FEMA wants to give you lots of money!

[aworldnervelink]

FEMA's coming to your nearby Home Despot store tomorrow and Sunday.

Yep, I saw them there on Sunday. I'm not sure they caught the look of total disgust on my face as I wheeled past their table.

I also saw the temporary DRC that they've set up on Pembroke Rd. They slapped some cardboard signs up on the pole.

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Now everybody in the state can feed at the federal disaster trough!

Disaster Assistance In New Hampshire Expanded For Belknap And Coös Counties

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - Disaster assistance for Belknap County is now available to help homeowners, renters and business owners recover from the effects of the severe storms and flooding that occurred April 15 - April 23, according to officials from Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM). In addition, disaster assistance for state and local governments and certain private non-profits in Coös County has been approved, making communities in all New Hampshire counties eligible for assistance to rebuild or repair facilities damaged by the April nor'easter.

Federal Coordinating Officer Albie Lewis and HSEM State Coordinating Officer Michael Poirier urge those affected by the disaster in Belknap County to apply at www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The TTY number for those with speech or hearing impairment is 1-800-462-7585. Both numbers are available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. For those residents in Belknap County who have already applied to FEMA for assistance, their application is now under consideration and they do not have to call again.

"Registering with FEMA is the only way to apply for federal and state disaster assistance. So make the call, even if you already reported your damages to local officials or voluntary agencies," said Poirier. "We want to make sure that all those who had losses from the flooding receive the help they may be eligible for as they move towards recovery."

Disaster assistance for individuals in Belknap County may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other aid programs. Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will also be available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.

"We remain committed to ensuring that every qualified individual, family and business receives the help they need and that vital community facilities are restored to full service as quickly as possible," said Lewis.

Disaster assistance for government entities was approved after a review of damage data gathered by local, state and FEMA disaster officials. Under the expanded assistance, local governments in Coös County, as well as in the nine previously designated counties, are eligible to apply for federal funds to pay 75 percent of the approved cost of debris removal, emergency services related to the disaster, and repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, buildings and utilities.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management is responsible for coordinating the state's emergency response to major natural and manmade disasters.

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Disaster Recovery Center To Open In Belknap County

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will open Monday in Belknap County to help victims with disaster assistance questions, according to officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and N.H. Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

DRCs provide a single location where people are able to talk face-to-face with disaster recovery specialists about their applications for federal disaster assistance. Representatives from state and federal agencies and voluntary organizations will be on hand to answer questions about assistance programs and help applicants complete their U.S. Small Business Administration loan applications.

Those interested should visit the DRC in Barnstead at the Town Hall, 108 South Barnstead Road. Operating hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mon. through Sat., May 14-19.

A DRC is also scheduled to open in Laconia on Mon. May 21 at a location to be determined. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the valuable information available at no cost at these temporary offices.

Individuals and business owners are urged to first register for federal and state assistance in one of the following methods: visit the FEMA Web site at www.fema.gov or call toll-free 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for those with speech or hearing impairment. Both lines are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

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500 people.

All this FEMA activity and 500 people have taken advantage of the government handouts so far.

Apparently that's not enough people, so FEMA wants more people to show up -- but they're cutting the hours of their temporary disaster offices.

Federal/State Disaster Recovery Centers Change Hours

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Disaster Aid For New Hampshire Tops $3.5 Million

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- More than $3.5 million in grants and low interest disaster loans have been approved to help New Hampshire residents who suffered losses as a result of the nor'easter that struck New England one month ago, according to figures released today by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the New Hampshire Bureau of Emergency Management (HSEM).

The following is a summary of ongoing recovery efforts, as of close of business May 15:

• 1,470 individuals have applied for assistance in the six New Hampshire counties designated for individual assistance.
• $2,168,704 in Housing Assistance has been approved for 803 applicants, to cover rental assistance, temporary lodging, and repairs to make the home safe and sanitary.
• $146,002 in Other Needs Assistance has been approved for 113 applicants, to cover personal property loss, medical or dental costs and other serious disaster-related expenses, not covered by insurance.
• $1,237,700 in loans have been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for homeowners and businesses. To date, 1,221 home loan and 154 business loan applications have been issued.
• 568 people have visited one of the Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) that opened in the disaster-affected areas to help meet the needs of disaster victims.

