BATON ROUGE, La. — Renters and homeowners in parishes designated for FEMA assistance after Hurricane Laura have until Nov. 27 to register for help.

Federal assistance includes help for temporary housing, rental assistance and repair or replacement of damaged property.

Additionally, grants may be available to help with other expenses such as medical and dental care, childcare, funeral and burial costs, replacing essential household items, moving and storage, vehicle repairs and cleanup.

To see if you live in a designated parish, visit: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4559/designated-areas.

For more information or to register for assistance:

• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585).
• Visit disasterassistance.gov/.
• To find a drive-thru Disaster Recovery Center (DRC), text 43362 and type DRC and a ZIP code (for example DRC 12345).
• To receive a link to download the FEMA app:
  • • Apple devices: text APPLE to 43362
    • Android devices: text ANDROID to 43362
    • Visit fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/app .

Those who use a relay service such as a videophone, InnoCaption or CapTel should update FEMA with their specific number assigned to that service.

Hurricane Laura survivors with home repair questions should contact FEMA mitigation outreach at 866-579-0820 or at fema-mitoutreach-4559@fema.dhs.gov Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CDT. To view mitigation resources visit https://fema.connectsolutions.com/lauramit/.

For the latest information on Hurricane Laura, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4559 or follow the FEMA Region 6 Twitter account at twitter.com/FEMARegion6.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A FEMA Mobile Registration Intake Center is open this weekend in Shasta County to serve wildfire survivors.

The intake center is part of the ongoing response and recovery mission for FEMA and the state of California to assist survivors with disaster information.

It is located at Igo-Ono Elementary School, 6429 Placer Road, Igo CA 96047. It will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21 and Sunday, Nov. 22.

The center is a temporary site to support survivors with disaster information. It offers an optional opportunity for survivors to register, especially those without access to internet or telephone service.

Survivors also may register with FEMA in one of three ways:

• Online at disasterassistance.gov;
• By downloading the FEMA app to a smartphone or tablet; or
• By calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585) between 7 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. PST. Those who use a relay service such as a videophone, Innocaption or CapTel, should provide FEMA with the specific number assigned to that service when they register.
• The helpline staff can also answer questions about applications already submitted.
• Deadline to register for assistance under DR-4569 is Dec. 16.

Registration enables FEMA to determine residents’ eligibility for financial assistance that may include rent, home repair, home replacement and other serious disaster-related needs such as childcare, transportation and medical, funeral or dental expenses.

For the latest information on wildfire recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4569. Follow the FEMA Region 9 Twitter account at twitter.com/femaregion9.

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OAKLAND, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted $2.8 million to the Moulton Niguel Water District to seismically retrofit 18 potable water storage tanks.

All 18 tanks in Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel and Aliso Viejo are near active earthquake fault zones in Orange County, making them susceptible to shaking loose from their foundations, rupturing or potentially sliding down hillsides during a large incident.

Completion of the project will bring the equipment into compliance with current seismic codes and standards, which will significantly reduce the risk of tank damage and ensure water remains drinkable for 172,000 homes and businesses after a seismic event.

The $3.7 million project includes a $2.8 million grant from FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), with the remaining $928,000 from non-federal sources.

FEMA’s HMGP helps states, territories, federally-recognized tribes, local communities, and certain private, non-profit organizations become more resilient to potential infrastructure damage and reduce future disaster costs. In the past 31 years, FEMA has invested nearly $1.4 billion to reduce disaster risk in California.

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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. Follow FEMA Region 9 online at twitter.com/femaregion9 or view more news releases at fema.gov/fema-regions/region-ix.

DENVER – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided an additional $42 million in funding for COVID-19 response efforts in Colorado. The assistance was made available under the major disaster declaration issued March 28 by President Trump.

A breakdown of the most recent funding is as follows:

•          $37.8 million to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment to create and operate seven community-based testing sites to conduct COVID-19 testing and contracts for Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) tests, laboratory support and supplies;

•          $4.5 million to the state of Colorado for emergency protective measures to lease and stage the Colorado Convention Center for use as an Alternate Care Site (ACS).

FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provides funding for emergency actions undertaken by communities to protect public safety, providing at least a 75-percent funding share for eligible costs. Remaining costs are the responsibility of the state and local applicants for assistance.

