fema manual 2014.authcheckdam

Disaster Legal Services Training Manual

Chicago, IL June 2014

Disaster Legal Services Training Session

American Bar Association Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

June 2014 Chicago, IL

http://www.americanbar.org/groups/young_lawyers/disaster_legal_services.html

http://www.americanbar.org/groups/young_lawyers/events_cle/leadership_training.html

http://www.americanbar.org/groups/young_lawyers/disaster_legal_services.html

ABA YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION DISASTER LEGAL SERVICES (DLS)

DLS/FEMA TRAINING AGENDA

June 28, 2014, 2:15 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Hotel Chicago Downtown

333 N. Dearborn Chicago, Illinois

2:15pm Check-in, Welcome, and Introductions

David Nguyen, DLS Director Mary Ellen Martinet, Associate Chief Counsel, FEMA

2:30pm Introduction to the Disaster Legal Services program and the Federal

Emergency Management Agency Tanya Stevenson, FEMA Ryan Hamilton, DLS Vice-Director

3:15pm Break 3:30pm Involving civil legal services in disaster response & National Disaster Legal Aid

John Eidleman, Senior Program Counsel, Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Tony Barash, Chair, ABA Special Committee on Disaster Response & Preparedness

3:45pm Activity

4:00pm The ABA YLD Response to a Disaster and Implementing the DLS Program

Dana Hrelic, former District Representative for Connecticut and incoming Administrative Director

5:00pm Break 5:15pm Mock Disaster Table Top Exercises

David Nguyen, DLS Director, and the DLS Team

6:00pm Reflection & Closing Panel

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TRAINING OUTLINE I. Welcome and Introductions – David Nguyen, DLS Director & FEMA Rep.

II. The DLS program & FEMA

Overview of the DLS Program – Ryan Hamilton, DLS Vice-Director

I. Brief history

A. Federally mandated program B. FEMA responsible with carrying out federal mandate C. FEMA carries out mandate through partnership with ABA, which in turn

partners with various legal aid groups, disaster responders, and bar associations

II. Brief explanation of when DLS is implemented - DLS may be implemented after the President declares an area a major disaster and FEMA requests DLS services

III. DLS Mission and Objectives - Ensure major disaster survivors have access to pro bono legal help

IV. Brief explanation of how DLS accomplishes its mission and objectives

A. When FEMA requests DLS, the ABA works with district representatives who work with local legal aid groups, law firms, and bar associations to deliver pro bono legal services

B. DLS is delivered via a hotline and/or onsite at a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) where disaster survivors can connect up with an attorney

C. DLS is in whole a volunteer program in which the District Representative (DR) is responsible for the following: Coordinating the setup of the hotline Recruiting volunteers to manage the hotline calls and the walk-ins at

the DRC Assist disaster survivors so their legal needs can be met

V. Brief overview of partners and ABA Sections

A. FEMA and the ABA YLD are the primary partners in the DLS program as

outlined in the MOA B. Legal Services Corporation is an umbrella organization for legal aid

groups throughout the country C. ABA Special Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness is available to

assist in mitigating and developing the relationship between the DR and the state and/or local bar associations and are willing to provide their disaster expertise if needed

D. ABA Pro Bono Program will post hotline information, press releases, etc. on the ABA Disaster Website www.abanet.org/disaster

FEMA–Tanya Stevenson, Program Specialists, FEMA Headquarters

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http://www.abanet.org/disaster

I. Brief overview of structure

II. Brief overview of mission and objectives

III. Brief overview of the disaster declaration process

A. Disaster strikes and the Governor requests the President to declare the area a

major disaster B. President declares area a major disaster C. The disaster declaration triggers implementation of certain Individual

Assistance programs

IV. Brief overview of the Individual Assistance programs A. Unemployment B. Housing C. Disaster Legal Services (DLS)

V. FEMA’s role in DLS

A. Evaluate area and survivors impacted by a major disaster to determine need for

DLS B. If DLS is determined, FEMA informs the YLD DLS Director of the declared area and

they follow-up with a Disaster Declaration, Letter of Intent (LOI), and Purchase Order (PO) for $5K to initiate the program

C. Provide DRC access to DLS participating attorneys

III. Involving civil legal services in disaster response & National Disaster Legal Aid

Legal Services Corporation (LSC) – John Eidleman, Senior Program Counsel

I. Brief overview of LSC • Federal roots • Mission and objectives

II. Brief explanation of where LSC legal aid groups are located throughout the

country

III. Brief explanation of LSC’s role in disasters • LSC maintains its primary mission of serving the legal needs of low income

persons • These legal needs may be complicated or increased because of a disaster • LSC partners with the ABA in a couple of ways

• It may host the DLS hotline It may provide attorneys to represent low income disaster survivors who

meet LSC income parameters

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Special Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness – Tony Barash, Chair

I. Brief overview

II. Mission and objectives

III. Role with DLS

IV. Committee members as a resource to ABA YLD

IV. ABA YLD Response to a Disaster and Implementing the DLS Program

I. Contractual obligations

A. Familiarize yourself with the Memorandum of Agreement between FEMA and the ABA YLD

B. Proceed with establishing the hotline only once the Letter of Intent LOI is received to ensure reimbursement of expenses

C. Purchase order will follow and DR needs to take note of the terms of purchase order (term date and amount) so as not to exceed them. Prior approval is required from FEMA by way of an amended purchase order to exceed the terms.

II. Hotline assistance

A. Upon receipt of the Letter of Intent proceed with hotline setup

See lifeline of an ABA YLD/FEMA hotline power point Hotline usually housed by state bar Hotline callers usually screened by state bar staff members Screened callers sent to district representative for assignment to

volunteer attorneys Hotline must be toll free

III. On-site assistance - Staff booth at Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC)

Work with field representative to coordinate

IV. Volunteer recruitment A. Contact state and local bars to let them know of need B. Contact local legal aid groups - refer to contact lists distributed by Legal

Services Corporation C. Contact the pro bono counsel of larger law firms

V. Hotline publicity

A. Local / state media press releases

State Bars will usually draft the press releases All press releases must be reviewed by ABA Media Relations before released.

Forward a Microsoft Word document of the press release for review to the YLD Staff Program Associate, Alia S. Graham and the Communication Services

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Manager Ira Pilchen Once the press release is finalized they can be sent to TV stations,

newspapers, radio stations, local churches, third party agencies (Red Cross, Food Bank), etc. Also, the DR needs to send a PDF version of the final press release to YLD Program Associate – Alia S. Graham for historical purposes and to ensure it gets posted on the ABA Disaster Website

B. ABA Center for Pro Bono will publicize disaster 800 numbers, press releases,

volunteer requests, etc. on the ABA Disasters Website at link www.abanet.org/disaster

VI. Volunteer training

A. DLS manual

Overview of DLS program Overview of typical legal questions List of third party organizations Go-bys

B. District representative instruction

Cannot charge or accept a fee Must be a low income survivor at the time of the call

VII. Assignment of cases to volunteers

A. Done through the district representative in smaller disasters B. May be done through third party for larger disasters

VIII. Reporting requirements

A. District representative reports on a weekly basis to FEMA Field Representative; ABA

Staff Liaison– Alia S. Graham; and the YLD DLS Team – David Nguyen, Kimberly Goins, Wendy Ellard, Jamin Horn, and Matthew Vlasman Number of calls (with weekly total and grand total columns) Types of calls Number of volunteers Number of cases opened and closed

B. Shut down of hotline

District representative works with FEMA field representative to determine the appropriate time to shut down the hotline

Appropriate time is when the hotline is not receiving any calls after a reasonable period of time

IX. Submission of Disaster Approved Expenses

A. District Representative will need to submit for the disasters

approved expenses within 30-days of hotline closure. Expense reimbursement requests should be sent to the FEMA Field Officer for initial review and approval and

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copy the YLD Staff Liaison – Alia S. Graham, Program Associate. The following is required and should be included when submitting Detailed invoice from the bar association (on their letterhead) that incurred

the expenses to the American Bar Association – Attn: Alia S. Graham Must include backup pertinent receipts and invoices, tallies, approval e-

mails, etc. If ever in doubt on the process contact Alia S. Graham at 312.988.5671 with questions

B. Once invoice and backup is submitted to the FEMA Field Officer and YLD Staff Liaison the following steps must occur before ABA can process the payment Submission is reviewed for accuracy and completeness by FEMA and ABA ABA creates an invoice and includes with the reimbursement packet

received from the DR and submits to FEMA Headquarters for their review Once FEMA approves expenses they will process the ABA’s invoice through

a wire transfer Upon receipt of the funds the ABA will then processed the invoice

submitted from the bar association to the ABA for payment

X. Timeliness concerns

A. When DLS is activated (Letter of Intent - LOI is received) the hotline must be set up within a short period of time (48 hours is ideal)

B. When a disaster survivor calls a hotline, the survivor’s call must be returned within 48 hours

C. DLS reports must be sent each week D. Preplanning - In your absence due to a vacation, etc. be sure to inform the YLD

Staff Liaison; DLS Team; and the Administrative Director who they should contact in the event of a disaster in your district

XI. The role of the national district representatives

A. Provide access to translation services B. Assist with recruitment efforts if needed

V. Table Top Mock Disaster Exercise – David Nguyen, DLS Director, and the DLS Team

VI. Closing Panel & Reflections

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NOTES:

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Disaster Overview

Disaster cycle

Types of Disasters

Emergency Response

How Disaster Legal Services fits in

Disaster Cycle Types of Disasters

Natural or man made

Warning versus No‐warning

Emergency Response Life safety and preservation

Search and rescue

Medical care

Immediate needs ‐ Food, shelter, clothing

Asset protection

Incident Command System

Coordinated approach to incident management

How Disaster Legal Services (DLS) fits in DLS is a FEMA Individual Assistance program

The ABA YLD provides DLS in presidentially declared disasters through its MOU with FEMA

Part of collaborative disaster response effort

Includes local, state and federal agencies, non profit organizations, etc. (counties/parishes, state and federal governments, FEMA, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Southern Baptist Convention, etc.)

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Questions?

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© Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2002Doc # 2132218

Lifeline of an ABA YLD FEMA Hotline



1. Natural or man-made disaster occurs.



2. President declares disaster area.



3. FEMA determines that disaster legal services are needed.



4. FEMA contacts ABA YLD Disaster Legal Services (DLS) Director.



5. DLS Team Member contacts appropriate ABA YLD District Representative.

District Representative (DR) determines:

a. Where hotline will be housed.

b. Who will staff hotline.

c. How referrals will be handled.

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6. Contact occurs between FEMA Field Officer and ABA YLD District Representative.



7. DLS Director receives Letter of Intent and Funding Letter from FEMA. Usual amount of initial funding is $5,000. If costs are expected to exceed that amount, DR should notify DLS Team Member who will work with DR and FEMA in producing a budget for FEMA’s approval. If funds in excess of the initial allocation are spent without prior approval there is no guarantee that reimbursement will be given.


