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President declares major disaster for Texas

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Texas to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of October 22-31, 2015.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Bastrop, Brazoria, Caldwell, Comal, Galveston, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Hays, Hidalgo, Liberty, Navarro, Travis, Willacy, and Wilson counties.

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.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Kevin L. Hannes has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Hannes said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance today by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) 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.

Follow FEMA online at http://blog.fema.gov, 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.

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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President declares major disaster for Texas

Flood Risk Open House to View Maps in Raymondville and Brownsville, Texas -REVISED

Flood Risk Open House to View Maps in Raymondville and Brownsville, Texas

Public Open House Events Scheduled to Share Map Changes and Flood Risk Information
(Please note correction below to address for open house in Willacy County.)

DENTON, Texas –Homeowners, renters and business owners in the Texas counties of Cameron and Willacy are encouraged to look over newly released preliminary flood maps in order to determine their flood risks and make informed decisions.

County officials and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are presenting the preliminary maps to communities and unincorporated areas in order to help leaders and residents identify known flood risks and use that information to make decisions about buying flood insurance and how the community should move forward with any development.

The Texas-based coastal flood mapping effort follows the release of a new, comprehensive storm surge study that gives updated information on coastal flood risks. To share that data, public workshops are scheduled in each of the counties where interested citizens can obtain more information about the proposed changes. Experts will be on hand to answer questions related to the newly identified flood risks.

Willacy County Cameron County

Wednesday, Nov. 18 Thursday, Nov. 19

L. E. Franks Tourist Center Brownsville Public Library

501 S. Seventh Street 2600 Central Blvd.

Raymondville, TX Brownsville, TX

2:00 – 7:00 p.m. 2:00 – 7:00 p.m.

“As we work together with our state and local partners to bring this critical information to these counties, we ask that everyone review the maps to understand what flood risks are involved,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “The role of the community as an active partner in the flood mapping process is very important.”

Additional information is available, including links to the interactive mapping website on www.riskmap6.com. Residents can also contact the floodplain administrator in each county for more details.

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Flood Risk Open House to View Maps in Raymondville and Brownsville, Texas -REVISED

Texas Receives More Than $2.2 Million in FEMA Preparedness Grants

DENTON, Texas — Fire departments and cities in Texas have received more than $2.2 million in preparedness grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Since August, the grants have been awarded in 16 counties across the state, paying for everything from firefighting equipment to fire vehicles. Here’s how the grants break down by county:

Anderson County:
• City of Palestine Fire Department – firefighting equipment – $170,667

Caldwell County:
• Mic-County Volunteer Fire Department in Lockhart – communications equipment – $399,637

Collin County:
• Anna Fire Department – firefighting equipment – $28,572

Cooke County:
• Muenster Volunteer Fire Department – firefighting equipment – $78,572

Dallas County:
• Garland Fire Department – simulators and other equipment – $18,730

Fort Bend County:
• City of Stafford – firefighting equipment – $152,728

Gregg County:
• Kilgore Fire Department – firefighting equipment – $158,364

Grayson County:
• Van Alstyne Fire Department – firefighting equipment – $33,387

Harris County:
• City of Webster – thermal imaging camera – $23,620
• Eastex Freeway Volunteer Fire Department – communications equipment – $73,119

Hunt County:
• Cash Fire Department Assoc., Inc. in Greenville – $71,760

Kaufman County:
• City of Terrell Fire Department – firefighting and exercise equipment – $246,215

Kleberg County:
• Kingsville Fire Department – pumper truck – $362,728

McLennan County:
• Elm Mott Volunteer Fire and Rescue – vehicle extrication equipment – $31,429

Orange County:
• Orange County Emergency Services District #1 in Vidor – firefighting equipment – $173,993

Tarrant County:
• Richland Hills Fire Rescue – firefighting equipment – $41,214

Trinity County:
• Apple Springs Volunteer Fire Department – firefighting equipment – $53,143

Wood County:
• Quitman Fire & Rescue – firefighting equipment – $111,429

The federal grants are part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program. The primary goal of the AFG is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations. Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders get critically-needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources.

