FEMA Arrives In Newtown—

Telephone Disaster Registration,

Unemployment Assistance Provided

By John Voket

Following the April rainstorms that blew into Newtown with near-hurricane ferocity, two field representatives quietly walked into town hall on June 27 to begin their work identifying and qualifying the municipality, private homeowners and businesses for disaster aid. The pair of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) community relations field specialist are among two teams working each half of northern and southern Fairfield County, along with a similar team of associates across the river in New Haven County.

Their first order of business was to make contact with local Emergency Management Director Bill Halstead, who is also the town fire marshal and chief of Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue. The duo was also eager to meet other top town officials to begin the top-down process of identifying public damage caused by intense rains from a Nor’easter that soaked the town in mid-April.

The FEMA field specialists, who are not official spokespersons for the agency, said they will be obtaining information from the town to try and identify homes and businesses that may also qualify for disaster assistance in the wake of the destructive storm. Their charge includes answering general, non-policy questions from those affected by damage incurred between April 15 and 27.

They will also be making contact with churches, visiting the local library, and private businesses in high traffic locations supplying information and flyers to help anyone affected, but not yet registered for possible assistance, to get in touch with the agency. The FEMA reps will remain in northern Fairfield County for as long as they are needed.

Housing assistance, state and federal assistance for property damage, Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses, repair, reconstruction, home utility protection and tax guidance are among the services offered by FEMA. But to qualify for any help, individuals must either visit one of the county Disaster Recovery Centers or register by phone through the state Teleregistration system.

Walk-in centers are located at Danbury City Hall, 155 Deer Hill Road; Central High School gym at 1 Lincoln Boulevard in Bridgeport; and in West Greenwich at 449 Pemberwick Road. Teleregistration is available from 8 am to 6 pm seven days a week by calling 800-621-FEMA or TTY 800-462-7585 for speech or hearing impaired individuals.

According to Mike Parker, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer, individuals who notified 211-Inforline of potential claims must still register with FEMA in a separate process.

“Some people think they have registered when they have not,” Mr Parker said. “People have called their [local] emergency services manager or registered for assistance with the Red Cross. Neither of those things gets them registered with FEMA.

“The only way to be considered for FEMA disaster programs is by applying on the phone, on the web, or in person at a Disaster Recovery Center,” he added.

Chief Halstead reminds anyone interested in applying for assistance that August 14 is the final day to contact FEMA for any of the above general assistance.

In related news, Connecticut workers who were impacted as a result of the storms may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. To qualify, applicants must be, or must have been unemployed as a direct result of the disaster and be unable to resume work.

An earlier July 19 is the deadline to file for this specific assistance for those who live or work in Newtown or in one of the affected counties in Connecticut. Those seeking to apply specifically for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, or who want to determine eligibility must call 860-263-6785.

Additional information is available on the web at www.fema.gov.