FEMA Registration Necessary To Receive Federal Disaster Assistance 

Release Date: June 22, 2008
Release Number: 1768-019

» More Information on Wisconsin Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

MADISON, Wis. -- Disaster officials remind Wisconsin residents that it is necessary to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to qualify for federal disaster assistance.  Registration with anyone else - volunteer agencies, county and state agencies, local disaster managers - is a process separate from the federal and state disaster recovery programs.

"When the storms and flooding first occurred, a number of local governments asked their citizens to let them know what their losses were," said Dolph Diemont, head of FEMA's disaster recovery team.  "This helped them let county and state governments determine the severity of the damages in the state.

"But - the only way to qualify for FEMA disaster assistance is to register with us by calling 1-800-621 FEMA or by going online at www.fema.gov.  The speech or hearing impaired can register at 1-800-462-7585.  Both telephone numbers and web registrations are available 24 hours a day."

Residents of 22 Wisconsin counties are now eligible for disaster unemployment for loss of income caused by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that affected individuals and business owners in Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac,  Grant, Green, Iowa, Juneau, Kenosha, Marquette, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, Vernon, Washington, Waukesha and Winnebago counties since June 5.

Anyone who provided information to anybody other than FEMA is now urged to call FEMA to begin the federal-state assistance process," said Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Johnnie Smith.  "Our goal, working as a team,  is to assure that everyone who might qualify for help for damages and losses caused by the early June storms and flooding is aware of this help and applies now."

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: Monday, 23-Jun-2008 11:45:41