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Oceanport’s Chris Baggot: From Sandy Survivor to Sandy Recovery Coordinator

LINCROFT, N.J. — As Deputy Coordinator of the Oceanport, N.J. Office of Emergency Management, Chris Baggot has weathered a lot of storms.

But nothing so profoundly altered the landscape of his community like Hurricane Sandy.

The 3.7 square mile town on the Shrewsbury River was devastated by the storm. Five hundred of the 2000 homes in this close-knit community were substantially damaged or destroyed. Oceanport also lost its police station, its borough hall, its ambulance squad building, its library and its courthouse.

Some 18 months after the Oct. 29, 2012 hurricane, 71 families were still unable to return home.

The Baggot family is among them. The Baggots have been renting a one-bedroom apartment in the nearby community of Eatontown while they await the demolition and reconstruction of their home on Blackberry Bay.

While they were approved for an RREM grant of $150,000 to underwrite the rebuilding, a rough winter delayed the start of construction on their replacement home. Once the weather improves and contractors break ground, it will be another six to nine months before Chris, his wife, Wendy, and college-age son, Zachary, will be able to enjoy life in Oceanport once again.

“I’m a Sandy survivor. We don’t use the word ‘victim,’’’ he says.

He carries A picture of Chris Baggott Chris Baggot: From Sandy Survivor to Sandy Recovery Coordinatorthat perspective into his role at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s New Jersey Sandy Recovery Office, where he recently became a CORE employee after joining FEMA as a Local Hire in December of 2012.

It was his second time assisting his fellow New Jerseyans as a FEMA employee: Baggot was also recruited as a Local Hire in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene in 2011.

Hired initially as a project specialist for Public Assistance, Baggot moved on to become a Cost Estimating Format reviewer, Quality Assurance lead, Operations task force lead and finally, CORE Operations Task Force Lead.

In that capacity, he explains, “I oversee the life cycle of a Public Assistance project from the writing stage all the way through to obligation.”

Baggot’s personal experience with the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy has underlined his understanding of the importance of the FEMA mission in helping communities rebuild and become more resilient.

“It sure is nice when people say to you, ‘Look, we need this; we need that,’ and you can give it to them in a reasonable way,” says Baggot, “and it’s nice when you can manage expectations when people ask for the moon and stars. That’s not really what we’re there to provide. We’re there to get them back to pre-disaster conditions.”

He has plenty of praise for his colleagues at FEMA, who came here in the immediate aftermath of the storm to help the hard-hit residents of New Jersey get back on their feet.

“The FEMA people that I’ve had the opportunity to work with have really been great.” He’s also enjoyed observing their surprise at how different New Jersey is from its “What exit?” stereotype.

“They talk about how beautiful it is – they thought it was all blacktop,” Baggot says with a laugh.

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

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 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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Oceanport’s Chris Baggot: From Sandy Survivor to Sandy Recovery Coordinator

State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida survivors affected by the recent series of storms, tornadoes and flooding can now visit disaster recovery centers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties if they have questions about disaster assistance.

The disaster recovery centers will be open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and on Sundays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Center locations are:

Escambia County

Brownsville Community Center

2100 W. DeSoto St.

Pensacola, FL 32505

Santa Rosa County

Gulf Breeze Recreation Center

800 Shoreline Drive

Gulf Breeze, FL 32561

Pensacola State College – Milton Campus

5988 Highway 90

Milton, FL 32583

Specialists from the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration will be on hand to answer questions. Survivors will be able to:

Discuss their individual disaster-related needs.
Submit any additional documentation needed, such as phone bills or letters from insurance companies.
Find out the status of an application.
Obtain information about different types of state and federal assistance.
Get help from SBA specialists in completing low-interest disaster loan applications for homeowners, renters and business owners.
Receive referrals to the American Red Cross and other voluntary organizations to help with immediate needs.

Before going to a center, if possible, survivors should register with FEMA. Apply for assistance by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone at m.fema.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362. Survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability can call (TTY) 800-462-7585.

