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PORT ORANGE -- Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, is urging Volusia County residents who are still recovering from May flooding to apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance before the July 27 deadline.
FEMA may help eligible applicants pay for uninsured or underinsured home repairs, temporary housing, personal property and other serious unmet disaster-related needs through its grant programs.
"With the deadline to register for federal assistance rapidly approaching, I want to be sure that all victims of these devastating floods can get the help they need," Kosmas said. "Even if you have insurance, I strongly encourage all flood victims to register immediately for FEMA Disaster Assistance to ensure that you can access federal aid if necessary."
All victims - including those still waiting for insurance settlements or other documentation - should register for disaster assistance as soon as possible.
Registration can be done online at www.disasterassistance.gov , or by calling FEMA's toll free Registration and Helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585 for the hearing- or speech-impaired. The phone lines are open daily 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. EDT. Multilingual specialists are available.
Residents can also contact Congresswoman Kosmas' offices through her toll-free line: 1-877-9-KOSMAS (1-877-956-7627).
Homeowners, renters and businesses of any size may also be eligible for low-interest U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans to cover disaster-related damages to real and personal property.
For more information about disaster loans from SBA, contact the toll free Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339.
Representatives are available from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday. Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA's secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela