Deadline to apply for disaster assistance is quickly approaching

The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance and/or physical property disaster loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) stemming from Hurricane Ian is Thursday, Jan. 12. Homeowners, renters, business owners, homeowners associations and most private nonprofit organizations that have insurance should first file a claim with their insurance company; however, residents are encouraged to still apply for assistance and loans while they await the insurance company’s decision.

FEMA applications may be submitted online at disasterassistance.gov, through the FEMA mobile app or by calling 800-621-3362.

Residents seeking a loan through the SBA must first register with FEMA using the above information. Once registered with FEMA, an SBA loan application may be found at disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/. For additional information about SBA loans, call 800-659-2955 or email [email protected].

Residents may also apply for and register for FEMA assistance and SBA loans at the Disaster Recovery Center at the Florida Department of Health-Volusia, 1845 Holsonback Drive, Daytona Beach.

For those who were impacted by both Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, separate applications must be submitted for each storm.

Additional deadlines for disaster-related applications are:
• Feb. 13: Hurricane Nicole FEMA and SBA Physical Property Damage Loans
• June 29: Hurricane Ian SBA Economic Injury Loans (businesses and most private nonprofit organizations)
• Sept. 13: Hurricane Nicole SBA Economic Injury Loans (businesses and most private nonprofit organizations)

Applicants urged to contact FEMA for updates

Persons who have applied for disaster assistance, but have not heard back, are urged contact FEMA directly for a status update. FEMA representatives make multiple contact attempts to provide status updates, but some applicants are not answering their phones or responding to voice messages or emails.

“A very important message for people who have applied for FEMA assistance is to stay in touch with us. We’ll call from an unfamiliar phone number, so check your voicemail messages,” said FEMA Media Relations Specialist Kim Fuller. “Applicants can also check their status without calling the FEMA 800 Helpline, and that is through the FEMA app or disasterassistance.gov FEMA has several avenues to find out your application status.”

In addition to checking an application’s status on FEMA’s website or app, residents may call 800-621-3362 or visit the Disaster Recovery Center at the Florida Department of Health-Volusia, 1845 Holsonback Drive, Daytona Beach.