Due to actions adopted to combat the coronavirus, earthquake survivors will receive more time to apply for disaster assistance.
Puerto Rico residents who had losses or damage to their homes or property from the earthquakes have until May 31 to apply for FEMA disaster assistance.
Thirty-three municipalities are eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program: Adjuntas, Aguada, Añasco, Arecibo, Barceloneta, Cabo Rojo, Ciales, Coamo, Corozal, Guánica, Guayanilla, Hormigueros, Jayuya, Juana Díaz, Lajas, Lares, Las Marías, Maricao, Mayagüez, Moca, Morovis, Naranjito, Orocovis, Peñuelas, Ponce, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San Germán, San Sebastián, Santa Isabel, Utuado, Villalba and Yauco.
The Individual Assistance program may provide some financial assistance for earthquake-related needs such as childcare, medical or dental care, funeral expenses as well as grants for damaged or uninhabitable housing. FEMA also provides referrals to other agencies that may be able to help.
Puerto Rico residents can apply if your earthquake damage occurred between Dec. 28 and Feb. 4.
FEMA assistance can also include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property loss and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance. However, survivors should not expect that FEMA grants will restore your earthquake-damaged home to pre-disaster condition. Grants help make the dwelling safe, sanitary and functional.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily suspended FEMA’s field operations across the island, there are still several ways to apply for FEMA disaster assistance:
• Visit DisasterAssistance.gov or disasterassistance.gov/es for Spanish.
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (FEMA) or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Press 2 for a Spanish-speaking operator. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
• Download FEMA’s mobile app, available in English and en español. Select Disaster Resources and click on www.DisasterAssistance.gov. If you have an Apple device: Text APPLE to 43362 (4FEMA). For those with an Android device: Text ANDROID to 43362 (4FEMA). For more information go to: www.fema.gov/mobile-app.
For more information on Puerto Rico’s disaster recovery, visit FEMA.gov/disaster/4473, fema.gov/disaster/4339 and Facebook.com/FEMAPuertoRico.
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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or 711 for Video Relay Service. Multilingual operators are available. (Press 2 for Spanish.) TTY call 800-462-7585.
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