National Disaster Recovery Group to Assess Lake County Fire-Related Needs

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – In response to the unmet needs of survivors following the Valley Fire, a long term recovery committee (LTRC) has been established. This committee, Team Lake County (TLC), has requested the expertise of a national disaster recovery group to determine who in the community will need additional assistance from voluntary agencies to rebuild and recover from the fire.

World Renew Disaster Response Services has agreed to conduct a survey to identify the disaster-related needs of survivors identified as needing additional assistance. These surveys will take place from Wednesday, Jan. 20 through Thursday, Feb. 4 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily.  The team will be located at the Middletown Community Meeting Room at 21256 Washington St., Middletown, CA 95461 for most of its stay.

On both Wednesday, Jan. 27 and Thursday, Jan. 28 the team will be in the field meeting with survivors.

The information given to World Renew is confidential and will assist designated case managers to help residents connect with available resources. The information will also help to develop a detailed estimate of the total cost for recovery in the community, which aids the LTRC raise the necessary recovery funds and donations.

LTRCs are organized in communities across the country from a variety of organizations, such as church denominations, local charities, community foundations and some independent groups, such as nondenominational churches, or businesses.

The role of the LTRC is to determine and provide reasonable unmet needs for as many individuals and families as possible that cannot be further assisted by the state or federal government.  

FEMA plays a part as well, assigning a liaison to help coordinate the LTRCs’ efforts and provide advice. The liaison also reviews benefit requests to make sure there are no duplications.

John Chavez, who fills the FEMA liaison position for the Lake County wildfire, said the LTRC will “not replace a swimming pool, but may replace lost siding and even give a house a new paint job.”

While one part of the LTRC works to fill survivors’ needs, another part of the organization works to recruit volunteer organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the Mennonite Disaster Services and others to come in and repair or rebuild homes. Still others secure grants large enough to meet most, if not all, of the unmet needs.

“The dollars can go into the millions,” Chavez added. “If there is surplus, we can use the money to replace furniture, appliances and other items that will help people get back on their feet.”

For more information, go to the TLC website at teamlakecounty.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.

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National Disaster Recovery Group to Assess Lake County Fire-Related Needs

Recovery Center in Limestone County to become SBA Disaster Loan Center June 13

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Athens in Limestone County will become an SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center at the same location beginning Friday, June 13, at 9 a.m.

The SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Both FEMA and SBA staff will be on hand.

The center is located at the Ripley Woodmen of the World Hall, 11281 Ripley Road, Athens, AL, 35611.

After the FEMA center becomes an SBA center, survivors will still be able to contact FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone at m.fema.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362; TTY 800-462-7585.  Multilingual operators are available.

The deadline for individuals to register for federal disaster assistance and to apply for SBA disaster loans is July 1, 2014.

The SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations to repair or replace uncompensated losses. The SBA may lend up to $200,000 to repair or replace homes and up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property.

Loans to businesses, including nonprofits, are available up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged real estate, and other business assets.  Eligible businesses and non-profits can apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster.

The deadline to apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications is February 2, 2015.

Original post:  

Recovery Center in Limestone County to become SBA Disaster Loan Center June 13

Disaster Assistance Registration Deadline Approaching

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama storm survivors have less than one month to register for federal disaster assistance.

The deadline to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for help with damage as a result of Alabama’s recent severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding is Tuesday, July 1, 2014. 

Residents of Baldwin, Blount, DeKalb, Etowah, Jefferson, Lee, Limestone, Mobile or Tuscaloosa counties who suffered storm damage during the period April 28 through May 5 should aapply for assistance by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov,via smartphone at m.fema.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362; TTY 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available.

If you have received a U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loan application for physical damages, it must be completed and returned to SBA by July1 to be eligible for other federal assistance.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for childcare, medical, dental expenses and/or funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, those who are referred to the SBA must complete and submit an application to the SBA for a decision.

Should the SBA not approve the application, the applicant may be referred back to FEMA for assistance with damaged personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, moving and storage expenses.

