FEMA has stepped up for San Diego County, declaring it a Major Disaster area following the devastation wrought by a January storm. As reported by County News Center, the declaration unlocks federal funds for residents and businesses hammered by the floods. This comes on the heels of local emergency declarations and requests for aid from affected cities and the State of California.
In the aftermath, eligible victims will now have access to financial assistance and various support services, including housing and rental aid. Aiding the storm-hit areas, low-interest loans will be available for households and small businesses, with additional support in the form of Disaster Unemployment Assistance and legal services. FEMA's intervention was based on the widespread and severe damage caused by the flooding, verified by several local governments before reaching the federal level.
A range of recovery services is on offer including case management, which will guide those affected by the natural disaster towards a sound recovery plan. Moreover, mental health is a paramount concern, and as such, FEMA will provide Crisis Counseling Assistance and training programs, aiming to support local mental health providers in their efforts to aid the community, as outlined by County News Center.
San Diegans in the grip of this disaster can apply for assistance at disasterassistance.gov, clicking “Let’s Get Started,” or can call FEMA’s helpline, available daily. FEMA will further assist residents with the opening of a Disaster Recovery Center and assignments of crews going door-to-door to provide assistance. Damage from the floods can be reported through the FEMA online application, which them requires creating or signing into a login.gov account before completing the application.