For the COVID-19 response, FEMA has simplified the Public Assistance application and funding process to address the magnitude of this event and to allow local officials to receive eligible funding more quickly. These reimbursements can play a critical role as state, local and tribal officials work tirelessly to assist their communities during this response.

To date, FEMA has provided more than $153 million in Public Assistance funding for the COVID-19 response in Colorado. Additional information about FEMA’s Public Assistance program can be found at www.fema.gov/assistance/public.

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

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion8.

DENVER – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided more than $8.5 million in additional Public Assistance funding for the COVID-19 response in North Dakota.  The assistance was made available under the major disaster declaration issued April 1 by President Trump.

During the declaration period, more than $8.5 million in federal funds were provided to the North Dakota Department of Health for emergency protective measures for labor, materials and contracts to increase COVID-19 laboratory testing.

FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provides funding for emergency actions undertaken by communities to protect public safety, providing at least a 75-percent funding share for eligible costs. Remaining costs are the responsibility of the state and local applicants for assistance.

For the COVID-19 response, FEMA simplified the Public Assistance application and funding process to address the magnitude of this event and to allow local officials to receive eligible funding more quickly. These reimbursements can play a critical role as state, local and tribal officials work tirelessly to assist their communities during this response.

To date, FEMA has provided more than $21.2 million in Public Assistance funding for COVID-19 response efforts in North Dakota. 

Additional information about FEMA’s Public Assistance program can be found at www.fema.gov/assistance/public.

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

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion8.

BATON ROUGE, La.– After Louisiana was hit by Hurricanes Laura and Delta, volunteer and community partners responded to survivors’ immediate needs, providing meals and clothing, cleaning up debris and helping residents with their recovery.

Organizations such as The American Red Cross, The Salvation Army and Feeding Louisiana food banks have provided more than 14 million meals. Community feeding continues through local parish organizations, faith-based groups and food banks such as Second Harvest.

Central Louisiana United Way has donated the use of a large warehouse to collect and distribute emergency relief supplies. Cleaning kits, water, food, diapers, face masks and hand sanitizers have been donated by national partners such Adventist community services and United Way of Southwest Louisiana.

Approximately 2,340 survivors continue to occupy hotels through the Non-Congregate Shelter Program managed by American Red Cross. There are five non-congregant shelters housing survivors in New Orleans, one in Baton Rouge and one in Lafayette. Nontraditional sheltering options for survivors include hotels, schools, dorms or other types of housing that keep each household separate from others. Nonprofits are supporting this operation by providing case management, assistance with transportation and aid with medical needs.

Immediate Disaster Case Management (IDCM), which is a FEMA Individual Assistance grant program, is a virtual call center with caseworkers who can provide additional one-on-one help for survivors to navigate recovery programs and identify resources.

Louisiana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (LAVOAD) is a consortium of voluntary and non-profit groups dedicated to providing critical help to survivors and their communities in all phases of a disaster. Members include Consulting Partners, United Methodist Louisiana Conference, Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response and Samaritans’ Purse. These nonprofits meet regularly to discuss challenges in the community and find creative ways to collaborate to meet the needs of the survivors.

FEMA’s Voluntary Agency Liaisons (VALs) serves as the central coordination point between local, state, tribal, territorial, and federal governments and volunteer, faith-based, and community organizations—including coordination for volunteers, donations, and people providing disaster services. VALs play a vital role in FEMA’s mission and are often called upon to be FEMA’s bridge to the community. VALs also bring together the organizations to form Long-Term Recovery Groups, which are community-based organizations established in a disaster area to assist survivors to recover. These groups can provide manpower, materials, and money to assist survivors with their unmet needs to include home repairs/rebuilding, personal property losses and assistance with rent, utilities or deposits. 

How You Can Help and Get Help

The following services and programs offer survivor assistance and volunteer opportunities:

Louisiana 211

• Survivors seeking information about disaster-related services and unmet needs related to Hurricanes Laura or Delta can call 2-1-1, a statewide referral service, to find resources in their local communities. Resources include food, childcare, financial assistance, crisis counseling and Immediate Disaster Case Management (IDCM).

Volunteering and Donations

• To volunteer in Louisiana, contact VolunteerLouisiana through their website at https://www.volunteerlouisiana.us/
• To make a monetary or in-kind donation, contact Louisiana VOAD at louisianavoad@gmail.com

For the latest information on Hurricane Laura, visit fema.gov/disaster/4559. For the latest information on Hurricane Delta, visit gov/disaster/4570. Or, follow the FEMA Region 6 Twitter account at twitter.com/FEMARegion6.

OAKLAND, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to assist the state of Nevada in combating the Pinehaven Fire burning in Washoe County.

On Nov. 17, 2020, the state of Nevada submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the Pinehaven Fire. At the time of the request, the fire threatened approximately 20,000 homes in and around the communities of Caughlin Ranch, Skyline and Riverview in the Reno area. The fire also threatened around 500 businesses, power lines, telecommunications infrastructure and the Galena River Watershed.

The FEMA regional administrator approved the state’s request on Nov. 17, 2020, as the fire threatened to become a major incident.

FMAGs provide federal funding for up to 75 percent of eligible firefighting costs. The Disaster Relief Fund provides allowances for FMAGs through FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause major disasters. Eligible costs covered by FMAGs can include expenses for field camps, equipment use, materials, supplies and mobilization, and demobilization activities attributed to fighting the fire.

For more information on FMAGs, visit fema.gov/assistance/public/fire-management-assistance.

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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. Follow FEMA Region 9 online at twitter.com/femaregion9 or view more news releases at fema.gov/fema-regions/region-ix.

OAKLAND, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted $1.1 million to AdventHealth to earthquake retrofit White Memorial Medical Center (WMMC).

Located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, WMMC provides critical healthcare services to vulnerable populations in the communities of Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles. It also serves the area as a Pediatric Medical Center, with specialized physicians and resources to treat pediatric patients. WMMC’s ability to remain operational following a major seismic event is essential in order to provide lifesaving and life-sustaining services to patients and residents.

The grant will fund structural and nonstructural seismic improvements to the east and south towers of WMMC. The east tower will receive structural improvements that reinforce existing concrete walls, install new foundation footings, and retrofit interior structural and non-structural utilities and equipment. South tower improvements will anchor and brace equipment and utilities in several areas from the basement to the roof.

Completion of the retrofit will ensure WMMC staff and patient safety during a large earthquake and allow its facilities to continue providing uninterrupted acute care afterward.

The $1.4 million project includes a $1.1 million grant from FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), with the remaining $365,000 from non-federal sources.

FEMA’s HMGP helps states, territories, federally-recognized tribes, local communities, and certain private, non-profit organizations become more resilient to potential infrastructure damage and reduce future disaster costs. In the past 31 years, FEMA has invested nearly $1.4 billion to reduce disaster risk in California.

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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. Follow FEMA Region 9 online at twitter.com/femaregion9 or view more news releases at fema.gov/fema-regions/region-ix.

CHICAGO - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that $1,602,360 in federal funding has been made available to the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago for critical medical services provided during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This grant funding is part of the recovery efforts for the federal disaster declaration of March 26, 2020. This funding will reimburse the Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago for emergency response and protective measures taken during the pandemic, including costs for facility disinfection, medical supplies, personal protective equipment, and testing, diagnosis and treatment methods for patients who were exposed to or contracted the virus.

“FEMA’s Public Assistance Program is an important resource for communities affected by COVID-19,” said Kevin M. Sligh, acting regional administrator, FEMA Region 5. “This grant funding has helped ensure the availability of critical medical services in the Chicago area to help combat this virus.”

FEMA provides a 75 percent federal share of eligible reimbursable expenses for this project.  The total project cost is $2,136,480.

 FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provides funding to local government jurisdictions and eligible private non-profits for the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged infrastructure as well as costs incurred for debris removal, disaster cleanup and emergency actions taken to protect lives or property.  To learn more, visit FEMA’s website at https://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit.

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

ORLANDO, Fla. – FEMA has awarded grants totaling $9,693,082 for the State of Florida to reimburse applicants for the costs of repairs and debris removal following Hurricane Irma in 2017.

The FEMA Public Assistance grants include:

• JEA (Jacksonville Electric Authority): $7,285,119 for repairs to electric transmission and distribution lines across 900 square miles of service area. Work included replacing 299 poles, 477 transformers, 151 crossarms and several miles of wire.
• Miami-Dade County: $1,222,353 for repairs to Zoo Miami including exhibits, public areas, animal enclosures, public entrance, lighting, animal clinic and research facility.
• City of Maitland: $1,185,610 for removal of more than 37,530 cubic yards of vegetative debris and 755 cubic yards of hanging branches from public roads, property and rights-of-way.

FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides grants to state, tribal, and local governments, and certain types of private nonprofit organizations, including some houses of worship, so that communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies. The Florida Division of Emergency Management works with FEMA during all phases of the program and conducts final reviews of FEMA-approved projects.

The federal share for projects is not less than 75 percent of the eligible cost. The state determines how the nonfederal share of the cost of a project (up to 25 percent) is split with the subrecipients like local and county governments.

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FEMA’s mission: Helping people before, during, and after disasters.

Salem, Ore. – The deadline for survivors of Oregon wildfires to apply for FEMA individual disaster assistance and low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is extended to Monday, Nov. 30.

The extension agreed upon by the state and FEMA is for survivors living in counties designated for individual assistance including Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, and Marion.

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

Help is available. Apply for disaster assistance with FEMA online at www.disasterassistance.gov/ by using the FEMA app or calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585) between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Pacific Standard Time daily. Those who use a Relay service such as a videophone, InnoCaption, or CapTel should update FEMA with their assigned number for that service. It is important that FEMA make contact in order to move an application forward. Phone calls from FEMA may come from an unidentified number.

All Oregon residents – including disaster survivors affected by the Oregon wildfires and straight-line winds – can also get personalized mitigation advice from a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Specialist. For information on how to build safer and stronger or to inquire as to your flood risk following a fire, email FEMA-R10-MIT@fema.dhs.gov and a FEMA Hazard Mitigation specialist will respond.

Small Business Administration assistance

SBA helps businesses, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. To apply for a low-interest disaster loan, complete an online application at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. To reach an SBA Customer Service Representative directly call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339). For more information, visit sba.gov.

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The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339), emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

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 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585). Those who use a Relay service such as a videophone, InnoCaption or CapTel should update FEMA with their assigned number for that service. They should be aware phone calls from FEMA may come from an unidentified number. Multilingual operators are available. (Press 2 for Spanish)

Follow FEMA Region 10 on Twitter and LinkedIn for the latest updates and visit fema.gov for more information.

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

DENVER – Colorado saw devastating wildfires this year, with three of the state’s largest wildfires in history being recorded. Although the flames are now largely contained, people and communities are at risk for another threat, flooding.  Wildfires leave the ground charred and unable to absorb water. This creates a flash flooding potential for years to come, even in areas that rarely experienced flooding in the past. Sometimes these flash floods can pick up ash and large debris, turning into mudflows that are highly destructive.

Unlike many causes of damage, flooding and mudflows are generally not covered by a homeowners’ policy.  An uninsured flood loss can eat into your life’s savings.  Floods are the most common and expensive natural disaster in the U.S.  Just an inch of water in an average-sized home can cause $25,000 in damage.  A National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy protects against such losses and can ensure that a flood doesn’t bring financial ruin.

Flood insurance is easy to get, the only requirement is that you live in an NFIP participating community. These include cities, counties and other jurisdictions that manage development.  You don’t need to live in a floodplain to purchase a policy.  If you live outside a floodplain, insurance will likely cost less than for those living in a higher risk area. 

Buyers should be aware of the 30-day waiting period for an NFIP policy to go into effect.  It is important to purchase a policy now to protect your property against the continuing threat of flooding.  You can usually purchase flood insurance from your current agent.  If that isn’t possible, NFIP representatives can help you find one.

As with any insurance, be sure to talk with your agent about the specifics of your policy. Find out more about your risk and flood insurance at www.floodsmart.gov. To purchase flood insurance or find an agent, call 1-800-427-4661.

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

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion8.

PENSACOLA, Fla. – FEMA reminds Panhandle residents who have received federal disaster assistance for Hurricane Sally to use the money for its intended purpose and to keep receipts for three years.

Disaster assistance is intended to help residents meet basic disaster-related needs. A letter explaining what the payment is to be used for arrives within a day or two of the check or direct deposit payment.

If applicants spend the payment on anything other than the purpose for which it is intended, they may be denied future disaster assistance. In some cases, FEMA may ask that the money be returned.

