Disaster survivors who register for assistance with FEMA may be eligible for grants to help pay for a wide range of needs including renting a place to live until their primary residence can be repaired, repairing or replacing a disaster damaged essential vehicle, repairing occupational specialized tools, replacing essential personal property like a student’s computer, paying for increased childcare costs and/or disaster-related medical or dental needs not covered by insurance.
Some survivors may have more significant damage and will need a larger amount of money to help with their recovery. For those situations, a low-interest disaster loan from the SBA may be the best option.
These loans are the primary source of funds for repairs to homes and businesses and/or for replacement of personal property after a disaster. Renters and homeowners may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace clothing, furniture, cars and appliances damaged or destroyed in this disaster. Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 to pay for structural repairs to their primary residence or rebuilding a house. Businesses and private, non-profits may borrow up to $2 million both for physical repairs and economic injury.
Registration with FEMA is quick and easy:
- • Go online to www.disasterassistance.gov/.
- • Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Phone lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual operators are on duty.
- • Use FEMA’s disaster app on your smartphone. If you haven’t downloaded the app yet, you can go to www.fema.gov/mobile-app.
For more information about SBA loans:
- • Call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955. Individuals who are deaf or low hearing may call 800-877-8339.
- • Email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
- • Visit www.sba.gov/disaster.
- • Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoan.sba.gov.