For more information on the AFG program, visit http://www.fema.gov/assistance-firefighters-grant.

Follow FEMA Region 6 on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion6.

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Texas Receives More Than $2.2 Million in FEMA Preparedness Grants

Aransas County, Texas Flood Maps Become Final in February

DENTON, Texas ––In mid-February, new flood maps for Aransas County will become effective and be used for rating flood insurance policies. Local, state and federal officials encourage residents to view the maps before Wednesday, February 17, 2016, in order to understand their flood risk and then consider buying flood insurance.

Most property insurance policies do not cover the effects of flooding. People without flood insurance, whether through a private policy or through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), risk uninsured losses to their homes, personal property and businesses. The NFIP is a voluntary protection program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),

Flooding is the most frequent natural disaster in the U.S. and only flood insurance covers these unexpected, damaging and sometimes fatal events. “We all need to prepare for the hazards and risks in our communities. The first step in taking the appropriate actions to prepare for flooding is to know your risk,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson.

Contact your local floodplain administrator to learn if your community participates in the NFIP and to review the new flood maps. FEMA map specialists and flood insurance experts also are available to answer your questions. They can be reached by phone and online chat.

•   To view a Preliminary Interactive Flood Map: http://maps.riskmap6.com/TX/Aransas/
•   To use the live chat service, visit http://go.usa.gov/r6C. Click on the “Live Chat” icon.
•   To contact a FEMA Map Specialist, call 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or send an email to FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com.
•   NFIP Helpline – 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), press “2” for Flood Insurance questions

FEMA encourages communities not currently participating in the NFIP to look at the benefits of joining the program. The purchase of insurance should be considered for those newly mapped into a Special Flood Hazard Area before the maps become effective. Contacting a local insurance agent is the first step to obtaining information about insurance. Visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531 to locate an agent in your area.

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Aransas County, Texas Flood Maps Become Final in February

Austin Program Encourages Residents to be Disaster Ready

During September, National Preparedness Month, the Austin Joint Field Office is releasing a series of stories highlighting FEMA’s support of Texas communities as they take steps to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property.

AUSTIN, Texas – Austin’s city leaders have seen disaster before and understand the folly of waiting and hoping one will never again hit this area.

With that in mind, they partnered with Travis County and the Central Texas Chapter of the American Red Cross to develop “Disaster Ready Austin.” Coordinated by the city of Austin’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM), the purpose of the initiative is to educate and empower residents to be prepared for emergencies and disasters.

The vision is a whole-community approach to disaster preparedness education in the city of Austin. “Our basic message to [residents] is to protect themselves,” said Jacob Dirr, public information and marketing officer of HSEM’s Community Preparedness Programs. “The goal is to educate Austin residents on basic preparedness for all types of hazards, including first aid tips and what to do in case of flash floods, wildfires, severe weather, pandemic flu or accidents involving hazardous materials.”

Online resources, such as contact cards and emergency kit checklists are offered in English and Spanish at Homeland Security and Emergency Management | AustinTexas.gov . The HSEM Community Education and Outreach team members take advantage of scheduled meetings, such as Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) gatherings at the schools, where they offer presentations in English and Spanish.

Dirr notes that in some areas young kids, and parents, in the Austin community understand Spanish more than English.

Other audiences include Boy Scout groups, elderly care facilities, fairs, kids’ summer programs, area employers, community groups and school events.

One component of their community outreach at events is “Ready Freddie,” a character included in a children’s activity book called “Too Prepared to Be Scared,” which Dirr said is popular with parents and children. Featuring puzzles, games and animated figures to help get the preparedness message across, the booklet also has a certificate of appreciation children can receive when they finish.

“It’s full of colorful disaster-related advice such as information on developing an emergency supply kit, having an emergency plan and keeping pets safe,” Dirr said.

One of the biggest events attended by HSEM staff, including Dirr dressed in a life-size Ready Freddie mascot costume, was the “Back to School Bash” held at the downtown convention center. More than 100 vendors participated, with attendance exceeding 11,000.

