Be Safe During a Power Outage

ST. CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands – When the power goes out, there can be serious impacts on daily activities. While a generator can ease these challenges, it can pose a danger if not used properly. Here are some safety tips:

• Have your generator inspected yearly and replace any worn parts.
• Use a qualified electrician to install the appropriate equipment in accordance with local electrical codes, or ask your utility company to install an appropriate power transfer switch.
• Generators, camp stoves, or charcoal grills should always be used outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows so you and your family stay safe from carbon monoxide.
• Do not use a generator indoors or in partially enclosed spaces- including homes, garages, and crawl spaces - even those areas with partial ventilation.
• Before refueling the generator, turn it off and let it cool down. Gasoline or other flammable liquids spilled on hot engine parts could ignite, and invisible vapors from the fuel can travel along the ground and be ignited by the generator's pilot light or by arcs from electric switches in the appliance.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home.

Not everyone has a generator. Keeping the doors of your refrigerator and freezer closed will help the refrigerator remain at an acceptable temperature for approximately four hours. A full freezer’s contents should be fine for up to 48 hours. When in doubt, throw it out! Consult your physician regarding medications that require refrigeration.

Elderly people and infants and toddlers are more susceptible to the effects of extreme heat. Check on your neighbors and relocate to a cooler area, if possible.

Keep all electronics fully charged. Have extra batteries ready for flashlights and radios. Avoid using candles which can cause house fires.

Some businesses may continue operations but be unable to process credit cards. For this reason, try to keep enough cash in your emergency kit to get you through an extended lapse of power.

For more information on staying safe during a power outage, visit ready.gov/power-outages .

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 FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after a disaster.

 

Follow us on social media at twitter.com/femaregion2 and www.facebook.com/FEMAUSVirginIslands

gina.callaghan Mon, 08/31/2020 - 13:47

FEMA Announces Permanent Federal Coordinator for Recovery Operations in Puerto Rico

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico – Today, FEMA announced that Mr. José G. Baquero Tirado, Esq. will serve as Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator, or FDRC, for disaster recovery operations in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Mr. Baquero will permanently lead disaster recovery coordination and collaboration between the federal interagency and the Government of Puerto Rico, the private sector and voluntary, faith-based and community organizations. 

“Our partnership over the last year with mayors, COR3 and the Government of Puerto Rico has paved the way for the island’s long-term recovery. Mr. Baquero’s permanent appointment is another indicator that our mission on the island is on track and that the operation is ready for the road ahead,” said the current Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Alex Amparo.

For the past 15 years, Mr. Baquero led the Transportation Security Administration office for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Throughout his career he has also worked as a private attorney, and at the local and federal government level. Mr. Baquero is born and raised in Puerto Rico and is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico School of Law.

For his part, Mr. Baquero added that “it is a privilege to serve my Island in this capacity. I look forward to being part of this historic recovery mission and to carry on with the outstanding work done by Mr. Amparo and the team as our efforts to help rebuild for the benefit of the people of Puerto Rico continue.”

Both Mr. Amparo and Mr. Baquero will work together in the coming weeks to ensure an effective transition of duties.

Mr. Amparo returns to support FEMA’s mission in Washington, D.C. His role on the island was pivotal in leading the disaster recovery efforts for Hurricane María as well as the response missions for the earthquakes, COVID-19 pandemic and Tropical Storms Isaías and Laura.

To date, over $7.2 billion has been obligated under FEMA’s Public Assistance program for costs related to hurricanes Irma and María, including projects to help rebuild infrastructure throughout Puerto Rico.

For more information on Puerto Rico's recovery from Hurricane María, visit fema.gov/disaster/4339 and recuperacion.pr. Follow us on our social networks at Facebook.com/FEMAPuertoRico, Facebook.com/COR3pr and on Twitter @COR3pr.

 

frances.acevedo-pico Mon, 08/31/2020 - 13:19

LOUISIANA SURVIVORS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE LAURA CAN APPLY FOR FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE

BATON ROUGE, La.  – State and federal officials are encouraging Louisiana residents affected by Hurricane Laura to register for disaster assistance with FEMA as soon as possible.

Disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Louisiana to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis and Vernon parishes affected by the hurricane from Aug. 22 to Aug. 27.

In order to your process application for disaster assistance and avoid denial notifications, survivors can apply by following these steps:

The first step is to contact your insurance company to file your storm-damage insurance claims.

The second step is to register. To do so:

• Call 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- and hearing-impaired. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone lines operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CDT, seven days a week.
• Go to www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

If you have already applied for FEMA assistance and been denied, additional information might have been needed to fully process your application. You will need to have the following readily available:

• A current phone number where you can be contacted;
• Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying;
• Your Social Security number, if available;
• A general list of damages and losses; and
• If insured, the insurance policy number, or the agent and company name.

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

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are available to homeowners, renters and businesses. Call the SBA at 1-800-659-2955 or visit www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

Federal funding is also available to the state, eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal in those same parishes. Funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures (Category B), including direct federal assistance for Public Assistance, and for hazard mitigation measures in all parishes of the state.

Carmen.Castro Mon, 08/31/2020 - 11:17

FEMA Announces Lost Wages Grant for Hawaii

WASHINGTON -- FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor approved Hawaii for a FEMA grant under the Lost Wages Assistance program. FEMA’s grant funding will allow Hawaii to provide $300 per week -- on top of their regular unemployment benefit -- to those unemployed due to COVID-19. FEMA will work with Hawaii Governor David Ige to implement a system to make this funding available to Hawaii residents.

On Aug. 8, 2020, President Trump made available up to $44 billion from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to Americans who have lost wages due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the state of Hawaii agreed to administer a lost wages program for its citizens who are unemployed due to COVID-19.

FEMA looks forward to working with the governors of additional states who agree to administer a lost wages program to bring financial relief to unemployed Americans.

gloria.huang Sat, 08/29/2020 - 20:54

FEMA Announces Lost Wages Grant for Minnesota

WASHINGTON -- FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor approved Minnesota for a FEMA grant under the Lost Wages Assistance program. FEMA’s grant funding will allow Minnesota to provide $300 per week -- on top of their regular unemployment benefit -- to those unemployed due to COVID-19. FEMA will work with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to implement a system to make this funding available to Minnesota residents.

On Aug. 8, 2020, President Trump made available up to $44 billion from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to Americans who have lost wages due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the state of Minnesota agreed to administer a lost wages program for its citizens who are unemployed due to COVID-19.

FEMA looks forward to working with the governors of additional states who agree to administer a lost wages program to bring financial relief to unemployed Americans.

gloria.huang Sat, 08/29/2020 - 20:51

FEMA Announces Lost Wages Grant for Florida

WASHINGTON -- FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor approved Florida for a FEMA grant under the Lost Wages Assistance program. FEMA’s grant funding will allow Florida to provide $300 per week -- on top of their regular unemployment benefit -- to those unemployed due to COVID-19. FEMA will work with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to implement a system to make this funding available to Florida residents.

On Aug. 8, 2020, President Trump made available up to $44 billion from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to Americans who have lost wages due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the state of Florida agreed to administer a lost wages program for its citizens who are unemployed due to COVID-19.

FEMA looks forward to working with the governors of additional states who agree to administer a lost wages program to bring financial relief to unemployed Americans.

gloria.huang Sat, 08/29/2020 - 20:45

Photos of Hurricane Laura Response

President Donald J. Trump and FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor toured the disaster areas of Louisiana this afternoon to survey damage caused by Hurricane Laura.

President Trump approved a major disaster declaration for Louisiana following the storm.

The Louisiana major disaster declaration is in addition to the emergency declarations President Trump already approved for Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, to cover emergency protective response actions taken by state, local and tribal officials.

FEMA deployed 800 personnel to support the response and recovery, including seven regional Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMATs) and National IMATs deployed to Louisiana and Texas, and four Urban Search and Rescue teams deployed to Louisiana.

Laura caused widespread and extensive wind-related damage; trees and power lines are down, and many homes and businesses are damaged.

Survivors with damages in Louisiana’s Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jefferson Davis parishes can apply for assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov.

