VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Virginia citizens will begin to see Disaster Survivor Assistance teams in certain affected disaster areas beginning as early as this week.

These community outreach teams are disaster recovery specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM). The teams will be canvassing the impacted areas to help survivors register for FEMA assistance. They can also check and verify information already provided by survivors, update their records, and discuss next steps in their recovery process.

You’ll know if the person knocking on your door is a FEMA representative because they will have official identification around their neck or pinned to their jackets. Team members also are meeting with representatives of community-based agencies, local leaders, and public officials.

It’s important to remember that if you were impacted by Hurricane Matthew in Chesapeake, Newport News, Norfolk, or Virginia Beach, you don’t have to wait to see a Disaster Survivor Assistance team in your area to register for FEMA assistance.

Survivors are encouraged to register with FEMA as soon as possible. You can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov, on the FEMA Mobile App, or by calling 800-621-3362 (FEMA).

Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.

Assistance for eligible survivors can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs. Once registered, both FEMA and the Small Business Administration (SBA) encourage residents to apply for a low-interest disaster SBA loan to help fund their recovery and to ensure the federal disaster recovery process continues.

 Long-term, low-interest disaster loans from the SBA may also be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance and that do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Homeowners and renters with or without flood insurance are encouraged to complete the SBA loan application to continue their recovery process. Virginians who don’t complete that application may miss the opportunity to be eligible for FEMA Other Needs Assistance programs. Remember, applicants don’t have to accept the loan if you qualify for one.

Survivors should contact their own insurance company to file their insurance claim. FEMA is unable to duplicate insurance payments. However, those without insurance or those who are underinsured may be eligible for help after their insurance claims have been settled.

For more information visit FEMA.gov/disaster/4291.

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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.

 

Additional information about this disaster is available at FEMA.gov and VAemergency.gov.

 

Originally from:  

Local Survivors get Help from Disaster Assistance Teams

July 8, 2015

DR-4226-AR

FEMA News Desk: 501-399-4075

State Public Affairs: 501-683-6700

publicaffairs@ADEM.arkansas.gov

SBA: William Koontz 916-847-2346

Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams Visit Arkansas Communities

 

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – The residents of nine Arkansas counties included in a federal disaster declaration may see FEMA’s Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams in their communities, offering a personal link to the resources for recovery.

Using the latest mobile technology, DSA team members are there to help survivors register for disaster assistance; provide up-to-date information on applications; help determine ongoing needs; and make referrals to help fill any outstanding needs.

The DSA teams are there in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management and local officials from the communities they visit. DSA team members carry FEMA photo IDs. If the photo ID is not displayed, ask to see it. This helps prevent fraud.

The DSA teams may request the following information:

•    A phone number where you can be reached;

•    Your social security number;

•    Your current mailing address;

•    The address of the affected property;

•    A brief description of the damages; and

•    Insurance information including your policy number.

DSA teams will visit Crawford, Garland, Howard, Jefferson, Little River, Miller, Perry, Sebastian and Sevier counties.  Residents in those counties who suffered damage as a result of the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of May 7 to June 15, 2015 may be eligible for disaster assistance.

Registering for assistance with FEMA is an important first step toward recovering.  Registration is available online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621- 3362 (FEMA) or by web-enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov.

Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

Reasonable accomodations, including assistive technologies, may be available by calling the 800 number, or by making a request with a DSA team member.

Disaster assistance can include grants for temporary housing and 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.

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 800-621-3362. 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.

 

 

 

Source: 

Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams Visit Arkansas Communities

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Federal aid provided to Alabama residents affected by the April 28 through May 5 severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding has reached more than $43.6 million.

The following numbers, compiled July 25, provide a snapshot of the Alabama/FEMA disaster recovery to date:

Funds approved:

  • $20.8 million for Housing Assistance grants to help with recovery rental expenses and home repair costs.
  • $4.2 million for Other Needs Assistance to cover essential disaster-related needs, such as medical expenses and lost personal possessions.
  • $16 million approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest loans to eligible homeowners, renters and businesses.
  • $6.8 million for Public Assistance programs to help the state and local governments with the costs of recovery. Of that amount, $1.9 million has been allocated for debris removal. Another $575,000 will go toward storm response and $4.1 million has been obligated for infrastructure repair and replacement.

Survivor Recovery

  • 16,113 damaged homes and properties have been inspected (99 percent of requests).
  • 9 counties designated for Individual Assistance.
  • 21 counties designated for Public Assistance.

FEMA’s mitigation outreach program at nine Home Depot and Lowe’s home improvement stores provided 1,600 shoppers with information on rebuilding/repairing homes in a safer and resilient manner. Thank you letters are being presented to participating stores.

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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.

 

Continue at source:  

Federal Disaster Aid for Alabama Reaches More Than $43.6 Million

AURORA, Ill.  – FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) crews will travel to McDonough and Mason counties to meet with survivors of the April 16 – May 5 flooding to answer questions and help them register for FEMA assistance.

The dates and locations are:

McDonough County Health Department

505 E. Jackson St.

Macomb, IL 61455

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, June 3, through Saturday, June 8.

 

Mason County

Bath Village Offices

205 E. First St.

Bath, IL 62617

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, June 3, through Thursday, June 6.

DSA crew members will answer questions on registration, hand out flyers in several languages, assist those with damages to register for FEMA assistance and provide status updates to those who have registered.  DSA Crew members, who carry federal identification, also will offer residents the opportunity to use a tablet computer to register, or, if asked, enter the data on behalf of the applicant.

FEMA mitigation specialists also will be available to provide information on how to repair or rebuild homes to limit future storm or flood damage.

Survivors also can use personal computers or phones to register. Call 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585), visit DisasterAssistance.gov or use a mobile device at m.fema.gov. Information also is available by visiting the Illinois Disaster website www.fema.gov/disaster/4116.

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.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

Link:

FEMA’s Specialists Help Macomb and Mason County Survivors Register

CHICAGO – FEMA’s Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams (DSATs) that have been canvassing areas of the state to help residents register for disaster assistance will be doing outreach at the Walmart in Robinson this weekend, from Saturday, May 25 through Monday, May 27. The teams will be on site most of the day, starting at 9:00 a.m.

DSAT members offer residents the opportunity to use a tablet computer to register, or ask to enter information on their behalf.  Illinois residents will not be required to share personal information unless they wish a DSAT member to enter the data for them. 

While FEMA DSATs are offering in-person service, it’s important that Illinoisans remain vigilant about protecting their personal information. For example, residents should always ask for identification. Federal and state officials always have ID clearly visible.

If residents prefer to use personal computers or phones to register, they can call 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585), visit www.disasterassistance.gov or use a mobile device at m.fema.gov. For more information, go to: http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4116.

FEMA’s disaster assistance can include grants to repair homes, temporary rental assistance and reimbursement for damaged property caused by the disaster. While FEMA cannot duplicate insurance benefits, the agency can provide assistance for uninsured or under-insured damage. DSAT members can also provide referrals to additional resources when unmet needs remain.

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.

Media Contact: 571-408-1835

Original source:

Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams at Walmart in Robinson in Crawford County