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TEXANS -- HERER'S HOW TO SPEED DISASTER ASSISTANCE

TEXANS - HERE'S HOW TO SPEED DISASTER ASSISTANCE

September 26, 2008 -- State and federal officials who are helping Texans recover from Hurricane Ike have some tips to speed disaster aid.

  • Register by telephone or online. Homeowners, renters, and business owners who had damages and losses as a result of Hurricane Ike should call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) registration line at 1-800-621-FEMA
    (3362) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585 to apply for assistance.
  • Telephone lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Because of high call volume, FEMA encourages people to call at off hours late in the evening or before 6 a.m. to avoid waiting for a specialist.
  • Online registration is also available at www.fema.gov. Have your information on hand when you register online; if you walk away from a computer to look for something, your online session may be timed out and you will have to begin the registration process again.
  • What to have ready when you apply by telephone or online: Your current address; the address of the damaged property; current phone information; insurance information, if any; and your Social Security number.
  • Remember, registering with voluntary agencies does not register you with FEMA.
  • Register, even if you are insured. Your insurance coverage may not cover everything. However, FEMA disaster assistance, by law, cannot duplicate insurance coverage.
  • Remember, disaster assistance covers a wide range of losses. Along with rental assistance and assistance for home repairs, disaster-related losses include damaged or lost personal property that may include anything from a wheelchair to a major appliance.
  • Stay in touch and keep appointments after you have registered for disaster assistance. A FEMA inspector will make an appointment to visit your home.
    Make every effort to be at the damaged property for the visit, and call if you need to change the appointment.
  • Return all forms promptly. After registering, you may receive a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loan application in the mail. Fill out and return the forms promptly or visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) for SBA assistance. Even if you are not interested in a loan, complete the loan package and return it. Filling out the SBA application is a necessary step to being considered for other forms of disaster assistance; storm victims are not obligated to accept an SBA loan.
  • After registering, visit a DRC to meet face-to-face with recovery specialists. If you have disaster aid questions, need help filling out an SBA loan, want to check on the status of your application, or need information on how to re-build better and stronger, you can talk with recovery specialists at a DRC.