Weekly Summary

Release Date: November 8, 2004 Release Number: 1552-047

» More Information on Puerto Rico Tropical Storm Jeanne and Resulting Landslides and Mudslides

» En Español

Note to the editors: This document is a summary of the on-going response and recovery operations in Puerto Rico as of Sunday, November 7, 2004. This information will be updated periodically.

• To date, over $283.3 million has been approved in federal disaster assistance to eligible applicants in the 58 declared municipalities. This aid includes grants for basic needs, such as essential repairs, alternate housing and other disaster-related needs not met by insurance or other assistance programs.
  
  
• As of today, 158,334 residents in the declared disaster area have applied for disaster assistance, by calling the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) toll-free teleregistration line, 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 1-800-462-7585). Both lines are available daily from 6 a.m. to midnight, until further notice. If possible, applicants should call in the evening after 6:00 p.m. or on weekends when call volume often is lighter.
  
  
• Individuals can also can also register online for assistance and find valuable recovery information by visiting FEMA's website at http://www.fema.gov.
  
  
• FEMA applicants whose home or business was inspected two weeks ago, and have not yet received any mail from FEMA, should contact FEMA's Helpline to determine if mail has been issued. If it was sent and has not been delivered within a reasonable timeframe, the applicants should visit their local US Post Office.
  
  
• It is extremely important for applicants who have received SBA loan packets to fill them out thoroughly and return them to the SBA, as soon as possible. If the loan forms are not returned, the application process is discontinued and the applicant will not be eligible for additional federal disaster grants.
  
  
• Disaster legal aid is available through Pro-Bono, Inc., a division of the Bar Association of Puerto Rico, to individuals affected by Tropical Storm Jeanne in Puerto Rico. Consultation is available for insurance claims for loss of property, loss of life, etc., replacing wills, drafting powers of attorney, other legal documents lost in the disaster, and help with home repair contracts and contractors. The service is available by calling (787) 721-3398.
  
  
• Five Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are in operation at fixed sites.
  • Aguada: Fine Arts Center, Café Teatro, Paz Street, corner of Manuel Ruíz (front of Plaza Cristóbal Colón)
  • Canóvanas: Centro Comunitario Usos Múltiples, Luis Muñoz Rivera Street (corner with Betances)
  • Fajardo: Municipal Legislature Hall, City Hall (2nd Floor), Dr. López Street (corner of Muñoz Rivera St.)
  • Santa Isabel: Centro de Usos Múltiples Francisco Robledo, Monseñor Ferrer Avenue (near Urb. Santiago Apóstol- in front of Parque Infantil Melween Cedeño)
  • Toa Baja: Cancha Antonio R. Barceló, Coliseo Deportivo, Sabana Seca Avenue, Rd. 867 (in front of Oficina de Gobierno Anacleto Ortíz).
  
  
• Short-term Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers are also visiting other municipalities. All the mobile DRCs will close Friday, November 12, 2004 at 6 pm. This week, the mobile DRCs will be operating in the following municipalities:
  • Arecibo: Centro de Usos Múltiples Francisco Paco Abreu, Road #2 (near Plaza del Atlántico, next to Arecibo Medical Center).
  • Barceloneta: Auditorium Sixto Escobar, Urb. Cataluña, Street #1.
  • Caguas: Emergency Management Office, #1 Brasil Street, Urb. Bunker (near Caguas/Cayey exit, Road #1, OMME Facilities).
  • Carolina: Jesús T. Piñeiro Center, CDT Building (former Workers' Compensation Building, next to Municipal Building).
  • Ciales: Cancha Juan Raul Tinajó, Rd. 149 Int. 146.
  • Comerío: Cultural Civic Center, Luis Muñoz Rivera Street.
  • Las Piedras: City Hall - Mayors' Hall, Celso Barbosa Street (in front of Cooperativa Ahorro y Crédito Las Piedras).
  • Morovis: Morovis City Hall, 2nd Floor, former facilities of Finance Division.
  • Naranjito: Ramón Elías Ortíz Recreational Area, Marcelino Cruz Street, Int. 147, Bo. Achiote (better known as Las Piscinas).
  • Orocovis: Community Center, Luis Muñoz Marín Avenue.
  • San Lorenzo: Centro de Gestión Única Al Sureste, #110 De Diego Street.
  • Yabucoa: Centro de Usos Múltiples, Catalina Morales Street (downtown, next to the library and municipal police station).
  
  
• At the DRCs, the applicants can talk with representatives from FEMA and other commonwealth and federal agencies, receive information about the application process and disaster aid programs, obtain the Small Business Administration (SBA) loan application forms and receive help to complete the forms.
  
  
• Disaster victims who are having difficulty coping with some stress-induced problems should seek crisis counseling by calling 1-800-981-0023. The line is available daily, 24 hours a day.
  
  
• FEMA Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program is available to self-employed people, farm workers and others who have lost employment or whose employment was interrupted as a direct result of the storm. Individuals who want to file for benefits may apply at their local unemployment office. Applicants need to bring their Social Security numbers, as well as documentation of earnings and employment before the disaster.
  
  
• If you know of someone who is taking advantage of others' misfortune by filing false damage claims, you may report this or other instances of fraud to the FEMA Fraud Hotline at 1-800-323-8603, available 24 hours a day. All calls are confidential.

Breakdown of applications and Individual and Household Program (IHP) grants:

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.