FEMA Launches Consolidated Website For Disaster Applicants
Release Date: December 31, 2008
Release Number: HQ-08-261
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced the launch of the first phase of DisasterAssistance.gov, a new, easy-to-use web site that consolidates information about forms of disaster assistance in one place. Individuals in need of assistance following a presidentially declared disaster designated for individual assistance will now be able to go to www.DisasterAssistance.gov if they wish to register online for assistance with FEMA and other federal agencies.
DisasterAssistance.gov will improve and simplify access to information about disaster assistance by creating a central, online location for all forms of federal disaster aid. Sixteen federal agencies have partnered with FEMA to develop the website, offering more than 50 forms of assistance. At launch, users can:
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apply for FEMA assistance and U.S. Small Business Administration loans through a single online application
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check the status of their online application(s)
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choose to have their Social Security benefits redirected to a new address
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have access to their federal student loan account information.
DisasterAssistance.gov also will provide applicants links to other forms of assistance and additional aid information. In future releases, DisasterAssistance.gov will include online applications for increasingly more forms of aid, speeding the application process for victims of presidentially declared disasters.
DisasterAssistance.gov was developed to comply with Executive Order 13411, which requires the government to simplify the process of identifying and applying for disaster assistance. The ultimate vision for DisasterAssistance.gov is to be the collective point of application for all federal agencies that offer forms of assistance to those affected by disaster, as well as eventually provide a central repository for all forms of disaster assistance, irrespective of provider. FEMA and its sixteen partner agencies are working closely to turn this vision into reality.
Following the initial launch on December 31, 2008, FEMA, along with the partner agencies, will be expanding DisasterAssistance.gov's capacity to help individuals in need. DisasterAssistance.gov will be updated in phases to include additional forms of assistance that are administered at the federal, state, regional and local levels.
Individuals may still go to FEMA.gov, however, those who apply for assistance online will be redirected to the new DisasterAssistance.gov website.
For more information, please visit: www.DisasterAssistance.gov
FEMA coordinates the federal government's 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.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 31-Dec-2008 11:31:23