Get insured — don’t let flooding wash away your savings  AUSTIN, Texas — Hurricane season began this month, bringing an increased likelihood of heavy rains and storm surge. If a hurricane strikes, you may not be able to prevent your home from flooding. But you can prevent flooding from ruining your finances. “I would be bankrupt, and I would have lost everything,” said Cynthia Frank, who sells real estate and manages vacation rental properties in Port Aransas, which was devastated by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. “It would have been really bad [without...

Oklahoma City, OK – State, tribal and federal emergency management officials encourage disaster survivors to begin repairs as soon as they can.  Flood survivors do not need to wait for a visit from the Federal Emergency Management Agency or their insurance company to start cleaning up and make repairs. FEMA inspectors and insurance claims adjusters will be able to verify flood damage even after cleaning has begun. It’s important for survivors to take photographs of damage and keep recovery-related receipts. Insurance companies and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) may need both...

Oklahoma City, OK – Seven additional counties have been designated for disaster assistance aspart of Oklahoma’s federal disaster declaration for severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding, that began May 7, 2019 and continuing. This announcement brings the total number of counties designated for Individual Assistance to 10 with today's addition of Canadian, Creek, Logan, Osage, Ottawa, Rogers and Washington counties. Other counties previously designated for individual assistance are Muskogee, Tulsa and Wagoner. Individual Assistance for homeowners and renters can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious...

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Donald J. Trump's disaster declaration issued for the state of Arkansas.Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable.  Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters.  Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements.  (Source: FEMA funded...

WASHINGTON – FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Arkansas to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms and flooding beginning on May 21, 2019 and continuing.The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Conway, Crawford, Faulkner, Jefferson, Perry, Pulaski, Sebastian, and Yell counties.  Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of...