WILLISTON, Vt. – A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will open in Plainfield on July 31 to help Vermont residents affected by the floods kickstart their recovery. The joint DRC, a temporary facility established in partnership between Plainfield, the state of Vermont and FEMA, will help survivors apply for FEMA assistance, upload documents and answer questions in person.

The Plainfield center is located at:

Twinfield Union School
106 Nasmith Brook Road
Plainfield, VT 05667

Centers are already open at:

Waterbury Armory
294 Armory Drive
Waterbury, VT 05676

ASA Bloomer Building
88 Merchants Row, Suite 330
Rutland, VT 05701

Barre Auditorium
16 Auditorium Hill
Barre, VT 05641

Flood Brook School
91 VT-11
Londonderry, VT 05148

All are open 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

All centers are accessible to people with disabilities and access and functional needs, and are equipped with assistive technology equipment. If you need a reasonable accommodation or sign language interpreter, please call 1-833-285-7448 (press 2 for Spanish). 

Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration will also be at the center to explain how to apply for SBA’s low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses, and private nonprofits, and provide information about rebuilding to make homes more disaster resistant.

You don’t need to visit a DRC to apply for FEMA assistance. To apply without visiting a center, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or download the FEMA App. If you use a relay service such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service when you apply.

FEMA is committed to ensuring disaster assistance is accomplished equitably, without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status.  Any disaster survivor or member of the public may contact the FEMA Civil Rights Office if they feel that they are the victim of discrimination.  FEMA’s Civil Rights Office can be contacted toll-free at 833-285-7448. Multilingual operators are available.

San Juan, Puerto Rico – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) allocated $151.6 million to El Maestro Hospital, institution that has served the communities of San Juan since 1960, for permanent work on its structure due to damage following the impact of Hurricane María.

Following the award, the hospital will be able to address repairs that include the installation of a central air conditioning system for the entire building. They will also replace parts of the infrastructure and electrical equipment, remedy mold problems, repair the stucco and paint the structure.

The award includes nearly $6.2 million to prevent similar damage from future weather events. Among the measures, the roof slope will be corrected to improve drainage; and windows and doors will be replaced with high-impact resistant units.

“Hospital institutions are part of the country's essential services, especially during emergency season. This award to the El Maestro Hospital will support a strengthened and suitable infrastructure that will sustain the work of health professionals and the medical services that have been offered here for over 60 years,” said Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator José G. Baquero.

Meanwhile, the hospital’s executive director, Yarimir Rodríguez Díaz, explained that the institution is located in an extremely privileged area, since it is in the center of Hato Rey, next to Las Américas highway and shopping malls. The residents of around six neighboring homes for the elderly — such as Égida del Maestro, La Merced, Perpetuo Socorro and Égida de los Abogados — also benefit from the services of the medical institution.

El Maestro Hospital treats patients requiring hospitalization and outpatient care; it has a pediatric and adult emergency room, and an operating room for general and orthopedic surgery. Other services include oncology, urology, gastroenterology, physical and respiratory therapy, laboratory, imaging center and biopsy center.

The institution has approximately 300 employees and has an impact on some 150 indirect jobs, which does not include its suppliers and service providers, according to the executive director.

“El Maestro Hospital is a community hospital, so it would have been very difficult for us to get those funds to make the improvements that our patients and visitors need. All these improvements we are making will definitely result in a safer service. With the service we offer, which is a quality service that distinguishes us, patients will feel much more comfortable coming to Hospital del Maestro,” said Rodríguez Díaz.

To date, FEMA has awarded nearly $30.7 billion for over 10,700 Public Assistance projects aimed at rebuilding a more resilient Puerto Rico.

For more information about Puerto Rico’s recovery,  visit fema.gov/disaster/4339, fema.gov/disaster/4473 and recovery.pr. Follow us on our social media at Facebook.com/FEMAPuertoRico, Facebook.com/COR3pr and Twitter @COR3pr.

If your home was damaged by Vermont’s recent floods but you can still live in it safely, FEMA may be able to provide up to $300 to help with cleanup. This Clean and Sanitize Assistance is intended to help homeowners and renters quickly address contamination from floodwaters to prevent additional losses and safety concerns.

You may qualify for Clean and Sanitize Assistance if:

• You live in Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham or Windsor County.
• Based on a FEMA inspection, your home has disaster damage; or, if you are a renter, the inspection notes cleanup actions are needed or have already been done.
  • If you have already cleaned up, save your receipts from any supplies, materials or paid help.
• The damage is not covered by your insurance.
• FEMA determines your disaster-damaged primary residence is safe to occupy.

For advice about what to do if your house has mold, visit fema.gov/fact-sheet/mold-problems-and-solutions.

To register for FEMA assistance, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, download the FEMA App or call 1-800-621-3362. If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service when you apply.

FEMA is committed to ensuring disaster assistance is accomplished equitably, without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. Any disaster survivor or member of the public may contact the FEMA Civil Rights Office if they feel that they are the victim of discrimination.  FEMA’s Civil Rights Office can be contacted toll-free at 833-285-7448. Multilingual operators are available.

WILLISTON, Vt. – A Disaster Recovery Center will open in Londonderry on July 28 to help Vermont residents affected by the floods kickstart their recovery. The joint DRC, a temporary facility established in partnership between Londonderry, the state of Vermont and FEMA, will help survivors apply for FEMA assistance, upload documents and answer questions in person.

The Londonderry center is located at:

Flood Brook School
91 Vermont – 11
Londonderry, VT 05148

Centers are already open at:

Waterbury Armory
294 Armory Drive
Waterbury, VT 05676

ASA Bloomer Building
88 Merchants Row
Rutland, VT 05701

Barre Auditorium
16 Auditorium Hill
Barre, VT 05641

All are open 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

All centers are accessible to people with disabilities and access and functional needs, and are equipped with assistive technology equipment. If you need a reasonable accommodation or sign language interpreter, please call 1-833-285-7448 (press 2 for Spanish). 

Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration will also be at the center to explain how to apply for SBA’s low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses, and private nonprofits, and provide information about rebuilding to make homes more disaster resistant.

You don’t need to visit a DRC to apply for FEMA assistance. To apply without visiting a center, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or download the FEMA App. If you use a relay service such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service when you apply.

FEMA is committed to ensuring disaster assistance is accomplished equitably, without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status.  Any disaster survivor or member of the public may contact the FEMA Civil Rights Office if they feel that they are the victim of discrimination.  FEMA’s Civil Rights Office can be contacted toll-free at 833-285-7448. Multilingual operators are available.

LAKE MARY, Fla. – To date 1,928 Florida homeowners have received funds from FEMA to rebuild their homes stronger after the severe storms, flooding and tornadoes in Broward County.

As part of its commitment to increase resilience, FEMA has provided more than $628 thousand for mitigation assistance to homeowners.

Homeowners who are approved for home repair assistance through the agency’s Individuals and Households Program may receive additional funds for specific mitigation measures. Funding for mitigation measures is awarded for owner-occupied primary residences with specific damaged items and causes of damage. For more information visit: Hazard Mitigation Under the Individuals and Households Program | FEMA.gov

 Because disasters can happen unexpectedly, taking steps to strengthen, repair and rebuild is vital for community and personal resilience. The following mitigation measures may be covered for eligible applicants:

• Roof repair to withstand higher wind speed and help prevent water infiltration.
• Elevating a water heater or furnace to avoid future flood damage.
• Elevating or moving an electrical panel to avoid future flood damage.

These measures will allow homeowners to reduce disaster damage in the future and the likelihood that future federal assistance will be needed.

For the latest information on Florida’s recovery from Broward County severe storms, tornadoes and flooding, visit floridadisaster.org/info and fema.gov/disaster/4709. Follow FEMA Region 4 (@femaregion4) / Twitter and at facebook.com/fema.

Nebraska’s largest rodeo is getting its historic structures rebuilt after suffering major damage from May 2022 severe storms that resulted in a Presidential Disaster Declaration. 

Severe storms and straight-line winds affected multiple Nebraska counties on May 12, 2022. The Garfield County Frontier Fair Association, also known as the Burwell Rodeo, sustained major damages to its north grandstand and other structures. Almost immediately, the Burwell Rodeo began working with Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct a thorough damage assessment of the impacts. Once the disaster declaration was received, these partners expanded upon their work and the Rodeo submitted an application for FEMA public assistance to rebuild.