Disaster assistance may include money to help pay for temporary housing and essential home repairs. Low-interest SBA loans may also be available for losses not covered by insurance or other sources.

For more information on Florida disaster recovery, click fema.gov/disaster/4177. Visit the Florida Division of Emergency Management website at FloridaDisaster.org or Facebook page at facebook.com/FloridaSERT.

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State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties

Five More Alabama Counties Added for FEMA Individual Assistance

CLANTON, Ala. – Survivors in Blount, DeKalb, Etowah, Mobile and Tuscaloosa counties may now apply for federal disaster assistance, as they were added Thursday to the major disaster declaration for the recent tornadoes and flooding in Alabama.

Individuals and households in the five counties may now register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance, and report their uninsured or underinsured property damage from the severe storms during the period of April 28 through May 5.

A total of nine counties have been designated for the Individual Assistance program. The other four counties are Baldwin, Jefferson, Lee and Limestone.

Disaster assistance for uninsured and underinsured individuals may include:

Money to help pay for temporary housing and emergency home repairs.
Money for serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance.
Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Survivors can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

Alabama residents should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but under-insured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if the person has registered with another disaster-relief organization. FEMA registrants must use the name that appears on their Social Security card.

Applicants will be asked for the following information:

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

For more information on Alabama disaster recovery, click fema.gov/disaster/4176. Visit the Alabama Emergency Management Agency website at ema.alabama.gov/ or Facebook page at facebook.com/AlabamaEMA.

Five More Alabama Counties Added for FEMA Individual Assistance

Florida Panhandle Counties Now Eligible for Federal Disaster Assistance

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Survivors in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties who sustained property damage as a result of the recent severe storms and flooding in Florida are urged to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as they may be eligible for disaster assistance.

Disaster survivors have several ways to apply:

By phone at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.
Online at DisasterAssistance.gov any time day or night.
Via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

Assistance can include money for temporary housing and home repairs, and for 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 may also be available to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance.

Survivors should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but under-insured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if the person has registered with another disaster-relief organization. Applicants will be asked for the following information:

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

For more information on Florida disaster recovery, click fema.gov/disaster/4177. Visit the Florida Division of Emergency Management website at floridadisaster.org or Facebook page at facebook.com/FloridaSERT.

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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.

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Original article:

Florida Panhandle Counties Now Eligible for Federal Disaster Assistance

Survivors in Five More Mississippi Counties May Now Apply For Disaster Assistance

PEARL, Miss. – Survivors in Jones, Leake, Montgomery, Simpson and Warren counties whose property was damaged by the recent storms, tornadoes and flooding in Mississippi may now apply for federal disaster assistance.

The five counties were added to the April 30 presidential disaster declaration Tuesday, bringing the total number of Mississippi counties designated for Individual Assistance to 12, according to officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The original seven designated counties are Itawamba, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Rankin, Wayne and Winston.

Assistance for homeowners and renters may include money to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs. Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration may also be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance.

Survivors can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

Applicants will be asked for the following information:

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

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Survivors in Five More Mississippi Counties May Now Apply For Disaster Assistance

FEMA Awards $676,740 Grant to Saline County: Hazard mitigation funds will be used to acquire and demolish 9 flood prone structures

CHICAGO –The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $676,740 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to Saline County,Ill., for the acquisition and demolition of eight residential structures and one commercial structure located in the floodplain. Following demolition, these properties will be maintained as permanent open space in the community.

“The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program enables communities to implement critical mitigation measures to reduce the risk of loss of life and property,” said FEMA Region V Administrator Andrew Velasquez III. “The acquisition and demolition of these structures permanently removes them from the floodplain and greatly reduces the financial impact on individuals and the community when future flooding occurs in this area.

“Approval of this grant is good news for residents who have been hit by flooding many times in the past,” said Jonathon Monken, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. “The grant will enable them to move to higher ground and avoid future heartache and property losses.”

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Through HMGP, FEMA will pay 75 percent of the $902,320eligible project cost. The remaining 25 percent of the funds, $225,580, will be provided by Saline County.

