FEMA Encourages Survivors to Stay in Touch and Keep Their Recovery on Track
FEMA Encourages Survivors to Stay in Touch and Keep Their Recovery on Track TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – More than 1,000 FEMA staff are still on the ground in Florida to help survivors recover from Hurricanes Milton, Helene and Debby. FEMA will continue to process applications, receive, and manage appeals, conduct inspections and assist applicants and local officials with questions and information about recovery programs. Survivors who applied for FEMA assistance should continue to stay in touch with the agency to update their application. Missing or outdated material could result in delays. Information that may need to be updated includes: Your current housing situation, phone number
One Month Later: Federal Support for Wildfire Survivors Nears $700 Million
One Month Later: Federal Support for Wildfire Survivors Nears $700 Million LOS ANGELES – On January 7, when wildfires first struck Los Angeles County and adjacent areas, more than 200,000 Californians were evacuated. State and local governments responded quicky to fight the blazes, employing more than 2,000 pieces of firefighting equipment – 80-plus aircraft, 200-plus bulldozers and more – which were soon bolstered by the governor’s activation of 2,500 National Guard troops and a request for a federal disaster declaration. Delivery of Federal Resources On January 8, the Los Angeles County wildfires were declared a major disaster by the president, and
Assistance Available for Self-Employed Wildfire Survivors
Assistance Available for Self-Employed Wildfire Survivors LOS ANGELES – Self-employed individuals in Los Angeles who became unemployed as a direct result of the wildfires, may apply for FEMA Individual Assistance, Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) and/or U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans. FEMA Individual Assistance FEMA may be able to provide funds to repair or replace disaster-damaged tools and equipment required for your job. This help is available to a wide variety of applicants, including artists, musicians, mechanics, and many other occupations. Eligible Occupational Tools Occupational tools are tools and equipment required for self-employment or not provided by an employer but
FEMA Completes 167 Temporary Homes in Lahaina for Wildfire Survivors
FEMA Completes 167 Temporary Homes in Lahaina for Wildfire Survivors LAHAINA, Maui – A community of 167 brightly colored temporary homes for wildfire survivors was completed this week on a Lahaina hillside where no housing existed a few months ago. The final modular home at the Kilohana group housing site, developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was installed and is ready for occupancy. “It couldn’t have been done without everyone working together, being creative and solving problems,” said Forrest Lanning, FEMA’s joint housing task force leader. “This was a completely new type of housing project for FEMA, and we
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