Superstorm Sandy

Disaster Relief

The Town of Newtown is encouraging individuals and business owners who sustained losses during and after Superstorm Sandy to begin applying for assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (800-621-3362), or by web-enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov. Disaster assistance applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or video relay service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 am to 10 pm (EST), daily, until further notice.

Whether applying online or over the phone, you should have a pen and paper and the following information ready:

*Your Social Security number. FEMA will be unable to complete a registration if neither the caller, their spouse, nor a minor child in the household — who is a US Citizen, Non-Citizen National or Qualified Alien — has a Social Security number. At least one of these individuals must have a Social Security number for a household to receive assistance. A Social Security number is required for identity verification purposes.

*Insurance information. You will be asked to identify the types of insurance coverage you have.

*Damage information. You will be asked to describe your losses due to the disaster.

*Financial information. You will be asked to for your family’s gross total household income at the time of the disaster.

*Contact information. Along with the address and phone number where the damages occurred, you will be asked for information on how agencies providing assistance can contact you following the disaster.

*Electronic funds transfer (EFT) direct deposit information, if you prefer to have fund transferred directly into a bank account. You will be asked for banking information including the institution name, type of account, routing number, and account number (again, this is only if you want to have disaster assistance funds transferred directly into your bank account.)

Newtown residents can also contact Rob Sibley, deputy Director of Land Use, for local assistance to this program, at rob.sibley@newtown-ct.gov or 203-270-4351.