THE WHAT AND HOW OF FEDERAL HELP FOR SOUTH NAPA EARTHQUAKE AFFECTED INDIVIDUALS, HOMEOWNERS
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – November 4, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — Individuals and homeowners who sustained damage in the South Napa Earthquake may now be eligible for certain kinds of federal assistance. Money is available to help eligible displaced individuals in Napa and Solano counties to repair essential living areas.
“The most important thing people can do right now is to register with FEMA,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Stephen De Blasio. “People can only get federal assistance if they register – that’s the only way they can start the process.”
Individuals should register online at DisasterAssistance.gov, by telephone at 800-621-FEMA (3362), or from smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. There is also a FEMA app that can be downloaded via smart phone. Those with speech or hearing impairments who are using a conventional telephone should call the special TTY number, 800-462-7585, and the 800 number has multilingual operators available.
“We are working closely with the designated counties right now to assist them in getting their citizens aware of this new aid and help them register quickly,” said Cal OES Director Mark Ghilarducci. “This assistance is going to be invaluable for helping people get their lives back to normal.”
Those who have earthquake insurance should call their insurance companies to file a claim immediately, but they do not have to wait to settle the claim to register with FEMA. There will be a limited time to register.
What aid is available varies based on each individual’s unique circumstance. Temporary housing and home repairs, money for other serious disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs, and low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are all possibilities.
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.
Applicants can register any time using the web-based options. The telephone options will be operating from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.
###
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
The California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) coordinates overall state agency preparedness for, response to and recovery from major disasters. Cal OES also maintains the State Emergency Plan, which outlines the organizational structure for state management of the response to natural and manmade disasters.
