Check out this website for information on
Home Hazards to consider when addressing storm damages.
Home Hazards
FEMA REGISTRATION DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO NOVEMBER 15 - If you are a renter (business or residential) or property owner and have any property, personal property building or vehicle damage from resulting from Hurricane Irene, you must register with FEMA by this deadline. If you are not sure you qualify, call. Don’t miss the deadline!! Call 1800-621-3362.
SBA DISASTER LOANS - These loans are available to
residential and businesses. BSA staff are now located at the Hartford Municipal Building to help with questions and loan processing.
Joint Field Office
Burlington, VT
DR-4022-VT
Contact: Diego Alvarado
MaryEllen Mango
November 4, 2011
A Reminder to Vermonters — Be Aware of Disaster Fraud
Vermonters are urged to be alert for potential fraud during recovery and rebuilding efforts following Tropical Storm Irene. This protects the identity of the individuals, maintains a lower cost of rebuilding, and ensures the system is not over burdened with fraudulent cases.
Several legitimate persons including, insurance agents, FEMA Community Relations specialist, local inspectors and legitimate contractors, may have reason to visit a storm-damaged property to perform their duties. Survivors could however, encounter people posing as inspectors, government officials or contractors in a bid to obtain personal information or collect payment for repairing work.
The best strategy to protect yourself against fraud is to request to see the individual(s) identification to ensure the safeguard of your personal financial information.
Vermonters are reminded that all FEMA employees and contractors wear a laminated identification photo badge, visible to the public. A FEMA shirt or jacket alone; is not sufficient proof that someone works for the agency. FEMA inspectors may require verification of identity but, will not ask for personal financial information during a home inspection. FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) staff never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or for help filling out applications. FEMA inspectors verify damage, but do not recommend specific contractors.
FEMA is vigilant for scam artists who seek to take advantage of the disaster survivors by posing as building contractors, inspectors or experts who can help Vermonters get federal or state assistance. FEMA also takes the role as a steward of taxpayer dollars seriously, and actively pursues those who attempt to exploit taxpayers by filing faults disaster claims.
In an effort to bring fraud perpetrators to justice, we need help. Please report any known fraudulent activity, such as, filing false damage claims, or other instances of fraud, waste or abuse to the Vermont’s Attorney General’s Office; telephone 802-656-3183. In addition, FEMA maintains a disaster fraud hotline at 800-323-8603 for use by anyone wishing to report suspected incidents of fraud. Complaints may be made anonymously or the caller may request confidentiality.
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at the Burlington, VT Joint Field Office (JFO) at (571) 329.6510 or (571) 732.5543.
|
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders and 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 hazard.
___________________________________________
VISIT A RECOVERY CENTER
Should I go to a Disaster Recovery Center?
· If you have questions that you’d like to ask in person, you can visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC)
What can I do at a DRC?
· You can ask questions and get information from FEMA and other federal, state and volunteer agencies.
· You can check on the status of your FEMA application
· You can talk with someone about a letter you received from FEMA
To find the nearest DRC location, you call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 800-462-7585 or 711/Video Relay Service (VRS) 800-621-3362.
IMPORTANT: No cash, checks or vouchers are distributed at the centers.
www.fema.gov
1-800-621-3362 or hearing-impaired 1-800-462-7585
711/Video Relay Service 1-800-621-3362
DONATIONS
The town of Hartford has officially opened Hurricane Irene Relief Accounts. The Town of Hartford is now able to accept donations for specific categories:
*Please note, all donations are non-refundable and shall be expended at the same rate for restoration, repair, and/or replacement of related structures. If there are any residual funds, they will be retained for future residential housing and related expenses.
TOWN OF HARTFORD FLOOD VICTIM RESOURCES
(AVAILABLE AT NO COST)
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE – FEMA – TO BEGIN THE PROCESS
· CALL 800-621-3362
· Also call 211 (Residential) or 802-828-3211 (Business)
LISTEN - 60 Hanover Street, Lebanon, NH (603) 448-4553 or 1-800-263-1166
- Clothing
- Food
- Furniture
- Financial Resources
SEVCA - 220 Holiday Drive, Gilman Complex, White River Junction, VT (802) 295-5215
· Emergency Housing (Short Term and Long Term)
· Clothing
· Food
· Furniture
· Financial Resources
UPPER VALLEY HAVEN - 713 Hartford Avenue, Hartford, VT (802) 295-6500
COVER (802)_296-7241 x113
- Appliances
- Building Materials and Fixtures (all types)
OTHER
- Questions about FEMA Process –1-800-621-3362
- Architectural Assessment - George Turner - 802-299-9134
- Engineer Structural Assessment – Town Planning & Development Dept- 295-3075
- Information on Disaster Assistance for Businesses – Deb Eibner (SBDC) 295- 4230; Joan Goldstein (GMEDC) 295-3710
TOWN OFFICES
- Fire/Emergency Services - 295-3232
- Police - 295-9425
- Town Manager – 295-9353
- Parks and Recreation – 295-5036
- Public Works/Highways/Water /Sewer – 295-3622
- Planning and Development – 295-3075
TOWN OF HARTFORD WEBSITE UPDATES
Public Should Call 211 to Report Damage to Homes
Homeowners can begin making repairs to their homes as soon as they are able. Please take photos of your damage and keep all receipts for work performed. You should also keep any hotel receipts or any other housing expenses incurred while you were displaced.
