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

WASHINGTON -- FEMA announced that federal emergency aid has been made available to the state of Louisiana to supplement state, local, tribal and territorial response efforts to the emergency conditions in the area affected by Tropical Storm Laura and Hurricane Marco beginning on Aug. 22, 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 and reimbursement for mass care including evacuation and shelter support, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding. This assistance is for the parishes of Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe  Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Washington, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana.

Public Assistance Category B emergency protective measures, limited to direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding. This assistance is for the parishes of Avoyelles, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Catahoula, Claiborne, Concordia, De Soto, East Carroll, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, La Salle, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, Tensas, Union, Vernon, Webster, West Carroll and Winn. 

John E. Long has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal response operations in the affected area.

WASHINGTON -- FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of California to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires from Aug. 14 and continuing. 

The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Lake, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.  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, tribal, eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures by wildfire in Lake, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Willie G. Nunn has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Damage assessments are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.

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

WASHINGTON -- FEMA announced that federal emergency aid has been made available to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to supplement commonwealth and local response efforts to emergency conditions in the area affected by Tropical Storm Laura beginning Aug. 21, 2020 and continuing. 

The President's action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts in alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population and 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, 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 and reimbursement for mass care, including evacuation and shelter support, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding. This assistance is for all 78 municipalities.

Alexis Amparo has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal response operations in the affected area. Additional designations may be made at a later date if warranted by the results of the damage assessments.

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

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

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

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

On Aug. 8, 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 Rhode Island 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Some Survivors May Be Contacted for Remote Home Inspections

DES MOINES, Iowa – If you were affected by the August 10 severe storms and live in Linn County, you may be eligible for FEMA assistance. 

Assistance provided by FEMA for homeowners can include grants for repairs to make their primary home habitable. Rental assistance is available to pay for temporary housing for homeowners and renters. FEMA assistance can also help with other disaster-related needs like replacing essential household items, medical and dental expenses.

First, if you haven’t already done so, contact your insurance company and file a claim for the disaster-caused damage you’ve suffered.  You don’t have to wait for FEMA to start cleaning up but be sure to take photographs or video of the damage and keep all receipts for repair work.

If you have losses not covered by insurance, contact FEMA by either going online to DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling the helpline at 800-621-3362. TTY users can call 800-462-7585.

Information that will be required when you register includes:

• Address of the damaged primary dwelling where the damage occurred
• Current mailing address
• Current telephone number
• Social Security number
• Insurance information
• Total household annual income
• Routing and account number for checking or savings account so FEMA may directly

      transfer disaster assistance funds

• A description of disaster-caused damage and losses

Home Inspections and COVID-19

If you reported that you cannot or may not be able to safely live in your home, it may be necessary for FEMA to perform an inspection of the damaged dwelling.

Due to the COVID-19 nationwide emergency and the need to protect the safety and health of all Americans, some FEMA inspections may be conducted remotely.

For remote inspections, FEMA inspectors will contact applicants by phone to answer questions about the type and extent of damage sustained. Remote inspections provide a new way of evaluating damage; it is comparable to traditional, in-person inspections and expedites the delivery of recovery assistance to survivors based on their eligibility.

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 have applied.

Preliminary damage assessments are ongoing and other counties may be designated later for Individual Assistance.

If you have any questions, you can always contact the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. For TTY call 800-462-7585. If you use 711 or Video Relay Service please call 800-621-3362.

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For more information on the Iowa disaster and a variety of recovery resources, log on to: https://dhs.iowa.gov/disaster-assistance-programs and www.homelandsecurity.iowa.gov

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

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 faced discrimination or needs help with accessible communication, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362. Multilingual operators are available.

HSEMD Mission: To lead, coordinate and support homeland security and emergency management functions in order to establish sustainable communities and ensure economic opportunities for Iowa and its citizens.

BOTHELL, Wash. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Palmer Fire burning in Okanogan County, approximately seven miles southwest of the city of Oroville. 

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 Washington’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) at 5:43 p.m. PDT on Thursday.

The fire started on Tuesday and had burned in excess of 13,000 acres of federal, state, and private land at the time of the state’s request. There were six other large fires burning uncontrolled within the state.  The fire was zero percent contained and was threatening approximately 375 homes in and around the towns of Loomis, Nighthawk, and Oroville. Level 3 “Get Out” evacuations were issued. 

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 Washington. 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.

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

ORLANDO, Fla. – FEMA has awarded grants totaling $4,868,795 for the State of Florida to reimburse applicants for eligible costs of emergency response and repairs to public facilities following Hurricane Irma.

The FEMA Public Assistance grants include:

• City of Jacksonville: $1,604,928 to replace the wooden Loest Road Bridge with a concrete structure and strengthen the embankment to protect against future high-velocity flooding.
• Pinellas County: $1,059,237 for administrative costs of tracking and accounting for labor, equipment, materials and other repair costs after the storm.
• South Florida Water Management District: $1,091,860 for administrative costs of tracking and accounting for labor, equipment, materials and other repair costs after the storm.
• Sumter Electric Cooperative Inc. (SECO Energy): $1,112,770 for administrative costs of tracking and accounting for labor, equipment, materials and other repair costs after the storm.

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.

OAKLAND, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to assist the state of California in combating the SCU Lightning Complex burning in Santa Clara and Stanislaus counties.

On Aug. 20, 2020, the state of California submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the SCU Lightning Complex. At the time of the request, fires threatened approximately 30,500 homes in Santa Clara County and 8,200 homes in Stanislaus County, with mandatory evacuations in place for approximately 17,150 people. The fires also threatened communications, transportation, power and gas distribution infrastructure; public schools, fire stations, regional parks, and watersheds; and the Lick Observatory.

The FEMA regional administrator approved the state’s request on Aug. 20, 2020, as the fires 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.

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

On Aug. 8, 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. On Aug. 20, the state of Michigan agreed to administer a lost wages program for its citizens who are unemployed due to COVID-19.

Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Utah were previously approved for assistance. 

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.

WASHINGTON – FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor approved Kentucky for a FEMA grant under the Lost Wages Assistance program. The grant funding will allow Kentucky to provide those unemployed due to COVID-19 $400 per week ($100 in state funds, $300 in federal funds), on top of their regular unemployment benefit.  FEMA will work with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear to implement a system to make this funding available to Kentucky residents.

On Aug. 8, 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. On Aug. 20, the state of Kentucky agreed to administer a lost wages program for its citizens who are unemployed due to COVID-19.

FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor approved Kentucky for a FEMA grant under this unprecedented program. FEMA’s grant funding will allow Kentucky to provide those unemployed due to COVID-19 $400 per week ($100 in state funds, $300 in federal funds), on top of their regular unemployment benefit.

Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Utah were previously approved for assistance. 

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.

WASHINGTON – FEMA announced that additional federal disaster assistance is available to the state of Iowa as a result of severe storms on Aug. 10.

The additional assistance authorizes federal funding to affected individuals in Linn County.

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.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. 

On Aug. 17, President Trump authorized federal funding to the state, eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storm in Benton, Boone, Cedar, Clinton, Dallas, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Marshall, Muscatine, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Story and Tama counties.