SACRAMENTO, Calif. –Residents affected by the severe storms and flooding that began Feb. 21 have only one week left to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. The deadline to apply is Sep. 1, 2023.
President Biden’s federal disaster declaration on April 3, 2023, may cover damage caused by severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides between Feb. 21 and July 10. The original registration deadline (July 20) was extended to give survivors living in remote areas, as well as residents of counties recently designated for disaster assistance, more time to apply.
Under the declaration, 14 counties are eligible for federal disaster assistance: Butte, Kern, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Mono, Monterey, Nevada, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Tulare and Tuolumne.
FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program can potentially provide disaster assistance for eligible costs of home repairs, rental assistance for temporary housing, essential personal property, disaster-related medical and dental care, funeral expenses, transportation and childcare.
There are three ways to apply to FEMA for assistance: Online at DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA mobile app, or by calling FEMA at (800) 621-3362. Applicants who use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or similar services should give FEMA the number for that service. FEMA Helpline operators are available 24 hours daily. Callers can Press 2 for Spanish service or Press 3 for interpreters in other languages.
Applicants who are referred by FEMA to the Small Business Administration must apply with the SBA before they can be considered for certain FEMA grant monies, such as reimbursement for personal property, transportation assistance and Group Flood Insurance Policy (GFIP). Residents are not obligated to take out an SBA loan if they are approved, but a failure to return the SBA application may disqualify them from possible FEMA assistance. Long-term, low-interest disaster loans for businesses, nonprofits, homeowners and renters may be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other sources.
For the latest information on California’s recovery from severe winter storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides, visit FEMA.gov/disaster/4699. Information is also available at twitter.com/Cal_OES, Facebook.com/CaliforniaOES, @FEMARegion9/Twitter and Facebook.com/FEMA.