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ONLY TWO WEEKS REMAIN TO REGISTER FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE

July 13, 2010

State and federal officials are urging people to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) before the registration deadline of July 27. That is also the deadline to return loan applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

FEMA registrations can be completed online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling FEMA at 800-621-FEMA (3362), or TTY 800-462-7585, 7 a.m to 10 p.m. EDT.

If you need face-to-face help with your SBA paperwork, assistance is available at three Disaster Loan Outreach Centers that are open from 9.a.m. to 5 p.m. through Thursday, July 15. They are located in: Groton - Groton Senior Center, 102 Newtown Rd.; Norwich - Three Rivers Community College, 574 New London Turnpike; Norwalk - Norwalk Community College, 188 Richards Ave.

So far, more than $6.3 million in federal disaster assistance has been approved for individuals and households in Connecticut.

As of Monday, July 12, the figures were: 3,485 individuals in designated counties have registered for disaster assistance with FEMA; $3,983,197 has been disbursed for temporary housing and home repairs; $218,393 in Other Needs Assistance has been disbursed for personal property loss, medical costs and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance; 3,262 SBA loan applications have been issued to individuals and businesses. SBA loan applications should be returned to determine if applicants are eligible for other types of assistance. $2,093,900 in SBA assistance has been approved. Recovery officials encourage Connecticut residents to take the step of completing a disaster loan application from SBA regardless of their current situation. Being approved for a loan does not obligate the applicant to accept it, but it merely provides an additional source of recovery funds if needed. SBA disaster loans can cover expenses while people wait for their insurance claims to be processed.

Completing the loan application and returning it is a crucial step toward accessing complete disaster recovery assistance. Renters and homeowners who do not qualify for an SBA loan will be referred to FEMA to be considered for several types of grants that are available only for applicants who are ineligible for SBA disaster loans.

Applicants may also obtain help by calling the SBA Customer Service Center Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT, at 800-659-2955. Applicants may also visit the SBA Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Those with disaster-related damage can apply for low-interest loans at the SBA's secure Web site, disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders and to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Member News is provided as a service of the Midstate Chamber of Commerce and is also featured in the monthly "Chamber News" newsletter mailed to members.