December Storm Survivors in Mississippi Have Until Friday to Register With FEMA

OXFORD, Miss. – Survivors of the late December storms, tornadoes and flooding in Mississippi have until March 4, 2016, to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance.

Survivors in Benton, Coahoma, Marshall, Monroe, Panola, Prentiss, Quitman and Tippah counties who suffered losses and have delayed registering for any reason should apply for potential assistance that could include:

• Temporary rental assistance and money for essential home repairs to eligible survivors. FEMA’s ultimate goal is to ensure survivors’ dwellings are safe, sanitary and functional.

• Assistance with disaster-related costs associated with medical, dental, funeral, personal property, transportation, moving and storage, or other necessary expenses.

Survivors are urged to register with FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling FEMA’s helpline at 800-621-3362, which is video relay service accessible. Survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing or who have difficulty speaking may call TTY 800-462-7585. FEMA has made it a priority to reach survivors who need help – including people with disabilities and/or access and functional needs, senior citizens and people with limited English proficiency. FEMA assistance will not impact other government benefits.

March 4, 2016, is also the deadline to apply for a disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Homeowners or renters who have been referred for a low-interest disaster loan from the SBA should complete and return their loan application to be considered for other possible federal assistance. Survivors do not have to accept a loan, but these loans can help with underinsured losses.

Survivors can apply with SBA online using the electronic loan application via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Survivors may obtain additional information about the loan application process by calling the SBA Disaster Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people who are deaf or hard of hearing) or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

For the latest information on Mississippi disaster recovery operations, visit msema.org and fema.gov/disaster/4248.

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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.

All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).

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.