FEMA offering many forms of assistance to residents in disaster areas

FEMA representative LaTanga Hopes spoke with West Kentucky Star Thursday morning about the different ways FEMA is providing assistance to residents in disaster areas.

Hopes said the first thing residents are asked to do is apply with FEMA. After becoming approved, FEMA can provide rental assistance, a grant to rebuild your home, and assistance with home repairs.

"If you need to restore your home, those are things we can immediately help with. That is our goal, to make sure we protect the homefront or that we support the rebuilding of the homefront. That's the basic foundation for FEMA," Hopes said.

Even if you're only renting a home, Hopes said FEMA may be able to offer assistance with anything from furniture to school supplies.

She said, "If you're living in a home and renting it, you may think 'FEMA may not be able to help me because I don't own my home.' Yes, we can. There are things like furniture, appliances, clothes, maybe even school supplies."

If you're an independent contractor and have your own business, Hopes said FEMA could help replace tools that are damaged. FEMA might even be able to help with medication.

"Once you get past the home there are other things that are needed to also make sure your life can be put back into some type of stable situation," Hopes said.

Beyond assistance with paperwork and rebuilding efforts, FEMA Mitigation Teams are also available at Lowe's in Mayfield to provide free advice on how to rebuild a stronger and more resilient structure.

According to Hopes, there is currently about 500 FEMA personnel in the counties affected by the recent storms that are here to help residents recover.

A lot of thought goes into FEMA's approach when assisting communities affected by disasters. Hopes said FEMA's slogan is, 'FEMA helps people during, before, and after natural disasters.' 

The deadline to apply for assistance is February 11. For more information, click here.


Photo courtesy of https://www.fema.gov/