Crisis Counseling Available to Disaster Survivors in Gregg, Harrison and Marion Counties

AUSTIN, Texas – Crisis counselors are available to help Texans affected by disaster-related stress in Gregg, Harrison and Marion counties.

For survivors who are having trouble coping or those feeling hopeless, angry or sad—all telltale signs of stress—the Texas crisis counseling hotline will connect them with the help they may need. The toll-free number is 800-832-1009 and the line is answered 24 hours a day.

Crisis counseling services are part of a grant program that assists individuals and communities recovering from the effects of the March 7-29 storms, tornadoes and flooding. Mental health specialists are available to provide emotional support and help survivors develop recovery options as well as direct them to other individuals and agencies for more extensive help.

Experts suggest several ways to relieve the symptoms of stress after a disaster:

  • get back to a daily routine as soon as possible;
  • maintain a healthy diet and get plenty of sleep;
  • get physical exercise every day, even if it is just walking; and
  • spend extra time with children and older friends or family who may feel more vulnerable or confused by the disruption and changes.

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the March storms at fema.gov/disaster/4266; or visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Follow us on Twitter @femaregion6.

# # #

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 reading here:

Crisis Counseling Available to Disaster Survivors in Gregg, Harrison and Marion Counties

Four Disaster Recovery Centers Scheduled to Close in Jasper, Newton and Orange Counties

AUSTIN, Texas – Four FEMA/state disaster recovery centers in Texas will close Saturday, April 30 at 2 p.m. and not re-open.

The locations of the centers are:

Jasper County

Jasper County Annex Bldg. (1st Floor)

271 East Lamar

Jasper, TX 75957                                   

Orange County         

Northway Shopping Center               

3777 N 16th St. Ste 100        

Orange, TX 77630 

Newton County        

Hartburg Baptist Church

2316 County Road 4181

Orange, TX 77632

Iris & Annie Howard Civic Center

213 Court Street

Newton, TX 75966

DRCs are operated jointly by FEMA and the state. After the center closes, Texans whose homes or businesses were affected by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that occurred March 7-29, can still register for assistance, get questions answered and check on the status of their claim the following ways:

  • Go online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
  • Call 800-621-3362 (FEMA) or TTY 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week. The deadline to register for federal assistance is May 18.

Recovery officials encourage Texans who registered for disaster assistance with FEMA to “stay in touch.” If survivors change their address or phone number they should update FEMA with the information. Missing or erroneous information could result in delays in getting a home inspection or receiving assistance.

Disaster survivors can visit any DRC. There may be another recovery center nearby. To find the closest one, go online to the Disaster Recovery Center locator at http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

# # #

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.

See more here: 

Four Disaster Recovery Centers Scheduled to Close in Jasper, Newton and Orange Counties

A Disaster Recovery Center is Scheduled to Close in Gregg County

AUSTIN, Texas – A disaster recovery center, located at the Chamber of Commerce, 813 N. Kilgore Street, Kilgore, TX 75662, will close Saturday, April 30 at 2 p.m.

DRCs are operated jointly by FEMA and the state. After the center closes, Texans whose homes or businesses were affected by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that occurred March 7-29, can still register for assistance, get questions answered and check on the status of their claim the following ways:

  • Go online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
  • Call 800-621-3362 (FEMA) or TTY 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week. The deadline to register for federal assistance is May 18.

Recovery officials encourage Texans who registered for disaster assistance with FEMA to “stay in touch.” If survivors change their address or phone number they should update FEMA with the information. Missing or erroneous information could result in delays in getting a home inspection or receiving assistance.

Disaster survivors can visit any DRC. There may be another recovery center nearby. To find the closest one, go online to the Disaster Recovery Center locator at http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

# # #

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.

 

 

Read article here – 

A Disaster Recovery Center is Scheduled to Close in Gregg County

Flood Insurance Can Provide Peace of Mind for Texans

Flood Insurance Can Provide Peace of Mind for Texans

Main Content

Release date:

August 20, 2015

Release Number:

FS-013

Flood insurance can save Texas homeowners and renters thousands of dollars in repairs. It also can provide peace of mind considering that flooding is the most frequent natural disaster in the United States.

Flood Insurance in Texas:

  • Flooding comes from a variety of sources in Texas, such as rainstorms, tropical storms, and hurricanes.
  • Last year, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) paid out more than

$58.5 million in claims for Texans. So far this year, the agency has paid out more than quadruple that amount – exceeding $277.6 million, as of Aug. 19.

  • Nearly 600,000 Texas households had flood insurance as of May 31, according to the NFIP. While that number may seem large, it is a small percentage of the 8.9 million total Texas households.

Costs Add up Quickly:

  • Just three inches of floodwater in a home will require replacing drywall, baseboards, carpet, furniture and other necessary repairs that can cost $22,500 in a 2,000-square foot house.
  • The deeper the floodwater, the higher the repair costs – 12 inches of water in a 2,000-square foot house can cost $50,000 or more.

