Just two weeks left to register for FEMA assistance; close date set for DRC

SAIPAN, CNMI – Typhoon Soudelor survivors on Saipan have just two weeks left to register for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The deadline is Monday, Oct. 5. The Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at the Pedro P Tenorio Multi-purpose Center in Susupe will remain open through the following Friday, Oct. 9.

“We want to make sure everyone who should get help does,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Stephen M. DeBlasio Sr. “That can’t happen for anyone who doesn’t register, so we really want to make sure everyone knows the deadline and to encourage them to register before it comes.”

Survivors are encouraged to apply for assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362. People with speech or hearing disabilities and use TTY should call 800-462-7585, and those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362.

Even if an applicant turns out to be ineligible, an applicant specialist will discuss any unmet needs and refer the survivor to voluntary organizations that may be able to provide assistance.

Businesses as well as homeowners and renters who were impacted by Soudelor can also contact the U.S. Small Business Administration by going to the DRC in Susupe to ask about low-interest disaster loans.

After the DRC closes, SBA will open a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) where applicants can meet face-to-face with SBA representatives, sign and close loans, and get answers to their SBA questions. SBA will announce the DLOC location soon.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.