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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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Those Affected by Fire - Government Resources

From: Russell, Sara L - SFFEB
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2017 3:34 PM
Subject: SFFEB: Those Affected by Fires - Resources 10/18 Update #2
Importance: High

TO:         SFFEB All Contacts

RE:         Fire Victims Info

Passport Agency will be in Santa Rosa and Napa Sonoma tomorrow, new info:

PASSPORT AGENCY

  • Passport Agency staff available to answer questions and take applications for fire victims at the Local Assistance Centers (LAC ) in Santa Rosa on Thursday, October 19, from 9:00am to 2:00pm, and Napa on Friday, October 20. 
  • Anyone with immediate passport needs can come to our office at 450 Golden Gate without an appointment, between 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Monday-Wednesday, and Friday, and 9:30 am to 2:00 pm on Thursday.
  • LAC Sonoma County
  • Press Democrat Bldg.,
  • 427 Mendocino Ave.
  • Santa Rosa, CA 94501
  • LAC Napa County
  • 2751 Napa Valley
  • Corporate Dr. Building A
  • Napa, CA 94559
  • https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/information/where-to-apply/agencies/san-francisco.html  Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov

 

FEDERAL EMPLOYEE EDUCATION AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

  • Natural disasters strike every year all across the United States. Often close to 100 natural disasters are declared each year in response to floods, hurricanes, winter storms, wildfires, droughts, and tornadoes.
  • FEEA offers disaster relief grants to eligible federal employees when these disasters strike. FEEA has given over 9,000 disaster relief grants totaling $4.5 million to federal employees since 1986.

 

COPIES OF VITAL RECORDS – Center for Disease Control, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htm  Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov

  • The links below are provided for those users who want direct access to individual state and territory information. To use this valuable tool, you must first determine the state or area where the birth, death, marriage, or divorce occurred, then click on that state or area. Please follow the provided Application Guidelines  Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov to ensure an accurate response to your request.
  • The federal government does not distribute certificates, files, or indexes with identifying information for vital records.

 

FEMA

 

PASSPORT AGENCY

 

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

 

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: Disaster Loan Information

 

IRS

  • IRS Disaster Relief Page, https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations   Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov
  • IRS, Tax Relief for Victims of Wildfires in California, https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-for-victims-of-wildfires-in-california  Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov
  • The IRS granted relief to individuals and businesses in nine counties: Orange, Solano, Butte, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Sonoma, and Yuba. This relief applies to various tax filing and payment deadlines that occurred starting on October 8, 2017. This includes:
    • Individual filers whose tax-filing extension runs out on October 16, 2017. Because tax payments related to these 2016 returns were originally due on April 18, 2017, any payments associated with these filings are not eligible for this relief.
    • Quarterly estimated tax payments due January 16, 2018.
    • Quarterly payroll and excise tax returns due on October 31, 2017.
    • Calendar-year tax-exempt organizations whose 2016 extensions run out on November 15, 2017.
    • Yee also noted that disaster victims might receive free copies of state returns to replace lost or damaged ones. Taxpayers may complete Form FTB 3516, Request for Copy of Tax Return Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.govand print the name of the disaster in red ink (for example, Tubbs Fire) at the top of the request.

 

CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES

http://wildfirerecovery.org/federal-individual-assistance/  Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov

  • Insurance: If you have insurance, you do not have an insurance claim before applying for FEMA assistance. You are encouraged to contact your insurance company as soon as possible to start your insurance claim process. When you receive your insurance settlement, please call FEMA at 800-621-3362 to discuss your assistance options.
  • Inspections: If an inspection is required, a FEMA inspector will contact you to schedule an appointment to assess your property damage. If you cannot be present, another household member over the age of eighteen may meet with the inspector. Inspectors will have FEMA photo identification and are trained to identify damage caused by disasters. Inspectors will not physically access certain areas of your home, such as crawlspaces, attics, and roofs. Inspectors do not decide if you receive FEMA assistance.
  • Duplication of Benefits: It is important to provide accurate insurance information to avoid a duplication of FEMA assistance. By law, FEMA cannot assist with losses addressed by insurance coverage or other sources. If you receive FEMA assistance and have insurance that covers the same loss, you will be required to return the FEMA Assistance.
  • Financial Assistance Limit:  Financial assistance is limited to an annually adjusted amount based on the Consumer Price Index. The financial assistance limit may be reached with a combination of Housing Assistance and Other Needs Assistance grant awards.
  • Flood insurance and Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA): If your home is located in a SFHA, you are required to purchase and maintain flood insurance on your property as a condition of receiving FEMA disaster assistance. Failure to obtain and maintain flood insurance may affect your eligibility for future FEMA assistance.
  • Duration of Assistance: Assistance is provided for up to eighteen months from the disaster declaration, but may be extended if approved by the State, Tribe, or Territory, and FEMA.

 

CA DMV

  • The California Department of Motor Vehicles is offering limited services to residents affected by the wildfires raging across the state. Fire victims who need to replace lost or damaged DMV-related documents can do so free of charge at assistance centers in the impacted areas. The DMV is one of several state and federal agencies working together to provide services to fire victims.
  • https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/about/lac  Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov

 

CA TAXES FILING EXTENDED FOR FIRE VICTIMS

  • The Franchise Tax Board (FTB) announced special tax relief for California taxpayers impacted by wildfires. Affected taxpayers are granted an extension to file 2016 California tax returns and make payments until January 31, 2018.
  • Taxpayers may claim a deduction for a disaster loss sustained in an area proclaimed by the Governor to be in a state of emergency. For a complete list of all disasters declared by the Governor, see the “Qualified Disasters” chart on FTB’s Disaster Loss webpage Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov, https://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/disaster.shtml  Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov
  • Additional information and instructions are available in FTB Pub. 1034  Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov, https://www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/misc/1034.pdf  Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  How to Claim a State Tax Deduction for Your Disaster Loss.
  • Disaster-loss rules apply to victims in Governor-declared or presidentially declared disaster areas. Taxpayers may claim a disaster loss in one of two ways: They may either claim the disaster loss in the tax year that the disaster occurred when they file their 2017 tax return next spring. Or, taxpayers may claim the loss in the tax year before the disaster occurred by filing either an amended or original 2016 tax return. The advantage of claiming the disaster loss in the prior tax year is that the FTB can more quickly issue a refund.
  • Taxpayers claiming the disaster loss should write the name of the disaster in red ink at the top of the tax return to alert FTB to expedite the refund. If taxpayers are e-filing, they should follow the software instructions to enter disaster information.

 

PUBLIC INFORMATION

 

Sara Russell, Director

San Francisco Bay Area Federal Executive Board  Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov

@FEBSanFrancisco