Last month, at the urging of Supervisor Rowe and with the advocacy of other county, state, and federal officials, President Biden issued a major disaster declaration making San Bernardino County mountain residents eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) “Individual Assistance.”
When is the deadline to apply for FEMA “Individual Assistance?”
Monday, June 5, 2023
What kind of help can FEMA provide for homeowners and renters?
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 ceilings and floors.
- Replacement of personal property, including specialized tools for employment, household items, appliances, and primary vehicle repair or replacement.
- Other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance, including medical, dental, moving, child-care, funeral, and transportation expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
• What if I am still waiting for my insurance company to process my claim?
Register with FEMA by June 5 to preserve your ability to receive assistance for damage not covered by insurance.
• What if I discover damage after the June 5 deadline?
You can only claim additional damage if you have registered with FEMA before June 5. To be eligible for future assistance, you must register by June 5, even if you believe your damage will be covered by insurance. Registering is easy and preserves your right to file a claim should the need arise.
• How can you apply for FEMA Assistance?
You may apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA mobile app, or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. (Helpline operators are available daily from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. PDT.)
• What other services are currently available?
Disaster Federal Loans are available through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA.) If you can’t make it to the disaster assistance centers, you can apply online at disasterloanassistance.sba.gov or by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955. The deadline to apply for physical damage loans is June 5, 2023, and the Economic Injury Disaster Loans is January 3, 2024.
Disaster Legal Services
Residents affected by the severe storms and flooding in February and March may now have access to free legal advice for disaster-related legal issues. These may include new wills, powers of attorney, home repair contracts, landlord issues, and FEMA appeals. Residents can call the Disaster Legal Service hotline at 888-382-3406 or go to freelegalanswers.org.
Crisis Counseling
Crisis counseling is available for residents by calling 800-985-5990. The helpline is free and immediately connects callers to trained and caring professionals from the nearest crisis counseling center in a nationwide network of centers. FEMA also provides funding to Cal Hope, which offers crisis counseling services to residents after a federal declaration. For more information and referral services, call 833-317-4673 or go to calhope.org.