FEMA Extends Deadline to Apply for Assistance to Oct. 19

If you suffered damage to your home or personal property because of the South Fork and Salt Fires and flooding, which began June 17, you now have until Oct. 19, 2024, to apply for federal disaster assistance from FEMA.

At the request of New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, FEMA has extended the application deadline 60 days for residents of Lincoln, Otero, Rio Arriba and San Juan counties and the Mescalero Apache Reservation.

Individuals and families affected by the fires and floods may be eligible for rental assistance, temporary housing, home repairs, personal property losses and other disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

How to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance

The first step for individuals and households to receive help is to apply to FEMA for federal disaster assistance. There are no costs involved to apply for, or receive, FEMA assistance. There are four ways to apply:

• Go online to disasterassistance.gov/
• Download the FEMA App for mobile devices at fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/mobile-products
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. MT, seven days a week. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
• Visit a Disaster Recovery Center operated by the state of New Mexico and FEMA. For location and hours, visit fema.gov/drc

For an American Sign Language (ASL) video on how to apply for assistance, visit youtube.com/watch= WZGpWI2RCNw.

The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is now Oct. 19, 2024. The U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) deadline to apply for a long-term, low interest disaster loan has also been extended to Oct. 19, 2024. SBA representatives are available at disaster recovery centers. Homeowners and businesses can also visit www.SBA.gov/disaster, call SBA's customer service center at 800-659-2955. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 7-1-1 or email [email protected] for information or to apply.

For more information about FEMA's Individual Assistance program, visit  www.fema.gov/assistance/individual.