President Trump Tours Hurricane Laura Damage

LAKE CHARLES, La. (Aug. 29, 2020) President Donald J. Trump meets with FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf and Louisiana leaders to discuss Hurricane Laura response efforts.

FEMA photo by Lauren Fischer

FEMA Administrator Views Hurricane Laura Damage in Lake Charles

LAKE CHARLES, La. (Aug. 29, 2020) FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor speaks with a Lake Charles resident about the impacts of Hurricane Laura in his community.

FEMA photo by Dominick Del Vecchio

Teams Provide Medical Support

LAKE CHARLES, La. (Aug. 29, 2020) A Disaster Medical Assistance Team sets up tents at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital to provide support in response to Hurricane Laura. These teams are staffed with medical professionals who help respond to medical needs in a disaster area.

FEMA photo by Dominick Del Vecchio

FEMA Leadership View Damage from Hurricane Laura

LAKE CHARLES, La. (Aug. 29, 2020) Incident Management Assistance Team Lead MaryAnn Tierney,  left, discusses the impact and the response to Hurricane Laura with FEMA Region 6 Regional Administrator Tony Robinson and FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor as they view the damage.  

FEMA photo by Dominick Del Vecchio

Indiana TF 1 Searches a Damaged Structures

VERNON, La. (Aug. 28, 2020) An Urban Search and Rescue team member from Indiana Task Force searches a damaged structure in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura. Four Urban Search and Rescue teams deployed to Louisiana to assist response efforts.

Photo by Indiana US&R Task Force 1

Companies Provide Communication Support for First Responders

LAKE CHARLES, La. (Aug. 28, 2020) Ohio Task Force 1 is assisting companies working to re-establishing communication systems in the impacted area. Prior to mobile cellular towers arriving in the area, first responders were operating  exclusively off satellite communications. The establishment of cell coverage substantially improves communications capability in the field and is an example the whole of America response to disasters.

Photo by Ohio US&R Task Force 1  

gloria.huang Sat, 08/29/2020 - 18:02

President Donald J. Trump Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Louisiana

WASHINGTON – FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Louisiana to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Laura from Aug. 22 to Aug. 27, 2020.

The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jefferson Davis parishes.  Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding is also available to the state, eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal (Category A) in Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jefferson Davis parishes. 

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures (Category B), including direct federal assistance for Public Assistance, and for hazard mitigation measures in all parishes of the state.

John E. Long has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Designations may be made at a later date if warranted by the results of damage assessments.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621- 3362 or 1-800-462-7585 TTY.

gloria.huang Fri, 08/28/2020 - 23:31

FEMA Announces Lost Wages Grant for Wyoming

WASHINGTON -- FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor approved Wyoming for a FEMA grant under the Lost Wages Assistance program. FEMA’s grant funding will allow Wyoming to provide $300 per week -- on top of their regular unemployment benefit -- to those unemployed due to COVID-19. FEMA will work with Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon to implement a system to make this funding available to Wyoming residents.

On Aug. 8, 2020, President Trump made available up to $44 billion from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to Americans who have lost wages due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the state of Wyoming agreed to administer a lost wages program for its citizens who are unemployed due to COVID-19.

FEMA looks forward to working with the governors of additional states who agree to administer a lost wages program to bring financial relief to unemployed Americans.

gloria.huang Fri, 08/28/2020 - 21:38

FEMA Announces Lost Wages Grant for Oregon

WASHINGTON -- FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor approved Oregon for a FEMA grant under the Lost Wages Assistance program. FEMA’s grant funding will allow Oregon to provide $300 per week -- on top of their regular unemployment benefit -- to those unemployed due to COVID-19. FEMA will work with Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to implement a system to make this funding available to Oregon residents.

On Aug. 8, 2020, President Trump made available up to $44 billion from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to Americans who have lost wages due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the state of Oregon agreed to administer a lost wages program for its citizens who are unemployed due to COVID-19.

FEMA looks forward to working with the governors of additional states who agree to administer a lost wages program to bring financial relief to unemployed Americans.

gloria.huang Fri, 08/28/2020 - 21:32

FEMA Authorizes Federal Funds to Help Fight White River Fire in Oregon

Bothell, Wash. - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the White River Fire burning in Wasco County, approximately 90 miles east of Portland, Oregon.

