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Disaster Aid? Now There's an App for That |
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For the first time, survivors of a disaster will be able to apply for federal disaster assistance on their smart phones, making aid more immediately accessible. This new tool, created at the direction of FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, can be accessed directly at FEMA’s new mobile web site www.m.fema.gov. Financial assistance for disaster survivors becomes available when a disaster has been declared by the President, to include individual assistance.
On average, roughly 40 percent of disaster applicants complete applications online. More and more, when a disaster strikes, survivors are relying on their smart phones to stay in touch with friends and family. While computers and other means of applying for assistance may not be accessible for survivors right away, smart phones can help ensure that survivors have immediate resources and information at their fingertips. Smart phone models that will be able to access the new mobile platform include Blackberries, Apple iPhones, and Windows Mobile. |
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Pipeline Safety Information |
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 More than 225,000 miles of pipeline crisscross the entire State of Texas, including Galveston County. It is important for those who live and work near pipelines to be aware of their location and safety information. In Galveston County we are focused on planning and preparing citizens in our community for possible emergency situations. Although rare, pipeline incidents can occur and require a timely, coordinate response.
The Texas Pipeline Awareness Alliance (TPAA) is an organization focused on increasing public awareness about pipelines and pipeline safety. Visit their website at http://pipeline-safety.org to learn more about the pipelines near your home or business. |
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Farmers, Small Businesses Eligible for Disaster Loans |
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Galveston County farmers and small business owners are eligible to apply for low-interest disaster loans thanks to action by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The USDA action was related to drought, above-normal temperatures and associated wildfires between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2009. Details on the loan program, announced by Gov. Rick Perry to Galveston County Judge Jim Yarbrough in early July, are available through the local Farm Service Agency serving the Galveston County area.
The farm service office, serving Galveston and Brazoria counties, can be reached at (979) 849-9385, Ext. 2. The office is physically located at 209 East Mulberry St. in Angleton.
The drought, above-normal temperatures and associated wildfires during 2009 also have triggered the availability of disaster assistance for small businesses from the SBA in the form of capital loans. Deadline to apply is Dec. 14, 2010.
The loans carry an interest rate of 4% with a maximum term of 30 years, and are restricted to small businesses that lack the financial ability to offset the adverse impact of the disaster without hardship. Interested business owners may contact the SBA at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to
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Disaster Recovery is Focus of International Visit |
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An international delegation visited the Galveston County Emergency Management Facility June 14 to learn about best practices in emergency preparedness and disaster recovery.
The Galveston County emergency management staff discussed response and recovery efforts related to Hurricane Ike and provided a tour of the 27,500-square-foot emergency management facility at 1353 FM 646, including the Houston-Galveston office of the National Weather Service.
The visit included a demonstration of various software tools used by the NWS to develop forecasts and an overview of computer models that help forecasters predict where a hurricane may track.
The delegation, coordinated by the U.S. State Department under the International Visitor Leadership Program, included representatives of Central and South American nations as well as a number of Caribbean islands.
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