TALLAHASSEE, Fla.– Survivors rebuilding their lives from Hurricane Hermine have 14 days left to register for federal disaster assistance. The storm caused widespread damage along Florida’s western coastline, and the State of Florida, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) continue to support individual and family recovery efforts.

Individuals who have underinsured or uninsured damages or losses from Hurricane Hermine and who live in the 11 eligible counties still have until Monday, Nov. 28, to register for FEMA assistance. The counties included in the federal disaster declaration are Citrus, Dixie, Hernando, Hillsborough, Leon, Levy, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Taylor and Wakulla.

Register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362, which is Video Relay Service (VRS) accessible. Survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or who have difficulty speaking may call TTY 800-462-7585. Helpline hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice. Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish).

Don’t wait to register. Applying for federal disaster assistance now may help if you still have unmet needs after receiving your insurance payment. While FEMA cannot duplicate assistance covered by insurance, you may still be eligible for assistance for losses not covered by insurance. The maximum amount of assistance FEMA can legally provide is limited. FEMA grants do not have to be repaid, are nontaxable and do not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

Make sure to complete and return the SBA loan application if you receive one. There is no charge to apply for the loan and no obligation to accept it, if approved. Second to insurance, SBA low-interest disaster loans are the primary source of financial assistance to rebuild disaster-damaged private property for homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private nonprofit organizations. A completed SBA loan application is also an important step in order to qualify for other state and FEMA grants that cover personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, moving and storage expenses and other help.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for $40,000 to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed personal property. If SBA does not offer a homeowner or renter a loan, they are referred to FEMA for possible additional grant consideration. Businesses and private nonprofit organizations can borrow up to $2 million for disaster-related losses.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery visit fema.gov/disaster/4280, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA, and fema.gov/blog, floridadisaster.org or #FLRecovers.

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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.

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.

 

Source:

Hermine Survivors: Assistance Still Available, 14 Days Left to Register for Federal Disaster Aid

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. A FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is opening in Wakulla County to bring information about available state and federal assistance. The deadline to register for federal disaster assistance under Hurricane Hermine is Nov. 28.

The DRC will be open from Thursday Nov. 17, through Saturday Nov. 19, 2016 at the following location and times:

WHERE:       Wakulla County Recreation Department

                                    79 Recreation Dr.

                                    Crawfordville, FL. 32327

WHEN:          Thursday Nov. 17, through Saturday Nov. 19, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

DRCs are staffed with representatives from FEMA, Florida Division of Emergency Management and

the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). You can receive help applying for federal disaster assistance, learn about the types of assistance available, learn about the appeals process and obtain updates regarding your application. 

Many services offered at DRCs are also available by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 (voice/711/VRS-Video Relay Service) (TTY: 800-462-7585). Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish). The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, until further notice. Survivors with questions regarding the application or the appeals process, or who need to register for assistance, may also visit online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Floridians who already registered for disaster assistance with FEMA are encouraged to stay in touch. If addresses or phone numbers change they should be updated with FEMA as soon as possible. Missing or erroneous information could result in delays in getting a home inspection or receiving assistance.

For more information about SBA loans, call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (TTY: 800-877-8339), email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4280, twitter.com/femaregion4, facebook.com/FEMA, and fema.gov/blog, floridadisaster.org or #FLRecovers.

View this article – 

A FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center Is Coming to Wakulla County

RALEIGH, N.C. – Los Centros de Recuperación de Desastre de FEMA/ Estado operarán en un Nuevo horario a partir del Viernes, 11 de noviembre.

El Nuevo horario de operaciones para la mayoría de los centros hasta previo aviso es, de lunes a Viernes de 9 am a 6 pm y medio día los sábados a partir de las 9 am hasta la 1 pm.

Los centros ubicados en Brunswick, Cumberlan, Dare, Edgecombe (Sólamente el de Tarboro), Robeson y el condado de Wayne abrirán los sábados de 9am hasta las 6 pm.

Los residentes de Carolina del Norte, que han sufrido pérdidas y daños como consecuencia del Huracán Matthew pueden recibir ayuda solicitando asistencia federal, infórmese acerca de los tipos de asistencia disponibles, del proceso de apelación y obtenga actualizaciones de las solicitudes en cualquiera de los DRCs que operan en los condados afectados.

Para localizar el DRC más cercano a usted,  llame a la línea de ayuda de FEMA al 800-621-3362, o use las aplicaciones móviles de FEMA y Ready NC o viste la página web FEMA.gov/DRC o readync.org.

