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Commissioner To Meet With Flood Victims Friday

District 5 Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry will hold two open house sessions Friday to meet with constituents to answer questions regarding the recent flood damage in the area, how to apply for FEMA assistance and more.

Times and locations are as follows:

• 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Pinewoods Presbyterian Church, 2198 Hwy 297A, Cantonment
• 1 to 5 p.m. – Milestone Baptist Church, 3800 Pine Forest Rd, Cantonment

For more information, contact Barry’s office at (850) 595-4950.

Escambia County: FEMA Application Updates, Disaster Assistance, Road Closures

West Florida Wins, Advances To State Championship Game (With Photo Gallery)

The West Florida Lady Jaguars are headed to the 4A state championship game on Thursday.

The Lady Jags beat defending state champions Gulliver Prep 3-0 Wednesday at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach. WFHS will play  P. K. Yonge Thursday for the shot at West Florida’s first-ever softball state championship.

Korina Rosario pitched a two-hit shutout, striking out 12.  For West Florida, Kristen Gunter was 2-2 with a RBI; Nachelle Watson was 2-3 with a RBI and run scored; Jordaine Watkins was 1-2 with a triple; Brianna Rogers was 1-2 with a triple and run scored. The Jags scored two in the first inning and one in second inning.

For a photo gallery, click here.

NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Carnley, click to enlarge.

Flash Flood Watch In Effect: Possible Heavy Rain Returns

There is  flash flood watch in effect for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida from Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon. During the time period, from one to three inches of rainfall is expected on already saturated ground. Local totals of 5-7 inches are possible where thunderstorms repeatedly move over the same locations.

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

• Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
• Friday Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
• Friday Night Showers and thunderstorms. Low around 65. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
• Saturday Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 82. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Saturday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
• Sunday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind 5 to 10 mph
• Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
• Monday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
• Monday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southeast after midnight.
• Tuesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.
• Tuesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.
• Wednesday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
• Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 54.
• Thursday Sunny, with a high near 79.

Escambia Extension Services Temporarily Relocated Due To Flooding

Wahoos Drop Second Straight

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos were shut out by the Chattanooga Lookouts, 6-0, on Wednesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The Wahoos (14-19) mustered just four hits against the Lookouts (14-18), who won their second straight game over Pensacola.

RHP Jon Moscot made his seventh start of the season for the Wahoos and gave up 3 R/ER and seven hits in 6.0 innings pitched. Moscot struck out five batters, which is tied for his second most strikeouts in an outing.

The Wahoos struggled for the second straight game to find hits against the Lookouts. Shortstop Devin Lohman went 1-for-5 with a single and a stolen base. Juan Duran and Chris Berset singled consecutively in the bottom of the seventh, but a double play thwarted the Wahoos rally. Duran ended the night 2-for-4, adding a double to his ledger in the ninth.

Chattanooga’s starting pitcher Chris Reed was fantastic for the Lookouts. The left-hander went 6.0 innings and gave up just one hit, which came from the leadoff hitter Lohman in the bottom of the first. Reed struck out seven and gave up just one walk to the Wahoos. RHP Juan Gonzalez came on in relief of Reed and gave up two hits, but pitched a scoreless seventh for the Lookouts.

Darnell Sweeney led the way offensively for Chattanooga. He went 2-for-5 and his fourth inning two-run home run broke the game open for the Lookouts. Third baseman Daniel Mayora had another successful day at the plate; he went 1-for-4 with an RBI sacrifice fly. Ozzie Martinez put the game away in the eighth with a pinch-hit solo home run off of reliever Justin Freeman.

The Wahoos will send RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-1, 1.82) to the bump to try and even the series with the Lookouts. Chattanooga’s RHP Andres Santiago (0-2, 6.08) will oppose Lorenzen on the mound.

by Tommy Thrall

Red Cross Continues To Serve Flooded Neighborhoods In Escambia, Santa Rosa

As neighborhoods continue to dig out and clean up, many residents are discovering that their needs are changing. Because the Red Cross works closely with community and government partners, and has an “ear to the ground,” Red Cross services are changing to meet those needs.

On Thursday, May 8, the Red Cross will be in mobile units in affected neighborhoods in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Additionally, Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles will be circulating with snacks and water and disaster responders are meeting one-on-one with people affected to create recovery plans, navigate paperwork and locate help from other agencies.

Since the April 29 downpour, the Red Cross has mobilized five response vehicles and more than 100 trained workers – more than half of them from the state of Florida. Through Tuesday, the Red Cross had served more than  12,500 meals and snacks, handed out hundreds of comfort and relief items, and provided nearly 190 mental health or health-related contacts. In addition, Red Cross shelters have provided more than 350 overnight stays.

Pictured: The Red Cross has been hard at work in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties this week. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Obama Approves Individual Flood Assistance For Escambia, Santa Rosa

President Barack Obama has approved federal financial assistance for residents of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties have recieved the FEMA Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance. The Individuals and Households Program (IHP) is a combined FEMA and State program. The IHP provides up to $32,400 (FY 2014) for financial help or direct services to those who have necessary expenses and serious needs if they are unable to meet the needs through other means.

When a disaster occurs, this program provides grant money and services to people in the declared area whose property has been damaged or destroyed and whose losses are underinsured or not covered by insurance. In every case, the disaster survivor must register for assistance and establish eligibility. The toll-free telephone registration number is (800) 621-FEMA (3362). Individuals who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call (800) 462-7585 directly; those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) should call (800) 621-3362.

Applicants may also register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via their mobile device at m.fema.gov FEMA (or the providing agency) will verify eligibility and need before assistance is offered.

FEMA’S GUIDE TO INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE

Individuals and Households Program

The Individuals and Households Program (IHP) is a combined FEMA and State program. The IHP provides up to $32,400 (FY 2014) for financial help or direct services to those who have necessary expenses and serious needs if they are unable to meet the needs through other means. When a disaster occurs, this program provides grant money and services to people in the declared area whose property has been damaged or destroyed and whose losses are underinsured or not covered by insurance. In every case, the disaster survivor must register for assistance and establish eligibility. The toll-free telephone registration number is (800) 621-FEMA (3362). Individuals who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call (800) 462-7585 directly; those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) should call (800) 621-3362.

Applicants may also register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via their mobile device at m.fema.gov FEMA (or the providing agency) will verify eligibility and need before assistance is offered.

What Types of Assistance Are Provided?

The IHP has two provisions: Housing Assistance and Other Needs Assistance. The IHP – Housing Assistance (HA) (including Temporary Housing, Repair, Replacement and Semi-Permanent or Permanent Housing Construction) assures that people whose homes are damaged by a disaster have a safe place to live. The IHP – Other Needs Assistance (ONA) (including personal property and other items) provides financial assistance to individuals and households who have other disaster-related necessary expenses or serious needs. These programs are designed to provide funds for expenses that are underinsured or not covered by insurance. They are available only to homeowners and renters who are United States citizens, non-citizen nationals, or qualified aliens affected by the disaster. The following is a list of the types of assistance available through this program and what each provides.

Housing Assistance (HA)

Temporary Housing – homeowners and renters receive funds to rent a different place to live or a temporary housing unit when rental properties are not available.

Repair – homeowners receive grants to repair damage from the disaster that is not covered by insurance. The goal is to make the damaged home safe and sanitary.

Replacement – homeowners receive limited funds to replace their destroyed home.

Semi-Permanent or Permanent Housing Construction – This type of assistance occurs only in insular areas or remote locations specified by FEMA, where no other type of housing assistance is possible.

Other Needs Assistance (ONA)

Applicants receive grants for necessary and serious needs caused by the disaster. This includes personal property, transportation, funeral, medical, dental, moving and storage and other expenses that FEMA approves. The homeowner or renter may need to apply for a SBA loan before receiving assistance.

Small Business Administration: Disaster Loans

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) can make federally subsidized loans to repair or replace homes, personal property, or businesses that sustained damages not covered by insurance. The SBA can provide three types of disaster loans to qualified homeowners, renters and businesses:

(1) home disaster loans to homeowners and renters to repair or replace disaster-related damages to home or personal property,

(2) business physical disaster loans to business owners to repair or replace disaster-damaged property, including inventory, and supplies; and

(3) economic injury disaster loans, which provide capital to small businesses and small agricultural cooperatives to assist them through the disaster recovery period.

For many individuals the SBA disaster loan program is the primary form of disaster assistance.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance

The Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program is funded by FEMA and administered, under a delegation of authority, by the U.S. Department of Labor. DUA provides unemployment benefits and re-employment services to eligible individuals who have become unemployed because of major disasters. DUA benefits are generally paid up to 26 weeks beginning with the first week following the date the major disaster began and ending with the 26th week following the date the major disaster is declared by the President., as long as the individual‘s unemployment continues to be a direct result of the major disaster. These benefits are made available to individuals not covered by other unemployment compensation programs, such as self-employed, farmers, migrant and seasonal workers and those who have insufficient quarters to qualify for other unemployment compensation.

All unemployed individuals must register with the State Workforce Agency in the declared State by phone, internet, or in person at local claims offices to determine their eligibility for the DUA program

Legal Services

Pursuant to 42 USC §5182 of the Stafford Act, whenever the President declares a major disaster, FEMA, through a Memorandum of Agreement with the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association, provides free legal assistance to disaster survivors. Legal advice is limited to cases that will not produce a fee (i.e., these attorneys work without payment). A legal service hotline toll-free number may also be available as a means for individuals to contact the volunteer lawyers for assistance with legal questions and concerns. Cases that may generate a fee are turned over to the local lawyer referral service. The assistance that participating lawyers provide typically includes:

• Assistance with insurance claims (life, medical, property, etc.);
• Assistance with home repair contracts;
• Counseling on landlord/tenant problems;
• Assisting in consumer protection matters, remedies, and procedures and
• Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in a major disaster

Disaster legal services are provided to low-income individuals who, prior to or because of the disaster, are unable to secure legal services adequate to meet their needs as a consequence of a major disaster.

