800-621-3362.

The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time seven days a week until further notice.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and essential home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners 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.

 

For more information on Kentucky’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or http://kyem.ky.gov.

On Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/KYEmergencyManagement. To receive Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/kyempio or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

 

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Two Disaster Recovery Centers To Open

Harpeth River Watershed Residents Invited to See Preliminary Flood Maps

ATLANTA– People who live in Cheatham County including Pegram, Kingston Springs;  Williamson County including Fairview, Franklin, Brentwood; and Dickson County, Tenn., are invited to look at newly revised preliminary digital flood insurance rate maps at a public open house on March 3, 2015. Flood maps show the extent to which areas are at risk for flooding, and are used to help determine flood insurance and building requirements.

The open house will provide the residents within this watershed and its counties and municipalities with the opportunity to see the preliminary maps, learn about their risk of flooding, and ask questions about what the new maps will mean for their property. Residents can meet one-on-one with a variety of specialists who will be available to talk about flood insurance, engineering, building permits and more. 

The March 3rd open house will be held between 4-7 p.m. at:

Franklin City Hall
109 3rd Ave South

Franklin, TN 37064

The new maps were produced through a partnership with Harpeth Watershed counties and municipalities, the state of Tennessee, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). They are more precise than older maps because better flood hazard and risk data and the latest science available have been applied to make the maps more accurate. The ultimate goal is to protect property owners and the community from the risks associated with flooding. Flood risks do change over time due to construction and development, environmental changes, floodplain widening or shifting, and other factors—which is why it’s important that maps are updated periodically.

Property owners—both homeowners and business owners—renters, realtors, mortgage lenders, surveyors and insurance agents are encouraged to attend the open house and take advantage of this opportunity to meet with specialists and ask questions, and learn more about flood risk and hazard mitigation within their communities. Residents may also visit their local community’s office to view the maps in person, or call their local floodplain manager with questions about where their property is located on the preliminary maps.

The Harpeth River Watershed preliminary maps will not be officially adopted until after a public comment period for the effected counties and municipalities takes place. This allows property owners to submit comments and appeals if they can show that any part of the maps is in error. Specialists will be available at the open houses to address questions that residents may have about this process. Once all comments are received and addressed, counties and municipalities may adopt the maps. 

By law, federally regulated or insured mortgage lenders require flood insurance on properties that are located in areas at high risk of flooding. Even people living outside of high-risk areas can have flooding, which is the most common and costly natural disaster in the U.S. That’s why everyone, regardless of their flood zone, should take steps to financially protect themselves from a disaster which affects far too many communities each year. The primary way to do that is by purchasing flood insurance. It’s available at affordable rates through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a voluntary program administered by FEMA.

Standard homeowners’, business owners’, and renters’ insurance policies don’t cover flood damage, so flood insurance is an important consideration for everyone. NFIP policies can be purchased from any state licensed property and casualty insurance agents who people already deal with for other property insurance needs. When that isn’t possible, NFIP can put people in touch with another agent. Visit www.floodsmart.gov  for more information about flood insurance and to locate a local agent.

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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Harpeth River Watershed Residents Invited to See Preliminary Flood Maps

Disaster Assistance Tops $30 Million for South Napa Earthquake

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – State and federal disaster assistance now totals more than $30 million for people and businesses affected by the South Napa Earthquake. The current total includes $8.8 million in grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), as well as $21.2 million in low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

In addition, FEMA has provided more than $750,000 in grants to local governments and state agencies to help them defray response costs and repair infrastructure damage. Thus, the total amount of federal aid to the disaster area is $30.8 million.

A recap of the disaster recovery operation by the numbers, as of Dec. 17:

Households Registered: 5,296
Total Grants Approved: $8,778,527.58
• Housing Assistance Grants: $8,106,469.99
• Other Needs Assistance Grants: $672,057.59

SBA Loans Approved: 549
• Home Loans: 504
• Business Loans: 45
Total SBA Loans: $21,151,000

Disaster Recovery Centers:

• Napa Earthquake Local Assistance Center – 301 First Street, Napa, CA 94559
Center Total Visit: 2,223
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat., Closed Sundays. In observance of Christmas, the center will be closed Dec. 24-26. FEMA’s presence in the Local Assistance Center operations will conclude COB 12/29.

• SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Vallejo- 505 Santa Clara St 3rd Floor, Vallejo, CA 94590
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon-Thurs, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fri., Closed Saturday and Sunday. The SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center operations in Vallejo will conclude COB 12/23.

FEMA Inspections Completed: 4,707

FEMA reimbursement to local governments and state agencies: $768,526.10

People in Napa and Solano Counties who had damage from the South Napa Earthquake have until Dec. 29, 2014 to apply to FEMA for disaster assistance. Disaster assistance includes grants to help pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other sources.

Low-interest disaster loans are also available from the SBA for homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations. Disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.
Disaster recovery officials urge those who registered with FEMA and received an SBA loan application to complete and return the application. Doing so will ensure the applicants are considered for the full range of disaster assistance that may be available to them.
SBA serves as the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps fund repair or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property.
Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 – with interest rates as low as 2.063 percent –for the repair or replacement of their primary residence not fully compensated by insurance. Anyone who had damage in the two counties may also borrow up to $40,000 with interest rates as low as 2.063 percent for replacement of personal property, including vehicles.
Businesses and nonprofits may apply to borrow up to $2 million for the following:
• Business Physical Disaster Loans – Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.

• Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.

Those who apply for an SBA loan and are declined, as well as those who are not issued a loan application, may be referred to the FEMA Other Needs Assistance (ONA) grant program. Anyone who receives an SBA application must return the completed application to be considered for ONA.

ONA provides reimbursements for personal property losses, vehicle repair or replacement, moving and storage fees, and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other sources. FEMA provides 75 percent of the funding for ONA, and Cal OES provides 25 percent.

To apply for assistance, register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call FEMA at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or VRS may call 800-621-3362.

Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA Helpline/Registration in 93 various languages. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages. Phone lines remain open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (PST) Sun.-Sat. until further notice.

Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) Teams

Two-two person DSA teams continue to visit quake-damaged communities. On assignment in Napa County, the teams are walking door-to-door to speak with residents and business owners.

To date, DSA teams have registered 231 residents, updated 120 FEMA applications, completed 200 case inquiries and referred 310 people to other community resources.

Apply to Qualify

To be eligible for federal disaster assistance – such as disaster grants and loans at least one member of a household must be a U.S. citizen, Qualified Alien or non-citizen national with a Social Security number. Disaster assistance may be available to a household if a parent or guardian applies on behalf of a minor child who is a U.S. citizen or a Qualified Alien. FEMA will only need to know the immigration status and Social Security number of the child.

Disaster assistance grants are not taxable income and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, medical waiver programs, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Social Security Disability Insurance.

Those who suspect someone of engaging in unscrupulous activity should call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721. Complaints may also be made to local law enforcement agencies.

For unmet disaster-related needs, the United Way operates 2-1-1 that covers Napa and Solano Counties. Available 24/7 in 150 languages, the Bay Area 211 helpline connects callers with hundreds of programs to help people find food, housing, healthcare, senior services, childcare, legal aid and more.

For more information on the California disaster recovery, go to www.fema.gov/disaster/4193.

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 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 Cal OES protects lives and property, builds capabilities and supports our communities for a resilient California. Cal OES achieves its mission by serving the public through effective collaboration in preparing for, protecting against, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating the impacts of all hazards and threats.

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money 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 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.

Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.
 

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Disaster Assistance Tops $30 Million for South Napa Earthquake

Disaster Recovery Centers Announce New Hours of Operation

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – State and federal officials announced a change of hours for the disaster recovery centers, which serve individuals affected by the South Napa Earthquake. Since Oct. 31, nearly 1,100 people have visited the centers:

Napa Earthquake Local Assistance Center
301 1st Street, Napa, CA 94559

Solano County Disaster Recovery Center
1155 Capitol Street, Vallejo, CA 94590

The centers are now closed Sundays due to decreased demand, based on the number of visitors. The centers remain open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays until further notice. In observance of Thanksgiving, the centers will be closed Nov. 27-28.

At the centers, visitors can meet face-to-face with specialists from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

During a visit to a center, visitors may:
• Discuss their individual disaster-related needs
• Submit any additional documentation needed, such as occupancy or ownership verification documents and letters from insurance companies
• Find out the status of an application
• Get help from SBA specialists in completing low-interest disaster loan applications for homeowners, renters and business owners
• Meet with FEMA hazard mitigation specialists to learn about reducing future disaster losses and rebuilding safer and stronger

People who sustained losses or damages due to the earthquake may also apply for disaster assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov.  Or applicants may call FEMA at 800-621-3362 (Voice, 711-Relay or VRS) or 800-462-7585 (TTY).

