NEW YORK – To continue the conversation with New Yorkers about Hurricane Sandy recovery, Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne will host a Twitter chat on Monday, Feb. 11, 2-3 p.m. EST.

During the session, Mr. Byrne will be answering questions live from the official Twitter handle @FEMASandy, using the topic hash tag #NYFEMAchat. Using this hash tag will allow users to follow and participate in the conversation.

NEW YORK – Because of a winter storm warning issued for the New York area, all Disaster Recovery Centers will remain closed Saturday, Feb. 9. The Federal Emergency Management Agency takes this action out of concern for the safety and well-being of Hurricane Sandy survivors who might be planning to visit a recovery center.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is working closely with its partners, including the National Weather Service, to monitor the developing winter storm in the Northeast. FEMA’s regional offices in Boston and New York City are in contact with state emergency management counterparts. FEMA’s National Watch Center in Washington, D.C. continues to monitor the situation and hold regular operational briefings with regional and federal partners as the severe winter weather advances and as impacts are felt through the overnight hours into Saturday.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urges citizens and visitors to the Northeast or New England states to prepare now for an intense and potentially dangerous winter storm forecast for the area.

FEMA’s partner, the National Weather Service, is warning of a major winter storm and blizzard for areas of New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire from Friday morning through Saturday afternoon. Areas of Vermont and Maine are also under winter storm warnings.

NEW YORK – Because of a winter storm warning issued for the New York area, all Disaster Recovery Centers will close at noon Friday, Feb. 8, and remain closed on Saturday. The Federal Emergency Management Agency takes this action out of concern for the safety and well-being of Hurricane Sandy survivors who might be planning to visit a recovery center.

NEW YORK – The Federal Emergency Management Agency, at the request of the State of New York, has approved a 14-day extension to the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program, which allows eligible survivors from Hurricane Sandy who cannot return to their homes to stay in participating hotels or motels.

The new checkout date for those in the TSA program is Feb. 24, 2013. FEMA will call applicants eligible for the extension to notify them of the new checkout date.

TRENTON, N.J. -- One hundred days after Hurricane Sandy made landfall, storm survivors in New Jersey are rebuilding with a hand from neighbors, nearly 28,000 volunteers and more than $1 billion in state-federal response and recovery assistance.

TRENTON, N.J. — Getting free advice on how to repair or rebuild your home to minimize future disaster damage is as easy as visiting your local home improvement store. Specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will offer their expertise on building techniques that can help protect your home, business or other property.

This free service also offers information and publications on topics such as:

Linda and Bill Tanchak are a lively New Jersey couple who have been together for more than 45 years. They married in 1968 and lived in Marlboro Township in Monmouth County for a majority of that time. In 2011, they packed up their house and moved into their new apartment on the shore in Asbury Park. Two years later, in late October, they would add another very important event to their timeline: surviving Hurricane Sandy.

THE STORM

TRENTON, N.J. -- Hurricane Sandy survivors in New Jersey live in one of the most culturally diverse states in the country and communicate in numerous languages. The Federal Emergency Management Agency works to reach all of them.

People with disabilities and/or access and functional needs are now the focus of the first full-scale operation by FEMA to offer ready access to valuable disaster assistance and recovery information in all disaster recovery centers.

NEW YORK – Most of the debris is gone. Communities are making plans for the future and survivors of Hurricane Sandy are receiving financial assistance for storm-related losses.

TRENTON, N.J. -- The disaster recovery centers at Long Branch Fire Station No. 4 and the Sayreville Senior Center will close Saturday, Feb. 9, at 4 p.m.                        

State and federal officials have been paying close attention to how many applicants are visiting centers throughout the state. Over the past weeks, the number of individuals seeking help at the Long Branch and Sayreville centers has dropped, indicating the information needs of survivors in the area have mostly been met. 

DENTON, Texas– After months of collaboration and the continuous sharing of information resulting in preliminary flood maps, officials with Dallas County and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are now asking the public to participate in a 90-day comment period.

Homeowners, renters and business owners in the cities of Dallas and Grand Prairie are encouraged to view the preliminary flood maps to better understand where flood risks have been identified. Those with comments or who would like to file an appeal have from Feb. 8, 2013 until May 8, 2013 to do so. 

WINDSOR, Conn. — Homeowners, renters, nonprofits and businesses of all sizes have until Tuesday, Feb. 12 to register for FEMA disaster assistance or apply for disaster loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today.

Residents of Fairfield, Middlesex, New Haven and New London counties, as well as the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribal Nations within New London County, are eligible to apply for assistance with Hurricane Sandy-related losses.

NEW YORK – Survivors may not know about disaster help from the U.S. Small Business Administration that could lead to a smarter, faster recovery for businesses, homeowners or private nonprofits. There’s a loan for lost business caused by Hurricane Sandy. There’s also a loan available to a homeowner association to have a common area fixed, and there’s good news about when the first payment on any disaster loan is due. 

Economic Injury Disaster Loan

SBA offers a working capital loan to relieve the economic injury caused by the disaster.

ATLANTA – In two days, more than 2.5 million people are expected to participate in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut earthquake drill.

The ShakeOut will be held Thursday, February 7 at 10:15 a.m. local time.  It is a multi-state earthquake drill for millions of people to simultaneously practice the recommended response to earthquake shaking:

ATLANTA – In two days, more than 2.5 million people are expected to participate in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut earthquake drill.

The ShakeOut will be held Thursday, February 7 at 10:15 a.m. local time.  It is a multi-state earthquake drill for millions of people to simultaneously practice the recommended response to earthquake shaking:

ATLANTA – In two days, more than 2.5 million people are expected to participate in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut earthquake drill.

The ShakeOut will be held Thursday, February 7 at 10:15 a.m. local time.  It is a multi-state earthquake drill for millions of people to simultaneously practice the recommended response to earthquake shaking:

ATLANTA – In two days, more than 2.5 million people are expected to participate in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut earthquake drill.

The ShakeOut will be held Thursday, February 7 at 10:15 a.m. local time.  It is a multi-state earthquake drill for millions of people to simultaneously practice the recommended response to earthquake shaking:

• DROP to the ground
• Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and
• HOLD-ON to it until the shaking stops

BATON ROUGE, La. – Plaquemines Parish will receive a nearly $1.3 million federal grant to reimburse the cost of repairing a roadway damaged by Hurricane Isaac, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said Monday.