Contributions continue to come in through www.helpNWFLrecover.org
NEW: Direct financial assistance provided to partners and citizens through todayâs check run include the disbursement of $15,000 to 30 families assisted through the United Way 2-1-1 Publix fund for employees. Two local case managerâs at partner agencies have also been assisted with insurance deductibles and replacement vehicles with $3,000 in funds. Food vouchers have been provided to 19 flood victims for a total of $2,850 in direct assistance to those enrolled in the victim database.
NEW: Applications totaling $220,000 are currently under consideration from agencies impacted or providing assistance to those impacted. Agencies who have applied for funding include: American Red Cross, Arc Gateway, BRACE, Catholic Charities, MANNA Food Bank, The Salvation Army, United Ministries. We hope to have finished this first review for applicants to the $150,000 from United Way reserves and $10,000 from the Escambia County Sherriff by COB tomorrow with a disbursement of funds by Friday.
BRACE Update Provided by Greg Strader, Executive Director
Greg shared the update from Escambia County that may provide several resources that agency partners and case managers can share with their clients and impacted citizens. Highlights are below:
NEW: FEMA has released funding for Disaster Unemployment Relief. To file a DUA claim, applicants need to call 1-800-681-8102. Hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. â¦..DUA applications must be filed no later than June 9, 2014. Please provide this information to applicants and FEMA staff who can further disseminate the information.
NEW: Captain Bob Cornett with Salvation Army volunteered to Chair the Case Management Committee of the Long Term Recovery Group. The DRC has been busy today with over 120 registrations. We do not currently have an update on telephone and web registrations but forty registrants have already been awarded max grants. This makes it likely that forty families will have unmet disaster caused needs. Church World Services, one of the most experienced voluntary organizations active in disaster, typically projects 10% of FEMA registrations will result in unmet needs. Because of the lack of flood insurance it is likely the percentages will be higher for this event.
NEW: Information from Disaster Case Management Meeting at 2pm Today:
Shelter Transition: Only 1 shelter is currently open at the Fricker Center. American Red Cross is working with the 50 individuals (approx. 10 families) to get them into permanent housing. Four families are having a difficult time with housing due to credit or eviction notices. They need help with deposits, furniture, and other resources. Catholic Charities has offered to assist.
FEMA: The total registered for assistance is 6,615 for all 4 counties combined. 2,400 registered online and 478 with mobile apps. FEMA has Approved 1,274 for a total of $9,107,000. 2,959 applications are pending approval. No PA (Public Assistance) declaration has been made as of 3pm.
Volunteer Florida: There is a conference call tomorrow at 3pm. BRACE reports that Volunteer Florida would like to hear what agencies are doing and what the needs of the agencies are. The Florida Fund has been activated. They will be doing some solicitation. They can and will assist with disaster case management if there is a way for them to apply for a disaster case management grant.
Case Management: BRACE asked agencies in attendance if they have the disaster capacity to provide a FTE 20 hours a week for long term case management?
· Catholic Charities: will need additional support for long term recovery.
· CDAC: Providing case management for their clients. Will need additional support for long term recovery.
· Council on Aging: Has 5 full time case managers that are serving 400 clients. Some of them were affected by the flood and they are assisting them.
· Manna: Has no case managers
· Lutheran Services: State office has activated their Statewide Disaster Relief. They have assigned 2 case managers. They just do not know for how long they will be needed. They will do whatever is needed to make it work.
· Salvation Army: Normally have 2 full time case workers that are working 75% of their time on this event. Long term 40-50% of 1 staff member 20 hours of manpower a week.
· Red Cross â is working on their plan.
· Society of St. Vincent DePaul â have no case managers.
· United Way 211 â Has some funding being provided for two case manager positions that are currently serving in the Disaster Recovery Center. One position is intended to work long term as a 211 case manager that helps reduce the duplication of services by inputting reported services from all agency partners assisting victims. The other position only has funding available to deploy for six months of disaster service. Based on the hours we have been asked to staff the DRC, outside of that usage, there is no funding for additional case management until they can be redeployed back to the United Way building.
General Updates from agencies attending
· Manna: The receiving warehouse is open. Based on damage to main building, they anticipate remaining closed for business an additional 6 weeks. They normally serve 175 per day and expect that number will increase when they open.
· Food Stamps have been extended to May 27.
· Project Outreach is going door to door in affected neighborhoods to assist those that have not asked for assistance for a variety of reasons.
· American Red Cross anticipates the new CAN system to roll out of Friday.
· Legal Service of North Florida is seeing tenants from both counties that have had their landlords evict them with little or no notice. Legal Services of North Florida is providing an information tip sheet at the Pensacola DRC. This document was attached to the 5.11.14 update for case managers who were seeing this issue.
