Insured Individuals Should Still Apply Before March 11!
Release Date: March 4, 2006
Release Number: 1603-383
» More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Katrina
» More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Rita
Baton Rouge , La. -- Only one week remains for individuals affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to apply for disaster assistance with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The March 11 deadline is only for individuals, families and business owners affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita who have never contacted FEMA.
Insured individuals who have not yet applied for help should call now and register before the deadline . Once homeowners or renters have applied for disaster assistance, they are in the FEMA system and property damages or losses found qualified for assistance can be addressed even after the application deadline has passed.
You may be under-insured for disaster-related expenses, damages or losses, said Federal Coordinating Officer Scott Wells. Whatever your insurance situation may be, don't wait for a settlement before you apply for assistance. We want everyone affected and qualified for assistance to be registered so they may receive help as quickly as possible.
Applicants for FEMA assistance may be eligible for temporary housing support, replacement grants for serious disaster-related needs or items not covered by insurance. Some homeowners, property renters and business owners who apply may also be eligible for low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
The SBA urges all disaster victims to submit their loan applications as soon as possible after FEMA registration, regardless of the status of their insurance claims. By taking such action, a disaster victim continues the recovery process by allowing the SBA to process a loan to repair or replace their disaster-damaged property. The SBA application deadline for physical damage loans is March 11.
Call FEMA daily from 6 a.m. to midnight (CST) to apply at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) . Those with a speech or hearing impairment may call TTY 1-800-462-7585 . For the non-English speaking public, registration assistance is available in 173 languages. Individuals can also register for disaster assistance online at the FEMA website www.fema.gov .
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Monday, 06-Mar-2006 09:05:47