COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | JANUARY 14, 2021
| 3A
U.S. Treasury delivering millions of Economic Impact payments via debit cards
This past week, the
United States Depart-
ment of the Treasury
and the Internal Revenue
Service started to send
approximately eight mil-
lion Economic Impact
Payments (EIPs) by pre-
paid debit card.
The distribution of EIP
cards follows the mil-
lions of payments already
made by direct deposit
and the ongoing mailing
of paper checks and are
part of the Treasury’s and
IRS’s plan to deliver Eco-
nomic Impact Payments
as rapidly as possible.
EIP cards are safe,
convenient and secure,
according to a Treasury
press release on Jan. 7.
Cardholders can make
purchases online or in
stores anywhere Visa
Debit Cards are accepted,
get cash from domestic
in-network ATMs, trans-
fer funds to a personal
bank account, and obtain
a replacement EIP card
if needed without incur-
ring any fees.
Recipients can also
check their card balance
online, through a mobile
app or by phone without
incurring fees.
The EIP card provides
consumer
protections
including certain protec-
tions against fraud, loss,
and other errors.
EIP cards will be sent
in a white envelope that
prominently displays the
U.S. Department of the
Treasury seal.
The EIP Card has the
Visa name on the front of
the card and the issuing
bank name, MetaBank,
N.A., on the back of the
card. Each mailing will
include instructions on
how to securely activate
and use the EIP card.
EIP cards are being is-
sued to eligible recipients
across all 50 states and
the District of Colum-
bia. In order to quickly
disburse EIPs, some peo-
ple who received EIPs by
paper check for the first
round of EIPs might re-
ceive an EIP card this
time, and some people
who received an EIP card
for the first round may
receive a paper check.
EIP cards are spon-
sored by the Treasury
Department’s Bureau of
the Fiscal Service.
The EIP Card is part
of Treasury’s U.S. Deb-
it Card program, which
provides prepaid debit
card services to federal
agencies for the electron-
ic delivery of non-benefit
payments.
MetaBank, N.A. was
selected as Treasury’s fi-
nancial agent for the U.S.
Debit Card program in
2016, following a com-
petitive selection process
conducted by the Trea-
sury’s Bureau of the Fis-
cal Service.
For more information
about EIP cards, visit
EIPCard.com.
The issuance of this
second round of pay-
ments follows the suc-
cessful delivery of more
than 159 million CARES
Act Economic Impact
Payments totaling more
than $270 billion last
year.
Those expecting pay-
ment may check the sta-
tus at irs.gov/GetMyPay-
ment.
For more information
about Economic Impact
Payments, visit irs.gov/
coronavirus/second-eip-
faqs.
Lane County Public Health further expands COVID-19 vaccine distribution with clinical partnership
Lane County Public
Health announced today
a partnership with three
local provider groups to
greatly expand the 1A
COVID-19 vaccination
effort. Eugene Pediatrics,
Oregon Medical Group,
and WhiteBird have all
agreed to donate their
facilities and staff to help
vaccinate Lane County’s
diverse group of health-
care providers.
This process will begin
with Lane County Public
Health providing doses
to vaccinate the staff of
those clinics.
“The support we have
received from our clini-
cal community, hospital
groups, and EMS part-
ners in the effort to expe-
dite the 1A vaccination
effort has been nothing
short of amazing, and
will be absolutely vital
to our effort of achieving
herd immunity here in
Lane County,” said Lane
County Public Health
Senior Health Officer,
Dr. Patrick Luedtke.
Following the effort
to vaccinate the staff
of these three provider
groups, information re-
garding the date, time
and location of clinics
where other local health-
care professionals can
receive vaccinations will
be released via a Health
Alert Network notifica-
tion.
The public is asked not
to not reach out to these
clinics to receive the vac-
cine until directed to do
so by county health au-
thorities.
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Cottage Grove, Oregon 97424
(541)942-3024
Are you ready?
D ISASTER P REPAREDNESS
Post-flood safety tip
Natural disasters can strike at any time, and no disaster is
more likely to strike than a flood.
According to the World Health Organization, floods are the
most frequent type of natural disaster, affecting more than
two billion people worldwide between 1998 and 2017. And
the WHO reports that floods are increasing in frequency and
intensity.
The Insurance Information Institute notes that flood damage
is excluded under standard homeowners and renters insur-
ance policies. However, flood insurance can be purchased
from the Federal Emergency Management Agency via the
National Flood Insurance Program.
Purchasing flood insurance prior to flooding can be a wise
move for renters and homeowners who live in areas vulner-
able to flooding. And should flooding occur, victims can take
these steps to be safe as they try to get back to normal.
• Dress the part. When returning to your property to assess
any damage, wear appropriate safety gear. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention recommends homeowners
and renters wear a hard hat, goggles, respirator mask (with an N95
rating or higher), thick work gloves, and waterproof, steel-toed boots
when returning to their homes after a flood. If there’s been a sewage
leak, wear rubber gloves and rubber boots during the inspection.
• Conduct a self-inspection of your home. Local authorities often
dictate when people can reenter their homes after flooding has
occurred. Once they get the go-ahead to go back home, residents
should first inspect the property to see if it’s safe to reenter. A walk-
around of the property may reveal downed power lines, wildlife and
leaky utility lines that can make it dangerous to reenter a home. In
addition, the Red Cross recommends checking the home exterior for
structural damage like cracks in the foundation, roof damage or miss-
ing beams. Any such damage should be inspected by a professional
before anyone moves back into the home.
• Assess utilities and appliances. If the home is safe to enter, Allstate In-
surance recommends checking the utilities and appliances inside the
home. The CDC advises against turning on any light switches, as doing
so could spark a fire if there are any gas leaks or electrical problems.
Leave the property immediately if you smell gas and call the fire de-
partment to report the leak. If there is no standing water around the
electrical box and your clothes are dry, turn off the electrical system if
you did not do so prior to evacuating. Do not use any damaged appli-
ances until they have been deemed safe by a professional.
Homeowners and renters victimized by flooding must make safety a
priority when returning to their homes to assess the damage.
Make sure all the pieces are in place to render you and your family prepared in the event of a natural disaster.
• Listen to radio or television newscasts for the latest weather information, and follow all evacuation directions and suggestions.
• Keep a stock of non-perishable food items as well as bottled water on hand inside your home.
• Keep a 72 Hour Kit on hand inside your home that is easy to get to in the event of a disaster.
For more information and tips on disaster response and preparedness, contact your local emergency services center.
South Lane Fire & Rescue • 233 Harrison Ave, Cottage Grove 541-942-4493 • 55 South 1st Street, Creswell 541-895-2506
Twitter: @southlanefi re
Facebook: southlanecountyfi reandrescue