Hurricane Irene

[Michael Atkins]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Office of Senator Hagan <Hagan_Ne...@hagan.senate.gov>
Date: Sat, Sep 10, 2011 at 8:45 AM
Subject: Hurricane Irene
To: playe...@cs.com

Important Information About Hurricane Irene Relief Assistance

In This Edition: Important Information About Hurricane Relief Assistance Assistance for Families and Individuals Assistance for Businesses Assistance for Farmers Preperation Surveying the Damage Thanks Emergency Responders From Kay We all have a lot of work ahead of us to quickly address the urgent needs of communities across eastern North Carolina. I observed with my own eyes the damage Irene inflicted. Our North Carolina farmers, fishermen and small business owners were particularly hard hit. Everywhere I went, I saw emergency workers, volunteer organizations, and members of the community helping families, businesses, and entire communities recover and rebuild. This is truly the North Carolina spirit at work. And while the affects of this storm were disastrous for North Carolina, they would have been much greater without the efforts of so many to prepare our state in advance of the hurricane. I continue to work with the White House, Governor Perdue, the federal Cabinet agencies, and our emergency managers on the ground to ensure all of our affected communities get back on their feet as soon as possible. Sincerely,

How to Apply for Federal Assistance Senator Hagan with Red Cross volunteers in Craven County The Federal Government has set up a website that allows people to apply for assistance online: http://www.disasterassistance.gov This website consolidates the application process across several Federal agencies, including FEMA and the Small Business Administration. The website also reduces the number of forms you will ultimately have to fill out, shortens the time it takes to apply and allows you to check the progress of your applications online. If you want to apply by phone rather than the Internet, you can call 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362). Individuals seeking assistance with hurricane recovery should contact Senator Hagan's office at 877-852-9462 ext. 13 or online at www.hagan.senate.gov. The President has signed disaster declarations that approve individual and public federal recovery assistance funding for several North Carolina counties affected by Irene. Individual Assistance: Beaufort, Bertie, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Johnston, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, Vance, Warren, Washington, and Wilson Counties. Public Assistance: Beaufort, Bertie, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Greene, Halifax, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, Wayne, and Wilson Counties. Federal Assistance for Families and Individuals Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are uninhabitable. Disaster loans up to $200,000 for homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property. Grants to replace personal property and help to meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs. Unemployment payments for up to 26 weeks from the date of the disaster declaration for workers who temporarily lose jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits (for example, self-employed individuals). Emergency Food Stamps available through Department of Social Services’ offices in Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Dare, Halifax, Hyde, Lenior, Pamlico, and Tyrrell counties. Federal Assistance for Businesses Small businesses under the disaster declaration are eligible for both Physical Damage Loans and Economic Injury Loans from the SBA. Hagan meets with a citizen volunteer in downtown Manteo Click here for more information and to see if your small business or private non-profit organization is eligible for SBA Disaster Relief Loans. Businesses and private non-profit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Federal Assistance for Farmers North Carolina's agricultural industry, which employs one fifth of our state's workers, was particularly hard hit. Preliminary reports indicate that crop losses could exceed $325 million. Hagan with Gov. Perdue and Sec. Napolitano Hagan joined the U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture and Homeland Security and Governor Bev Perdue for a tour of the extensive damage in agriculture areas. Hagan impressed upon Secretaries Napolitano and Vilsack the need for immediate and sustained federal assistance. Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residences are available online through the Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture or by phone at (919) 875 - 4800. For Insurance coverage through USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA) Visit RMA Web site. The noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) provides financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory or prevented planting occurs due to natural disasters. Click here for details. The Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) Program provides financial assistance for crop production and or quality losses due to a natural disaster. Click here for details. Preparation Hagan at New Bern Emergency Operations Center Senator Hagan monitored the progression of Hurricane Irene closely. She received briefings and updates on preparation efforts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as well as the Governor and local officials. When Governor Perdue requested emergency federal assistance, Senator Hagan supported her request by petitioning the White House. A copy of Hagan's letter can be found here. The declaration signed by the President in advance of Hurricane Irene provides federal assistance to 34 counties in eastern North Carolina to help cover the costs of emergency protective measures for local governments. Assessing Support Needs Following Hurricane Irene, Senator Hagan toured devastated communities to see and hear first hand the recovery and rebuilding needs of North Carolinians. Hagan traveled through Beaufort, Craven, Dare, Pitt, Tyrell, and Washington counties. Hagan surveys damage on Highway 12 Along Highway 12, Hagan visited with communities challenged with reclaiming their flood-ravaged shops and homes. Hagan toured eastern North Carolina farmland facing numerous setbacks and devastated crop returns. In Tyrell County, Hagan met with families whose homes were swept away by the tornado that preceded the Hurricane. At East Carolina University, Hagan met with administrators who pointed to over a million dollars of repairs they need to make. Senator Hagan continues to work with Governor Perdue and local emergency managers to obtain all needed federal assistance. This week the Greenville Reflector ran an opinion piece by Senator Hagan highlighting the need for adequate disaster relief funding to meet the budgetary shortfalls facing disaster relief efforts this year and next. Hagan also sent a letter to the leadership of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee calling for sufficient disaster relief funds for all U.S. communities devastated by natural disasters. A copy of that letter is available here. Thank You Our Emergency Responders Hagan with Terry Hall, Incident Commander for the NC Baptist Men, who are assisting with relief efforts Agencies and volunteer organizations joining in emergency response and relief efforts include the North Carolina National Guard, North Carolina Emergency Management, the Division of Forest Resources, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the Governor's Office, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the U.S. Coast Guard, FEMA, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the North Carolina Baptist Men, Hearts With Hands and so many others. "I experienced an overwhelming sense of community in the outpouring of citizen volunteers eager to get their neighbors back on their feet," said Hagan.

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