FEMA Region 10 Deputy Administrator Vincent Maykovich determined that the fire threatened to cause such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. He approved the state of Oregon’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) at 10:48 p.m. PDT on Thursday.

The fire started on Monday, August 17, and has so far burned 3,000 acres of private, state, and federal land. 300 homes in and around the communities of Pine Grove, Sportsman’s Paradise, and Maupin are at risk, as well as Bonneville Power Administration power lines, Wasco electric high transmission lines, Pine Grove water supply, and a high cultural resource area. A level 3 evacuation notice has been issued for approximately 550 people in the affected communities. At the time of the state’s request, the White River Fire was 10 percent contained, with an additional 9 fires burning in Oregon. Mandatory and voluntary evacuations have been issued for approximately 415 homes.

FMAGs are provided through the President's Disaster Relief Fund and are 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.

In addition to reimbursement funding for fighting the fire, $629,681 in mitigation assistance will be available to Oregon. The Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 authorizes FEMA to provide Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Post-Fire funds to eligible states and territories that receive Fire Management Assistance declarations and federally recognized tribes that have land burned within a designated area.

FEMA encourages HMGP Post-Fire funds be used for the mitigation of wildfire and related hazards, such as flood or erosion. However, HMGP is available for risk reduction of any hazard.

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

david.yost Fri, 08/28/2020 - 16:22

Hurricane Laura Update

The storm’s impact stretches from the coastal areas to further inland communities that are experiencing heavy rainfall and flash flooding.

Laura is now a tropical depression but continues to have impact. Arkansas had heavy rain overnight, and we will see rain move into the mid-Mississippi Valley today and the mid-Atlantic states Saturday, which could lead to some river flooding. There is a risk of flash flooding across portions of Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas through Friday evening. Today’s forecast also indicates the risk of tornadoes could redevelop later this afternoon into the evening across parts of the Mid-South and Tennessee Valley regions.

Even with the storm weakening, we still ask everyone to stay focused on safety and encourage to practice the following:

• Residents impacted by Laura should continue to follow guidance from officials in their area.
• If you have been evacuated, do not return until local officials indicate it is safe to do so.
• If you have been ordered to shelter in place, please do so until advised it is safe.
• Don’t drive or walk through flood waters. Be aware of downed power lines, standing water, and other hidden hazards.
• Stay off roads so that emergency workers are able to get through.
• Use extreme caution when operating heavy machinery, generators, or removing debris. Do not use generators indoors.
• Response is a whole community effort; if it’s safe to do so, check on your neighbors. You may be the help they need right now.

Initial impact assessments and search and rescue operations are continuing along the Gulf Coast, FEMA’s Disaster Survivor Assistance representatives are on the ground, coordinating with state and local partners as well as FEMA’s Public Assistance experts are coordinating with the U.S. Corps of Engineers on debris removal and roofing repair estimates.

Federal personnel and supplies were pre-positioned before the storm hit and we continue to move resources into the area to meet requests from state and local authorities. FEMA has nearly 750 personnel deployed to support the response and recovery, including eight Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMATs) deployed to Louisiana and Texas, and four Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) teams have deployed to Louisiana.

Over 16,000 utility personnel from at least 26 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada have been mobilized to support restoration efforts. FEMA has 113 generators staged in Louisiana and Texas if requested, and another 314 generators available in our distribution centers if needed ready to deploy to the impacted area.

Visit www.ready.gov and download the FEMA app for tips before, during and after a storm and to receive weather updates.

luther.wills-dudich Fri, 08/28/2020 - 10:53

Tell Your Friends and Neighbors to Register With FEMA, Deadline is September 8

SALT LAKE CITY – Federal disaster assistance is available for Utahns impacted by the Magna Earthquake and aftershocks between March 18 and April 17.

If any of your friends or neighbors have damage caused by the quake, encourage them to register with FEMA. Letting everyone know is one way you can help your community recover.

Rather than visiting in person during this time of pandemic it's best to call, email, or text your neighbor to explain why it's important to apply for disaster assistance.

