Red Cross Applicants Must Register With FEMA Separately
Release Date: September 28, 2003
Release Number: 1490-17
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Raleigh, NC - People who registered with the American Red Cross for flood assistance need to also register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), disaster recovery officials emphasized Saturday.
"Some people think that if they registered with the Red Cross, they have registered with FEMA," explained Federal Coordinating Office Gracia Szczech of FEMA. "That is simply not the case. We are separate organizations, with separate programs, and we each treat the information people give us as confidential.
"Do register with the Red Cross for what they can do," she said. "But if you want help from federal and state programs, you've got to get to a phone and register with FEMA."
Homeowners, renters and business owners who have been affected by the hurricane can register with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or, for the speech- and hearing-impaired, 1-800-462-7585.
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 Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Monday, 29-Sep-2003 11:04:58