“It’s incredibly important for all of us to work together to make sure we rebuild responsibly and quickly after a disaster,” FEMA Region 7 Administrator Andrea Spillars said. “It’s wonderful to see this federal, state, and local partnership achieve real results that will benefit the community.”

FEMA obligated $9.08 million to rebuild the north grandstand, just in time to celebrate the opening of their 2023 season. Of the approximately $9 million awarded for the project, the federal share is $7.35 million, State of Nebraska share is $1.225 million, and local share is $1.225 million.

Burwell Rodeo held its opening night on July 27 with Governor Jim Pillen kicking off the celebration and announcing the obligation.

“There is cause to celebrate,” said Erv Portis, NEMA Deputy Director. “Thanks to FEMA and NEMA staff, and our local partners at Garfield County, the Burwell Rodeo’s historic structures will be reborn and ready for the next 100 years of Nebraska’s Big Rodeo.”

FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provides grants to state and local governments and certain non-profit entities to assist them with the response to and recovery from disasters. Specifically, the program provides assistance for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and permanent restoration of infrastructure.

As The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) continues working to collect Typhoon Mawar related residential debris throughout the island of Guam, residential pick-up will begin in Santa Rita, Umatac and Yigo on July 31. Pick-up will begin in Dedado on Aug. 1 and in Inalåhan Aug. 4. Residents in these villages are encouraged to separate debris by type and place it within the right of way (ROW) within 10 ft of the curb prior to the start of pick-up. 

Although this program is beginning this week in certain parts of the island, exact dates for each village will be communicated on a local level and debris should not be placed in the ROW until the community is notified.

The speed and success of the mission will depend on residents properly sorting the debris prior to contractors arriving. All storm debris must be sorted by residents into four categories (vegetative debris, large appliances, construction and demolition debris and metal) and brought to the ROW.

Debris should not block the roadway, fire hydrants, powerlines, utilities or transformer boxes.  In addition, debris should not be blocked by parked cars, abandoned cars, or by other means.

It is important to sort and place debris in the ROW prior to the pick-up date listed for your village to avoid missing the crews that will be working their way through the community. 

To make the process quick and efficient there will be separate trucks for each category of eligible debris (debris refinement, vegetative debris, appliances, construction and demolition debris and metal.) These trucks may arrive at different times in the clean-up process.

This is a free program available for all residential properties including apartments, condominiums.

For information on Guam’s disaster recovery, visit our website.  

Follow FEMA at Twitter and Facebook. 

WILLISTON, Vt. – Federal funding is now available to help individuals in an additional Vermont county recover from the severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides from July 7, 2023, and continuing.

Residents of Orleans County who suffered damage to their homes or personal property may apply for disaster assistance with FEMA. Additional counties may be added at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Orleans County is in addition to the eight counties already designated for Individual Assistance: Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Orange, Rutland, Washington, Windham and Windsor.

Assistance may include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

To apply for assistance, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.; go online to DisasterAssistance.gov; or download the FEMA App. If you use a relay service such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service when you apply. 

For the latest information visit fema.gov/disaster/4720. Follow the FEMA Region 1 account at Twitter twitter.com/FEMARegion1 or the Facebook page at facebook.com/FEMA.

For updates on the Vermont response and recovery, follow the Vermont Emergency Management Agency twitter.com/vemvt on Twitter and Facebook facebook.com/vermontemergencymanagement. 

FEMA is committed to ensuring disaster assistance is accomplished equitably, without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.  Any disaster survivor or member of the public may contact the FEMA Civil Rights Office if they feel that they are the victim of discrimination. FEMA’s Civil Rights Office can be contacted toll-free at 833-285-7448. Multilingual operators are available.

WILLISTON, VT – Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams from FEMA are going door-to-door in Vermont communities, canvassing neighborhoods and helping flood-impacted residents register for FEMA disaster assistance. 

DSA crew members are visiting homes, schools, nonprofits and communities with limited access. They are also meeting with local officials and community leaders to identify disaster-related issues and unmet needs.

DSA teams can help survivors register for assistance, update their information and assist with referrals to voluntary agency partners. They may give residents the opportunity to use a tablet to register or offer to enter information on their behalf.

DSA crews will never ask for or accept money. DSA staff wear a FEMA identification badge with a photograph – a FEMA shirt, vest or jacket is not proof of identity. While helping someone register, they may ask for personal information, including social security number, annual income and bank information. Residents are encouraged to ask for identification before providing any personal information. 