El primer paso para recibir la asistencia de desastres es el registrarse con FEMA

Se puede registrar:

  • En línea en DisasterAssistance.gov.

  • Llamando a la línea de ayuda de FEMA al 800-621-3362 o al 711 para Servicio de Retransmisión de Video (Video Relay Service, VRS). Si es sordo, tiene problemas de audición o del habla y utiliza la línea TTY, llame al 800-462-7585.

  • Descargando la aplicación móvil FEMA Mobile App y realizando su solicitud.

Los sobrevivientes que necesiten una adaptación razonable (interpretación de lenguaje de señas americano, impresión en braille, etc.) cuando visiten un centro de recuperación de desastre, pueden llamar a la Línea de Ayuda correspondiente para recibir asistencia. Los números gratuitos están disponibles de 7 a. m. a 11 p. m., los siete días de la semana. La asistencia está disponible en la mayoría de los idiomas y también puede obtener información acerca del proceso de registro en lenguaje de señas americano en fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/111546.

La asistencia de FEMA es no imponible y no afectará la elegibilidad para el Seguro Social, Medicaid, Medicare u otros beneficios federales.

Inscríbase incluso si posee seguro. FEMA no puede duplicar los pagos del seguro, pero si usted no tenga seguro puede recibir ayuda después de que sus reclamaciones se hayan resuelto.

Para obtener más información acerca de la recuperación de Carolina de Norte, visite la página web de desastres en fema.gov/disaster/4285 o visite la página web de la Administración de Emergencia de Carolina del Norte en www.ReadyNC.gov.Siga a FEMA en Twitter con @femaregion4 y a la Administración de Emergencias de Carolina del Norte con @ncemergency.

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La asistencia en caso de desastre está disponible sin importar la raza, color, religión, nacionalidad, sexo, edad, discapacidades, dominio del inglés o condición económica. Si usted o alguien que conozca ha sido víctima de discriminación, llame al número gratuito de FEMA al 800-621-3362 o TTY al 800-462-7585.

La misión de FEMA es apoyar a nuestros ciudadanos y primeros intervinientes para garantizar que trabajemos juntos como nación para fomentar, sostener y mejorar nuestra capacidad de preparar, prevenir, responder, recuperar y atenuar todos los peligros. Siga a FEMA en twitter con @femaregion4. Descargue la aplicación de FEMA, la cual contiene herramientas para mantenerle a salvo, durante y después de un desastre.

Marque el 2-1-1 o 888-892-1162 para hablar con un especialista acerca de las preguntas que pueda tener con respecto al huracán Matthew. El servicio es gratuito, confidencial, y está disponible en cualquier idioma. Allí pueden ayudarle dirigiéndole a distintos recursos. Llame al 5-1-1 o al 877-511-4662 para obtener información sobre las últimas condiciones de carreteras. Use la aplicación de teléfono móvil ReadyNC el cual también contiene información de evacuación y sobre albergues disponibles. Para las últimas noticias sobre el efecto del Huracán Matthew y los esfuerzos de auxilio, visite ReadyNC.org o siga a N.C. Emergency Management en Twitter y Facebook. Las personas u organizaciones que quieran ayudar a la recuperación de Carolina del Norte pueden visitar NCdisasterrelief.org o enviar un texto a NCRecovers al 30306.

La Agencia Federal para el Desarrollo de la Pequeña Empresa de los Estados Unidos (SBA, por sus siglas en inglés) es la fuente principal de dinero del gobierno federal para la reconstrucción a largo plazo de los daños por desastres a la propiedad privada. La SBA ayuda a los propietarios de hogares, a los inquilinos, a los negocios de cualquier tamaño y a las organizaciones privadas sin fines de lucro en el financiamiento de reparaciones o en los esfuerzos de reconstrucción y cubre los costos de reemplazos de la propiedad personal debido a pérdidas o daños por desastres. Estos préstamos por desastres cubren las pérdidas que no han sido pagadas o compensadas completamente por el seguro u otras formas de recuperación y no duplica beneficios de otras agencias u organizaciones. Para más información, los solicitantes pueden comunicarse con el Centro de Servicio al Cliente de la SBA, llamando al 800-659-2955, enviando un correo electrónico a disastercustomerservice@sba.gov o visitando el sitio Web de la SBA www.sba.gov/disaster. Las personas con dificultad para escuchar o sordos pueden llamar al 800-877-8339.

