Registration Deadline Extended in Pennsylvania
Flood victims have until Oct. 3 to register for federal assistance
Release Date: August 25, 2006
Release Number: 1649-060
» More Information on Pennsylvania Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- FEMA and the Commonwealth want to be sure all Pennsylvanians affected by June’s flooding receive disaster assistance. That’s why FEMA has approved the state’s request to extend the deadline for Pennsylvania residents and business owners to apply for federal disaster assistance to Oct. 3.
“With dozens of new applications coming in every day, we thought it was important to extend the registration deadline so everyone who was affected has a chance to apply,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Tom Davies. “If you or your family suffered losses and you haven’t yet contacted FEMA, please do.”
FEMA officials stressed that individuals should apply for assistance even if they do not believe they are eligible. Even if they suffered only small losses, or insurance covered some, but not all, losses, they should apply for assistance. Disaster victims often fail to register because they assume they are not eligible, only to learn after the registration period has closed that assistance may have been available to them.
“We want to make sure that every Pennsylvanian who needs disaster assistance to help them recover has an opportunity to apply,” said Commonwealth Coordinating Officer James R. Joseph.
Though the deadline has been extended to Oct. 3, FEMA processes disaster assistance applications as they are submitted, so the sooner individuals apply, the sooner disaster assistance can be disbursed. Disaster assistance may include funding for temporary housing and grants for serious needs not met by other programs. The first step toward receiving disaster assistance is to call the FEMA registration number or to go online to apply.
Residents and business owners in 22 Pennsylvania counties who suffered damages should call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., seven days a week, or can register online at www.fema.gov. Individuals with speech or hearing impairments can call the TDD registration number: 1-800-462-7585.
The 22 Pennsylvania counties where individual disaster assistance is available are: Berks, Bradford, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Columbia, Dauphin, Franklin, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming,
To date, more than 11,000 Pennsylvanians have registered for disaster assistance, more than $15 million in housing assistance has been paid to more than 7,000 individuals, and more than $31 million in SBA loans has been approved.
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 a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Friday, 25-Aug-2006 16:22:54