Lifeline of an ABA YLD FEMA Hotline 8. ABA YLD District Representative establishes hotline

and works with FEMA to distribute hotline number.

a. Toll-free 800 number must be used. (ABA Chicago office provides toll-free 800 number if needed.)

b. Voicemail must indicate that caller has reached “the FEMA-ABA YLD Disaster Legal Services Hotline.” May wish to add “in conjunction with __________ State Bar.”Voicemail message should be recorded in both English and Spanish.


Lifeline of an ABA YLD FEMA Hotline 9. Calls coming into the hotline are handled upon receipt or, if

more complicated, intake sheet is passed on to referral attorney. Calls eligible for assistance must be:

a. Related to the disaster.

b. From low-income individuals.

c. Not fee-generating.

i. If fee-generating call, must be referred to local or state attorney referral service.

ii. If not fee-generating and call is simple, may be handled on the phone by attorney working the hotline.

iii. If complicated, refer to pro bono attorney, who must make contact with caller within 48 hours.



10. Attorneys who are licensed in the state may answer legal questions while answering calls on the hotline, attorneys not licensed in the state and all others may only fill out client intake forms which will be sent to attorneys who have volunteered to take pro bono cases. If a call is handled on the hotline, no intake sheet needs to be completed.

11. People who volunteer to answer calls on the hotline must travel to the hotline location, we cannot route calls elsewhere.



12. Attorneys who are licensed in the state may take pro bono cases.

13. ABA YLD District Representative maintains daily tally of calls and reports totals to DLS Team Member, FEMA Field Officer, and ABA YLD Staff on weekly basis. DLS Coordinator sends weekly report to FEMA Headquarters.

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14. Calls slow down - ABA YLD District Representative works with DLS Team Member and FEMA to determine appropriate time and manner of terminating hotline.



15. Final tallies sent to DLS Team, ABA Staff, and FEMA Field Officer. DLS Team Member sends final tally to FEMA Headquarters.



16. Expense reimbursement requests should be sent to FEMA Field Officer for initial approval then to the ABA Chicago office for processing. Please keep receipts to substantiate your reimbursement requests.

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Natural or man-made disaster occurs.

President declares disaster area.

FEMA determines that Disaster Legal Services are needed.

FEMA contacts ABA YLD Disaster Legal Services

(DLS) Director.

DLS Director contacts appropriate ABA YLD District

Representative (DR).

DLS Director receives letter of Intent and

Funding Letter from FEMA.

Contact occurs between FEMA Field Officer and

ABA YLD DR.

ABA YLD District Rep establishes hotline and

works with FEMA to distribute hotline number.

Calls coming into hotline are handled upon receipt, or if more complicated, intake sheet

is passed onto referral attorney.

Attorneys who are licensed in the state may answer legal questions while answering calls on hotline; attorneys not licensed in the state and all others may only fill out client intake forms which will be sent to attorneys who have volunteered to take pro bono cases.

People who volunteer to answer calls on the

hotline must travel to hotline location, we cannot route calls

elsewhere.

Attorneys who are licensed in the state may take pro bono

cases.

ABA YLD DR maintains daily tally of calls and reports totals to DLS Director, YLD Staff

Liaison, and FEMA Field Officer on weekly basis.

DLS Director sends weekly report to FEMA

Headquarters.

Calls slow down – ABA YLD DR works with DLS Director and FEMA to determine appropriate time and manner of terminating hotline.

Final tallies sent to DLS Director, YLD Staff Liaison and

FEMA Field Officer. DLS Director

sends final tally to FEMA

Headquarters.

Expense reimbursement requests should be sent to FEMA Field

Officer for initial approval then to the ABA Chicago office for

processing. Please keep receipts to substantiate your reimbursement

requests.

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6/20/2013

1

ABA YLD Response to a Disaster and Implementing the DLS Program

Dana Hrelic

District 2 Representative (Connecticut and Rhode Island)

Molly Aspan

District 24 Representative (Oklahoma and Arkansas)

Dana HrelicHorton, Shields & Knox, P.C.

90 Gillett StreetHartford, CT 06105

Office: (860) 522‐[email protected]

Molly AspanHall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden

& Nelson, P.C.320 S. Boston Avenue, Suite 200

Tulsa, OK 74103Office: (918) 594‐[email protected]

Hurricane Sandy• Second Costliest Hurricane in U.S. History

• Major Flooding

• Torrential Rain

• Gale‐Force Winds

• Connecticut & Rhode Island:

– Road Closures for all State Highways

– People on the shoreline, in up to 4 counties, evacuated from their homes

– Power outages for approximately 625,000 up to 9 days after the storm

– Millions of gallons of raw and partially treated sewage discharged into Long Island Sound

– Hundreds of houses and businesses ravaged by the storm, flooded and destroyed

– Destroyed all new construction and rebuilding from the effects of Hurricane Irene, which was August 2011.

Oklahoma Severe Storms & Tornadoes

• May 20, 2013 at 2:56 p.m.

• Peak winds at 210 miles per hour

• On the ground for 39 minutes over a 17‐mile path

• Killed 24 people

• Injured almost 400 others

• 1,150 homes destroyed

• $2 billion in damages

Briarwood Elementary School

Moore, Oklahoma

Before Disaster Strikes …

• You should:– Prepare a “Form” News Release

– Talk to Your State Bar Affiliate

• Give Them a Heads Up About Hotline Assistance

• Discuss the Process & Be Prepared

– Inform State & Local Affiliate Members of Potential Need to Recruit DLS Volunteers

– Read Memo of Agreement between FEMA and ABA YLD and Become Familiar with Your Contractual Obligations

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When Disaster Strikes …• Timing of Major Disasters:

– State Governor Declaration of Emergency & Request for Assistance

– Presidential Declaration of Federal Emergency

• Two Types of Assistance:

– Public Assistance:

» Funding Available to the State and Local Governments (and Some Non‐Profits)

– Individual Assistance:

» Funding Available to Individual and Family Residents Affected by Disaster

• DLS kicks in after Individual Assistance is Declared

Letter of Intent

• After Individual Assistance is Declared for Counties in your State, You Will Receive a Letter of Intent.

• It Declares FEMA’s Intent to Implement DLS ...

• And usually arrives up to 1 week after a declaration.

Hotline Assistance

• When You Receive the LOI, Set Up the Hotline– Within 48 Hours (Ideally)

– Usually Housed by State Bar• Did you discuss this with the State Bar already? If so, remind them of what needs to be done.

– Toll Free Line• State Bar can be reimbursed for cost of establishing line

• Get estimate of line cost and authorize reimbursement with your FEMA contact before establishing line

– Get the Phone Number & Coordinate With Your FEMA Field Rep.

How the Hotline Works1) Hotline Callers Call the 1‐800 or 1‐888 Toll Free Hotline

2) Hotline Calls Screened by State Bar Staff Members

– Screening Information: Fill Out DLS Call Log Sheet

• Name, Address, Cell & Home Phone Numbers

• What type of legal assistance is needed?1) FEMA application or denial of assistance help

2) Life, medical and/or property insurance claims

3) Home repair contracts and/or contractors

4) Replacement of wills, deeds, etc.

5) Landlord/Tenant problems

6) Mortgage and foreclosure problems

• Do you presently have a lawyer? Can you afford one?

3) Staff Bar Members Forward Calls to DR (you!), and

4) DR Distributes Calls to Volunteers; OR

5) Staff Bar Members Distribute Calls to Volunteers.

6) Ask Volunteers to Return Calls within 48 Hours & Report Back

Press Release

• Did you already draft a “form” press release? If so, fill in the details! If not, do it now.

• Coordinate release to local & state media by state bar affiliate within 48 hours

• Include hotline number & eligibility– This is how you inform the public of how they can access DLS.

• Send to Your FEMA Field Rep., David Nguyen and Gina Sadler for Review and Approval beforeRelease

Look for Samples in Your Materials!

Release the Release!

• Ask Your State Bar Affiliate to Release Your Press Release to Local and State Media including:– TV stations, Newspapers, Radio Stations

– Local Churches

– Third‐Party Agencies (Red Cross, Food Bank, etc.)

– Bar Publications and Media

• Send a PDF version to Gina Sadler to ensure it gets posted on the ABA Disaster Website– The ABA Center for Pro Bono will also publicize it.

– www.americanbar.org/disaster

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Volunteer Recruitment• Reach Out to Local and State Bars to Recruit Volunteers

• Contact Local Legal Aid Groups

• Contact Pro Bono Counsel of Larger Law Firms

Real Life Example: Connecticut & Hurricane Sandy•Sent e‐mails to local county bar young lawyer associations

•Sent e‐mails to Connecticut Bar Association YLS•Worked with YLS leadership to specifically e‐mail individuals•Reached out to Statewide Legal Services (CT legal aid group)

•They volunteered to handle all landlord/tenant referrals.•Worked with CBA Insurance Section, which established its own

hotline for insurance‐related questions and referrals.

You can’t get what you don’t ask for, so DON’T BE AFRAID to ask for help!

Volunteer Training• You:

– Review DLS Manual includes overview of DLS program & overview of typical legal questions

• Give Your Volunteers:– Copies of sample questions– List of third‐party organizations that will help– List of other community and bar association resources (referral networks, etc.)

• Tell Your Volunteers:– They don’t have to take every (or any) case. This is about helping survivors with basic legal advice and pointing survivors with more in‐depth problems in the right direction to people that can and will help them.

Reporting Requirements

• DR (you!) Must Report on a Weekly Basis to your FEMA Field Representative, Gina Sadler, and the YLD DLS Team (including David Nguyen)

• Report is in Excel Format and Includes:

– Number of calls (weekly & grand total columns)

– Types of calls

– Number of volunteers

– Number of cases opened & closed

Ask your volunteers to report back to you with the results of their call within 24 hours of making the call.

Recap: It’s All in the Timing

• Set up Hotline Within 48 Hours of Receiving LOI• Ask Your Volunteers to Return the Calls Within 48 Hours

• DLS Reports Must Be Sent Weekly (Ask Your FEMA Field Representative if s/he Has a Preference for What Day of the Week)

• Check Your Calendar Going on Vacation? Attending a YLD Conference? – Inform the YLD Staff Liaison, the DLS Team, the Administrative Director and your FEMA Representative of what dates you’ll be gone and what arrangements you’re making in the interim.

On‐Site Assistance

• You May be Asked to Help Staff the Booth at Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC)

– Check with your FEMA Field Representative & work with him/her to coordinate.

Real Life Problems• Who will house the toll free hotline?

– New Jersey issues with Hurricane Sandy

• Our hotline phone number was distributed to the wrong state!

– Connecticut overwhelmed with New Jersey callers

• The other state in my two‐state district won’t cooperate!

