Use FEMA Disaster Funds Wisely

WINDSOR, Conn. – As recovery from Hurricane Sandy progresses, survivors are receiving grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help pay for getting their lives back together.

“It is important for survivors to use this money for their recovery,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Albert Lewis, who is in charge of the FEMA recovery effort in Connecticut.  “With the holidays approaching, don’t be tempted to use some of this money in ways it is not intended to be used. Don’t slow down your recovery; use this money wisely.”

Money from FEMA for housing or other needs assistance must be used for rent, home repair, personal property or other disaster-related expenses.

Disaster officials caution survivors who have received grants that FEMA can and does look at a survivor’s use of grant funds through audits, so it is essential all receipts for rent, materials, labor, etc., be kept in a safe place.

Survivors can register online anytime day or night at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or with a smartphone or web-enabled device at m.fema.gov. Survivors can also register by phone anytime by calling FEMA at 800-621-3362. The TTY number is 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The deadline to register is Dec. 31, 2012.

Registering for disaster assistance with other agencies or organizations does not register survivors for FEMA disaster assistance. Having FEMA flood insurance does not register policyholders for disaster assistance; flood insurance claims are handled separately.

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- 3362. For TTY, call 800-462-7585.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and covers 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.

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.