FEMA inspectors are out in the field now assessing damage to homes. However, if you have not called 211 it is not too late, Vermont is early in the relief process and you have time to report your damage. 211 is a reporting point only and new contact information will be provided to register once a declaration has been made.
211 is now operating with a more call takers, if you get voice mail please leave a message and it will be returned in due course. Please DO NOT call 211 for road conditions. You can call 511 or go to vem.vermont.gov for links to local and state road closures. These maps are updated as soon as possible but repairs are constantly evolving so please be patient as the information could be out dated at any time.
All Vermont towns are now accessible by road. However, these roads are extremely rough so the public is asked to not visit flooded areas unless absolutely necessary. Excess traffic will make permanent repairs take much longer.
Vermont Emergency Management will operate its Emergency Operations Center at the FEMA offices in Burlington at least until the end of the week. Contact information for the media is 802-951-2708.
Businesses Asked to Call Agency of Commerce to Report Damage
BURLINGTON, VT – Businesses that have suffered damage in this week’s storms should call the Agency of Commerce disaster hotline at 802-828-3211 to report the damage.
Businesses could become eligible for disaster assistance from the Small Business Administration for storm damage, including loss of revenue due to the storm. Businesses should start to clean up now, making sure to take plenty of pictures and account for loss of revenue in order to eventually apply for assistance.
The first step in the recovery process is reporting damage to the Agency of Commerce at 802-828-3211.
Individual home owners should report their damage to 211.
Vermont Emergency Management will operate its Emergency Operations Center at the FEMA offices in Burlington at least until the end of the week. Contact information for the media is 802-951-2708.
-
Vermont Resources:
In order to get information to all Vermonters, we are working with the Democratic and Progressive parties to use the resources available to us to provide you with the latest information on resources. The following has been prepared by Speaker Shap Smith for House legislative members which we, in turn are providing to you. We hope that you will share this information with your families, friends and neighbors. We will also be sending information about how to sign up to be a volunteer and to make contributions to help Vermonters recover from this disaster and will continue to send updates as new information is available. Thank you.
Pat McDonald, Chair
Vermont Republican Party
(802) 223-3411 (work)
(802) 371-7080 (cell)
Reporting Damages
Vermonters who have property affected by the storm should report it to the state. There are several phone lines in addition to the 211 number now in operation. Please note that it is critical to acquiring recovery aid that a statewide inventory of the damage is taken. Also, if repairs are made by a property owner, it is important to take pictures of the damage, document the repairs and keep receipts for potential assistance.
Individuals: Individuals reporting property damage should call 211.
Businesses: Businesses should call the Agency of Commerce and Community Development at (ACCD) at 828-3211 to report damage which will be collated for VEM and FEMA. ACCD will also make referrals for financing and technical assistance. The information needed when businesses make the call is: name of business, location (complete address), description of damage, point of contact, date damage occurred. There are additional questions for historic properties.
Farms: To report damages to property including but not limited to barns, milking parlors, crops, fields, equipment, etc., call:
Organizations such as the Vermont Farm Bureau (802-434-5646) or NOFA Vermont (802-434-4122) can also be called. These organizations will send a summary of the information to the Agency of Agriculture which will forward it to VEM.
Farmers experiencing loss of crops due to flooding should contact their crop insurance agent as well as the USDA Farm Service Agency (802-658-2803).
Emergency Flood Assistance Program for Businesses
This program, administered by VEDA, is up and running. It will provide $10 million of very low interest, no first year payment, loans to businesses which suffered losses due to flooding. Interested businesses should go to VEDA's website (http://www.veda.org/) for more information.
Storm Recovery Resources
Vermont Emergency Management Website: This site includes the latest updates and helpful information: http://vem.vermont.gov.
Vermont Emergency Management Facebook Page:
Fuel Tanks: If you find a fuel tank on your property or floating in flood waters, please contact the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association at 802-223-7750 or info@vermontfuel.com.
Vermont Travel Information Services: For the latest information on road closures, call 511 or visit: http://www.511vt.com/.
Ride Share: This site is designed for commuters to find car pools, but can be a valuable asset for individuals whose cars are damaged or destroyed: http://www.connectingcommuters.org/.