Those receiving assistance are urged to keep receipts for their disaster spending for three years to document that the money was used to meet disaster-related needs. If recipients receive an insurance settlement to cover the same expenses, they must reimburse FEMA. Audits are conducted to confirm funds were spent properly.

Disaster survivors in Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties with uninsured losses can apply by:

• Visiting DisasterAssistance.gov;
• Downloading the FEMA App; or by
• Calling 800-621-3362 (800-462-7585 TTY). Multilingual operators are available. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week. Those who use a relay service such as a videophone, InnoCaption or CapTel should provide FEMA with their specific phone number assigned to that service.

The deadline to register is Dec. 1, 2020.

For more information about Hurricane Sally recovery in Florida, visit the FEMA disaster webpage at https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4564 or the Florida Division of Emergency Management webpage at https://www.floridadisaster.org/info/.

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FEMA’s mission: Helping people before, during and after disasters.

ARECIBO, Puerto Rico — Due to the recent disaster declaration regarding September 13 flooding in the municipality of Arecibo, a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will open on 8 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020. There, survivors can submit documents for their FEMA assistance applications. The DRC will be located at the Manuel G. “Petaca” Iguina Coliseum, in the Paseos Reales urbanization.

At the DRC, survivors will find representatives from FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program, along with U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) specialists.

In order to follow social distancing recommendations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the DRC will operate in a way that protects the safety of survivors and FEMA employees. Visitors will have the option of using the drive-thru service where they can remain inside their vehicles while they receive assistance.

Even when using the drive-thru, people must wear a mask or face covering and maintain social distancing protocols. Federal staff will also wear masks, face shields and gloves.

The hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, except for November 19 when the DRC will be closed due to the local holiday. The center will resume operations on Friday, November 20. An appointment to visit the DRC can be made by calling the FEMA help line at 800-621-3362. The drive-thru is available during these hours of operation without an appointment.

Survivors can apply or update their application in the following ways:

• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (FEMA) or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Press 2 for a Spanish-speaking operator. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
• Visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
• Download FEMA’s mobile app. Select Disaster Resources and click on Apply for Assistance Online. If you have an Apple device: Text APPLE to 43362 (4FEMA). For those with an Android device: Text ANDROID to 43362 (4FEMA). For more information go to: www.fema.gov/mobile-app.

For more information on recovery from these floods, visit fema.gov/disaster/4571 and recuperacion.pr. Follow us on our social networks at Facebook.com/FEMAPuertoRico, Facebook.com/COR3pr and Twitter @COR3pr.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A FEMA Mobile Registration Intake Center opens in Madera County Tuesday, Nov. 17, for five days to serve wildfire survivors.

The intake center is part of the ongoing response and recovery mission for FEMA and the state of California to assist survivors with disaster information.

It is located at Mountain Christian Center Church, 40299 Highway 49, Oakhurst, CA 96344. It will be open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17 through Saturday, Nov. 21.

The centers are temporary sites to support survivors with disaster information. They offer an optional opportunity for survivors to register, especially those without access to internet or telephone service.

Survivors also may register with FEMA in one of three ways:

• Online at DisasterAssistance.gov;
• By downloading the FEMA app to a smartphone or tablet; or
• By calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585) between 7 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. PST. Those who use a relay service such as a videophone, Innocaption or CapTel, should provide FEMA with the specific number assigned to that service when they register.
• The helpline staff can also answer questions about applications already submitted.
• Deadline to register for assistance under DR-4569 is Dec. 16.

Registration enables FEMA to determine residents’ eligibility for financial assistance that may include rent, home repair, home replacement and other serious disaster-related needs such as childcare, transportation and medical, funeral or dental expenses.

For the latest information on wildfire recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4569. Follow the FEMA Region 9 Twitter account at twitter.com/femaregion9.

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Individuals and households with losses due to the wildfires in Fresno, Los Angeles, Madera, Mendocino, Napa, San Bernardino, San Diego, Shasta, Siskiyou and Sonoma counties have one month left to register for assistance from FEMA. The deadline is Dec. 16, 2020.

 FEMA monetary awards help eligible survivors pay for rent, home repair/replacement and many other serious disaster-related needs, including replacement or repair of vehicles, funeral expenses, medical or dental expenses and miscellaneous other costs. To be reimbursed by FEMA, survivors should photograph damage and save repair receipts.

