FEMA canvassing 27 Oklahoma counties
OKLAHOMA CITY – Housing inspectors and Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have hit the streets in 27 Oklahoma counties to help disaster survivors get connected with potential assistance.
The visits are currently taking place in Alfalfa, Canadian, Cherokee, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Garfield, Kay, Kingfisher, Le Flore, Logan, Mayes, Muskogee, Noble, Nowata, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Payne, Pottawatomie, Rogers, Sequoyah, Tulsa, Wagoner, Washington and Woods counties, all of them declared for FEMA Individual Assistance for the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding between May 7 and June 9, 2019.
As additional counties get designated for Individual Assistance, the housing inspectors and DSA Teams will move into those areas.
Inspections occur once survivors register with FEMA. They are an essential part of the recovery process for survivors who need to make their homes livable again or have serious personal property loss. Homeowners and renters should make sure their contact information is up to date and have access to a telephone. They will need to have a photo ID and proof of ownership or a lease.
Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams go door to door in affected areas to answer questions about the types of help available, help survivors apply for state and federal assistance, update an applicant’s contact information and help with referrals to whole community partners. Team members wear blue FEMA shirts.
DSA Team members and housing inspectors have photo IDs. Survivors should ask to see them.
Those who had damage should contact their insurance agent before registering for FEMA assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
FEMA also announced that the joint state/federal Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Muskogee, Tulsa and Wagoner counties will change their hours of operation starting on Wednesday, June 26.
The new hours are Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday 1-5 p.m. until further notice. Tulsa area centers are at the following locations:
Tulsa County: Case Community Center, 1050 W. Wekiwa Road, Sand Springs, OK 74063.
Wagoner County: OSU Extension, Wagoner County Fairgrounds, 30058 East 147th St. South, Coweta, OK 74429.
DRCs offer in-person support to individuals and businesses in Oklahoma counties covered by the federal disaster declaration for severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding between May 7 and June 9, 2019.
If possible, homeowners, renters and businesses should have contacted their insurance company and registered with FEMA before visiting a recovery center. Registration is available in the following ways:
Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Phone 800-621-3362 (voice, 711/VRS-Video Relay Service) (TTY: 800-462-7585). Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish).
Via the FEMA app, available for Apple and Android mobile devices. To download visit: fema.gov/mobile-app.
Individual Assistance for homeowners and renters can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs.