FEMA assistance available for early May storm victims
FEMA offers assistance to May storm victims
Updated: 11:07 a.m. CDT July 28, 2022
PROVIDE. JASON: THANK YOU. BACK IN MAY, TORNADOES DEVASTATED PARTS OF OKLAHOMA, INCLUDING THE CITY OF SEMINOLE, LEAVING RESIDENTS BEHIND TO PICK UP THE PIECES. THIS RECOVERY IN THESE AFFECTED AREAS CONTINUES TODAY AS THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY OFFERS HELP TO THOSE IN NEED. JOIN ME NOW, JUAN AYALA, SUPERVISING CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS SPECIALIST WITH FEMA. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. >> THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING ME. JASON: YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE FIELD. CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE? >>THIS DISASTER STATEMENT WAS FOR INCIDENTS FROM MAY 2-8. THERE WAS MAJOR DAMAGE IN DOWNTOWN SEMINOLE AND MUSKOGEE AND TULSA. THERE IS A LOT OF DAMAGE. JASON: TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING ON THE FIELD WITH FEMA TO HELP THESE PEOPLE. >> FEMA HAS PROVIDED INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE IN SEVEN COUNTIES. FOR PEOPLE IN CHEROKEE, KOKOMO GAME, MUSKOGEE, TULSA, THEY CAN DOWNLOAD THE FEMA APP OR CALL US AND ASK FOR FEMA ASSISTANCE. WE PROVIDE PARENTAL ASSISTANCE AND HOME REPAIR ASSISTANCE. JASON: WHAT DOES THIS HELP LIKE? >> THIS IS PRIMARILY A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP YOU COMPLETE REPAIRS OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS YOU HAVE ALREADY MADE. IT HELPS COVER APARTMENT, HOUSE, AIRBNB RENTALS IF THEY CANNOT BE AT HOME. JASON: IT HAPPENED IN MAY. YOU ARE ON THE FIELD NOW. WHAT IS THE GAP? WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG? >> THERE IS A PRESIDENTIAL-LEVEL DISASTER DECLARATION PROCESS. IT REQUIRES DOCUMENTATION. THERE ARE DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS. FEMA CANNOT DUPLICATE INSURANCE BENEFITS. WE MUST OBTAIN AN ASSESSMENT OF INSURANCE COVERAGE HANDLING DAMAGES SUFFERED DURING A WEATHER EVENT. THE STATE MUST PROVIDE A FORMAL CLAIM WITH CAREFUL DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS, AND THE PRESIDENT MUST REVIEW AND APPROVE IT. ONCE THIS HAS OCCURRED, THESE INDIVIDUAL HELP PROGRAMS ARE ACTIVATED. JONATHAN: — JASON: IT’S A WHOLE PROCESS. YOU HAVE THESE DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS. WHO SHOULD HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS AND RECEIVE HELP? >> WE NOW HAVE SIX SITES IN SIX OF THE SEVEN COUNTIES. I THINK WE HAVE TO OPEN ANOTHER LOCATION IN CHEROKEE COUNTY. ANYONE WHO HAS SUFFERED DAMAGES AS A RESULT, TENANTS AND LANDLORDS AND BUSINESS OWNERS, THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION OFFERS DISASTER LOANS TO BUSINESSES AND LANDLORDS AND TENANTS. YOU CAN TALK TO FEMA AND SBA. IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED DAMAGE, FLOOD WATER, WINDS, YOU CAN COME TO OUR CENTERS AND TALK ABOUT YOUR SITUATION AND ASK FOR HELP AND GET HELP. JASON: WHAT TO BRING? DO YOU NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING ON HAND? >> YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY INFO, THEN THE DOCUMENTATION SHOWING YOU FROM DURANT – DOCUMENTATION SHOWING YOU OWN OR LEASE. JASON: YOU RESPECT COVID PROTOCOLS. PEOPLE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE PREPARED FOR THIS. >> IN COUNTIES THAT ARE NOW IN RED ZONES, OUR EMPLOYEES WEAR MAKEUP. WE ASKED SURVIVORS IF THEY WANT TO WEAR MASKS THEY DO. JASON: WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW? WHAT ELSE DO THEY NEED TO KNOW? >> IT IS IMPORTANT IF YOU HAVE HAD DAMAGE DURING A STORM, EVEN IF YOU HAVE ALREADY MADE REPAIRS, YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR FEMA ASSISTANCE. GO ONLINE TO DISASTERASSISTANCE.GOV AND ASK FOR HELP TO SEE WHAT YOU MAY NEED. FEMA IS NOT THE ENTIRE PACKAGE. WE ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR INSURANCE. IF YOU HAVE INSURANCE, YOU MUST APPLY FOR INSURANCE. WE CAN REFER YOU TO THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION FOR AN ADDITIONAL PACKAGE. JASON: WHAT IS THE MOOD IN THE AFFECTED AREAS? THERE IS A HUMAN ELEMENT TO THIS. WHAT DO YOU HEAR FROM PEOPLE? >> I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE MUSKOGEE TO GO OUT WITH DISASTER SURVIVOR RELIEF TEAMS WHO GO DOOR TO DOOR IN THE HARDEST AFFECTED NEIGHBORHOODS. I NEED TO SPEAK TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. THEY ARE RESILIENT. THEY ARE PROUD OKLAHOMANS. THEY ARE WORKING HARD TO RECOVER. JASON: I love hearing that. WHERE CAN PEOPLE GO IF THEY NEED MORE INFORMATION? ONCE AGAIN. >> THEY CAN GO TO DISASTERASSISTANCE.GOV, DOWNLOAD THE FEMA APP OR CALL US. JASON: THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT’S APPRECIATED. YOU ARE HELPING MANY LIVES.
FEMA assistance available for early May storm victims
FEMA offers assistance to May storm victims
Updated: 11:07 a.m. CDT July 28, 2022
FEMA is offering assistance to those affected by the early May storms in Oklahoma. Juan Ayala, FEMA’s Congressional Affairs Specialist, spoke with KOCO about what assistance is available and who can help. request. Click on the video player above for the full interview.
FEMA is offering assistance to those affected by the early May storms in Oklahoma.
Juan Ayala, the congressional affairs specialist with FEMA, spoke with KOCO about the help available and who can apply for it.
Click on the video player above for the full interview.