FEMA: Apply now for FEMA disaster assistance

FEMA/State News Desk:

(262) 780-3271

NEW BERLIN, Wis. – Residents and business owners in Grant and Milwaukee counties must register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) before they can be considered for federal disaster assistance, state and federal officials advised today.

Homeowners, renters and business owners in the two Wisconsin counties may be eligible to receive federal aid to help them recover from the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that occurred from July 20 through July 24.

“Register with FEMA even if you previously registered with local, county, state or voluntary agencies,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Paul J. Ricciuti. “The sooner you register, the sooner we can help you.”

He added that the FEMA application process and inspections are free.

Register online or by telephone. Anyone who had damage and loss can register online anytime at http://www.disasterassistance.gov or call the toll-free FEMA registration line at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 800-462-7585 for the hearing- or speech-impaired. Hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time, seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual operators are available.

Have some information ready when you register. When you call the FEMA number, you will need your current address, the address of the damaged property, contact information where FEMA can reach you, social security number, household composition, insurance and income information. Your bank account number will be necessary to register for funds to be deposited into your bank electronically, a faster and safer mode for money to be transferred.

Register, even if you are insured. Your insurance may not cover all your damage and some damage may not show up until later. Call your insurance company and then register with FEMA.

Keep track of your disaster registration number. When your FEMA registration process is completed, you will be given a disaster registration number. Keep the number handy for any further disaster-related contacts.

“If you know someone who lives in one of the disaster-declared counties and had flood damage, please remind them to register with FEMA,” said Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Mike Hinman. “They may be eligible for federal disaster assistance.”

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.