DENTON, Texas - Texas residents and businesses recovering from uninsured or underinsured losses and damage caused by February's severe winter storms have two weeks left to register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and apply for a U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loan.
The deadline to register with FEMA and apply with the SBA is May 20.
The fastest and easiest way to apply to FEMA is online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
If it is not possible to register online, call 800-621-3362. The toll-free phone lines operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
When you apply for assistance, have the following information readily available: A current phone number where you can be contacted; Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying; Your Social Security number, if available; A general list of damage and losses; If insured, the insurance policy number, or the agent and company name
Counties in this region designated for federal assistance include Bowie, Gregg, Hunt, Rockwall, Upshur.
After registering, FEMA staff may contact you for various reasons, including to discuss your case or request additional information. It's important to answer those phone calls to make sure your application process continues.
If you are in any doubt when receiving a call from someone stating they work for FEMA, do not give out any information, but call the phone number above between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. to verify the call is legitimate.
For disaster damage to private property that is not fully covered by insurance, SBA may be the best option. SBA is the primary source of federal money for long-term disaster recovery. Non-farm businesses (including rental properties) of all sizes as well as homeowners, and renters, whose property was damaged as a result of a declared disaster, should apply for a low-interest SBA disaster loan.
Homeowners may apply for up to $200,000 to replace or repair their primary residence. Renters and homeowners may borrow up to $40,000 to replace or repair personal property - such as clothing, furniture, cars and appliances - damaged or destroyed in a disaster.
SBA makes physical disaster loans of up to $2 million to qualified businesses or most private nonprofit organizations. These loan proceeds may be used for the repair or replacement of the following: Real property, machinery, equipment, fixtures, inventory and leasehold improvements.
To apply for a low-interest, long-term SBA disaster loan, call 800-659-2955 or complete an online application at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ online.
(For more information on the severe winter storms in Texas, visit fema.gov/disaster/4586. or follow the FEMA Region 6 Twitter account at twitter.com/FEMARegion6.)