– Rhode Island rejected DLS after Hurricane Sandy

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Shut Down of Hotline

• District Representative works with FEMA Field Representative to determine the appropriate time to shut down the hotline

– Is the hotline no longer receiving calls?

– Has the hotline not received a call in a while?

• Coordinate with your state bar (or whoever is housing the hotline) to call the hotline provider (AT&T, etc.) and shut it down.

Submission of Disaster Approved Expenses

• Ask state bar for invoice for pre‐approved expenses

• Submit invoice to FEMA Field Representative and YLD (Gina Sadler) within 30 days of hotline closure.– Include with detailed invoice:

• Backup pertinent receipts & invoices, tallies and pre‐approval e‐mails

• FEMA and the ABA will then review your submission, the ABA must approve it, FEMA must approve it and send the ABA the money, and the ABA, upon receive of the funds, will process the invoice submitted from the state bar for payment.

Questions?

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Disaster Legal Services

ABA YLD AND FEMA DLS RESPONSE TO SUPERSTORM SANDY

Connecticut 866-864-4464 In collaboration with the Connecticut Bar Association, and the Connecticut Bar Association Young Lawyers Section.

New Jersey 888-541-1900 In collaboration with the New Jersey State Bar Association.

New York 800-699-5636 In collaboration with the New York State Bar Association.

Maryland 866-858-0039 In collaboration with the Maryland State Bar Association.

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This means that in addition to keeping information you provide confidential, your attorney is required to competently, and professionally represent you and your interests, and may pursue claims for FEMA benefits on your behalf.

If you have questions about the duties and responsibilities your attorney owes you, contact your state or local bar associations.

How many people has DLS helped? In the last four years, the DLS program has provided free legal help to more than 100,000 individuals affected by major disasters.

What should I do if DLS is not

provided for my disaster?

For some major disasters, FEMA and the American Bar Association will determine that there is little to no need for DLS. In disasters where DLS is not being provided, individuals seeking legal help should contact their state and local bar associations, as well as local legal aid organizations.

What is DLS? The Disaster Legal Services (DLS) program provides free legal assistance to persons affected by Presidentially declared major disasters. DLS is a Federal disaster assistance program operated by the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (ABA YLD) pursuant to a memorandum of understanding with FEMA.

DLS delivers free legal services on legal matters that arise directly from major disasters.

What triggers DLS? Upon request of a state governor, the President may make a declaration of major disaster for a state. The declaration will define the areas of the state affected by the disaster as well as the types of federal assistance available to individuals affected by the disaster.

Together, FEMA and representatives of the American Bar Association will evaluate the need for DLS. Once FEMA determines DLS is needed, FEMA will contact the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division to implement the DLS program.

Who is eligible for DLS? Any person affected by a disaster who does not have the means to hire an attorney may be eligible to receive free legal assistance.

What types of legal matters can I get help with? The DLS program can provide legal assistance on almost any legal issue that arises from a Presidentially declared major disaster, including: bankruptcy, civil rights, employment law, family law, FEMA benefits claims, insurance law, landlord-tenant law, real estate law, as well as wills, trusts, and probate matters. To emphasize, legal help in any area of law is only available if the legal issue is directly related to a declared major disaster.

How do I get free legal help through DLS? When FEMA and the ABA YLD determine that DLS is needed, the ABA YLD will set up a toll free hotline to give individuals impacted by a disaster a direct connection to free legal assistance. All calls made to the DLS hotline will be forwarded to attorneys who can provide over-the-phone assistance, and when needed, callers will be referred to attorneys who will provide legal representation free of charge.

In some disasters, volunteer attorneys will staff Disaster Recovery Centers allowing individuals to meet with an attorney.

Will my call to the DLS hotline be confidential? Yes. All information provided through the DLS program is completely confidential. In fact, attorneys who work with the DLS program owe the same duties to their disaster-clients as they owe to their paying clients.

Disaster Legal Services

www.ambar.org/disasterhelp www.abanet.org/disaster www.disasterlegalaid.org

www.fema.gov

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http://www.disasterlegalaid.org/

http://www.fema.gov/

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION AND THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

DISASTER LEGAL SERVICES RESPONSE TO SUPERSTORM SANDY

NEW YORK HURRICANE SANDY HOTLINE NUMBER:

800-699-5636 In collaboration with the New York State Bar Association

www.ambar.org/disasterhelp

www.fema.gov

Through the Disaster Legal Services Program, the ABA YLD and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provide immediate temporary legal assistance to disaster survivors at no charge.

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1. Alabama2. Alaska3. American Samoa4. Arkansas5. Arizona6. California7. Colorado8. Connecticut9. Florida10. Georgia11. Hawaii12. Illinois13. Indiana14. Iowa

States and U.S. Territories Requiring Disaster Legal Services

July 2006 – May 2013

15. Kansas16. Kentucky17. Louisiana18. Maine19. Maryland20. Massachusetts21. Minnesota22. Mississippi23. Missouri24. Nebraska25. New Hampshire26. New Jersey27. New Mexico28. New York

28. New York29. North Carolina30. North Dakota31. Oklahoma32. Oregon33. Pennsylvania34. Rhode Island35. South Dakota36. Tennessee37. Texas38. Vermont39. Virginia40. Washington41. West Virginia42. Wisconsin

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Individual Assistance Sequence of Delivery

NOTE: Eligibility is based on a FEMA inspection conducted on the damaged property. Max amount of Individuals and Households Assistance (IHP) is adjusted annually according to the CPI index.

Voluntary Agencies Emergency Food, Shelter, Clothing Medical Needs

Insurance Such as Homeowners, NFIP, etc.

FEMA Housing Assistance (Not SBA Dependent) Applicants can receive more than one type of assistance

1. Temporary Housing Assistance – applicants can receive financial assistance to reimburse lodging expenses and/or rental

assistance for up to 18 months or the program maximum, whichever occurs first. Applicants can receive direct assistance (FEMA mobile home or travel trailer) for up to 18 months.

2. Repair Assistance – owners can receive up to the IHP cap for repairs 3. Replace Assistance – owners with destroyed homes can receive up to the IHP cap towards the purchase of a new home 4. Permanent or Semi-Permanent Construction – owners with destroyed homes can receive direct assistance or financial

assistance for the construction of permanent or semi-permanent homes in insular areas outside the continental U.S. and in other locations.

SBA Income Evaluation (Repayment Capability) To determine if applicant can qualify for a low interest SBA loan

Applicants must complete the SBA loan application and be denied for a loan to be eligible for further assistance.

FEMA/State Other Needs Assistance (ONA) Non-SBA Dependent Items

Assistance for Medical, Dental, Funeral, Other

Unmet Needs – Voluntary Agencies If the applicant has received the maximum amount of assistance from FEMA, State, and/or

SBA’s federal disaster assistance programs or the federal disaster assistance programs do not provide for the need, FEMA may refer the applicant to Voluntary agencies.

SBA Referral – For SBA Dependent items and those applicants who qualify for a low interest loans

Real Property (owners) loans up to $200,000 Personal Property (owners & renters) loans up to $40,000. *If it is later determined that an applicant cannot qualify for a loan, the applicant is referred to FEMA

FEMA/State Other Needs Assistance (ONA) For those applicants who do not qualify for a SBA loan Personal Property Transportation Moving and Storage Group Flood Policy

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COMMON FEMA ACRONYMS AA ABA ALE ARC BFC CBFP CBRA CBRS CCP CFR CPI DAD DAE DD DFC DH DHAP DHS DLS DOB DOL DRC DUA EOP EPA EFT EOC EPA ERT ESF EST FCO FEMA FHBM FRP FSA FSR FY GAR HHS HOH HR HS HUD

Assistant Administrator American Bar Association Additional Living Expenses American Red Cross Bill for Collection Cora Brown Fund Coastal Barrier Resources Act Coastal Barrier Resources System Crisis Counseling Program Code of Federal Regulations Consumer Price Index Disaster Assistance Directorate Disaster Assistance Employee Damaged Dwelling Disaster Finance Center Disaster Housing Disaster Housing Assistance Program Department of Homeland Security Disaster Legal Services Duplication of Benefits Department of Labor Disaster Recovery Center Disaster Unemployment Assistance Emergency Operating Procedure Environmental Protection Agency Electronic Funds Transfer Emergency Operations Center Environmental Protection Agency Emergency Response Team Emergency Support Function Emergency Support Team Federal Coordinating Officer Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Hazard Boundary Map Federal Response Plan Farm Services Agency Final Statistical Report Fiscal Year Governor's Authorized Representative Health and Human Services Head of Household Home Repairs Human Services U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development

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IA IHP IFMIS JFO LAN LTRC NECC NEMIS NEPA NFIP NFIRA NPSC OFM OCC OIG OMB ONA OSD PDA PFT PP QC RA RAA RP RR SAP SBA SCO SFHA SOP SSA SSI USDA VA VAL VOAD WYO YLD

Individual Assistance Individual & Households Program Integrated Financial Management Information System Joint Field Office Local Area Network Long Term Recovery Committee National Emergency Coordination Center National Emergency Management Information System National Environmental Policy Act National Flood Insurance Program National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 National Processing Service Center Office of Financial Management Office of Chief Counsel (formerly Office of General Counsel) Office of Inspector General Office of Management and Budget Other Needs Assistance (formerly IFG) Operation Support Division Preliminary Damage Assessment Permanent Full Time (Employee) Personal Property Quality Control Regional Administrator Request for Allocation Advice Real Property Response & Recovery State Administration Plan Small Business Administration State Coordinating Officer Special Flood Hazard Area Standard Operating Procedure Social Security Administration Supplemental Security Income United States Department of Agriculture Veterans Administration Voluntary Agency Liaison Voluntary Agencies Active in Disasters Insurance “Write-your-own” Young Lawyers Division

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Legal Services Corporation Background Information for Disaster Legal Services Training June 2014

Submitted by John C. Eidleman Senior Program Counsel, Legal Services Corporation Office of Program Performance (OPP)

Introduction

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is a private, non-profit corporation established by Congress to seek to ensure equal access to justice under the law for all Americans by providing civil legal assistance to those who otherwise would be unable to afford it. LSC was created in 1974 with bipartisan congressional sponsorship and the support of the Nixon administration, and is funded through congressional appropriation.

LSC is headed by an 11-member board of directors appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The board is chaired by John G. Levi. James J. Sandman is President of LSC. He was selected for the position by the LSC Board of Directors on January 3, 2011.

By law, the board is bipartisan: no more than six members may be of the same political party. LSC does not provide legal services directly. Rather, it provides grants to independent local programs selected through a system of competition. In 2013, LSC funds 134 local legal aid programs with approximately 900 offices. Together they serve every county and congressional district in the nation, as well as the U.S. territories. Special service areas also address the distinctive needs of Native Americans and migrant farm workers. Local programs are governed by their own boards of directors, which set priorities and determine the types of cases that will be handled by the program, subject to restrictions set by Congress. The services provided typically relate to matters of family law, housing, employment, government benefits, or consumer problems. A majority of each local board is appointed by local bar associations. One-third of each local board is composed of client representatives appointed by client groups. Each board hires its own executive director, who in turn hires the program staff. Programs are encouraged to supplement their LSC grants with additional funds from state and local governments, IOLTA (Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts) programs, other federal agencies, bar associations, United Way and other charitable organizations, foundations and corporations, and individual donors. They further leverage federal funds by involving private attorneys in the delivery of legal services for the poor, mostly through volunteer pro bono work.