People affected by the floods in Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham and Windsor counties don’t have to wait for a DSA crew to register for assistance. To register, download the FEMA Mobile App, visit DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362. If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service when you apply.

FEMA is committed to ensuring disaster assistance is accomplished equitably, without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.  Any disaster survivor or member of the public may contact the FEMA Civil Rights Office if they feel that they are the victim of discrimination.  FEMA’s Civil Rights Office can be contacted toll-free at 833-285-7448. Multilingual operators are available.

WILLISTON, VT – Federal funds are available for affected individuals who suffered damage to their homes or personal property caused by the July severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides in nine counties: Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham and Windsor. 

FEMA is in the community, offering survivors many ways to apply for assistance and work with a FEMA representative about their case.

How to apply:

To apply for disaster assistance, survivors can:

• Visit DisasterAssistance.gov;
• Download the FEMA mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store; 
• Call FEMA’s toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362, open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time and language translation is available. If you use a relay service such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or other services, give FEMA your number for that service when you apply; or
• Connect with FEMA in person at a Disaster Recovery Center, a Business Recovery Center, in your community canvasing door to door and at Multi-Agency Resource Centers located throughout the impacted area. 

Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC)

Disaster Recovery Centers offer in-person support to individuals and small business owners. Recovery specialists from FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and additional resources are available to assist survivors.

• Two Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Rutland and Washington counties. The locations are:
  • ASA Bloomer Building, 88 Merchants Row, Rutland, VT 05701 
  • Waterbury Armory, 294 Armory Drive, Waterbury, VT 05676
  • Barre Auditorium, 16 Auditorium Hill, Barre, VT 05641
  • Flood Brook School, 91 Vermont – 11, Londonderry, VT 05148

Additional locations will be announced as they become operational.  DRC locations and hours of operations can be found here DRC Locator (fema.gov/drc).

The centers can:

• Provide assistance with filling out applications;
• Update the status of a survivor’s application;
• Help submit additional documents to FEMA;
• Provide referral services to voluntary organizations who offer a variety of services to survivors; and 
• Provide access to the U.S. Small Business Administration for loan help and customer service.

Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARCs):

A MARC is a single location where public and private organizations come together to help those affected by the disaster. MARCs are collaborative operations. 

Locations and hours of operation can be found: https://vem.vermont.gov/flood/marc

Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA):

DSA teams from FEMA are going door-to-door in Vermont communities, canvassing neighborhoods and helping storm-affected residents apply for FEMA disaster assistance. 

DSA crew members are visiting homes, schools, nonprofits and communities with limited access. They are also meeting with local officials and community leaders to identify disaster-related issues and unmet needs.

DSA teams can help survivors apply for assistance, update their information and assist with referrals to voluntary agency partners. They may give residents the opportunity to use a tablet to register or offer to enter information on their behalf. DSA staff wear a FEMA identification badge with their photograph.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA):

SBA has opened Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) in three locations to assist homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and nonprofit organizations who need help in applying for an SBA long-term, low-interest disaster loan:

• Washington County: 751 Granger Road Berlin, Vermont 05641 
• Windsor County: 126 Main Street Ludlow, Vermont 05149 
• Lamoille County: 29 Sunset Drive, Morrisville, VT 05661

For locations and hours of operation please visit: https://www.sba.gov/article/2023/07/17/sba-offers-disaster-assistance-businesses-residents-vermont-affected-recent-severe-storms-flooding

If you live in an undesignated county and have damage you can call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 to apply and if a designation for your county occurs, your application will begin to process. 

For the latest information visit fema.gov/disaster/4720. Follow the FEMA Region 1 account at Twitter twitter.com/FEMARegion1 or the Facebook page at facebook.com/FEMA.

For updates on the Vermont response and recovery, follow the Vermont Emergency Management Agency twitter.com/vemvt on Twitter and Facebook facebook.com/vermontemergencymanagement. 

FEMA is committed to ensuring disaster assistance is accomplished equitably, without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.  Any disaster survivor or member of the public may contact the FEMA Civil Rights Office if they feel that they are the victim of discrimination. FEMA’s Civil Rights Office can be contacted toll-free at 833-285-7448. Multilingual operators are available.