To learn more about how cities and towns across Texas are building stronger, safer communities visit Best Practice Stories | FEMA.gov.

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Austin Program Encourages Residents to be Disaster Ready

September is National Preparedness Month: Don’t Wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today.

DENTON, Texas – “Don’t Wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today.” That’s the message emergency managers are sharing with people all over Texas and beyond during the month of September.

September is National Preparedness Month and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region 6 Office is urging everyone to take steps to make a plan and know what to do during an emergency.

Whether you deal with the possible threats of flooding, wildfires, hurricanes or power outages, the preparedness steps to take are the same. They include:

•   Knowing your risk for where you live;
•   Having an individual and family preparedness plan in place;
•   Practicing that plan;
•   Putting together an emergency kit with water and non-perishable supplies to last for at least three days for you, your family and your pets;
•   Ensuring that your contact list is up-to-date for people you may need to reach out to during a disaster; and
•   Establishing alternative methods of communication in case traditional means are not available.

Additionally, September 30 is National PrepareAthon! Day. You are encouraged to participate by doing a simple, specific action or activity to improve your preparedness and your family’s preparedness; or it can be something more elaborate that involves your neighborhood, your place of worship, your entire workplace or your community.

Visit www.ready.gov or www.ready.gov/prepare for more information on America’s PrepareAthon! You can find tools to stage your own emergency preparedness drills, as well as register any preparedness activities for you or your community.

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September is National Preparedness Month: Don’t Wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today.

Preliminary Flood Maps in Willacy County and Cameron County in Texas Ready for Public View

DENTON, Texas – Homeowners, renters and business owners in Willacy County and Cameron County in Texas are encouraged to look over newly-released preliminary flood maps in order to determine their flood risks and make informed decisions.

Local officials and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are presenting the revised preliminary maps to communities in order to help leaders and residents identify known flood risks in their area. Residents and business owners can use this information to make decisions about buying flood insurance and other building decisions. Community leaders can use this information to identify how the community should move forward with any development.

“We have worked with our state and local partners to bring this critical information to the county and hope that everyone reviews the maps to understand what flood risks are involved,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “It is very important to have the community as an active partner in the flood mapping process.”

To view the revised flood maps, please contact your local floodplain administrator who may be located at City Hall or the local county government building. You can also visit http://msc.fema.gov/portal or http://maps.riskmap6.com. To contact a FEMA Map Specialist, call 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or send an email to FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com.

Once a flood risk is identified, the next step is to consider the purchase of a flood policy from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531 to locate an agent in your area.

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Preliminary Flood Maps in Willacy County and Cameron County in Texas Ready for Public View

Texans Have Every Reason to Register for Disaster Assistance

AUSTIN, Texas – Apply by Aug. 27 for assistance from FEMA or the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). You have every reason to do so.

If you are among thousands of Texans affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred from May 4 to June 22, you may be eligible for a grant or low-interest loan from the SBA. If you answer YES to any of the following questions and were affected by the disaster, you may be eligible.

Are you a homeowner, renter or business of any size with disaster-related damage?
Did you file an insurance claim for damage and have not received your settlement?
Are you uninsured or under-insured and have unmet needs?
Do you need help applying because English is your second language?
Are you a Qualified Alien or the parent of a U.S. citizen in your household?
Are you a person with a disability or have an access or functional need?
Do you receive Social Security, Medicaid food stamps and are concerned help will affect your benefits?
Do you need help, but feel others need it more or that there won’t be enough assistance for everyone?
Do you feel you will not qualify for a low-interest loan?

If you have questions or concerns about applying for disaster assistance, call the FEMA helpline before the Aug. 27 deadline. Tell your friends and neighbors that help may be available, but they must register before the deadline.

Remember, FEMA grants do not have to be repaid and you are not required to accept an SBA loan. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

Find answers to questions on http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4223. Topics include rumor control, recovery information, recovery center locations and hours, links to apply for assistance and other resources, information about flood insurance, news releases, fact sheets, photographs and blogs.

