Disaster Registration Deadline 10 Days Away
Those Seeking Aid Should Call Toll-Free 1-800-621-FEMA by Feb. 28, 2005
Release Date: February 18, 2005
Release Number: 1539-376
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Frances
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Ivan
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Jeanne
ORLANDO, Fla.-- Individuals and small businesses impacted by Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan or Jeanne have 10 days to register for disaster assistance with the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
"We want people to understand that Feb. 28 is the application deadline," said Craig Fugate, state coordinating officer for Florida 's State Emergency Response Team (SERT). "For individuals who have already applied, their cases will continue to be processed. We won't be accepting any new applications after the deadline."
Floridians who received damage from one or more of the four storms can call the FEMA toll-free registration number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for those who are speech- or hearing-impaired. The lines are operational Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Applicants can also register online at www.fema.gov by clicking on the "Register for Disaster Assistance Online" icon.
"We have received and carefully reviewed more than 1.2 million applications since last summer," said Bill Carwile, federal coordinating officer. "Now, six months after the first hurricane struck, we believe we have been successful in reaching those individuals, families and businesses in need of our help."
The State Emergency Response Team (SERT) is a collaboration of Florida 's state agencies led by the state coordinating officer. SERT's mission is to ensure that Florida is prepared to respond to emergencies, recover from them, and mitigate their impacts. Visit www.floridadisaster.org for the latest information on the hurricane relief efforts.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003 .
Last Modified: Wednesday, 23-Feb-2005 14:36:44