WILLISTON, Vt. – A Disaster Recovery Center will open in Barre on July 27 to help Vermont residents affected by the floods kickstart their recovery. The joint DRC, a temporary facility established in partnership between Barre, the state of Vermont and FEMA, will help survivors apply for FEMA assistance, upload documents and answer questions in person.

The Barre center is located at:

Barre Auditorium
16 Auditorium Hill
Barre, VT 05641

Centers are already open at:

Waterbury Armory
294 Armory Drive
Waterbury, VT 05676

ASA Bloomer Building
88 Merchants Row, Suite 330
Rutland, VT 05701

Opening 7/28:

Flood Brook School
91 Vermont – 11
Londonderry, VT 05148

All are open 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

All centers are accessible to people with disabilities and functional needs, and are equipped with assistive technology equipment. If you need a reasonable accommodation or sign language interpreter, please call 1-833-285-7448 (press 2 for Spanish). 

Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will also be at the center to explain how to apply for SBA’s low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses, and private nonprofits, and provide information about rebuilding to make homes more disaster resistant.

You don’t need to visit a DRC to apply for FEMA assistance. To apply without visiting a center, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or download the FEMA App. If you use a relay service such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service when you apply.

FEMA is committed to ensuring disaster assistance is accomplished equitably, without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.  Any disaster survivor or member of the public may contact the FEMA Civil Rights Office if they feel that they are the victim of discrimination. FEMA’s Civil Rights Office can be contacted toll-free at 833-285-7448. Multilingual operators are available.

LAKE MARY, Fla. – As of July 26, 2023, $34.1 million has been approved for Individual Assistance, $171.5 million approved in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and $26.4 million approved by the Small Business Administration (SBA).

If you applied for FEMA assistance after the Broward County severe storms, tornadoes and flooding, continue to ensure FEMA has your current contact information. Remember, you have 60 days from the date of your FEMA eligibility letter to file an appeal. 

Applicants should immediately update FEMA concerning changes in insurance, current housing situation, phone number, mailing address or payment preference. Missing or incorrect information could delay the financial assistance you may be eligible to receive. When contacting FEMA, refer to the nine-digit number assigned to you when you applied.

To update your information, visit DisasterAssistance.gov and click the green icon titled “Check Status,” and follow the prompts to create an account or access your account. You can also call 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. ET, seven days a week.

For the latest information on Florida’s recovery from Broward County severe storms, tornadoes and flooding, visit floridadisaster.org/info and fema.gov/disaster/4709. Follow FEMA Region 4 (@femaregion4) / Twitter and at facebook.com/fema.

The Roofing Installation Support Emergency Utilization Program (RISEUP), a collaborative initiative aimed at assisting Guam residents affected by Typhoon Mawar, has successfully completed its mission. As of July 27, RISEUP has repaired 537 metal roofs for survivors.

Ms. Fely Baza, the last homeowner to have her roof repaired through RISEUP, said, "I’m very grateful for the assistance. Finally, my grandchildren can return to a safe home.”

On May 24, Typhoon Mawar unleashed its destructive force upon Guam, causing widespread damage to homes throughout the island. In response to the urgent need for roof repairs following the storm, the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in coordination with the Office of the Governor, Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense, FEMA, and the Mayor's Council of Guam, launched the RISEUP program on June 9th to temporarily repair the metal roofs damaged during the typhoon.

RISEUP is a critical step in restoring a sense of security and normalcy to people affected by the typhoon. Alongside RISEUP, other initiatives like the AmeriCorps Chainsaw Debris program and Army Corps of Engineers Debris Removal are working to support survivors.

The mayor’s offices have been working tirelessly to help people apply for the program and coordinate with various agencies to make sure the program runs smoothly.

Only metal roofs were eligible for the RISEUP program. If you had damage to a different type of roof, such as concrete, slate, tile, or asphalt, or if you didn't qualify for the program due to severe damage, please get in touch with your insurance provider and apply for federal disaster assistance before the deadline of July 28, 2023, at 11:59 pm Chamorro Time.

The Disaster Recovery Center at Juan M. Guerrero Elementary School will permanently close at 5 p.m. July 27, Chamorro Time. The DRC at Guam Community College will remain open to assist survivors.

For information on Guam’s disaster recovery, visit our website. 

Follow FEMA at Twitter and Facebook.

