Day 33

Disaster Recovery Centers

Two Disaster Recovery Centers remain open in Nebraska to provide information about FEMA and other disaster assistance programs, help you apply for them and answer questions about your case. If more convenient, you may also visit Iowa centers in Harlan or Minden.

 Apply for Assistance

• Apply with FEMA online or by phone before visiting a Disaster Recovery Center by:
• Visiting DisasterAssistance.gov
• Calling FEMA directly at 800-621-FEMA (3362)
• Using the FEMA app
• Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service. For an accessible video on three ways to apply for FEMA assistance, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU7wzRjByhI.
• If you need help completing your application, see FEMA staff at any Disaster Recovery Center.
• Only one registration per household is needed. When you apply, please have the following information available:
• Address with ZIP code
• Condition of your damaged home
• Basic list of your property damage, losses and needs
• Insurance information, if you have insurance, including the policy number
• Social Security number of one member of the household
• Phone number where you can be contacted
• An email address or physical address where you can get mail
• Bank account information for direct deposit of funds

FEMA offers a variety of help for Nebraska tornado survivors

FEMA can provide money to eligible applicants for help with serious needs, paying for a temporary place to live, home repairs and other needs not covered by insurance. This money does not have to be repaid and may include:

• Serious Needs: Money for lifesaving and life-sustaining items, including water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, breastfeeding supplies, diapers, consumable medical supplies, durable medical equipment, personal hygiene items and fuel for transportation. Serious Needs Assistance is available for survivors who apply during the first 30 days after a disaster is declared.
• Displacement Assistance: Money to help with housing needs if you cannot return to your home because of the disaster. The money can be used to stay in a hotel, with family and friends or other options while you look for a rental unit.
• Home Repair or Replacement: Money to help you repair or replace your home damaged by the disaster. The money can also help with pre-existing damage to parts of your home where the disaster caused further damage.
• Rental Assistance: Money to rent housing if you are displaced from your home because of the disaster.
• Personal Property: Money to help you repair or replace appliances, room furnishings, and a personal or family computer damaged by the disaster. This can also include money for books, uniforms, tools, additional computers and other items required for school or work, including self-employment.
• Child Care: Money to help you pay for increased or child care expenses caused by the disaster.
• Transportation: Money to help you repair or replace a vehicle damaged by the disaster when you don’t have another vehicle you can use.
• Moving and Storage Expenses: Money to help you move and store personal property from your home to prevent additional damage.

IRS announces relief for taxpayers affected by tornadoes, wind, storms

The Internal Revenue Service has announced tax relief for individuals and businesses in Nebraska that were affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that began April 25. These taxpayers have until Sept. 3 to file various federal individual/business tax returns and make tax payments.

The federal disaster declaration permits the IRS to postpone certain tax-filing and tax-payment deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area: Boone, Douglas, Greeley, Howard, Sherman and Washington counties.

The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and applies filing and payment relief. But affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located outside the covered disaster area should call the IRS disaster hotline at 866-562-5227 to request tax relief.

For more information:

IRS announces tax relief for taxpayers impacted by severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes in Nebraska | Internal Revenue Service

Nebraska law organization launches free legal hotline

A free Disaster Legal Services hotline is now available for survivors of the April 25-27 tornadoes and severe storms.

Survivors in Douglas and Washington counties who cannot afford an attorney can call (844) 268-5627. Assistance is available in English and Spanish. Hours are 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m.-noon Friday.

Legal assistance available:

• FEMA and SBA financial benefits/appeals
• Home repair contracts and property insurance claims
• Re-doing wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster
• Price gouging, scams, or identity theft
• Landlord or tenant problems, or threats of foreclosure
• Disability-related access to federal, state, and local disaster programs

The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, FEMA and Legal Aid of Nebraska work with state and local partners to provide this free legal help.

Salvation Army Establishes Long-Term Tornado Recovery Center in Elkhorn

The Salvation Army of Omaha has opened a Long-Term Tornado Recovery Center at FNBO, 3808 N. 203rd St., Elkhorn, to support residents affected by the tornado outbreak. Hours are 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. weekdays.

A caseworker will meet with residents of Douglas and Washington counties to connect them with financial support, housing assistance, utility-bill assistance, material goods assistance and more. Food, bottled water and other storm-relief supplies will not be distributed at the center.

Small Business Administration closing recovery center, but help remains

Tuesday, June 4, is the final day of operation for the SBA’s Business Recovery Center in Douglas County at the administration’s district office at 10675 Bedford Ave., Suite 10, Omaha NE 68135. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

SBA representatives are still available at all federal-state Disaster Recovery Centers throughout the affected areas to explain SBA’s disaster loan program and help business owners and residents complete and close their approved disaster loans.

SBA facts

• Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize disaster damage from occurring in the future.
• Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, including personal vehicles.
• Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.
• For more information, call the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.

Disaster recovery websites and social media channels

Please visit these websites and follow us on social media for timely and accurate information.

Websites:

• Nebraska Emergency Management Agency: nema.Nebraska.gov
• FEMA’s Nebraska Recovery Page: fema.gov/disaster/4778
• Download and use the FEMA app

Social Media:

• Facebook, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency: https://www.facebook.com/nema.page/
• X (Formerly Twitter), Nebraska Emergency Management Agency: twitter.com/nematweets
• FEMA Region 7: twitter.com/femaregion7

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 833-285-7448. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish and 3 for other languages).