Survivors should contact their insurers and file a claim for the disaster-caused damage before they register with FEMA. Survivors with insurance should register with FEMA even when they aren’t yet certain whether they will be eligible. FEMA may be able to help with costs that insurance doesn’t cover. The agency can determine eligibility once an applicant’s insurance claim is settled—but there won’t be any FEMA reimbursement for those who fail to register by the Dec. 16 deadline. FEMA cannot pay insurance deductibles.

Survivors can register with FEMA for federal aid in one of three ways:

• Online at disasterassistance.gov;
• By downloading the FEMA app to a smartphone or tablet; or
• By calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585) between 7 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. PST. Those who use a relay service such as a videophone, Innocaption or CapTel, should provide FEMA with the specific number assigned to that service when they register.

The helpline staff can also answer questions about applications already submitted.

 To register you will need the following information:

• Social Security number
• Insurance policy information
• Address of the damaged primary dwelling
• A description of disaster-caused damage and losses
• Current mailing address
• Current telephone number
• Total household annual income
• Routing and account number of your checking or savings account (for direct transfer of funds to your bank account)

 After you register, FEMA will email you a temporary PIN that you can use to create an account at DisasterAssistance.gov. The account will enable you to check the status of your application, view messages from FEMA, update your personal information and upload documents FEMA may need to determine your eligibility for grants.

If you are unable to upload your documents, mail them to FEMA at P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville MD 20782-8055 or fax them to 800-827-8112.

 Inspections

During COVID-19, inspections will be conducted by phone. 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 number to complete verification.

 If you reported that you cannot safely live in your home, a FEMA inspector will contact you by phone and ask about the type and extent of damage sustained. Survivors with minimal damage who can live in their homes will not automatically be scheduled for a home inspection when applying to FEMA, but FEMA will provide an inspection if the survivor contacts the agency to report finding more damage than originally reported. Inspectors record damage; they have no role in determining the amount or type of grants a survivor may receive.

 Remote inspections don’t affect the FEMA Other Needs Assistance program. This assistance does not require an inspection and includes awards for childcare, transportation, medical, dental, funeral expenses, replacement of personal property, or moving and storage assistance.

FEMA will perform remote inspections even if it can’t verify an applicant’s identity, primary residence or home ownership through automated records searches performed as part of the application process. FEMA will send a letter to applicants requesting documents they must provide to be considered for assistance after the inspeciton. Inspectors are not allowed to collect documentation from applicants.

 U.S. Small Business Administration

Grants from FEMA are meant to give eligible survivors a start on their road to recovery. The primary source of recovery funding for many, however, is a loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), which makes disaster loans to individuals and businesses of all sizes. Survivors can find out more by contacting the SBA’s Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center. Customer service representatives are available to assist individuals and business owners, answer  questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each person complete their electronic loan application.

 Virtual Business Recovery Center and Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center

Mondays – Fridays

5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT

FOCWAssistance@sba.gov

800-659-2955

These services are only available for the California disaster declaration as a result of the wildfires and not for COVID-19-related assistance.

 For the latest information on wildfire recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4569 and follow the FEMA Region 9 Twitter account at twitter.com/femaregion9.

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WASHINGTON -- FEMA announced the Phase 1 rollout of the National Risk Index, a new online resource that helps illustrate communities most at risk from natural hazards.

This online mapping application analyzes risk factors from 18 natural hazards. Additionally, to provide a holistic view of community risk, the application includes expected annual losses, social vulnerability and community resilience layers.

This release makes the underlying data available for use by state, local, tribal and territorial partners. The interactive mapping tool can help communities, especially those with limited flood mapping and risk assessment capabilities, better prepare for natural hazards by providing standardized risk data for mitigation planning and an overview of multiple risk factors. This data can help in developing a FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan to help increase community resilience, which is a prerequisite requirement for applying for FEMA’s mitigation grants.

The tool determines risk by reviewing a community’s expected annual loss, based on hazard frequency, exposure, and historic loss rate; social vulnerability by measuring the susceptibility of impacted social groups; and community resilience, which measures the ability of a community to recover from, the impacts of natural hazards.

The index contains authoritative data from multiple federal partners and received input from more than 55 partners across the public and private sectors including state, regional and local government agencies; academia; private organizations; and nonprofits. Data were collected from best available resources between 2014 and 2019 and is expected to be updated in 2021.