Not only are federal and state dollars helping individuals and families recover from the flooding, but communities are being helped as federal and state recovery officials work with local governments in making damage assessments of roads and public buildings for reimbursement under the Public Assistance program.

Applicant briefings, held to inform local officials about the reimbursement process, are nearly complete in all 10 counties eligible for assistance to restore infrastructure. To date, 181 requests for public assistance from New Hampshire local governments have been received by FEMA, and teams of federal and state Public Assistance officers are meeting with local officials to document response and recovery costs that may be eligible for reimbursement.

[powerchuter]

It's too bad we couldn't have run them out of the state...

Or confiscated their fancy motorhome "mobile offices"...

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FEMA Disaster Specialists to Provide Disaster Assistance Information at Home Improvement Store in Epping

A free disaster assistance workshop will take place at a Lowe's home improvement store in Epping next Monday and Tuesday. The workshop is open to the public and designed to provide information to residents on homeowner mitigation and on state and federal disaster assistance following the April flooding.

Offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in cooperation with Lowe's, the workshop features mitigation experts who will provide information on steps individuals and homeowners can take to protect homes from future storm and flood damage. A member of FEMA's Individual Assistance team will also be available to help answer more specific questions from individuals who registered for disaster assistance.

The FEMA disaster experts will provide beneficial mitigation tips and disaster assistance information to homeowners, building contractors, architects, and others who are interested. Homeowners can learn some simple inexpensive building techniques or strategies that could save big dollars in the event of a disaster.

Everyone is encouraged to attend the workshop to be held Mon. and Tues., May 21 and 22, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Lowe's, 36 Fresh River Road, Epping.

A study by The National Institute of Building Science's Multi-hazard Mitigation Council found that, although risk from natural disasters cannot be eliminated completely, every $1 spent on mitigation can save as much as $4 in response and recovery.

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Disaster Volunteers Arrive Early and Stay Late in Recovery

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - When the news of flooding from the April nor'easter spread through the volunteer network, the New Hampshire Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NH VOAD) and Operation Disaster Recovery began mobilizing members. They had been through the drill before in the aftermath of the 2006 Mother's Day flooding. They hit the ground running. Meals were served, flooded houses cleaned and, looking ahead, services were being coordinated to support flood victims in the long term.

"We were working with a few people who had houses totally destroyed by last year's floods and had housing plans finally set in place, then another flood hit," said Arlene Magoon, state and long-term recovery volunteer coordinator, New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM). "But because of the previous flooding disasters, our volunteer network had learned the procedures and how to deal with funding, and case managers were on board, ready to do intake."

Voluntary organizations are essential partners with state and federal emergency management agencies in disaster response and long-term recovery. Immediately after an event like a flood occurs, volunteers from such organizations as the American Red Cross and Salvation Army embraced the disaster area to house and feed victims and emergency responders.

Faith-based groups and volunteers from within the community and across the country help in cleaning flooded homes, removing storm debris and repairing homes, as assistance programs coordinated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and state emergency management provide financial resources to victims. Then, after federal and state emergency agencies have exhausted the resources allowable under the law for disaster assistance, Long Term Recovery Committees composed of local community, faith-based and voluntary agencies step in to help those who still may have needs.

Acting as a Long Term Recovery Committee in New Hampshire, Operation Disaster Recovery is an association of state and community agencies that work together after disasters on the long-term recovery needs of victims. Operation Disaster Recovery's steering committee defines the projects and allocates the resources. Magoon is the HSEM point person in working with the steering committee to identify what the needs are. She explained that when needs are identified, the agencies that make up NH VOAD bring to the table what resources they have, such as people to volunteer their time and funds for building materials and repairs.

"One of the projects we're working on now is an entire street on which homes were flooded," said Magoon. "We are working with volunteers with carpentry skills to help rebuild the houses on that street, and another group will house the volunteers and provide them meals. We may have five different organizations working together to meet the needs of one family."

Cathy Hoyt, disaster volunteer resource coordinator, explained that the NH VOAD network helps during all phases of a disaster recovery to fulfill needs. "The people in New Hampshire have shared a tremendous amount of their time in helping their neighbors. Volunteers from here and around the country have mudded out and molded out about 70 homes so far," said Hoyt, referring to the help given to clean flooded homes and prevent mold growth.