If you have suffered damage or losses due to Typhoon Mawar, you may be eligible for FEMA Individual Assistance. The last day to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance is July 27, Eastern Standard Time. Because of the time difference between the Eastern Standard Time and the Chamorro Time, the deadline to register for FEMA assistance has been adjusted to 11:59 p.m. July 28, Chamorro Time.

FEMA assistance may include grants to help homeowners and renters pay for:

• Temporary housing for those displaced from their disaster-damaged primary homes.
• Essential repairs to owner-occupied primary homes including structural components such as foundation, exterior walls and roof, and interior areas such as ceiling and floors.
• Replacement of personal property including specialized tools for employment, household items, appliances, disability equipment (i.e., wheelchairs, hearing aids, etc.) and vehicle repair or replacement.
• Other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance, including medical, dental, moving and child-care expenses and funeral and transportation expenses.

Typhoon Mawar survivors should register for assistance even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims have been settled.

If you haven’t applied for federal disaster assistance yet, please register before the deadline by visiting disasterassistance.gov, using the FEMA mobile app, calling 800-621-3362 (The Helpline is available 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week at no cost for Guam residents), or stopping by a Disaster Recovery Center at Juan M. Guerrero Elementary School or Guam Community College. Hours of operation at DRCs: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sunday, closed. 

The DRC at Juan M. Guerrero Elementary School will permanently close at 5 p.m. July 27, Chamorro Time. The DRC at Guam Community College will remain open to assist survivors. 

Disaster Recovery Centers are barrier-free and provide equal access to all visitors. If you use American Sign Language or assistive technology, and if you need accommodations to communicate, please notify FEMA staff at the center immediately.

For information on Guam’s disaster recovery, visit our website. 

Follow FEMA at Twitter and Facebook.

For homeowners and renters who sustained damage from Typhoon Mawar, the last day to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance is July 27, Eastern Standard Time. Because of the time difference between the Eastern Standard Time and the Chamorro Time, the deadline to register for FEMA assistance has been adjusted to 11:59 p.m. July 28, Chamorro Time. In rare cases, though, you may be eligible to submit a late application to FEMA.

FEMA may consider a late application if extraordinary circumstances kept you from applying before the deadline of July 28, Chamorro time, and you send the following documents:

• A signed letter of explanation; AND
• Supporting documentation that clearly confirms why you were unable to apply during the application period. These include:
  • Record of hospitalization, illness, disability of the applicant or an immediate family member
  • Death of an immediate family member
  • Proof of personal or business travel that kept the applicant out of the area for the full application period OR
  • Evidence of unique disaster specific circumstances

LATE APPLICATION PROCESS

You have 60 days from July 28, Chamorro time, which was the FEMA application deadline, to complete a late application. There are several ways you can submit a late application for FEMA disaster assistance:

• Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
• Download and use the FEMA mobile app to apply.
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to apply. 

MAIL, FAX OR UPLOAD YOUR LATE APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

You must submit valid documents within 60 days from the date the late application was completed. Be sure to sign and date your documents. Include your nine-digit FEMA application number and the disaster number (DR-4715-GU) on all supporting documents.

Mail to: FEMA National Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055

Fax: 800-827-8112, Attention: FEMA

Upload documents: An easy way to provide any additional information needed is to set up an online account and upload documents online. To set up or upload documents, go to www.DisasterAssistance.gov, click on “Check Your Application and Log In” and follow the directions. Be sure to sign and date your appeal. Include your nine-digit FEMA application number, the disaster number (DR-4715-GU) and documents to support your appeal.

Over the coming weeks, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will be working to collect Typhoon Mawar related residential debris from roadsides throughout the island. This is a free program available for all residential properties including apartments, condominiums.

The speed and success of the mission will depend on residents properly sorting the debris prior to contractors arriving. All storm debris must be sorted by residents into the following four categories and brought to the right of way (ROW) within 10-feet of the roadside:

• vegetative debris;
   
• large appliances;
   
• construction and demolition debris; and metal

Debris should not block the roadway, fire hydrants, powerlines, utilities or transformer boxes.  In addition, debris should not be blocked by parked cars, abandoned cars, or by other means.

Although this program is beginning this week in certain parts of the island, exact dates for each village will be communicated on a local level and debris should not be placed in the ROW until the community is notified.