The tool is free and easy to use, and data from the site is available for download.  FEMA is developing a comprehensive National Risk Index application to release later in 2021.  Visit FEMA’s National Risk Index webpage to learn more about the data and the natural hazards that can affect your community.

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Panhandle residents who have uninsured losses resulting from Hurricane Sally have until Dec. 1, 2020 to register with FEMA for assistance.

Survivors in Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties can register with FEMA in several ways:

• By visiting DisasterAssistance.gov
• Downloading the FEMA App for smartphones
• Calling 800-621-3362 (800-462-7585 TTY). Multilingual operators are available. Those who use a relay service such as a videophone, InnoCaption or CapTel should provide FEMA with their specific phone number assigned to that service.

Dec. 1, 2020 also is the deadline for homeowners and renters, businesses of all sizes, and nonprofit organizations to apply to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for low-interest disaster loans for physical property damage. The deadline for working capital applications for small businesses and eligible nonprofit organizations is July 2, 2021.

For additional information about SBA disaster loans, the loan application process, or for help completing the SBA application, visit SBA’s secure website at https://DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email FOCE-Help@sba.gov to make an appointment for assistance over the phone. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call 800-877-8339.

For in-person assistance with an SBA disaster loan, visit the Business Recovery Centers, open 7 days a week, 8 a.m.-8 p.m., at East Pensacola Heights Clubhouse, 3208 E. Gonzalez St., Pensacola, FL 32503; or Bridgeway Center, Building C, 205 Shell Ave., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548.

For more information about Hurricane Sally recovery in Florida, visit the FEMA disaster webpage at https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4564 or the Florida Division of Emergency Management webpage at https://www.floridadisaster.org/info/.

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FEMA’s mission: Helping people before, during, and after disasters.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A FEMA Mobile Registration Intake Center opens in Susanville Tuesday,  Nov. 17, for four days to serve Lassen County wildfire survivors.

The intake center is part of the ongoing response and recovery mission for FEMA and the state of California to assist survivors with disaster information.

It is located at Jensen Hall, Lassen County Fairgrounds, 195 Russell Ave., Susanville CA 96130. It will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17 through Friday, Nov. 20.

The centers are temporary sites to support survivors with disaster information. They offer an optional opportunity for survivors to register, especially those without access to internet or telephone service.

Survivors also may register with FEMA in one of three ways:

• Online at DisasterAssistance.gov;
• By downloading the FEMA app to a smartphone or tablet; or
• By calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585) between 7 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. PST. Those who use a relay service such as a videophone, Innocaption or CapTel, should provide FEMA with the specific number assigned to that service when they register.
• The helpline staff can also answer questions about applications already submitted.
• Deadline to register for assistance under DR-4558 is Nov. 21.

Registration enables FEMA to determine residents’ eligibility for financial assistance that may include rent, home repair, home replacement and other serious disaster-related needs such as childcare, transportation and medical, funeral or dental expenses.

For the latest information on wildfire recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4558. Follow the FEMA Region 9 Twitter account at twitter.com/femaregion9.

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BATON ROUGE, La. — Renters and homeowners in parishes designated for FEMA assistance after Hurricane Delta have until Dec. 16 to register for help.

Federal assistance includes help for temporary housing, rental assistance and repair or replacement of damaged property.

Additionally, grants may be available to help with other expenses such as medical and dental care, childcare, funeral and burial costs, replacing essential household items, moving and storage, vehicle repairs and cleanup.

Survivors who live in the following parishes that have been designated for this disaster may be eligible: Acadia, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, Rapides and Vermilion.

For more information or to register for assistance:

• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY at 800-877-8339).
• Visit the FEMA website disasterassistance.gov/.
• To find a drive-thru DRC you can text 43362 and type DRC and your ZIP Code (i.e. DRC 12345).
• To receive a link to download the FEMA app:

• Apple devices: text APPLE to 43362 
• Android devices: text ANDROID to 43362

• Visit fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/app
• Call 211 or text 527435837 to 898-211. Those who use a relay service such as a videophone, InnoCaption or CapTel should update FEMA with their specific number assigned to that service.

For the latest information on Hurricane Laura, visit fema.gov/disaster/4559. Or, for Hurricane Delta, visit fema.gov/disaster/4570. Follow the FEMA Region 6 Twitter account at twitter.com/FEMARegion6