FEMA Relief for those effected by Flooding
Following the weather and events of the past week, federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of South Carolina to supplement state, local and tribal recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms and flooding. Federal funding is available to affected individuals in Charleston, Dorchester, Georgetown, Horry, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, and Williamsburg counties. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. Funding also is available to state and eligible local and tribal governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work as a result of the severe storms and flooding in Berkeley, Charleston, Clarendon, Dorchester, Georgetown, Horry, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, Sumter, and Williamsburg counties.
If you or anyone you know needs assistance with filing for FEMA Relief, please get in touch with either our North Augusta, SC office on 803-279-9611 or our Augusta Office on 706-724-6262
Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:
- Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
- Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
- Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs. (Source: FEMA funded at 75 percent of total eligible costs; 25 percent funded by the state.)
- Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals. (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.)
- Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
- Loans up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster's adverse economic impact. This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $2 million. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
- Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence. (Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.)
- Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans’ benefits and social security matters.
How to Apply for Assistance:
Affected individuals and business owners in designated areas can begin the disaster application process by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov. 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 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.
Assistance for the State and Affected Local and Tribal Governments Can Include as Required:
- Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for emergency protective measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health. Emergency protective measures assistance is available to state and eligible local and tribal governments on a cost-sharing basis. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
- Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state, local and tribal governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
How to Apply for Assistance:
Application procedures for state, local and tribal governments will be explained at a series of federal/state applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.
Other agencies that have been identified byt FEMA for this disaster are:
| Agency | Description |
| Aging Services |
Your local agency on aging may help you with special needs such as transportation, meals, or home care.
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| American Red Cross |
The American Red Cross or other voluntary agencies may be able to assist you with essential needs on an emergency basis including serious needs not addressed by your insurance company or other disaster assistance programs.
To help you reconnect with family and friends, the American Red Cross offers a free, on-line service where you can register yourself as being "safe and well". Concerned family and friends can search for you based on a pre-disaster address or phone number. To register visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell.
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| American Red Cross Service Center (SRC) |
The American Red Cross Service Center in your area maybe able to assist you on an emergency basis.
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| Crisis Counseling |
Referral services and short-term intervention counseling is available for mental health problems caused or aggravated by the disaster.
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| Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) |
If you would like more information about the programs you have been referred to or require further assistance, a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) may be open in your area. Recovery specialists are available to answer questions and offer information on specific federal and state recovery programs.
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| Emergency Services |
Voluntary agencies may assist you with food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and medical care on an emergency basis.
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| Fraud Detection |
To report possible fraud regarding Federal Disaster Assistance please call FEMA's Fraud Detection toll free number.
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| Information and Referrals |
This referral service can provide referrals to ongoing community programs that are available in your local area.
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| Insurance Information |
Help and/or counseling is available on insurance problems and questions, which may include obtaining copies of lost policies, claims filing, expediting settlements, etc. If you have not been able to resolve your problem with your insurance company you may contact your State Insurance Commissioner. For flood insurance inquiries, contact the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
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Small Business Administration (Home and Personal Property Loan Program) |
Disaster loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to homeowners and renters for restoring or replacing disaster damaged real and personal property. The maximum real estate portion of the loan is $200,000 and for personal property is $40,000. The loan amount is limited to the amount of uninsured SBA verified losses. If you have been referred to this program you will find more information in the "Application Summary" on the back of the Disaster Assistance Application Form.
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| Social Security |
Help is available from the Social Security Administration (SSA) in expediting delivery of checks delayed by the disaster and in applying for Social security disability or survivor benefits.
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| Tax Assistance |
Since you have damaged or lost property in a location declared by the President as a major disaster area, you may be able to get some money back from the IRS. For more information, order their Publication Number 2194 (for Individuals or 2194B for Businesses) 'Disaster Loss Kit' by calling 1-800-829-3676.
Other Tax Assistance: County tax assessors may provide information and assistance on possible property tax relief.
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| Unemployment Assistance |
If you or a member of your household lost work or became unemployed due to the disaster, your local unemployment office may provide benefits and services, even if you are self-employed, through their regular unemployment and/or Disaster Unemployment Assistance Program. This program may also assist you if you have become the head of household because the working breadwinner was fatally injured as a result of the disaster.
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| Veterans Benefits |
The Veterans Administration (VA) can expedite delivery of information about benefits, pensions, insurance settlements, and VA mortgage loans.
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If you or anyone you know needs assistance with filing for FEMA Relief, please get in touch with either our North Augusta, SC office on 803-279-9611 or our Augusta Office on 706-724-6262