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Low-interest Disaster Loans Help Fuel Texas Disaster Recovery

AUSTIN, Texas – Disaster recovery experts today urged applicants for federal assistance to complete a disaster loan application from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Taking a loan is not required; completing the application can open the door to all federal assistance, including possible additional grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. If approved, and a survivor does not accept the loan, it may make them ineligible for additional federal assistance.

Many Texans who register for disaster assistance with FEMA will receive an automated call from SBA with information on how to complete the loan application process. These low-interest SBA loans are the major source of funding for disaster recovery.

SBA provides low-interest loans to businesses of all sizes (including landlords) and to homeowners, renters and eligible private nonprofit organizations that sustained disaster damage. There is no cost to apply for a loan.

Assistance from FEMA is limited to help jump-start the recovery; it may not cover all damage or property loss. Completing the SBA loan application may make FEMA assistance available to replace essential household items, replace or repair a damaged vehicle, or pay for storage costs.

Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 2.625 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 1.813 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years.

Eligible homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 for home repair or replacement of primary residences, and eligible homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 to replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property, including a vehicle.
Businesses of all sizes can qualify for up to $2 million in low-interest loans to help cover physical damages.
Small businesses and most private nonprofits suffering economic impact due to the severe weather and flooding can apply for up to $2 million for any combination of property damage or economic injury under SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster loan information and application forms are available online at SBA.gov/disaster, from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955 or emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call 800-877-8339. Meet with an SBA representative at a Disaster Recovery Center to learn more about disaster loans, the application process or for help completing an SBA application.

Completed applications should be mailed to:

U.S. Small Business Administration

Processing and Disbursement Center

14925 Kingsport Road

Fort Worth, TX 76155

People with storm losses, who still need to register with FEMA, can go online anytime at DisasterAssistance.gov. Survivors also can register with FEMA by phone (voice, 711 or video relay service) at 800-621-3362, TTY 800-462-7585. The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

Federal disaster assistance is available to residents of Erath, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hood, Jasper, Limestone, Marion, Newton, Orange, Parker, Shelby and Tyler counties that suffered damage in the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding, March 7-29.

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Low-interest Disaster Loans Help Fuel Texas Disaster Recovery

FEMA Offers Advice for Texans on Lessening Storm Damage in Jasper County

AUSTIN, Texas – A team of specialists from FEMA will offer tips and techniques to lessen the impact of disaster-related property damage at Lowe’s Home Improvement store in Jasper County.

Specialists will be available at the following location:

Lowe’s: 900 W Gibson, Jasper, TX 75951

Available: 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 15; 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 16 and 17; and 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, April 18 and 19.

FEMA Mitigation specialists will be on hand to answer questions and offer home improvement tips to reduce damage in future disasters. Information is geared to both do-it-yourselfers and general contractors on topics such as storm shelters and safe rooms.

Booklets are available in both English and Spanish on protecting your home from flood damage and other natural disasters. If you are a person with a disability and need an accommodation to access materials such as Braille, large print, or ASL interpreters, please let our representatives know. More information about strengthening property can be found at http://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation and www.fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation.

FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has a call center to answer policyholder questions, service claims, provide general information and offer technical assistance. To speak with a flood insurance specialist, call 800-621-3362 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage at http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4266, Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

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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.

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FEMA Offers Advice for Texans on Lessening Storm Damage in Jasper County

FEMA Offers Advice for Texans on Lessening Storm Damage in Gregg County

AUSTIN, Texas – A team of specialists from FEMA will offer tips and techniques to lessen the impact of disaster-related property damage at The Home Depot in Gregg County.

Specialists will be available at the following location:

The Home Depot: 411 E Loop 281, Longview, TX 75605

Available: 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 21-22; 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 23-24; and 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, April 25-26

Booklets are available in both English and Spanish on protecting your home from flood damage and other natural disasters. If you are a person with a disability and need an accommodation to access materials such as Braille, large print, or ASL interpreters, please let our representatives know. More information about strengthening property can be found at www.fema.gov/what-mitigation and www.fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation.

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage at www.fema.gov/disaster/4266, Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

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FEMA Offers Advice for Texans on Lessening Storm Damage in Gregg County

Be Aware and Beware of Disaster-Related Fraud and Scams

AUSTIN, Texas – State and federal recovery officials encourage Texans to watch for and report any suspicious activity or potential fraud from scam artists, identity thieves and other criminals. Also, be aware FEMA does not endorse any commercial businesses, products or services.

FEMA encourages survivors as well as local residents and businesses to be especially vigilant for these common post-disaster fraud practices:

Fraudulent building contractors. When hiring a contractor:

Use licensed local contractors backed by reliable references.
Demand that contractors carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation.
Don’t pay more than half the costs of repairs upfront.

