Keep Your ID Handy

From the FEMA website:

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Before the Federal Emergency Management Agency can provide assistance, applicants must be able to prove their identity. Insufficient identification is one reason applicants may be told they are ineligible for assistance.

The Alabama tornadoes destroyed many documents that need to be replaced so survivors can verify their identity to keep their application moving through the FEMA process.

It’s not unusual for important documents to be lost in a disaster. That’s why the state of Alabama and FEMA want to make sure people know how to replace lost documents and why people need to stay in touch with FEMA after they register.

Recovery specialists at disaster recovery centers can make referrals for survivors who need to replace documents.

In general, people can contact:

• The nearest Social Security office to replace their Social Security card;
• Their county health department for a birth certificate (Alabama births) or the bureau of vital statistics in the state where they were born;
• Their insurance agent or company for a copy of their policy;
• Their local probate judge or License Commissioner Office for a duplicate driver’s license (proof of identity is required);
• Their utility company for a copy of electric, water or gas bills to prove occupancy;
• The Alabama Department of Revenue for tax records; or
• Their county courthouse for property records.

If you received a letter saying you are not eligible for assistance, it will state the reason for the decision and explain your right to appeal. If you have questions about any letter from FEMA, call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY at 800-462-7585) or visit a disaster recovery center. You can locate a center with your smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov or online at www.fema.gov/drclocator.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.  If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call
800-462-7585.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

Durable Medical Equipment For Loan From STAR

STAR - Alabama's Assistive Technology Resource maintains durable medical equipment and assistive devices available for long-term loan via our six (6) reunilization centers:

1.  CARE Project ------- Richard Blome
     Easter Seals Central Alabama
     2125 East South Boulevard, Montgomery, AL 36116
     Telephone:  (334) 288-0204 ext. 245
     FAX: (334) 288-7171
     E-mail:  RBlome@eastersealsca.org

2.  Mobile Reuse Project ------- Chara Brown
     Goodwill easter Seals of the Gulf Coast
     7431 Airport Boulevard, Mobile, AL 36695
     Telephone:  (251) 300-6093
     FAX:  (251) 287-8412
     E-mail:  Chara@gesgc.org

3.  The 3-R Project ----------Rebecca Breazeal
     The Opportunity Center
     1318 Walnut Avenue, Anniston, AL 36201
     Telephone:  (256) 236-0807
     E-mail:  opportunity90540@bellsouth.net

4.  Waste Not Program ----------Melissa Palat
     UCP Huntsville
     2075 Max Luther Drive, NW, Huntsville, AL 35810
     Telephone:  (256) 852-5600
     FAX:  (256) 852-6722
     E-mail:  mjpalat@ucphuntsville.org

5.  ReMEDy Project ---------- Jim Branum
     Birmingham Baptist Association
     1900 West 43 Street, Birmingham, AL 35205
     Telephone:  (205) 783-9170
     FAX:  (205) 783-9171
     E-mail:  jimb@bbaonline.org

6.  The R.E.A.L. Project ---------- Jon Lee
     Wiregrass Rehabilitation Center
     795 Ross Clark Circle, Dothan, AL 36303
     Telephone:  (334) 699-7727
     E-mail:  jlee@wrcjobs.com

Access a listing of available devices via STAR's website at www.rehab.alabama.gov/star   There is NO FEE and/or cost associated with the loan of this equipment and the borroweer may keep it for as long as needed.

If you seek a particular item that is not on the list, ask a Center Coordinator or contact the STAR office at (800) 782-7656, FAX:  (334) 293-7388.

FREE Vision Exams and Glasses Offered

Cahaba Valley Health Care (CVHC) with Alabama Vision Alliance will provide FREE Vision Exams and glasses on Sunday, May 22 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Hoover, Alabama, beginning at 1:30 p.m.  This service will be provided without fee to any victim of the recent storms, regardless of where they live.

In addition, CVHC 2011 has scheduled vision, dental and hypertension screenings for residents of Jefferson and Shelby Counties without health, vision or dental insurance and with low income (following Alabama Medicaid guidelines.) 

Vision acuity exam and bifocals available for $75 and single vision lenses for $60 for those who qualify.

• June 12 - HICA, 260-F West Valley Avenue, Birmingham, AL 35209
• July 10 - Riverchase United Methodist in Hoover, AL (2:00 pm - 5:30 pm)
• August 14 - First Baptist Church of Center Point, AL - East Birmingham, AL
• August 28 - St. Francis Catholic Church on Montclair Road in Birmingham, AL

Please register before screenings by e-mail:  lostglasses@cahabavalleyhealthcare.org
Or call:  205-437-1050

Contact Matt Ennis for more information at 205-437-1050 or e-mail:
matt@cahabavalleyhealthcare.org

Will FEMA or State Grants Affect My Social Security or Other Benefits?

From the FEMA website:

In most cases, the Social Security Administration does not count federal or state disaster aid as income.

Here are answers to the most common questions:

Question: If I earn more than a certain amount each year, I must repay $1 of my Social Security payment for every $2 earned. Will FEMA grants add to my income and require me to repay Social Security?