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La mayoría de Los Centros de Recuperación de Desastres Estatales/FEMA Cambian las Horas de Operación

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – With the disaster assistance registration deadline for Hurricane Hermine a few weeks away, a FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is opening in Manatee County to bring information about available state and federal assistance.

The DRC will be open from Thursday Nov. 10, through Saturday Nov. 12, 2016 at the following location and times:

WHERE:      G.T. Bray Park

                                   5502 33rd Ave. Drive West

                                   Bradenton, FL. 34209

WHEN:       Thursday Nov. 10, through Saturday Nov. 12, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

DRCs are staffed with representatives from FEMA, Florida Division of Emergency Management and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). You can receive help applying for federal disaster assistance, learn about the types of assistance available, learn about the appeals process and obtain updates regarding your application. 

Many services offered at DRCs are also available by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 (voice/711/VRS-Video Relay Service) (TTY: 800-462-7585). Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish). The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, until further notice. Survivors with questions regarding the application or the appeals process, or who need to register for assistance, may also visit online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Floridians who already registered for disaster assistance with FEMA are encouraged to stay in touch. If addresses or phone numbers change they should be updated with FEMA as soon as possible. Missing or erroneous information could result in delays in getting a home inspection or receiving assistance.

For more information about SBA loans, call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (TTY: 800-877-8339), email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4280, twitter.com/femaregion4, facebook.com/FEMA, and fema.gov/blog, floridadisaster.org or #FLRecovers.

Excerpt from:  

A FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center is Coming to Manatee County

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.  If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

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

 

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

 

Originally from:  

Local Survivors get Help from Disaster Assistance Teams

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Homeowners, renters and business owners in Manatee, Taylor and Wakulla counties may now apply for federal disaster assistance for uninsured and underinsured damages and losses resulting from Hurricane Hermine.

Citrus, Dixie, Hernando, Hillsborough, Leon, Levy, Pasco, and Pinellas counties are already designated for Individual Assistance.

Twenty-two Florida counties had earlier received a Public Assistance designation as a result of Hurricane Hermine. 

To be eligible for federal aid under FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program, storm damage and losses must have occurred as a result of Hurricane Hermine. 

Survivors are encouraged to register with FEMA as soon as possible. If you preregistered with FEMA, you do not have to apply again. If you have phone and/or internet access, you may register:

  • Online at DisasterAssistance.gov, or

  • On the FEMA Mobile App, or by

  • Calling 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585.

  • The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week until further notice.

  • Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish).

Assistance for eligible survivors can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs.

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

Survivors should contact their insurance company to file their insurance claim. FEMA is unable to duplicate insurance payments. However, those without insurance or those who may be underinsured may still receive help.

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Manatee, Taylor and Wakulla Counties Designated for Individual Assistance

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the commonwealth of Virginia to supplement commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area affected by Hurricane Matthew beginning on October 7, 2016, and continuing.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the independent cities of Chesapeake, Newport News, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach.

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 in all areas within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Donald L. Keldsen has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Keldsen said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the commonwealth 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 tomorrow by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).  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 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.

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.

Link:

President Declares Major Disaster for Virginia

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Saturday, Oct. 29) — Following initial application review by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), South Carolina survivors who have applied for disaster assistance will receive a “letter of eligibility.” Applicants may be told they are eligible for disaster assistance or that they have been determined ineligible.

If you are eligible, the letter explains the amount of your grant and how it is to be used. If the letter says you are ineligible, the grant amount reads “0”, but in many cases that is not the last word.

FEMA officials in South Carolina report that the most common reasons for denial of assistance in Hurricane Matthew are:

  • Insufficient storm-related damage to affect the habitability of the damaged home. FEMA will provide assistance to assure your home is habitable – that it is safe, functional and sanitary.
  • Survivors have chosen to remain in their damaged homes while repairs are being made. In these cases they may be eligible to receive assistance for repairs, but are ineligible for housing assistance.
  • Duplication of applications. Two people (husband and wife, for example) have applied for assistance for the same damaged home. Only one application per household is allowed.

A letter may indicate your application is missing information such as verification of occupancy or proof that the damaged property was your primary residence at the time of the Hurricane Matthew storms and flooding that began Oct. 4, 2016.

If you are instructed, you can simply submit missing documentation to FEMA online, by mail or fax, or by visiting a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). You can find the location of the nearest DRC by visiting  DisasterAssistance.gov .

Applicants who do not receive a letter or who have questions about their determination of denial should call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for an explanation, or visit their FEMA account at DisasterAssistance.gov.

