FEMA Reminds Residents to Properly Use Disaster Assistance

As the Federal Emergency Management Agency grant deadline approaches, FEMA is reminding applicants to keep their receipts in its latest press release.

FEMA is advising residents affected by the May 10 storms and tornadoes to use the federal government money for its intended purpose and to keep receipts for three years.

“Disaster assistance is intended to help you pay for basic necessities that were lost due to the severe storms and tornadoes of May 10,” the press release said. “If you spend the grant money on something other than its intended purpose, you may lose your eligibility for future disaster assistance.”

Within a day or two of receiving the relief check or direct deposit, a letter from FEMA will arrive explaining what the payment is to be used for. If residents want to use the money for something other than its intended purpose, FEMA can ask for the money to be returned.

The deadline for registration is August 19th.

How to apply

• Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

• Download the FEMA app (www.fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/mobile-products) or visit a Disaster Recovery Center.

• Call toll-free 800-621-3362. The line is open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service such as VRS, captioned telephone service, or other, please give FEMA your number for that service.

• For an accessible video on how to apply, watch “Three Ways to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance,” available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU7wzRjByhI.

• For the latest information on Florida’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4794. Follow FEMA on X, formerly known as Twitter, at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.

Arianna Otero is the City Solutions Reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact her via email at [email protected] or on Twitter/X: @ari_v_otero.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FEMA reminds residents to use disaster aid properly