With the first hurricane of the season tracking up the Atlantic Coast, Delaware emergency management officials are urging the public to take this storm very seriously. While it is too early to accurately predict the strength and exact path of Sandy by the time it reaches the Delmarva area everyone is encouraged to be prepared for disruptive weather.

Safety and Homeland Security Secretary Lewis D. Schiliro urges everyone to use this time to review their household emergency plan and to check emergency supplies.

“It is very important for the public to also monitor the weather and be aware of pending effects of a storm well in advance in order to plan and act safely. “Have a plan, get a kit and stay informed,” Schiliro said. “We want everyone to have food and water for at least three days, batteries for lights and radios and a means of charging cell phones.   Remember that part of your emergency plan is to have a destination in mind if you have to evacuate.”

Our citizens should also check on their neighbors who may be in need of assistance, Schiliro said.

Additional things to consider in planning for an emergency include food and medications for those that might have special dietary or pharmaceutical needs and/or appropriate equipment for family members who might use assistive technology. Families also need to remember the needs of pets and stock adequate food and supplies as well as appropriate carriers or restraints should evacuation be required.

A very important component of each household emergency plan is to have important documents like medical records, deeds or leases, insurance records and birth certificates copied and stored where they can be easily accessed and packed in case of evacuation.

Schiliro reminds all best assist emergency management officials by staying informed and following recommendations and instructions.

For information on making a household emergency plan and building a supply kit, visit dema.delaware.gov,Ready.gov or Listo.gov . For regional weather updates, visit http://weather.gov/phi

Dover — Right now, thousands of homeowners are cleaning up and filing insurance claims following an outbreak of devastating tornadoes across the U.S. However, according to a February 2012 survey from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), more than half of Americans don’t have a home inventory of their possessions, putting them at risk for inadequate home insurance coverage, should severe weather strike.

The recent survey revealed 59 percent of consumers have not made a list or inventory of their possessions. Of those individuals with a home inventory, 48 percent do not have receipts; 27 percent do not have photos of their property; and 28 percent do not have a back-up copy of the inventory outside the home. Additionally, 59 percent of people with inventories have not updated their inventories in more than a year, meaning new purchases and gifts may not be covered.

“Violent weather events affected approximately 80 percent of the nation’s population over the past six years. In 2011 many Delawareans experienced the effects of Hurricane Irene which left widespread destruction in her wake,” stated Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart. “Creating a detailed inventory of your possessions is one the best ways to ensure you have the right amount of homeowners or renters insurance for you and your family.”

Last year alone, severe weather disasters across the country inflicted more than $43 billion in damage. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners myHOME Scr.APP.book application makes it easier for consumers to document their valuables, update their inventories and store the information for easy access after a disaster. The app is free and available for both iPhone and Android smart phone users.

Before severe weather strikes, consumers can use their inventory to evaluate their coverage and determine if they need to update their policies. It’s important to know that how much is reimbursed varies greatly from policy to policy. On average, home contents are reimbursed only up to 50 percent of the home’s insured value, i.e., $50,000 to replace the contents of a home insured for $100,000.

Creating a Home Inventory

The myHOME Scr.APP.book app lets users capture images, descriptions, bar codes and serial numbers of personal possessions and stores the information electronically for safekeeping. The app organizes information by room and creates a back-up file for email sharing. Located on the Delaware Department of Insurance (DOI) website are instructions for you to download this application to your phone.

For those without a smart phone, also on the DOI website is a downloadable home inventory checklist and tips for effectively cataloguing your possessions. Both are available at www.delawareinsurance.gov.

Attention Established Families

“All renters and homeowners should develop a home inventory, and this is especially important for established families with years’ worth of family possessions,” says Commissioner Stewart of the Delaware Department of Insurance. “Whether it is electronics, furnishings, collectibles, jewelry or clothing, families need to know what they own and how much it’s worth.”

As kids grow, the average family’s number of household possessions increases, as well. Families should consider the following areas when reviewing their home insurance needs:

• Electronics —The standard $1,000 policy limit on electronics may not be sufficient to replace multiple computers, MP3 players and tablets. Additionally, many homeowners’ policies do not cover items, such as laptops and televisions, stolen from a dorm room; so families with children living on or off campus should consider renter’s insurance.
• Jewelry — Most policies limit coverage for jewelry to $500, which typically is insufficient to replace a favorite pair of diamond earrings, a wedding ring or expensive family jewelry passed down from generation to generation.
• Fashion — Considering the amount of laundry in the hamper each week, many parents realize the volume of clothing in the household is significant. Replacing clothes, shoes, handbags and accessories for today’s fashion-conscious family can add up.
• Home Goods — Kitchen appliances, workshop tools and sporting equipment also should be included when creating a home inventory.

