Ensure Your Eligibility: Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance Before December 9
In response to the devastating Maui wildfires, the deadline to apply for federal disaster assistance has been extended by 30 days. Homeowners and renters facing uninsured or underinsured property damage now have until Saturday, Dec. 9, to submit their applications. This extension also applies to Maui’s homeowners, renters, and businesses seeking low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for physical property damage, with the same December 9 deadline.
James Barros, Administrator of the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency, emphasized the importance of registering with FEMA for Individual Assistance, as it unlocks access to various federal aid programs. Due to the complexity of the event and the diverse Maui community, the deadline extension was crucial in reaching all those in need of federal assistance.
FEMA provides direct funds to eligible individuals and households, covering various forms of Housing Assistance:
- Rental Assistance: Financial aid for temporary housing if the wildfires displaced you from your primary residence.
- Lodging Expense Reimbursement: Reimbursement for out-of-pocket temporary lodging expenses due to damage that made your primary residence unlivable.
- Home Repair Assistance: Financial aid for homeowners to repair their primary residences, utilities, and residential infrastructure damaged by the fires.
- Replacement Assistance: Financial aid for homeowners whose primary homes were destroyed, applicable to the purchase of a new permanent residence.
- Other Needs Assistance: Financial aid for disaster-caused expenses and immediate essential needs, covering personal property replacement, moving and storage expenses, transportation assistance, funeral, medical, dental, childcare, and miscellaneous disaster-related items.
To apply for FEMA disaster assistance, individuals can visit DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA mobile app, or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. The Helpline operates from 1 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, with operators available in various languages. American Sign Language guidance on the application process is available on YouTube.
For additional assistance, individuals can visit any Disaster Recovery Center or use the DRC Locator on FEMA’s website. The Small Business Administration (SBA) is a key source of federal funding for long-term disaster recovery not covered by insurance. SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, and businesses, providing working capital for economic injuries.
SBA representatives are available at Disaster Recovery Centers and Business Recovery Centers on Maui, Oʻahu, Kauai, and Hawaiʻi. Business Recovery Centers on Kauai and Hawaiʻi will close on Nov. 9. SBA applicants can apply online or contact the Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 for more information.
For the latest information on Maui wildfire recovery efforts, residents can visit mauicounty.gov, mauirecovers.org, and fema.gov/disaster/4724. Social media updates are available from FEMA (@FEMARegion9) and Facebook (facebook.com/fema), while disaster assistance information and applications can be found at sba.gov/hawaii-wildfires.
