Texas
Interagency Interfaith Disaster Response
e-Buzz
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11 July 2007
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Friends,
We have a lot of information in this edition of the eBuzz. The
American Red Cross is looking for volunteers to participate
in a drill related to emergency sheltering and volunteers. The
drill is tomorrow, and they would be happy for anyone
interested to participate.
FEMA designated several nearby counties as disaster areas in
the aftermath of the recent flooding. We have some more
details on that, along with helpful information for anyone
who wishes to register with FEMA. If you know someone
who was affected by the flooding, please encourage them to
register with FEMA and explore the resources available.
As I drove through Marble Falls, I noticed a gas station sign
and a Sonic sign had the same message: "Thank you Volunteers!" The
people in that area are so grateful for all of the work that
volunteers have done to facilitate the process of returning
to normal. At TIDR, we are thankful that we have a great
group of volunteers to call upon not only when disaster strikes,
but also when we respond to the aftermath. We may have
more opportunities to volunteer next week. Are you ready
to step up and serve?
Peace,
Amy
Amy BeVille Elder, M.Div.
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Participate
in the American Red Cross Volunteer Drill!
On July 12, there
will be a drill on the American Red Cross Volunteer Recourse
Center Plan. The drill will start at 1:00 and end
around 4:00 PM. The Red Cross needs volunteers to be processed
through the model.
The goal is for the Red Cross to efficiently and effectively
deploy spontaneous volunteers to staff the shelters.
Anyone interested should email Kim
Landry at klandry@centex.redcross.org or
call her at 512-929-1200.
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FEMA
Designates 11 Additional Counties for Individual Assistance
WACO, Texas -- The Department of
Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) announced today that 11 additional counties are
now eligible for individual assistance to help homeowners,
renters and businesses recover from the effects of the
recent severe storms, tornadoes and flooding.
Archer, Bell, Burnet, Eastland, Hood, Parker, Starr, Victoria,
Webb, Wichita and Williamson counties have been added to the
June 29th, 2007, major disaster declaration.
"
This decision was made possible when the incident period for
the June 29th, 2007 major disaster declaration was extended to
include continuing damages from ongoing circumstances," said
Joan Haun, state coordinating officer for the Governor's Division
of Emergency Management (GDEM). "The state requested the declaration
adjustment for Individual Assistance due to extensive flooding
that has occurred since the initial disaster declaration."
The announcement makes a total of 17 counties now eligible for
individual assistance. Cooke, Coryell, Denton, Grayson, Lampasas
and Tarrant Counties were included in the original declaration.
Residents who suffered damages in any of these 17 designated
counties should register with FEMA.
"
These counties were designated for individual assistance following
a review of preliminary damage data gathered by state and federal
disaster recovery officials," said Kenneth Clark, FEMA's Federal
Coordinating Officer. "We want to make sure the residents in
these communities have access to all available resources to help
them through the recovery process."
Individual Assistance can include grants to help pay for temporary
housing, home repairs and other disaster-related expenses not
met by insurance or other aid programs. Low-interest loans from
the U.S. Small Business Administration also will be available
to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated
by insurance.
Those who suffered damage from the severe storms, tornadoes,
and flooding are encouraged to register online at www.fema.gov or
call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the hearing-and
speech-impaired. The toll-free numbers are available from 8 a.m.
to 6 p.m. (local time) Monday thru Sunday until further notice.
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.
More
information on Texas Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
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Information
on FEMA Applications, Assistance and Eligibility
- One application for assistance may be
made per household unless the household has been separated
by the disaster.
- Household means all persons (adults
and children) who lived in the pre-disaster residence
as well as any persons or part-time residents who were
not present at the time of the disaster, but are expected
to return during the assistance period. The household
is based on those persons, including infants and children,
who are living together, not on their familial relationships.
What
are FEMA's citizenship/immigration requirements?
- You must be a U.S.
Citizen, Non-Citizen National, or a Qualified Alien in
order to be eligible for FEMA cash assistance programs:
Individuals and Households Program Assistance and
Disaster Unemployment Assistance.
- A Qualified Alien includes anyone with
legal permanent residence (green card).
- You will be asked to sign a Declaration
and Release (FEMA Form 90-69 B) that you are a U.S.
Citizen, Non-Citizen National, or a Qualified Alien.
- If you cannot sign the Declaration and
Release, another
adult household member who is eligible can sign it
and no information
regarding your status will be gathered.
- If
you cannot sign the Declaration and Release but you
have a minor child who is a U.S. Citizen or a Qualified
Alien residing with
you [not necessarily related to you], you
can apply for assistance on your [the] child's behalf
and no information regarding your status will be
gathered. You will be asked to sign a declaration
that your [the] child is a U.S. Citizen, Non-Citizen
National, or a Qualified Alien.
- You do not have to be a U.S. Citizen
or a Qualified Alien for Crisis Counseling or Disaster
Legal Services or for other short-term, non-cash emergency
assistance.
If
I am an undocumented immigrant, am I eligible for assistance
for disaster-related needs?
- Yes, you may be eligible under many
different programs run by state and local agencies
and voluntary agencies for various types of cash assistance.
If
I am an undocumented immigrant, am I eligible for any assistance
from FEMA?
- You may be eligible for short-term,
non-cash, emergency aid provided by FEMA.
- You will not be personally eligible
for FEMA cash assistance programs (Individuals and
Households Program Assistance); however, you may apply
on behalf of your U.S. citizen child, or another adult
household member may qualify the household for assistance.
- Even if you or your family does not
qualify for FEMA cash assistance (Individuals and Households
Program Assistance), please call FEMA at 1-800-621-3362
or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY for hearing/speech-impaired)
for information and to be referred to other programs
that can assist you regardless of your immigration
status.
If
I am an undocumented immigrant, can I apply on behalf of
my child who was born in the United States?
- You can apply on behalf of your minor
child (under 18 years of age) for FEMA cash assistance
(Individuals and Households Program Assistance) if
you live together.
- You will not have to provide any information
on your immigration status or sign any documents regarding
your status.
Do
I need a Social Security Number to register for FEMA cash
assistance (Individual and Households Program Assistance)?
- If you are applying on your minor child's
behalf, you should provide his/her Social Security
Number.
If
I have a Social Security Number, am I eligible for FEMA cash
assistance (Individuals and Households Program Assistance)
as a "Qualified Alien"?
- Not necessarily, because having a Social
Security Number does not automatically mean that you
are a Qualified Alien. You may be legally present in
the U.S. and have a Social Security Number, but not
be a Qualified Alien.
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Hurricane
Katrina Case Managers Meeting
The next Case Managers meeting is Wednesday,
July 18. It will be held at the United
Way, 2000 MLK Jr. Blvd. We will start at 9:00 am.
After the meeting, Shawn Lemieux will host a workshop entitiled "Road
to Recovery and Resiliency--Disaster & Crisis Intervention
Workshop: Facilitating Psycho-Social Reconstruction." The
workshop may already be full, but for more information,
contact Shawn Lemieux at (512) 382-8618.
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