ARKANSAS FLOOD SURVIVORS URGED TO REGISTER FOR FEMA ASSISTANCE
[https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20230728/arkansas-flood-survivors-urged-register-fema-assistance-0]


Release Date: 
Juin 23, 2017 

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – A June 15 major disaster declaration for
Arkansas has opened the door for flood-stricken residents of 13
counties—Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clay, Faulkner, Fulton, Jackson,
Lawrence, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Washington and Yell—to apply
for federal disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management
Agency or the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Residents should be aware that FEMA disaster assistance is for
specific purposes centered on getting a disaster survivor into a
functioning home that is safe for occupancy and secure. FEMA grants
don’t cover all damage, especially to insured property, but
residents with insurance are encouraged to apply anyway.

Insurance settlements often happen after the FEMA registration period
has ended.

FEMA assistance is not the same as insurance and does not cover
pre-disaster conditions. Essential personal property, such as a
refrigerator, must be significantly damaged and the only such item in
the home before replacement may be considered.

Residents of the 13 counties who sustained property damage or loss
from the severe storms, tornados, straight-line winds and flooding
between April 26 and May 19, 2017, may apply in a variety of ways for
assistance to help pay for temporary housing, emergency home repairs
or other disaster-related expenses.

	* Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Persons who are deaf, hard
of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call
800-462-7585. If you use 711 or VRS (Video Relay Service) or require
special accommodations, call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are
open daily from 7 A.M. TO 11 P.M.;
	* Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
[http://www.disasterassistance.gov/] (also in Spanish);

	* Download the FEMA mobile app [https://www.fema.gov/mobile-app]
(also in Spanish) at Google Play or the Apple App Store, or visit
fema.gov/mobile-app;

	* Help is available in most languages, and information on the
registration process is available in ASL at
http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/111546.
[http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/111546]

Be ready to provide Social Security number, address of the damaged
primary residence, description of damage, insurance policy
information, current contact information including an address to
receive mail, and bank account and routing numbers if direct deposit
is desired.

Business owners, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and
renters may be eligible for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S.
Small Business Administration (SBA) to help recover from losses not
covered by insurance, grants or other sources. Survivors contacted by
SBA regarding a loan application should complete and submit it as soon
as possible as it may open the door to other forms of assistance.
There is no obligation to accept a loan.        

Applicants receive a nine-digit registration number that can be used
for reference when corresponding with FEMA. FEMA inspectors contact
applicants to conduct a home inspection and carry the applicant’s
registration number and photo ID.

Inspectors will never ask for bank account information, and there is
no cost for the inspection. Beware of fraudulent inspectors or
contractors claiming a fee must be paid to get help.

FEMA inspectors ask for proof of ownership or occupancy. Tax bills,
utility bills, rent receipts or other documents may be used as
documentation. Applicants also need to present a valid driver’s
license or other photo ID.

It is important to read and follow up with any correspondence from
FEMA. Survivors may have to log into their account on
DisasterAssistance.gov [http://www.disasterassistance.gov/]  or call
the helpline at 800-621-3362 to keep the application process moving.
Keep address and phone number current with FEMA so you can be reached
during the application process.

For updates on the Arkansas response and recovery, follow the Arkansas
Department of Emergency Management (@AR_Emergencies) on Twitter and
Facebook and www.adem.arkansas.gov [http://www.adem.arkansas.gov/].
Additional information is available at fema.gov/disaster/4318
[http://fema.gov/disaster/4318].

###

_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 U.S. 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 businesses of all sizes,
private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs
or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or
disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses
not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not
duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more
information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance
Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing
disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at
SBA.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call
800-877-8339._