June 2, 2014 Less than Thirty Days Remain for Mississippians to Register for FEMA Assistance

Release date: 

JUNE 2, 2014

Release Number: 

035

JACKSON, Miss. – The June 30 deadline is less than thirty days away for individuals and households to register with FEMA for assistance to recover from damage caused by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding between April 28 and May 3.

Disaster survivors in Itawamba, Jones, Leake, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Montgomery, Rankin, Simpson, Warren, Wayne and Winston counties may be eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs. Low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes from the U.S. Small Business Administration may also be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance. SBA has the same filing deadline of June 30 to receive loan applications for physical damages.

Mississippi residents should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but under-insured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if the person has registered with another disaster-relief organization. FEMA registrants must use the name that appears on their Social Security card.

Applicants will be asked for the following information:

• Social Security number
• Address of the damaged home or apartment
• Description of the damage
• Information about insurance coverage
• A current contact telephone number
• An address where they can receive mail
• Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.

Individuals and households in the 12 eligible counties can register for FEMA assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone or tablet at m.FEMA.gov or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362.) People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY should call 800-462-7585. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (central time) and assistance is available in multiple languages.

www.fema.gov