Possible Rainfall Poses New Concerns for Wildfire Survivors
Possible Rainfall Poses New Concerns for Wildfire Survivors LOS ANGELES – Wildfires have burned through more than 50,000 acres of Los Angeles County since January 7. Now, weather authorities are forecasting possible rain showers for the weekend. It may be a good time for residents of areas impacted by the wildfires to prepare for the hazardous by-products of fire and rain: flooding, debris flows and mudslides. Large-scale Wildfires Can Lead to Flooding and Debris Flows Where intense fires occur, soils can develop a top layer that repels water due to charred remnants of organic material. Normally, live vegetation sucks up rain, reducing runoff
FEMA Seeks Multi-Family Properties to House Georgia Storm Survivors
FEMA Seeks Multi-Family Properties to House Georgia Storm Survivors FEMA is seeking multi-family properties that can be used as temporary housing for eligible survivors of Hurricane Helene. These units must meet local, state and federal housing regulations. Multi-family properties for consideration should be in and around the communities affected by Hurricane Helene, to include Appling, Berrien, Burke, Clinch, Coffee, Emanuel, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Lanier, Lowndes, McDuffie and Toombs counties. FEMA encourages all interested multifamily properties to consider participating. The deadline for property owners and managers to reply to this request for information is Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. Interested parties will need
North Carolina: FEMA Continues to Work with Helene Survivors for Transitional Sheltering Assistance Eligibility
North Carolina: FEMA Continues to Work with Helene Survivors for Transitional Sheltering Assistance Eligibility HICKORY, N.C. – This weekend, FEMA began contacting Tropical Storm Helene survivors who are staying in hotel rooms paid for by FEMA to ensure their continued need for the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program. The short-term sheltering program pays for hotel rooms for homeowners and renters displaced by Helene while they find permanent housing solutions or make repairs to their homes. To date, almost 13,000 Western North Carolina survivor households have used the program. A key part of the program’s management are eligibility reviews. These reviews occur every
Wildfire Survivors: Beware of Stolen Identity Fraud and Other Disaster Recovery Scams and Deceptions
Wildfire Survivors: Beware of Stolen Identity Fraud and Other Disaster Recovery Scams and Deceptions LOS ANGELES – Some Californians impacted by the Los Angeles County wildfires may be targeted with scams and fraudulent schemes. Disasters are often opportunities for criminals who attempt to obtain names, addresses and social security numbers to fraudulently gain access to a survivor’s legitimate FEMA grants. It is important to note that only one application may be filed for each household. A survivor who is applying with FEMA and is told they already have applied should first ensure no one else in the household has already applied
FEMA, Cherokee Nation Sign Historic Agreement that Will Help Disaster Survivors
FEMA, Cherokee Nation Sign Historic Agreement that Will Help Disaster Survivors WASHINGTON -- Leaders of FEMA and the Cherokee Nation signed an agreement on Jan. 15 that will enable the Tribal Nation to deploy in support of FEMA’s operations during disasters, the first such agreement ever signed. The Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) is a formal, binding contract. Under the agreement, FEMA’s Supplemental Response Team (SRT) program is able to deploy to the Cherokee Nation’s Incident Management Team, giving it the opportunity to integrate with federal response. The partnership will also create new opportunities for tribal emergency managers to increase their capacity
Survivors Begin Living In FEMA-Provided Housing As Their Recovery Continues
Survivors Begin Living In FEMA-Provided Housing As Their Recovery Continues Individuals and families who lost their homes to Helene’s wrath are beginning to move back to areas near their homes. FEMA Direct Temporary Housing Assistance is available to eligible survivors in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties to bring some comfort and stability as survivors recover and their homes are restored. Travel trailers and manufactured housing units have arrived in Tennessee and survivors started moving into private sites this week. Preparing travel trailers and manufactured housing units for placement on private property can be a complex process that
FEMA Remains in Tennessee to Help Tropical Storm Helene Survivors
FEMA Remains in Tennessee to Help Tropical Storm Helene Survivors FEMA is still on the ground helping survivors from Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties recover from Tropical Storm Helene. Document Processing Centers are open in Carter, Johnson and Unicoi counties. Survivors can visit a center to turn in documents and follow up on applications and appeals. No new applications will be taken without a qualifying reason. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, closed weekends and for severe weather. Locations: Carter County: Carter County Public Library, 201 N. Sycamore St., Elizabethton Johnson County:
FEMA Offers Recovery Tips for California Wildfire Survivors
FEMA Offers Recovery Tips for California Wildfire Survivors WASHINGTON -- While fire suppression activities are still ongoing in parts of Southern California, affected individuals and families are taking steps toward recovery. FEMA is helping people jumpstart their recovery. You may be eligible for FEMA assistance, even if you have insurance. More than $5.3 million so far are in the hands of survivors to help pay for emergency supplies like food, water and baby formula as well as to replace personal property and pay for a temporary place to stay. Below are tips to help Californians recover from the historic wildfires. If your
FEMA Assistance for Survivors with Disabilities
FEMA Assistance for Survivors with Disabilities For eligible homeowners, FEMA can help with additional repairs and improvements if you or a household member has a disability. What disability-related items can FEMA help with? FEMA can help homeowners pay for the full cost of these items when needed by a member of your household: Exterior ramp. Grab bars. Paved path of travel to your home from your vehicle. When can FEMA provide money to help with disability-related items? FEMA will pay for some or all of these items when: Your home was damaged by the disaster and your home already had one or more of these items. Your home was damaged by the disaster and a member of your household needs one or more of these items, even if it wasn’t part of your home before the disaster. A member of your household was disabled by the disaster and needs one or more of these items. Who can get help to repair or install disability-related items? You can get help with home repair from FEMA if: You or someone in your home is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or a qualified non-citizen, FEMA can confirm your identity, You own your home, and it is in a declared disaster area, You live in your home most of the year, A member of your household has a disability-related need
Deadline for Georgia Survivors to Apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance after Hurricane Helene Approaching
Deadline for Georgia Survivors to Apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance after Hurricane Helene Approaching ATLANTA – Georgians who lost income due to Hurricane Helene have more time to apply for assistance. The Georgia Department of Labor has extended the Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) deadline from January 7, 2025 to February 7, 2025. Georgians in Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Fulton, Glascock, Glynn, Hancock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, McDuffie, McIntosh, Montgomery