Monday: FEMA Aid Deadline Approaches

The time is drawing near when it will become too late for people who had damages from Hurricane Sandy to quality for possible federal help.  The registration deadline for FEMA is this coming Monday, January 28.  Survivors who do not register by Monday cannot be considered for FEMA grants.

Monday is also the deadline to return applications for those who have already registered, and have received low-interest disaster recovery loan applications from the Small Business Administration (SBA).  Doing so does not obligate survivors to go through with a loan but it keeps their options open.  People who cannot quality for an SBA loan are automatically referred back to FEMA to be considered for additional assistance.

This FEMA help, known as ONA (Other Needs Assistance) can include: 

Money to repair or replace damaged and destroyed personal property not covered by insurance such as:

• Clothing
• Household items (room furnishings, appliances)
• Specialized tools or protective equipment required for a job
• Necessary educational materials (computers, school books)
• Clean-up items (wet/dry vacuum, dehumidifier)

But, again, none of this assistance is possible if people do not register with FEMA and return their SBA applications by Monday’s deadline. 

There are several ways to do this:

• Via smartphone or tablet, go to m.fema.gov or download the FEMA app
• Go to www.disasterassistance.gov
• Call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585.
• For 7-1-1Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) call 800-621-3362.
• The toll-free telephone numbers operate 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. EST seven days a week until further notice.
• A FEMA Language Assistance Line is available for those who need interpretation services in languages other than English or Spanish. Call: 866-333-1796.

County Registrations (through January 23)

Orange:              1,101

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Putnam:                348

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Rockland:          3,187

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Sullivan:               493

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Ulster:                  247

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Westchester:      5,564