Important Information for Hurricane Isaac Disaster Survivors

CLINTON, Miss. — Disaster survivors in 17 Mississippi counties, who had losses as a result of Hurricane Isaac, can now register online or by phone for federal disaster assistance. 

The Declaration and Amendments

On Sept. 1, a major disaster declaration signed by the president was amended to include Individual Assistance in four counties: Jackson, Hancock, Harrison and Pearl River. On Sept. 7, another 13 counties were designated for Individual Assistance, enabling people to apply for federal aid in the following counties: Adams, Amite, Clarke, Forrest, George, Hinds, Lincoln, Marion, Pike, Stone, Walthall, Warren and Wilkinson counties.

The Road to Recovery Begins with Registration

People who experienced losses should register online as soon as possible at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by mobile device at m.fema.gov. If online or mobile access is unavailable, applicants should call the FEMA toll-free Helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. Operators speak many languages.

People in the newly designated counties who already registered for federal disaster assistance do not need to do so again. If they have any questions about their applications for disaster assistance, they should call 800-621-3362.

FEMA will ask for the following information:

• The telephone number where applicants can be reached
• The address where applicants lived at the time of the disaster and the address where they are staying
• Their Social Security number
• A general description of damage to property and other losses
• The name of the insurance company and policy number or agent if the property is insured
• Bank account routing information for direct deposit of funds

Survivors May Be Eligible for Many Types of Assistance

Federal disaster aid to people may include:

• Rental assistance for temporary housing if their home or apartment is unlivable.
• Grants for minimal home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional.
• Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs.
• Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration to cover losses of renters and homeowners

Other sources of assistance:

• A number of voluntary agencies, faith- based groups and community organizations are providing food, shelter, supplies and are assisting in clean-up efforts. More information on a range of aid programs is available from local governments or by calling 2-1-1.

Federal aid to businesses and nonprofits with losses may include:

• Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA for businesses and certain private nonprofit organizations that sustained physical damage or economic injury.

Survivors Should Register Even If Insured

It’s important for survivors to document damage with photographs, save repair receipts and notify their insurance companies. Those with insurance should know that federal disaster assistance may be provided prior to a delayed insurance settlement and assist an eligible survivor during their recovery. However, federal assistance must be repaid once an insurance settlement is received.      

An insurance settlement may be insufficient to cover all eligible damages or losses. Federal disaster assistance may fill in eligible gaps a survivor’s insurance doesn’t cover. 

Survivors who have flood insurance on their property should be aware that it covers the following:

• The structure and its foundation
• Electrical and plumbing
• Central air conditioning equipment, furnaces and water heaters,
• Refrigerators, cooking stoves and built-in appliances such as dishwashers
• Permanently installed carpeting over unfinished flooring
• Permanently installed paneling, wallboard, bookcases and cabinets
• Window blinds
• Detached garages
• Debris removal
• Some personal items, such as clothing, furniture, window units, microwave ovens and dishwashers, washers and dryers and food freezers

PHOTO AND VIDEO RESOURCES

• Photos of FEMA operations, including response and recovery efforts in Mississippi for Hurricane Isaac, are on the FEMA website. These include Community Relations specialists in the field, people being helped at Disaster Recovery Centers, early response operations and more. Photos are updated frequently.  Link to the FEMA Photo Library: http://www.fema.gov/photolibrary (keywords Isaac Mississippi or DR 4081)

·http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary (keyword Isaac or DR 4081)

LINKS

Twitter:

• FEMA Regional Office in Atlanta: www.twitter.com/femaregion4

• FEMA: www.twitter.com/fema
• FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate: www.twitter.com/craigatfema
• MEMA: https://twitter.com/msema

Facebook:      www.facebook.com/fema

                        www.facebook.com/msemaorg?ref=sgm

Websites:

• www.fema.gov
• What to do before, during and after a hurricane or tropical storm: www.Ready.gov/hurricanes
• www.msema.org

Blog: www.fema.gov/blog

News releases: http://www.fema.gov/news-releases

Via phone: m.fema.gov or on the FEMA app                                  

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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.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.