FEMA encourages storm survivors to stay in touch

|This is a press release from FEMA

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The deadline to register with FEMA was March 27, but you can still call to check on the status of your application, appeal a decision by FEMA, update your contact information, provide updated documentation or ask questions about the process.

Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585.

If you registered with FEMA before the deadline and later discover that your insurance has not covered all losses, you have up to a year to submit additional documentation to FEMA. It is important to provide FEMA with your final insurance settlement information as assistance may be available for some expenses not covered by insurance.

If you are receiving temporary rental assistance from FEMA, you will need to update your permanent housing plan and may need to document your need for continued rental assistance. FEMA expects all families who receive temporary rental assistance to return to their damaged home when it is repaired or to locate and occupy affordable housing without FEMA rental assistance when possible to do so.

For questions about U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans, contact the SBA at 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339, or send an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration have approved more than $8.7 million in total state and federal assistance for renters, homeowners and businesses in Mississippi as a result of the March storms and flooding. This includes:

• More than $5.8 million in SBA low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses.

• More than $3 million in MEMA/FEMA Individual Assistance, including:

• Nearly $2.2 million for housing assistance from FEMA. This includes more than $1.4 million to help survivors with housing repair and replacement costs and nearly $756,000 in temporary financial rental assistance.

• Nearly $865,000 in other needs assistance from MEMA and FEMA to help cover other disaster-related expenses such as repairing or replacing lost personal property and disaster-related transportation, dental and funeral costs.

More than 2,200 survivors contacted FEMA for help or information on disaster assistance during the 60-day registration period.

For more information on Mississippi’s tornado recovery, go to fema.gov/disaster/4295 or visit the MEMA site at msema.org. Follow MEMA on Facebook facebook.com/msemaorg and on Twitter @msema.org.