FEMA And SBA Disaster Deadlines Arrives For Those Affected By March Tornadoes
Release Date: May 16, 2008
Release Number: R4-08-127
ATLANTA, Ga. -- Time is running out for anyone who had property damage or other losses from the tornadoes and severe storms that ripped across Georgia in mid-March to register for state-federal disaster assistance.
The deadline is May 19 for those affected in Bartow, Burke, DeKalb, Floyd, Fulton, Jefferson and Polk counties to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Registration takes about 20 minutes. Apply online at www.fema.gov or by a toll-free telephone call to 800-621-FEMA (3362). For the speech- or hearing-impaired the number is TTY 800-462-7585. Telephone registration hours are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday. Multilingual operators are available. Online applications can be made 24 hours a day.
Available assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for renters, homeowners and businesses of all sizes to cover uncompensated property losses, and other programs that help meet eligible disaster-related needs.
May 19 is also the deadline for homeowners, renters and businesses to return applications to the SBA for loans to cover disaster-related damages to real and personal property. This deadline affects only those who have not registered; those who are registered at that time will continue to receive any help for which they are eligible.
Officials urge everyone who has registered with FEMA and received an SBA application to complete the form and return it even if they are not seeking a loan. Submitting the SBA application by the May 19 deadline is required before applicants can be considered for some types of FEMA aid.
Information about SBA programs is available by calling 800-659-2955 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday to Friday until further notice, or online at www.sba.gov.
A Helpline option is also available by calling the FEMA toll-free numbers. Registered applicants may ask questions about disaster assistance programs or the status of their applications, or request an appeal.
FEMA coordinates the federal governments role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.
FEMAs temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must return them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers real estate, personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.
Last Modified: Monday, 19-May-2008 17:06:54