FEMA APPLICATION ASSISTANCE will be offered by the Bradley County Bar Association to individuals affected by the recent storms. This week public defender Richard Hughes; president of the Bradley County Bar Robert Thompson; Dan Howell, assistant to the county mayor; Matthew Casson of EMA; and attorney David Hicks participated in a meeting of the bar to discuss how to apply for FEMA benefits, and which benefits are available.
The association members will offer their help at the Bradley County Courthouse in the County Commission meeting room on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“The Bradley County Bar Association is pleased to offer this service at no charge,” attorney James Logan said.
Logan said residents can call 303-1038 Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to schedule an appointment, but walk-ins will also be accepted. He said scheduling ahead of time would help the attorneys make the best use of the time.
FEMA offers benefits for individuals and businesses that have been affected by the storms and tornadoes. Logan said the fastest ways to apply are by phone at 1-800-621-3362 or on the disaster relief website, www.disasterassistance.gov.
Logan said FEMA is a secondary payer, meaning individuals must file a claim with their insurance company before applying for FEMA assistance.
Grant applications can be requested to cover temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs.
“The key component to a successful application is documentation,” Logan said.
Those receiving funds must record how the money is spent. Logan said it is important to keep up with the record because FEMA is a highly audited program.
Documentation is also needed to apply.
The following information is required for the FEMA application:
- Social Security Number
- Social Security Card
- Current address
- Pre-disaster address (if different from current address)
- Home telephone number
- Homeowners and other insurance information (policies, numbers, etc.)
- Total household annual income
- Routing and account number for bank account (if direct deposit is desired)
- Description of losses caused by the disaster
- If possible, mail or magazines addressed to the damaged property.
Those who apply will receive a benefit number which will be used by FEMA to match applications to individuals when properties are inspected.
In preparation for Saturday, Robert Thompson, president of the association, called a meeting Wednesday for a training session for attorneys wishing to participate. Attorney David Hicks was presented with information about how to file for benefits and what benefits were available.