Let them know that registration is easy (takes about 30 minutes) and there are several ways to apply: online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (FEMA) or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Help is available in most languages. The deadline to register for Utah quake assistance is September 8, 2020.

FEMA and the state of Utah offer publications on rebuilding, retrofitting and other earthquake preparedness actions. To learn about these, and for other tips or to ask questions about mitigation, email FEMA-R8-HMhelp@fema.dhs.gov.

If you require a reasonable accommodation or an alternative format of available information such as American Sign Language format, or audio format, please submit your request to: Region8AccommodationRequest@fema.dhs.gov.

For more information on Utah’s recovery from the Magna Quake, visit, www.fema.gov/disaster/4548, or https://earthquakes.utah.gov/magna-quake/. 

Brian.Hvinden Fri, 08/28/2020 - 10:41

Flood Insurance Policy Just Expired? Call Your Agent

DENTON, Texas –– If you have a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) flood insurance policy that just expired, you may still be able to renew in full and then file a claim for losses due to Hurricane Laura or the next event with flooding potential. August is just the beginning of peak hurricane season, and preparing for peak hurricane season means having flood insurance. Call your insurance agent or company, or the NFIP Call Center at 1-800-427-4661 to determine if your policy is still within a renewal grace period.

NFIP policies typically have a 30-day grace period. The renewal premium must be paid, and policy must be renewed, before a claim can be made. Claims for losses that occurred during the grace period will be honored, provided the full renewal premium is received by the end of the grace period. Because budgets have been stretched thin due to COVID-19, FEMA extended the grace period from 30 days to 120 days for policies that have an expiration date between February 13, 2020, and June 15, 2020. For these policies, the renewal premium must be received within 120 days of the policy expiration date to avoid a lapse in coverage. Click here to read the March 28, 2020, grace period extension bulletin and don’t delay in renewing your policy if possible.

For example, for a policy that expired on May 9, 2020, the NFIP insurer must receive the renewal premium payment on or before September 5, 2020, to avoid a lapse and be eligible for claims.  For a policy that expired on June 15, the last day of the grace period extension window, the NFIP insurer must receive the renewal premium payment on or before October 12, 2020, to avoid a lapse in coverage, and still be eligible for claims. 

Purchasing flood insurance is one of the most important steps residents can take to protect the lives they’ve built. Just one inch of water in a home can cause more than $25,000 in damage. Most homeowner’s and renter’s policies do not cover flood damage. Call your insurance agent and get quotes for different levels of flood insurance coverage. To find a provider, call 1-800-427-4661 or visit www.floodsmart.gov. Don’t delay, new policies typically take up to 30 days to go into effect.

Carmen.Castro Fri, 08/28/2020 - 10:29

FEMA Announces Lost Wages Grant for West Virginia

WASHINGTON -- FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor approved West Virginia for a FEMA grant under the Lost Wages Assistance program. FEMA’s grant funding will allow West Virginia to provide $300 per week -- on top of their regular unemployment benefit -- to those unemployed due to COVID-19. FEMA will work with West Virginia Governor Jim Justice to implement a system to make this funding available to West Virginia residents.

On Aug. 8, 2020, President Trump made available up to $44 billion from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to Americans who have lost wages due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the state of West Virginia agreed to administer a lost wages program for its citizens who are unemployed due to COVID-19.

FEMA looks forward to working with the governors of additional states who agree to administer a lost wages program to bring financial relief to unemployed Americans.

gloria.huang Thu, 08/27/2020 - 21:17

The Next Step After Applying For Disaster Assistance

SACRAMENTO, Calif. –  If you have uninsured or underinsured losses from the recent California wildfires and have registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the next step is the home inspection.

All inspections will be conducted by phone due to COVID-19 and the need to protect the safety and health of our workforce and survivors. Remote inspections are comparable to traditional, in-person inspections and can expedite recovery assistance, based on eligibility.

For security purposes, the inspector will verify your identity by asking a series of qualifying questions and then provide you with the first four digits of your application to complete the verification.

