Many Residents Missing Out on FEMA Help

BATON ROUGE, La. — Many residents of parishes covered by last month’s presidential disaster declaration might be eligible for federal assistance, but have yet to seek help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Some homeowners and renters who would qualify for assistance miss out on aid because they are mistaken or misinformed about applying, or are returning to damaged dwellings. All you need to do is register with FEMA to get the process started.

To seek aid, call 800-621-3362 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. seven days a week. People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use TTY call 800-462-7585, and those who use 711 or Video Relay Services may call 800-621-3362. You may also apply online with any computer, smartphone or tablet at www.DisasterAssistance.gov   

Some survivors who already have cleaned up and made repairs themselves think they cannot apply for assistance. Others worry that accepting money from FEMA might affect their Social Security checks or that a FEMA grant would be taxed as income by the IRS. Neither is the case.

Still others might hesitate in accepting taxpayer money because they feel their neighbors need it more.

Sometimes survivors assume that once they collect their insurance claims they are no longer eligible for federal help, even if the insurance payment fell short of covering the damages.

Perhaps the most common reason, however, that people do not apply for FEMA assistance is their mistaken assumption that once they alert local, county or state officials to their damages they automatically are registered with FEMA. They are not.

Register with FEMA at 800-621-3362 or online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.   

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