FEMA_logo2015Indiana residents and businesses recovering from losses and damage caused by the flooding that occurred Feb. 14 through March 4, 2018 in designated counties have three weeks left to register with FEMA for disaster assistance. The deadline to apply is Thursday, July 5, 2018.

Homeowners and renters whose primary residence is  in Marshall, Carroll, Clark, Dearborn, Elkhart, Floyd, Fulton, Harrison, Jasper, Jefferson, Kosciusko, Lake, LaPorte, Ohio, Porter, Pulaski, Spencer, Starke, St. Joseph, Switzerland, Vanderburgh or White counties may apply for federal disaster assistance. Business owners in these counties may also apply for assistance.

FEMA assistance for homeowners and renters may include grants for rent, temporary housing and home repair to their primary residence, as well as other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses.

Keep in mind when applying for Individual Assistance:

·       The flood damage must have occurred at your primary residence.

·       FEMA cannot pay for damage covered by insurance or duplicate benefits from another source.

·       FEMA grants are meant for costs to return your home to a safe, sanitary and functional place to live. Damage to non-essential space or property is not eligible under FEMA programs.

Survivors are encouraged to register with FEMA before the July 5 deadline. Register in one of the following ways:

·       Go 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. Information on the registration process is available in ASL at: fema.gov/medialibrary/assets/videos/111546.

o   The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time (6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Central time), seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

·       Download the FEMA App to apply.

They may also be eligible for U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. The SBA helps businesses, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. If survivors need help completing their loan application they should call SBA at 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339) or send an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

Survivors are encouraged to apply online using SBA’s electronic loan application at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

The deadline to apply for an SBA loan is also Thursday, July 5, 2018.

Survivors may visit any open Disaster Recovery Center; find one at www.fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers, on the FEMA App or by calling the FEMA Helpline.

 

Survivors should also contact their insurance company and file an insurance claim. FEMA is unable to duplicate insurance payments. However, survivors who maybe underinsured ma

still receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

 

For more information on Indiana’s recovery, visit  www.fema.gov/disaster/4363 or the @FEMARegion5 Twitter  account.