FEMA officer answers questions about flood relief for homeowners
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- FEMA teams are NOW on the ground in southeast Wisconsin, ready to help flood victims file for flood relief aid.
The deadline to apply is November 12, and FEMA is encouraging people to start the process as soon as possible.
People can go to disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362, or use the FEMA app.
And soon, they'll be able to meet in person with FEMA representatives.
Eren Strittar is a public information officer for FEMA. She said, "We'll be here as long as it takes."
FEMA teams returned to Wisconsin a few days ago, ready to help thousands of flood victims.
And they shared more good news: the $29.8 million dollars President Trump cited when he announced the approval is just an estimate.
Strittar said, "That number can fluctuate. It can go up, it can go down. It depends on the needs of the people who went through this disaster."
Federal aid can help pay for a host of issues caused by the flooding, not just home repairs. They include rent costs, vehicle repairs, medical and dental bills that result from the flood, moving expenses, child care, even funeral expenses
As people submit their applications, they should have ready a proof of address and documentation of their losses. And receipts will help speed up the process.
Applications can be started at any time. People will get a unique case number they can use throughout the process.
Strittar said, "The sooner you start, it can be a turnaround of… quicker than you think."
Milwaukeean Thomas Harry said he knows the clock is ticking down toward the November 12th deadline.
He suffered a lot of damage in the northside home he's lived in for 66 years. Harry went online over the weekend to start his application but ran into trouble. "I tried it a couple times and it wouldn't go."
He said he got frustrated with some technical issues, plus he wasn't sure which of the listed categories his damage fit into. "I didn't fit into any of those categories, yet I still had major damage."
He plans to meet with FEMA representatives in person as soon as resource centers are opened.
Harry said, "I'm sure it will. It's better, usually, when you can talk to people in person."
That could be by the end of the week as FEMA works to finalize personnel for the Wisconsin response.
Once up and running, resource centers will operate morning, noon, and night, seven days a week.
Strittar said their goal is to help as many people as possible. "It's ok to come and talk to us. It's ok to call us again. That's what we're here for: to serve Wisconsin during this moment."
