- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
Thompson announces FEMA disaster declaration for Mendocino Complex; includes individual assistance for survivors
This declaration allows federal funds to be available to help Lake County survivors recover and rebuild from the Mendocino Complex fires, which began on July 27, and continue to burn across the region.
This includes Federal Emergency Management Agency Individual Assistance funding that will be available to individuals to allow them to rebuild and repair homes and structures that were damaged or destroyed and replace housing and other property that are not covered by insurance.
“For the fourth year in a row, Lake County has been battered by fire, but once again our community is demonstrating its strength and resiliency in full force. Today’s announcement is another important step on our road to recovery,” said Thompson. “These funds are a critical part of helping our community return to normal and rebuild once again. Thank you to all in our delegation who joined my call for this critical support and to firefighters, first responders, and law enforcement who continue to put their lives on the line to contain this destructive blaze. The path to rebuild has been made that much clearer today.”
The amendment to the presidential disaster declaration of Aug. 4, 2018, made at the request of Gov. Edmund G. Brown, Jr., now makes federal assistance available to eligible individuals and business owners in Lake and Shasta counties.
On Aug. 7, Thompson, along with Reps. John Garamendi and Jared Huffman, led a bipartisan letter to the President urging him to approve the disaster declaration and make these funds available to fire survivors.
Thompson has prepared a Disaster Guide to help constituents navigate the recovery process that you can read by clicking here.
Individuals who may be eligible for individual assistance should apply through one of the following options:
– Apply by phone to FEMA: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time seven days a week until further notice.
– You can also apply online anytime at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
– By smartphone or tablet, use www.fema.gov.
Applicants will be asked for the following information:
– Social Security number.
– Address of the damaged primary residence.
– Description of the damage.
– Information about insurance coverage.
– A current contact telephone number.
– An address where they can receive mail.
– Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.
Disaster assistance for homeowners and renters may include grants to help pay for:
– Rental assistance.
– Essential home repairs.
– Uninsured and underinsured personal property losses.
– Other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.
Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are available for businesses of all sizes (including landlords), private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters. Disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries.
FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.
Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if a survivor has registered with another disaster-relief organization, such as the American Red Cross.
FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but survivors may register even if they have insurance since some help may be available while claims are being settled.
For more information, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4382 and www.WildfireRecovery.org.