A copy of “Help After a Disaster” will be included with your letter of determination. The booklet explains additional assistance that may be available to survivors and answers questions about filing an appeal.

Any applicant that has been denied assistance may file an appeal. Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or visit a DRC for more information about the appeal process. You can submit your appeal and the required documentation online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

In South Carolina, the “One SC Fund” supports and directs funds to nonprofit organizations providing disaster relief & recovery assistance. For more information, visit  yourfoundation.org/community-impact/one-sc-fund-sc-flood-relief/. Survivors in the state who need food, clothing, and shelter are urged to call 2-1-1, and for storm clean up to call 800-451- 1954.

For more information, visit the South Carolina Emergency Management Division at  scemd.org/recovery-section/ia .

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 or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

You can  receive weather alerts, safety tips and learn about disaster resources by downloading the free FEMA App, available for Apple, Android, and Blackberry mobile devices. Visit  fema.gov/mobile-app  for more information.

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/femaregion4 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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.

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FEMA’s letter of eligibility: Read it very carefully

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Survivors of Hurricane Hermine in Citrus County can visit The Home Depot in Crystal River for free information on topics such as flood proofing a home, how to elevate utilities and removing and replacing wet drywall.

Specialists with FEMA will be available from November 4 to November 8:

WHERE:      The Home Depot

                    70 North Suncoast Blvd.

                    Crystal River, FL 34429

WHEN:        Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

                     Monday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

                     Tuesday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Survivors can ask questions and get home-improvement tips to reduce damage in future disasters. This free information is geared to both homeowners and general contractors.

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 (voice, 711/VRS-Video Relay Service) (TTY: 800-462-7585). Multilingual operators are available (for Spanish, press 2).
For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4280, twitter.com/femaregion4, facebook.com/FEMA, and fema.gov/blog, floridadisaster.org or #FLRecovers.

More here: 

Learn to Reduce Future Storm Damage in Citrus County

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – If you applied for FEMA help in the aftermath of the recent hurricanes and you disagree with the decision stated in the letter you received, a quick fix may be all that is needed to change it. 

It’s important that you read your letter carefully to understand FEMA’s decision so you will know exactly what you need to do. Many times applicants just have to submit extra documents for FEMA to process their application.

Examples of missing documentation may include an insurance settlement letter, proof of residence, proof of ownership of the damaged property, and proof that the damaged property was your primary residence at the time of the disaster.

If instructed and needed, you can simply submit missing documentation to FEMA online at www.disasterassistance.gov, by mail or fax, or by visiting a Disaster Recovery Center.

There may be more than one reason you disagree with FEMA’s decision. For example, if you feel the amount or type of assistance is incorrect, you may submit an appeal letter and any documents needed to support your claim, such as a contractor’s estimate for home repairs.

If you have insurance, FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments. However, if you’re under-insured you may receive further assistance for unmet needs after insurance claims have been settled.

How to Appeal a FEMA Decision

All appeals must be filed in writing to FEMA. You should explain why you think the decision is incorrect. When submitting your letter, please include:

  • Your full name
  • Date and place of birth
  • Address

In addition, your letter must be either notarized, include a copy of a state issued identification card, or include the following statement, “I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.” You must sign the letter.

If someone other than you or the co-applicant is writing the letter, there must be a signed statement from you affirming that the person may act on your behalf. You should keep a copy of your appeal for your records.

To file an appeal, letters must be postmarked, received by fax, or personally submitted at a Disaster Recovery Center within 60 days of the date on the determination letter.

By mail:

FEMA – Individuals & Households Program
National Processing Service Center
P.O. Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055

By fax:
800-827-8112
Attention: FEMA – Individuals & Households Program

You should have received a booklet called “Help after a Disaster. It explains what you need to provide for your appeal. The booklet is available online at www.fema.gov/help-after-disaster.

If you have any questions about submitting insurance documents, proving occupancy or ownership, or anything else about your letter, you may call the FEMA helpline 800-621-3362 (voice/711/VRS-Video Relay Service) (TTY: 800-462-7585). Multilingual operators are available (for Spanish press 2). The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery visit fema.gov/disaster/4280, fema.gov/disaster/4283, twitter.com/femaregion4, facebook.com/FEMA, and fema.gov/blog, floridadisaster.org or #FLRecovers. For imagery, video, graphics and releases, see fema.gov/Hurricane-Matthew.

Link: 

Understanding Your FEMA Letter and How to Appeal It

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