Renters and homeowners in San Bernardino County now have until September 1, 2023 to apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA.) Financial aid is available to help residents in the ongoing recovery effort from the severe storms and flooding that took place in February and March of this year.
FEMA disaster assistance cannot return property to pre-disaster condition. It is designed to help those who need to get into a safe, secure, and sanitary situation. If your home is damaged, you may receive funds to repair it; if it’s unlivable, you may receive rental assistance for temporary housing. FEMA’s Individuals and Households Assistance Program may also provide funds to replace damaged clothing, furniture, or other contents of your home not covered by insurance.
It is important to note that both FEMA and Small Business Administration (SBA) are no longer operating Disaster Assistance Recovery Centers in San Bernardino Mountain communities. That will not affect any resident’s ability to apply for assistance. Applications to either FEMA or SBA do not have to be made in person.
There are three ways to apply for FEMA: Online at DisasterAssistance.gov, the FEMA mobile app, or by calling FEMA at 800-621-3362. Helpline operators are available from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. PT daily.
The SBA offers disaster assistance in the form of low interest loans to businesses, nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters located in regions affected by declared disasters. SBA also provides eligible small businesses and nonprofit organizations with working capital to help overcome the economic injury of a declared disaster. For more information and to begin the SBA application process, please visit the Disaster Loan Assistance website.
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, @FEMARegion9/Twitter and Facebook.com/FEMA.