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Texans: Please Share Disaster Recovery Info with Friends and Neighbors

AUSTIN, Texas — Word of mouth is a powerful way to spread news. Amazing as it may seem, some people are so busy with their recovery, they haven’t heard about federal help. You could be the one to bring this important message to someone you know, perhaps a friend, neighbor, co-worker, family member or acquaintance.

Tell your neighbors they may be eligible for a grant to help them pay for home repairs or to replace personal property ruined by the severe storms and flooding between May 4 and June 22. These grants do not have to be repaid. People affected by the disaster may also have an opportunity to take out a low-interest disaster recovery loan.

Encourage your friends to register for aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This helps individuals, households, the whole community and the state of Texas recover faster and stronger.

Sometimes people don’t register for reasons based on rumors. Here are some rumors you may hear and the facts you could share to help your friends and neighbors understand their options:

“If I receive aid, I’m taking it away from someone who is in worse shape than I am and needs it more.” Sufficient funds are available to assist every eligible individual and household in Texas.
“I can’t get aid. My income is too high.” Everyone with disaster-related losses who lives in a county designated for Individual Assistance should register to find out if they are eligible for recovery help. There is no income test for some types of aid.
“I have insurance. I’m not eligible for FEMA help.” People with insurance should register. FEMA may be able to give you a grant for expenses not covered by your insurance. Register now even if you are still waiting for your insurance settlement.
“I’m a renter. Aid isn’t available for renters.” Renters should register if they lost or had damage to any necessary personal property, such as a vehicle or a computer used for school.

Homeowners, renters and businesses in the 47 Texas counties currently designated for Individual Assistance can apply for FEMA assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362 toll free from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) daily until further notice. Multilingual operators are available.

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

The deadline to register is Aug. 27.

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

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

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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 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.

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

For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4223, Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Visit www.fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation for publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger.

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Texans: Please Share Disaster Recovery Info with Friends and Neighbors

Additional Damage May Mean Additional Assistance for Oklahomans

OKLAHOMA CITY – Many Oklahomans have already registered with the Federal Management Agency for disaster assistance to repair their damaged homes, but as they may have experienced multiple rounds of storms and be eligible for additional assistance, they should call FEMA to request a re-inspection.

On July 21, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and FEMA expanded the disaster declaration timeline to run from May 5 to June 22. Survivors who incurred damage from May 5 to June 4, and then incurred further damage from June 5 to June 22, should call the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362 to report the additional damage and request a re-inspection, particularly if the inspection was held before July 21. This will allow FEMA to address any disaster-related damage that occurred from June 5 to June 22.

Disaster help for eligible applicants may include grants for rental assistance or temporary housing, home repairs and serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance. The latter might include help with medical, dental, funeral, repair or replacement of personal property including vehicles, and moving and storage expenses.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loans are available to businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations and homeowners and renters for losses not fully compensated by insurance or other resources.

Survivors in all 45 designated counties (Adair, Atoka, Beckham, Bryan, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Cherokee, Choctaw, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Delaware, Garvin, Grady, Hughes, Jefferson, Johnston, Kiowa, Latimer, Le Flore, Lincoln, Logan, Love, Marshall, Mayes, McClain, McCurtain, McIntosh, Murray, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Ottawa, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Rogers, Seminole, Stephens, Tillman, Tulsa and Wagoner) who sustained losses or damage from storms that occurred between May 5 and June 22 are urged to register with FEMA as soon as possible. Having contacted any non-FEMA organization or agency does not count as a registration with FEMA.

Register online with any computer, smartphone or tablet at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362.

The deadline for registering with FEMA is August 26.

For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4222 or visit the OEM site at www.oem.ok.gov.

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Additional Damage May Mean Additional Assistance for Oklahomans

Disaster Recovery Center in Crawford County to Close Aug. 7; Deadline to Register is Aug. 25.

Disaster Recovery Center in Crawford County to Close Aug. 7; Deadline to Register is Aug. 25.

