FEMA News Release
Four Florida Counties Now Designated for Individual Assistance
TALLAHASSEE, Fla .-Homeowners, renters and business owners in Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties may apply for federal disaster assistance for uninsured and underinsured damages and losses resulting from Hurricane Matthew.
To be eligible for federal aid under FEMA's Individual Assistance Program, storm damage and losses from the hurricane and flooding must have occurred as a result of Hurricane Matthew, beginning on October 3.
Survivors should contact their insurance company to file their insurance claim. FEMA is unable to duplicate insurance payments. However, those without insurance or those who may be underinsured may still receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.
Survivors are encouraged to register with FEMA as soon as possible. If you have phone and/or internet access, you may register:
- Online at DisasterAssistance.gov, or
- On the FEMA Mobile App, or by
- Calling 800-621-3362 (FEMA).Applicants who use 711or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTYmay call 800-462-7585.
- The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
- Multilingual operators are available. Press 2 for Spanish and press 3 for other languages.
For those who do not have access to telephone or internet service, don't be discouraged. Disaster survivor assistance specialists will soon be helping people register for assistance in their communities. Additionally, disaster recovery centers are planned to open in the near future in designated counties.
Assistance for eligible survivors can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs. Long-term, low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also may be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.
Joint damage assessment teams comprised of local, state and federal agencies are ongoing. These teams continue to document damages to homes, businesses and public facilities in Northeast Florida to inform determinations for any additional federal disaster assistance that may be warranted.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at800-621-3362orTTYat800-462-7585.
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow FEMA on twitter at @femaregion4.Download the FEMA app with tools and tips to keep you safe before, during, and after disasters.
|
Posted Tuesday, October 18 2016 5:00 PM
Tags : Hurricane Matthew, Community
|