Expect calls from inspection teams to come from a variety of area codes. Check missed calls and voicemails frequently to ensure the inspection is arranged and completed.

Survivors with minimal damage who can live in their homes will not automatically be scheduled for a home inspection when applying for FEMA assistance. Instead, they will receive a letter from FEMA explaining that they may call the FEMA Helpline to request an inspection if they find significant disaster-caused damage to their home after they applied.

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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: Helping people before, during, and after disasters.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (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 nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property.

For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955. TTY users may also call 800-877-8339. Applicants may also email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visit SBA at SBA.gov/disaster.

robert.barker Thu, 08/27/2020 - 17:57

Hurricane Laura Federal Response Update

WASHINGTON -- Hurricane Laura made landfall as a major hurricane early this morning in Cameron, Louisiana. The storm brought life-threatening storm surge, extreme winds and flash flooding to large areas along the Gulf Coast. The storm will move inland and affect much of the lower Ohio and Tennessee Valleys within 48 - 72 hours. FEMA is leaning forward with our federal, state, local, tribal and territorial partners to mobilize teams and supplies to support a state managed, locally executed response to impacts from Hurricane Laura. FEMA and its federal partners remain fully postured to support potentially impacted states and meet state-identified requirements.

The storm remains a threat to those in its forecasted path.  Individuals should continue to monitor their local news for updates and directions provided by their local officials and heed local evacuation orders.  If you have been evacuated, do not return until local officials tell you it is safe to do so. 

• Texas residents should visit gov.texas.gov/hurricane for information on evacuation orders, reception center locations, and other emergency resources. For answers to additional questions, call 2-1-1. Louisiana residents should call 2-1-1 for evacuation, sheltering and resources for immediate needs.
• Stay off the roads. Emergency workers may be assisting people in flooded areas or cleaning up debris. You can help them by staying off the roads and out of the way. Do not return home until local officials say it is safe.
• If it is safe to do so, check on your neighbors. You may be the help they need right now.
• Don’t drive or walk through flood waters. Flood water can contain dangerous debris, downed power lines, and other risks. Do not attempt to walk, swim, wade or drive through flood waters.

President Trump amended the  emergency declarations for Louisiana and Texas, expanding the declarations to cover emergency protective response actions taken by state, local and tribal officials. The President's action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures. FEMA received a request for a disaster declaration from Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday night. The Governor is specifically requesting emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program statewide. The request is under review.

FEMA has mobilized federal response teams to support Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas response efforts to the Hurricane.

• Regional Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMATs) are in place in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas state operations centers. National IMATs are also deployed to Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Denton, Texas. Additionally, several members of the national IMAT are deployed to Louisiana and Texas operation centers to coordinate with the regional IMAT in the state. An additional fully missional capable IMAT is ready to deploy, if needed.
• Impact assessments began this morning along the Gulf Coast.
• Four Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Teams have deployed to Texas and Louisiana. A FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Incident Support Team in n Louisiana to coordinate with the state. Six additional water rescue capable US&R Teams are en route to Louisiana and two additional teams en route to Texas. Additional teams, including up to three Quick Response Teams, are on alert to deploy if necessary.
• FEMA deployed staging management teams to Camp Beauregard Louisiana and Roseland, Louisiana. A National Incident Support Base Team Delta is in Selma, Alabama to support staging commodity missions.
• Mobile disaster communications equipment is prepositioned in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Austin, Texas to support staging and command and control operations. Additional equipment and personnel have been deployed to Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Fort Worth, Texas.

FEMA pre-positioned commodities such as meals and water ahead of Hurricane Laura.

• More than 500,000 meals and 800,000 liters of water are prepositioned at the Roseland Staging Area and Camp Beauregard in Louisiana. Blue Roof Sheeting, Infant Toddler Kits and generators are also pre-positioned at Camp Beauregard. Additionally, FEMA placed more than 3 million meals and 970,000 liters of water on standby at its distribution center in Fort Worth, Texas.
• Further commodities including meals, water, Infant and Toddler Kits and generators have been requested by Region 6.

FEMA and its federal partners are moving assets and teams into areas impacted by Hurricane Laura.