As you begin to recover from the floods, insurance may not meet all your needs. Federal assistance from FEMA may help with expenses insurance does not cover, so register with FEMA even if you have insurance.

If you have had an initial FEMA inspection of your property and you disagree with the findings, you may appeal the decision by calling the FEMA helpline for instructions on the appeal process, at 800-621-3362; TTY 800-462-7585.

Recovery Centers are open this week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m in the following locations:

  • Baldwin County (Centers transition to SBA Disaster Loan Centers on Fri., 6/13)
    • Elberta Town Hall,10352 Main St., Elberta, AL 36530
    • Fairhope Civic Center (Delchamps Room), 161 North Section St., Fairhope, AL 36532
  • Jefferson County (Center transitions to SBA Disaster Loan Center on Sat., 6/14)
    • Maurice C. West Community Center, 171 Second St. SW, Graysville, AL 35073
  • Limestone County (Center transitions to SBA Disaster Loan Center on Fri., 6/13)
    • Ripley Woodmen of the World Hall, 11281 Ripley Road, Athens, AL 35611
  • Mobile County (Center transitions to SBA Disaster Loan Center on Fri., 6/13)
    • Old Navy/Marine Corps Reserve Center, 4851 Museum Dr., Mobile, AL 36608

See the original article here – 

Disaster Assistance Registration Deadline Approaching

Recovery Center in Jefferson County to Close June 6; Re-Opens June 7 as an SBA Center

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Disaster Recovery Center at Lawson State Community College in Jefferson County will re-open as an SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center in the same location on Saturday, June 7 at 9 a.m. The Center will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, then, Monday through Thursday, June 12, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The SBA Center will have both SBA and FEMA staff on hand.

The Disaster Recovery Center is located at Lawson State Community College, 1100 Ninth Ave. SW, Bessemer, AL. The Recovery Center will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday, June 6.

After the center closes, survivors will still be able to contact FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone at m.fema.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362; TTY 800-462-7585.  Multilingual operators are available. Survivors may also visit any of the open Recovery Centers.

The deadline to register for federal disaster assistance is July 1, 2014.

Recovery Centers in Alabama are currently open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the following locations:

Baldwin County

  • Elberta Town Hall,10352 Main St., Elberta, AL 36530
  • Fairhope Civic Center (Delchamps Room), 161 North Section St., Fairhope, AL 36532

Jefferson County:

  • Maurice C. West Community Center, 171 Second St. SW, Graysville, AL 35073
  • Lawson State Community College, 1100 Ninth Ave. SW, Bessemer, AL 35022
    (An SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center opens Sat., June 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon. through Thu., June 12.)

Limestone County:

  • Ripley Woodmen of the World Hall, 11281 Ripley Road, Athens, AL 35611

Mobile County:

  • Old Navy/Marine Corps Reserve Center, 4851 Museum Dr., Mobile, AL 36608

The SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations to repair or replace uncompensated losses. The SBA may lend up to $200,000 to repair or replace homes and up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property.

Loans to businesses, including non-profits are available up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged real estate, and other business assets.  Eligible businesses and non-profits can apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. The deadline for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is February 2, 2015.

See the original article here – 

Recovery Center in Jefferson County to Close June 6; Re-Opens June 7 as an SBA Center

Urban Search and RescueTeams Remove Coloradoans From Dangerous Situations After Flooding

DENVER – When Colorado towns were cut off, streets flooded and people stranded, members of five task forces of FEMA Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) arrived to help. Task force members from Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada and Utah searched house-to-house and helped flood survivors evacuate.

Members of the Nebraska Task Force created different ways to reach survivors and their homes. Making their way through flood waters, rescuers used poles to navigate the debris under water.

“In a normal river, it’s known what your hazards are,” said Lloyd Mueller of the Lincoln Fire and Rescue division of Nebraska Task Force One. “Here in urban flooding, it’s not known. Everything has changed. The landscape has changed, and the river has shifted course.”