Answer: No. FEMA grants for housing and Other Needs Assistance (ONA) are not counted as income.

Question: Will receiving a grant result in my income being increased so that I am no longer eligible for Medicaid, welfare assistance, food stamps or Aid to Families with Dependent Children?

Answer: No. Grants for housing and ONA are not counted as income in determining eligibility for any income-based benefit programs funded by the U.S. government.

FEMA Is Offering FREE Advice On Rebuilding After the Tornadoes

From the FEMA website:

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Rebuilding is not easy after a disaster. Survivors may find themselves spending more and more time at their local hardware store, overwhelmed with decisions.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is now offering free consultations with building experts at hardware and home improvement stores in Alabama counties affected by the recent tornadoes.

These mitigation specialists will be on hand at display booths to answer questions and offer home improvement tips and proven techniques to prevent and lessen damage from future disasters. Most of the information is geared for do-it-yourself work and building contractors.

Also, if you’re thinking of building a safe room, experts can advise on the best options. Safe rooms built to FEMA specifications have saved thousands of lives.

“FEMA mitigation education is available to all the people of Alabama,” said Mickey Acosta, Group Supervisor for Mitigation Community Education and Outreach. ”It is important that survivors know we have a lot of information to offer, including publications with blueprints that will help build a safe room.”

Alabama is Responding to Federal Assistance

From the FEMA website:

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabamians are responding to the message that federal assistance is here following the devastating tornadoes that struck the state. The number of weekly registrants rose by 32 percent for a total of nearly 64,000 individuals and households filing for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency within the first two weeks.

A total of nearly $36 million has been approved through FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program and the U.S. Small Business Administration’s low-interest disaster loan program.

The following numbers, compiled May 13, provide a snapshot of the Alabama/FEMA disaster recovery to date:

Funds approved

• $25.3 million for Housing Assistance grants to help with recovery rental expenses and home repair costs;
• $9.4 million for Other Needs Assistance to cover essential disaster-related needs, such as medical expenses and lost personal possessions.
• $1.2 million approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest loans to eligible homeowners, renters or business owners.

Survivor recovery

• 33,659 damaged homes and property have been inspected (84 percent of requests);
• 11,418 visits have been made to one of the 28 disaster recovery centers located in designated counties. An average of 1,300 survivors visit disaster recovery centers daily.
• 42 counties declared for individual assistance.

Nutrition

• 77,381 survivors in Alabama have received food assistance through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the first two days of the five-day registration period.
• 32,049 survivors took part in the program on day three.

FEMA continues to work with volunteer agencies and the private sector to speed the recovery effort. But those affected by the severe storm need to register with FEMA for disaster aid.

No matter the degree of loss or insurance, survivors are urged to apply for help. They can use the following methods:

• By phone, call 800-621-FEMA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time. Operators are multilingual.  For the speech or hearing impaired, the number is TTY 800-462-7585.
• By computer, go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
• By smartphone or tablet, use m.fema.gov.

Recovery officials urge all Alabama residents who have registered for assistance to stay in close touch with FEMA throughout the recovery process, especially during the first weeks after registering when FEMA housing inspectors must contact applicants to view damages. Those with mobile phones should provide that number to FEMA during the registration and/or a good contact number.

Affected survivors and business owners in the 42 designated counties may apply for assistance. Those counties are: Autauga, Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Colbert, Coosa, Cullman, DeKalb, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Hale, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Monroe, Morgan, Perry, Pickens, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Washington and Winston.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.  If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

Key to Rebuilding Alabama: Low Interest Disaster Loans

From an article on the FEMA website:

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Now that immediate needs are being met, the focus is shifting to long term recovery in the aftermath of April’s tornadoes.

Impacted residents are now dealing with issues from how to pay mortgages when no house remains, to replacing lost personal property.

The road to recovery will be long for many, but the journey has begun. Getting there will require help from many resources, including the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The SBA can help homeowners, renters, and businesses:

• Replace damaged homes and businesses
• Replace clothes, furniture and vehicles
• Replace inventory, machinery and equipment for businesses and certain nonprofits
• Provide working capital for small businesses and private non-profits

SBA can offer loans up to $200,000 to repair or replace real estate, and $40,000 to repair or replace personal property damages, including automobiles. The interest rate of disaster loans for homeowners and renters may be as low as 2.563 percent, with terms up to 30 years. This makes repayment affordable.
FEMA addresses immediate needs of disaster survivors, but it is low-interest disaster loans from the SBA that provide the greater amount of assistance.

The SBA has already approved more than $2 million to help with long term recovery.

Those who received damages to their homes or businesses need to complete and return the low-interest disaster loan application they received after registering with FEMA. While they’re not required to take out the loan the application process is a key to receiving other assistance. Homeowners and renters determined as unable to afford a loan are referred back to FEMA for consideration of getting a new refrigerator, furnishings and other home essentials.

Loans to business owners affected by the April tornadoes may be up to $2 million, with interest rates as low as 4 percent. These loans may pay for the repairs, replacement of property as well as working capital.