Phone lines remain open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (PT) Sun.-Sat. until further notice. Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA Helpline/Registration. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.

People should register with FEMA before going to a disaster recovery center, if possible. For visitors with a disability or functional need, the centers may have amplified telephones, magnifiers and assistive listening devices. American Sign Language Interpreters are available upon request.

If other accommodations are needed during any part of the application process, please ask any FEMA or Cal OES employee for assistance.

People do not need to visit a center to receive disaster assistance. Disaster assistance includes grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repair and other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical expenses, not covered by insurance or other sources.

Low-interest disaster loans are also available from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations. Disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

For unmet disaster-related needs, the United Way operates 2-1-1 that covers Napa and Solano Counties. Available 24/7 in 150 languages, the Bay Area 211 helpline connects callers with hundreds of programs to help people find food, housing, healthcare, senior services, childcare, legal aid and more.

For more information on California disaster recovery, go www.fema.gov/disaster/4193.

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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.
The Cal OES protects lives and property, build capabilities and support our communities for a resilient California. Cal OES achieves its mission by serving the public through effective collaboration in preparing for, protecting against, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating the impacts of all hazards and threats.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money 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 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 Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

 

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Disaster Recovery Centers Announce New Hours of Operation

Napa, Solano County Residents to Receive Federal Individual, Household Aid Following South Napa Earthquake

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that the Major Disaster declaration for the South Napa earthquake will also include the Individuals and Households Program under the Stafford Act. This amendment makes assistance available to help homeowners and renters recover from the earthquake.

“This is a very welcome announcement for those individuals that had their daily lives changed by this earthquake,” said Cal OES Director Mark Ghilarducci. “Additional federal resources like this program will be a huge help to everyone impacted, especially those struggling with major damages and limited personal resources.”

Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. and local, state and Congressional officials requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration as damages caused by the 6.0-magnitude earthquake that shook through most of Northern California mounted. In response, President Barack Obama declared a Major Disaster on Sept. 11. The Major Disaster Declaration allowed for public assistance to be available to state, tribal and eligible governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged during the earthquake. The Individuals and Households Program will provide assistance to residents in Napa and Solano Counties.

“We are glad to be able to assist individual households as well as state and local governments in recovering from this earthquake,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Stephen De Blasio. “We ask those Californians who sustained earthquake damage to get registered as quickly as possible.”

Gov. Brown declared a State of Emergency shortly after the earthquake, whose epicenter was near American Canyon and the City of Napa, and issued an executive order to provide additional financial assistance to local agencies and non-profit organizations.

Individuals who are interested in finding out more information about eligibility for the Individual and Households Program should call or register at 800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 800-462-7585 or visit DisasterAssistance.gov.

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Napa, Solano County Residents to Receive Federal Individual, Household Aid Following South Napa Earthquake

More than $3.6 Million in Disaster Aid Approved for June Storms

SIOUX FALLS, SD –  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that more than  $3.6 million in federal disaster aid has been approved to help communities in twelve counties and two tribal nations in South Dakota recover from a series of June storms.  Those storms produced a tornado that struck Wessington Springs along with heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding in western, north central and southeast South Dakota.

According to FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Gary Stanley, “This figure represents only the first round of approved projects.  We hope to have all applicants’ projects reviewed and approved by mid-November.  While the final dollar total will change as we gather more information, it appears total Federal assistance will be greater than the $6.1 million originally estimated by the time all the projects are reviewed.” FEMA reimburses applicants not less than 75 percent of the cost of eligible projects and the State of South Dakota provides an additional ten percent cost share.

The disaster funds reimburse applicants for a variety of disaster recovery costs such as emergency work, removal of storm related debris, road and bridge repair and the restoration of electrical utilities.   To date 89 applicants including city, county and tribal governments, state agencies and some private non-profits are working with FEMA and the South Dakota Office of Emergency Management (SDOEM) to document their eligible disaster related costs. 

