A Few More Days to Register for FEMA Assistance

COLUMBIA, S.C.  – A few days remain for South Carolina residents affected by Oct. 1-23 storms and flooding to apply for federal disaster assistance.

The deadline to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency is Jan. 3, 2016. Because the deadline falls on a Sunday, FEMA will accept registrations through the following business day, Monday, Jan. 4. That also is the deadline for returning the disaster loan application to the U.S. Small Business Administration. Applicants are not required to accept a loan, if offered, but returning the completed application may lead to other grant assistance from FEMA.

Survivors who sustained losses in the 24 designated counties can apply for assistance by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling the FEMA helpline toll-free 800-621-3362; TTY 800-462-7585; 711/Video Relay Service  800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. each day and will be closed New Year’s Day.

Assistance can include money for temporary rental assistance for homeowners and renters, financial assistance for disaster-related homeowners, essential home repairs for primary homes, personal property losses, and other needs such as medical, dental, funeral and transportation expenses.

When registering, survivors must provide information such as date of loss, loss descriptions, Social Security number, current mailing address and damaged home address, including ZIP codes, telephone numbers, insurance information, the names of household members at the time of the disaster and bank account information if they want to have money deposited directly if found eligible.

Homeowners may be eligible to receive SBA low-interest loans of up to $200,000 for flood-related repairs to their primary residences. Homeowners and renters may also borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal items such as appliances, furniture and vehicles. Businesses and private nonprofits may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace flood-damaged property. Eligible applicants may be able to borrow money from the SBA before insurance claim decisions.

For information about SBA disaster loans, survivors may visit the SBA website sba.gov/disaster or call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call 800-659-2955. Survivors may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via the SBA’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Survivors can call the FEMA helpline to:

• Register for federal assistance. Households should register only once.
• Ask questions about FEMA decision letters.
• Learn how to appeal FEMA decision letters. All applicants may appeal.
• Inquire about the status of a registration.
• Provide change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information to avoid disaster assistance processing delays.
• Receive information about FEMA home inspections.
• Get questions answered about federal disaster assistance and the application process.

Applicants should have their nine-digit FEMA registration number and ZIP code if they want to discuss their application.

As of Dec. 27, 2015, FEMA has inspected 81,283 structures and approved $78 million in disaster assistance to 26,108 eligible applicants.

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