LSC-funded programs do not handle criminal cases, nor do they accept fee-generating cases that private attorneys are willing to accept on a contingency basis. In addition, in 1996 a series of new limitations were placed upon activities in which LSC-funded programs may engage on behalf of their clients, even with non-LSC funds. Among them are prohibitions on class actions, challenges to welfare reform, lobbying, litigation on behalf of prisoners, representation in drug-related public housing evictions, and representation of certain categories of aliens. The Corporation has implemented and rigorously enforces these restrictions.

The role of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) in disaster response

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The role of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) in disaster response is to facilitate the flow of information to legal services programs to enable the ongoing delivery of high quality legal services to low-income persons affected by disasters. This role is reinforced in LSC policy and guidance documents, specifically, in the objectives and strategies of the LSC Strategic Directions 2006-2010, which encourage strategic partnerships and collaborations, and in the LSC Performance Criteria which defines one aspect of high quality legal services as disaster preparedness and coordination with state and local emergency preparedness entities to ensure continuity of client services at times of community disasters.

For many years, LSC had a limited capacity to address disasters. The focus was primarily on obtaining and distributing specially appropriated funds on various occasions for the purposes of supporting disaster legal services. Since 2005, when Hurricane Katrina swept through the Gulf Coast region with ferociousness rarely if ever seen in recent times, LSC has made significant strides in its capacity for facilitating disaster response by LSC grantees and in coordinating with other organizations engaged in disaster response.

LSC has had significant success in developing a growing national infrastructure and capacity for disaster response within LSC-funded programs and partner organizations. The keys to this success are coordination, collaboration and the timely and open sharing of information and resources with entities providing disaster response.

In the aftermath of natural disasters, LSC grantees in the stricken areas often face dramatic challenges in meeting increasing demand for legal assistance by client communities. At the same time, they are frequently dealing with program infrastructure challenges, the need to replace their own property and equipment, and staff who are facing their own loss of property, housing, and security. Having a national infrastructure that provides access to pertinent information and resources is essential in supporting these programs.

Components of LSC’s Disaster Coordination and Planning Initiative

Collaboration with national Partners and stakeholders, including ABA, NLADA,ProBono.Net, American Red Cross and FEMA, and with LSC’s grantees to promotedisaster awareness and competency

Serving as a resource to programs preparing for or responding to disaster National Disaster Legal Aid website

LSC’s Relationships with National Disaster Response Organizations LSC and its grantees understand that coordination and collaboration are cornerstones of

effective disaster preparedness and response. Developing and maintaining strong partnerships with disaster response organizations at the national level is an important part our effort to support grantees in this area.

FEMA. Today, LSC and FEMA have a strong partnership. Prior to Katrina, however, LSC and FEMA did not work together. Following Hurricane Katrina, LSC contacted FEMA

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seeking supplemental funds to aid the provision of legal services to low-income people affected by the storms. LSC was advised by FEMA that it was not in a position to assist LSC programs and that FEMA already had a contract with the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (ABA/YLD) for the provision of legal aid to low-income people following disasters, through a program called Disaster Legal Services (DLS)1. That contract provides funding to the ABA after a disaster to 1) setup a legal services telephone hotline; and 2) assist with the recruitment of pro bono attorneys who can give advice to the individuals on topics such as how to access FEMA services. 2

In December 2006, the LSC President and staff met with the FEMA Chief Counsel and members of the Office of the Chief Counsel to promote a working relationship with FEMA and to seek greater cooperation during disaster recovery. The cooperation discussed included FEMA’s directing low-income people affected by disasters to LSC-funded programs for legal assistance.

As a result of our meetings with FEMA, the FEMA Associate Chief Counsel for Field Counsel was appointed as a liaison to LSC. She has participated in a number of the national Legal Aid Disaster Network conference calls to answer questions from the field about FEMA policy, and has helped programs resolve issues they face in working with FEMA, such as obtaining release of clients’ files, access to Disaster Recovery Centers and policy issues on recoupment of benefits.

FEMA has asked LSC to contact the agency about any problems that LSC programs encounter with FEMA on the local level. As a result of this relationship LSC’s grantees experience a more efficient process advocating for clients with FEMA 3

1 In times of disaster, FEMA and the ABA Young Lawyers’ Division (YLD) work together to facilitate assistance to disaster victims through YLD Disaster Hotlines and Disaster Recovery Centers, which allow low-income individuals to connect with pro bono attorneys. This long-standing program is known as Disaster Legal Services (DLS). When the President of the United States declares a “major disaster” anywhere in the United States or its territories, pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1974 (Stafford Act), federal assistance is made available to supplement the efforts and resources of state and local governments and voluntary relief organizations. This federal assistance is coordinated by FEMA and, if requested, may include free legal services to low-income individuals. If Disaster Legal Services are requested by the governor of the state in which the disaster occurred, FEMA then contacts the ABA/YLD Disaster Legal Services Coordinator. The DLS Coordinator contacts the appropriate ABA/YLD District Representative (DR), who then put DLS in motion, establishes a disaster hotline and recruits pro bono volunteers. The DR determines where the hotline will be housed, who will staff the hotline, and how referrals will be handled. The typical amount of funding is $5,000 for each hotline. 2 In August 2007, LSC was requested by FEMA to participate in settlement negotiations ordered by the presiding judge in the litigation of TRLA vs. FEMA, pending in the US District Court Western District of Texas, to help negotiate a settlement that included a new a contract between FEMA and the ABA/YLD that would ensure coordination of the full complement of available legal resources at the time of a disaster. As a result of this settlement, the prohibition on YLD attorneys advising clients of their rights against FEMA has been removed and the YLD now coordinates with legal services and pro bono private attorneys to provide a broad range of legal services to low-income persons during a disaster. 3Two examples include: One issue related to the sufficiency of a release of information form attorneys are to submit to FEMA to obtain a client’s records. LSC was able to obtain FEMA approval of a form that the field program was using and more readily obtain copies of the client’s records. On the second issue, the executive director of Iowa Legal Aid sought LSC’s assistance with FEMA to resolve a question about whether a client’s use of a FEMA grant for home repair could be used for home replacement without written approval from FEMA. There was no prior

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American Bar Association. Although LSC and the ABA have a long history of collaboration, the organizations had not worked together in the area of disaster relief until after Katrina. In October 2006, LSC’s President and staff appeared before the ABA Special Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness to discuss general disaster-related issues, their impact on legal services, the role of the organized bar, and lessons learned from LSC’s work.

In its written recommendation to the committee, LSC emphasized the importance of private attorneys collaborating with legal aid providers on disaster preparedness and relief, supplementing and providing advice and representation, and producing legal manuals. LSC also emphasized the critical need for coordination of all legal services providers when a disaster occurs. LSC recognizes that all available resources must be used in these situations. While YLD attorneys play an important role in staffing hotlines and Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs), there often are not enough volunteers with a background in legal issues faced by low-income people. It is, therefore, vital that legal services programs be on the front lines after a disaster.

With the support of the Special Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness, and through the new FEMA YLD agreement, legal services providers are now an essential partner in the DLS delivery program. LSC staff participates in the training of new YLD District Representatives to ensure understanding of the role LSC and its grantees play in a disaster, and to promote coordination among them. The DRs are supplied contact information for all LSC-funded programs and recipient programs are provided the list of ABA/YLD District Representatives. LSC encourages its programs to reach out to their respective District Representatives to coordinate efforts in advance of a disaster, train together, and to ensure that they are included in the disaster hotline center. This sets the stage for better communication on the ground during disasters, and ultimately improves client services.

American Red Cross. The American Red Cross serves as the primary emergency relief and aid organization charged with leading and coordinating efforts to provide mass care, housing, and human services after disasters. In October 2006, LSC met with representatives of the Red Cross at their national headquarters in Washington, DC, to discuss coordination on a national level and in particular, ways in which LSC programs and local Red Cross Chapters could be better prepared to ensure that clients receive appropriate referrals for legal services. Since that time, LSC has continued to develop strong collaborations with the Red Cross.

During federally declared disasters, the Red Cross routinely sends LSC its Partner’s Report, detailing what and where services are provided so that we can inform grantees about where help is available to clients.

In September, 2008, LSC and the American Red Cross entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that provides a framework for partnership and cooperation between the two organizations. This agreement enhances the efforts by LSC-funded programs to provide

FEMA directive on the subject. LSC was able to obtain an affirmative response from the FEMA Office of Chief Counsel that clarified the client’s ability to use the funds for home replacement.

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legal assistance to disaster survivors. Because of the MOU, attorneys and advocates employed by LSC-funded programs have access to the Red Cross service delivery sites to provide legal counseling4. Both organizations encourage their programs and chapters to join in pre-disaster planning and response activities at the local level. The MOU was renewed in 2012 (attached).

Ongoing Activities

Collaboration with National Partners and Stakeholders, and with LSC’s Grantees to Promote Disaster Awareness and Competency

Frequent communication and regular collaboration with LSC with FEMA, the ABA/YLD,and the Red Cross greatly benefits our programs’ ability to render legal assistance in thewake of disaster.

National Disaster Preparedness Calls. Convened several times per year, these calls include abroad range of participants, including legal aid executive directors and staff of programsdoing disaster-related legal work, substantive law experts, and national partners. Callagendas have included discussions and reports on FEMA recoupment issues, the pro seappeals process post-Katrina, small claims homeowners’ insurance, litigators who broughtcases on the issues of appeal rights, FEMA providing trailers for people with disabilities, andthe closing of public housing in New Orleans. The calls also provide opportunity for legalaid providers to troubleshoot challenges they are facing, such as gaining access to DisasterRecovery Centers, in real time. The participant list for the calls continues to grow as LSCadds new state participants and as new disasters occur. They are a dynamic link to thevariety of skills and experiences that are needed to help all advocates provide supportthroughout the national community in times of disaster.

LSC staff members present several times each year on issues of disaster preparation andprovision of legal services to disaster survivors. Since 2005 we have presented at more than30 regional and national conferences, including ABA and NLADA conferences, trainings forFEMA’s Disaster Legal Services initiative, and presentations to state bar associations.

Serving as a Resource to Programs Preparing for or Responding to Disaster

Continuity of Operations (COOP) plans. LSC encourages all of its grantees to develop Continuity of Operations (COOP) plans so that they will be prepared in the event of a disaster. LSC staff provides guidance and support for the development of these plans, and reviews them when evaluating grant applications and during Office of Program Performance on-site visits.