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – Hours at the disaster recovery center in Crawford County changed this week and officials announced the center will close at the end of the business day on Friday, Aug. 7.

Located at the Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative Building, 615 E. Pointer Trail in Van Buren, the center provides help to those whose homes or businesses were affected by the severe spring storms, May 7 to June 15, 2015.

Hours at the center are now from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The center closes Aug. 7, but help will still be available online or by a toll-free call.

Individuals and families who suffered losses as a result of the late spring storms have until Aug. 25, 2015 to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster assistance. They can do so online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621- 3362 (FEMA). 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. Multilingual operators are available.

Those who have registered for assistance can get answers to questions and check on the status of their claim online, or at the same toll-free number.

The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual operators are available.

Federal disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property loss and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

Each disaster recovery center has assistive technologies for people with disabilities. ASL assistance is available at the DRCs by appointment by calling 870-451-9241.

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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Disaster Recovery Center in Crawford County to Close Aug. 7; Deadline to Register is Aug. 25.

FEMA Registration Deadline Now Just a Month Away

FEMA Registration Deadline Now Just a Month Away

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – Residents of nine Arkansas counties who suffered damage from the severe storms of May 7 through June 15, 2015, have only about one month left to register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The deadline to register for disaster assistance is Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015.

Individuals and families who suffered losses as a result of the late spring storms may register online at www.disasterassistance.gov; those without access to the internet can call FEMA’s toll-free registration number, 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 800-462-7585 directly; 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. Multilingual operators are available.

Residents of Crawford, Garland, Howard, Jefferson, Little River, Miller, Perry, Sebastian and Sevier counties may be eligible for federal disaster assistance. That assistance can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property loss and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

Low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to help with residential and business losses not covered by insurance. The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the 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.

For more information on SBA programs, 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 Registration Deadline Now Just a Month Away

California to receive FEMA funding to battle Wragg Fire Near Lake Berryessa in Napa, Yolo, and Solano Counties

FEMA Public Affairs (510) 627-7006

OAKLAND, Calif. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to assist the state of California combat the Wragg fire burning in Napa, Yolo and Solano Counties.

On July 23, 2015, the State of California submitted a request for a fire management assistance declaration for the Wragg Fire and FEMA approved the state’s request on July 23, 2015. The authorization makes FEMA funding available to reimburse up to 75 percent of the eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling the fire.

At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 230 homes in and around the communities of Golden Bear Estates, Quail Canyon, and Pleasants Valley, population 1,200. This fire is experiencing a rapid rate of growth and is currently burning in and among structures in the Quail Valley area. The fire started on July 22, 2015, and, at this time, has burned in excess of 6,000 acres and is five percent contained.

State and local officials have ordered mandatory residential evacuations throughout the impacted area. Three hikers have been rescued from Cold Canyon; hikers in the Cold Canyon area have been evacuated and Canyon Creek and Lake Solano campgrounds have been evacuated.

The Red Cross has opened an evacuation center at the Winters Community Center at 201 Railroad Ave in Winters, CA.

The Disaster Relief Fund provides funding for Federal Fire Management Grants (FMAGs) through FEMA to assist in fighting fires which threaten to cause major disasters. Eligible costs covered by FMAGs can include expenses for field camps; equipment use; repair and replacement; tools; materials; supplies and mobilization and demobilization activities.

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California to receive FEMA funding to battle Wragg Fire Near Lake Berryessa in Napa, Yolo, and Solano Counties

FEMA, Ad Council Launch New PSA Focused on People with Disabilities Preparing for Emergencies

Washington – Today, the Ad Council and the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the launch of a new public service advertisement (PSA) to raise awareness about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. While the PSA targets all communities, We Prepare Every Day is the first in a series of videos that aim to deliver a strong preparedness message by showing people with disabilities taking charge to prepare themselves and their families for emergencies.

The PSA provides equal access to all viewers and includes open captioning, a certified deaf interpreter, and audio description for viewers who are blind or have low vision.

