Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Bush’s major disaster declaration issued for Massachusetts.

Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:

• FEMA disaster assistance covers basic needs only and will not normally compensate you for your entire loss.
• If you have insurance, the government may help pay for basic needs nor covered under your insurance policy.  Residents should contact their insurance agent first, and then they should call FEMA to apply for aid.  Some disaster aid does not have to be paid back, while other forms of help may come in the form of loans.
• When you contact FEMA (see below for information on how to apply for assistance), the FEMA representative will explain the details to you.
• Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
• Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
• Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs. (Source: FEMA funded at 75 percent of total eligible costs; 25 percent funded by the state.)
• Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals. (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.)
• Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans available up to $1.5 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
• Loans up to $1.5 million for small businesses that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster's adverse economic impact. This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $1.5 million. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
• Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence. (Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.)
• Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans benefits and social security matters.
  

Assistance for the State and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

• Payment of 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
• Payment of 75 percent of the eligible costs for removing debris from public areas and for emergency measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
• Payment of 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
  

How to Apply for Assistance:

• Those in the counties designated for assistance to affected residents and business owners can begin the disaster application process by registering online at www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers are available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice, and will be staffed and operational during the upcoming holiday weekend.
• Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves including:
  • Your name,
  • Your current phone number,
  • Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying, 
  • Your Social Security Number (if available),
  • A general list of damages and losses you have suffered,
  • The name of your insurance company or agent and policy number (if insured),
  • General financial information,
  • Your bank account coding if you wish to speed up receiving your assistance with direct deposit, and
  • Any other information that may help substantiate losses.
• Don't prejudice your eligibility, even if you don't have all of the information necessary to apply, or it was lost in the flood.  It's important that all residents and businesses get the assistance they need. 
• Even if you have already registered with the Red Cross, Salvation Army, or another voluntary agency, or have reported damage to county or local officials, you can only apply for assistance programs under the disaster declaration by calling FEMA's toll free number, registering online, or visiting a Disaster Recover Center!
• BEWARE OF SCAMS!  While there are many people out there willing to assist you in your recovery, there are also people out there that might chose to use this opportunity to further victimize you by preying on your misfortune. You do NOT need 3rd party assistance from anyone to file for aid, and should NOT give out your personal information to anyone that contacts you claiming to be from FEMA/MEMA; remember, they should already have your infomation on file if you contacted them and registered with them!  FEMA/MEMA do NOT call individuals to "offer" their assistance - that is why they establish the Disaster Recovery Centers and telephone numbers to let you contact them; if someone calls you asking for information, you should ask for their name and telephone number and CALL THEM BACK!
• Applicants in the City of Lowell may also go to the FEMA/MEMA Disaster Recover Center at the UMass Lowell location until 6/8/06.
• Application procedures for local governments will be explained at a series of federal/state applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.
  
  
  

Who does what:

• The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man made.
  
  
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
  
  
• When disaster strikes, the Federal Emergency Management Agency administers a number of disaster assistance programs and coordinates the efforts of many other federal agencies that provide services to help people through the recovery process. The types of assistance that are available include:
  
• • Federal Emergency Management Agency Programs
  • • INDIVIDUALS and HOUSEHOLDS PROGRAM: Housing assistance to individuals and families whose permanent homes were damaged or destroyed by the flood. Types of aid include grants for temporary rental housing; essential repairs needed to make a residence safe, secure and sanitary;
      and to help meet serious disaster-related needs and expenses not covered by insurance or other programs, such as medical, dental, funeral, personal property, transportation, moving and storage. Funds are also available for mitigation measures to help reduce future disaster damages.
    • DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE: Weekly benefits to those individuals out of work due to the disaster, including self-employed persons, farm owners and others not usually covered under regular unemployment insurance.
    • TOLL-FREE APPLICATION NUMBER:  800-621-3362
  • U.S. Small Business Administration Programs
  • • HOME/PERSONAL PROPERTY DISASTER LOANS: Disaster loans to homeowners and renters for restoring or replacing underinsured or uninsured disaster-damaged real and personal property. (Available in declared counties.)
    • BUSINESS DISASTER LOANS: Disaster loans to repair or replace destroyed or damaged business facilities, inventory, machinery, equipment, etc. not covered by insurance. (Available to large and small businesses in declared counties.) Loans also may be available only to small businesses for working capital to assist them during the disaster recovery period.