E-News Update
This E-News Update is created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Private Sector Function operating out of the Joint Field Office in 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, best practices and topics of interest.
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Federal Assistance as of October 1, 2013
• Registrations for Individual Assistance………………………………….......
• Approved Individual Assistance....................
• SBA disaster loans approved……………………………………………..………
Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in a designated county can begin applying for assistance by registering online atwww.DisasterAssistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov or call 1-800-621-3362 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. (Mountain Time) 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 .
Designated Counties for Individual Assistance:
Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Clear Creek, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, Logan, and Weld.
FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs)
Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) services include help with applying for disaster assistance and finding out about other disaster recovery programs available from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), state and local agencies, and voluntary organizations. Residents must apply with FEMA even if they already provided damage information to local officials, other agencies or organizations.
To find DRCs closest to you, please visit the DRC Locator.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Business Recovery Centers (BRCs)
SBA and the Colorado Small Business Development Center network have opened Business Recovery Centers in four locations in addition to the State/FEMA/SBA DRC’s. The centers are specifically designed to provide financial and counseling services, as well as disaster recovery help to small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations. No appointment is necessary and there is no cost. Highly trained specialists and consultants are available to help impacted business owners review all options and make important decisions about their future operations.
To find a complete list of locations, please visit SBA Business Recovery Centers.
For more information about SBA’s low-interest disaster loans, go to www.sba.gov/disaster.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
The Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program provides unemployment benefits and re-employment services to individuals who have become unemployed as a direct result of Colorado’s severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides in the designated counties.
These benefits are made available to individuals not covered by other unemployment compensation programs. DUA may cover self-employed, farmers, migrant and seasonal workers, and those who have insufficient work quarters to qualify for other unemployment compensation.
All unemployed individuals must register with the state’s employment services office before they can receive DUA benefits. Unemployed individuals may also call 303-318-9300 (TTY 303-318-9016) in the Denver metro area. Outside the Denver area, call 800-388-5515 (TTY 800-894-7730).
Beware of Disaster-Related Fraud
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urges Colorado residents affected by the recent disaster to be alert for potential fraud and to keep these points in mind:
• Government workers, including FEMA, will never ask for a fee or payment.
• Residents should ask to see the worker’s official government photo ID.
• There is no fee for FEMA or U.S. Small Business Administration property damage inspections.
• FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration do not charge fees for information regarding filling out the SBA loan applications. Free assistance is available by calling SBA’s toll-free number, 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339).
• When working with private contractors, make sure the contract clearly states who will obtain the necessary permits. Consider having a lawyer review the contract if substantial costs are involved. Keep a copy of the signed contract.
Anyone with knowledge or suspicion of fraudulent activities may call the FEMA toll-free Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or contact your local law enforcement officials.
Contracting with the State and Federal Government
• Businesses interested in contracting with the State of Colorado to aid the flood impacted areas should visit the Colorado Office of Emergency Management.
• For businesses interested in contracting with FEMA, the Industry Liaison Program has created a process to ensure that information is routed to the appropriate FEMA contracting professional.
• Submit a FEMA Vendor Profile to the Industry Liaison Support Center (ILSC) at FEMA-Industry@dhs.gov.
• Register with the System for Award Management (SAM), the primary market research tool for contracting officers. Visit the SAM website or call 1-866-606-8220 to register.
For specific contracting concerns and guidance during this process, please contact the ILSC at 202-646-1895 or FEMA-Industry@dhs.gov.
Follow Up-to-Date News
Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management supports the needs of local government and partners with them before, during and after a disaster and to enhance preparedness statewide by devoting available resources toward prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery, which will ensure greater resiliency of our communities.
For more information: Twitter @COEmergency, Facebook: COEmergency, www.coemergency.com and www.CORecovers.info
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.
