Colorado Flood E-News Update: October 16





Issue 3

Colorado Flooding, Severe Storms, Mudslides, and Landslides

October 16, 2013


 
 








This E-News Update is created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Private Sector Function operating out of Colorado. The E-News Update includes information on federal and state resources available to help Colorado homeowners, renters, business owners and their employees recover from the flooding, severe storms, mudslides and landslides that were federally declared a major disaster on September 14, 2013. We welcome your comments, questions, and topics of interest.

To be added to the distribution list, put “SUBSCRIBE” in the subject line to Kendra.Eull@fema.dhs.gov, Brandi.Briones@fema.dhs.gov or Chad.McCormick@fema.dhs.gov. To unsubscribe, write “REMOVE” in the subject line. 

Federal Assistance as of October 15, 2013

• Registrations for Individual Assistance (IA)    $25,074
• Approved IA      $43.2 million
• U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans approved     $23.2 million

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in a designated county can apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov or call 1-800-621-3362 (use option 2 for Spanish, 3 for other languages) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Please visit Designated Counties for more information on this specific disaster. For a guide on FEMA Individual Assistance and other types of aid, visit Disaster Assistance .

The following counties are designated for IA: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Clear Creek, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, Logan, and Weld.

For more information on counties designated for Public Assistance (PA).

Determination Letters Must Be Read Carefully

An applicant who has received a determination letter of ineligibility should be sure to read the entire letter to find out why. In some cases, all the applicant needs to do is send FEMA a copy of the private insurance determination letter before the FEMA grant application can be processed.

Other reasons for a determination of ineligibility include:
·       The applicant did not sign the required documents.
·       The applicant did not prove occupancy or ownership.
·       The damage is to a secondary home or a rental property, not a primary residence.
·       Someone else in the household has also applied for and received help.
·       A FEMA housing inspector cannot reach the applicant by phone.
·       The applicant did not maintain the required flood insurance coverage for the damaged property.

Applicants who receive a determination of ineligibility letter can call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585 or visit a Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) to find out how to appeal this decision, submit any required documents or make changes to contact information.

Public Assistance Hotline Open for Private Nonprofit Organizations

FEMA and State Public Assistance (PA) have a toll-free hotline to provide guidance related to PA policy and eligibility. This hotline offers guidance for other FEMA entities, the State of Colorado, local governmental applicants, and interested private nonprofits that provide services of a government nature.

This hotline is NOT for the general public. Individuals should continue to call 1-800-621-3362.

Local governments and other Public Assistance applicants are encouraged to use their FEMA Public Assistance Coordinator (PAC) once assigned, as their primary source for inquiries.

The PA hotline – 855-282-5706 – is operational 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

SBA Loans Help Homeowners and Renters, Not Just Businesses

Don’t let the word "business" in the name U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) fool you. The SBA is a primary source of federal funds for long-term recovery of homeowners or renters.

The SBA's low-interest disaster loans of up to $200,000 can help qualified homeowners repair or replace damaged real estate. In addition, renters and homeowners may get up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged personal property. In both cases, these SBA loans are only for damages not covered by insurance.

After registering for federal assistance with FEMA, an applicant may automatically receive an application in the mail from SBA. Open it and complete the forms inside. It's a critical step in the recovery process. Whether or not one wants a low-interest loan, if he or she does not return the SBA application, the applicant may miss out on other assistance from FEMA.

Applicants must return the SBA loan application to be considered for other FEMA grants that cover personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses. Applicants do not need to repay these FEMA grants.

Applicants do not need to return the SBA application to be considered for eligibility for temporary housing assistance and FEMA grants for public transportation, medical, dental or burial expenses.

SBA customer service representatives are available to issue or accept low-interest disaster loan applications and answer questions at all Colorado/FEMA DRCs.

FEMA Mitigation Outreach - Free Advice on Rebuilding Stronger, Safer, Smarter

To help limit damage from future severe weather, FEMA mitigation specialists will be stationed in several locations to provide free rebuilding information Thursday, Oct. 17 through Tuesday, Oct. 22.

The Home Depot
1600 29th St.
Boulder, CO 80301
The Home Depot
393 S. Hover Road
Longmont, 80501
ACE Hardware
561 Lone Pine Drive
Estes Park, CO 80517
ACE Hardware
2626 11th Avenue, Unit A
Greeley, CO 80631


Hours of operation: Thursday – Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.to 5 p.m.; Monday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

As a business owner, protecting your building and your contents is vital to its survival. Only flood insurance covers flood damage. Visit your insurance agent for assistance on obtaining a flood insurance policy.

Follow Up-to-Date News

Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management support the needs of local government and partners with them before, during and after a disaster. The division enhances preparedness statewide by devoting available resources toward prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery, which will ensure greater resiliency of Colorado communities.


Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion8, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate's activities at twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.


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 U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property.  SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private, nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property.  These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants can go to www.sba.gov/disaster or call (800) 659-2955 (TTY 1-800-977-8339).