Starting Sunday New Hours To Apply For Disaster Assistance 

Release Date: January 7, 2005
Release Number: 1539-337

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ORLANDO, Fla. -- New hours for applying for disaster assistance have been announced by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Starting Jan. 9, 2005, the FEMA teleregistration, TTY and Helpline numbers will operate as follows:

Jan. 9, 2005—7 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST, seven days a week until further notice

Persons who still need to register for assistance for damages caused by one or more of the four 2004 hurricanes that made landfall in Florida—Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne—should call the FEMA toll-free registration number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for those who are speech- or hearing-impaired. These numbers can also be used by individuals or businesses to update their information or get information on the status of their applications.

Applicants may also register online. Those with access to a computer can enter the FEMA website at http://www.fema.gov. Look for and click on the words “Register for Disaster Assistance Online” located in the right-hand column under the heading “spotlight.”

Individuals and businesses have until Feb. 28, 2005 to register for assistance.

FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Last Modified: Friday, 07-Jan-2005 14:33:03