On July 28, 2014 President Obama issued a major disaster declaration for the state making Butte, Clay, Corson, Dewey, Hanson, Jerauld, Lincoln, Minnehaha, Perkins, Turner, Union and Ziebach counties and the Cheyenne River Sioux and Standing Rock Sioux tribal nations eligible for federal disaster aid.  The presidential declaration came in response to a request from Governor Dennis Daugaard following a series of storms that hit the state in mid-June. 

The Public Assistance Program provides funding to local government jurisdictions and eligible private non-profits for the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged infrastructure as well as costs incurred for disaster cleanup or emergency actions taken to protect lives or property. 

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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More than $3.6 Million in Disaster Aid Approved for June Storms

July Anniversaries are an Important Reminder to Prepare for Wildfires

DENVER – This month marks two key wildfire anniversaries which serve as an important reminder that families need to take proactive steps to protect themselves and their property against wildfires. 

Twenty years ago on July 2, 1994, lightning sparked a fire on Storm King Mountain, just west of Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The South Canyon Fire started out slowly, covering just three acres over two days. Then due to several factors including available vegetation, slope of the terrain and wind, the fire began a high-intensity, fast-moving front. While fighting the blaze, 14 firefighters lost their lives.

July 9, 2014 marked the 25th Anniversary of the Black Tiger Fire in Boulder County, Colorado. The human-caused fire swept through residential areas, destroying 44 homes and burning almost 2,100 acres. At the time, the Black Tiger Fire was the worst wildland fire loss in Colorado history. As people continued to build in the Wildland Urban Interface, the Black Tiger Fire underscored the importance of homeowners taking steps to protect their homes against wildfires. The lessons learned from the Black Tiger Fire were a catalyst for many of the current recommended mitigation measures established by firefighting organizations.

In recognition of both anniversaries, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region want you to prepare yourself, your family and your property for wildfires.  Taking steps to mitigate not only protects you and your family, but also helps reduce risk to firefighters and other first responders.

Understand your Risk:

  • To determine your property’s risk, contact your local fire department.  They will be able to provide specific information about your community’s hazards, and may be able to offer an individual assessment on your home. 
  • If you live in Colorado, you may also check your property’s risk at the Colorado Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal

Protect your Property:

  • Create defensible space around your property:
    • Clear leaves and other debris from gutters, eaves, porches and decks – and don’t use these areas for storage of flammable items. This helps prevent embers from igniting these materials.
    • Keep lawns hydrated and maintained. Dry grass and shrubs are fuel for wildfire.
    • Remove flammable materials within five feet of the home’s foundation and outbuildings, including garages and sheds. If it can catch fire, don’t let it touch the house, deck or wood fencing.
    • Reduce vegetation surrounding the home’s perimeter from a 5 foot to 30 foot area and manage vegetation there to 200 feet or the property line, depending on the area’s wildfire risk.
    • The National Fire Protection Association’s “basics of defensible space and the home ignition zone” page on the Firewise site provides these and other steps to help homeowners prepare their properties to resist wildfire.

Prepare Yourself and Your Family:

  • Build an Emergency Kit and make a Family Communications Plan.  Visit www.ready.gov for preparedness checklists.
  • During a wildfire, listen to local evacuation orders.  Do not wait to see what will happen! Due to many variables, including winds, wildfires can change course and speed quickly.

For information on the current wildfire threat, visit the National Interagency Fire Center’s Monthly Wildland Fire Potential Outlook.  For additional information on wildfire mitigation resources, visit FEMA Region VIII’s Wildfire Mitigation Resources Page or www.firewise.org/wildfire-preparedness.

A timeline of some of the most significant wildfires within the six-state region covered by FEMA’s Denver regional office is available at FEMA Region VIII’s Wildfire Timeline Page.

 

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July Anniversaries are an Important Reminder to Prepare for Wildfires

FEMA: Follow Evacuation Orders; Residents and Visitors Urged to Follow Direction of Local Officials

WASHINGTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through its National Response Coordination Center in Washington and its regional offices in Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York and Boston, and in coordination with the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center, is continuing to monitor Hurricane Arthur.

FEMA remains in close contact with emergency management partners in potentially affected states, and the agency encourages those in Arthur’s path to follow any evacuation orders given by local officials. FEMA also urges residents and visitors in potentially affected areas to monitor the storm closely and take steps now to be prepared in advance of severe weather.

“As the holiday approaches, we continue to warn residents and visitors to be aware of evacuation routes in case an evacuation is ordered by state and local officials”, said Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator. “If an evacuation order is given by local officials – leave.”

