As Hoosiers repair or rebuild their homes damaged by the flooding and severe storms that occurred Feb 14-March 4, 2018, FEMA and Lowe’s Home Improvement store in Evansville have teamed up to provide information, tips, and literature on making homes stronger and safer.

Federal Emergency Management Agency mitigation specialists will be on hand beginning Thursday, June 14, to answer questions and offer home improvement tips along with proven methods to prevent or reduce damage from future disasters as well as offer tips and techniques to build hazard-resistant homes. Most of the information and the free publications provided are geared for do-it-yourself work and general contractors.Recovery topics to be covered include flood insurance, elevating utilities and rebuilding flooded homes.

FEMA advisors will be available during the following days and hours:

 

Monday, June 18                                           8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tuesday, June 19                                          8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

They will be at the following location:

Lowe’s Home Improvement
6716 Oak Grove Road
Evansville, IN 47715

Free reference booklets with information on protecting a home from flood damage will be available. More information about strengthening property can be found at www.fema.gov/what-mitigation.

If you need to file for a loan, you are encouraged to apply online using SBA’s electronic loan application at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

You can still get help after the center closes by going online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov/; calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service. If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585. Helpline numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, (6 a.m. to 9 p.m. CT), seven days a week.You also maydownload the FEMA app for smartphones.

The deadline to register with FEMA is Thursday, July 5, 2018, so if you haven’t registered, do so as soon as possible.

If you have registered, you are encouraged to keep in touch with FEMA by calling the Helpline with any questions. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but if you are underinsured you may receive help after your claim has been settled.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) helps businesses, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. If you need help completing your loan application call the SBA at 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339) or send an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

You are encouraged to apply online using SBA’s electronic loan application at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

The deadline to apply for an SBA loan is also Thursday, July 5, 2018.

For more information on Indiana’s recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4363 or the@FEMARegion5 Twitter account.

 

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