More Time Given For Katrina & Rita Disaster Registration
Release Date: December 29, 2005
Release Number: 3229-026
» More Information on New Mexico Hurricane Katrina Evacuation
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Hurricane Katrina and Rita evacuees now have an additional 60 days in which to apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance. Families are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
The extension from January 11 to March 11 was granted to assure that everyone eligible for assistance has registered. In every disaster there are people who don’t register because they have home insurance and don’t think they are eligible. Many later find damage that was uninsured or under-insured and realize they’ve missed their chance at assistance because registration has closed.
In addition to FEMA disaster assistance grants, disaster loans are available to qualified applicants at low interest rates through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan program.
Evacuees who have not registered for assistance should call the toll-free registration line, 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585 for the speech- or hearing-impaired. The lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and multilingual operators are available to take calls. Applications can also be completed on line at www.fema.gov.
Evacuees will need to supply the following information during registration:
- Current phone number
- Address at the time of the disaster and current address, if different
- Social Security number
- A general list of damages and losses suffered
- Directions to the damaged property
- Insurance policy number or company and agent’s name, if insured
- General financial information
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.
Last Modified: Thursday, 09-Mar-2006 13:21:32