FEMA Hotel/Motel Authorization Code Is Not The Same As An Evacuee's FEMA Case Number
Release Date: January 11, 2006
Release Number: 1606-117
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AUSTIN, Texas -- Hurricane Katrina and Rita evacuees living in Texas-area hotels and motels have until Jan. 30 to obtain a special authorization code to participate in a direct bill program subsidized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). With the code, FEMA will pay for hotel and motel rooms through at least Feb. 13. For evacuees who do not use the FEMA authorization code, payments will end on Feb. 7.
The authorization code is not the same as an evacuee's FEMA case number. The number to call for the code is 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- or hearing-impaired. Multilingual assistance also is available. At the time evacuees request an authorization code, FEMA will let them know when hotel payments will stop.
Evacuees must present the unique code to a hotel or motel to extend the federal subsidy for their stay. The code also will be required immediately for evacuees who change hotels or check in for the first time between now and Feb. 7. Requests for an extension beyond Feb. 7 will be managed on a case-by-case basis.
"The authorization codes will enable us to work more closely with evacuees as they transition into longer-term housing," said Federal Coordinating Officer Sandy Coachman, FEMA's top official for disaster recovery operations in Texas . "Our outreach efforts have produced very good data, and the authorization codes will open up two-way information flow with those we continue to miss or who have made moves between hotels."
"We are making a concerted effort to help meet the individual needs of evacuees," said State Coordinating Officer Frank Cantu of the Texas Governor's Division of Emergency Management (GDEM). "Every case is unique, and this extension will give us more time to evaluate their housing, employments and other needs."
FEMA has nearly 400 Community Relations strike team members deployed throughout Texas who already have met with some 13,500 evacuees who remain in hotels and motels.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: Wednesday, 31-May-2006 15:14:48