WTC Disaster Assistance Application Deadline Approaches 

Those Seeking Aid Should Call Toll-Free to Register 1-800-462-9029 by Jan. 31, 2003

Release Date: November 6, 2002
Release Number: 1391-164

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New York, NY -- Individuals, families and small businesses affected by the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center still have time to apply for federal disaster assistance. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials also announced the November holiday schedule, affecting registration hours at FEMA disaster call centers and at the FEMA / SBA Applicant Assistance Center in lower Manhattan.

January 31, 2003, is the last day applications will be accepted for FEMA assistance programs, including the Mortgage and Rental Assistance program. That date is also the deadline for submitting loan applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for disaster-related physical or economic injury losses.

Recovery officials point out that the registration deadline for the New York state-administered Individual and Family Grant (IFG) program remains Nov. 30, 2002.

"There is still plenty of time to apply for disaster assistance before the deadline of Jan. 31," said Federal Recovery Officer Brad Gair. "The registration process has been ongoing for more than a year now, so we encourage those who need help to call us without delay."

Federal and New York state disaster recovery officials urge those who have not done so to apply as soon as possible by calling the toll-free registration line at 1-800-462-9029 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Interpreter services are available to accommodate the diverse needs of all language groups in the New York metropolitan area. Hearing or speech-impaired individuals may call the TTY registration number at 1-800-462-7585.

Holiday Schedule Affects Registration Hours

The FEMA Teleregistration Call Center will be open regular hours on Nov. 11, Veterans Day, as well the Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving, Nov. 29 and 30. Teleregistration lines will be closed Nov. 28 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

The FEMA / SBA Applicant Assistance Center in lower Manhattan will be closed on Nov. 11 in observance of the Veterans Day holiday and on Nov. 28 in observance of Thanksgiving. Located at 141 Worth St. (formerly the DMV Building), the Applicant Assistance Center will resume operations on Tuesday, Nov. 12 and Friday, Nov. 29, respectively. Regular hours for the facility are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FEMA and the SBA provide a range of assistance including grants for temporary housing or emergency repair; mortgage and rental assistance; crisis counseling; and low-interest disaster assistance loans for homeowners and businesses of all sizes.

To date, more than 157,000 individuals have applied for disaster assistance resulting from the Sept. 11 attacks. More than $213.5 million has been distributed to families and individuals impacted by the disaster. The SBA has also distributed more than $444.7 million in disaster and economic injury loans to businesses that suffered damages due to the attack.

Last Modified: Monday, 07-Jul-2003 16:23:16