Salem, Oregon – The deadline to register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been extended to July 2, 2020, for residents of Umatilla County and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation who sustained damage or loss due to the February storms and flooding.
Individuals or families that had property damage or loss as a result of the Umatilla River flooding event that occurred February 5 -9, 2020, may qualify for FEMA assistance. By law, FEMA assistance cannot duplicate the assistance received from insurance companies; however, assistance may be received for uninsured or underinsured items.
The areas designated for federal individual assistance are Umatilla County and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
Registering with FEMA is easy and there are multiple ways to do it:
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). TTY number is 1-800-462-7585, and for 711 or video real service call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
• Register online at www.disasterassistance.gov.
• Use FEMA’s disaster app on your smartphone. To download the app, go to www.fema.gov/mobile-app.
• Information about how to apply for low-interest SBA loans for businesses and residents is available online at www.SBA.gov/disaster. You may also call 916-735-1500 Mondays – Fridays, 8am to 4:30 pm or email FOCWAssistance@sba.gov. Hearing impaired individuals may call 800-877-8339.
Disaster survivors who register for assistance with FEMA may be eligible for grants to help pay for renting a place to live until your home can be repaired, to pay for minor structural repairs, replace essential personal property and/or pay for serious disaster-related needs not covered by other programs. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers federal low-interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, most private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters.
Here are some facts to consider:
• Homeowners may qualify for low-interest disaster loans up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence. Homeowners and renters may apply for up to $40,000 for personal property losses (contents). Interest rates for homeowners and renters are as low as 1.563% with loans extending up to 30 years.
• Homeowners may be eligible for additional funds to pay for mitigation improvements which include such measures as elevating homes, building retaining walls, installing a sump pump and/or relocating utilities.
• Homeowners also may be eligible for loans to assist with relocation. For details, contact an SBA representative through the Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center (VDLOC). To contact the VDLOC, call (916) 735-1500. Those using TTY call 800-877- 8339. You may apply online at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov.
• Business and private nonprofits organizations can apply for up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged real estate, machinery, equipment, inventory and other business assets. Business loan rates are as low as 3.75%. The rate for private non-profits is 2.75%.
• You don’t have to wait for an insurance settlement before applying. However, SBA is not permitted to duplicate benefits. Funds from insurance, grants and other programs will be considered when determining eligibility. Loan applicants should check with agencies/organizations administering any grants or other assistance programs under this disaster declaration to determine how an approval of an SBA disaster loan might affect their eligibility.
• Home and business owners may be eligible for the refinancing of existing liens or mortgages on homes, up to the amount of the loan for real estate repair or replacement.
To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, survivors should register with FEMA at DisasterAssistance.gov, by mobile device (www.fema.gov/mobile-app) or call the toll-free Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice/711/video relay service. Multilingual operators are available. Those using TTY can call 800-462-7585. The Helpline hours are: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CDT, seven days a week.
Apply with the SBA online at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov. For more information on SBA, visit www.SBA.gov/disaster, call SBA’s Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center at (916) 735-1500, or email FOCWAssistance@sba.gov. TTY users may call 800-877- 8339. The Outreach Center hours are Mondays – Fridays, 8 am to 4:30 pm.
For further information, visit DisasterAssistance.gov; Oregon Office of Emergency Management (Facebook, Twitter); and Umatilla County Emergency Management (Facebook).
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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362) 711/VRS - Video Relay Service). Multilingual operators are available. (Press 2 for Spanish). TTY call 800-462-7585.
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The U.S. Small Business Administration is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955. TTY users may also call 800-877-8339. Applicants may also email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visit SBA at www.SBA.gov/disaster .