Deadline Nears For Applying For Disaster Assistance
Release Date: December 24, 2003
Release Number: 1498-057
» More Information on California Wildfires
PASADENA, Calif. -- Individuals and business owners affected by the Southern California fires who have not yet registered for federal disaster assistance have only two more weeks to apply. January 9, 2004, is the last day to file an application for most disaster assistance programs, according to officials of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) and the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
“Individuals who suffered losses in the Southern California wildfires and have not yet registered for assistance should do so right away,” said Dallas Jones, OES director and state coordinating officer for the wildfires disaster.
Applicants can register by using the FEMA toll-free registration number at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The TTY number is 1-800-462-7585 for those who are speech or hearing impaired. Recovery specialists are available to take calls from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, except for Thursday, January 1, 2004. Residents already registered for disaster assistance with FEMA can call to update their application if necessary.
“We want to make sure that all applicants receive the aid for which they are eligible," said FEMA’s William Carwile, III, the federal coordinating officer. “That’s why we extended the deadline by two weeks from December 26 to January 9.”
Applicants may qualify for assistance under several federal and state programs. These include temporary disaster housing assistance; U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest, disaster loans for homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes; and grants to meet disaster--related needs not covered by other programs or insurance.
Federal and state disaster assistance covers basic needs only and will not normally compensate for an individual’s entire loss. For applicants and business owners who have insurance, federal and state programs may help pay for basic needs not covered by an insurance policy.
Residents should contact their insurance agent in addition to calling the FEMA registration number. Some disaster aid does not have to be paid back, while other forms of help may come in the form of low-interest loans from the SBA. “Even after the deadline, if you have questions about your application, FEMA will still be a telephone call away,” Carwile said. “The toll-free teleregistration number will remain in operation as the Helpline throughout the year.”
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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.
The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services coordinates overall state agency response to major disasters in support of local government. The office is responsible for ensuring California’s readiness to respond to and recover from natural, manmade, and war-caused emergencies, and for assisting local governments in their emergency preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery efforts.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Thursday, 15-Jan-2004 15:54:30