Snapshot as of November 6, 2017

Transcription

1 Snapshot as of November 6, 2017 FEMA-4337-FL-DS-47 Nov. 6, 2017 Key Information FEMA grants help with basic disaster-related costs and are usually not enough to get a household all the way back to the way it was before the disaster. Disaster recovery relies on many resources: financial, voluntary and faith-based sources. It takes the whole community and FEMA is just one part of the team. The deadline for Hurricane Irma survivors in all 48 designated Florida counties to register for FEMA individual disaster assistance has been extended to Nov. 24, FEMA is hiring local residents to assist in the disaster recovery effort in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Residents of Central and South Florida who wish to apply should visit and search the phrase Federal Emergency Management Agency. Numbers To-Date More than $1.4 billion has flowed to Floridians after Hurricane Irma through funding from the National Flood Insurance Program, the SBA and FEMA. As of COB Nov. 5, nearly $892 million in FEMA individual assistance has been approved to help Floridians recover from Hurricane Irma, and more than 2.6 million registrations have been received. As of COB Nov. 5, SBA has approved 9,442 loans for more than $345.7 million in Florida. The U.S. Small Business Administration s (SBA) low-interest disaster loans are the primary source of federal assistance to rebuild disaster-damaged property. SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters. As of COB Nov. 3, more than $211.7 million has been issued to NFIP policyholders on more than 26,400 Florida Hurricane Irma claims. FEMA Specialists will be available in various locations to offer home improvement tips and techniques, proven methods to prevent or reduce damage from future disasters and approaches to building hazard-resistant homes. FEMA advisors will be available at the following stores from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Nov. 11: Lowe s, 2050 U.S. Highway 27 North, Sebring, FL Lowe s, Estero Town Commons Place, Estero, FL Lowe s, 9191 SW 137th Ave., Miami, FL Lowe s, 1300 Osceola Parkway W, Kissimmee, FL

2 FEMA advisors will be at the following Home Shows: Nov : Cape Coral Home and Garden Show, Lowe s Home Improvement Warehouse, 1651 NE Pine Island Rd, Cape Coral, FL (Lee County) Nov : Naples Home and Garden Show, New Hope Event Center, 7675 Davis Boulevard, Naples, FL (Collier County) FEMA Hiring Florida Residents to Support Hurricane Irma Recovery FEMA is hiring local residents to assist in the disaster recovery effort in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Residents of Central and South Florida who wish to apply should visit and search the phrase Federal Emergency Management Agency. Positions and expanded job descriptions are listed and updated at careers.fema.gov/hurricane-workforce. Paid, temporary positions include: Customer Service Specialists, Information Technology Specialists, Logistics Specialists, Translators and Interpreters in either Haitian Creole or Spanish, Environmental/Floodplain Specialist and Insurance Specialist. Help for Hurricane Maria Survivors in Florida The State of Florida has an agreement with FEMA to reimburse eligible government costs related to providing emergency shelter and related assistance to those displaced by Hurricane Maria who evacuate from Puerto Rico to Florida. Florida has set up Disaster Relief Centers at the Miami International Airport and Orlando International Airport to support the needs of evacuees by matching them with available resources. Volunteer organizations located at the Disaster Relief Centers are currently helping families by providing hotel vouchers. In addition, the state is working with local and federal partners to explore every available solution when it comes to evacuee housing. FEMA has Disaster Survivor Assistance crews on site at Disaster Relief Centers at the Miami and Orlando International Airports to register evacuees for the FEMA Individual Assistance program. Transitional Sheltering Assistance has been made available to survivors of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, including those who have traveled to the Continental United States. You must register with FEMA and be an eligible applicant to be considered for Transitional Sheltering Assistance. Transitional Sheltering Assistance allows eligible applicants whose homes are uninhabitable because of the storm to shelter, for a limited period of time, in a participating hotel in the Continental United States. Evacuees can also visit any open Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). DRCs offer inperson support to individuals and small business owners. Recovery specialists from FEMA, SBA and the State of Florida are available to provide assistance to anyone filling out their applications or updating their status. All homeowners and renters whose homes suffered hurricane damage in all presidentially-declared disaster areas, no matter where they are located, are urged to register with FEMA. 2

3 Transitional Sheltering Assistance TSA provides short-term lodging for eligible disaster survivors whose residence is uninhabitable or inaccessible. For those eligible, FEMA will authorize and fund TSA through direct payments to participating hotels/motels. The list of approved hotels is available at by clicking on the Transitional Sheltering Assistance Hotel Locator link. Survivors may also call the FEMA Helpline ( ) for voice or 711 VRS, or for TTY. If a hotel would like to participate in the TSA program, has questions about an applicant's eligibility or payments by the lodging contractor or has questions about finding an applicant in their system, they should be directed to TSA end dates vary. Applicants can check their TSA status by: Going online if they have established an account at Calling the FEMA Helpline ( ) to ask for a status check; Requesting and text notifications; Visiting a Disaster Recovery Center and asking staff to look it up. The TSA checkout date has been extended from Nov. 5 to Dec. 3. Participants in the program will receive a phone call telling them whether they are eligible for the extension and what they need to do to remain at their current hotel or find a new hotel. The First Step is to Register for Assistance Homeowners and renters who suffered damage as a result of Hurricane Irma have until Nov. 24 to register with FEMA for possible federal disaster assistance. The quickest way to apply for federal assistance is online at Federal disaster assistance may help eligible applicants with temporary housing, disaster-related uninsured personal property losses, medical, dental and funeral expenses, along with other disaster-related expenses and serious needs. Survivors may also apply by phone at (Voice, 711 or VS) or (TTY). Continued Rental Assistance If you registered with FEMA and are receiving rental assistance through the Individual and Households Program (IHP), you may be eligible to apply for continued rental assistance. FEMA will mail you a letter or an application two weeks after you initially received rental assistance. The letter will advise you on how to contact FEMA to continue temporary rental assistance. FEMA will evaluate your request for additional rental assistance to determine if you are eligible for it to be extended, but there is no guarantee of rental assistance past the first two months. The state of Florida and FEMA encourage survivors to develop a permanent housing plan while they re receiving temporary housing assistance. Survivors who have difficulty creating a plan may call the FEMA helpline or visit a DRC. 3

4 About Direct Housing Assistance Survivors don t apply directly for Direct Housing but they need to register with FEMA. When an applicant is flagged for possible eligibility, FEMA will call them and conduct a pre-placement interview to determine eligibility. Eligibility considerations for Direct Housing include: o The county where they live must be approved for Direct Housing; o The pre-disaster residences of homeowners and renters are determined to have been destroyed or received major damage; and placement sites for MHUs or travel trailers must comply with local ordinances. The number of households deemed eligible for Direct Housing change daily. The Florida state-led housing task force brings together FEMA as well as other federal, state, local, tribal and voluntary agencies to execute a comprehensive housing mission and to identify innovative and suitable housing solutions. FEMA Housing Option in Counties with Scarce Rental Resources: Direct Lease Hurricane Irma survivors in Collier, Hendry, Lee and Monroe counties whose homes are now uninhabitable may be offered a Direct Lease option. The Direct Lease Program provides temporary housing units directly to survivors when rental resources are unavailable. Direct lease can be arranged for units in apartments or multi-family residential buildings. o Each unit will contain complete facilities for cooking, eating and sanitation; o Units will be within reasonable access to community services such as accessible public transportation, schools, fire and emergency services, grocery stores, etc. In a Direct Lease, all utilities, and cable, if provided, are included in the rent. Eligible applicants must demonstrate they are unable to secure a housing resource with the use of financial rental assistance provided by FEMA before being considered. Applicants must sign/agree to terms and conditions outlined by FEMA/state and the lease agreement with the landlord. Applicants will be contacted by FEMA if they are eligible for the Direct Lease program. The state, in coordination with FEMA, re-evaluates occupants eligibility on a periodic basis for the entire period of assistance to ensure the occupant continues to meet eligibility requirements, including a demonstrated need for continued assistance. Duplication of Benefits Applicants for disaster assistance may not receive federal disaster-related funds if they have already received, or will receive, funds from another source for the same purpose, and the total of the payments exceed the need for that purpose. What to Expect After Applying for FEMA Individual Assistance Housing inspectors contracted by FEMA are working in disaster-designated counties, inspecting damage sustained by survivors who have already registered with FEMA. There is no fee for FEMA home inspections. An inspector will try three times at different times of the day to schedule a visit. 4

5 Inspectors document disaster-related damage, but do not determine the applicant s eligibility for FEMA assistance. They check for damage to the structure and building systems, to major appliances and septic systems and wells, and enter information into an electronic device that sends the information to FEMA. You may receive visits from more than one inspector. Other inspectors may represent federal, state, county and local government agencies. If you re contacted by a FEMA contracted home inspector but no one in your household applied for FEMA disaster assistance, you should request the application for assistance be withdrawn. Disaster Recovery Centers and Other Sources of Registration Assistance and Updates As of Nov. 6, there are 13 joint FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) open with more opening throughout the disaster-designated counties. As of COB Nov. 5, more than 75,000 Floridians have visited a DRC to meet with recovery specialists from FEMA, SBA and the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM). Voluntary organizations are also available to help survivors find resources. We encourage survivors to register online before visiting a Disaster Recovery Center, where they can receive an update on their application and ask questions about the assistance process. Hours for the centers; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. Collier County Golden Gate Community Center 4701 Golden Gate Parkway Naples, FL Highlands County Bert J. Harris Agricultural Center 4509 West George Blvd. Sebring, FL Hillsborough County Hillsborough Community College --The Regent 6437 Watson Road Riverview, FL Lee County Bonita Springs Recreation Center Pine Ave. Bonita Springs, FL Manatee County G.T. Bray Park/C.V. Walton Racquet Ctr rd Ave. Dr. Bradenton, FL *CLOSES MONDAY, NOV. 6 at COB Miami-Dade County Miami Dade College Kendall Campus, Bldg. K SW 104 th St. Miami, FL Portofino Plaza 650 NE 22 nd Terrace Homestead, FL *CLOSES NOV. 8 AT 8 p.m. Monroe County Former Bank of America Building Overseas Highway Big Pine Key, FL Islamorada Fire Station/2 nd Fl. EOC Overseas Highway Islamorada, FL Flagler Ave. Key West, FL Overseas Highway Marathon, FL

6 Orange County Orange County Bank 2250 N. Orange Blossom Trail Orlando, FL Palm Beach County Carolyn Sims Center 225 NW 12 th Ave. Boynton Beach, FL Understanding Determination Letters If you applied for disaster assistance after Hurricane Irma, read your determination letter from FEMA carefully. It should explain any problems that can be corrected. More information about eligibility and determination letters can be found on by searching questions about your determination letter. The Primary Source of Disaster Recovery Money for Floridians is through the SBA Next to insurance, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the survivor s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. It is important to complete and submit a low-interest disaster loan application if you receive one. Even if you do not believe you need a loan, you should complete and submit the application. If SBA determines you are eligible for a loan, you are under no obligation to accept it. o Filing deadline to return physical property damage applications is Nov. 24, o The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 11, Information on the disaster loan program may be obtained by calling SBA s Customer Service Center at (TTY ), disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA s secure website at SBA has 15 Business Recovery Centers (BRCs). For locations and details, go to floridasbdc.org/services/business-continuation/disaster/. Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program The Bridge Loan Program supports businesses impacted by Hurricane Irma by providing short-term, interest-free loans to small businesses that experienced physical or economic damage during the storm. Applications must be completed by Nov. 30, 2017; apply at floridadisasterloan.org. For more information, contact the Florida Small Business Development Center Network at or Disaster@FloridaSBDC.org Don t Wait to Clean Up Start repairs to make your home safe and livable again. Be sure to get a building permit from your local building department before starting structural work. 6

7 Clean up debris as soon as possible and take photos of damaged property. Do not wait for an insurance adjuster or FEMA home inspector to come to your home. Clean and Removal Assistance Clean and Removal Assistance (CRA) has been approved for all designated counties in DR-4337-FL. The award will be a one-time fixed amount of $ Registrations must meet the specific criteria before a payment is scripted. Eligibility requirements include: The applicant's pre-disaster primary residence is located in a county that is designated for Individual Assistance, and occupancy and ownership are verified The applicant passes identity verification The applicant has at least one real property line item recorded with the Cause of Damage as Flood The applicant's home was not covered by flood or mobile home insurance at the time of the disaster Applicants will be responsible for the removal or contracting services to remove contaminates and disinfect affected areas from disaster caused flooding. What Substantial Damage Means to Florida Disaster Survivors Substantial damage is a specific term that applies to a damaged structure in a Special Flood Hazard Area or floodplain for which the total cost of repairs is 50 percent or more of the structure s market value before the disaster occurred. It s important to know the percentage of structural damage because that information helps property owners decide whether to repair or replace a damaged dwelling, and whether additional work will be needed to comply with all local codes and ordinances, such as elevating a house in a floodplain. The decision about a structure being substantially damaged is made at a local government level, generally by a building official or floodplain manager. To calculate substantial damage, the local official makes a visual inspection of a house, making notes of the impacts to the structure itself and, when possible, to the interior. These notes, coupled with other information such as property valuations and estimated costs to repair, are used to calculate the percentage of damage to the structure. Once a determination on the percentage of damage is made, local officials then share that information with the property owners if their structure is substantially damaged. If a building in a floodplain is determined to be substantially damaged, it must be brought into compliance with local floodplain management regulations. Before Making Major Repairs, Check with Your Local Building Department All property owners should check with local building officials to determine if permits for repair are required before beginning the work. Depending on local codes and ordinances, there can be consequences for not complying with the permitting process. Property owners who have a flood insurance policy and a substantially damaged building in a Special Flood Hazard Area may be able to use additional funds from their flood insurance policy (up to $30,000) to help defray the costs of elevating, relocating or demolishing a structure. For more information on this provision also known as Increased Cost of Compliance contact your insurance agent. 7

8 Flood Insurance Policyholders: Understand your Claims Options In an effort to quickly get recovery funds into the hands of survivors, FEMA s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has enhanced the flood insurance claims process with changes to how you file your claim. Advance Payments May be Available: Advance payments may be available to eligible policyholders. After filing your claim, discuss an advance payment with your insurer. Waived Proof of Loss: In another effort to streamline the claims process, the NFIP has waived the initial Proof of Loss requirement. When the adjuster visits and assesses your flood damage, he/she will work with you to document your claim, and submit a report for consideration to the insurance company. The payment amount will be determined after the insurer reviews the report. For more information: Post Inspection One Pager for Flood Insurance Policyholders. FEMA or SBA Can Help Repair or Replace Your Seawall Floridians living on the coast often have a retaining wall, or seawall, to prevent shoreline erosion. Harsh weather conditions like those present during Hurricane Irma accelerate the process of shoreline erosion and may weaken or destroy the seawall. The FEMA Individual Assistance Other Needs Program may help to repair or replace your seawall only if a new retaining wall is required to restore access or to remove imminent danger to your home. If there is no imminent danger present, the SBA may be the best source of funds to repair or replace a seawall. If your SBA low-interest disaster loan application is approved, you may be eligible for additional funds to cover the cost of improvements that will protect your property against future damage. About STEP in Florida The State of Florida Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power program STEP enables eligible applicants to stay in their hurricane-damaged homes instead of a hotel, rental or mass shelter while they rebuild. STEP is a temporary, emergency repair program. It is meant to provide the most basic, life-sustaining needs for emergency sheltering. The State of Florida administers STEP under a FEMA reimbursement grant for eligible costs. The State reimburses the county for eligible work. STEP repairs cannot exceed $20,000; the repair work is performed by contractors hired by the local county. Nine counties have been approved for STEP: Broward; Charlotte; Collier; Glades; Hendry; Lee; Miami-Dade; Monroe; and Palm Beach. To participate in STEP, homeowners do not need to qualify for FEMA assistance but they must be registered with FEMA. FEMA has an Online Disaster Resource Directory for Florida Hurricane Irma Survivors Hurricane Irma survivors in Florida can quickly find recovery resources by going to 8