• Temporary Roofing planning and response teams are in Louisiana and Texas.
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Temporary Emergency Power Teams, an Advanced Contract Initiative contractor, 249th Prime Power Battalion personnel and debris subject matter experts are in Texas and Louisiana.
• USACE is providing flood fight support with technical assistance to the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-West using the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System. Additionally, USACE is implementing response plans for dam safety teams, deploying a sand bagging machine and operators to Hancock County, Mississippi and issuing sandbags and sandbagging machines for areas in Louisiana and Texas.
• U.S. Coast Guard pre-positioned assets including rotary and fixed wing aircrafts, shallow watercrafts and supporting units in Alabama and Louisiana.
• Additional personnel from across the federal government, including the Department of Defense, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Transportation, Health and Human Services and the Department of Energy deployed and available to provide support.

zella.campbell Thu, 08/27/2020 - 15:52

Manufactured Homes in Earthquakes – How to Protect Your Home & Family

SALT LAKE CITY – Manufactured homes are especially at risk from earthquakes and their aftershocks.

Many manufactured homes rest on slender supports that can collapse or buckle during earthquakes, causing injuries to the occupants and damage to the structure, contents, water heater and utilities. 

Collapse can make doors and other exits unsafe while fractured gas lines can ignite fires. Fires spread faster between closely spaced dwellings, and the narrow roads found in many mobile-home parks make it harder for emergency services to respond.

Previous earthquakes have shown that manufactured homes can be destroyed or badly damaged by broken utility connections (particularly natural gas) even in cases when the overall structure receives only minor damage.

To reduce the likelihood of collapse, consider retrofitting your manufactured home with an engineered tie-down system or reinforced concrete or masonry foundation. To reduce or prevent fire, brace water heaters and install flexible gas connections and automatic shutoff valves. 

Before starting major retrofit work, manufactured homeowners are strongly advised to contact their local city or county building department to see if special permits are required.

Meanwhile, you can browse a list of Utah-based licensed contractors, engineers and architects at https://secure.utah.gov/datarequest/professionals/index.html or check their licenses at https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html.

FEMA and the state of Utah have several publications explaining rebuilding and retrofitting options and other earthquake preparedness actions. To learn about these and for other tips or to ask questions about mitigation, email FEMA-R8-HMhelp@fema.dhs.gov.

Utah residents impacted by the March 18 quake and aftershocks who have not registered with FEMA can still apply for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (FEMA) or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Help is available in most languages.

If you require a reasonable accommodation or an alternative format of available information such as American Sign Language format, or audio format, please submit your request to: Region8AccommodationRequest@fema.dhs.gov.

For more information on Utah’s recovery from the Magna Quake, visit, www.fema.gov/disaster/4548, or https://earthquakes.utah.gov/magna-quake/. 

Brian.Hvinden Thu, 08/27/2020 - 13:50

President Donald J. Trump Approves Emergency Disaster Declaration for Arkansas

WASHINGTON – FEMA announced that federal emergency aid has been made available to the state of Arkansas to supplement state and local response efforts to the emergency conditions in the area affected by Hurricane Laura beginning Aug. 26, 2020, and continuing.

The President's action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, to save lives, to protect property, public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct federal assistance under the Public Assistance program, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding. This federal assistance is for all counties in Arkansas.

Roland W. Jackson has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal response operations in the affected area.

luther.wills-dudich Thu, 08/27/2020 - 13:15

FEMA Announces Lost Wages Grant for Ohio

WASHINGTON -- FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor approved Ohio for a FEMA grant under the Lost Wages Assistance program. FEMA’s grant funding will allow Ohio to provide $300 per week -- on top of their regular unemployment benefit -- to those unemployed due to COVID-19. FEMA will work with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to implement a system to make this funding available to Ohio residents.

On Aug. 8, 2020, President Trump made available up to $44 billion from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to Americans who have lost wages due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the state of Ohio agreed to administer a lost wages program for its citizens who are unemployed due to COVID-19.

FEMA looks forward to working with the governors of additional states who agree to administer a lost wages program to bring financial relief to unemployed Americans

zella.campbell Wed, 08/26/2020 - 21:33