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Farmerville Disaster Recovery Center Transitions to SBA Loan Center for Louisiana Survivors

BATON ROUGE, La. – The disaster recovery center at the Willie Davis Recreation Center in Farmerville will transition to a Small Business Association (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) beginning Friday, April 22, at 8 a.m.

The new DLOC will be located at the Union Parish Courthouse, 100 East Bayou St., Suite 107 Farmerville, La. The center will open for business at 8 a.m. Friday, April 22. Its hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday.

Representatives from the SBA will be available at the DLOC to meet individually with Louisiana residents and business owners who sustained damage as a result of the severe storms and flooding from March 8 to April 8. Representatives will answer questions, explain SBA’s disaster loan program, help complete loan applications and close approved disaster loans.

The Farmerville disaster recovery center at the Willie Davis Recreation Center, 116 Cox Ferry Road, Farmerville, La., will remain open until 6 p.m. Thursday, April 21.

Louisiana disaster survivors in Farmerville may still visit other recovery centers to meet with recovery officials. For other locations, go to fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or call 800-621-3362.

Residents can still register for disaster assistance or ask questions by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY) 800-462-7585. Those who use 711/VRS can call 800-621-3362. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. They can also register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or www.fema.gov/disaster/4263.

Call the helpline to:

questions about FEMA determination letters.
Learn how to appeal FEMA determinations. All applicants may appeal.
Inquire about the status of a registration.
Provide change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information to avoid disaster assistance processing delays.
Receive information about FEMA home inspections.
Get other questions answered about federal disaster assistance.

FEMA advises applicants to have their nine-digit FEMA registration number on hand when they call. They also will be asked to verify their identity if they want access to their information.

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We urge everyone to continue to use caution in areas where floodwaters remain. Monitor DOTD’s www.511la.org website for updated road closure information. Look for advisories from your local authorities and emergency managers. You can find the latest information on the state’s response at www.emergency.la.gov. GOHSEP also provides information at www.gohsep.la.gov, Facebook and Twitter. You can receive emergency alerts on most smartphones and tablets by downloading the new Alert FM App. It is free for basic service. You can also download the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide and find other information at www.getagameplan.org.

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

The U.S. Small Business Administration 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.

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Farmerville Disaster Recovery Center Transitions to SBA Loan Center for Louisiana Survivors

More Louisiana Residents May Be Eligible for Federal Disaster Assistance, Urged to Register

Baton Rouge, La. – Louisiana disaster survivors in Catahoula, East Carroll, Franklin, Lincoln and St. Helena parishes may now be eligible for federal disaster assistance.

Their first step is to register with FEMA.

Individuals in the designated parishes who had storm damage may apply for federal disaster assistance three ways:

Online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov
By calling 800-621-FEMA (3362)
- People who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 800-462-7585.
- For those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.
- These toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
At a disaster recovery center (DRC).
- For addresses of all the DRCs currently operating in Louisiana, go to www.fema.gov/disaster/4263 and click on the “Disaster Recovery Centers” link.

The federal disaster declaration issued March 13 for seven Louisiana parishes has been expanded four times to include 28 additional parishes as a result of severe storms and flooding that began on March 8, and continues.

The parishes designated for assistance are: Allen, Ascension, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Calcasieu, Catahoula, Claiborne, De Soto, East Carroll, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, La Salle, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Union, Vernon, Washington, Webster, West Carroll and Winn.

Assistance provided by FEMA for homeowners and renters can include grants for rent, temporary housing and home repairs to their primary residence, as well as other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs.

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also may be available to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. The loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Residents should apply as quickly as they can, even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

For flood insurance policyholders who may have questions, FEMA has aligned its call center to support them with servicing their claims and getting answers to their questions quickly. Policyholders may call 800-621-3362 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and select Option 2. Call center staff are available to assist policyholders with information regarding their policy, offer technical flood guidance to aid in recovery, and respond to general as well as complicated questions about the NFIP. Policyholders with questions specifically about an insurance claim can be transferred to their insurance carrier for additional assistance.

We urge everyone to continue to use caution in areas where floodwaters remain. Monitor DOTD’s www.511la.org website for updated road closure information. Look for advisories from your local authorities and emergency managers. You can find the latest information on the state’s response at www.emergency.la.gov. GOHSEP also provides information on Facebook and Twitter. You can receive emergency alerts on most smartphones and tablets by downloading the new Alert FM App. It is free for basic service. You can also download the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide and find other information at www.getagameplan.org.

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 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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.

Original source:

More Louisiana Residents May Be Eligible for Federal Disaster Assistance, Urged to Register

Mississippi Tornado Survivors: Keep Your Recovery Process Moving by Returning SBA Disaster Loan Applications

OXFORD, Miss. – Mississippi tornado survivors who do not submit their U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loan applications may be saying no to a primary source of federal disaster assistance.

After registering with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, some survivors receive a disaster loan application from SBA. By submitting the SBA disaster loan application, survivors keep the full range of disaster assistance available as an option. SBA may refer applicants who do not qualify for a home loan to FEMA for grants to replace essential household items and replace or repair a damaged vehicle. But if survivors do not submit their disaster loan applications, further assistance may stop. Survivors are not required to accept a loan offer.

Often, survivors think SBA disaster loans are only for businesses. Some may be counting on a future insurance settlement to cover rebuilding costs. They may not want to take out a loan or fear they cannot afford one. Others may simply need help completing the disaster loan application.

SBA offers disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters, for physical damage from the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding which affected northern Mississippi in late December. To be eligible for these loans, damage must have occurred in the following counties: Benton, Coahoma, Marshall, Quitman or Tippah.

Economic injury disaster loans are available to provide working capital to eligible small businesses and nonprofit organizations located in the following Mississippi counties: Alcorn, Benton, Bolivar, Coahoma, DeSoto, Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, Prentiss, Quitman, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tunica and Union.

There are several good reasons for FEMA applicants who have been contacted by SBA to submit a completed disaster loan application before the March 4, 2016, deadline. Some of the top reasons include:

Your insurance settlement may fall short. You may find out you are underinsured for the amount of work it takes to repair or replace a damaged home. An SBA low-interest loan can cover the uninsured costs. By submitting the loan application, survivors may have loan money available when it is needed. SBA can approve a loan for the repair or replacement of a home up to $200,000. The loan balance will be reduced by your insurance settlement. However, the opportunity for an SBA disaster loan may be lost if you wait until after the application deadline.
SBA can help renters repair or replace disaster-damaged personal property. Renters, as well as homeowners, may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace clothing, furniture, appliances and damaged vehicles.
Disaster loans offer low rates and long-term repayment plans. Interest rates are as low as 4 percent for businesses, 2.625 percent for nonprofit organizations and 1.813 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

For more information, homeowners, renters and businesses may call the SBA at 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339), send an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or visit SBA.gov/Disaster. Survivors can complete disaster loan applications online at https://DisasterLoan.SBA.gov/ELA.

Survivors can visit any of the five disaster recovery centers open in Mississippi to sit down and talk with an SBA representative in person. Disaster recovery center locations can be found by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585.)

Survivors who have not yet registered with FEMA can do so online at DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. Survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired can call TTY 800-462-7585.

For more information on Mississippi’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4248 and msema.org.

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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).

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.

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Mississippi Tornado Survivors: Keep Your Recovery Process Moving by Returning SBA Disaster Loan Applications

Volunteers Can Give Sandy-Stricken Towns, Taxpayers a Break

EATONTOWN, N.J. — After Hurricane Sandy struck New Jersey in October 2012, thousands of volunteers from across the nation came to the state to help affected shore towns.

That help was sorely needed and greatly appreciated by residents of these stricken communities. But the volunteers’ work had an additional benefit – these municipalities can receive credit for the hours put in by volunteers that translates into dollars saved on the costs of recovery – and that credit can be substantial.

FEMA reimburses municipalities as much as 90 percent of the cost associated with disaster recovery projects including debris removal, repair, and reconstruction of public facilities. The communities are responsible for the remainder. However, they can apply the volunteer hours/cost of labor to their share of the overall project cost, which can lead to substantial savings for taxpayers.

Enacted in 2007 and revised in February 2014, FEMA Disaster Assistance Policy 9525.2 allows towns to offset their share of eligible costs with volunteered and donated resources, provided that they keep records of volunteers’ hours worked and duties performed and equivalent information for equipment and materials.

Eighty-seven percent of New Jersey’s non-police public safety workers (firefighters, EMTs, paramedics) are volunteers, the highest rate in the United States.

More than 250,000 volunteers came to the Jersey Shore to help towns and residents clean up, saving the state over 64 million dollars through their volunteer labor.

They fought fires, distributed meals to displaced survivors, set up and staffed emergency shelters, removed debris, prepared and dropped sand bags, and performed search-and-rescue operations and safety inspections, among other duties. They have contributed more than 2.5 million man-hours statewide.

To calculate what the volunteered labor and equipment would have cost, FEMA consulted with the New Jersey Department of Labor to determine the market value for jobs performed on site, including volunteer equipment operators. Donated equipment was valued according to FEMA’s “Schedule of Equipment Rates” unless it is included in a reimbursed equipment rate, in which case it does not count toward the credit. The cost of materials such as sand, dirt, rocks and other materials used to fight floods was set at the commercial rate at the time the work was done. The total amount of expenses for the project is multiplied by .111, which is the percentage of the non-Federal cost share (10 percent) divided by the Federal cost share percentage (90 percent), to get the maximum credit allowed for donated resources.

The credit is deducted from each town’s out-of-pocket obligation after its bills have been paid off and/or mitigated. At present, Union Beach is expecting a credit of approximately $700,000 for volunteer work and donated supplies, a number that will increase if more records are turned in. It is anticipated that Union Beach’s final credit amount will completely cover its 10 percent share of storm-related costs, which could total approximately $9 million. Sea Bright is currently eligible for a credit of more than $450,000. Lakewood Township has been approved for $31,000 of a potential $165,000, while Keyport is eligible for up to $158,000 and has been obligated for more than $21,000 in credits for volunteer efforts.

The policy puts the responsibility on the municipalities to keep track of the volunteer resources used, and those volunteer contributions must be carefully documented. FEMA has its own tracking forms and instructions, and the Volunteer and Donations Management Support Annex provides federal support and recommendations to state, tribal and local governments for managing donated resources.

There are restrictions on what work qualifies for the credit. All work eligible for credit must be done on public property or must benefit the public in some tangible manner, such as distributing food and supplies. Work done for private homeowners is not eligible. For emergency services, only response time is eligible for reimbursement. Donations from other federal agencies cannot be applied.

Also, the amount credited cannot exceed the 10 percent of the incident’s cost that the applicant is responsible for. Any excess credit can only be applied to other emergency projects being handled by that applicant.

Volunteers are still coming to the Jersey Shore to help with relief efforts. The work and time they put in helps restore those communities in more ways than one.

Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/fema, www.fema.gov/blog, 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.”

Original article:

Volunteers Can Give Sandy-Stricken Towns, Taxpayers a Break

Bayshore Sewerage Authority Mitigation Protects the Environment

BAYSHORE SEWERAGE AUTHORITY MITIGATION PROTECTS THE ENVIRONMENT

LINCROFT, N.J. — The effect Superstorm Sandy had on the environment was greater than what could be seen with the naked eye. While flooding, storm surges and high winds felled trees, destroyed beaches and dunes, and left waterways filled with debris, the damage the storm did to man-made structures also impacted many already environmentally sensitive areas.

The storm also created other environmental issues. In New Jersey, the Bayshore Regional Sewerage Authority was faced with several problems when its Monmouth County facility was damaged during the storm. The wastewater treatment plant’s main electrical systems were completely shorted out, which also damaged the pumps and stopped the flow of sewage. The facility was without electric power for seven days.

R3M Engineering Project Manager Kevin D. Haney credited FEMA with responding quickly to the problems at the plant. “FEMA’s Category B Program provided funding for the authority to immediately put emergency measures in place to restore flows in the system and protect the community from literally having raw sewage in the streets,” Haney said.

The Door Oliver and Niro incinerators at the Sludge Dewatering and Incineration Building at the plant were both flooded, leaving no way to dispose of the sludge. The authority built a makeshift system of belt filter presses, a rented pump and a makeshift pipe to pump sludge out of the building into dumpsters. The sludge was then hauled away to another incinerator for disposal.

R3M Engineering Manager Manuel Ponte expects one of the incinerators to be operational in January. He pointed out that much of the crucial equipment and infrastructure in water treatment plants is underground, and the basements of all of the facility’s buildings flooded with up to 3 feet of water during Sandy.

Ponte says the authority is working with FEMA to review future mitigation options for the plant.

“What we are proposing to do is to wrap the superstructures in an impermeable membrane, whether it’s synthetic or concrete, depending on how high it has to be and how strong it has to be,” Ponte said.

The authority serves approximately 90,000 people in Hazlet, Union Beach, Holmdel, Aberdeen Township, Keansburg, Keyport, Matawan and parts of Marlboro Township.

A video of the Bayshore Sewerage Authority Mitigation Project is accessible at http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/86382

http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4086/updates/sandy-one-year-later

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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Bayshore Sewerage Authority Mitigation Protects the Environment

New Jersey Disaster Recovery Centers To Transition To SBA Loan Outreach Centers Saturday

TRENTON, N.J.–The remaining four New Jersey FEMA-State disaster recovery centers will transition Saturday, May 4 and reopen as Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Outreach Centers Monday, May 6.

The DRCs transitioning are the Brick Township Civic Center in Brick, the Bell Crest Plaza Store Front 4C in Toms River, the Union Beach Municipal Building in Union Beach and the DRC adjacent to the Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing.

State and federal officials have been paying close attention to how many applicants are visiting disaster recovery centers throughout the state. Over the past weeks, the number of individuals seeking help at the centers has dropped, indicating the information needs of survivors in the area have mostly been met.

Survivors can locate the address of their nearest center by going to FEMA.gov/DRC or calling 800-621-3362.

SBA representatives at the DLOCs will provide homeowners, renters, business owners and nonprofit organizations with face-to-face service in answering questions about SBA’s low-interest disaster loan programs, completing loan applications, checking the status of applications and closing on SBA loans.

The SBA outreach centers will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday.

Survivors are reminded that May 1, 2013 is the last day to register for federal disaster assistance with FEMA.

Survivors can register online and check on the status of their applications at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. They also can call 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362.

For more information about the SBA, call the SBA Customer Service Center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (EDT) Monday through Friday, at 1-800-659-2955. Survivors may apply online at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants also may visit the SBA Web site at sba.gov/services/disasterassistance or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

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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New Jersey Disaster Recovery Centers To Transition To SBA Loan Outreach Centers Saturday

Public Assistance: By the Numbers

NEW YORK CITY — Since Hurricane Sandy struck New York, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved nearly $721 million in Public Assistance grants to reimburse state, tribal, local governments and eligible private nonprofits for some of the costs of emergency response, debris removal and repairing or rebuilding damaged public facilities. More than 268 grants have been approved so far. Here are some of the recent reimbursements:

Emergency work expenses

$7 million to the New York Department of Environmental Protection for reconstruction of environmentally associated facilities such as Water Waste Treatment Plants
$5.9 million to the New York City Department of Housing and Preservation Development for demolition of residential structures that were in imminent danger of collapse
$634,924 to the Office of the Mayor of New York for an ongoing effort by the Mayor’s office to provide communication for disaster victims regarding food, housing assistance, emergency shelter locations and the housing rapid repairs program
$152,644 to the Seaford Union Free School District for providing school transportation for students

Permanent work expenses

$2.8 million to the East Rockaway Union Free School District for repairs to the Junior and Senior High School
$37,234 to the Village of Atlantic Beach for the replacement of wooden walkways and fences that were damaged

Debris removal

$6.8 million to the Town of Huntington
$4 million to the Town of Babylon
$345,402 to the Old Westbury Gardens to clean up more than 200 fallen trees which created 19,500 cubic yards of debris throughout the 250 acres of the historical Old Westbury Gardens

FEMA’s Public Assistance program reimburses state, tribal, local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations 75 percent of eligible costs of emergency and permanent work. The remaining 25 percent is provided by non-federal funds. The state forwards the federal funds to the eligible local governments or organizations that incurred costs.

To learn more about FEMA Public Assistance in New York, visit: fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit and dhses.ny.gov/oem/recovery/.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4085, twitter.com/FEMASandy, facebook.com/FEMASandy and fema.gov/blog.

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Public Assistance: By the Numbers

Advisory Flood Elevation Maps on the Web

TRENTON, N.J. — For Hurricane Sandy survivors who want to rebuild stronger, safer and smarter, knowing their risk of flooding is paramount. Property owners can find the data they need online in new advisory base flood elevation maps published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Advisory maps containing recommended building elevations are available for these counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Union. To learn more, visit the following web sites:

www.region2coastal.com/sandy/abfe to read more about the advisory map program.
www.region2coastal.com/sandy/table to view recommendations for a specific address in the counties with advisory maps.
www.region2coastal.com/site-news to subscribe to FEMA news about flood map updates.
www.region2coastal.com/faqs for frequently asked questions about advisory maps.

Advisory maps show, based on the best available information, how high structures should be elevated to minimize damage from future flood events. The maps show that portions of communities are in new flood zones, which may impact insurance rates and building practices.

For information on federal flood insurance visit www.floodsmart.gov.You can also call 888-379-9531 or contact your insurance agent.
FEMA provides flood insurance resources including publications and frequently asked questions online at www.fema.gov/nfip.

Communities are encouraged to adopt advisory base flood elevation maps to reduce future flood risk and to decrease the cost of flood insurance. Property owners should work with local building officials to fully understand all requirements – including advisory maps – to rebuild stronger, safer and smarter.

Contact your local officials if you have questions about advisory base flood elevation maps and how they affect you and your community.

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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Advisory Flood Elevation Maps on the Web

Free Expertise On Building Stronger, Safer, Smarter

TRENTON, N.J. — Getting free advice on how to repair or rebuild your home to minimize future disaster damage is as easy as visiting your local home improvement store. Specialists from FEMA will offer their expertise on building techniques that can help protect your home, business or other property in future disasters.

This free service also offers information and publications about home improvement, such as:

Mold and mildew cleanup.
Flood- and wind-resistant building methods.
Wind straps.
Flood insurance.
Retrofitting buildings.
Elevating utilities.

FEMA specialists are available daily Jan. 5 to Saturday, Jan. 12, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the following home improvement stores:

Atlantic County – Home Depot, 6 Tower Ave., Egg Harbor 08234.
Cape May County – Lowe’s, 3171 Route 9 S., Rio Grande 08242.
Essex County – Home Depot, 399-443 Springfield Ave., Newark 07103.
Hudson County – Home Depot, 440 Route 440, Jersey City 07302.
Middlesex County – Home Depot, 1090 Route 9, Old Bridge 08857.
Monmouth County – Home Depot, 3540 Route 66, Neptune 07753.
Ocean County – Home Depot, 197 Route 72 W., Manahawkin 08050.
Ocean County – Home Depot, 1900 Shorrock Road, Lakewood 08701.
Union County – Home Depot, 977 W. Grand St., Elizabeth 07202.

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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Free Expertise On Building Stronger, Safer, Smarter

Three New Recovery Centers Open In Hudson, Middlesex, And Union Counties

TRENTON, N.J. — Anyone affected by Hurricane Sandy can now visit newly opened Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Hudson, Middlesex, and Union counties if they have questions about recovery programs. The new DRCs are located in:

Hudson County:

Bayonne City Museum, 229 Broadway, Bayonne, NJ 07002

Two other DRCs are open in Hudson County at the Jersey City Museum and next to the Office Depot at 59 Washington St. in Hoboken.

