MDEM Newsroom - Page 42 MDEM Newsroom
SBA’s Deadline for Physical Disaster Loan Applications in Maryland Due to Tropical Storm Lee is February 6
January 9th, 2012ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration reminds homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profit organizations of the deadline to submit disaster loan applications for damages caused by remnants from Tropical Storm Lee that occurred from Sept. 6 -14, 2011. The deadline to file an SBA disaster loan application for physical damage is Feb. 6.
Anyone with insured losses should not wait for an insurance settlement before applying to the SBA. “If someone does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, the SBA will consider making a loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided they agree to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay their SBA loan,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA Field Operations Center East.
Low-interest disaster loans are available in Cecil County, and the neighboring counties of Harford and Kent in Maryland, New Castle in Delaware; and Chester and Lancaster in Pennsylvannia.
Interest rates are as low as 2.5 percent for homeowners and renters, 3 percent for non-profit organizations and 4 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years. The SBA sets the loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
For additional information, call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955
(800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or send an email to[email protected]. Loan application forms can be downloaded from the SBA’s website at http://www.sba.gov/. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth,
TX 76155.
Those affected by the disaster may also apply for disaster loans electronically from SBA’s website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical damage is February 6, 2012. The deadline to return economic injury applications is September 7, 2012.
Check Your Home for These Winter Weather-Related Recalled Products
January 6th, 2012NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Winter weather has arrived in much of the United States. Play it safe by checking if your cold weather-related products have been previously recalled before you use them this season. It could save your life or that of your family.
Note: by clicking on any of the images below, you can view a larger version.
| Product | Recall Press Release | Hazard | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meijer Touch Point Oscillating Ceramic Heaters (13,000 units) |
11-277 | The oscillating mechanism in the heaters can short out, posing a fire hazard to consumers. |  |
| Flow Pro, Airtech, Aloha Breeze & Comfort Essentials Heaters (2.2 million units) |
11-069 | The heaters can malfunction resulting in overheating, smoking, burning, melting and fire. |  |
| Lasko Portable Electric Heaters (107,500 units) |
11-121 | An electrical connection in the base of the unit can overheat, causing it to melt and expose the electrical connection, posing a fire hazard to consumers. |  |
| Honeywell Electric Baseboard and Fan Heater Thermostats (77,000 units) |
11-289 | The thermostats can overheat, causing them to melt and smoke. This poses a burn hazard to the consumer. |  |
| GE Zoneline Air Conditioners and Heaters (90,600 units) |
11-247 | An electrical component in the heating system can fail, posing a fire hazard to consumers. |  |
Find out more about these recalled products and others that may be in your home by visiting http://www.saferproducts.gov/
News from FEMA: Focus on Fire Safety: Fire Escape Plans
January 6th, 2012In the event of a fire, remember that every second counts, so you and your family must always be prepared. Escape plans help you get out of your home quickly. In less than 30 seconds, a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for a house to fill with thick black smoke and become engulfed in flames.
Prepare and practice your fire escape plan twice a year with everyone in your household, including children and people with disabilities. It’s also a good idea to practice your plan with overnight guests.
Some tips to consider when preparing your escape plan include:
- Draw a map of each level of your home and show all doors and windows. Find two ways to get out of each room. Make sure all doors and windows that lead outside open easily.
- Only purchase collapsible escape ladders evaluated by a recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL). Use the ladder only in a real emergency.
- Teach children how to escape on their own in case you cannot help them.
- Have a plan for everyone in your home who has a disability.
- Practice your fire escape plan at night and during the daytime.
SBA Disaster Loans Available to Maryland Small Businesses Economically Impacted by Tropical Storm Lee
December 9th, 2011800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing), or by sending an email to [email protected]. Business loan applications can also be downloaded from www.sba.gov. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Maryland Residents Affected by the Remnants from Tropical Storm Lee
December 9th, 2011Senate hearing on “Preparedness of the National Capital Region for disasters.”
December 8th, 2011JOINT HEARING: FROM EARTHQUAKES TO TERRORIST ATTACKS: IS THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION PREPARED FOR THE NEXT DISASTER?
Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery and Intergovernmental Affairs
MEMA Executive Director Richard’s testimony from Senate hearing on “Preparedness of the National Capital Region for disasters.” Speakers from Maryland, Virginia, and DC joined federal agencies to testify. The prepared statements and the archived webcast from yesterday’s hearing are available here on the Committee website.
