While it has been nearly four months since hurricanes Irma and Maria made landfall, and the disaster assistance registration deadline has passed, there are still numerous agencies and organizations that remain available to assist survivors on their road to recovery.
Survivors Can:
Stay in touch with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — If you registered for disaster assistance following Irma or Maria, stay in touch with FEMA. The easiest way to update your application, check your status or provide missing information is to create an account at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA Helpline at (800) 621-3362 [voice, 711 or VRS, TTY (800) 462-7585)] between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.
Contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) — HUD offers programs to assist both homeowners and renters. For more information, visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov or contact the Federal Housing Administration Resource Center at (800) 225-5342.
Follow-up on U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Assistance Loans —
If you applied for an SBA home or business disaster loan and want to follow up or have questions about submitting a late application, contact the SBA by calling (800) 659-2955, visiting www.sba.gov/disaster, or visiting a local Disaster Recovery Center where SBA has staff for one-on-one assistance.
Monitor Your National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Claim — Hurricane survivors who would like to monitor their flood insurance claim may follow up with their insurance company. If you’re unsatisfied with the insurance decision you receive, visit https://www.fema.gov/flood-claim-appeals-and-guidance to see what further action is allowed take.
Request Continued Rental Assistance — Hurricane survivors who have a continuing need for temporary housing may be eligible for up to 18 months of continued rental assistance while they look for a long-term solution. They may use rental assistance to rent a house or an apartment. For more information about requesting continued rental assistance, call (800) 621-3362.
How to Appeal a FEMA Determination Letter — If found to be ineligible for disaster assistance following Irma and Maria, or if feeling the award amount is insufficient, people have the right to appeal. Read the received determination letter carefully to understand why the decision was made and what steps can be taken. For more information, contact the FEMA Helpline at (800) 621-3362 or (800) 462-7585 (TTY).
Recovery staff are available:
Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are one-stop shops for survivors seeking one-on-one help. To find the nearest DRC, go to www.fema.gov/DRC to locate a center in your area. Standard message and data rates apply. For assistance with U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans, visit a Disaster Recovery Center or an SBA Business Recovery Center at https://www.sba.gov/disaster-assistance/hurricane-maria or call (800) 659‐2955.
Help is available for:
Mortgage Relief — Federal Housing Administration (FHA) offers mortgage relief options to Irma and Maria survivors in the U.S. Virgin Islands. If someone has an FHA-insured loan and is struggling to make payments and is in danger of foreclosure or have questions about a loan, visit the FHA Resource Center at: https://www.hud.gov/complaints/customer_service or call (800) 225-5342.