An organization under the national VOAD umbrella that has been active in the flood disasters is the National Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. Tom Tsepas, New Hampshire coordinator for Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, said the Southern Baptists responded in the immediate aftermath of the nor'easter, "Teams helped assess damage, clean flooded homes and get rid of mold. We had volunteer teams come from within New Hampshire and from around the country -- Vermont, Maine, Tennessee, Illinois, Ohio, Louisiana and Wisconsin."

Hoyt related that the Southern Baptist volunteers alone have put in 10,000 hours cleaning up flooded homes, and help has come from many more organizations like NH Catholic Charities, the Lions, the New Hampshire Food Bank, and local church groups. "Their work helps people get back into their homes much sooner after they've been flooded," said Hoyt. "The goal is safe, secure, essential living space."

For those who want to volunteer:

Having worked three flood disasters in less than three years, the New Hampshire voluntary organizations are looking for new volunteers. Those interested in volunteering may contact NH VOAD at 603-271-7205 or www.volunteernh.org.

For those who have flood-related needs:

HSEM and voluntary organizations are hosting community meetings to provide flood victims with information about financial assistance and other services available to them. Representatives from FEMA, SBA, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Volunteer NH! and the Community Action Program will describe their services and be available to answer questions.

• Merrimack Mon., May 21, Merrimack High School, 38 McElwain Street
• Pembroke, Tues., May 22, Pembroke Academy Auditorium, 209 Academy Road
• Newmarket, Wed., May 23, Newmarket Town Hall

To apply for federal and state disaster assistance, those who suffered flood damages should call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for those with hearing or speech impairment, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Individuals with Internet access may apply at www.fema.gov.

[Dreepa]

You could have just called it "Fema Useless"....the in new hampshire part is not needed.

LOL I was just about to say that....

[Kat Kanning]

You could have just called it "Fema Useless"....the in new hampshire part is not needed.

LOL I was just about to say that....

Sorry,  Ill delete it so you can say it.

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Oh I've changed the topic about 3 or 4 times depending on what mood I was in.

[Dreepa]

You could have just called it "Fema Useless"....the in new hampshire part is not needed.

LOL I was just about to say that....

Sorry,  Ill delete it so you can say it.

Nope.. You were first.. and now that we have quoted it a few times..... it was said multiple times.

[cyberdoo78]

Some slogans that I offer for free.....

F-E-M-A please just go away!
F-E-M-A we don't need that fed pay!
FEMA is not free!
FEMA the other terrorist organization.
FEMA isn't Free Ma!
Help yourself, kick FEMA out!

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The government wants you to buy flood insurance. Because you could lose everything, and the government has prevented the free market from offering it.

Everyone Lives In a Flood Zone

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- Many people think that if they do not live near a river or the coast, they are not in danger of flooding - not true. In recent years, remnants of tropical storms, dam failures, land development runoff and heavy spring and summer rainfalls have caused serious flood damage across New Hampshire. Everyone lives in a potential flood zone, and most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage.

People can take steps to protect their financial well-being before disaster strikes by purchasing flood insurance. If your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, you are eligible to purchase flood insurance.

Flood insurance covers direct physical loss caused by "flood." In simple terms, a flood is an excess of water on land that is normally dry. Generally, physical damage to your building or personal property "directly" caused by a flood is covered by your flood insurance policy. For example, damages caused by a sewer backup are covered if the backup is a direct result of flooding. However, if the backup is caused by some other problem, the damages are not covered.

If you live in a high-risk area (Special Flood Hazard Area) you are required to purchase flood insurance if you have a mortgage from a federally regulated lender. You must carry the insurance for the life of the mortgage. If you live outside a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) you are still at risk for flooding. In fact, 20 to 25 percent of all flood claims are filed in low-to-moderate flood-risk areas.

Find out about your flood risk by entering your address at FloodSmart.gov "Assess Your Risk." If you live in a low-to moderate risk area, you may be eligible for a low-cost Preferred Risk Policy, which can start as low as $112 a year.

To purchase flood insurance, contact your local agent or find an agent online at www.floodsmart.gov or by calling 1-800-427-2419. Policies for building and contents (personal property) coverage are purchased separately.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.