Middlesex County:

Woodbridge Health Center, 2 George Frederick Plaza, Woodbridge, NJ 07095

A second DRC is open in Middlesex County at the Sayreville Senior Center.

Union County:

Gregorio Recreation Center, 330 Helen St., Linden, NJ 07036

Two other DRCs are open in Union County at the Chisholm School Community Center,

100 S. Springfield Ave., Springfield, NJ 07081 (scheduled to close Dec. 1), and the Plainfield Senior Citizen’s Service Center, 400 East Front St., Plainfield, NJ 07060.

There are now 34 DRCs open in New Jersey. All are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. except for the center in Bay Head which opens from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. while the curfew remains in effect.

Individuals can register for assistance and follow up on previous applications by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov, or by web-enabled mobile device at m.FEMA.gov. By phone or 711/VRS, you can call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585.

DRCs allow residents to speak one-on-one to recovery representatives. FEMA program specialists are available to provide registration and other information, and to answer questions at the centers. These include mitigation specialists who can provide guidance on cost-effective rebuilding and repair techniques to reduce property damage in future disasters.

It is not necessary to visit a center to receive disaster assistance.

In addition to FEMA program specialists, customer service representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to answer questions about the SBA low-interest disaster loan program, and to assist with disaster loan applications.

An applicant may go to any DRC, even if it is located in another county or state. Once an application has been made, a FEMA registration number is assigned. It can be accessed nationally.

DRC locations change frequently. The closest open offices can be found online at http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm. An alternative is to go to www.fema.gov and search for DRC locator.

DRCs in New Jersey are located in:

Atlantic County

Atlantic City Convention Center, 1 Convention Blvd., Room 201, Atlantic City, NJ 08401

Hamilton Mall, 4403 Blackhorse Pike (Route 322), NJ 08330

Bergen County

Bergen County Plaza, 1 Bergen Plaza, 4^th Floor, Hackensack, N.J. 07652

Burlington County: Rotating Center

Burlington Center Mall, 2501 Burlington-Mount Holly Road, Suite 215, Burlington, NJ 08016

DATES: Thurs., Nov., 29 to Sat., Dec. 1 and Mon., Dec. 10 to Wed., Dec. 12

Cape May County

Cape May Courthouse Public Library, 30 Mechanics St, Cape May, N.J. 08226

Ocean City Community Center, 1735 Simpson Ave., Ocean City, N.J. 08210

Cumberland County: Rotating Center

Emergency Management Office, 637 Bridgeton Ave., Bridgeton, N.J. 08302

DATES: Mon., Nov. 26 to Wed., Nov. 28 and Thurs., Dec. 6 to Sat., Dec. 8

Essex County

Willing Heart Community Care Center, 555 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd., Newark, NJ 07103