Each US&R Task Force is comprised of 70 members and four canines. Team members include physicians, first responders, hazardous material specialists and structural engineers. The team is set up with equipment and vehicles so it can be self-sufficient for the first 72 hours of operations.

When disaster strikes a community, within six hours, FEMA deploys the three closest task forces. The 28 national task forces support state and local emergency responders during disasters such as the Colorado flooding or catastrophic structure collapses such as the Murrah Federal Building, World Trade Center or Pentagon. When not on an assignment, many task force members serve in their local communities as first responders, firefighters or paramedics.

“This program is incredibly unique. You can see some of the incidents we’ve had over the last 15 years where the local government and state government get overwhelmed,” said Niko King, US&R Incident Support Team information officer. “To have these teams here within hours of when a community is impacted has been incredibly invaluable.”

This article: 

Urban Search and RescueTeams Remove Coloradoans From Dangerous Situations After Flooding

As Part of Youth Engagement, FEMA Welcomes Flat Stanley and Flat Stella

WASHINGTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) welcomed two of their newest “employees” who are charged with serving as ambassadors to America’s youth:  Flat Stanley and Flat Stella.  As a symbol of education and literacy, these characters help educate children across the globe, and FEMA’s Flat Stanley and Flat Stella are helping to teach children and their families about emergency preparedness. 

The introduction of Flat Stanley and Flat Stella is just one part of a larger outreach effort by FEMA to America’s youth. This week, FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council will meet with senior leaders of FEMA leadership and other federal and private sector partners to develop new ways for young people to play an active part in strengthening the nation’s resiliency in the face of emergency situations.   In addition to Flat Stanley and Stella, FEMA’s Ready.gov Kids (http://www.ready.gov/kids) provides materials and resources for kids and their families to take action to be prepared. 

“Flat Stanley and Flat Stella are great communication tools that are being added to FEMA’s Whole Community approach to emergency management,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “Reaching out to children, parents of young children, and teachers is essential in instilling a message of self-reliance, resilience and preparedness. We are using new media and emerging technologies to target and engage youth in our outreach efforts and incorporating their ideas for preparedness and emergency management.”

As part of the new Flat Stanley and Flat Stella initiative, FEMA and Flatter World, Inc. have joined forces in a collaborative effort to create interactive experiences for students, including a mobile application that provides youth with state of the art interactive and informative experiences both inside and outside of the classroom in the area of emergency preparedness.  

Children, with the assistance of their parents, can download and create their own free customized character on the Flat Stanley website or through the Flat Stanley Mobile Application.  They can share their experiences creating a preparedness kit and their virtual adventure tour with other Flat Stanley users.

FEMA is listed as a destination on the Flat Stanley Mobile Application so kids and their parents can create a character, send it on a virtual FEMA tour and learn how to get better prepared.  On the virtual tour, characters interact with agency personnel, learn about field operations and visit other families who are putting together their own emergency preparedness plans and kits.  Custom FEMA Flat Stanley and Stella templates are also available to assist in preparedness education at www.ready.gov/flatstanley.    

In addition to following the Flat Stanley and Flat Stella characters through their experiences on the mobile app, kids and their families can follow the characters as new FEMA employees on FEMA’s blog.  There they will post information about their experiences, share news about work that is done at the agency and offer timely tips.  

Flat Stanley and Stella also have an interactive space on the Flat Stanley website, and an official e-mail account at FEMA (stanleyandstella@fema.dhs.gov) where parents and their children can contact FEMA to ask questions or offer their stories.

FLAT STANLEY® is an award-winning educational project encompassing more than 6000 schools registered in 88 countries around the world, and is included in the curriculum for more than 15% of elementary schools in the United States. FLAT STANLEY® is a trademark of the Trust u/w/o Richard C. Brown f/b/o Duncan Brown.  FEMA does not endorse any non-Federal government entities.

 

Follow FEMA online at http://blog.fema.gov, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.  The social media links provided are for reference only. 

FEMA’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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As Part of Youth Engagement, FEMA Welcomes Flat Stanley and Flat Stella