Beware: Scammers target COVID-19 victims in plot to steal FEMA funeral reimbursement money

 FEMA launched a program to help those that lost loved ones to COVID-19 by reimbursing you for funeral costs. Since launching, thousands of people have applied by calling the dedicated toll-free number and completing the application with help from FEMA representatives.

Scammers are capitalizing on that by making calls to people pretending to be with the FEMA program.

If you have any doubt about the caller, FEMA says to hang up and make the call directly to FEMA yourself. Besides scam calls, you also have to beware of fraudulent emails making the same claim.

Sharing for public awareness. Courtesy  https://abc11.com/covid-19-scam-funeral-fema-money-reimbursement/10723745/

FEMA is now accepting applications for funeral expenses paid after January 20, 2020 for deaths caused by COVID-19

 FEMA is now accepting applications for funeral expenses paid after January 20, 2020 for deaths caused by COVID-19. We are only accepting applications by phone. Online applications are not accepted.

 

You may visit COVID-19 Funeral Assistance for information about the program. After you read this information and gather the necessary documents, call 1-844-684-6333 (TTY 1-800-462-7585) to apply for this assistance. Call this number also for help with ALL other questions or concerns about COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.The phone line is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. 

 

If you use a relay service (a videophone, InnoCaption, CapTel, etc.), please provide your number assigned to that service. FEMA must be able to contact you. Be aware that phone calls from FEMA may appear to come from an unidentified number.

 

Please do not call the normal FEMA Helpline for help with COVID-19 Funeral Assistance. They will ask you to call the direct funeral assistance number.

 

At this time, there is no deadline to apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.

 

If you would like to volunteer your services or time in support of COVID-19, visit the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster  For information about COVID-19 vaccines, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) COVID-19 Vaccines page. You may also dial 2-1-1 for the United Way or visit 211.org 

Courtesy

Benefits.gov

FEMA Urges Hawaii Residents to Prepare for Hurricane Season

 With hurricane season fast approaching, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its National Flood Insurance Program advise Hawaii residents to prepare now for hurricane-related storms and flooding.

The 2021 Central Pacific hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. This year, the National Weather Service predicts that there may be between two and five tropical storms and hurricanes in the Central Pacific. While this forecast represents fewer storms, it does not predict hurricane landfalls. Even a glancing blow from a hurricane or a significant rain system that passes over land, saturated by previous storms, can trigger a major mudslide and cause significant structural damage.

Courtesy:  https://bigislandnow.com/2021/05/23/fema-urges-hawaii-residents-to-prepare-for-hurricane-season/

Biden-Harris Administration Delivers Emergency COVID-19 Assistance for India

Reflecting the United States’ solidarity with India as it battles a new wave of COVID-19 cases, the United States is delivering supplies worth more than $100 million in the coming days to provide urgent relief to our partners in India.  In addition, U.S. state governments, private companies, non-government organizations, and thousands of Americans from across the country have mobilized to deliver vital oxygen, related equipment, and essential supplies for Indian hospitals to support frontline health care workers and the people of India most affected during the current outbreak.  U.S. Government assistance flights will start arriving in India on Thursday, April 29 and will continue into next week.

Just as India sent assistance to the United States when our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, the United States is determined to help India in its time of need.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/28/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-delivers-emergency-covid-19-assistance-for-india/

USAID, United States of America (USA) covid help to India : 150 Pressure Swing Adsorption oxygen generating plants

Through USAID, the U.S. Government is delivering on our promise to stand with the people of India as they fight a devastating second-wave of COVID-19.

USAID will also support the Government of India’s efforts to stand up 150 Pressure Swing Adsorption oxygen generating plants, allowing 150 healthcare facilities to generate their own oxygen. 

https://www.usaid.gov/india/coronavirus

United States USA Covid assistance, grant help to India

 

UNITED STATES DELIVERS SIX PLANES TO INDIA WITH EMERGENCY MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO COMBAT COVID-19 SURGE

• 20,000 courses of remdesivir (125,000 vials) to help treat critically ill patients.
• Nearly 1,500 oxygen cylinders to address India’s critical oxygen shortage, which can be repeatedly refilled at local supply centers.
• Nearly 550 mobile oxygen concentrators that obtain oxygen from ambient air. These units have a lifespan of more than five years and can serve multiple patients at once, depending on their oxygen needs.
• One million rapid diagnostic tests to quickly identify COVID-19 cases and prevent community spread.
• Nearly 2.5 million N95 masks to protect health care professionals and other frontline workers.
• A large-scale Deployable Oxygen Concentration System that can provide oxygen to treat 20 or more patients at a time.
• 210 pulse oximeters to measure oxygen levels in a patient’s blood to determine whether a higher level of care is needed.    Courtesy USAID

https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/may-6-2021-united-states-delivers-six-planes-india-emergency-medical-supplies

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP)

 

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP)

ELAP provides financial assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish for losses due to disease, certain adverse weather events or loss conditions, including blizzards and wildfires, as determined by the Secretary. ELAP assistance is provided for losses not covered by other disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, such as losses not covered by the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) and the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP).

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/emergency-assist-for-livestock-honey-bees-fish/index

USDA offers a variety of programs and services to help communities, farmers, ranchers, and businesses that have been hard hit by Hurricanes Irma, Harvey, Maria and other natural disaster events. To find out how USDA can further assist you, visit USDA’s Storm Disaster Page.