New Jersey Hurricane Survivors Can Register for Disaster Assistance

TRENTON, N.J. — Residents of 10 New Jersey counties who suffered damages from Hurricane Sandy may be eligible for federal disaster assistance as a result of the presidential disaster declaration made Oct. 30, 2012.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM) announced jointly that assistance has been made available to residents of Atlantic, Bergen, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset and Union counties.

Joint teams of federal, state and local recovery experts have conducted damage assessments across the state. Officials said additional counties may be added to the declaration.

Individual assistance for eligible homeowners and renters can include grants to help pay for rental housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs.

Homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and some nonprofit organizations can register online anytime at www.disasterassistance.gov, or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), (TTY 800-462-7585). These toll-free telephone numbers will operate 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily. Disaster information and recovery resources are available directly from a smartphone browser at m.fema.gov/.

Registering with FEMA is required for federal disaster aid, even if a person has registered with another disaster relief organization such as the American Red Cross, local officials or churches. Registrants with FEMA must use the name exactly as it appears on their Social Security card. Applicants need to have the following information to register:

• Social Security number

• Address of the damaged home or apartment

• Description of the damage

• Information about insurance coverage

• A current contact telephone number

• An address where the applicant can get mail

• Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of any financial assistance.

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.

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. 

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.