Tomorrow is the Last Day to apply for FEMA's Disaster Aid
Release Date: January 14, 2009
Release Number: 1798-075
» More Information on Puerto Rico Severe Storms and Flooding
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Only one day remains for residents to register for Commonwealth-federal disaster assistance related to damages or losses resulting from the floods which occurred from September 21 - October 3, 2008.
Tomorrow Thursday, January 15 is the last day to apply for a wide range of local, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal disaster assistance programs. The disaster designated municipalities are Arroyo, Cabo Rojo, Guánica, Guayama, Guayanilla, Gurabo, Humacao, Juncos, Lajas, Las Piedras, Maunabo, Naguabo, Patillas, Peñuelas, Ponce, Salinas, San Lorenzo, Santa Isabel, Villalba, Yabucoa and Yauco.
FEMA and Commonwealth disaster recovery officials urge residents to call FEMA's toll-free number 1-800-621-3362 or the TTY line for hearing and speech impaired at 1-800-462-7585. The lines are available from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. On Saturdays, business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., until further notice. On the Web, disaster information remains available 24 hours a day at www.disasterassistance.gov.
Once registered, applicants can follow up on the status of their case by calling the same toll-free telephone numbers.
As of today, $25,486,341 in approved funds have been disbursed benefiting 38,576 applicants that registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 36,595 homes have been inspected and 37,800 persons have visited the Disaster Recovery Centers located throughout the affected areas.
Available assistance may 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.
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, 14-Jan-2009 09:17:41