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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would like applicants who receive a letter denying disaster assistance to be aware the letter may only be a request for more information.
"To avoid the chance of being sent a denial letter, applicants should not delay in updating their file if they know their application was incomplete when they registered," said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer, Willie Nunn. "They can call the Helpline, 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA) or go online at www.fema.gov/assistance and provide the missing information."
A need for more information is frequently the reason for a denial letter. Another reason may be that applicants have enough insurance to cover their disaster losses. If this is the case, by law FEMA cannot duplicate benefits. However, even if an insurance settlement will be made, applicants may find they are eligible for FEMA aid for items like transportation expenses or the loss of essential personal property.
Here are some of the reasons for a denial letter:
- Insurance information is incomplete;
- Receipts are needed to substantiate a loss;
- Damage caused by the disaster does not affect your ability to continue living in your home:
- Your losses are not eligible for a grant or loan (antiques, for example)
"A denial letter does not necessarily mean an applicant will receive no disaster assistance," said state Coordinating Officer Cindy Newsham. "The letter may simply be asking for a specific document to complete the application process."
If you receive a letter denying your request for aid and you have questions, call the FEMA Helpline or visit a state/FEMA disaster recovery center and speak to a recovery specialist. Specialists will be able to explain why you were denied. They can also tell you whether you are eligible for other types of state/FEMA disaster aid.
FEMA's toll free Helpline number is 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585 for the hearing- or speech-impaired.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA works closely with State and local emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters, and other first responders.
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=45154 Last Modified: Friday, 18-Jul-2008 18:23:41
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In the United States each year, natural hazards cause hundreds of deaths and cost tens of billions of dollars in disaster aid, disruption of commerce, and destruction of homes and critical infrastructure. Natural hazards cause hundreds of deaths and cost billions of dollars in disaster aid, disruption of commerce, and destruction of homes and critical infrastructure.
Recent extreme events such as the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have tragically underscored out nation’s vulnerability and its urgent need for solutions that to not only limit the impact of extreme events, but also do so in a manner that is cost effective. The process to develop the resilience of our infrastructure against extreme events (natural disasters, technological disasters, and acts of terrorism) will not be simple nor will results come quickly. Although the number of lives lost to natural hazards each year generally has declined, the economic cost of major disaster response and recovery continues to rise.
Each decade, property damage from natural hazards events doubles or triples. The United States is second only to Japan in economic damages resulting from natural disasters.
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Disaster Prevention through Hazard Mitigation Planning
Natural hazards, such as floods, tornadoes and hurricanes, are a part of the world around us. Their occurrence is natural and inevitable, and there is little we can do to control their force and intensity. However, through hazard mitigation planning, we can control what comes afterward. By minimizing the impact of natural hazards upon our built environment, we can prevent such events from resulting in disasters.
Americans live in the most severe weather-prone country on Earth. According to the National Weather Service, the United States is impacted every year by an approximate average of 10,000 thunderstorms, 2,500 floods, 1,000 tornadoes, and 10 hurricanes. The frequency of disasters in the United States is rising at an alarming rate, not necessarily because these natural hazard events have become more frequent, but because more and more people and property are being located in areas more vulnerable to their effects. As populations increase and communities continue to grow, more development is constructed in floodplains, along oceanfronts, and in areas subject to earthquake, landslides and wildfires. The need for our communities to get serious about hazard mitigation has never been so great.
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HSTCC Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plans:
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Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
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NEW: Hazard Mitigation 5 Year Update Schedule
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Update: The 2005 Jasper & Newton County Hazard Mitigation Plans will be reviewed to meet FEMA standards as required by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000), P.L. 106-390.
The revision process will ensure that Jasper & Newton County Hazard Mitigation Plans remain dynamic tools for the Counties as well as relevant to the immediate environment.
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Emergency Management Independent Study Program
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The independent study program is one way that EMI offers emergency management training to the general public and to select emergency management audiences.
Go to FEMA website for information on these courses.
These independent study courses are geared toward both the general public and persons who have local government responsibilities for emergency management.
All courses are suitable for either individual or group enrollment, and are available at no charge. Courses include a final examination, and persons who score 75 percent or better on the examination are issued a certificate of completion by EMI.
If you have questions about these courses, you can call 301-447-1200, e-mail independent.study@dhs.gov, or write to:
FEMA Independent Study ProgramAdministration OfficeEmergency Management Institute16825 S. Seton AvenueEmmitsburg, MD 21727
For information regarding application for academic credit and fees, contact the
Independent Study Office at EMI at 1-800-238-3358.
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Disaster Mitigation is any action or measure that either prevents that occurrence of a disaster or reduces the severity of its effects.
Hazard Mitigation Planning is an important aspect of a successful mitigation program. Hazard mitigation planning is a collaborative process whereby hazards affecting the community are identified, vulnerability to the hazards are assessed, and consensus reached on how to minimize or eliminate the effects of these hazards.
The Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program provides technical and financial assistance to the State and local governments for cost-effective pre-disaster hazard mitigation activities that complement a comprehensive mitigation program, and reduce injuries, loss of life, and damage and destruction of property.
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) provides grants to the State and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration. The purpose of the program is to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster.
For more information concerning Hazard Mitigation Programs click here.
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HAZUS-MH is a powerful risk assessment software program for analyzing potential losses from floods, hurricane winds and earthquakes to produce estimates of hazard-related damage before, or after, a disaster occurs.
Potential loss estimates analyzed in HAZUS-MH include:
- Physical damage to residential and commercial buildings, schools, critical facilities, and infrastructure;
- Economic loss, including lost jobs, business interruptions, repair and reconstruction costs; and
- Social impacts, including estimates of shelter requirements, displaced households, and population exposed to scenario floods, earthquakes and hurricanes.
Federal, State and local government agencies and the private sector can order HAZUS-MH free-of-charge from the FEMA Publication Warehouse. |
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Harry S. Truman Coordinating CouncilPO Box 388 Webb City, Missouri 64870417-782-3515 Fax 417-782-20431-800-788-3515 |
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