Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are in Jefferson County until further notice to help residents get assistance with problems caused by Hurricane Idalia. The local FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is staffed seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Jefferson County R.J. Bailar Public Library. There, residents are able to discuss with FEMA staff, in person, their eligibility for financial help for uninsured disaster-related expenses such as temporary lodging, basic home repairs, personal property losses and the like. The deadline to apply is Oct. 30.
Sheryl Hubert of Atlanta is serving as the DRC Manager in Jefferson County. She says her team comes from all over – as far away as California and New England – and includes a crew leader as well as three applicant service specialists who are here to help. When she spoke with the Monticello News last Friday morning, more than 100 residents had come to the DRC in its first two and a half days of operation. She expects her team to be in our area for at least two more months or longer as needed, guiding residents through the initial application process and helping with any followup needed.
Those who apply for FEMA assistance after Hurricane Idalia will receive a letter explaining the status of the application and what to do next. In some cases, FEMA may need more information to continue the process of determining damages and eligibility for assistance.
If the letter states FEMA's decision about the application, and the applicant disagrees with that decision, there is an appeal process. Appeals must be submitted within 60 days of the date on the eligibility letter. A letter of appeal can be submitted in person at the local DRC; online through the applicant's account at DisasterAssistance.gov; through the U.S. mail to P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, M.D 20782-8055; or by fax to (800) 827-8112 Attn FEMA. The appeal letter must be signed and include specific identifying information as well as additional documentation supporting the appeal. Details of an appeal include the following:
- Applicant's full name, pre-disaster primary address, current adress and current phone number
- Applicant's 9-digit FEMA application number, found at the top of the determination letter
- FEMA disaster declaration number DR 4734
- Applicant's signature and the date
- Additional documentation to support the appeal, such as contractor's estimate, insurance paperwork, etc.
It is possible to have a third party submit an appeal letter on behalf of the applicant, as long as the letter is signed by the third party and the applicant includes a signed statement authorizing the third party's involvement.
In addition to in-person help at the local FEMA center, residents can get more information from the FEMA Helpline at (800) 621-3362.