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, (312) 408-4455

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FEMA Awards $676,740 Grant to Saline County: Hazard mitigation funds will be used to acquire and demolish 9 flood prone structures

There Are Many Reasons for a Letter From FEMA

PEARL, Miss. – Everyone receives a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency after applying for disaster assistance. It explains FEMA’s decision, what to do next if you disagree with FEMA’s decision, and how grant money should be spent if you receive it.

If you have questions about any letter from FEMA, you should call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY at 800-462-7585) or visit a disaster recovery center. You can use the same phone number to find the nearest center. You can also locate a center with your smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov or online at www.fema.gov/drclocator.

If your letter says you are ineligible, it will provide information on what steps are necessary if you disagree with FEMA’s decision. For help, you can call FEMA’s helpline or go to a center and speak with a recovery specialist.

FEMA looks at a number of things and information to determine if a survivor may be eligible to receive disaster assistance. You must be able to:

Verify identity. If you’ve lost your ID during the storm, visit a disaster recovery center. The staff there can make referrals regarding replacement documents.
Verify occupancy for primary residence. You need to provide proof of occupancy such as a utility bill, driver’s license, merchant’s statement, employer’s statement. You can bring the documents to a disaster recovery center, where recovery specialists will help you.

You may also receive a letter from FEMA about your eligibility if you missed an appointment with an inspector.

That’s why it is so important to give good contact information – such as a cellphone or work number – and stay in touch with FEMA.

If you receive a disaster loan application from the SBA, you must complete and return it to SBA in order to be referred to other FEMA programs. You are not required to accept the loan. But returning the SBA application is part of the assistance process.

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Originally from:

There Are Many Reasons for a Letter From FEMA

Resources Available For Sandy Survivors

LINCROFT, N.J. — When Superstorm Sandy struck and thousands of New Jersey residents were left looking for assistance, public agencies and private entities created resources and programs designed to help them. Nearly 18 months after the storm, the status and scope of these programs have changed, but many of them are still active and available.

Survivors facing urgent safety issues should call 911 or the New Jersey Emergency Response Hotline (800-JERSEY-7). The hotline’s backup numbers are 609-775-5236 and 908-303-0471.

For non-emergency issues and updated news and bulletins, survivors can call the New Jersey 2-1-1 help line or visit www.nj211.org. For emergency-related news, they can also follow @nj211 on Twitter.

FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s website, www.fema.gov/sandy, has the latest news and information on the disaster in New Jersey. Also, ‘like’ the FEMA Facebook page, and/or follow @FEMASandy on Twitter. www.DisasterAssistance.gov has links to community resources, government directories and alerts.

NEW JERSEY STATE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management’s website, www.ready.nj.gov, contains links to the Department of Community Affairs’ Block Grant plan and the state Public Assistance program. Search facebook.com/READYNEW JERSEY on Facebook to find the OEM’s page, and @ReadyNJ on Twitter for news update. The NJOEM also published a blog, which can be accessed at http://readynj.wordpress.com/

The New Jersey State Police can be found at www.njsp.org; @NJSP on Twitter; and at “New Jersey State Police” on Facebook.

FOOD ASSISTANCE

End Hunger NJ (www.endhungernj.org) has a statewide food bank database.

Community Food Bank of New Jersey: www.cfbnj.org; “Food Bank of NJ” on Facebook; @CFBNJ on Twitter.

Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties: 732-918-2600; www.foodbankmoc.org; “foodbankmoc” on Facebook.

Food Bank of South Jersey: www.foodbanksj.org; “Food Bank of South Jersey” on Facebook; @foodbankSJ on Twitter.

Ocean City, New Jersey C.A.R.E. Project: 855-622-2730; www.ocnjcare.org; “OCNJCARE” on Facebook.