Disasters Happen, Be Prepared

Personal safety should always be paramount when considering the threat of severe weather. Developing an emergency kit, identifying storm shelters and gathering important phone numbers; including the 24-hour contact information for your insurance agent and insurance company, are all important preparedness steps. For more tips on preparing for severe storms and other disasters, visit: http://www.insureuonline.org/disaster_preparedness.htm.

If you have questions or are confused about how and why to complete a home inventory, contact Delaware Department of Insurance by visiting www.delawareinsurance.gov or calling 302-674-7303.

In response to requests from the Governor, the Obama Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture have separately approved disaster declarations that bring assistance to Delawareans from damages incurred in the wake of Hurricane Irene and from drought conditions over the entire summer that affected Delaware’s agricultural community. The Small Business Administration will open offices in Delaware tomorrow to begin to take filings for low-interest loans from those affected by the hurricane. Farmers experiencing crop losses can immediately begin contacting the Delaware Office of the USDA Farm Service Agency.

“Across the state, Delawareans acted quickly to prepare for the hurricane and worked together to pick up the pieces afterward,” said the Governor. “For those who incurred property damage, getting financial help with recovery is important to getting homes and businesses back to normal,” said the Governor. “For many weeks prior to the hurricane, our farmers were suffering drought conditions that significantly affected crops and livestock. This designation will bring much-needed federal funds to some of our hard working farmers.”

Hurricane Irene Assistance

The Obama administration has approved Delaware for additional federal assistance in response to damages and expenses incurred from Hurricane Irene The Small Business Administration approved New Castle and Kent counties for low interest disaster loans for eligible applicants. The low interest disaster loan program applies to residents and businesses affected by significant rainfall and flooding from Hurricane Irene from Aug. 27 – 28.

Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. Businesses and non-profit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. The SBA may increase a loan up to 20 percent of the total amount of disaster damage to real estate and/or leasehold improvements, as verified by SBA, to make improvements that lessen the risk of property damage by future disasters of the same kind.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aqua cultural, and most private nonprofit organizations of all sizes, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

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. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

SBA’s customer service representatives will be on hand at the Disaster Loan Outreach Centers to answer questions about the disaster loan program, explain the process, issue and help individuals complete their applications.

Small Business Administration centers will open Tuesday, October 4 in the following locations:

Individuals and businesses unable to visit one of the centers may obtain information on loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA website at www.sba.gov. Completed applications should be returned to one of the Center or mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

Also related to Hurricane Irene, the President approved the Governor’s Disaster Declaration request for assistance for municipalities, some government agencies and private nonprofits eligible for reimbursement for additional categories of emergency work and repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities. Delaware Emergency Management Agency and FEMA representatives are working with affected municipalities and non-profits.

Drought
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack notified the Governor’s Office that he is designating the Kent and Sussex Counties in the State of Delaware as primary natural disaster areas “due to drought and related conditions that occurred in the 2011 crop year.” New Castle County, Delaware is also named as a contiguous disaster county because it is adjacent to a primary county.

According to Vilsack’s letter, “A Secretarial disaster designation makes farm operators in both primary and contiguous counties eligible to be considered for assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), provide eligibility requirements are met. This assistance includes FSA emergency loans and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) Program. Farmers in eligible counties have 8 months from the date of a Secretarial disaster declaration to apply for emergency loan assistance. FSA will consider each emergency loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of production losses, security available, and repayment ability. SURE Program applications for 2011 crop losses will be accepted in 2012, when the 2011 farm revenue data required by statute becomes available.”

A reports by Robin Talley, Acting State Executive Director of the Delaware Emergency Planning Board of the Farm Services Agency that an estimated 1045 farmers on 2202 farms in Kent and Sussex Counties sustained losses in excess of 30% of their expected production of their crops.

On September 9, 2011, the Governor formally requested that USDA Secretary Vilsack declare a drought disaster declaration for Delaware due to drought and excessive heat conditions occurring over theJune-August 2011 period. He based his request on Delaware Department of Agriculture Secretary Ed Kee’s recommendation and on the severity and duration of drought conditions and their impact, including assessments of crop and livestock losses.

Agriculture Secretary Ed Kee said, “I want to thank Robin Talley, her staff at the FSA State Office, and the County Emergency Boards for all of their hard work and assistance in compiling the necessary data to make this disaster declaration happen.”

Farmers experiencing crop losses should contact or call the Delaware Office of the USDA Farm Service Agency, 1221 College Park Drive, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19904 or (302) 678-4250.

