Resources for Flood Survivors

disaster planning - Disaster Recovery by BR Lafay ARMA

Resources for salvaging flood damaged documents and photos:

LA Secretary of State’s Office:

http://www.sos.la.gov/HistoricalResources/ManagingRecords/DisasterPreparationAndRecoveryInformation/Pages/default.aspx

From the National Archives, an overview of things to keep in mind when salvaging flood-damaged family papers:

http://www.archives.gov/preservation/conservation/flood-damage.html

Resources for individuals affected by flooding:

How to register with FEMA, apply for SBA loans, register for home clean up and more from the Louisiana Office of the Governor:

http://gov.louisiana.gov/page/resources-for-flood-victims

How to claim losses on 2015 Tax Returns:

http://www.theadvocate.com/louisiana_flood_2016/article_166ee524-6623-11e6-ae4d-eb3038c46943.html

Contacts for replacing important personal documents:

http://www.nola.com/weather/index.ssf/2016/08/replace_documents_lost_flood_l.html#incart_river_index_topics

Information for non-profits:

With a new Request for Public Assistance (RPA) deadline, it’s not too late to apply for disaster aid through the Public Assistance program.

Yesterday, the deadline for private nonprofits (PNPs) to apply for Public Assistance (PA) was extended to Sat., October 15 (from Sept. 15). This extension applies to cultural institutions, historic sites, and other private nonprofits (PNPs) in the initial 20 declared parishes:

Acadia, Ascension, Avoyelles, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Vermilion, Washington, and West Feliciana

The deadline for the other 6 parishes – Assumption, Cameron, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, and West Baton Rouge – remains Sat., October 1.

State, local, or tribal government libraries, museums, archives, and all other collecting institutions open to the general public may apply to FEMA as part of their state, local, or tribal government’s application to FEMA for debris removal, permanent repairs and/or collections stabilization. Hopefully, any affected governmental entities have already been included under your respective umbrellas.

The PNP Facility Questionnaire, available at http://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1608-20490-8817/90_121_05_2010.pdf, also needs to be submitted as part of the application packet. (Disregard the 2011 expiration date in the upper right.) The following items listed in that questionnaire need to be included:

  • Proof of ownership
  • Proof of legal responsibility to repair the facility
  • Insurance policy

The application packet can be submitted:

  • Electronically on GOHSEP’s Public Assistance site, http://louisianapa.com/
  • Via fax: (225) 267-2832
  • Or mailed to:
    • Public Assistance
    • Attn: 4277 RPA
    • 1500 Main Street
    • Baton Rouge, LA 70802

If cultural stewards would like to speak with a warm body, they should contact their State Applicant Liaison; one has been assigned to each parish. See http://gohsep.la.gov/ABOUT/STATE-REGIONS. They should call the person listed below Melvin Smith’s name.

Very few cultural institutions and historic sites have submitted RPAs to date. Let’s direct them to the aid that can help them recover.