Flood-affected residents have until February 7th to apply for federal help
Learn the lesson from latest storms; be prepared
King County, WA –Residents and businesses of King County have only a few days remaining to apply for federal aid to help recover from the series of storms hitting the area in early December. 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 7, 2008 is the deadline for applying for disaster assistance. There are two ways to register for assistance:
- By phone at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or 1-800-462-7585 for speech or hearing impaired. Lines are staffed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (PST), seven days a week. Language services provided.
- Online at www.fema.gov/assistance (external link), 24 hours a day.
Housing grants, financial assistance grants and loans may be available to individuals, families and small businesses who are eligible flood and storm survivors in King County.
FEMA disaster assistance (external link) covers basic needs only and will not normally compensate for all losses. With several weeks of winter weather still ahead of us, all King County residents can take action and get better prepared to protect against high levels of property loss during emergencies.
“This season’s severe weather, including flooding, landslides, power outages, and cold temperatures, remind us all of the importance of personal, family, and business preparedness,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. “Each resident of our region has the responsibility to learn about potential hazards and risks they face and prepare for coping with those risks for at least 72 hours.”
Whether you live near a river that may flood, in a forested area which may lose power due to downed trees, or in a city neighborhood, the King County Office of Emergency Management urges all residents to have a family communications plan and an emergency supply kit for a minimum of three days following a disaster.
For more information on how to make a plan, build a kit, and get involved in your community, visit www.3Days3Ways.org.