SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine – Survivors of the severe storm and flooding from Dec. 17-21, 2023 living in Androscoggin, Franklin, Kennebec, Oxford or Somerset counties may have reported damage to the State of Maine, or registered for assistance from a community organization. However, to receive federal assistance for your recovery you must apply directly with FEMA or the U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA).
FEMA’s Individual Assistance may be able to help with:
•Lodging Expense Reimbursement
• Rental Assistance for Temporary Housing
•Repairs and Out-of-Pocket Expenses
SBA is the federal government’s primary source of funds for the long-term rebuilding of disasterdamaged property. SBA offers low-interest federal disaster loans for homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes. SBA’s disaster loans are free from interest and payments for 12 months and offer additional mitigation funds to help protect against future damage.
For more information about how an SBA loan may benefit you, visit Sba.gov/disaster, call 800-659-2955 or send email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, If you are deaf, hard-of-hearing or have aspeech disability and use a TTY, call 800-877-8339.
Applications for disaster loans may be submitted online using the MySBA Loan Portal at https://lending.sba.gov .
There are several ways to apply for assistance:
• Visit a Disaster Recovery Center. To find a center close to you, go online to: DRC Locator, or text DRC along with your Zip Code to 43362 (Ex: DRC 04074)
•Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages. The Helpline is available daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET.
•Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov (also in Spanish).
• Download the FEMA mobile app (also in Spanish), available at Google Play or the Apple App Store.
For the latest information on Maine’s recovery from the severe storm and flooding from Dec. 17-21, 2023, visit Maine Flood Resources And Assistance Hub and fema.gov/disaster/4754. Follow FEMA on X, formerly known as Twitter, at twitter.com/femaregion1 and at facebook.com/fema.
FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.
All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, you can call the Civil Rights
Resource line at 833-285-7448.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
