FEMA Accessible: FEMA Hurricane Ida September 3, 2021 Key Messages

Описание: FEMA shares some key messages related to Hurricane Ida.

[Transcript:]

FEMA and our partners are still supporting state and tribal governments with their ongoing response and recovery efforts in several states from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast that were affected by the storm.

President Biden approved an emergency declaration for New Jersey and New York. The declarations authorize FEMA to provide emergency protective measures limited to direct federal assistance and reimbursement for mass care including evacuation and shelter support at 75% federal funding for 14 counties in New York and all counties in New Jersey.

FEMA has teams on the ground in New York and New Jersey to support state and local efforts and are coordinating damage assessments.

For Louisiana, FEMA has activated its Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program which allows disaster survivors to temporarily stay in participating hotels. Visit disasterassistance.gov and click on Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program to find which hotels are participating in the program.

If you have insurance, please contact your insurance company to file a claim before you apply for disaster assistance with FEMA. FEMA cannot duplicate payments for damages your insurance policy has already paid. Remember to take as many photos and videos of your flood damaged home and property losses. For appliances and electronics, take a photograph of the make, model, and serial number.

If you do not have insurance, you can apply for disaster assistance at disasterassistance.gov and get referrals to local, state and federal agencies and voluntary organizations.

The fastest way to apply is through DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply by calling 800-621-3362 or through the FEMA mobile app. If you use a relay service, such as your videophone, Innocaption or CapTel, please provide your specific number assigned to that service.
It is important that FEMA is able to contact you, and you should be aware phone calls from FEMA may come from an unidentified number.

FEMA announced changes to its Individual Assistance program to better support disaster survivors by reducing the barriers to agency programs that aid underserved populations.
Changes in this new policy include expanding acceptance of different forms of documentation to prove ownership or occupancy, while also expanding assistance for a disaster-caused disability.

In Louisiana, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has activated its Operation Blue Roof program for parishes approved for individual assistance. Residents can sign up for the program and complete a Right of Entry form at Blueroof.us. Residents can call toll free 888-766-3258 for more information regarding this program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved Louisiana’s request to allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households to use their benefits to purchase hot food and are assisting with program flexibilities needed for mass feeding operations. USDA’s Emergency Food Assistant Program was approved and will provide food packages to 800,000 survivors in 19 parishes.

The Federal Communications Commission is working directly with wireless carriers so that those in affected areas can roam on any network that may be available while restoration efforts are underway.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has set up two federal medical shelters in Louisiana at the New Orleans Ernest Morial Convention Center and in Thibodeaux to provide medical support for patients.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration activated its Disaster Distress helpline. This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 via telephone at 800-985-5990 for disaster survivors who are experiencing emotional distress. ASL users can contact the DDH through videophone at 800-985-5990, or by selecting the “ASL Now” option on the DDH website at disasterdistress.samhsa.gov.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has made federal low-interest disaster loans available to businesses, homeowners, and renters in select communities along the Gulf Coast. You may call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-8778339), email [email protected] or visit www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance for more information on SBA disaster assistance.

If you are interested in donating or volunteering, please visit the National Voluntary Organizations Active in a Disaster Hurricane Ida website at www.novad.org/hurricane-ida.
Please do not go to the affected areas until a need has been identified and the affected community has requested support.

Visit FEMA.gov for Hurricane Ida information and resources available for residents in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Northeast that may be affected by Ida.

Remember, FEMA is here to support you before, during, and after disasters.