Disaster Assistance Available for January Storm Damage
OLYMPIA— Did you have damage during the storms and flooding between Jan. 6 - 16, 2009? You may be eligible for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Washington Emergency Management Division (WEMD).
Residents of the following Washington counties are eligible to receive disaster assistance: Benton, Cowlitz, Clallam, Grays Harbor, King, Kittitas, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum and Whatcom.
Applicants can register for FEMA assistance by calling, toll-free, 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA), TTY 1-800-462-7585, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week, or register online at www.disasterassistance.gov.or go to the Whatcom County Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at the former Wilson Toyota Dealership on Champion in Bellingham.
Individual assistance may be available for homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes. Assistance may include housing assistance grants, property grants under the federal/state “Other Needs Assistance” program, and low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
After you've registered for disaster assistance, you will be assigned a registration number. A few days later, you will receive a phone call from an inspector who will make an appointment to come to your house to verify the damage. The inspection generally takes 30 - 40 minutes and includes all areas of the home and personal property.
Residents do not have to wait for the inspector to arrive before beginning repairs. Photographs, contractor estimates and receipts can be provided to FEMA inspectors to document the extent of damage.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Washington residents in the above counties also may be eligible for disaster unemployment benefits if they lost their jobs or cannot work because of the storms and flooding that struck the region in January.
Disaster unemployment benefits are only for people who do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits, such as self-employed individuals. To qualify for disaster benefits, people must be out of work as a direct result of the January storm.
Applications are available online at www.dua.go2ui.com, by phone at 877-416-7274, or by e-mail at dua@esd.wa.gov. The local WorkSource office can assist in printing the online application.
FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.
FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. Homeowners, renters and business owners with questions for the SBA should call the Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (TTY 1-800-877-8339).
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