Support for Grantees at the Time of a Disaster. LSC staff monitors news media, and Red Cross and FEMA sites for information on a disaster or significant emergency (natural or manmade) that appears to have an impact on one of our grantees or the client population. LSC

4 The LSC-Red Cross MOU was barely in effect when Hurricane Ike struck the Texas coast in September. As a result of the MOU, legal services attorneys from Lone Star Legal Aid were granted access to Red Cross Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) and were able to work around the clock to ensure that their clients were being served. This differs significantly from 2005, when Lone Star staff struggled to gain access to the DRCs.

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staff determines if and when it should reach out to the program. LSC staff inquires if the recipient’s offices are affected and whether clients are affected. If there is a presidentially declared disaster, LSC informs the program about what FEMA programs are available for clients under the declaration. If FEMA’s Disaster Legal Services has been initiated, LSC staff coordinates between the LSC recipient and the ABA Young Lawyer Division District Representative to ensure coordination of a disaster hotline and availability of pro bono support for clients. Programs are notified how to apply for an LSC Disaster Grant if their office or clients have been significantly affected. They are also are informed of their local American Red Cross chapter.

National Disaster Preparedness Calls. See above.

Disaster Grants. LSC published Disaster Relief Emergency Grant Instructions in the Federal Register in January 2009 that allow current LSC grant recipients who have experienced needs due to a disaster in a federally-declared disaster area to apply for disaster relief funding.

Post-Disaster Follow-up. An important part of LSC’s disaster-related work involves ongoing contact with programs affected by disasters. In addition to hosting the national calls, LSC individually reaches out to programs after disasters to gather information regarding the program’s needs, the types of legal issues being seen, and the number of cases being handled.

National Disaster Legal Aid Website

www.disasterlegalaid.org. The website is a collaborative effort of LSC, ABA, NLADA andProBono.Net. Building on the work and success of www.katrinalegalaid.org and consideringthe ongoing need for a centralized online resource for disaster-related legal content, inSeptember 2008 the four organizations launched a new, more general disaster website,. Thegoals of this permanent disaster website are to: 1) serve as a centralized resource for legal aidand pro bono attorneys across the country on legal issues related to all types of disasters; 2)recruit and help mobilize pro bono attorneys in the aftermath of a disaster; 3) provideaccurate and timely information on legal issues related to disasters to the low-income public.

LSC Recipients Responding to Disasters in 2011

LSC-funded programs provide low-income disaster victims with legal assistance on matters ranging from temporary housing, to disaster benefits, to consumer fraud, to family issues, such as child-custody agreements affected by a parent’s death and child-support payments that have not been made because of disaster-related issues. In 2011, three LSC-funded programs in particular rose to the challenges posed by major natural disasters:

Legal Services Alabama (LSA) - When the largest outbreak of tornadoes in U.S. history ripped through the South in April 2011, Alabama was the hardest hit state, with more than 200 deaths and more than 6,000 homes destroyed. In the first days following the tornadoes, LSA conducted a thorough assessment of the impact, set up a hotline, and dispatched staff members to disaster assistance centers across the state. They also produced informational fliers on how to deal with contractors for repairs, what kinds of benefits are available to victims, and how to terminate a lease because of storm damage. (In Alabama, tenants have 14 days to give notice that they are

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terminating a lease on destroyed or damaged rental property or they could be liable for rent). LSA coordinated its efforts with the four volunteer lawyer projects in the state, all of which receive funding from LSA, with the state bar’s Young Lawyers Division, as well as with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross.

Legal Aid of Western Missouri (LAWMO) - A deadly tornado devastated Joplin, Missouri, destroying a hospital and more than 8,000 homes and apartments and killing more than 150 people. LAWMO immediately began working with FEMA, the American Red Cross, National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, AmeriCorps, the state bar, community organizations, and churches. In addition to more common post-disaster legal issues, one of the biggest challenges facing Joplin residents in the months since the disaster has been a severe housing shortage and massive rent increases and rent gouging. LAWMO has handled a number of cases involving fraud related to clean-up and repairs, illegal evictions, and rent-gouging.

Law Line of Vermont (Law Line) - When back-to-back hurricanes in August 2011 caused massive flooding in Vermont, LSC-funded Law Line quickly responded in coordination with other legal services programs, the private bar, FEMA, and the Red Cross. Law Line has dedicated a full-time attorney to provide legal assistance to persons affected by the flooding. In addition to assisting flood victims, the attorney is advising pro bono attorneys and working with local, state, and federal agencies addressing the needs of flood victims. The attorney also will be available as a resource for Vermont’s Long Term Recovery Task Force.

LSC Recipients Responding to Superstorm Sandy in 2012

The storm made landfall in New Jersey on October 29, 2013, and on October 30 LSC began sending emails and calling LSC programs in East Coast states from Virginia to Maine5 impacted by Sandy.

The purpose of the contact was to inquire about the status of the program staff, client community and office facilities, to give programs contact information for local and national Red Cross, FEMA, and ABA/YLD resources and to promote coordination in recovery efforts. We include a copy of a disaster timeline concerning case types to be faced in future and information on possible disaster grant funds funding opportunities.

While almost all programs on the east coast sustained some impact from Sandy (wind, rain and snow), the hardest hit were in New York and New Jersey. Many LSC programs did not respond to our calls and emails for days because they lacked power.

All six New Jersey programs6, the Connecticut program (Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut, Inc.) and most New York programs lost power and were closed until November 2

5 West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, Massachusetts,New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.) 6 Central Jersey Legal Services, Inc., Essex-Newark Legal Services Project, Inc., Legal Services of NorthwestJersey, Northeast New Jersey Legal Services Corporation, Ocean-Monmouth Legal Services, Inc. and South Jersey

Legal Services, Inc.

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when some staff were able to get to offices and assess the damage. A few programs in the heavily impacted areas of New York (New York City and Long Island) made extraordinary efforts to open on the 31st of October and November 1st. This was also true in New Jersey. Programs had to take various steps to start operations, including moving servers to other locations, working from satellite offices and working from home. Many programs were closed all week and didn’t provide service until November 5 or later.

While programs were able to provide some service beginning the week after the storm hit, it took more than a week for others to open all their offices. For example, Central Jersey’s office in Elizabeth did not regain power until November 8th; the staff from that office worked out of the program’s New Brunswick office until they were able to return to Elizabeth on Friday, November 9th.

It was an extraordinary effort for programs to get back to business as soon as possible.

New York and New Jersey In New York four of the seven LSC programs were unaffected. 7

The two programs serving the areas suffering the most devastation are Legal Services NYC, and Nassau Suffolk Law Services Committee.8 Limited services were started the following week starting November 5 in many offices.

In New Jersey, Central Jersey had damage to its one of its offices (roof and water damage to the Trenton office).

The service areas suffering the most damage are those of South Jersey Legal Services, where Atlantic City and Cape May are located, and Ocean-Monmouth Legal Services, where numerous shoreline communities were impacted. Northeast New Jersey Legal Service’s service area was impacted by severe flooding in Hoboken and several communities in Bergen County.

Travel was difficult in much of New Jersey because gasoline was hard to come by, and some staff had loss of property and had damage to their homes.

A New York citywide Sandy Recovery Helpline was set up by LSNYC on November 5th. It is staffed from 10 am to 3 pm on weekdays. As the call volume continues to increase cases are referred to staff, pro bono counsel, and others in the civil legal services community. The ABA/YLD also has a disaster hotline.

New Jersey also opened two hotlines. One operated by the ABA/YLD and the other by Legal Services of New Jersey.

7 Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc., Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, Legal Assistance ofWestern New York, Inc. and Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. 8 Legal Services of the Hudson Valley had power/telephone loss and many staff members lost power for five days or more and had to stay at hotels, friend’s homes, purchase generators, throw out food and eat at restaurants.

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Clinics

Throughout New York City staffed clinics were opened helping thousands of people to apply for emergency benefits, FEMA assistance and unemployment insurance; helping to replace lost medications, and addressing other urgent legal needs.

Training for Service Providers

There are ongoing trainings in New York including one by the state bar association, and LSNYC and the City Bar Justice Center and the Legal Aid Society to train volunteer attorneys to participate in disaster assistance clinics.

Legal services providers from the gulf coast who are experienced from Hurricane Katrina stepped up to provide training in both New York and New Jersey.

Coordination of Volunteers and Other Service Providers

LSNYC worked with a volunteer from Sullivan & Cromwell to coordinate the placement of pro bono attorneys in clinics where they can provide legal assistance to those in need.

Disaster Manual

In the first few days after Sandy struck, Legal Services of New York City developed the Disaster Relief Legal Assistance Manual to help both victims and advocates. The manual includes information on relief services, application and appeals processes, and other useful details.

Conclusion LSC, the ABA, NLADA and other national partners continue to work together on

planning for the future of disaster relief as it applies to legal services clients and programs. Telephone conference calls and e-mail discussions among the partners are helping to facilitate the creation of permanent support systems for future disasters.

When LSC looks back in several years at our response to these national crises, we believe that legal services programs will be able to say that the national response made possible by the leadership of LSC made the difference for thousands of clients and gave them a voice and some degree of control in a situation that was, in many ways, out of control. The lasting effects of our work will undoubtedly be deeply felt by our clients and by the staff of LSC-funded programs. In some states our programs have lost entire offices; other offices suffered property loss; some of their staff lost homes and all of their possessions. These are terrible losses that can never be erased. What LSC can do is continue our partnership building to support programs and enable them to meet as much of the emerging legal need as possible.

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http://www.lsc.gov/media/press-releases/lsc-president-sandman-appointed-dc-access-justice-commission

http://www.lsc.gov/media/news-items/2014/litigants-without-lawyers-equal-justice-under-threat-state-courts

http://www.lsc.gov/media/press-releases/lsc-fy-2015-budget-request-sent-congress

http://www.lsc.gov/media/news-items/2014/chairman-levis-law-day-2014-statement

http://www.lsc.gov/media/news-items/2014/seeking-applications-lsc-pro-bono-innovation-fund

http://www.lsc.gov/media/news-items/2014/glenn-rawdons-speech-everyone-anytime-anywhere-how-technology-transforms-civil-legal-aid

http://www.lsc.gov/media/news-items/2014/board-directors-meeting-washington-dc-april-2014

http://www.lsc.gov/media/news-items/2014/opening-remarks-lsc-chairman-john-g-levi-2014-white-house-forum-increasing-access-justice

http://www.lsc.gov/request-proposals-american-samoa-consultant

http://www.lsc.gov/media/news-items/2014/board-directors-meeting-austin-tx-january-2014

http://www.lsc.gov/media/news-items/2014/chairman-levis-remarks-chicago-pro-bono-reception

http://www.lsc.gov/media/news-items/2014/fy-2014-grantee-budget-allocations

http://www.lsc.gov/media/press-releases

http://www.lsc.gov/media/news-items

http://www.lsc.gov/media/in-the-spotlight/lsc-2014-white-house-forum-increasing-access-justice

http://www.lsc.gov/media/in-the-spotlight/report-summit-use-technology-expand-access-justice

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23legalaid&src=hash

http://t.co/UQLxw0UXA8

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Resources for Legal Aid Professionals

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American Bar Association Special Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness

I. Formation of Special Committee A. Ad Hoc Hurricane Katrina Response (Katrina Task Force)

1. Called on all parts of the ABA to assist2. Origin of Model Rule3. Development of Katrina Website with resources for survivors and

attorneys affected by Katrina, which then evolved to broaderresources for disaster preparedness

II. MissionThe Committee’s mission is to promote and assist lawyers, law firms, bar associations – including the ABA - and the justice system prepare for and respond to disasters; to assist lawyers, as needed, recover from disaster; and to ensure that the rule of law is respected and protected in times of major disasters.