Bogus pleas for post-disaster donations. Often, unscrupulous solicitors may play on the emotions of disaster survivors, residents and business owners. Be aware that disaster aid solicitations may arrive by phone, email, letter or face-to-face visits. To ensure a charity is legitimate:

Ask for the requestor’s name as well as the charity’s exact name, street address, phone number and website address – then call the charity directly to confirm the person asking for funds is an employee or volunteer.
Whether making a donation by cash or with a credit card, request a receipt that includes the charity’s name, street address and phone number.
The five-to-six digit numbers known as short codes make it difficult to tell who is on the receiving end of a text. A legitimate charity will not ask you to send personal information or a credit card number by text.

Fake offers of state or federal aid: Beware of visits, calls or e-mails – from people claiming to be from FEMA or the State of Texas – asking for an applicant’s Social Security number, bank account number or other sensitive information.

Don’t fall for scam artists who promise a disaster grant and ask for large cash deposits or advance payments in full.

Federal and state workers do not solicit or accept money. FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) staff never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or help in filling out applications.

Phony housing inspectors. Homeowners and registered FEMA applicants should watch out for phony housing inspectors claiming to represent FEMA or the SBA.

Inspectors already have each applicant’s nine-digit registration number and a FEMA inspector will not ask for this number.
FEMA inspectors NEVER require banking or other personal information.
The job of FEMA housing inspectors is to verify damage. Inspectors do not hire or endorse specific contractors to fix homes or recommend repairs. They do not determine eligibility for assistance.

If you suspect fraud, call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721. If you are the victim of or are the victim of a home repair scam or price gouging, call the Office of the Texas Attorney General at 800-252-8011.

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Be Aware and Beware of Disaster-Related Fraud and Scams

Texas Receives $3.3 Million for Repairs to Roads in Hidalgo County

DENTON, Texas – The state of Texas has been awarded more than $3.3 million in federal disaster assistance for repairs to roads in Hidalgo County. Road damages were a result of the severe storms and flooding in May and June 2015.

The funding, which is made possible by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance program, covers the cost to restore the roads to their pre-flood form and function. More than 10 miles of roadways in and around Mercedes and Edcouch will be repaired.

To date, FEMA has obligated nearly $74 million statewide in Public Assistance for emergency and permanent work due to the May to June 2015 severe storms and flooding in Texas.

The funding for the Hidalgo County road repairs represents a 75 percent federal cost share. FEMA awards funding for projects directly to the state of Texas; the state then disburses the grant to the eligible applicant.

The mission of FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant Program is to provide assistance to state, tribal and local governments, and certain types of nonprofit organizations so that communities can recover from major disasters or emergencies declared by the president.

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 http://twitter.com/femaregion6, and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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Texas Receives $3.3 Million for Repairs to Roads in Hidalgo County

FEMA Provides Funding to Rowlett, Texas, for Tornado Debris Removal

DENTON, Texas –– The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded an initial payment of $1,875,000 to the state of Texas for the city of Rowlett for debris removal. A tornado swept through the city on Dec. 26, 2015, along a 3.5 mile track. Storm debris blocked the paths of emergency vehicles and the general public and created significant danger to motorists. The city of Rowlett removed debris to eliminate threats to public health and safety.

The city estimates the total cost of debris removal at $5 million. FEMA Public Assistance grants pay the federal share of the eligible costs for the work and will cover 75 percent of the cost of the debris removal. Additional federal funding is expected to follow, as FEMA continues to work with its state and local partners to review documentation of final expenses.

The funding is authorized under a Feb. 9, 2016, federal disaster declaration, which designated Dallas County and 50 other counties eligible for Public Assistance. The declaration covered severe winter storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred during the period of Dec. 26, 2015 through Jan. 21, 2016.

Through the program, FEMA provides supplemental federal disaster grant assistance for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged, publicly owned facilities of certain nonprofit organizations.

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FEMA Provides Funding to Rowlett, Texas, for Tornado Debris Removal

Texas Storm Survivors May Receive A Phone Call From SBA

AUSTIN, Texas – Eligible individuals and business owners in Erath, Gregg, Harrison, Hood, Jasper, Marion, Newton, Orange and Parker counties who register for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may receive an automated phone call from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA’s recorded message gives instructions on how to request an application for a low-interest disaster loan.

Because FEMA grants may not cover all damage or property loss, private insurance and low-interest loans from the SBA are major sources of additional disaster recovery funds for businesses of all sizes (including landlords), private non-profits, homeowners and renters.

The survivor must complete and submit the SBA application because it may open the door to further assistance, including additional FEMA grants. There is no cost to apply and no obligation to accept the loan.

Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 2.625 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 1.813 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years.

Eligible homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 for home repair or replacement of primary residences, and eligible homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 to replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property, including a vehicle.
Businesses of all sizes and nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery, equipment, inventory and other business assets.
Small businesses and most private nonprofits suffering economic impact from a disaster can apply for up to $2 million for any combination of property damage or economic injury under SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.

FEMA and SBA encourage survivors to:

Register with FEMA at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone (voice, 711 or video relay service) at 800-621-3362, TTY 800-462-7585. Toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week and multilingual operators are available.
Go online at SBA.gov/disaster and download an application. Contact SBA at 800-659-2955, by email at disastercustomerservice@SBA.gov or meet with an SBA Representative at a Disaster Recovery Center to learn more about disaster loans, the application process, or for help completing the SBA application. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

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Texas Storm Survivors May Receive A Phone Call From SBA

FEMA Officials Visiting Southeast Texas Communities to Link Residents with Resources for Recovery

FEMA Officials Visiting Southeast Texas Communities to Link Residents with Resources for Recovery

AUSTIN, Texas – Residents in Jasper, Newton and Orange counties 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 can help survivors register for disaster assistance, update information on applications, assist with determining ongoing needs, and make referrals to whole community partners.

The DSA teams are there in partnership with the Texas Division of Emergency Management and local officials. DSA team members wear FEMA attire and carry FEMA photo IDs. If the photo ID is not displayed, ask to see it.

They may request the following information:

Social Security number
Address of the damaged primary residence
Description of the damage
Information about insurance coverage
A current contact telephone number
An address where they can receive mail
Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds

FEMA officials will be in the counties to meet with residents who suffered damage from the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that began March 7. Residents in these counties do not have to wait until they meet with a DSA team member to register for FEMA assistance.

Registering for assistance with FEMA is an important first step toward recovering. Survivors can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362 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. seven days a week. Reasonable accommodations, including assistive technologies, may also be available by calling the FEMA Helpline, or by making a request with a DSA team member.

Disaster assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest 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 Officials Visiting Southeast Texas Communities to Link Residents with Resources for Recovery

Three months later: More than $75 million approved for Missouri flood survivors

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Almost three months ago, heavy rains brought flooding and storms to cities along the Mississippi, Missouri and Meramec Rivers. Since that time, more than $75 million has been approved in the form of disaster grants to individuals and families, flood insurance payments, and low-interest loans to renters, homeowners and businesses.

It isn’t too late to receive assistance. The deadline to register for federal assistance is Monday, March 21, 2016. Those who register with FEMA can be referred to national and locally-active voluntary, faith-based and non-governmental agencies when federal assistance cannot meet all of their needs.

A few milestones from the Missouri flood disaster:

$11,828,408 in FEMA grants to nearly 2,300 individuals and families for emergency home repairs, repair or replacement of essential personal property, rental assistance, and help with funeral, medical, dental, legal and other disaster-related expenses.
$11,649,800 in U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loans to more than 270 homeowners, renters and businesses.
$52,118,027 in National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) payments.
More than 1,700 survivors visited 15 disaster recovery centers to get one-on-one counseling on survivor assistance, flood insurance, mitigation methods, low-interest loans and other information.
FEMA floodplain management specialists fielded 335 technical assistance calls and questions from NFIP participating communities.
FEMA floodplain management specialists worked with the state on substantial damage software and inspection training for local officials in NFIP participating communities.

In all, Individual Assistance was extended to 33 counties. The counties receiving IA were Barry, Barton, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Cole, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Jefferson, Laclede, Lawrence, Lincoln, Maries, McDonald, Morgan, Newton, Osage, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, Scott, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright.

For breaking news about flood recovery, follow FEMA Region 7 on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion7 and turn on mobile notifications or visit the FEMA web pages dedicated to this disaster at www.fema.gov/disaster/4250.

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.

Monday, March 21, is the final day to register for federal assistance

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missourians in 33 counties designated for individual assistance have only 10 days left to register for federal disaster assistance. The final day to register is Monday, March 21, 2016.

Survivors may be eligible for grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

FEMA grants may help eligible individuals and families pay for rent if the disaster displaced them from their homes, make basic home repairs, or cover other disaster-related losses.
SBA low-interest disaster loans may help businesses of all sizes, most nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters.

Survivors can register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling toll-free 800-621-3362 (FEMA), 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual registration assistance is available. They may also register using the FEMA app for smartphones.

Disaster assistance applicants who are hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use TTY should call 800-462-7585. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) should call 800-621-3362.

The federal disaster declaration covers eligible losses caused by flooding and severe storms between December 23, 2015, and January 9, 2016, in these counties: Barry, Barton, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Cole, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Jefferson, Laclede, Lawrence, Lincoln, Maries, McDonald, Morgan, Newton, Osage, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, Scott, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright.

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Monday, March 21, is the final day to register for federal assistance

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