Assistance available to some impacted by November storms

Posted on Jan 25, 2022 By Washington Military Administrator

The Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division, in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has opened a Disaster Recovery Center in Skagit County to help survivors of the November flooding and mud slides.

Center locations:

Survivors can also apply for FEMA assistance online at disasterassistance.gov, by calling 800-621-3362 or by using the FEMA mobile app. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service.

Recovery specialists from FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and Washington state agencies will be available to help residents of Clallam, Skagit and Whatcom counties, including the Lummi Nation, Nooksack Indian Tribe, the Quileute Nation and other tribes in the three counties, apply for federal assistance and receive information about help available for homeowners, renters and business owners.

Additionally, FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) specialists are working at three other locations to work with survivors to help them understand available programs, get their questions answered, and apply for assistance. Please see below for current schedule (schedule may change due to inclement weather).

A team has a FEMA registration site at 461 Second Street, at the Sumas Public Library in Sumas, operating in the building from 8:30 am to 6 pm (Whatcom County)
A team has a FEMA registration site at 1208 E. Main Street, at the FEMA Tent in parking lot of Christ Fellowship Church, in Everson, operating in the parking lot from 8:30 am to 6 pm (Whatcom County)
A team has a FEMA registration site at 71 N. Spartan Avenue Street in Forks, operating in the parking lot from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday (Clallam County)

FEMA Individual Assistance is available to renters, including students, as well as homeowners. Federal grants can help pay for temporary housing. The initial rental grant is for a 2-month period and can be reviewed for further assistance. The application deadline is March 7, 2022.

Individuals may also qualify for a grant under FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance program for uninsured essential personal property losses and other disaster-related expenses. These may include:

Replacement or repair of necessary personal property, such as furniture, appliances, clothing, textbooks or school supplies
Replacement or repair of tools and other job-related equipment required by the employer
Primary vehicles in compliance with state registration and insurance requirements that have disaster-caused repair or replacement expenses
Uninsured or out-of-pocket medical, dental, childcare, moving or storage expenses

It is not necessary to go to a center to apply for assistance. Residents and tribal members in the designated counties can apply online at disasterassistance.gov, call 800-621-3362, or use the FEMA mobile app. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service.

Long-term, low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are also available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other sources.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website at disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ or call the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 TTY) or send an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

For an accessible video on how to apply for FEMA assistance, go to youtube.com/watch?v=WZGpWI2RCNw.

For more information about Washington flood and mudslide recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4635.

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