MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — – Survivors with losses caused by the severe storms, floods, landslides and mudslides that began February 21, 2023, have less than 30 days left to register for federal disaster assistance.
The deadline to apply for assistance is Monday, June 5, 2023.
Disaster assistance is available to eligible individuals and households in the disaster-designated counties of:
-
Kern
- Madera
- Mariposa
- Mendocino
- Mono
- Monterey
- San Benito
- San Bernardino
- Santa Cruz
- Tulare
- Tuolumne
FEMA assistance may include grants to help homeowners and renters pay for:
- Temporary housing for those displaced from their disaster-damaged primary homes.
- Essential repairs to owner-occupied primary homes including structural components such as foundation, exterior walls and roof, and interior areas such as ceiling and floors.
- Replacement of personal property including specialized tools for employment, household items, appliances and vehicle repair or replacement.
- Other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance including medical, dental, moving and child-care expenses and funeral and transportation expenses.
Flood survivors should register for assistance even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims have been settled.
Applying for disaster assistance is a two-step process that ensures consideration for all FEMA programs and United States Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loans.
First, register with FEMA. Then complete and return the SBA loan application, if referred to SBA.
Survivors with losses from the February and March storms may apply for federal assistance by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov or by downloading the FEMA mobile app.
Applicants can also call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.Helpline operators speak many languages and lines are open from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for an interpreter who speaks your language. If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service.
For the latest information on California’s recovery from the severe winter storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides, visit FEMA.gov/disaster/4699.
You may also follow:
- Twitter.com/Cal_OES
- Facebook.com/CaliforniaOES
- Facebook.com/FEMA
- @FEMARegion9/Twitter
All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency or economic status. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call the Civil Rights Resource line at 833-285-7448.
Isabella Casillas Guzman.
Recently, U.S. SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced a policy change granting 12 months of no payments and 0% interest. This pertains to all disaster loans approved in response to disasters declared on or after September 21, 2022, through September 30, 2023. This policy change will benefit disaster survivors and help them to decrease the overall cost of recovery by reducing the amount of accrued interest they must repay.
The U.S. Small Business Administration is the federal government’s primary source of funds for the long -term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private, nonprofit 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.
Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications by clicking here.
Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance.
For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services.
Check out this short video from FEMA on how to file flood claims!