III. Website – www.americanbar.org/disasterA. Disaster Homepage B. Policy C. Resources

Lawyers and law firms State and local bars Courts Public Legal assistance and hotlines Disaster planning Post disaster resources Gulf Oil Spill

IV. Disaster Issues as a PriorityA. Expanded Committee and resources B. Committee Highlights 2011

Worked to prepare the ABA to better withstand disasters byreformatting ABA’s Business Continuity Management Plan andconducting tabletop exercise. The ABA is currently going throughPS-Prep certification process in order to be one of firstAssociations to be certified under this standard.

ABA adopted Resolution 116 which urges lawyers to prepare fordisasters through planning and for all bar associations to establishcommittees to work on disaster related issues to ensure acoordinated and effective response to members.

Published a Survival Guide: A Lawyer’s Guide to DisasterPlanning, which provides attorneys with a template so they candevelop their own disaster plan.

Page 53 of 78

Sponsored a CLE program at the ABA Annual Meeting on the nutsand bolts of disaster planning for lawyers.

Recommended Agility Recovery Services, a company thatprovides disaster recovery and connectivity immediately after adisaster for businesses, to the ABA Member Advantage Program.The Board approved Agility as a partner in the benefit program.

Created a short video that featured the stories of four attorneyswho survived a major disaster and the lessons that they learned.The video is a finalist for the 2012 American Business Award.

V. DLS and Special Committee Coordination A. DLS leadership as members of Special Committee B. Website as source of information on DLS activities, active hotlines, and

other resources for current or ongoing disasters C. Special Committee as an advocate for DLS within ABA D. Members of Special Committee and Legal Services Division as resources

for DLS E. Special Committee as a partner

VI. Future CoordinationA. Assist to better connect District Representatives within state bar leadership

and legal services community. B. Assist in adoption of Model Rule C. Strengthen ABA’s commitment to DLS and to its continuity

Page 54 of 78

JOINT PRESS RELEASE

________________________________________________________________________

Contact:Anna Hubbard Arkansas Bar AssociationPublications Director 2224 Cottondale Lane Arkansas Bar Association Little Rock, AR 72202(501) 375-4606 or (800) 609-5668 [email protected]

Free Legal Assistance Available for Disaster VictimsPartnership between Arkansas legal organizations, ABA and FEMA helps residents

LITTLE ROCK, MAY 19, 2011 — A toll-free legal aid line is now available for victims of thestate’s recently declared disaster areas, Boone, White, Benton, Carroll, Conway, Crawford, Faulkner,Garland, Hot Springs, Montgomery, Stone, and Washington Counties. The service, which allowscallers to request the assistance of a lawyer, is a partnership between the Arkansas Bar Associationand its Young Lawyers Section, the Arkansas Legal Services Partnership (Center for Arkansas LegalServices and Legal Aid of Arkansas), the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division andthe Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Victims facing legal issues who are unable to afford a lawyer may call 1-877-434-4084 between 9a.m. and 5 p.m. central time Monday through Friday to request assistance. Messages can be left atany time. Callers should identify that they are seeking disaster-related legal assistance. Individuals who qualify for assistance will be matched with Arkansas lawyers who have volunteered to providefree legal help.

The type of legal assistance available includes:

• Assistance with securing FEMA and other government benefits available to disaster victims• Assistance with life, medical and property insurance claims• Help with home repair contracts and contractors• Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster• Assisting in consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures• Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems• Counseling on landlord-tenant problems

Page 55 of 78

BackgroundWhen the President declares a major disaster, FEMA, in cooperation with the American BarAssociation Young Lawyers Division, establishes a toll-free number for disaster victims to requestlegal assistance. Funding for the toll-free line comes from FEMA under the authority of Section 415of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 100-707). TheAmerican Bar Association Young Lawyers Division in turn partners with state bar associations andother legal organizations to recruit volunteer lawyers in affected areas to handle victims’ cases.

Victims should be aware that there are some limitations on disaster legal services. For example,assistance is not available for cases that will produce a fee (i.e., those cases where attorneys are paidpart of the settlement by the court). Such cases are referred to a local lawyer referral service.

Partnership Members

The following organizations have joined forces to establish a toll-free phone line for Arkansas

disaster victims to request free legal assistance and to provide volunteer attorneys to handle cases

arising from recent severe storm, tornado and flooding damage.

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (www.americanbar.org) - The ABA

YLD, the largest national organization of young lawyers, provides leadership in serving the

public and the profession, and promotes excellence and fulfillment in the practice of law. Its

parent organization, the ABA, is the national voice of the legal profession and the largest

voluntary professional membership group in the world.

Arkansas Bar Association (www.arkbar.com) - The ABA is a voluntary, statewide organization

with over 5,000 members. Among its purposes are the advancement of the administration of

justice and the fostering among its members of high ideals of integrity, learning and public

service.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (www.fema.gov) - FEMA coordinates the federal

government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and

recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Through an agreement with the American Bar Association, FEMA underwrites the cost of

operating toll free legal assistance lines for victims in areas designated as federal disaster sites.

Arkansas Legal Services Partnership (www.arlegalservices.org) - ALSP is a statewide

collaboration between Legal Aid of Arkansas (LAA) and the Center for Arkansas Legal Services

(CALS). Together, LAA and CALS provide free civil legal assistance to low-income residents

throughout Arkansas.

###

Page 56 of 78

(http://www.americanbar.org)

http://www.fema.gov)

Press Release

____________________________________________________

Contact:

Jack Wax Scott M. Hill

Media Relations Director ABA YLD District 22 Representative

The Missouri Bar Hite, Fanning & Honeyman L.L.P.

Tel. 573-638-2251 Tel. 316-265-7741

[email protected] [email protected]

Free Legal Assistance Available for Storm Survivors Partnership between The Missouri Bar, ABA and FEMA helps residents

May 26, 2011 – A toll-free legal aid line is now available for survivors of recent storms,

tornadoes and flooding in Missouri. The service, which allows callers to request the assistance

of a lawyer, is a partnership between the The Missouri Bar and its Young Lawyers Section, the

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and the Federal Emergency Management

Agency.

Low-income survivors facing legal issues may call (800) 829-4128 24 hours a day to the

message line to request assistance. Callers should identify that they are seeking storm-related

legal assistance, and should identify what county they are located in. Survivors who qualify for

assistance will be matched with Missouri lawyers who have volunteered to provide free legal

help.


• Assistance with securing FEMA and other government benefits available to disaster

survivors

• Assistance with life, medical and property insurance claims

• Help with home repair contracts and contractors

• Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster

• Assisting in consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures

• Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems

• Counseling on landlord/tenant problems

Background When the U.S. President declares a major disaster, FEMA, in cooperation with the American Bar

Association Young Lawyers Division, establishes a toll-free number for disaster survivors to

Page 57 of 78

request legal assistance. Funding for the toll-free line comes from FEMA under the authority of

Section 415 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency assistance Act (Public Law

100-707). The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division in turn partners with state

bar associations and other legal organizations to recruit volunteer lawyers in affected areas to

handle survivors’ cases.

Survivors should be aware that there are some limitations on disaster legal services. For

example, assistance is not available for cases that will produce a fee (i.e., those cases where

attorneys are paid part of the settlement by the court). Such cases are referred to a local lawyer

referral service. To determine whether an issue qualifies for free legal assistance, individuals

should call (800) 829-4128, and an attorney will determine whether the issue qualifies.

Local Press Contacts For more information about disaster legal aid, please contact:

Eric Wilson

Legislative Counsel

The Missouri Bar

Telephone: 573-638-2240

E-mail: [email protected]

Partnership Members The following organizations have joined forces to establish a toll-free phone line for Missouri

storm survivors to request free legal assistance, and to provide volunteer attorneys to handle

cases arising from recent storm damage.

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division – The ABA YLD, the largest national

organization of young lawyers, provides leadership in serving the public and the profession, and

promotes excellence and fulfillment in the practice of law. Its parent organization, the ABA, is

the national voice of the legal profession and the largest voluntary professional membership

group in the world.

Federal Emergency Management Agency – FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role

in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all

domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror. Through an

agreement with the American Bar Association, FEMA underwrites the cost of operating toll free

legal assistance lines for survivors in areas designated as federal disaster sites.

The Missouri Bar – The Missouri Bar is the statewide organization of all Missouri’s 30,000

lawyers. Its purpose is to improve the law, the administration of justice and the legal profession

on behalf of the public. Through educational programs, publications and a wide range of

services, The Missouri Bar serves as a valuable resource for members—and for the citizens of

Missouri. Its Young Lawyers’ Section, comprised of lawyers in their first five years of practice

or under 36 years of age, is dedicated to serving the public and the profession as the “service arm

of the bar.”

Page 58 of 78

________________________________________________ Contact: Lise Bang-Jensen

New York State Bar Association (518) 487-5530

Contact: [email protected] Alena Shautsova

ABA YLD NY District Representative [email protected]

ABA AND FEMA PARTNER WITH NY STATE BAR ASSOCIATION ON FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR HURRICANE SANDY SURVIVORS

An existing toll-free hotline created earlier this month by the New York State Bar Association for survivors of recent hurricane Sandy in New York is being bolstered by a partnership with the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Homeowners and tenants facing legal issues may call 1-800-699-5636 to request assistance. Callers should say that they are seeking storm-related legal assistance, and should identify the county in which they are located. They will be matched with New York lawyers who have volunteered to provide at least 30 minutes of free legal consultation.


Assistance with securing FEMA and other government benefits available to disastersurvivors;

Assistance with life, medical and property insurance claims; Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster; Assisting in consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures; Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems; and Counseling on landlord/tenant problems.

Background

Page 59 of 78

When the U.S. President declares a major disaster, FEMA, in cooperation with the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, establishes a toll-free number for disaster survivors to request legal assistance. Funding for the toll-free line comes from FEMA under the authority of Section 415 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 100-707). The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division in turn joins with state bar associations and other legal organizations to recruit volunteer lawyers in affected areas to handle survivors’ cases. In this instance, there will be no additional expense for the federal government, because the State Bar Association if offering use of its existing toll-free line.

Hurricane Sandy survivors should be aware that there are some limitations on disaster legal services. For example, assistance is not available for cases that will produce a fee (i.e., those cases where attorneys are paid part of the settlement by the court). Such cases are referred to a local lawyer referral service. To determine whether an issue qualifies for free legal assistance, individuals should call 1-800-699-5636.

Partnership Members The following organizations have joined forces to support a toll-free phone line for New York storm survivors to request free legal assistance, and to provide volunteer attorneys to handle cases arising from recent storm damage.

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division – The ABA YLD, the largest national organization of young lawyers, provides leadership in serving the public and the profession, and promotes excellence and fulfillment in the practice of law. Its parent organization, the ABA, is the national voice of the legal profession and the largest voluntary professional membership group in the world.

Federal Emergency Management Agency – FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

The New York State Bar Association – The NYSBA, which has 77,000 members, is the nation’s largest voluntary state bar association. Its Lawyer Referral and Information Service and its Young Lawyers Section has been offering free legal consultation to flood survivors since early September. The section is comprised of lawyers in their first ten years of practice or under 37 years of age.

Page 60 of 78

JOINT PRESS RELEASE _____________________________________________________________________________

Contact: Stacey Shrader Tennessee Bar Center Media Relations Coordinator 221 Fourth Avenue N. Tennessee Bar Association Suite 400 (615) 383-7421 / (800) 899-6993 Nashville, TN 37219 [email protected]

Free Legal Assistance Available for Tornado Victims Partnership between Tennessee legal organizations, ABA and FEMA helps residents

NASHVILLE, Feb. 26, 2008 — A toll-free legal aid line is now available for victims of recent tornadoes in Tennessee. The service, which allows callers to request the assistance of a lawyer, is a partnership between the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, three local legal aid organizations (the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, Memphis Area Legal Services and West Tennessee Legal Services Inc.), the Tennessee Bar Association and its Young Lawyers Division, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Victims facing legal issues who are unable to afford a lawyer may call (877) 396-6248 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. central time Monday through Friday to request assistance. Messages can be left at any time. Callers should identify that they are seeking tornado-related legal assistance. Victims who qualify for assistance will be matched with Tennessee lawyers who have volunteered to provide free legal help.


• Assistance with securing FEMA and other government benefits available to disaster victims• Assistance with life, medical and property insurance claims• Help with home repair contracts and contractors• Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster• Assisting in consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures• Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems• Counseling on landlord/tenant problems

Background When the U.S. President declares a major disaster, FEMA, in cooperation with the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, establishes a toll-free number for disaster victims to request legal assistance. Funding for the toll-free line comes from FEMA under the authority of Section 415 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 100-707). The

Page 61 of 78

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division in turn partners with state bar associations and other legal organizations to recruit volunteer lawyers in affected areas to handle victims’ cases.

Victims should be aware that there are some limitations on disaster legal services. For example, assistance is not available for cases that will produce a fee (i.e., those cases where attorneys are paid part of the settlement by the court). Such cases are referred to a local lawyer referral service. To determine whether an issue qualifies for free legal assistance, individuals should call (877) 396-6248 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. central time Monday through Friday for more information.

Local Press Contacts For more information about disaster legal aid in specific areas of the state, please contact:

Davidson, Hickman, Houston, Lewis, Macon, Montgomery, Perry, Sumner, Trousdale and Williamson counties: Lucinda Smith , Director Jim Hawkins, Managing Attorney Nashville Bar Pro Bono Program Legal Aid Society, Gallatin Office (615) 780-7127 (615) 451-1880 [email protected] [email protected]

Shelby and Fayette counties Linda Warren Seely Director of Pro Bono Programs Memphis Area Legal Services (901) 476-1808 [email protected]

Benton, Hardin, Haywood, Madison and McNairy counties Steve Xanthopoulos Executive Director West Tennessee Legal Services, Inc. (731) 423-0616 [email protected]

Partnership Members The following organizations have joined forces to establish a toll-free phone line for Tennessee storm victims to request free legal assistance, and to provide volunteer attorneys to handle cases arising from recent storm damage.

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division – The ABA YLD, the largest national organization of young lawyers, provides leadership in serving the public and the profession, and promotes excellence and fulfillment in the practice of law. Its parent organization, the ABA, is the national voice of the legal profession and the largest voluntary professional membership group in the world.

Federal Emergency Management Agency – FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror. Through an agreement with the

Page 62 of 78

American Bar Association, FEMA underwrites the cost of operating toll free legal assistance lines for victims in areas designated as federal disaster sites.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands – LAS was founded in 1968 as Legal Services of Nashville by eight members of the Nashville Bar Association. It has since expanded and consolidated with other organizations to help low-income people in 48 counties through eight offices. The organization focuses on individual cases and community education, and serves over 7,000 people each year. Legal Aid Society's mission is to enforce, advance and defend the legal rights of low-income and vulnerable families in order to obtain for them the basic necessities of life. The Legal Aid Society also houses and directs the Nashville Bar Association Pro Bono Program, many of whose members also will be available to provide legal help to disaster victims.

Memphis Area Legal Services – Since 1970, MALS has been committed to equal justice for all people, helping children, families and individuals solve problems that affect their basic needs. MALS serves nearly 8,000 people in distress each year. Its service area includes Fayette, Lauderdale, Shelby and Tipton counties.

Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services – TALS is a statewide non-profit organization that seeks to build partnerships to support the delivery of effective civil legal services to low-income and elderly Tennesseans. TALS is committed to increasing equal access to justice across Tennessee.

Tennessee Bar Association – The TBA is the largest professional association in Tennessee with nearly 10,000 members. Founded in 1881, the TBA provides opportunities for continuing legal education, professional development and public service. The TBA's dedication to serving the state's legal community is evidenced by its membership roll, which represents the entire spectrum of legal practice: plaintiff and defense lawyers, corporate counsel, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, government lawyers and legal services attorneys. Its Young Lawyers Division, comprised of lawyers in their first five years of practice or under 36 years of age, is dedicated to serving the public and the profession as the “service arm of the bar.”

West Tennessee Legal Services, Inc. – WTLS is a non-profit organization that provides assistance in civil cases to individuals, families and communities. It services 17 West Tennessee counties including Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Dyer, Decatur, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henry, Henderson, Lake, McNairy, Madison, Obion and Weakley.

Page 63 of 78

Declared: April 29, 2014 SUMMARY STATE: Arkansas NUMBER: FEMA-4174-DR INCIDENT: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding INCIDENT PERIOD: April 27, 2014 DATE REQUESTED BY GOVERNOR: April 28, 2014 FEDERAL COORDINATING OFFICER: Timothy J. Scranton National FCO Program DESIGNATIONS AND TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE (Assistance to individuals and households):

Faulkner County. PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (Assistance for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities):

Faulkner County for debris removal and emergency protective measures (Categories A and B), including direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program.

HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM (Assistance for actions taken to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural hazards):

All counties in the State of Arkansas are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

OTHER: Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Page 64 of 78

FEMA LETTER OF INTENT

Page 65 of 78

FEMA PURCHASE ORDER

Page 66 of 78

Default Question Block

Name of person submitting this form?

What state are you reporting from?

What is your Disaster Legal Services FEMA disaster number? (Example: 4177 - FL)

What is the nature of your disaster? (ie. Flood/Mudslide/Tornado)

When was your hotline established?

Has the hotline closed? Yes

No

Which week are you reporting? ("Week 1" since hot-line implementation)

Did you receive any calls for this week?Yes

No

Please break out the number of cases by topic.

Page 1 of 2Qualtrics Survey Software

6/20/2014https://americanbar.qualtrics.com/ControlPanel/Ajax.php?action=GetSurveyPrintPreview...Page 68 of 78

To Complete an Electronic Survey: https://americanbar.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_09Ao31KeTXmF76J

Bankruptcy 0

Civil Rights 0

Contract/Contractor Issues 0

Criminal 0

Employment 0

Family 0

Federal Assistance 0

FEMA 0

Immigration 0

Insurance 0

Landlord Tenant 0

Other 0

Real Estate/Mortgage 0

Succession/Wills/Power of Attorney 0

Total 0

What is the number of state licensed volunteers?

Page 2 of 2Qualtrics Survey Software

6/20/2014https://americanbar.qualtrics.com/ControlPanel/Ajax.php?action=GetSurveyPrintPreview...Page 69 of 78

INSTRUCTIONS TO DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE

Please use this letter template to introduce yourself and the Disaster Legal Services program to the State Bar President(s) of the jurisdiction(s) you cover, your local bar association president, and the director of your local legal aid group. Please feel free to expand this list to include the many different local bar associations and legal aid groups that your jurisdiction covers. Communicating with these individuals before a disaster hits is an essential part of disaster planning and preparation. You may find that developing relationships with these individuals now will make implementing a DLS operation much easier and smoother, when and if it is requested, rather than trying to build a relationship in the aftermath of a disaster. Please use your ABA District Representative letterhead for this letter and make changes as necessary.

Page 70 of 78

ABA Young Lawyers Division 2014 – 2015 Disaster Legal Service Roster

Director, Disaster Legal Services Nguyen, David Hoa K. P.O. Box 741 Indianapolis, IN 46202 P: (317) 361-4700 E: [email protected] YLD, Vice Directors, Disaster Legal Services Program Ellard, Wendy Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 4268 I-55 North Meadowbrook Office Park Jackson, MS 39211 P: (601) 969-4681 E: [email protected] Goins, Kimberly A. Hire Counsel Contract Attorney 33 E. 33rd Street New York, NY 10016 P: (615) 310-4383 E: [email protected] Horn, Jamin Methven & Associates PC 2232 Sixth Street Oakland, CA 94701 P: (510) 649-4019 E: [email protected] Vlasman, Matthew Matushek, Nilles & Sinars, L.L.C. 55 West Monroe, Suite 700 Chicago, IL 60603 P: (312) 750-1215 E: [email protected]

YLD, Administrative Director Hrelic, Dana Horton, Shield & Knox, P.C. 90 Gillett Street Hartford, CT 06105 P: (860) 522-8338 E: [email protected] Staff Graham, Alia S. Program Associate Young Lawyers Division P: (312) 988-5671 E: [email protected] Jones, William Information Coordinator ABA Center for Pro Bono P: (312) 988-5789 E: [email protected] Pilchen, Ira Manager, Communication Services Press Release Review Communications and Media Relations Division P: (312) 988-5743 E: [email protected] Zalenski, Cheryl Director ABA Center for Pro Bono P: (312) 988-5770 E: [email protected]

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ABA Young Lawyer Division 2014 – 2015 District Representative Roster

First District Representative - ME & VT Tara Rich Libby, O'Brien, Kingsley & Champion LLC 62 Portland Road #17 Kennebunk, ME 04043 P: (207) 985-1815 E: [email protected]

