Applying for Disaster Assistance – What Information Do I Need to Apply?

SAIPAN – Over 7,200 registrations have been received by FEMA for disaster assistance as a result of damages sustained by Typhoon Soudelor (DR 4235) and nearly $2.6 Million has been approved for survivors so far. FEMA encourages all who have been suffered damages from Typhoon Soudelor, August 1-3, to register for Disaster Assistance.

Individuals and households on Saipan can register with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-3362; those who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585. Multilingual interpreters are available at the FEMA registration number, including Chinese, Tagalog, Japanese, and Korean. They can also apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

A joint Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is open at the Pedro P Tenorio Multi-purpose Center in Susupe to help individuals and families affected by Typhoon Soudelor with the recovery process. Normal hours of operation are Monday-Saturdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

After registering online or by telephone, survivors can access “one-stop shop” service at the DRC and receive assistance with additional registration needs such as case inquiries and updates. Subject matter experts from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be available at the DRC. Translators and Sign Language Interpreters are available at the DRC.

Whether applying online from your computer or smartphone, or over the phone through a FEMA call center, you should have a pen and paper and the following information ready:

· Your Social Security number

 **If you do not have your SSN card, you can show a Medicare/Medicaid card, W2 form, or filed tax return.

· Current and pre-disaster address with zip code

· Directions to property

· A working telephone number where FEMA can contact you

· Address where you can receive mail

· Insurance information if available

· Total household annual income

· A routing and account number from your bank (only necessary if you want to have disaster assistance funds transferred directly into your bank account)

· A description of your losses that were caused by the disaster

Before your housing inspection occurs, you should have an Owner Occupancy Form that shows proof you are the official home owner or renter. Forms are available at the DRC or at the following fire stations:

· Station 1- Susupe

· Station 2- Garapan

· Station 4- Koblerville

· Station 5- Kagman

After you’ve completed your application for assistance, you will receive a FEMA application number. Write down this number and keep it for future reference. This is one of your unique identifiers, do not share this number with persons not involved in assisting with your disaster recovery.

FEMA verifies the name and Social Security number of those registering for disaster assistance. If the name and Social Security number on file with the Social Security administration do not match the information you provide you will be asked to submit a copy of an original document, e.g. marriage license, military ID, tax documents, etc., for proof of identity. A need to review and update identity documentation may cause delays in delivery of assistance.

If you are attempting to complete an application online and your identity information does not match, you will receive an Identification Validation Error message advising you to review the information you entered. If you cannot pass the identity verification, this error message will advise you to call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585.

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.