COLUMBIA, S.C.- The deadline to apply for federal assistance has passed for homeowners and renters in Charleston, Georgetown and Horry counties who had damage to their property after Hurricane Ian. In rare cases, you may be eligible to submit a late application to FEMA.
ELIGIBILITY FOR LATE APPLICATION
FEMA accepts late applications if extraordinary circumstances kept you from applying before the Jan. 23 deadline. Interested residents in one of the impacted counties who have not applied and can send the following documents can still apply:
- A signed letter of explanation; AND
- Supporting documentation clearly confirms why you could not apply during the application period. These include:
- Record of hospitalization, illness, or disability of the applicant or an immediate family member;
- Death of an immediate family member;
- Proof of personal or business travel that kept the applicant out of the area for the full application period; OR,
- Evidence of unique disaster-specific circumstances
LATE APPLICATION PROCESS
You have 60 days from Jan. 23, 2023, the FEMA application deadline, to complete a late application. There are several ways you can submit a late application for FEMA disaster assistance:
- Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov
- Download and use the FEMA mobile app to apply
- Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to apply
- If you use a relay service, such as a video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other services, give FEMA the number for that service. The Helpline is open seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Press 2 for Spanish or 3 for an interpreter who speaks your language.
MAIL, FAX OR UPLOAD YOUR LATE APPLICATION DOCUMENTS
You must submit suitable documentation to support and justify the reason for the delay within 60 days from the date the late application was due. Be sure to sign and date your documents. Include your nine-digit FEMA application number and the disaster number (DR-4677-SC) on all supporting documents.
- Mail to: FEMA National Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055; OR,
- Fax: 800-827-8112, Attention: FEMA
Upload documents: An easy way to provide additional information is to set up an online account and upload documents there. To set up or upload documents, go to DisasterAssistance.gov, click “Check Your Application and Log In,” and follow the directions. Be sure to sign and date your appeal. Include your nine-digit FEMA application number, the disaster number (DR-4677-SC) and documents to support your appeal.
NON-FEDERAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE
Local non-profit and private organizations may be able to offer additional assistance if you’re ineligible for federal assistance or if you didn’t receive enough assistance to cover your disaster-related expenses. The United Way Association of South Carolina helps connect survivors to resources that will help with the recovery process.
You can call 2-1-1 if you need help with
- Childcare
- Employment
- Food
- Healthcare
- Housing
- Insurance
- Transportation, and
- Other basic needs
For the latest information on South Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Ian, visit FEMA.gov/disaster/4677. You may also follow twitter.com/SCEMD; facebook.com/SCEMD/; @FEMARegion4/Twitter and Facebook.com/FEMA.