Crisis Counseling Program

FEMA has announced that a Crisis Counseling Program (CCP) is being provided free to individuals and families who need assistance in coping with the aftereffects of the April 16th tornado. Crisis Counseling is available seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. by calling 866-451-7760.
A natural or man-made disaster can cause much more than property damage. It can create a wide range of emotional, physical, cognitive and behavioral reactions. Individuals may experience stress, anxiety, fear, uncertainty and frustration because you have been through an abnormal event. Everybody who witnesses a disaster is affected by it in some way. This is a normal reaction to an abnormal event. Confidential crisis counseling is available to help people:
• Understand their situations and reactions,
• Regain a sense of mastery and control,
• Identify, label, and express emotions,
• Adjust to the disaster and losses,
• Manage stress,
• Make decisions and take action,
• Develop coping strategies, and
• Use community resources
Please share this information with anyone you feel may need assistance.

FEMA Deadline Extension

FEMA has just announced that the deadline for applications from the April 16th tornado has been extended from today to Tuesday, July 5th.
North Carolina Emergency Management asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency for an extension, based on continued registrations that indicate some are still assessing their damage and need additional time to apply for aid. FEMA approved the extension, which also extends the deadline to return applications for disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
As of June 20th, more than 9,400 people in the 19 designated counties had registered with FEMA for disaster assistance. More than 4,900 SBA disaster loan applications have been sent to homeowners and renters, but only 16 percent have been returned.
To register for FEMA disaster assistance, call 800-621-3362 or online at www.DisasterAssitance.gov .

DISASTER AID: $15 MILLION TO INDIVIDUALS, $8 MILLION TO GOVERNMENTS

EDITORS: A county breakdown for Individual Assistance follows this news release.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Federal and state disaster assistance grants and loans totaling more than
$15.2 million are helping North Carolina homeowners, renters and businesses recover from the severe storms and tornadoes of April 16.
In addition, nearly $8 million in federal Public Assistance funding has been approved for state agencies and local governments in the counties under the disaster declaration to pay for emergency measures and work to repair and replace storm-damaged infrastructure, buildings and equipment. Of that figure, nearly $7 million was for debris removal. Public Assistance is a cost-share program in which the Federal Emergency Management Agency pays 75 percent of the cost of eligible projects and the state pays the 25 percent nonfederal share.
"We measure recovery not only in dollars, but the progress we see in communities," N.C. Emergency Management Director Doug Hoell said. "Our partnership with FEMA is helping North Carolinians get back on their feet."
Through June 16, assistance to individuals includes:
• Nearly $4.9 million from FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program for temporary housing and home repairs.
• More than $1.9 million in Other Needs Assistance to help individuals replace personal property and pay for certain other disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other aid.
• More than $8.4 million in U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses.
“If you suffered damage or loss as a result of the April 16 storms and haven’t called FEMA, do it now, Federal Coordinating Officer Michael Bolch said. “You can always update your insurance information, but if you’re not registered by Monday, you won’t be eligible.”
• More than 9,100 people in the 19 counties under the disaster declaration have registered with FEMA for disaster assistance.
• More than 4,800 SBA disaster loan applications have been sent to homeowners and renters, of which 15 percent have been returned to SBA. FEMA’s housing assistance and Other Needs Assistance grants for medical, dental, and funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be considered for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses. Applicants who do not qualify for an SBA loan may be eligible to receive Other Needs Assistance grants for these items.
• 32 families are now living in temporary manufactured housing units supplied by FEMA at the state’s request.
To register for FEMA disaster assistance, call 800-621-FEMA (3362). TTY 800-462-7585 is for deaf and hard-of-hearing callers. Registration can be done online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or with a web-enabled mobile device or smartphone at m.fema.gov and link to “apply online for federal assistance.”
All figures are through close of business June 16, 2011:
County Registrations Grants in $ for housing and other needs
Bertie 218 748,922
Bladen 458 204,898
Craven 51 26,881
Cumberland 1,625 819,066
Currituck 13 6,856
Greene 216 148,951
Halifax 288 95,018
Harnett 357 403,596
Hertford 61 91,714
Hoke 92 16,119
Johnston 460 1,010,411
Lee 524 644,391
Onslow 293 368,008
Pitt 167 65,195
Robeson 1,593 551,287
Sampson 349 144,410
Tyrrell 6 9,777
Wake 2,195 1,445,522
Wilson 162 23,909
Total 9,128 $6,829,931
For more information about this disaster, go to www.nccrimecontrol.org and click on the red “April Tornadoes” tab. More information is also available at http://www.fema.gov/.

TWO WEEKS LEFT TO APPLY FOR DISASTER HELP

RALEIGH, N.C. – Homeowners, renters and business owners in 19 North Carolina counties who suffered losses as a result of the April 16 tornadoes have two weeks left to apply for disaster help. June 20 is the deadline to register for Federal disaster assistance.
“We want North Carolinians affected by the disaster to call or go online to begin the process before it’s too late,” N.C. Emergency Management Director Doug Hoell said.
The FEMA toll-free registration number is 800-621-FEMA (3362). The TTY number is 800-462-7585 for deaf or hard of hearing callers. Registration is also possible online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by smartphone at m.fema.gov.
“Give us a chance to help you,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Michael Bolch. “Don’t disqualify yourself by not applying by the June 20 deadline.”
If you get an SBA loan application in the mail after you apply with FEMA, be sure to complete and eturn it to the SBA. Completing the loan application does not commit you to a loan; it is part of the federal financial disaster assistance process.
The North Carolina counties under the disaster declaration are Bertie, Bladen, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Johnston, Lee, Onslow, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson, Tyrell, Wake and Wilson.
For more information about this disaster, go to www.nccrimecontrol.org and click on the red “April Tornadoes” tab. More information is also available at www.fema.gov.

FEMA’s housing assistance and Other Needs Assistance grants for medical, dental, and funeral 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 considered for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses. Applicants who do not qualify for a SBA loan may be eligible to receive Other Needs Assistance grants for these items.

DISASTER ASSISTANCE MAY INCLUDE FREE LEGAL HELP

RALEIGH, N.C. – If the severe storms and tornadoes of April 16 have left you in a legal mess, free Disaster Legal Services may be able to help clean it up. The toll-free number is 800-662-7407.
Callers with disaster-related legal issues, who are unable to afford a lawyer, may call between 9 a.m.
and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday to request assistance. Callers should ask for Disaster Legal Services.
Help may include issues with landlord/tenant problems, legal documents lost in the disaster, home repair contracts, medical and property insurance claims, Powers of Attorney, replacement of wills and other documents and preparation of guardianships and conservatorships.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency funds the administrative costs of the program, which is coordinated through the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association.
North Carolina lawyers are providing assistance as a public service to residents of 19 counties under the April 19 disaster declaration. Free help is not available for cases that could produce a fee.
“The Young Lawyers Division of the North Carolina Bar Association welcomes the opportunity to partner with FEMA to provide free legal services to those affected by the tornadoes,” said Michael Wells, Jr., a Winston-Salem lawyer participating in the Disaster Legal Services program.
Wells said several calls he’s received have been about insurance.
The North Carolina counties under the disaster declaration are Bertie, Bladen, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Johnston, Lee, Onslow, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson, Tyrell, Wake and Wilson.
For more information about this disaster, go to www.nccrimecontrol.org and click on the red “April Tornadoes” tab. More information is also available at www.fema.gov.
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.
The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division is the home for young lawyers. With more than 150,000 members and 300 affiliated groups, the ABA YLD is the largest young lawyer organization in the world.