| Applying for Disaster Assistance: People in designated counties can apply for FEMA assistance in three ways: online by visiting disasterassistance.gov, calling 1-800-621-3362 or in the FEMA App.
Reunification: People who need help reconnecting with loved ones missing after the hurricane can call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767)
FEMA’s New Individual Assistance (IA) Updates: (we are grateful to the National Low Income Housing Coalition for providing the following tips)
To learn more about the new benefits survivors should be entitled to under these changes, check out a quick description of the programs here. Here’s a one pager that might also be useful.
FEMA “Trick” Questions
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- We know that answering these five questions incorrectly when applying for IA assistance is the greatest reason disaster survivors fail to receive the benefits they are entitled to from FEMA.
- FEMA has declared Individual Assistance (IA) for Hurricane Helene. What does this mean for you? It means that you can apply for disaster assistance from FEMA to help offset your disaster-related expenses. You can apply online at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or by telephone at (800) 621-3362. Otherwise, you can download the FEMA weather app from Google PlayStore or the Apple Store and you can apply for assistance on the app and upload receipts. Whichever method you choose, the form has a few questions that are tricky. To avoid delay, please follow the following tips:
i. One of the questions that FEMA will ask when you register is “Do You Have Emergency Needs”? This means during your evacuation or since staying at home during the disaster, do you need help with Gas, Medication, Food (meals, water, had no power and everything spoils), Shelter (you are staying with friends, family or in a hotel); Clothing; or Durable Medical Equipment (oxygen, walkers, cane, glasses, all major equipment, etc). Say “YES” to this question. That will result in your receiving Displacement / Critical Needs Assistance, which is $750.
ii. When asked if your home is/was accessible, answer “NO” if there was debris, tree branches, continued flooding, loss of power, damage or destruction that prevented you from staying there after Helene. This question is asking whether you can stay at your home or apartment and will trigger the ability for you to receive assistance to pay for hotels or provide funding to use while you stay with family or friends.
iii. When asked if utilities are out, say “YES” even if your utilities were out for a few days. This triggers assistance $ to stay somewhere other than your home or to buy fuel to power a generator.
iv. When asked “Are you willing to relocate” say “YES” if you cannot live in your home due to damage, loss of power, etc. This question means you are willing to stay in a hotel or apartment temporarily, and triggers that funding for you. It is not asking if you are willing to move away from your home permanently.
v. If you bought or buy a generator, FEMA will reimburse you up to $629, but you must submit the receipt. If you bought a chainsaw, FEMA will reimburse you up to $219. Again, you need to provide the receipt. Save your receipts.
Small Business Support (see note above): SBA offers low-interest loans to help in disaster recovery. These loans can be used for losses not covered by insurance or FEMA for both personal and business needs, or business operating expenses that could have been met if the disaster had not occurred. SBA disaster loans are available to businesses of all sizes, homeowners, renters, and private non-profit organizations in declared disaster areas. To find out if you’re eligible to apply, visit the Disaster Declaration Search Page. Types of SBA Disaster Loans include:
- Physical Damage Loans: For the repair and replacement of physical assets damaged in a declared disaster.
- Mitigation Assistance: Provides funding to make improvements to reduce future damage.
- Economic Injury Loans: Helps cover operating expenses for small businesses affected by the disaster.
- Military Reservist Loan: Assists small businesses with operating expenses when employees are on active duty leave.
Combatting Disinformation: The Administration, including FEMA, has also been tracking and combatting the significant amount of false information circulating online related to the Federal response – which can discourage people from seeking critical and life-saving assistance. The Administration is actively working to identify and combat this misinformation and disinformation and support survivors in every possible way.
Please find FEMA’s website on Hurricane Milton Here
Please find FEMA’s website on Hurricane Helene Here
Please find FEMA’s Rumor Response website Here
Federal Communications Commission:
FCC ANNOUNCES SIX-MONTH WAIVER TO PROVIDE DISCOUNTED PHONE AND BROADBAND SERVICE SUPPORT FOR HURRICANE MILTON SURVIVORS AND FUTURE STORMS
The agency voted to temporarily waive certain Lifeline program eligibility rules to ensure that consumers receiving federal disaster assistance can easily apply for and enroll in the Lifeline program…
The Lifeline program currently offers qualifying low-income consumers discounts on fixed or mobile voice or broadband internet access service, as well as on bundled service. Qualifying low-income consumers can receive an up to $9.25 monthly discount on Lifeline-supported broadband internet access service or an up to $5.25 monthly discount on Lifeline-supported voice service. Lifeline consumers residing on qualifying Tribal lands can receive up to a $34.25 monthly discount on Lifeline-supported service.
[We were very disappointed that Congress let the Affordable Connectivity Program expire – it provided cheap or free internet service across the country. While the above is only for hurricane survivors, it is doubly important in the absence of the Affordable Connectivity Program, which we hope will be restored ASAP.] |