GENERAL HEALTH AND WELFARE

The Department of Health and Human Services has a Hurricane Sandy Recovery Page: www.phe.gov/emergency/events/sandy/Pages/default.aspx. Search for “State of New Jersey EMS Taskforce” on Facebook, and @NJEMSTF on Twitter.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a page for hurricane preparedness and response at: www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes. Search for “CDC” on Facebook and follow @CDCEmergency on Twitter.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a hotline accessible by calling 800-321-OSHA (6742). www.osha.gov/sandy has information on keeping workers safe during recovery and cleanup operations.

The Jersey Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross has its own website at: www.redcross.org/nj/tinton-falls. Follow “Red Cross” on Facebook and @RedCross on Twitter.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

The New Jersey Directory of Mental Health Services is online at www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dmhs/news/publications/mhs in three parts.

For children/youth services through the State of New Jersey’s Department of Children and Families, visit www.nj.gov/dcf/families/csc or call 877-652-7624 for questions or to apply for services for developmentally disabled children.

New Jersey Mental Health Cares (www.njmentalhealthcares.org) has updated listings of public mental health providers in the state. Call hotline at 877-294-HELP (4357).

CHILDREN

The non-profit New Jersey Association of Child Care Resources and Referral Agencies is an organization representing child care groups serving New Jersey. Call the hotline at 800-332-9227; visit www.njaccrra.org; or find and like “NJ Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies” on Facebook.

Contact the state Department of Education at 609-292-2070 if you have not been able to enroll your child in school in the town where you are currently living or if you have not been able to return to your home school district.

SENIOR CITIZENS

The Division of Aging Services administers federal and state-run services for senior citizens. It also oversees the 21 Area Agencies of Aging in each county in the state, which develop coordinated community-based systems. Call 877-222-3737 or www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas/home.

AARP: www.aarp.org; “AARP” on Facebook, @AARP on Twitter.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid services provides up-to-date information about natural disasters, extreme weather and emergencies for those with Medicare and Medicaid. http://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/Emergency/index.html

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES OR ACCESS AND FUNCTIONAL NEEDS

The State of New Jersey has several agencies that deal with different groups of people who are disabled or have access and functional needs:

Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Call 877-685-8878 or visit www.state.nj.us/humanservices/cbvi/home.

Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Call 800-792-8339 or visit http://nj.gov/humanservices/ddhh/home.

The Division of Developmental Disabilities places its main focus on people with mental disabilities, including conditions such as cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, and spina bifida, as well as those who have suffered traumatic brain injuries: Call 800-832-9173 or visit http://nj.gov/humanservices/ddd/home for updated information on programs and to apply for assistance.

The Division of Disability Services focuses on people who became disabled as adults. Call 888-285-3036 or visit http://nj.gov/humanservices/dds/home.

Good Neighbors, Community Living For People with Disabilities is the New Jersey Department of Human Services’ public education program. Call 877-DHS-LINE (347-5463) or visit http://www.nj.gov/humanservices/clients/disability/goodneighbors/ for program information.

The New Jersey Statewide Independent Living Council is a separate entity under the New Jersey Department of Labor. It has locations serving all 21 counties in New Jersey and the cities of Camden and Newark. Visit www.njsilc.org to find contact information for a CIL (Center for Independent Living) near you.

The New Jersey Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters (NJ GAINED) is an advisory board to the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management and to the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. Call 609-963-6818 or visit www.state.nj.us/njoem/plan/special-needs-njsnap.html for information on NJ GAINED projects and the organization’s strategic plan.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences provides documents and resources in English, Spanish and Vietnamese that address emergency preparedness in hurricane and flood situations. Links are at http://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/index.cfm?id=2472.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has a Sandy Resources page (http://www.state.nj.us/dep/special/hurricane-sandy) with fact sheets and information on the buyout program, home elevations and beach replenishments.

The Environmental Protection Agency has a Sandy section on its website: www.epa.gov/sandy. Find “EPA” on Facebook, follow @EPAgov on Twitter or call 888-283-7626.

LEGAL SERVICES

Legal Services of New Jersey (www.lsnj.org) provides free civil legal assistance to low-income New Jersey residents. They have a special New Jersey Hurricane Sandy Hotline at 888-222-5765.