Yesterday, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate spoke with North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory and Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry about preparedness efforts and to ensure there were no unmet needs.

FEMA has liaisons in the emergency operations centers in North Carolina and South Carolina along with an Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) in North Carolina to coordinate with state, tribal, and local officials, should support be requested or needed. FEMA is currently working with its federal partners at the Regional Response Coordination Center in Atlanta and Boston and has also activated its National Response Coordination Center in Washington D.C.

Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) personnel and equipment have been placed on alert to provide emergency management partners with secure and non-secure voice, video and information services in support of emergency response communications.

According to the National Weather Service, a Hurricane Warning is in effect for portions of North Carolina coast as Hurricane Arthur moves northward. Also, a Tropical Storm Warning and Hurricane Watch are in effect for parts of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.

Hurricane conditions are expected within portions of the hurricane warning area by tonight. The tropical storm conditions are expected to spread northward in the tropical storm and hurricane warning areas later today and tonight.  The National Hurricane Center is forecasting that Hurricane Arthur may become a Category 2 storm when it passes over or near the North Carolina coast. Visit hurricanes.gov and weather.gov for the latest storm track and local forecasts and warnings.

As the first hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season, Hurricane Arthur serves as a reminder for residents in areas prone to tropical storms and hurricanes to refresh their emergency kits and review family emergency plans. Those who do not have an emergency kit or family plan can learn about steps to take now to prepare for severe weather at ready.gov.

At all times, FEMA maintains commodities, including millions of liters of water, millions of meals and hundreds of thousands of blankets, strategically located at distribution centers throughout the United States, and they are available to state, tribal and local partners if needed and requested.

Safety and Preparedness Tips

  • Residents and visitors in potentially affected areas should be familiar with evacuation routes, have a communications plan, keep a battery-powered radio handy and have a plan for their pets. Individuals should visit ready.gov or listo.gov to learn these and other preparedness tips for tropical storms.
  • Know your evacuation zone and be sure to follow the direction of state, tribal and local officials if an evacuation is ordered for your area.
  • Storm surge is often the greatest threat to life and property from a hurricane. It poses a significant threat for drowning and can occur before, during, or after the center of a storm passes through an area. Storm surge can sometimes cut off evacuation routes, so do not delay leaving if an evacuation is ordered for your area.
  • Driving through a flooded area can be extremely hazardous and almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. When in your car, look out for flooding in low lying areas, at bridges and at highway dips. As little as six inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
  • If you encounter flood waters, remember – turn around, don’t drown.
  • Hurricanes have the potential for tornado formation. If you are under a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately in the center of a small interior room (closet, interior hallway) on the lowest level of a sturdy building. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside.
  • Get to know the terms that are used to identify severe weather and discuss with your family what to do if a watch or warning is issued.

For a Hurricane:

  • A Hurricane Watch is issued when a tropical cyclone containing winds of at least 74 MPH poses a possible threat, generally within 48 hours.
  • A Hurricane Warning is issued when sustained winds of 74 MPH or higher associated with a tropical cyclone are expected in 36 hours or less. A hurricane warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves continue, even though winds may be less than hurricane force.

For a Tropical Storm:

  • A Tropical Storm Watch is issued when tropical cyclone containing winds of at least 39 MPH or higher poses a possible threat, generally within 48 hours.
  • A Tropical Storm Warning is issued when sustained winds of 39 MPH or higher associated with a tropical cyclone are expected in 36 hours or less.

For coastal flooding:

  • A Coastal Flood Advisory is issued when minor or nuisance coastal flooding is occurring or imminent.
  • A Coastal Flood Watch is issued when moderate to major coastal flooding is possible.
  • A Coastal Flood Warning is issued when moderate to major coastal flooding is occurring or imminent.

More safety tips on hurricanes and tropical storms can be found at ready.gov/hurricanes.

 

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 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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FEMA: Follow Evacuation Orders; Residents and Visitors Urged to Follow Direction of Local Officials

Ahead of Tropical Storm Arthur, FEMA Urges Residents to Take Steps to Prepare, Listen to Local Officials

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through its National Watch Center in Washington and its regional office in Atlanta, and in coordination with the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center, is monitoring the conditions of Tropical Storm Arthur off the east coast of Florida. FEMA remains in close contact with state emergency management partners in potentially affected states.