This week USACE teams have begun the critical first phase of sorting debris for residential properties in Dededo and Yigo in the north and Merizo, Piti, Santa Rita, and Umatac in the south. This process will continue for days and weeks to come as more debris is placed in the ROW.

The next phase, pick-up, is set to begin this Friday July 28, in Santa Rita. Umatac pick-up is set to begin July 31, with Dededo and Yigo beginning in early August. It is important to sort and place debris in the ROW prior to the pick-up date listed for your village to avoid missing the crews that will be working their way through the community.

Is all storm debris eligible for pickup?

Not all storm or household debris will be picked up. Certain types of debris like daily household trash, tires, vehicles, boats, porcelain (toilets, tubs) electronics, and household hazardous waste (oil, batteries, pesticides, paint, cleaning supplies) are not eligible for removal. Hazardous waste materials can be taken to the Harmon transfer station for disposal at no cost.

USACE came to my home, but they only collected one category of debris, why?

To make the process quick and efficient there will be separate trucks for each category of eligible debris (vegetative debris, large appliances, construction and demolition debris and metal). These trucks may arrive at different times in the clean-up process.

How do I contact USACE to pick up my debris?

There is no need to contact USACE, your mayor or any other organization for this service. Begin by sorting your debris. Then, set the debris in the ROW beside the edge of the road once notified that pick-up will begin in your area. Debris teams will conduct sorting and pickup community-by-community throughout the island.

When will USACE be in my area picking up debris?

The Joint Information Center will communicate the whereabouts of debris teams regularly through traditional media and social media.

For information on Guam’s disaster recovery, visit our website.  

Follow FEMA at Twitter and Facebook. 

DENVER – FEMA has approved an additional $3 million in Public Assistance funding for the COVID-19 response in North Dakota. The assistance was made available under a major disaster declaration issued April 1, 2020. FEMA has now approved more than $190 million in Public Assistance grant funds to North Dakota for their pandemic response.

The North Dakota Department of Health will receive $3,086,353.80 in FEMA funding to reimburse the department for the purchase of COVID-19 test kits used for a statewide antigen testing program. These costs were incurred from March 1, 2023, to May 4, 2023.

This project was federally funded at 90 percent of the eligible cost. 

COVID-19 was an unprecedented pandemic in recent history and FEMA took extraordinary steps to evaluate and adjust the Public Assistance application and funding process that helped states, local governments and tribal nations respond and recover. FEMA works with our partners before, during and after disasters. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic response, FEMA simplified the Public Assistance application and funding process to better address the magnitude of the event, and by doing this, state and local governments received their eligible funding reimbursements more quickly. These reimbursements played a critical role as state, tribal and local officials worked to assist their communities during their COVID-19 response. For more information about the Public Assistance program, visit: https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public/program-overview.

FEMA Funeral Assistance for COVID-19 is still available until September 2025. Find out more information about this program at: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/historic/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance or by calling 1-844-684-6333.

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FEMA's mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. 

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If you have suffered any damage or losses due to Typhoon Mawar, you may be eligible for FEMA Individual Assistance. Please note that you only have two days remaining to register for FEMA assistance, as the deadline of July 27, Eastern Standard Time, is rapidly approaching. Because of the time difference between the Eastern Standard Time and the Chamorro Time Zone, the deadline to register for FEMA assistance has been adjusted to 11:59 p.m. July 28, Chamorro Time.

FEMA assistance may include grants to help homeowners and renters pay for:

• Temporary housing for those displaced from their disaster-damaged primary homes.
• Essential repairs to owner-occupied primary homes including structural components such as foundation, exterior walls and roof, and interior areas such as ceiling and floors.
• Replacement of personal property including specialized tools for employment, household items, appliances, disability equipment (i.e., wheelchairs, hearing aids, etc.) and vehicle repair or replacement.
• Other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance, including medical, dental, moving and child-care expenses and funeral and transportation expenses.

Typhoon Mawar survivors should register for assistance even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims have been settled.

If you haven’t applied for federal disaster assistance yet, please register before the deadline by visiting disasterassistance.gov, using the FEMA mobile app, calling 800-621-3362 (The Helpline is available 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week at no cost for Guam residents), or stopping by a Disaster Recovery Center at Juan M. Guerrero Elementary School or Guam Community College. Hours of operation at DRCs: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sunday, closed. 

