November 14, 2017 is the deadline for Individual Assistance registration and SBA applications; 7 counties eligible for Individual Assistance (IA): Camden, Charlton, Chatham, Coffee, Glynn, Liberty and McIntosh; FEMA assistance is provided to help eligible hurricane survivors repair their homes to “safe, sanitary and secure” condition for the number of occupants living there. It also may provide for rental of temporary lodging until their home is habitable.
Ways to register: The quickest way to apply for federal assistance is online at DisasterAssistance.gov or through the FEMA mobile app; survivors may also apply by phone at 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, seven days a week.
More than $9.7 million in grants approved for individuals and households to help with temporary rental assistance, and uninsured or underinsured damage and personal property losses sustained from Hurricane Irma.
This includes: more than $4.3 million in temporary rental assistance; more than $2.4 million in housing repair assistance; nearly $2.9 million in other needs assistance.
The Small Business Administration has approved more than $535,000 in disaster loans.
Disaster Recovery Center Hours of Operation and Locations: Coffee County Hours: Monday-Saturday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed on Sundays
Location: Coffee County Fire Department – Fire Hall. 941 Mahogany Rd. Douglas, GA 31533
Dos and Don’ts for Georgia Hurricane Survivors
Dos: do file a claim with your insurance company; do register for FEMA disaster assistance. The quickest way to apply is online at DisasterAsistance.gov or through the FEMA mobile app. You may also apply by phone at 800-621-3362 (voice, 711, VRS or 800-462-7585
TTY). Because of high demand, lines may be busy. Please be patient and try calling in the morning or evening when call volume may be lower.
Do return a completed application for a low-interest disaster loan if you have been referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Returning the application is necessary for FEMA to consider you for certain grants. Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/el. Additional information on the disaster loan program may be obtained by calling SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955
(800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Do know that FEMA grants may help pay for a temporary place to stay, make essential repairs or replace certain damaged contents; do inspect for structural damage before entering your home; do throw away wet contents such as bedding, carpeting and furniture. These items may be a health hazard due to mold; do take photographs of hurricane damage. FEMA or the insurance company may want to see these.
Do keep recovery-related receipts. FEMA or the insurance company may want to see these; do remember that FEMA grants do not need to be repaid, are not taxed and do not affect other government benefits; do go to a Disaster Recovery Center if you have questions about your FEMA assistance, a letter from FEMA, or your SBA home or business loan application. Locate the nearest center with the FEMA mobile app or at FEMA.gov/DRC.
Don’ts: don’t submit more than one registration per household; don’t wait for visits from FEMA or insurance adjusters before cleaning up flood damage and starting repairs; don’t wait for an insurance settlement to register with FEMA; dn’t wait for an insurance settlement to apply for an SBA low interest disaster loan; dn’t worry that federal disaster assistance is taking money away from someone else. FEMA provides assistance to all eligible applicants; don’t assume only homeowners can apply for help. Renters may qualify for assistance too.