“As we celebrate a quarter century of the ADA, we look to people with disabilities as leading the way,” said Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator. “By taking their own preparedness actions every day, they set an example for all of us, including their families and their communities.”

The launch of the PSA coincides with the 25^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 2015. The ADA prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for people with disabilities in employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation and telecommunications. The ADA guarantees the civil rights of more than 56 million Americans.

“Everyone can and should think about their specific needs and prepare for the kinds of emergencies that can happen where they live, work or visit,” said Lisa Sherman, President and CEO of the Ad Council. “Our hope is that this campaign encourages everyone to think ahead and be prepared.”

The new PSA emphasizes the Ready Campaign’s four building blocks of preparedness – Build a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed and Get Involved. FEMA’s Ready campaign in partnership with the Ad Council has helped to generate more than 87 million unique visitors to the campaign’s website, Ready.gov, since its launch in 2003. Through the Ad Council, to date, the Ready campaign has received more than $1.1 billion in donated media.

To get more information on how to make a family emergency communication plan, building a disaster supply kit or to learn how to get involved in community preparedness, please visit ready.gov/myplan. The PSA was created pro-bono by Free Range Studios and will be available for download from FEMA’s media library.

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Federal Emergency Management Agency
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. Learn more at fema.gov.

The Ad Council
The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization with a rich history of marshaling volunteer talent from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. Having produced literally thousands of PSA campaigns addressing the most pressing social issues of the day, the Ad Council has affected, and continues to affect, tremendous positive change by raising awareness, inspiring action and saving lives. To learn more about the Ad Council and its campaigns, visit www.adcouncil.org, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or view our PSAs on YouTube.

Free Range
Free Range is a world class brand and innovation studio with a commitment to driving positive social change through storytelling and design. Based in Oakland, CA and Washington D.C., Free Range has been named one of Fast Company’s Fast 50 most innovative companies and has won numerous Webbys, Addys and Sundance Interactive Awards. To learn more, visit FreeRange.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

FEMA
FEMA News Desk
202-646-3272

Ad Council
Kat English
212-984-1997
kenglish@adcouncil.org

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FEMA, Ad Council Launch New PSA Focused on People with Disabilities Preparing for Emergencies

FEMA Provides Federal Funds to Help Fight Blue Creek Fire

SEATTLE – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Blue Creek Fire, burning in Walla Walla County, Wash.

FEMA Region X Regional Administrator Kenneth D. Murphy determined that the Blue Creek Fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Murphy approved the state’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) on July 21, 2015, at 12:10 a.m. PDT. This is the second FMAG approved in the state of Washington this fire season.

The fire started on July 20, 2015, and at the time of the request, the fire had burned approximately 3,000 acres including one home and threatened 150 more primary residences. Additionally, the Blue Creek and Mill Creek watersheds were being threatened along with six bridges, various roadways and electrical utilities. The fire was moving northeast toward the Black Snake Subdivision. Evacuation orders were in place with 50 residents staying at a Red Cross Shelter at the Walla Walla County Fairgrounds.

Firefighting resources on scene includes federal, state, and local personnel, three helicopters, 32 engines, and two dozers. The principal fire advisor confirmed the threat to the community and homes due to favorable burning conditions and extreme fire behavior. The fire was zero percent contained.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state of Washington’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants provide reimbursement for firefighting and life-saving efforts. They do not provide assistance to individuals, homeowners or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

Fire Management Assistance Grants are provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

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FEMA Provides Federal Funds to Help Fight Blue Creek Fire

Understanding Individual Assistance and Public Assistance

The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides two main types of assistance following natural disasters, such as the Texas storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred May 4 through June 19.

Individual Assistance is provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to individuals and families who have sustained losses due to disasters.