WMDT47 News: End of Hurricane Season 11.30.11
December 1st, 2011MEMA Director Richard Muth was interviewed by WMDT out of Salisbury about the end of hurricane season and how Irene and Lee impacted the state.
Click here to Watch the Video Now.
FSA: USDA Designates 3 Counties in Pennsylvania as Primary Natural Disaster Areas, with Assistance to Maryland and New Jersey
November 29th, 2011| Bradford | Lebanon | York |
|---|
| Adams | Cumberland | Lancaster | Schuylkill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berks | Dauphin | Lycoming | Sullivan |
| Wyoming | Tioga | Susquehanna |
| Baltimore | Carroll | Harford |
|---|
| Chemung | Tioga |
|---|
SBA Disaster Loans Available in Maryland Following Secretary of Agriculture Disaster Declaration
November 29th, 2011ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that federal economic injury disaster loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes in Baltimore, Carroll and Harford counties in Maryland as a result of excessive rain, flooding and flash flooding associated with Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee that occurred on Aug. 26 through Sept. 12, 2011.
“These counties are eligible because they are contiguous to one or more primary counties in Pennsylvania. The Small Business Administration recognizes that disasters do not usually stop at county or state lines. For that reason, counties adjacent to primary counties named in the declaration are included,” according to Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East.
“When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to assist eligible entities affected by the same disaster,” said Skaggs.
Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. With the exception of aquacultural enterprises, farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers are not eligible to apply to SBA.
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with a 3 percent interest for non-profit organizations,
4 percent for small businesses and terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.
Disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to[email protected]. Loan applications can be downloaded from www.sba.gov. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
Those affected by the disaster may apply for disaster loans from SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.
Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than July 9, 2012.
DHS anuncia alianza con la Major League Soccer para campaña “Si ve algo, diga algo™”
November 28th, 2011WASHINGTON— The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced a new partnership between the DHS “If You See Something, Say Something™” public awareness campaign and Major League Soccer (MLS)—highlighting the Department’s partnership with the sports industry to ensure the safety and security of the employees, players and fans.
“Each of us has a role to play in helping keep America safe, and time and again, we have seen the value of public vigilance in thwarting terrorism and crime,” said Secretary Napolitano. “Promoting the simple, but effective “If You See Something, Say Something™” message during the MLS Cup and throughout the MLS season is a significant step in ensuring the safety of the players, spectators and employees.”
The Department’s “If You See Something, Say Something™” partnership with the MLS Cup will feature a “If You See Something, Say Something™” graphic that will aired on the video board during the MLS Cup championship game in Carson City, Calif. Safety messaging will also be printed on the back of MLS Cup credentials for staff, players, and volunteers and in game day programs distributed to fans. Throughout the MLS season “If You See Something, Say Something™” campaign graphics appeared on video boards and on the MLS website, and the “If You See Something, Say Something™” Public Service Announcement was read at games.
“Major League Soccer is pleased to partner with the Department of Homeland Security on the “If You See Something, Say Something™” campaign,” said MLS Executive Vice President Nelson Rodriguez. “We encourage our millions of fans to heed this simple message and help keep all of us safe.”
The “If You See Something, Say Something™” campaign—originally implemented by New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority and now licensed to DHS for a nationwide campaign—is a simple and effective program to engage the public and key frontline employees to identify and report indicators of terrorism, crime and other threats to the proper transportation and law enforcement authorities.
Over the past year, DHS has collaborated with federal, state, local and private sector partners, as well as the Department of Justice, to expand the “If You See Something, Say Something™” campaign and the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative—an administration effort to train state and local law enforcement to recognize behaviors and indicators related to terrorism, crime and other threats; standardize how those observations are documented and analyzed; and ensure the sharing of those reports with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) led Joint Terrorism Task Forces for further investigation.
Recent “If You See Something, Say Something™” campaign partnerships with the sports industry include DHS partnerships with Major League Baseball during the play-offs and the 2011 World Series, Oklahoma University NCAA 2011 football and basketball seasons, and several National Football League teams including; the Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, and the San Diego Chargers.
DHS will continue to expand the “If You See Something, Say Something™” campaign nationally to help America’s businesses, communities and citizens remain vigilant and play an active role in keeping the country safe.