Disaster Recovery News

Tropical Storm Kyle is becoming organized in a way that has meteorologist thinking this storm might form into a hurricane as it moves north. Click here to read an article about this system from The Weather Chanel. This storm has affected areas as far south as Bermuda and as far north as New York. If the perfect mixes of high and low pressures are involved, Kyle could turn into a hurricane overnight. Areas as far north as New Brunswick, Canada will feel the storm’s rage as winds, surf, and rain fall levels are expected to be dangerously high.

Tropical storm warnings and watches are in place in New England and parts of southern Canada. People in the coastal ranges are advised to closely monitor the latest forecast updates in preparation for the storm. If the storm were to move more to the west, the impact and devastation could be worse in parts of Maine.

Click here to track Tropical Storm Kyle’s progress.

Click here for more information about disaster recovery.

For Federal assistance, please visit FEMA’s website.

President Bush declared Florida a state of emergency and requested federal aid be granted for the state as Tropical Storm Fay continues to cause millions of dollars of flood damage and infrastructure failure. The disaster relief provided by the federal government is meant to help alleviate the suffering caused by the emergency as well as aid in protecting property and public health.

FEMA has already sent out assistance in the form of meals, supplies and emergency response teams. Additionally, the US Coast Guard and US Army Corps of Engineers have sent teams to help those stranded by flood waters.

Read more on the Florida Declaration

As fires threatened the town of Florence, specifically its Pecan Ranch Subdivision, the State of Texas reached out to the Federal Government for aid in helping fight the flames before fires damaged residential areas. FEMA responded with approval to use federal funds to help pay 75% of the governments firefighting costs as part of an approved grant for controlling designated fires. The fire covers approximately 1,500 acres.

“Fires like this show how critical it is for firefighters to receive the support they need to protect the public,” said FEMA regional administrator William Peterson in its press release.

Read more on preventing fire damage to your home and belongings.

FEMA announced it would provide federal Public Assistance to Wabash and Wayne Counties in Indiana to help pay for emergency services and repairs to public facilities. The state was hit hard by storms, tornadoes and flooding during the month of June. The addition of these two counties brings the total counties receiving federal Public Assistance to 43.

Public Assistance is made available to local governments and some nonprofit organizations to aid in the rebuilding or replacement of public infrastructures. In some cases, the assistance also includes aid in the replacement or restoration of federal entity contents, including documentation, equipment and books. The categories govered by the assistance varies depending on the nature of the disaster and the severity.

More on disaster recovery services for documents.

FEMA announced on Friday that it will add six Texas counties to its list of eligible areas for disaster assistance. The federal funding is provided to aid with repairs, restoration, reconstruction and replacement of public facilities and their contents, roads, bridges, water facilities, parks and other public infrastructures damaged by Hurricane Dolly.

Brooks, Cameron, Hidalgo, Kenedy, Starr and Willacy counties are all now eligible for all categories of federal Public Assistance in addition to qualifying for Individial Assistance. By being added to this program, the county governments and some non-profit organizations are now eligible to receive 75% of the funds needed to complete disaster recovery efforts on these infrastructures.

Representatives in these counties that would like to learn more are encouraged to contact the Texas Governor’s Division of Emergency Management.

Read More