The DRC at Juan M. Guerrero Elementary School will permanently close at 5 p.m. July 27, Chamorro Time. The DRC at Guam Community College will remain open to assist survivors. 

Disaster Recovery Centers are barrier-free and provide equal access to all visitors. If you use American Sign Language or assistive technology, and if you need accommodations to communicate, please notify FEMA staff at the center immediately.

WASHINGTON -- As the nation celebrates the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), FEMA commemorates its ongoing efforts to advance accessibility in the agency’s mission to help people before, during and after disasters.

The ADA guides FEMA’s commitment to improving services and programs to be equitably available to people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.

“FEMA’s people-first approach is about ensuring our programs are accessible to all disaster survivors,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “From ensuring survivors in wheelchairs can access our disaster recovery centers, to updating our websites to support screen readers, to offering sign language interpretation, our commitment to meaningful and full access to our programs is driven by our core values of compassion, fairness, integrity and respect.”

When the act passed in 1990, it provided civil rights legislation that protects people with disabilities from discrimination by federal agencies and federally funded programs. The law ensures that FEMA and our partners have a strong foundation to work together so that disaster survivors with disabilities have equitable access to services and programs, while preserving their independence.

To support the disability community, FEMA made equity in emergency management one of the top goals in its 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. In support of this plan the agency has:

• Improved the survivor registration intake process nationwide, expanding disability-related questions, making it easier for people with disabilities impacted by disasters to get the assistance they need.
• Continued updating the FEMA App, available in English and Spanish, so that it is now more accessible to people with disabilities. The app is screen reader compatible on iOS (11.0 and later) and Android (5.0) devices. The user interface has also been redesigned to fit a wider variety of screen sizes, making it easier for users to interact with it on their preferred device.
• Worked extensively with state, local, tribal and territorial officials, and nongovernmental and private sector partners and stakeholders to facilitate ADA compliance. This includes removing physical, communication and programmatic barriers that people with disabilities could face.
• Designed programs, services, policies and procedures to include the needs of people with disabilities before disasters happen, rather than solely reacting to barriers that are identified during response and recovery.

Nationwide, disability stakeholders are part of the agency’s whole-community approach and work with FEMA’s Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (ODIC) teams to create a path to independence for people with disabilities impacted by disasters.

“The ADA drives the future of community resiliency, enablement and universal access for all members of a community,” said FEMA Disability Coordinator and ODIC Director Sherman Gillums, Jr. “Founded on the principles of the ADA, we bring effective communication, expanded structural access and equitable opportunities for all to function as members of society. These are the conditions required prior to disaster that will shorten the disaster cycle for all survivors.”

To learn more about FEMA’s support to people with disabilities, go to Office of Disability Integration and Coordination | FEMA.gov.

Visit the FEMA Blog to read more on how the agency honors the ADA before, during and after disasters.

DENTON, Texas – New flood maps have been finalized and will become effective on Jan. 25, 2024, for Washington County, Arkansas. During the next six months, a FEMA compliance specialist will work with the community to update each floodplain ordinance and adopt these new flood maps. 

Residents are encouraged to examine the maps to determine if they are in a low-to-moderate or high-risk flood zone. The current and future Flood Insurance Rate Map can be viewed on FEMA’s Flood Map Changes Viewer at https://msc.fema.gov/fmcv.

By understanding flood risks, individuals can decide which insurance option is best for their situation. Community leaders can use these maps to make informed decisions about building standards and development that will make the community more resilient and lessen the impacts of a flooding event.

Anyone without flood insurance risks uninsured losses to their home, personal property and business. Flood insurance is available either through a private policy or through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for those in communities who participate in the NFIP. Residents with federally backed mortgages must have flood insurance if their structures are in the Special Flood Hazard Area.

Contact your local floodplain administrator (FPA) to review the new flood maps and learn more about your risk of flooding. A FEMA Map Specialist can help identify your community FPA and answer questions about the maps as well. Contact them by phone or online chat.

• To use the live chat service, visit floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/fmx_main.html (just click on the “Live Chat” icon).
• To contact a FEMA Map Specialist, call 877-FEMA MAP (877-336-2627) or send an email to FEMA-FMIX@fema.dhs.gov.

There are cost-saving options available for those newly mapped into a high-risk flood zone. Learn more about your flood insurance options by talking with your insurance agent or visiting floodsmart.gov.