Hurricane Sally

Bill Hoppner
Disaster Preparedness

Hurricane Sally made landfall near Gulf Shores, Alabama early Wednesday morning. Sally is continuing to crawl north-northeast at 3 mph, and the storm’s center will move across southeastern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle through early Thursday. The National Hurricane Center says “Catastrophic and life-threatening flooding occurring over portions of the Florida Panhandle and Southern Alabama”. Department of Florida will be assessing the damage when it is safe to do so, and will keep our Legionnaires informed. Our thoughts and prayers are with our members and their families affected by Hurricane Sally.

After Hurricane Sally rainfall and flooding begins to subside, most of our members will begin to return to their communities and homes to access damages and start the recovery process. We want you to be aware of The American Legion programs that are available to assist you during this time of recovery. If members are in need of continuing housing after a disaster because of damages sustained to their homes and the home is not available to be occupied, they should go to
https://www.disasterassistance.gov or the local FEMA Disaster Center for FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance. If member is unable to get FEMA or other government provided temporary housing, members may apply for an individual NEF grant or TFA within the restrictions established for each fund.

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National Emergency Fund (NEF)

National Emergency Fund (NEF)

Eligibility:

  1. Eligibility open to Legionnaires and Sons of The American Legion members (up to $3,000) Legion Posts (up to $10,000).
  2. Applicant must have been displaced from their primary residence due damage sustained during a declared natural disaster.
  3. Not meant to replace or repair items, only to meet most immediate needs (i.e., temporary housing, food, water, clothing, diapers, etc.) during the period immediately following the disaster.
  4. Does not cover insurance compensation or monetary losses from a business, structures on your property (barns, tool sheds, etc.,) equipment or vehicles.
  5. Membership must be active at time of disaster and the time of application.

Application Requirements:

  1. Application must be submitted to the Department Headquarters within 90 days of disaster.
  2. Disaster must be a “declared” natural disaster for Legion Family members.
  3. Supporting data (photos, receipts, repair estimates, etc.) should be included if at all possible or statements (testimony) from post/district/department officers attesting to damages to residence requiring displacement.
  4. Only one grant per household per disaster.
  5. Post grants must derive from a declared natural disaster and substantiating documentation must provide that The American Legion post will cease to perform the duties and activities in the community due to losses sustained.
    Download Application: https://www.legion.org/documents/legion/pdf/NEF_Application.pdf
Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) grants

Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) grants

Eligibility:

The minor child must not be older than 17, or 20 if still enrolled in high school or is physically handicapped. The minor child must be the biological child, stepchild, or in the legal custody of, a qualifying veteran. A qualifying veteran is defined as a member of the United States Armed Forces serving on federal orders current under Title 10 of the United States Code, inclusive of all components, OR any veteran possessing an up-to-date membership in The American Legion. Active duty applicants can be considered without being a member of The American Legion. A single onetime non-repayable Temporary Financial Assistance grant of up to $1,500 will be permitted for the minor child(ren) of a qualifying veteran.

No child can be considered eligible until a complete investigation is conducted at the post or department level, a legitimate family need is determined, and all other available assistance resources have been utilized or exhausted. For more information or to apply, members will start by contacting their local American Legion post, or Department Headquarters, or visit the website—https://www.legion.org/tfa.

Other Helpful resources: http://floridadisaster.org/getaplan/
State Assistance Information Line (SAIL): 1-800-342-3557
Please stay tuned to your local officials and/or log on to the www.floridadisaster.org

For God and Country,
William “Bill” Hoppner
Department Disaster Preparedness Chairman

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