HARTFORD, Conn. – With the Jan. 28 deadline to apply for federal disaster assistance only a few days away, FEMA—along with their state and federal recovery partners—continue to offer help and resources to those affected by remnants of Hurricane Ida in Fairfield, New London, and New Haven counties.
Federal Resources for Disaster Survivors
Stay in Touch with FEMA – There are three ways to keep in touch with FEMA: online at DisasterAssistance.gov; via the FEMA app; or by calling 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone lines are currently operating 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Multilingual operators are available. Callers should refer to their nine-digit registration number, which can be found on all communications from FEMA.
File an Appeal with FEMA – If you are found to be ineligible for disaster assistance, or you feel the award amount is insufficient, you have the right to an appeal. Carefully read your determination letter to understand why the decision was made and how you can receive the assistance you need. Survivors who don’t agree with FEMA’s eligibility decision may file an appeal within 60 days of receiving their determination letter. Appeals must be made in writing explaining why the agency should re-evaluate its decision providing the associated documentation (additional receipts, contractors estimate, etc.) This can be provided to FEMA by uploading to your FEMA account online, sent by mail, or fax to FEMA. For more information, contact the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585) or visit https://go.usa.gov/xt8pA.
Low Interest Disaster Loans from SBA – Residents who would like to apply for an SBA loan should visit SBA’s website at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s or if you have questions about an existing loan, contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339) or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov,
State and Community Resources
Connecticut 2-1-1 – The 2-1-1 HealthyLives Navigator can help identify needs that you or those you care for may have – and resources to meet those. To learn more about available resources or to find resources in your area visit http://www.211ct.org/
Disaster Legal Services – Low-income survivors facing legal issues may call 860-612-2038 between the hours of 9 am to 5 pm ET, Monday-Friday. Survivors may be matched with volunteer attorneys or, for those who qualify based on income, connected with a legal aid organization.
A list of local and community organizations is also available to provide disaster recovery resources in Connecticut visit https://go.usa.gov/xetGd