FEMA deadline for federal hurricane aid fast approaching

Two weeks remain for homeowners, renters, and businesses in Florida to apply for disaster assistance

From the Federal Emergency Management Agency

If you are a Florida homeowner, renter or business owner who sustained property damage or loss caused by Hurricane Irma you have two weeks left to register and apply for federal disaster assistance.

The deadline to register for assistance from FEMA and to apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is Friday, November 24th, 2017.

Survivors should register even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but eligible homeowners and renters may be able to receive money from FEMA for losses not covered by insurance to help pay for basic home repairs, temporary rental assistance and other needs such as replacing personal property. FEMA Individual Assistance is grant money that does not have to be repaid.

You may register in one of the following ways:

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service (VRS). If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585. Help is available in many languages. Helpline numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. EST, seven days a week.

Information is available in ASL at: fema.gov/medialibrary/assets/videos/111546.

Download the FEMA Mobile App and apply.

You may also visit a Disaster Recovery Center. A list of DRCs is available on the FEMA Mobile App, online at fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or by calling the FEMA Helpline.

FEMA specialists are in the DRCs to answer your questions about how to register for federal disaster assistance, explain what’s happening with your application and give tips on how you can get help for damage your insurance does not cover.

After registering with FEMA, you may apply for an SBA low-interest disaster loan. Go online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. SBA representatives also are available at disaster recovery centers.

For more recovery information, visit www.FEMA.gov/IrmaFL, or follow us @FEMARegion4 on Twitter and on FEMA’s Facebook page.