FEMA urging residents to apply for disaster aid, appeal denial letters

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials are still urging residents affected by October’s flooding to apply for disaster aid and not to give up if they are denied.

Carl Henderson, a FEMA spokesman, said nearly 72,000 people across South Carolina have registered with FEMA after the historic flooding in early October. FEMA has already dispersed roughly $52.6 million to individuals and homeowners, Henderson said.

FEMA has reviewed and made a decision on almost 96 percent of the more than 57,000 inspections conducted, Henderson said. But residents shouldn’t be discouraged by a denial letter, he said. FEMA may issue a denial if it doesn’t have the necessary information or paperwork to make a decision, he said.

“That’s not the final word,” Henderson said.

Individuals have 60 days to appeal a FEMA denial letter, Henderson said. He added that FEMA representatives are available over the phone and in person at FEMA disaster recovery centers to explain denial letters and walk applicants through the appeal process.

FEMA has disaster recovery centers open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week in Richland County libraries on Garners Ferry Road, Assembly Street and in Eastover as well as at the Temple of Faith Bible Way Church in Gadsden, Henderson said.

FEMA’s Lexington County centers are at libraries at 5440 Augusta Road in Lexington and 6251 St. Andrews Road in Irmo. Residents can find the closest center online at fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

Residents can apply for FEMA disaster aid at 800-621-3362 or at disasterassistance.gov. The deadline to apply is Dec. 4.

This story was originally published October 30, 2015 at 11:13 AM.