DENTON, Texas –Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams and damage assessment inspectors from FEMA are out in New Mexico communities to help residents get connected with potential assistance.
New Mexico homeowners and renters in Colfax, Lincoln, Mora, San Miguel and Valencia counties, who sustained damage from wildfires and straight-line winds beginning on April 5 and continuing, could be eligible for help from FEMA.
If you have homeowners or renters insurance, you should file a claim as soon as possible. By law, FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance. If your policy does not cover all your damage expenses, you may then be eligible for federal assistance.
Once residents have completed their application, they should expect a call from an inspector to set up a damage assessment. The phone number may not be a recognized number.
Damage assessments occur once residents apply with FEMA. They are an essential part of the recovery process for those who need to make their homes livable again or have serious personal property loss. Homeowners and renters should make sure their contact information is up to date and have access to a telephone. They will need to have a photo ID and proof of ownership or a lease.
Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams will be moving through affected areas to answer questions about the types of help available, help residents apply for state and federal assistance, update an applicant’s contact information and help with referrals to whole community partners.
DSA team members wear FEMA shirts and/or vests as well as carry photo identification. Residents should ask to see them.
While residents in all five affected counties can apply for disaster assistance, damage assessments can only be conducted in areas where wildfires are not ongoing. Lincoln and Valencia are currently the only counties not experiencing active fires.
The fastest and easiest way to apply is by visiting disasterassistance.gov/.
If it is not possible to apply online, call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone line operates from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. MDT seven days a week. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service.