You can apply for FEMA assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362 toll free from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time). Multilingual operators are available. Disaster assistance applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

You also can visit a Disaster Recovery Center. Assistive equipment is available. To find the nearest DRC, go online to http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

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All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).

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.

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Texans Have Every Reason to Register for Disaster Assistance

FEMA Advisors at Texas Home Improvement Stores Help Survivors Prevent Damage from Future Storms

AUSTIN, Texas – As Texans rebuild or repair their homes damaged by the May 4 through June 22 storms, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and local home improvement stores have teamed up to provide free information, tips and literature on making homes stronger and safer.

FEMA mitigation specialists will be on hand in Brazoria, Harris, Travis, Walker, and Van Zandt counties at in-store information centers to answer questions and offer home improvement tips and proven methods to prevent and lessen damage from future disasters. Most of the information is geared for do-it-yourself work and general contractors.

Also, if you’re thinking of building a storm shelter or safe room, literature is available about the best options. Safe rooms built to FEMA specifications have saved thousands of lives.

Advisors will be available at five locations Aug. 27 – Sept. 1. Except as noted, hours of operation are Thursday – Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday, 8.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Monday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday (Sept. 1), 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Brazoria County: Lowe’s located at 200 Highway 332 East, Lake Jackson, TX 77566

Harris County: Home Depot located at 10707 N. Fwy, Houston, TX 77037

Travis County: Home Depot located at 8801 S I-35, Austin, TX 78744

Walker County: Home Depot located at 215 Interstate 45 North, Huntsville, TX 77340

Van Zandt County: Ace Hardware, 221 E. Highway 243, Canton, TX 75103

Mitigation teams will also have free reference booklets in English and Spanish on protecting your home from flood damage and cleaning up mold and mildew. More information about strengthening property can be found at http://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation.

FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has a call center to answer Texas policyholders’ flood insurance questions. Specialists can help with servicing claims, providing general information and offering technical assistance to aid in recovery. To speak with a flood insurance specialist, call 800-621-3362 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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

For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4223, Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

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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 sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

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FEMA Advisors at Texas Home Improvement Stores Help Survivors Prevent Damage from Future Storms

Texans Who Filed Insurance Claims for May-June Storm Damage Should Register With FEMA

AUSTIN, Texas – If you are among the thousands of Texans who filed insurance claims for damage related to the May 4 to June 22 storms, you may be eligible for additional state-federal assistance. The key is to register with FEMA before the Aug. 27 deadline. Filing a claim under FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program is different than registering for a FEMA disaster assistance grant.

FEMA may be able to help you with uninsured or underinsured losses or if your insurance settlement is delayed. Be sure to document your situation and gather insurance company documents that can be included when you talk with FEMA after registering.

Have you received the maximum settlement from your insurance and still have unmet disaster-related needs? You may be eligible for a grant.

For example, if you have exhausted the maximum settlement from your insurance for Additional Living Expenses (ALE for loss of use) and still need help from FEMA with temporary housing, you should document your need and assemble paperwork that shows use of ALE from insurance.

While FEMA cannot duplicate benefits covered by your insurance or other sources, you may also be eligible for emergency home repairs, disaster-related medical, dental and funeral costs and other disaster-related expenses.

Has a decision on your insurance settlement been delayed longer than 30 days from the time you filed your claim? Be sure to let FEMA know and have ready any documents from your insurance company to show that you filed a claim. If the claim was filed over the telephone, include the claim number, date applied, and an estimate of how long it will take for you to receive your settlement. Any help from FEMA would be considered an advance and would have to be repaid to FEMA when your insurance settlement is received.

You can apply for FEMA assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362 toll free from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) daily until further notice. Multilingual operators are available.

Disaster assistance applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

Applying for an SBA low-interest disaster loan is part of federal disaster assistance. Many people who apply to FEMA are automatically referred for a low-interest disaster assistance loan. Survivors should complete SBA loan applications so they can be considered for all available disaster assistance.

For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4223, Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6, and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

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Texans Who Filed Insurance Claims for May-June Storm Damage Should Register With FEMA

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