Gloucester County: Rotating Center

Government Services Building, 1200 N. Delsea Drive, Clayton, NJ 08312

DATES: Thurs., Nov., 29 to Sat., Dec. 1 and Mon., Dec. 10 to Wed., Dec. 12

Hudson County

Adjacent to Office Depot, 59 Washington St., Hoboken, NJ 07030

Jersey City Museum, 350 Montgomery St., Jersey City, NJ 07302

Bayonne City Museum, 229 Broadway, Bayonne, NJ 07002

Mercer County: Rotating Center

Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, NJ 08550

DATES: Mon., Nov. 26 to Wed., Nov. 28 and Thurs., Dec. 6 to Sat., Dec. 8

Middlesex County

Sayreville Senior Center, 423 Main St., Sayreville, NJ 08872

Woodbridge Health Center, 2 George Frederick Plaza, Woodbridge, NJ 07095

Monmouth County

Belmar Municipal Bldg., 601 Main St., Belmar, NJ 07719

Henry Hudson Trail Activity Center, 945 Highway 36, Leonardo, NJ 07737

Long Branch Fire Station #4, 199-205 Union Ave., Long Branch, NJ 07740

Union Beach Municipal Building, 650 Poole Ave., Union Beach, NJ 07735

Morris County: Rotating Center

Morris Plains Community Center, 51 Jim Fear Drive, Morris Plains, NJ 07950

DATES: Mon., Nov. 26 to Wed., Nov. 28 and Thurs., Dec. 6 to Sat., Dec. 8

Ocean County

Bay Head Fire Station #1, 81 Bridge Ave., Bay Head, NJ 08742

HOURS: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until further notice

Ocean County

Bell Crest Plaza Store Front 4C, 953 Fischer Blvd., Toms River, NJ 08753

Brick Township Civic Center, 270 Chambers Bridge Road, Brick, NJ 08723

Harvey Cedars Bible Conference Center, 12 Cedars Ave., Harvey Cedars, NJ 08008

Little Egg Harbor Senior Center, 641 Radio Road, Little Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08087

Old Township Bldg., 775 East Bay Ave., Stafford, NJ 08050

Passaic County

Passaic County Department of Health, 317 Pennsylvania Ave., Paterson, NJ 07503

Salem County: Rotating Center

Penns Grove EMS Bldg., 25 East Griffin St., Penns Grove, NJ 08069

DATES: Mon., Dec. 3 to Wed., Dec. 5 and Thurs., Dec. 13 to Sat., Dec. 15

Somerset County: Rotating Center

Somerset County Human Services, 27 Warren St., Somerville, NJ 08876

DATES: Mon., Dec. 3 to Wed., Dec. 5 and Thurs., Dec. 13 to Sat., Dec. 15

Sussex County: Rotating Center

Sussex County Community College, 1 College Hill Road, Newton, NJ 07860

DATES: Mon., Dec. 3 to Wed., Dec. 5 and Thurs., Dec. 13 to Sat., Dec. 15

Union County

Chisholm School Community Center, 100 S. Springfield Ave., Springfield, NJ 07081

(scheduled to close 12/1)

Plainfield Senior Citizen’s Service Center, 400 East Front St., Plainfield, NJ 07060

Gregorio Recreation Center, 330 Helen St. in Linden, NJ 07036.

Warren County: Rotating Center

Franklin Township Municipal Bldg., 2093 Route 57, Broadway, NJ 08808

DATES: Thurs., Nov. 29 to Sat., Dec. 1 and Mon., Dec. 10 to Wed., Dec. 12

SBA customer service representatives are available for one-on-one consultation with business owners who are seeking assistance in applying for low-interest disaster loans for business losses caused by Hurricane Sandy.

Atlantic County

Richard Stockton College, Small Business Development Center, 35 South Martin Luther King Blvd., Atlantic City, NJ 08401

HOURS: Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Bergen County

Bergen Community College, Small Business Development Center, 355 Main St., Room 121, Hackensack, NJ 07601

HOURS: Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Cape May County

Cape May County Chamber of Commerce 13 Crest Haven Road, Cape May, NJ 08210

HOURS: Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Essex County

Rutgers University, Small Business Development Center, 25 James St., Newark, NJ 07102

HOURS: Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Hudson County

Small Business Development Center, New Jersey City University, 285 West Side Ave., Suites 189-191, Jersey City, NJ 07305

HOURS: Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Middlesex County

John F. Kennedy Library, 500 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854

HOURS: Mon-Sat.10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Monmouth County

Brookdale Community College, 765 Newman Springs Road, Bankier Library, Rm. 246 (SBDC), Lincroft, NJ 07738

HOURS: Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Ocean County

Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, Stafford Heritage Park Train Station

(Across from Manahawkin Lake Between RT 9 and RT 72), West Bay Ave., Manahawkin, NJ 08050

HOURS: Mon-Sun 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Passaic County

William Paterson University, Small Business Development Center, 131 Ellison St.,Paterson, NJ 07505

HOURS: Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Union County

Kean University – SBDC, Business One-Stop Service – The Incubator, 320 Park Ave., Plainfield, NJ 07060

HOURS: Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Renters, homeowners and businesses that do not need one-on-one assistance do not need to visit a center. They can apply for an SBA disaster loan online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

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.

Three New Recovery Centers Open In Hudson, Middlesex, And Union Counties

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