LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The deadline for Lake County wildfire survivors to register with Federal Emergency Management Agency has passed, but officials said various forms of disaster assistance remain available.
Survivors who registered with the FEMA are urged to stay in touch with the agency.
“Even though the Disaster Recovery Centers are closed, FEMA remains in California to work with the state and local governments to provide assistance with recovery,” said Tim Scranton, federal coordinating official for this disaster. “FEMA will remain as long as needed.”
Charles Rabamad, the deputy state coordinating officer added: “Recovery is ongoing, all this work could not be done without our federal, state and local partnerships. California Office of Emergency Services continues to support and assist these communities in the rebuilding and redeveloping efforts.”
Applicants can track their claims and should notify FEMA of changes to their mailing addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and if they receive insurance settlements or discover additional damages.
How to reach FEMA:
• Go online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or www.fema.gov ;
• Dial the FEMA Helpline 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585;
• For those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services, call 800-621-3362;
• The toll-free numbers are operated from 6 a.m. to midnight daily.
• Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA helpline. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.
Although the Disaster Recovery Centers are closed, the U.S. Small Business Administration will operate a Disaster Loan Outreach Center at the Middletown Senior Center, 21256 Washington St. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
At the Disaster Loan Outreach Center disaster loan applications, started before Nov. 23, can be finalized. The facility will remain open until further notice.
For more information, contact the SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster . Deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.
The Disaster Loan Outreach Center will be closed from Thanksgiving Day through the weekend, reopening Monday, Nov. 30.
Other services available to survivors include:
• Crisis counseling is a service provided through your county Mental Health Department. Services, for children and adults, help survivors deal with the emotional affects of going through a crisis. Call the Lake County Mental Health Crisis Hotline is 800-900-2075.
• Legal services is provided to survivors for free through the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association. Legal advice is limited to cases that will not produce a fee including assistance with insurance claims, advice on landlord/tenant problems, home repair contracts and contractors, mortgage-foreclosure problems, assisting in consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures and replacement of wills and other important legal documents. Survivors unable to pay for legal services may call 800-657-0479 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. For TTY: call 711.
Fire survivors urged to stay in touch with FEMA
- Lake County News reports
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