Two Weeks Left to Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance

Homeowners and renters with uninsured or underinsured damage to their property from the August 18-19, 2024 Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides and Mudslides in Connecticut's Fairfield, Litchfield and New Haven Counties have two weeks left to apply for federal disaster assistance.

• The deadline to apply for assistance from FEMA is Tuesday, November 19, 2024. This is also the deadline to apply for a disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
• Survivors are encouraged to file insurance claims for damage to their homes, personal property and vehicles before they apply for FEMA assistance.
• FEMA provides funds paid directly to eligible individuals and households. Financial Housing Assistance may include rental assistance, lodging expenses reimbursement, home repair assistance, and replacement assistance. All are explained as follows:
  • Rental Assistance is financial assistance for homeowners and renters for temporary housing if the severe storm and flooding displaced them from their primary residence.
  • Lodging Expense Reimbursement is reimbursement for out-of-pocket temporary lodging expenses that resulted from damage that made their primary residence uninhabitable. Eligible lodging expenses may include the cost of the room and any associated taxes.
  • Home Repair Assistance is financial assistance for homeowners to repair their primary residences, utilities servicing the primary residence, and residential infrastructure leading to their severe storm and flooding -damaged property.
  • Replacement Assistance is financial assistance for any homeowner whose primary residence was destroyed by the severe storm and flooding and can be applied to the purchase of a new permanent residence.
  • Other Needs Assistance is financial assistance for other disaster-caused expenses and immediate needs. This assistance may include funds to replace personal property, moving and storage expenses, transportation assistance, funeral, medical, dental, childcare, and miscellaneous disaster-related items.
• There are four ways to apply for FEMA assistance:
  • Beginning Thursday, November 7 at 8 a.m., visit the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) located at the Southbury Town Hall, 501 Main Street, South, Southbury, CT 06488, Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday closed.
  • Online at DisasterAssistance.gov,
  • Download and use the FEMA Mobile App.
  • Call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362. If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service. Helpline operators are available from 7 a.m. to midnight (12 a.m.) daily. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for an interpreter who speaks your language.
• The primary source of federal funding for long-term disaster recovery not covered by insurance is the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA offers disaster assistance in the form of low-interest loans to homeowners, renters and businesses. SBA also provides eligible small businesses and nonprofit organizations with working capital to help overcome an economic injury.
• Homeowners, renters and businesses that were affected by the August 18-19, 2024 Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides may apply for disaster loans using SBA's secure website www.SBA.gov/disaster. For more information, applicants may also call SBA's Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or email [email protected]. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call 1-800-877-8339.
  • NOTE: On October 15, 2024, it was announced that funds for the SBA Disaster Loan Program have been fully expended. While no new SBA Disaster loans can be issued until Congress appropriates additional funding, SBA remains committed to supporting disaster survivors. Applications will continue to be accepted and processed to ensure individuals and businesses are prepared to receive assistance once funding becomes available.
• Disaster assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster. The assistance is intended to meet basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts.