Southeast Michigan Disaster Recovery Talking Points

Transcription

1 Sutheast Michigan Disaster Recvery Talking Pints DR-4195-MI, The majr federal disaster declaratin signed by President Obama n September 25, 2014, ffers Individual and Public Assistance t Sutheast Michigan, specifically Macmb, Oakland and Wayne cunties. Federal funding is nw available t hmewners and renters fr temprary husing and hme repairs, lw-cst lans t cver uninsured prperty lsses, and ther prgrams t help individuals, as well as business wners, recver frm the effects f the disaster. Federal assistance is als nw available t state and eligible lcal gvernments and certain private nnprfit rganizatins n a cst-sharing basis fr emergency wrk and the repair r replacement f facilities damaged by the disaster. Funds will als be available statewide thrugh the state-administered Hazard Mitigatin Grant Prgram (HMGP). The HMGP prvides grants t states and lcal gvernments t implement lng-term hazard mitigatin measures after a majr disaster declaratin. The purpse f the prgram is t reduce the lss f life and prperty due t natural disasters and t enable mitigatin measures t be implemented during the immediate recvery frm a disaster. The state f Michigan will rll ut the HMGP and additinal infrmatin will be frthcming. Citizens and business wners seeking aid due t damages caused by the August severe strms and flding must register fr FEMA assistance by calling r register nline at Anyne wh previusly called FEMA but did nt finalize their registratin must ensure they have cmpleted the registratin prcess. Yu will be given an Applicant Number after yu have registered. If residents have reprted damage t their lcal authrities r t 211, registering with FEMA is still required. Yu will be given an Applicant Number that will be yur identifier thrughut the disaster recvery prcess. DEADLINE: Peple must register fr assistance within 60 days f the federal disaster declaratin. The means peple must register n later than Nvember 24, 2014, t be eligible fr federal disaster relief. With winter weather nly weeks away, fficials at all levels f gvernment want t ensure everyne wh applies fr assistance will have an inspectin cmpleted as sn as pssible t get peple n the rad t recvery befre severe weather is frecasted.

2 Talking Pints: Sutheast Michigan Disaster Recvery Talking Pints Page 2 Applying fr Individual Assistance If yur hme was damaged frm the recent strms and flding in Macmb, Oakland and Wayne cunties, yu can apply fr FEMA assistance. Call the tll-free applicatin number FEMA (3362), TTY , r register nline at If yu have nt taken this step, yu are likely NOT registered fr FEMA assistance yet. If yu re unsure, call FEMA (3362) and a representative can assist yu. Disaster Recvery Centers will be pened in areas affected by the disaster where yu can register and speak ne-n-ne with a FEMA representative abut yur case. Refer t yur lcal news fr lcatins nce they are pen, r visit Disaster Survivr Assistance Teams will sn be in affected areas t prvide infrmatin and give residents an pprtunity t register fr disaster assistance. These teams visit businesses, rganizatins and high-traffic lcatins in affected areas t make it easier fr individuals t apply and navigate the federal assistance prcess. Refer t yur lcal news fr lcatins r visit When yu register, be prepared t prvide the fllwing infrmatin: Scial Security Number; Daytime telephne number where we can call yu back; Current mailing address and address and zip cde f the damaged prperty; and, Private insurance infrmatin, if available. Yu will be given an applicatin number which will help lcate yur file in the system. Write this number dwn s yu will have it secure and handy in the future. In mst cases, a FEMA inspectr will call yu within a few days f registering t arrange a visit t yur damaged hme r apartment. The FEMA inspectr will cme and lk at disaster-related damages fr FEMA s Individuals and Husehlds Prgram. A FEMA inspectr will ALWAYS have an fficial badge visible during the inspectin. Ask t see the badge befre allwing him/her t enter yur hme. Yu will be asked t sign a dcument saying that yu were lawfully present in the United States at the time f the disaster. Prf f wnership r ccupancy als is required. If yu are insured, yu will need t submit yur settlement dcumentatin after applying fr FEMA assistance. Yur dcuments will be reviewed, then an inspectr may arrange a visit t yur damaged hme r apartment t determine if yu have uninsured, eligible lsses.

