Federal, State and Other Recovery Resources for Communities in AR, LA, NM, OK, and TX

2015 was an extremely difficult time with disasters for many states throughout the U.S. The states of AR, LA, NM, OK, and TX saw numerous storms throughout the year, ending with a massive winter storm in December. NOAA deems the storm 2015′s deadliest weather event in the United States. The storm system spanned several states, stretching from New Mexico to Michigan and Georgia. It also brought with it a mix of extreme weather from tornadoes and flash floods to blizzards and freezing rain causing more than $1 billion in losses (National Centers for Environmental Information.)

Key Federal Agencies for Economic Recovery After a Disaster

To assist communities impacted by the severe winter storms in December 2015, the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) has developed a list of key federal agencies that economic development organizations (EDO) and chambers of commerce should consider for disaster recovery resources. Links to specific disaster programs and contact information are included below.

·         DHS’s Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) – Disaster Response and Recovery and Disaster Recovery Center Locator

·         DOC’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) – Contact Info for EDA Regional Offices

·         U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) – Office of Disaster Assistance

·         U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – HUD Disaster Resources & Press Releases

·         U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – USDA Emergency Preparedness and Response

·         U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) – Severe Storm and Flood Recovery Assistance

·         U.S. Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund – Contact Info

 

 Other Helpful Agencies for Disaster Recovery

·         Internal Revenue Service (IRS) – Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief for Individuals and Businesses  and Crop Insurance and Crop Disaster Payments Information

·         The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) - National Service Update

·         U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) –  Recovery after flooding and Recovery after a tornado

·         U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) – Contact Info

·         National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Storm Information

·         Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Emergency Response Resources for Businesses

·         Department Of Justice: Post-disaster Business Conduct

·         National Archives: Tips on salvage of damaged documents

·         IEDC’s Establishing  a Business Recovery Center for Business Assistance

·         IEDC’s Leadership in Times of Crisis: A Toolkit for Economic Recovery and Resiliency—Read the Small Business Assistance Chapter or the full report

 

State-by-State Recovery Resources

Below is a working list of resources state-by-state. Click the green plus sign on the right hand side to expand each list.

Oklahoma
    • OK Strong: As Oklahoma’s recovery website, OK Strong is a one-stop shop for preparedness information, notifications, details about past disaster events and helpful links to necessary resources. 
    • Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management:The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) provides assistance through all phases of disasters and emergencies. OEM delivers service to Oklahoma cities, towns and counties by way of over 400 local emergency managers. After a state or federal emergency or disaster declaration, OEM coordinates the efforts of federal, state, local, volunteer and private organizations to provide relief and establish disaster recovery centers.
    •  Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID):  The primary function of OID is to enforce the insurance-related laws of the state. However, OID provides numerous disaster recovery resources such as the Post- Disaster Guide, Flood Insurance Information, an After the Disaster brochure and other resources for filing claims, understanding the claim process, and avoiding scams.
    •  Oklahoma Small Business Development Center (OKSBDC):Funded by the federal government, OKSBDC provides a variety of technical assistance to small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs by providing no cost, one-on-one professional advising and low-cost training opportunities. After disasters, OKSBDC has also partnered with other organizations to open Business Recovery Centers (BRCs). OKSBDC counselors then work in the BRCs to provide free counseling on challenges such as re-establishing operations, overcoming the effects of disasters and planning for future events.
    • Oklahoma Bid Assistance Network (OBAN): Along with support from its Oklahoma CareerTech sponsors, OBAN assists companies in finding resources to rebuild business following devastating storms. OBAN has a network of 17 offices that helps to keep local businesses connected to recovery activities. Also, the organization’s Disaster Recovery Fact Sheet provides useful information for businesses impacted by recent Oklahoma tornadoes and flooding.

 

Other Resources

Texas
    • Texas Division of Emergency Management: The Texas Division of Emergency Management Disaster Information Site provides disaster relief information from a Texas Department of Public Safety, State of Texas and Federal perspective.
    • Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Comptroller’s Disaster Resources: The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts lists disaster relief information pertaining to tax relief for small business.
    • Texas Workforce Commission: Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program provides unemployment insurance benefits for individuals who lost their jobs or self-employment, or who are no longer working as a direct result of a major disaster, and applied for but are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance.
    • The City of Austin’s Economic Development Department: The Department’s Small Business Program provides various resources to small businesses. The Get Back In Business site, for example, was specifically created to assist businesses that have been affected by economic and natural disasters. Resources on the site includeWhat To Do After a Disaster and links to Federal, State of Texas, and City of Austin Resources.
    • Texas A&M University`s Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center (HRRC):HRRC researches hazard mitigation, disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The staff of the HRRC is interdisciplinary in nature and includes the expertise of architects, engineers, geographers, psychologists, and sociologists then makes this information available to homeowners, professionals, business investors, and the academic community.
    • SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in Navarro County: [i1] SBA representatives are available at the DLOC to meet with business owners that sustained damage from the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding from Oct. 22 to Oct. 31. Business owners will have access to SBA Representatives that can answer questions, explain the SBA’s disaster loan program, help them complete applications and close approved disaster loans. The DLOC will be located at Navarro Center Mall, 800 N. Main St., Corsicana, Texas.

 

Other Resources 

 

Arkansas

Resources will be uploaded shortly.

Louisiana

Resources will be uploaded shortly.

New Mexico

Resources will be uploaded shortly.

Acknowledgements

This page development was accomplished through the U.S. Economic Development Administration Austin Regional Office, Project No. 08-06-05058. The statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and other data in this report are solely those of IEDC and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Economic Development Administration. This page is part of a larger compendium of research and technical assistance produced by IEDC and funded by the aforementioned U.S. Economic Development Administration grant, which focuses on providing resources in disaster preparedness and economic recovery for communities in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas.