“At this point, we want to focus on making sure people are registered and making sure people get the funds they are eligible for,” said Carl Henderson, a FEMA spokesman.
More than 82,000 people have registered with FEMA, and the agency has dispersed about $59.3 million in individual housing assistance, Henderson said.
Henderson said FEMA has made decisions on about 96 percent of the more than 65,000 housing inspections conducted so far. He said residents should not be discouraged by letters denying FEMA aid.
FEMA may issue a denial if it doesn’t have the necessary information or paperwork to make a decision, he said, and applicants have 60 days to appeal a FEMA denial letter.
FEMA has disaster recovery centers open in the Midlands to help people register and apply with FEMA, explain denial letters and walk applicants through the appeal process, Henderson said.
The disaster recovery centers in Richland County are at libraries at 7421 Garners Ferry Road and 1431 Assembly St. in Columbia and 608 Main St. in Eastover, as well as the Temple of Faith Bible Way Church at 2850 Congaree Road in Gadsden.
The Lexington County center is at an Irmo library at 6251 St. Andrews Road, Henderson said. Those centers are open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Henderson said.
Residents can also call FEMA’s disaster help line at 1-800-621-3362 to speak with a FEMA representative. They can visit www.disasterassistance.gov to determine if they are eligible for assistance.
FEMA also has flood mitigation experts available to explain how to prevent or mitigate future flooding damage when residents work to repair their homes, Henderson said.
Those specialists are at the Home Depot at 5200 Fernandina Road and at Lowe’s Home Improvement at 7420 Garners Ferry Road. Henderson said there would also be FEMA registration tables at both locations.
FEMA is also looking to hire South Carolina residents for full-time, temporary jobs at offices in Blythewood, Florence and North Charleston, Henderson said.
FEMA needs administrative assistants, digital communications specialists and more, according to a FEMA news release. Applicants must create an account on the jobs.scworks.org website.
Here’s the deadline
Deadline to apply for FEMA disaster aid: Dec. 4.
Residents can apply at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362.
