Hurricane Help For Seniors And Those With Special Needs
Release Date: October 19, 2004
Release Number: 1539-211
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- Assistance for senior citizens and those with special needs, in the form of counseling and help filling out paperwork, may be available for Florida residents who have been affected by any of the four hurricanes that impacted the state in August and September.
Friends, neighbors, relatives, and community groups can help them obtain that assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Florida State Emergency Response Team (SERT).
“Stress caused by this series of storms is especially hard for many seniors,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Bill Carwile. “Their health may even be endangered. From reports received, it’s clear that a large number of older citizens have not registered for disaster assistance. FEMA and SERT—and we hope family, friends and neighbors—will take the initiative to ensure that senior citizens and those with special needs are not left out of the disaster recovery process.”
Some may need help in registering for disaster assistance. Technology such as an automated touch-tone telephone option challenges everyone at times, but elderly citizens may experience additional complications. If someone has a hearing disability, it can compound confusion. They may also need transportation to the Disaster Recovery Center to complete necessary forms.
Some seniors may hesitate to complete an application form for a Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loan, but must do so to keep the door open for other types of assistance. If a loan is not appropriate, the applicant can be referred to the Other Needs Assistance (ONA) grant program—but only after being declined by SBA. They cannot apply directly to the ONA program. Therefore, those who do not complete an SBA loan application may be disqualifying themselves for other types of assistance. The applicant is not obligated to take an SBA loan if approved, but if the loan is offered and refused, there is no referral to grant programs.
Some may also hesitate to apply for assistance because they are concerned they may be forced to move from their home into a nursing home or travel trailer. Therefore, they choose to stay in familiar surroundings even though their home is damaged. They will not be required to leave their home against their will. Another occasional misconception is that they must repay assistance awarded in the form of a grant, but FEMA and state grants do not require repayment.
Following a disaster seniors are often separated from their usual community and support groups, which further compounds communication and transportation challenges. Family, friends and neighbors are encouraged to take a personal interest in the welfare of those with special needs and to offer help and transportation as needed. They can reassure the victim that he or she won’t be forced to move and that an assistance grant does not have to be repaid. If crisis counseling appears to be necessary they can dial 1-866-518-1825, the toll-free number for Project Hope, the Florida Department of Children and Families crisis counseling program. That number is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The first step in registering for disaster assistance is to call the FEMA toll-free registration number 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585 for those with hearing or speech impairment. Phone lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until further notice. The applicant will receive a registration number, which tracks them through the recovery process. That process is individually handled if they are identified as having special needs according to set criteria.
The next step for an applicant with special needs is to complete and sign an “Authorization to Release Confidential Information.” A total of 43 FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers, staffed by experts, are in convenient locations around the state to help them complete the release form, which satisfies privacy laws so that eligibility for various kinds of disaster assistance may be determined. Community Relations workers and housing inspectors also have the forms, and actively seek out people who need help completing them.
Information provided during these first two steps automatically triggers the third and final stage of individual assistance to seniors with special needs. “FEMA and the State of Florida work closely with each identified individual to smooth the process of getting the help needed,” said State Coordinating Officer Craig Fugate. “That help can take the form of loans, grants, or help in contacting voluntary agencies such as the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, and a multitude of other volunteer and faith-based groups.”
The State Emergency Response Team (SERT) is a collaboration of Florida’s state agencies led by the state coordinating officer. SERT’s mission is to ensure that Florida is prepared to respond to emergencies, recover from them, and mitigate their impact. Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org for the latest information on the hurricane relief effort.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Voluntary and Government Agencies Responding to Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne
Family, friends and neighbors who wish to assist elderly or special-needs storm survivors may find the following list of telephone numbers helpful.
FEMA Registration number (First step for assistance) 800-621-FEMA (3362)
TTY for Hearing Impaired 800-462-7585
American Red Cross (Helpline) 866-438-4636
The Salvation Army (Emergency needs) 800-725-2769
Southern Baptist Relief-North (Emergency needs) 407-846-7849
Southern Baptist Relief-South (Emergency needs) 941-429-6881
Hunger Hotline (Resources for food) 800-329-3663
America’s Second Harvest (http://www.Americassecondharvest.org, food) 800-771-2303
Blue Roof Tarp Program (Install roof tarps) 800-766-3258
Florida Hurricane Housing Hotline (for emergency housing needs) 888-472-1727
Florida Department of Elder Affairs (Information and referral) 800-963-5337
Area Agency on Aging (check your local listing)
Florida Dept. of Children and Families Project HOPE (Crisis counseling) 866-518-1825
Small Business Administration Helpline (SBA Loans for applicants) 800-359-2227
Social Security Administration (Information on programs) 800-772-1213
IRS (website: http://www.irs.gov, tax information) 800-829-1040
U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (Information and referral) 800-827-1000
Florida Consumer Helpline (Consumer Protection Division) 800-342-2762
Florida State Attorney General (to report price gouging) 800-646-0444
Florida Agricultural and Consumer Gouging Hotline 800-435-7352
FEMA Fraud Detection (Report fraud) 800-323-8603
Disaster Legal Services (legal assistance as a result of the hurricanes) 866-550-2929
Florida Department of Insurance (Claims Problems) 800-227-8676
Florida Child Care (Resource and referral) 888-352-4453
Florida Pets/Animal Care (Information and referral) 850-921-0326
Florida State Volunteer and Donations Management Hotline 800-354-3571
Florida Department of Transportation (Information on road closures) 800-342-3557
Florida Power and Light (Power outage information) 800-468-8243
Progress Energy (Customer relations, payment location information) 800-700-8744
Orlando Utilities Commission (Customer service) 407-423-9018
Last Modified: Tuesday, 19-Oct-2004 16:49:39