9 Survivors Cautioned to Beware of Fraud and Scams FEMA is encouraging all disaster survivors to watch for and report any suspicious activity or potential fraud from scam artists, identity thieves and other criminals attempting to defraud the government. FEMA recently became aware of some potentially suspicious activity in disaster casefiles including fraudulent registrations. A federal task force is specifically reviewing these fraudulent applications and determining additional actions to take to ensure disaster survivors receive the assistance they need. FEMA remains committed to ensuring that all claims for assistance from eligible applicants are reviewed and processed appropriately. There are several options for survivors to report suspicious activity or disaster fraud. They can contact DHS OIG at , TTY A fraud complaint may also be completed online at the OIG s website, or mailed to: DHS Office of Inspector General; Mail Stop 0305; Department of Homeland Security; 245 Murray Drive SW; Washington D.C Survivors can also call FEMA s Office of the Chief Security Officer (OCSO) Tip line at or to: FEMA-OCSO-Tipline@fema.dhs.gov. If survivors discover someone is misusing their information, they should file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission through their website identitytheft.gov/. If survivors have a question about their FEMA application, they should contact FEMA at (FEMA) or TTY Survivors can also report fraudulent activity to the State of Florida to the following hotlines: Attorney General s Price Gouging Hotline , Unlicensed Activity Hotline (DBPR): (inside Florida) or (outside Florida). D-SNAP is available through the State of Florida s Department of Family and Children s Services, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Individuals in eligible counties can apply at: Registration for D-Snap ends Nov. 9. Benefits continue 90 days from registration. FEMA is not responsible for distributing food stamps. Legal Services Free legal assistance is available to low-income Florida disaster survivors in the 48 IA-designated counties who need help with home repair contracts and contractors, legal advice on landlord-tenant issues or assistance with life, medical and property insurance claims. For more information, visit or call Disaster Distress Helpline The Department of Health and Human Services Disaster Distress Helpline ( ) remains open 24/7 for free help coping with the stress of the storm. Florida 211 Floridians seeking information about disaster-related services and unmet needs may call Florida 211, a statewide referral service. 9

10 Call 211 to find resources in your community, such as food, childcare, and crisis counseling. Volunteering and Donations To donate or volunteer in Florida, go to or call 800-FL-Help-1. For those who wish to help, cash donations offer voluntary agencies the most flexibility in obtaining the most- needed resources and pumps money into the local economy to help businesses recover. Operation Blue Roof Although the deadline has passed for Florida homeowners who sustained damage from Hurricane Irma to sign up for assistance through Operation Blue Roof, those who applied and were approved will have a blue roof installed. Evacuees from Puerto Rico in Florida who have property in Puerto Rico are encouraged to call ROOF-BLU ( ) or visit or Information is provided in both English and Spanish. Operation Blue Roof provides a temporary covering of blue plastic sheeting to help reduce further damage to property until permanent repairs can be made. The blue plastic sheeting is installed using strips of wood that are secured to the roof with nails or screws. As of COB Nov. 5, 13,356 temporary roofs have been installed in Florida. FEMA Public Assistance Grant Program in Florida The Florida Division of Emergency Management requested state, local or tribal governments and certain private nonprofit organizations that experienced damage from Hurricane Irma submit their request for reimbursement under the Public Assistance Grant Program by Nov. 5. Requests received by Nov. 5 are being forwarded by the Florida Division of Emergency Management to FEMA on or before FEMA s Nov. 10 deadline. All requests must be submitted at FloridaPA.org. The Public Assistance Program provides grants to state, tribal, territorial and local governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations to fund the repair, restoration, reconstruction or replacement of a facility or infrastructure that is damaged or destroyed by disaster. More information about the Public Assistance Program is available at fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit. As of Nov. 5, 1,008 Requests for Public Assistance have been received by the state. The Florida Division of Emergency Management requested that applications for reimbursement under this program be made by Nov. 5. Requests received by that date are being forwarded to FEMA on or before FEMA s Nov. 10 deadline. 10