New Jersey Disaster
In a separate declaration, SBA has said that small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes located in New Castle County are eligible for federal economic injury disaster loans due to a disaster declared for New Jersey as a result of excessive rain, excessive heat, flooding, high winds and hail that began on May 14, 2011. New Castle County qualified for this assistance as a contiguous county to the disaster area. Further information on this assistance is also available by calling SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing).

Governor Jack Markell is requesting federal disaster status for Delaware in the wake of Hurricane Irene that will make businesses, homeowners, state and local governments and non-profits eligible for two types of federal help in different parts of the state. The requests are based on areas that met federally mandated thresholds for disaster assistance.

Gov. Markell sent a letter to the Small Business Administration late Friday requesting a major declaration of physical disaster for New Castle County. This designation, if granted, would make businesses and building owners as well as homeowners and renters eligible for low-interest SBA loans for repair and replacement.  The SBA loans would be available both in New Castle County and in Kent County, since it is contiguous to New Castle.

If the SBA approves the designation as expected, it would open a temporary office in Delaware to help businesses and homeowners apply for the low-interest loans.

Only New Castle County met the criteria for the SBA designation, which is major damage to a minimum of 25 homes and businesses resulting in uninsured losses of 40 percent or more of the estimated fair replacement value of pre-disaster market value of the damaged property.

Governor Markell also sent a request to the President Monday for a Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance funding in Kent and Sussex Counties. This declaration would make state and local governments and certain private non-profits involved in storm response eligible to be reimbursed for 75 percent of response, rebuilding, and cleanup costs.

The request for FEMA reimbursement for government and non-profit response was based on meeting federal thresholds of $1.14 million in costs statewide as well as  $644,664 for Sussex and $534,024 in Kent. The threshold of $1.76 million in costs for New Castle County to be eligible was not reached.

These requests are in addition to an emergency declaration received by Delaware on Sunday, August 28 that provided direct federal support from FEMA for immediate response.

“Delaware was relatively fortunate with regard to the damage wrought by Hurricane Irene, but DEMA, working with other state agencies, the county and local governments and with representatives of both FEMA and SBA, have worked to identify enough damage to make some parts of the state eligible for some types of assistance,” Gov. Markell said.

Delaware did not reach a damage level in any county that would have allowed application for direct FEMA grants to owners of damaged homes, known as “individual assistance.” That threshold is 173 homes in each county destroyed or suffering major damage. The nearby states of Maryland and Virginia also did not meet the threshold for individual assistance, though other states with more extensive damage to homes from Hurricane Irene did.

Letters Posted Online:

• Letter to President Obama
• Letter to U.S. Small Business Association

In his weekly message, Governor Markell talks about how Delawareans recently came together, first to help build a new home for a non-profit in Sussex County and then to pull together around Hurricane Irene.

“Whether it was the volunteers in the evacuation shelters I visited, the first responders working throughout the storm, or the neighbors cleaning up tornado and flood damage afterwards, the spirit of service that helps define our state – the commitment to making each moment matter – was clear,” Markell says.

The network reality show “Extreme Makeover” came to Sussex County earlier in the month to help drive the construction and capture for broadcast over 1,000 Delawareans, including the Governor and members of his Cabinet, volunteering their time and energy to build several buildings that would become the “Jusst Sooup Ranch.” The energy around the “extreme makeover” gave way to real concerns over extreme weather, as Hurricane Irene approached, then hit, the state.

“Just like so many volunteers did to start the building of that home in Sussex before the storm, when Irene approached, hundreds of thousands of Delawareans quickly pulled together, to protect their own homes and personal safety – taking action before the storm hit, moving quickly to clean up after it passed,” Markell said.

The state has consolidated into place information about recovery assistance that might be available to individuals and six different state agencies have assigned members to join the Governor’s new “Rapid Response Team” which is working to help businesses affected by the Hurricane. Storm and recovery information can be found at: http://governor.delaware.gov/information/storm_resources.shtml

About the Governor’s Weekly Message:

At noon every Friday, a new video message is posted to the Governor’s website and YouTube channel and is distributed to Delaware media outlets. Transcripts of the messages are posted and the audio version of the Governor’s message is available on iTunes as a podcast for distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers. The Governor’s weekly message is currently being carried on the air and posted on websites by various media outlets, and the direct link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndiyhWm8lgo.

Constituents, media outlets and others are free to link to the Governor’s video message on YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/user/GovernorMarkell – or on his Facebook page – www.facebook.com/governormarkell – or on the Delaware State website at http://governor.delaware.gov/information/podcast_video.shtml. All are also invited to follow him on Twitter – www.twitter.com/governormarkell – and submit ideas through http://ideas.delaware.gov.