· ECAT is providing transportation to those that need to get their medications filled/refilled. Some pharmacies are delivering. Randy Wilkerson will get an update on which pharmacies are delivering and we will circulate that information when it is received.
Resources
· VOAD mentioned that Goodwill has a State agreement to collect items in other counties and to give vouchers to flood victims. If we get more information on whether this occurs, we will share it out.
· The Salvation Army needs furniture and other resources to assist the victims. Furniture in good condition can be donated at their Fairfield and Davis Highway thrift store.
· FEMA has a Housing expert in route to determine whether there is a need for FEMA housing and if so what that housing resource will be.
· Food â 5 agencies present said food was the biggest unmet need they are hearing.
Case managers will meet next on May 20, 2pm at the Pensacola Housing Office located at 420 E Chase Street.
NEW: News from Mayor Ashton Haywardâs Office:
· Escambia Countyâs Citizenâs Information Center will cease operation at 5 p.m. today, Tuesday, May 13. Anyone needing additional assistance regarding issues related to Aprilâs flooding should visit FEMAâs Escambia County Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at the Brownsville Community Center, 3100 West Desoto Street, Pensacola, where applicants may go with questions or for information about FEMA or other disaster assistance.
· The City will continue to collect debris for flood affected areas throughout this week and Saturday, May 17th. A final debris pick-up for flood affected areas will be Saturday, May 24th. All debris will need to be placed curbside by Wednesday, May 21st. Flood affected areas include: Piedmont Drive and surrounding area; Aragon Court and surrounding area; Downtown and surrounding area; Gonzales Court and surrounding area; Burgess Road / Parker Circle surrounding area; Cervantes / I-110 corridor and area surrounding area; Shannon Place and surrounding areas. An additional pick-up may be requested after the May 24th date by calling (850) 435-1890 to schedule a special pick-up for a $15 fee.
· FEMAâs âIndividual Assistanceâ is also available to renters and anyone who has lost personal belongings in the recent flood is encouraged to file a claim with FEMA. Applicants may register at FEMAâs main Disaster Recovery Center at the Brownsville Community Center, 3100 West Desoto Street, or they can register by calling FEMA at (800) 621-3362 or TTY (800) 462-7585. If you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call (800) 621-3362. Operators are multilingual and calls are answered seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CDT. You can register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov.
· Many in our community had cars destroyed or damaged due to the storm and subsequent flooding. Those individuals may also be eligible for assistance under the âOther Needs Assistanceâ provision of FEMAâs Individuals and Households Program. âOther Needs Assistanceâ includes the following: Medical and dental expenses; Funeral and burial costs; Repair, cleaning, or replacement of: – Clothing – Household items (room furnishings, appliances) – Specialized tools or protective clothing and equipment required for your job – Necessary educational materials (computers, school books, supplies) ⢠Cleanâup items (wet/dry vacuum, air purifier, dehumidifier) Fuel for primary heat source (heating oil, gas); Repairing or replacing vehicles damaged by the disaster, or providing for public transportation or other transportation costs; Moving and storage expenses related to the disaster (including storage or the return of property to a preâdisaster home); Other necessary expenses or serious needs (for example, towing, or setup or connecting essential utilities for a housing unit not provided by FEMA); The cost of a National Flood Insurance Program group flood insurance policy to meet the flood insurance requirements
· The Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of West Florida (FSBDC at UWF) has deployed its emergency response Mobile Assistance Center (MAC) into the heart of downtown Pensacola. Equipped with laptops, printers, satellite communications, supplies and more, the MAC provides easy access for small business owners impacted by the recent storms and flooding to receive consultation from FSBDC consultants. The FSBDC at UWF has partnered with the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce to locate the MAC next to the Chamber at 117 W. Garden Street (in the parking lot off of Spring Street). FSBDC consultants will be available for consultation in the MAC and at the Chamber Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information regarding disaster assistance, please contact the Florida SBDC at UWF at (850) 474-2528.
NEW: Escambia County Update through through 4:30pm today:
· Project Outreach Site Changes: Escambia County will begin scaling back on its emergency assistance teams. At the end of the day today, Tuesday, May 13, most Project Outreach tents and field teams will be closed due to a decreased demand. Only two sites will remain open. These sites will be operational from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 14. Damascus Road Mission Baptist Church, 8198 Untreiner Avenue; Legion Field, 1301 West Gregory Street
· Additionally, FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams will be going door-to-door in the following impacted neighborhoods tomorrow between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.: Longhallow area; Man o War Circle; Ashland Avenue and Ponderosa Drive; Ard Road Area; Brentwood Park Area and the 300 block of Massachusetts Avenue; Glendwood Subdivision; Shadow Grove
· Escambia County is monitoring mosquito population and actively treating to address nuisance populations as they arise. Please call (850) 937-2188 report increased mosquito activity.
Andrea