More Clallam County households may be eligible for federal disaster assistance now that the disaster period covered has been expanded.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds are available for eligible households that suffered property losses in natural disasters between Nov. 5 and Dec. 2 last year.
The original “incident period,” which was from Nov. 13-15, was expanded at the request of Gov. Jay Inslee for Washington’s recovery from severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides, according to a FEMA press release.
The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is March 7.
The North Olympic Peninsula suffered flooding and mudslides in November and wind and snow damages in December.
Individuals and households with uninsured damage from disasters can apply for FEMA assistance in certain counties and tribal reservations. On the North Olympic Peninsula, these are residents of Clallam County, as well as those affected in the Jamestown S’Klallam, Lower Elwha Klallam, Makah and Quileute tribes.
To get help in applying for funds, go to the Clallam County Emergency Operations Center in the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St. in Port Angeles, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. today, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Recovery specialists from FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and state agencies will be available to help homeowners, renters and business owners.
A help center in Forks closed Friday and one in Clallam Bay closed Saturday.
It is not necessary to go to a center to apply for assistance. Residents in the designated counties can apply online at disasterassistance.gov, call 800-621-3362, or use the FEMA mobile app.
FEMA financial assistance may include money for temporary housing, basic home repairs or other disaster-related needs such as childcare, transportation and medical, funeral or dental expenses.
Eligibility also extends to Skagit and Whatcom counties as well as the Nooksack, Samish, Sauk-Suiattle, Swinomish and Upper Skagit Indian tribal communities.
Applications of those who had applied for federal assistance earlier and been told that the damages were outside the incident period will automatically be considered now, according to FEMA.
To check on the status of the application, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.
Those who already have applied for U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loans do not need to apply again.
For a video, which includes information offered in American Sign Language, how to apply for FEMA assistance, go to youtube.com/watch?v=WZGpWI2RCNw.
For more information about the Washington recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4635. The FEMA Region 10 Twitter account is at twitter.com/femaregion10.