VOLUNTEER SERVICES

Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Hudson, Cumberland, Bergen and Union counties have established Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), which is an organization of volunteer groups, and/or Long Term Recovery Committees (LTRC), which coordinate volunteer and private sector efforts to help residents recover from disasters.

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

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications

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Resources Available For Sandy Survivors

FEMA Offers Homebuilders Guide to Coastal Construction

LINCROFT, N.J. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has produced materials to give technical guidance to home builders and property owners planning post-Sandy construction or repairs in coastal areas.

Investigations conducted by FEMA and other organizations have consistently shown that properly sited, well-designed and well-constructed coastal residential buildings generally perform well in coastal disasters.

For residential builders and do-it-yourselfers, FEMA offers a series of Fact Sheets (available free at Fema.gov) that provide technical guidance and recommendations concerning the construction of coastal residential buildings.

The Home Builders Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact Sheet Series is aimed at improving the stability of buildings in coastal environments that may be subject to flood and wind forces.

The 37 fact sheets are divided into 10 categories that cover various aspects of the construction process. Each fact sheet provides specific information on topics like National Flood Insurance Program regulatory requirements, the proper siting of coastal buildings and recommended design and construction practices.

Many of the fact sheets also include lists of FEMA and other resources that provide more information about the topics discussed. Where appropriate, resources are accompanied by active web links.

Updated in 2011, a Coastal Construction Manual – prepared with assistance from other agencies, organizations and professionals involved in coastal construction and regulation – is intended to help designers and contractors identify and evaluate practices that improve construction quality.

The two-volume publication provides a comprehensive approach to planning, siting, designing, constructing and maintaining homes in the coastal environment.

Volume I provides information on hazard identification, siting decisions, regulatory requirements, economic implications and risk management.

Volume II contains in-depth descriptions of design, construction and maintenance practices that, when followed, will increase the durability of residential buildings in the harsh coastal environment and reduce economic losses associated with coastal natural disasters.

The primary audience for Volume I includes design professionals, officials and those involved in the decision-making process. The primary audience for Volume II is the design professional who is familiar with building codes and standards and has a basic understanding of engineering projects.

The Coastal Construction Manual (FEMA publication P-55) and the Home Builders Guide to Coastal Construction Technical Fact Sheet Series (FEMA publication P-499) may be downloaded in Portable Document Format as PDF files or as plain text (.txt) files at fema.gov.

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

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications

Continued here:

FEMA Offers Homebuilders Guide to Coastal Construction

$1 Million in State, Federal Assistance Approved for Arkansas Tornado Survivors

Little Rock, Ark. – State and federal disaster responders are acting at record pace to help survivors of the storms and tornadoes that tore through Arkansas on April 27. Federal disaster assistance approved for Arkansans has topped $1 million – and that’s just one of several milestones so far.

President Obama issued a disaster declaration for Faulkner County at 10 a.m. April 29. At 5:45 p.m., less than eight hours later, the first Mobile Registration Intake Center (MRIC) opened for business in Vilonia.

Just eight minutes after the center opened, Disaster Survivor Assistance team members with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) had registered the first survivor for Individual Assistance. And the first FEMA funds, a $1,230 grant from Rental Assistance, were approved at noon on April 30 – less than 26 hours after the disaster declaration.

“We’re very pleased with the efforts at all levels of recovery, from individuals to government agencies,” said State Coordinating Officer David Maxwell of ADEM. “Getting Arkansans’ needs met so they can begin rebuilding their lives is our main concern.”

FEMA housing inspectors are also working quickly to assess homeowners’ property damages. The first inspection was completed less than 26 hours after the declaration. Even more impressive, once an applicant requests a FEMA inspection, the response time is just four hours and 48 minutes.

“FEMA is fully committed to this mission,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Timothy J. Scranton. “Make no mistake – we are here for the long haul.”

Homeowners, renters and businesses owner can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

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$1 Million in State, Federal Assistance Approved for Arkansas Tornado Survivors

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