Deadline Nears for N.J. Residents to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance

New Jersey residents impacted by severe storms and flooding have 30 days remaining to register for disaster assistance with the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The registration deadline is Saturday, June 18, 2005.

Individuals should begin the disaster application process by calling the toll-free registration number, 1- 800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1- 800-462-7585 (TDD/TTY). The FEMA application/Helpline remains open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., until further notice. Multilingual operators are available to assist callers. Registration is also available at www.fema.gov.

To date, almost 1,700 individuals and businesses in the declared counties have registered for disaster aid. FEMA already has distributed nearly $2 million to homeowners and renters for housing and other needs assistance.

As the deadline approaches, FEMA offers these reminders:

* Contact FEMA if your insurance settlement doesn’t cover all of your damages. FEMA can’t pay your deductible, but may be able to help with uninsured or otherwise uncompensated disaster losses.
* If you receive a U.S. Small Business Administration packet, fill it out and return it immediately. The loan application provides key information needed to refer you to the appropriate agency. By not returning the application, you could miss out on other assistance.

“We want to make sure everyone who is eligible for assistance receives it,” said Pete Martinasco, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer. “Registering before the June 18 deadline is the only way to guarantee your circumstances will be considered.”