Second District Representative - CT & RI Cristen Ciresi Salter McGowan Sylvia & Leonard, Inc. 321 South Main St. Ste 301 Providence, RI 0293 P: (401) 274-0300 E: [email protected]

Third District Representative - MA & NH Micah Ascano Artifex Legal 13110 Inwood Drive Woburn, MA 01801 P: (701) 640-2469 E: [email protected]

Fourth District Representative - NY Swetal Shaw Robert Half Legal 125 Park Avenue New York, NY 10017 P: (718) 772-4351 E: [email protected]

Fifth District Representative - PA Alexander F. Guminski Alexander F. Guminski, Attorney at Law 428 Forbes Avenue, Suite 1601 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 P: (412) 983-6699 E: [email protected]

Sixth District Representative - NJ Nicole O'Hara Gross McGinley, LLP 33 South 7th Street PO Box 4060 Allentown, PA 18105 P: (610) 871-1326 E: [email protected]

Seventh District Representative - DC & DE Mason McNulty Hubbard DLA Piper LLP 500 Eighth Street NW Washington, DC 20004 P: (202) 799-4527 E: [email protected]

Eighth District Representative - MD & VA Amanda Walker Hunton & Williams LLP Riverfront Plaza, East Tower 951 East Byrd Street Richmond, VA 23219 P: (804) 788-7213 E: [email protected]

Ninth District Representative - NC M. Cabell Clay Moore & Van Allen, PLLC 100 N. Tryon Street, Suite 4700 Charlotte, NC 28202 P: (704) 313-3657 E: [email protected]

Tenth District Representative - SC & US VI Steven Hardy BoltNagi PC 5600 Royal Dane Mall, Suite 21 St. Thomas, VI 00802 P: (340) 774-2944 E: [email protected]

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mailto:[email protected]









Eleventh District Representative - FL Lauren Pilkington Bush Ross, P.A. 1801 N. Highland Avenue Tampa, FL 33602 P: (813) 204-6438 E: [email protected]

Twelfth District Representative - AL & GA Heather Hale The Law Firm of Heather Hale, P.C. 3520 Atlanta Avenue, Unit 102 Hapeville, GA 30354 P: (404) 219-3457 E: [email protected]

Thirteenth District Representative - MS Jeremy Thomas England Markow Walker P.A. 2113 Government Street, Bldg M Ocean Springs, MS 39564 P: (228) 872-1923 E: [email protected]

Fourteenth District Representative - LA Cristin Fitzgerald Fitzgerald & Brown, LLC 630 North Carrollton Avenue New Orleans, LA 70119 P: (504) 564-7677 E: [email protected]

Fiftenth District Representative - IL & IN Andrea Ciobanu Ciobanu Law PC 8910 Purdue Road, Suite 240 Indianapolis, IN 46240 P: (317) 695-0382 E: [email protected]

Sixteenth District Representative - TN & KY Mary Beth Haltom Lewis, King, Krieg & Waldrop 424 Church Street, Suite 2500 Nashville, TN 37219 P: (615) 259-1366 E: [email protected]

Seventeenth District Representative - WI & MN Donika Pentcheva Westman, Champlin & Koehler, P.A. 900 Second Avenue South, Suite 1400 Minneapolis, MN 55402 P: (612) 330-0585 E: [email protected]

Eighteenth District Representative - OH & WV Andrew Clark Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC P.O. Box 165028 Columbus, OH 43216 P: (614) 754-2884 E: [email protected]

Nineteenth District Representative - IA & NE Scott Hall Carney and Appleby 303 Locust Street, Suite 400 Des Moines, IA 50309 P: (515) 282-6803 E: [email protected]

Twentieth District Representative - MI Shenique Moss Michigan Department of Attorney General 525 West Ottawa Street, 2nd Floor Lansing, MI 48933 P: (517) 373-1130 E: [email protected]

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Twenty-First District Representative - ND & SD Erica Shively Elsberry & Shively, P.C. 103 South 3rd Street, Suite 9 Bismarck, ND 58501\ P: (701) 557-3384 E: [email protected]

Twenty-Second District Representative - KS & MO Vincent Cox Cavanaugh & Lemon, P.A. 2942A SW Wanamaker Drive, Suite 100 Topeka, KS 66614 P: (785) 440-4000 E: [email protected]

Twenty-Third District Representative - AZ & NM Joy Isaacs Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. 400 E Van Buren St #1900 Phoenix, AZ 85004-2202 P: (602) 382-6390 E: [email protected]

Twenty-Fourth District Representative - OK & AR Brian Clary State of Arkansas 102 S. Main Street Benton, AR 72015 P: (505) 315-7767 E: [email protected]

Twenty-Fifth District Representative - SOUTH/CENTRAL TX Brandon Crisp Norton Rose Fulbright 98 San Jacinto Blvd., Suite 2800 Austin TX 78735 P: (512) 536-2422 E: [email protected]

Twenty-Sixth District Representative - NORTH/WEST TX Travis Patterson Shannon, Gracey, Ratliff & Miller LLP 420 Commerce St. Ste 500 Fort Worth, Texas 76102 P: (817) 877-8146 E: [email protected]

Twenty-Seventh District Representative - UT & NV Jess P. Rinehart Leverty & Associates Law Chtd 832 Willow Street Reno, NV 89502 P: (775) 322-6636 E: [email protected]

Twenty Eighth District Representative - CO & WY Lance Timbreza Traylor, Tompkins & Black, P.C. 751 Horizon Court, Suite 200 Grand Junction, CO 81506 P: (970) 242-2636 E: [email protected]

Twenty-Ninth District Representative - WA & OR Jacob R. Brennan Etter, McMahon, Lamberson, Clary & Oreskovich, PC 618 W. Riverside Avenue Suite 210 Spokane, WA 99201 P: (509) 747-9100 E: [email protected]

Thirtieth District Representative - MT & ID Eli Patten Crowley Fleck PLLP 490 N. 31st, Suite 500 Billings, MT 59101 P: (406) 252-3441 E: [email protected]

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Thirty-First District Representative - NORTH CA Vanessa Elaine Candelaria Fox & Bank LLP 1333 N. California Blvd, Suite 555 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 P: (925) 933-9000 E: [email protected]

Thirty Second District Representative - SOUTH CA Kathryn Clunen Dion Law Office 660 Hampshire Rd., Suite 216 Westlake Village, CA 91361 P: (805) 497-7474 E: [email protected]

Thirty Third District Representative - AK & HI Helen Poitra-Chalmers Alaska Court System 825 W. 4th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99501 P: (907) 264-0687 E: [email protected]

Thirty Fourth District Representative - FED & MIL BAR Joshua Roman U.S. Air Force JAG Corps. 215 Page Road, Ste. 186 Robins AFB, GA 31098 P: (487) 222-0550 E: [email protected]

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FEMA –IA: FEMA HQ and Regional Contact List

Headquarters Human Services Tony Hake, Branch Chief [email protected] (202) 646-3428

Headquarters Community Services Section CCP/DUA/DLS Program

Randy Kinder, Section Chief [email protected] 202-646-4132 Naomi Johnson, Program Lead [email protected] 202-646-1905 Tanya Stevenson [email protected] 202-212-5719 Joy Falzarano [email protected] 202- Juanita Cisneros [email protected] Ina Chan [email protected] 202-212-1098

Region 1 Becky Szymcik, IABD Elizabeth (Eli) Rosario


617-956-7565 617-447-0488

Rhode Island Vermont

Albert Ferri [email protected] 617-956-7603 857-294-1896

New Hampshire Connecticut

Kelly Jo Rivas [email protected] 617-832-4737 617-816-6839

Maine Massachusetts

Elizabeth (Liz) Fuhrman [email protected] 617-956-7612 617-320-9636

Region 2 New York, New Jersey, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Territory of U.S. Virgin Island

Eileen Feikert, IABD [email protected] 212-680-3674

Region 3 Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia

Michael Senycz, IABD Maria Arena


215-931-5632 215-931-5648

Region 4 Jackie Reginello, IABD [email protected] 770-220-5255 Florida Tarsha Monk [email protected] 770-220-5613 Kentucky Chris Perez [email protected] 770-220-5215 South Carolina Sam Lockey [email protected] 770-220-5330 Alabama Jon Arno [email protected] 770-220-5620 Georgia Hugh Dash [email protected] 770-220-5310 Tennessee Jan Riddle [email protected] 770-220-5646

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North Carolina Gerald Collins [email protected] 770-220-5654

FEMA –IA: CCP, DUA, DLS Regional Contact List

Mississippi Pam Ross [email protected] 770-220-5619 Region 5 Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin

Colleen Finkl, IABD Jean McGhee(Primary) Carolyn Robinson-Tucker (Secondary)

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

312-408-5216 312-408-5554 312-408-4409

Region 6 Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas

Mark Price, IABD Don Baggett Duke Mazurek


940-898-5141 940-898-5150 940-898-5462

Region 7 Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska

Candy Newman, IABD Marlee Carroll


816-283-7038 816-283-7019

Region 8 Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming

Martin McNeese, IABD George Betz (primary) Jennifer Voorhies (secondary)


303-235-4897 303-242-1015 303-681-5156

Region 9 Arizona, California , Hawaii, Nevada, the Territory of American Samoa, Territory of Guam, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands

Stephen C. Miller, IABD Clara Feldberg


510-627-7049 510-627-7254

Region 10 Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington

Christina Grant, IABD Gail Haubrich (Lead)

[email protected] 425-487-4742 425-487-4783

Pacific Marilyn Shigetani (Acting) [email protected] 808-551-7909

Caribbean Alejandro De La Campa Jose Rodriquez I

[email protected] 787-295-3615 787-296-3515

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DISASTER LEGAL SERVICES ELIGIBLE EXPENSES

REIMBURSEMENT PROCEDURES

Eligible expenses are as outlined in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. Any necessary expenses not outlined in the MOA must be preapproved in writing. The expenses submitted must be within the term dates and the amount outlined in the FEMA purchase order and/or any subsequent amendments. Preapproval in writing via an amendment is required if services need to extend beyond the purchase order terms.

1. Expenses should be submitted to the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Divisionat the conclusion of each disaster.

2. Reimbursement requests must include:

a. An itemized invoice from the person or organization (on letterhead)b. Original receipts for all expensesc. A copy of the FEMA purchase order and amendments, if anyd. Preapproved emails obtained for any questionable expensese. ABA issued New Vendor Forms, generally issued by the YLD staff.

3. Received invoices are forwarded to FEMA for review and approval. You will beinformed in advance if there are questions and/or adjustments.

4. Approved expenses will be funded from FEMA to the ABA YLD via wire transfer.

5. Payment will be remitted to the person or organization incurring the expenses.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the process, please contact Alia S. Graham at 312.988.5671 or via email at [email protected].

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http://www.americanbar.org/yld



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