JIC Recovery Release No. 99 - More than $200 Million in Federal Assistance Flows into Guam following Typhoon Mawar - GHS OCD

More than $200 Million in Federal Assistance Flows into Guam following Typhoon Mawar

While the application period for federal assistance has ended, federal assistance continues to make its way into the hands of Guam survivors of Typhoon Mawar. To date, more than $201 million in low interest disaster loans from the SBA and direct disaster assistance through FEMA have flowed into communities to help jumpstart the recovery process.

Small Business Administration

All totals as of Aug. 3, 2023

The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved nearly $139.4 million in low-interest disaster loans. The SBA is the number one source of federal disaster recovery funding. Through low-interest disaster loans the SBA provides recovery loans to businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters.

For homeowners and renters, the SBA has approved 1,375 disaster loans totaling more than $127.7 million dollars. These loans can be used to repair or replace a survivor’s disaster damaged home and personal property. Additionally, 111 businesses and private non-profits have been approved for loans totaling nearly $11.7 million. These funds will help these businesses and organizations recover by replacing real estate, machinery and equipment, and inventory and business assets.

Individuals and Households Program

When it comes to FEMA assistance, more than 19,000 homeowners and renters have been approved for nearly $62.3 million in federal awards through FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program. Unlike SBA loans, this money does not have to be paid back. This includes:

Nearly $33.4 million in repair and replacement assistance to help survivors rebuild, or make basic repairs to make their home safe, sanitary and functional and provide funds to owners whose primary residences were destroyed due to Typhoon Mawar.
Nearly $17.5 million in rental assistance was provided to nearly 5,600 applicants. FEMA rental assistance is intended to help survivors pay for somewhere to live while they repair or rebuild their disaster damaged home. FEMA awards eligible applicants an initial Rental Assistance payment based on the Fair Market Rent established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for where their pre-disaster residence is located and the number of bedrooms the household requires.

Other Needs Assistance
Other Needs Assistance provides financial assistance for disaster-related necessary expenses and serious needs that are not covered by insurance or provided by any other source. Nearly $28.9 million in ONA has been awarded to Guam survivors. This includes critical needs assistance, transportation assistance, personal property assistance, moving and storage, disaster related medical and dental assistance and money to clean and sanitize a disaster damaged home.

Guam residents who need help updating a pending application or appeal can contact FEMA by visiting disasterassistance.gov, by using the FEMA mobile app, or by calling 800-621-3362 (The Helpline is available 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week at no cost for Guam residents).

Visit the following links for the latest information:

Governor’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/govlouguam
GHS/OCD Website: https://ghs.guam.gov/
GHS/OCD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHSOCD/

For more information, contact the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10.

X Flooding is a temporary overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. There are many possible causes of floods including heavy rain, coastal storms and storm surge, waterway overflow from being blocked with debris, or overflow of levees, dams, or waste water systems. Flooding can occur slowly over many days or happen very quickly with little or no warning, called flash floods.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/floods

Wildfire

Regularly clean the roof and gutters.
Maintain an area approximately 30’ away from you home that is free of anything that will burn, such as wood piles, dried leaves, newspapers and other brush.
Connect garden hoses long enough to reach any area of the home and fill garbage cans, tubs, or other large containers with water.
Review your homeowner's insurance policy and also prepare/update a list of your home's contents.

Fire Weather

Turn on your TV/radio. You’ll get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
Know where to go. If you are ordered to evacuate, know the route to take and have plan of where you will go. Check-in with your friends and family.
Keep your car fueled, in good condition, and stocked with emergency supplies and a change of clothes.

Drought

Conserve water

Take shorter showers.

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Run the washer less frequently and only when you have a full load.
Water your lawn less frequently and do so when the temperature is cooler in the early morning or late evening.
When you run the tap to heat or cool water, keep a pitcher to store the water and use it to water plants.
Avoid washing your car.

Practice fire prevention

Don't set off fireworks when conditions are dry.
Deposit cigarette butts in the proper receptacle to avoid starting a
Pour water over camp fires and backyard fire pits to ensure they are completely out before leaving them unattended.

Follow directions from local officials. If there are restrictions on water usage, be sure to heed them.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/wildfires and https://www.ready.gov/drought

X
Typhoons/Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over the water and move toward land. Threats from typhoons/hurricanes include high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, and rip currents.

“Hurricanes” form in the Atlantic Northeast Pacific region and “Typhoons” form in the Northwest Pacific Region. These large storms are call cyclones in other parts of the world.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.

JIC Recovery Release No. 99 - More than $200 Million in Federal Assistance Flows into Guam following Typhoon Mawar