According to the National Weather Service, a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the east coast of Florida from Fort Pierce to Flagler Beach. A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case within 24 hours. Tropical Storm Arthur is expected to move northwest today and then north on Wednesday. Arthur is expected to become a hurricane by Thursday near the coast of the Carolinas. Visit Hurricanes.gov  and Weather.gov for the latest storm track and local forecasts.

FEMA urges residents and visitors in potentially affected areas to closely monitor the storm and take steps now to be prepared in advance of severe weather and most importantly, follow the direction of state, tribal and local officials.

FEMA has deployed liaisons to the emergency operations centers in North Carolina and South Carolina along with an Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) to North Carolina to coordinate with local officials, should support be requested, or needed. FEMA’s regional office in Atlanta is in contact with its emergency management partners in Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. FEMA’s National Watch Center is at an Enhanced Watch.

As the first tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, Tropical Storm Arthur serves as a reminder for residents in areas prone to tropical storms and hurricanes to refresh their emergency kits and review family plans. If you do not have an emergency kit or family plan, or to learn about steps you can take now to prepare your family for severe weather, visit ready.gov.

At all times, FEMA maintains commodities, including millions of liters of water, millions of meals and hundreds of thousands of blankets, strategically located at distribution centers throughout the United States, that are available to state and local partners if needed and requested.

Tropical Storm Safety Tips:

  • Residents and visitors in potentially affected areas should be familiar with evacuation routes, have a communications plan, keep a battery-powered radio handy and have a plan for their pets. Individuals should visit ready.gov or listo.gov to learn these and other preparedness tips for tropical storms.
  • Know your evacuation zone and be sure to follow the direction of state and local officials if an evacuation is ordered for your area.
  • Storm surge is often the greatest threat to life and property from a hurricane. It poses a significant threat for drowning and can occur before, during, or after the center of a storm passes through an area. Storm surge can sometimes cut off evacuation routes, so do not delay leaving if an evacuation is ordered for your area.
  • Driving through a flooded area can be extremely hazardous and almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. When in your car, look out for flooding in low lying areas, at bridges and at highway dips. As little as six inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
  • If you encounter flood waters, remember – turn around, don’t drown.
  • Tropical Storms have the potential for tornado formation. If you are under a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately in the center of a small interior room (closet, interior hallway) on the lowest level of a sturdy building. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside.
  • Get to know the terms that are used to identify severe weather and discuss with your family what to do if a watch or warning is issued.

For a tropical storm:

  • A Tropical Storm Watch is issued when tropical cyclone containing winds of at least 39 MPH or higher poses a possible threat, generally within 48 hours.
  • A Tropical Storm Warning is issued when sustained winds of 39 MPH or higher associated with a tropical cyclone are expected in 36 hours or less.

For coastal flooding:

  • A Coastal Flood Watch is issued when moderate to major coastal flooding is possible.
  • A Coastal Flood Warning is issued when moderate to major coastal flooding is occurring or imminent.
  • A Coastal Flood Advisory is issued when minor or nuisance coastal flooding is occurring or imminent.

More safety tips on hurricanes and tropical storms can be found at ready.gov/hurricanes.

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Ahead of Tropical Storm Arthur, FEMA Urges Residents to Take Steps to Prepare, Listen to Local Officials

Recovery Center in Jefferson County to Become an SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center June 14

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The FEMA Recovery Center at the Maurice C. West Community Center in Graysville in Jefferson County will become an SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center at the Graysville Public Library, Saturday, June 14 at 9 a.m.

The SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, then, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The SBA Center will have both SBA and FEMA staff on hand.

The Center will be located at Graysville Public Library, 315 South Main St., Graysville, AL, 35073.

After the FEMA center becomes an SBA center, survivors will still be able to contact FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone at m.fema.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362; TTY 800-462-7585.  Multilingual operators are available.

The deadline to register for federal disaster assistance and apply for SBA disaster loans is July 1, 2014.

The SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations to repair or replace uncompensated losses. The SBA may lend up to $200,000 to repair or replace homes and up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property.

Loans to businesses, including nonprofits, are available up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged real estate, and other business assets.  Eligible businesses and non-profits can apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster.

The deadline for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications is February 2, 2015.

 

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Recovery Center in Jefferson County to Become an SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center June 14

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