MENDOCINO Co, CA, 2/3/23 — Mendocino County has been added to the major disaster declaration for California’s severe storms and flooding as of Feb. 2, meaning aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is now available for residents who suffered storm damages.
The county has been approved for both Public Assistance and Individual Assistance to support recovery efforts following the long cycle of storms that began on Dec. 27, 2022. Mendocino County residents endured much, from a fatality caused by a falling tree, to a historic site damaged by cliff-climbing waves, from days-long power outages to a failed culvert cutting off vehicle access to a mobile home park. The funding could include grants to help pay for temporary housing and essential home repairs, as well as other disaster-related needs like medical and dental expenses, transportation, childcare, and moving expenses.
With the goal of providing additional resources here, multiple agencies including FEMA, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), and Mendocino County Disaster Recovery and OES have been tracking, documenting, and verifying storm damages for several weeks.
Now, Mendocino County is working with state and federal partners to establish Disaster Recovery Centers, which are accessible facilities and mobile offices you can visit to learn more about FEMA and other disaster assistance programs.
The declaration currently allows FEMA to provide direct support to individuals and households in 13 counties: Alameda, Calaveras, Contra Costa, Merced, Mendocino, Monterey, Sacramento, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz and Ventura.
Those who are interested should apply for aid from FEMA by March 16. Here are the details from FEMA’s website:
If you have insurance, first file a claim with your insurance provider. FEMA provides assistance to applicants for your uninsured or underinsured disaster-caused expenses and serious needs.
There are several ways you can apply for FEMA assistance under the Individual Assistance program:
- Visit DisasterAssistance.gov
- Download the FEMA mobile app
- Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in many languages. If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service. Helpline operators speak many languages and lines are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for an interpreter who speaks your language.
- For an accessible video on how to apply, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU7wzRjByhI
- You can also visit any Disaster Recovery Center and meet with FEMA staff and representatives of other federal and state agencies who can provide information about disaster assistance. To find a recovery center near you, visit DRC Locator (fema.gov).
Have these items ready when you apply:
- Social Security number
- Address of the damaged home
- Description of the damage
- Current telephone number
- Address where you can get mail or email to receive notifications
- Insurance information, if available
- Bank account and routing number for direct deposit of funds
Here is information from FEMA and Mendocino County’s announcement in Spanish:
La Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencias (FEMA), en asociación con la Oficina de Servicios de Emergencia del Gobernador de California (CalOES, por sus siglas en ingles), la Administración de Pequeñas Empresas de los Estados Unidos (SBA, por sus siglas en ingles) y el Departamento de Recuperación ante Desastres y OES del Condado de Mendocino han estado documentando y verificando los daños causados por las tormentas con el objetivo de traer recursos de recuperación adicionales al condado de Mendocino.
A partir del 2 de Febrero de 2023, el condado de Mendocino fue agregado a la declaración de desastre mayor de las tormentas e inundaciones severas de California. El Condado ha sido aprobado para Asistencia Pública y Asistencia Individual para apoyar los esfuerzos de recuperación relacionados con daños y/o pérdidas por las tormentas que comenzaron el 27 de Diciembre de 2022.
El Condado está trabajando actualmente con socios estatales y federales para establecer Centros de Recuperación por Desastre. Los Centros de Recuperación por Desastre (DRC, por sus siglas en ingles) de FEMA son instalaciones accesibles y oficinas móviles que pueden visitar para obtener más información sobre FEMA y otros programas de asistencia por desastre.
Se dará a conocer información adicional y detalles específicos tan pronto estén disponibles.
Solicite asistencia por desastre de FEMA si sufrió daños por las fuertes tormentas de invierno y las inundaciones.
QUIÉN puede solicitar: Propietarios e inquilinos cuyos daños o pérdidas fueron resultado directo de las tormentas
Si vives DONDE: Condados de Alameda, Calaveras, Contra Costa, Merced, Mendocino, Monterey, Sacramento, San Joaquín, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Bárbara, Santa Cruz y Ventura
CÓMO solicitar: Visite DisasterAssistance.gov/es, use la aplicación móvil de FEMA o llame a la Línea de Ayuda de FEMA al 800-621-3362. Si usa servicio de retransmisión de video (VRS, por sus siglas en inglés), servicio de teléfono con subtítulos u otros servicios, comparte con FEMA tu número para ese servicio. Acomodo razonable por pedido.
Tenga esta información lista cuando presente la solicitud:
- Número de Seguro Social
- Dirección de la casa dañado
- Descripción del daño
- Número del teléfono actual
- Dirección donde puede recibir correo o correo electrónico para recibir notificaciones
- Información del seguro, si está disponible
- Cuenta bancaria y número de ruta para depósito directo de fondos
Note: Kate Fishman covers the environment & natural resources for The Mendocino Voice in partnership with a Report For America. Her position is funded by the Community Foundation of Mendocino, Report for America, & our readers. You can support Fishman’s work with a tax-deductible donation here or by emailing [email protected]. Contact her at KFishman@mendovoice.com or at (707) 234-7735. The Voice maintains editorial control and independence.