Registration Period For Disaster Assistance Extended
Release Date: December 8, 2003
Release Number: 1498-46
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PASADENA, Calif. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES) announced that the registration period for individuals and business owners affected by the Southern California fires has been extended until January 9, 2004.
"Due to the continued volume of enrollment and applicants who are still being found eligible for some level of assistance, the decision was made to extend the deadline," said State Coordinating Officer Dallas Jones of OES.
Applicants are encouraged to 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. 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 and extending the deadline will allow extra time to pursue all the levels of assistance that are available," said Federal Coordinating Officer William Carwile, III, of FEMA.
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.
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 assuring 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: Tuesday, 09-Dec-2003 13:07:26