Storm
Recovery: All county provided services are dependant upon the
severity of the storm.
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Emergency
Responders will be focused on search and rescue and damage
assessments.
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The County
will begin setting up distribution centers for commodities such
as water, dry ice, food, etc. depending upon the severity of the
storm. To see the possible places for distribution refer to your
CARE Guide map or look at the online
Emergency Preparedness Map of the County. Not all of the
sites listed will be used. To see which centers are open refer
to
During the Storm.
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Depending
upon the severity of the storm state and federal agencies will
begin providing food, water and ice to areas that can be reached
at request of the county. County crews will begin clearing
streets of debris so that emergency vehicles, work crews and
civilian vehicles can get through.
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When the
area is stabilized, long term recovery begins with business
restoration, building repairs and interim long-term housing for
those who lost homes.
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In the
months that follow, state and federal governments will set up
sites to take insurance and financial aid claims such as
long-term housing, and loans for reconstruction and small
business.
File Insurance
Claims
You may need to access the coverage of both your homeowners and
automobile policies to put things back together. Be sure to:
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Report
property damage to your insurance agent immediately. Your agent
should provide you with claim forms and arrange for an insurance
adjuster to visit your property and assess the damage.
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Make
emergency or temporary repairs and document them. Keep all
receipts and take photographs of the damages, before and after
an emergency repair, to submit your claim.
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If the
damages require you to leave your home, secure your property,
remove valuable items, lock windows and doors and leave contact
information with your insurance agent.
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Check with
the Land Use and Growth Management to determine if repairs
require a permit.
Know Your Rights
Criminals may prey on your vulnerability after a storm. Know your
rights as a consumer and don’t let your eagerness to make repairs
leave you a victim.
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Be cautious
of anyone coming to your home uninvited and offering to do home
repairs.
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Be alert to
individuals canvassing your neighborhood in an unmarked van or
truck.
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Insist on a
written estimate and get estimates from several companies.
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Be sure the
contract or business card has an address, telephone number and
license numbers.
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Ask for
references and check them out.
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Insist on
start and completion dates in the contract.
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Do not pay
the final balance for work performed until it is completed to
your satisfaction.
Assistance from Disaster Relief Agencies
The
Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) may establish
a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). The center will be kept open and
running as long as necessary to serve the public. The Public
Information Office will disseminate information on the DRC’s
location, hours of operation and types of assistance. Depending on
the storm’s severity, assistance may include:
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Temporary
housing
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Low interest
small business loans
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Unemployment
assistance
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Individual
and family grants
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Crisis
counseling
Links to the primary disaster assistance sites nationwide:
FEDERAL RESOURCES
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA Phone Registration:
• 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
• TTY 1-800-462-7585 (speech & hearing impaired)
US
Small Business Administration (SBA)
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
US
Department of Homeland Security
USDA Agricultural Disaster Assistance
STATE RESOURCES
Maryland Emergency
Management Agency
OTHER RESOURCES
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Business
owners can apply for low-interest loans from the U.S. Small
Business Administration (SBA) to cover losses not fully
compensated by insurance. To apply for Small Business
Administration loans, call the SBA Helpline at 1-800-359-2227 or
go to www.sba.gov/disaster_recov/hurricane.html.
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For
assistance with relocation or the aftermath of storm damage,
contact the American Red Cross
www.redcross.org for information.