Texas homeowners, renters and business owners in designated counties who sustained damage to their homes, vehicles, personal property, businesses or inventory as a result of the May 4 through June 19 severe storms and floods may apply for disaster assistance.
Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, emergency home repairs, uninsured and underinsured personal property losses, and medical, dental and funeral expenses caused by the disaster, along with other serious disaster-related expenses.
Disaster assistance grants are not taxable income and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, medical waiver programs, welfare assistance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance.
As a FEMA partner, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low-interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters. SBA disaster loans are the primary source of federal long-term disaster recovery funds for disaster damages not fully covered by insurance or other compensation. They do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Public Assistance can fund the repair, restoration, reconstruction or replacement of a public facility or infrastructure damaged or destroyed by a disaster.

FEMA will provide a reimbursement grant of 75 percent of eligible costs, with the state and local governments sharing the remaining 25 percent of costs. Eligible entities include state governments, local governments and any other political subdivision of the state, Native American tribes and Alaskan Native Villages. Certain private nonprofit organizations, such as educational, utility, irrigation, emergency, medical, rehabilitation, and temporary or permanent custodial care facilities also may receive assistance.
Although funds are awarded to government entities and nonprofits, the Public Assistance program is intended to benefit everyone — neighborhoods, cities, counties and states. Public Assistance dollars help clean up communities affected by disaster-related debris, repair the roads and bridges people use every day getting to work and school, put utilities and water systems back in order, repair hospitals and emergency services, rebuild schools and universities, and restore playground equipment in public parks.

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

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Understanding Individual Assistance and Public Assistance

Undocumented Immigrants May Qualify for Some Disaster Aid

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – Parents and guardians of children who are citizens, noncitizen nationals or qualified aliens living in the federally-declared Arkansas disaster area, may apply for assistance on behalf of their child, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses can apply for assistance 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. Multilingual operators are available.

Once registered, FEMA disaster recovery specialists answer questions about applications or collect information FEMA needs to process the application. Recovery specialists can supply contacts for other programs — those operated by volunteer organizations such as the American Red Cross — that may be able to help.

An applicant’s information is confidential. FEMA shares that information only with the state and designated agencies that provide disaster assistance.

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.

Residents of Crawford, Garland, Howard, Jefferson, Little River, Miller, Perry, Sebastian and Sevier counties affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of May 7 to June 15, 2015 may be eligible for disaster assistance and are encouraged to register for assistance with FEMA by the Aug. 25, 2015 deadline.

The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

Undocumented Immigrants May Qualify for Some Disaster Aid

Three Weeks’ Later, Federal Assistance Tops $1 Million for Arkansas Recovery

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – Three weeks after a federal disaster declaration made assistance available, more than $1 million in aid is helping the residents of nine Arkansas counties recover from the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding, May 7 to June 15, 2015.

To date, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, 151 persons have been approved for disaster assistance (as of 7 a.m. on Friday, July 17, 2015).

That assistance includes $710,750 in housing aid to help homeowners and renters:

Rent temporary housing for a limited period of time;
Repair damage from the disaster to a homeowner’s primary residence that is not covered by insurance. The goal is to make the home safe, sanitary and functional; and,
Help replace homes destroyed in the disaster.

The assistance also includes $68,053 to help pay for:

Disaster-related medical and dental costs;
Disaster-related funeral and burial costs;
Clothing, household items, tools required for work and necessary educational materials;
Clean-up items;
Disaster-damaged vehicles;
Moving and storage expenses related to the disaster; and,
Other necessary expenses or serious needs as determined by FEMA.

Also, $313,800 in low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofit organizations has been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration;

Residents of nine Arkansas counties may be eligible for disaster assistance. Residents of Crawford, Garland, Howard, Jefferson, Little River, Miller, Perry, Sebastian and Sevier counties are encouraged to register for assistance with FEMA by the Aug. 25, 2015 deadline.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses can apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov. Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. Multilingual operators are available.

The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual operators are available.

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Three Weeks’ Later, Federal Assistance Tops $1 Million for Arkansas Recovery

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