Common Misconceptions:

  • Understanding the value of flood insurance is important, yet many people remain uninsured, in part due to common misconceptions.
  • Many policyholders believe their insurance covers all hazards and flood insurance isn’t needed. However, standard homeowner policies do not cover flooding.
  • A federal disaster declaration is not necessary to make a claim on an NFIP flood insurance policy.
  • Homes located outside flood-prone areas need flood insurance, too. Nationally, 25 percent of the total structures that flood each year belong to policyholders whose properties are not in high-risk areas.

Obtaining Flood Insurance:

  • There is normally a 30-day waiting period when purchasing a new policy. Flood insurance is sold through private insurance companies and agents and is backed by the federal government.
  • Flood insurance is available to homeowners, business owners and renters in communities that participate in the NFIP and enforce their local flood plain management ordinances. To determine if a community participates in NFIP, go online to www.floodsmart.gov
  • Homeowners in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) must buy flood insurance if they have a mortgage from a federally regulated lender.
  • An interactive guide to determine flood risk is available online at www.floodsmart.gov. This site also provides additional information on the NFIP and a list of insurance agents in a homeowner’s area who sell NFIP flood coverage.

Costs and Coverage:

  • Flood insurance premiums average about $700 per year for homeowners.
  • Homeowners can insure their homes for up to $250,000 and contents for up to $100,000.
  • A number of factors determine rates for renters. Renters can cover their belongings in amounts up to $100,000.
  • Nonresidential property owners can insure a building and its contents for up to $500,000 each. 

###

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 Updated:

August 20, 2015 – 15:02

Link to original: 

Flood Insurance Can Provide Peace of Mind for Texans

More than $137 Million Flows to Texas One Month Following Disaster

AUSTIN, Texas – State and federal dollars are flowing into Texas communities recovering from the May 4 through June 19 storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and floods.

To date, more than $137 million in state and federal grants, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loans, and National Flood Insurance Program claims have been approved and/or paid to Texans.

The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), partners in the state’s recovery, provide the following summary of disaster assistance efforts as of June 30:

        NUMBER            ACTIVITY

  • $75.9 million         NFIP Flood claims paid to Texans since May 4
  • $27.7 million        SBA low-interest disaster loans
  • $34.1 million        Housing, Other Needs Grants
  • 22,158                  Total FEMA Registrations
  • 16,544                  Home inspections completed
  • 8,380                    National Flood Insurance Program claims to date 
  • 1,846                    Visits to Disaster Recovery Centers
  • 800                      Number of federal workers in Texas assisting with disaster recovery
  • 264                      Billboard and outdoor electronic signs displaying FEMA information
  • 58                       Number of counties designated for Public Assistance
  • 31                       Number of counties designated for Individual Assistance
  • 25                      Fixed and mobile disaster recovery and mobile registration intake centers

The deadline to register with FEMA is July 28. To register for assistance, Texans can apply online at www.disasterassistance.gov. or by calling 800-621-3362, (TTY) 800-462-7585 for the speech- and hearing-impaired. Both numbers are available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time daily, until further notice. More information is available online at www.fema.gov or at www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

###

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.  Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion6.

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

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

Visit www.fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation for publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger.

Visit source:  

More than $137 Million Flows to Texas One Month Following Disaster

FEMA Seeks Texans to Work at Disaster Recovery Offices

AUSTIN, Texas – Texans will have the opportunity to assist with the state’s disaster recovery from the severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that occurred from May 4 to June 19. Dozens of qualified Texans will be offered temporary jobs as local hires of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in its Austin, Denton, and Houston offices.

FEMA has partnered in this venture with the Texas Workforce Commission. Those interested may go to http://www.workintexas.com and create an account. Once logged in, click on “Search All Jobs” and type “FEMA” into the search bar.

Currently, there are six job categories posted:

  • Administrative/Clerical
  • Customer service
  • Logistics
  • Report writing
  • Switchboard/Help desk
  • Technical/Architecture/Engineering

FEMA positions with detailed job descriptions will remain posted through July 24 or until the jobs are filled.

Candidates must be 18 years of age or older and must be a U.S. citizen. Qualified applications will be forwarded to FEMA staff, who will select candidates for interviews. Selected candidates should have a valid government identification card, such as a driver’s license or military ID. Candidates will be required to complete a background investigation, which includes finger printing, and additional ID, such as Social Security card, birth certificate or passport. The hiring process may take up to 15 days from the date of application.

FEMA is committed to employing a highly qualified workforce that reflects the diversity of our nation. All applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, political affiliation, non-disqualifying physical handicap, sexual orientation, and any other non-merit factor. The federal government is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

More positions may be posted on the TWC webpage as the disaster recovery continues.

All are encouraged to visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4223 for news and information about this 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-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.  Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion6.

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

Visit www.fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation for publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger

Source article – 

FEMA Seeks Texans to Work at Disaster Recovery Offices

 Page 2 of 2 « 1  2