CARH’S BROADCAST E-MAIL – Member Update

October 11, 2024

On behalf of the CARH national office staff and our members, we extend our thoughts and concerns to our members, industry partners, and community residents of the affected areas of Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia who are suffering the aftermath of recent hurricanes and tropical storms. We hope you have a speedy rebuild of your properties, homes, and communities. While we know you are familiar with the resources that are available during this time, we thought we would share updates from the various agencies responsible for disaster-related clean-up and rebuilding. In addition, we always receive calls or emails from members not affected by these disasters but would like to contribute and help with disaster recovery efforts. The following is information we hope all parties can use. Please note that disaster relief, volunteer, and donation information will be updated as needed in the online version of this document posted in the Newsroom section of CARH’s website.

FEMA and Trusted Relief Organizations

To apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) assistance, register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. Additionally, their Disaster Assistance Helpline provides information on the help offered by FEMA, how to apply for assistance, the status of applications, and any information on a registered account. The toll-free helpline can be reached at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). For hearing impaired callers only: 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) or 1-800-621-3362 (Video Relay Service). Operators are multilingual and calls are answered seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Eastern.

If you, a resident, or someone you know needs emergency, transient housing, you can text SHELTER and the Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find where the closest shelter is located.

If you are interested in making donations, FEMA reminds you that “cash is best.” Financial contributions to recognized disaster relief organizations are the fastest, most flexible, and most effective method of donating. Organizations on the ground know what items and quantities are needed, often buying in bulk with discounts and, if possible, purchasing through businesses local to the disaster, which supports economic recovery.

FEMA also provides information for trusted organizations operating in the affected area that know where volunteers are needed. Depending on the disaster and the current phase it is in, volunteers can be extremely helpful to ensure survivors can return to their new normal. By working with an established non-profit organization, the appropriate safety, training, and skills can be considered. Recovery lasts a lot longer than media attention. There will be volunteer needs for many months, often many years, after the disaster. Your help often is needed long after a disaster.

Other relevant web pages from FEMA are:

  • Individuals and Households Program – Individuals and Households Program (IHP) provides financial and direct services to eligible individuals and households affected by a disaster, who have uninsured or under-insured necessary expenses and serious needs. IHP assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster. The assistance is intended to meet your basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts.
  • Assistance for Governments and Private Non-Profits After a Disaster – FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provides supplemental grants to state, tribal, territorial, and local governments, and certain types of private non-profits so communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies.
  • FEMA State and Local Emergency Services – This website from FEMA allows you to search for local services. Every state has its own government agency that provides disaster and emergency assistance. Local governments may have emergency services agencies or may assign disaster assistance duties among several different agencies. The Department of Homeland Security’s Disaster Assistance Improvement Program also provides this information at DisasterAssistance.gov.

To find additional information on donations and other resources, visit the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.

Finally, if you are interested in state-specific information or state-sponsored donation opportunities, please visit the appropriate websites below:

American Red Cross Disaster Service

  • Visit redcross.org/find-help or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) for referrals and updates on Red Cross shelters. The Red Cross helps disaster victims by providing safe shelter, hot meals, essential relief supplies, emotional support, and health services like first aid. Trained Red Cross workers often meet one-on-one with families to develop individual plans and identify available resources to help aid recovery.

Florida

Georgia

Louisiana

North Carolina

South Carolina

Tennessee

Virginia

 

USDA and HUD Information

The Department of Agriculture is prepared to provide food, emergency housing, and other assistance to communities, farmers, ranchers, and small businesses affected by the severe storms and flooding. They are actively working with affected states by extending waivers and flexibilities in federal nutrition assistance programs along with other programs. Click here to access the Disaster Resource Center.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) website also provides information on Disaster Resources. HUD reminds affected parties that immediately after a disaster, FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and other government agencies offer initial assistance. HUD then provides additional support for ongoing recovery through programs and partnerships. To contact HUD’s disaster line, call 1-800-304-9320 or email recovery@hud.gov.

Chapter 38 to HUD’s Handbook 4350.1, Multifamily Asset Management and Project Servicing provides guidance that has been developed over the years that covers the many different aspects of servicing multifamily properties that were damaged or vacated because of a Presidentially declared disaster.

The national CARH is grateful to those members who can financially assist in relief efforts. CARH sincerely thanks all our members for their compassion toward the storm victims. In these times of uncertainty and rebuilding, please notify the CARH office at 703-837-9001 or carh@carh.org if the national association can offer any support.