The Henry County FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at the Henry County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Regional Training Center remains open until November 19, 2024. You can apply for FEMA assistance and a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan in person at the Disaster Recovery Center seven days a week from 8 AM to 7 PM. FEMA and the SBA, including the Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams, do NOT charge an application fee. Authorities emphasize the importance of verifying the credentials of any individual offering disaster recovery services to prevent exploitation during this vulnerable time. Public Information Officer Leyla Gulen said FEMA representatives were deployed after President Biden approved disaster funds on September 20th, and they are here to help. FEMA has provided over $80,000 to Henry County residents in disaster relief. They go door to door three times to ensure no resident is missed. Once they have exhausted an area, they move to the next town.
The disaster survivor assistance teams are going door to door in Henry County, and they can also help you apply for assistance. FEMA aid isn’t just for property damage; you can apply for aid if you lost food or medications while you were without power. Aid is limited by FEMA, so the Small Business Administration provides low-interest loans to cover the gap between insurance and FEMA aid for business and residential properties. The low-interest loans can be spread out over years to allow lower payments, and you don’t make the first payment for 12 months. Public Information Officer Leyla Gulen said there is no harm or cost to applying for FEMA aid and a SBA loan; you have the option to not take the loan if you are approved. It is important to apply for FEMA aid before the November 19th deadline in case you find damage at a later date. You can apply online for disaster assistance at the links below.
DSA teams will never ask for or accept money and will always be wearing a FEMA identification badge with a photograph. A FEMA shirt, vest, or jacket is not proof of identity. While helping someone apply, they will ask for personal information, including social security numbers, annual income, and bank information. Residents are encouraged to ask for identification before providing any personal information. They can also call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to verify a FEMA visit is legitimate.
Reports of suspicious activities should be directed to local law enforcement or the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.
FEMA inspectors will come to your home to inspect the damage. FEMA inspectors will already have your FEMA application number, but they may ask you to verify personally identifiable information by phone. If you’re unsure whether a FEMA call or visit is legitimate, contact the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to verify. Don’t give your banking information to a person claiming to be a FEMA housing inspector. FEMA inspectors do not collect or ask to confirm your personal financial information. Always ask for ID.
If you have knowledge of fraud or scams involving FEMA’s disaster relief operations, you can report this to FEMA:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 866-223-0814
- Mail: 400 C Street SW Mail Stop 3005, Washington, DC 20472-3005.
To report and get help recovering from identity theft, visit IdentityTheft.gov.
To apply without visiting a center, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, download the FEMA mobile app, or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use a relay service, such as video relay telephone service, or others, give FEMA your number for that service when you apply.
For even more information about the disaster recovery operation in Illinois, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4819.
For information on understanding the FEMA Status Letter, visit here.