3 Talking Pints: Sutheast Michigan Disaster Recvery Talking Pints Page 3 If yu qualify fr FEMA assistance, yu will receive a federal gvernment check r the funds will be directly depsited int yur designated bank accunt. A separate letter als will be sent t yu explaining hw yu may use the funds. The grant funds may be used fr rental assistance if yur hme r apartment is uninhabitable because f the disaster. Hmewners may use FEMA husing repair grants fr essential repairs t make yur residence safe and sanitary. These grants are fr repairs necessary t make primary rms functinal. Residents may als receive assistance fr eligible disaster-related medical, dental r funeral expenses. FEMA assistance is limited fr disaster-related damages in a residential basement. Disaster-related damages t a hme s mechanical cmpnents and damages in areas f a residence that meet the federal definitin f essential living space regardless f the lcatin in the hme may be eligible fr federal assistance. Fldwater and sewer backup damages in recreatinal rms, unccupied basements and strage spaces generally DO NOT qualify fr FEMA assistance prgrams. Federal grant funding is made available t eligible applicants as a supplement t lcal and state resurces and insurance payments t help survivrs return t safe, sanitary and functinal husing. It is nt meant t return a hme and its cntents t pre-disaster cnditins. FEMA may refer yur name t the U.S. Small Business Administratin (SBA) t g thrugh disaster assistance ptins. SBA ffers lw-interest lans t help hmewners, renters and business wners after a disaster. An applicant must cmplete an SBA lan applicatin t be eligible fr FEMA assistance that cvers persnal prperty, vehicle repair r replacement, and mving and strage expenses. Lw interest lans may be available fr disaster-related repairs in a residential basement up t the brrwing limit f a lan t individuals. It is imprtant t cmplete and submit yur SBA applicatin as it may pen additinal recvery ptins. If yu have questins: Abut FEMA assistance. Cntact FEMA (3362); yu can als visit r Abut the SBA lan applicatin. Cntact the tll-free SBA helpline at Abut FEMA and SBA prgrams. Representatives frm bth rganizatins will be available at Disaster Assistance Centers.

4 Talking Pints: Sutheast Michigan Disaster Recvery Talking Pints Page 4 Applying fr Public Assistance Public Assistance prvides funding n a cst-sharing basis t state and affected lcal gvernments and certain nn-prfit rganizatins t make eligible repairs t public prperty and infrastructure damaged by the disaster. Applicatin prcedures fr eligible applicants will be explained at a series f federal and state briefings with lcatins t be annunced in the affected area by recvery fficials. Apprved public repair prjects are paid thrugh the state frm funding prvided by FEMA and ther participating federal agencies. Abut the Disaster On August 11, 2014, severe weather resulted in single-day recrd ttals fr rainfall in sutheast Michigan, exceeding 6 inches in sme areas. Extensive and severe flding ccurred n radways thrughut sutheast Michigan. Many citizens experienced cmbined water and sewage backups in their basements. This unhealthy water has caused individuals t lse valued pssessins and incur substantial damage csts. Gv. Rick Snyder declared a state f disaster n August 13 fr Macmb, Oakland and Wayne cunties. By declaring a "state f disaster," the state f Michigan made available all state resurces in cperatin with lcal respnse and recvery effrts in the disaster area as utlined in the Michigan Emergency Management Plan. On August 22, Gvernr Snyder requested FEMA t cnduct a Jint Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) with state and lcal fficials t review and validate damages and respnse csts caused by trrential rain and flding in Macmb, Oakland and Wayne cunties. Frm August 26 t September 9, teams cllected estimated respnse and recvery csts, including the number f damaged buildings, displaced individuals and any threats t health and safety caused by the trrential rain and flding. A Jint Preliminary Damage Assessment estimates the extent, severity and impact f the disaster n individuals, businesses and public facilities and infrastructure, as well as damages t certain nnprfit rganizatins. It s like an audit teams review and validate damages reprted by lcal cmmunities thrugh sampling. On September 17, Gvernr Snyder requested President Barack Obama t declare a majr disaster fr the state f Michigan as a result f the flash flding that ccurred in Macmb, Oakland and Wayne cunties n August 11. Because this incident was f such severity and magnitude, Snyder requested supplementary federal aid in the frm f Individual Assistance (assists peple) and Public Assistance (assists state and lcal gvernments, as well as sme nnprfits).

5 Talking Pints: Sutheast Michigan Disaster Recvery Talking Pints Page 5 President Obama signed a majr federal disaster declaratin n September 25 fr the severe strms and flding frm August 11-13, ffering bth individual and public assistance fr citizens, businesses and gvernments in Macmb, Oakland and Wayne cunties. Funds will als be available statewide fr hazard mitigatin. Cmparing Disasters N tw disasters are alike and shuld nt be cmpared. Each disaster is different in terms f lcatin, respnse and recvery. Michigan last received a disaster declaratin fr Individual Assistance in This was due t severe strms and flding in mid-michigan. Michigan received a federal disaster declaratin in 2013 due t widespread flding in the western Lwer Peninsula and Upper Peninsula. This was fr Public Assistance.