If the loss was sustained from a federally declared disaster, the taxpayer may choose which of those two tax years provides the better tax advantage.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can expedite refunds due to taxpayers in a federally declared disaster area. An expedited refund can be a relatively quick source of cash, does not need to be repaid and does not need an Individual Assistance declaration. It is available to any taxpayer in a federally declared disaster area.

Crisis Counseling

The Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) is designed to provide supplemental funding to States for short-term crisis counseling services to people affected in Presidentially declared disasters. Supplemental funding for crisis counseling is available to the State through two grant programs: the Immediate Services Program which provides funds for up to 60 days of services immediately following a disaster declaration and the Regular Services Program which provides funds for up to nine months following a disaster declaration. A State may request either or both types of funding. The following services are offered under the CCP grant program:

• Individual Crisis Counseling – Helps survivors understand their reactions, improve coping strategies, review their options and connect with other individuals and agencies that may assist them.
• Basic Supportive or Educational Contact – General support and information on resources and services available to disaster survivors.
• Group Crisis Counseling – Group sessions led by trained crisis counselors who offer skills to help survivors cope with their situations and reactions.
• Public Education – Information and education about typical reactions, helpful coping strategies and available disaster-related resources.
• Community Networking and Support – Relationship building with community resource organizations, faith-based groups and local agencies.

To be eligible for crisis counseling services funded by this program, the person must be a resident of the designated area or must have been located in the area at the time the disaster occurred. The person must also have a mental health problem which was caused by or aggravated by the disaster or its aftermath, or he or she must benefit from services provided by the program.

Disaster Case Management

The Disaster Case Management (DCM) Program is funded by FEMA and implemented in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (ACF). Under this program FEMA offers a two-phased approach to assist disaster survivors with disaster caused unmet needs.

Phase I Direct Federal DCM Services – This is the rapid response element of DCM and includes the rapid deployment of a national team to the impacted area to begin immediate outreach and assessment with eligible clients impacted by the disaster. This team is on the ground within 72 hours of deployment. Team deployments may last 30 to 180 days, depending on the State’s need.

Phase II DCM Grant – This is a federal grant to States to support the delivery of long-term DCM assistance up to 24 months from the date of the declaration, or if Phase I was implemented, an additional 18 months not to exceed a total of 24 months. This grant makes funds available to the State for disaster case managers to work directly with disaster survivors to assist them with the development of a disaster recovery plan that may include referrals, monitoring of services and advocacy, when needed.

Internal Revenue Service Special Tax Considerations

Taxpayers who have sustained a casualty loss from a declared disaster may deduct that loss on the federal income tax return for the year in which the casualty actually occurred, or elect to deduct the loss on the tax return for the preceding tax year. The National Disaster Relief Act provides the following tax benefits:

• Allows all taxpayers, not just those who itemize, to claim the casualty loss deduction regardless of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income level.
• Increases the amount by which all individual taxpayers must reduce their personal casualty losses from each casualty from $100 to $500 for taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2008. The reduction amount returns to $100 for taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2009.
• Removes the requirement that the net casualty loss deduction be allowed only if the casualty loss exceeds 10 percent of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income.
• Provides a five-year net operating loss (NOL) carryback for qualified natural disaster losses.
• Waives certain mortgage revenue bond requirements for affected taxpayers and allows the bond proceeds to be used for rebuilding.

One Critically Injured In Highway 29 Wreck In Cantonment

One person was critically injured in a single vehicle crash Tuesday night in Cantonment.

The driver of a pickup truck pulling a trailer lost control , left the roadway and overturned on Highway 29 near West Roberts Road. The 46-year old male was trapped in his vehicle and had to be extricated by first responders. He was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital by LifeFlight as a “trauma alert”.

The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details, including the man’s name, have not yet been released by the FHP.

Southbound Highway 29 was closed for a brief period of time by the accident.

Pictured: One person was injured in this single vehicle accident on Highway 29 Tuesday night. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.

Century Grant To Map Water System; Getting Paid To Maintain Red Light

The Town of Century is seeking a grant worth about $25,000 to map their water system. The grant map will show the entire system, plus all of shutoff valves and connections.

The town has also entered into an agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation under which FDOT will compensate the town for maintaining the traffic signal at Highway 29 and East Highway 4 — the only traffic signal in the town.

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