Information on Disaster Assistance for NJ
homeowners, renters and business owners
affected by severe flooding in
Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Mercer,
Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset and Union Counties

GETTING STARTED

INSURANCE CLAIMS

If your home has suffered damage, call the agent who handles your flood insurance to file a claim or the National Flood Insurance Program 1-800-638-6620 to confirm your current flood insurance and where to submit your claim. If you are unable to stay at home, make sure to say where you can be reached. To make filing your claim easier, take photos of any water in the house and save damaged personal property. If necessary, place these items outside the home. An insurance adjuster will need to see what is damaged in order to process your claim.

FEMA ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

FEMA APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED FOR Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset and Union Counties ONLY

To avoid confusion it is important to understand the difference between Individual Assistance and Public Assistance.

Individual Assistance is disaster assistance directed to families, individuals and businesses within a declared disaster area. Specific information on what is covered under individual assistance is available at http://www.fema.gov/assistance/process/assistance.shtm and in the following section. Individual Assistance is available in Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset and Union Counties Only.

Public Assistance Grant Program provides assistance to States, local governments, and certain Non-Profit organizations to alleviate suffering and hardship resulting from major disasters or emergencies declared by the President. More information is available at http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/index.shtm. Counties eligible to receive Public Assistance include Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, and Union.

FILING FOR FEMA ASSISTANCE

If you have been impacted by the recent storm you must first register with FEMA!
You may register by calling 1-800-621-3362, TTY users can call 1-800-462-7585. The call takes about 20 minutes. Please have a pen and paper ready whether you file on the phone or online at www.fema.org. You will also need the following information:

• Five Digit Zip Code
• Current Contact Telephone Number
• Social Security Number
• Current Mailing Address and Address of Damaged Property
• Date the Damage Occurred
• Directions to the Property
• Brief Description of Damaged Property
• Insurance Information and Policy Number(s)
• Family Gross Income
• A Bank Routing Number if you want funds deposited directly to your bank account. Look up your bank routing number online at www.fededirectory.frb.org/search.cfm

FEMA DEADLINES

• DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE DEADLINE – JUNE 11, 2007
• FEMA REGISTRATION DEADLINE – JUNE 25,2007

Note: FEMA verifies the name social security number of those registering for disaster assistance. If the name and social security number on file with the social security administration does not match the information you provide you will be asked to submit a copy of an original document, e.g. marriage license, military ID, tax documents, etc., for proof of identity. A need to review and update identity documentation may cause delays in delivery of assistance.

After you've completed your application for assistance, you will receive a FEMA application number. Write down this number and keep it for future reference.

If you do not have a FEMA Registration Number you will not receive services. You can also use the number for identification at banks, airlines, etc if your identification has been destroyed.

If you or someone you know needs help filling out FEMA, due to age or disability, help is available by calling NJ Ease (1-877-222-3737)

FEMA Assistance for Immigrant Families

FEMA helps the household, the family. If anyone in the family qualifies (e.g. a child born in the United States or a father with a green card), then the FAMILY qualifies for FEMA help.

What to do if FEMA Assistance is Denied
For more information on how to appeal a denial letter stating that they are ineligible for disaster assistance can follow a process to appeal this decisionfrom FEMA, please visit http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=36246

Disaster Recovery Centers & Loan Outreach Centers

*Assistance Centers may be set up in your local community to apply in person and to talk through the FEMA application process. This site will be updated daily with the latest information.

Once registered with FEMA, individuals visiting a DRC can get information on the status of their application; details on the types of state and federal disaster assistance available; help with completing U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan applications for homeowners, renters, and businesses of any size for losses not fully compensated by insurance; types of assistance available through voluntary agencies; and rebuilding tips on how to minimize future storm damage.

One Disaster Recovery Center remains available. The DRC in Bound Brook is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and will be closing Wednesday, June 13.

Bound Brook Location:

SBA Disaster Loan Assistance Centers Available

There are seven SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOC) listed below in Lumberton, Paterson, Pennsauken, Piscataway, Clayton, Lodi and Fairfield where SBA representatives are available to answer questions and help individuals complete their low-interest loan applications. The DLOCs are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Paterson, whose hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Lodi, whose hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For business questions, a Business Assistance Center is open in Bound Brook, 8 a.m. to 5p.m., Monday through Friday.

SBA offers disaster loans up to $200,000 to repair disaster-damaged primary residences. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to replace damaged personal property such as furniture and clothing. Loans to businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations up to $1.5 million are available to repair or replace damaged real estate, machinery and equipment, supplies and inventory. Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are also available to small businesses unable to pay bills
or meet operating expenses because of the disaster.

Apply for and learn about grants for private non-profit organizations or local and state governments at www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/index.shtm

Report False Damage Claims

If you suspect someone is filing false damage claims, please report it. Help FEMA make sure that disaster aid goes only to those who deserve it. It is a violation of federal law to file a false claim.

Report a false damage claim:

• Call 1-800-323-9603
• Email: HKFTF@leo.gov

USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Loans may be available from the USDA for flood victims who live in areas declared as rural, and who are ineligible for an SBA loan. When applying for loans, you may be asked to show:

• An itemized list of losses and estimated cost of replacement or repair
• Copies of your federal tax returns for the last 3 years
• Copies of your deed, mortgage, or lease
• Estimates of new flood insurance premiums
• Copies of previous insurance policies or settlements

For Personal Loss

• Proof of monthly income (paycheck stubs, bank statements)
• Driver’s license and/or social security number

For Business or Farm Loss

• Brief history of the business or farm
• Personal and business financial statements
• Loan repayment schedule
• List of bills owed
• Farm Service Agency Information on farm crop base and assigned yields

You can submit a form online at http://www.sc.egov.usda.gov/. You will have to register online and create a USDA account before you can fill out and submit an application form. You may also apply at your local USDA Service Center.

USDA Rural Development has a homeownership repair program for seniors over 62 years of age and limited repayment ability. Check this at www.rurdev.usda.gov/nj/repair.html. The Rural Development grant program is up to $7,500 and if needed a 1% 20 year loan up to $20,000. This grant and loan can supplement the FEMA program for those areas in the dwelling that are ineligible for FEMA assistance. To qualify, the dwelling needs to be in an eligible area (see web site www.rurdev.usda.gov/nj/eligarea.html). Secondly, you must be in the very low income level, also on the web site at www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/sfh/dsfh_income_limits/nj%20direct.pdf. To be grant eligible one of the occupants must be the home owner, 62 years of age or older and limited repayment ability to afford a 504 repair loan. The grant monies are to be used to remove health and safety hazards.