FEMA to host weeklong disaster assistance center for flood damage at Ferndale

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is setting up a three-day disaster assistance center this week at the Ferndale Community Center, 2007 Cherry St.

Officials will be on hand to help Whatcom County residents affected by the December storms and flooding. Specialists will assist survivors with FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration applications and other disaster assistance.

Schedule:

• Thursday, May 28, noon to 7 pm.
• Friday, May 29, noon to 7 p.m.
• Saturday, May 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 3, noon to 7 p.m.
• Friday, June 5, noon to 7 p.m.

The center can help people with FEMA applications and SBA loans and address questions about federal/state assistance. The center will be accessible to those with limited mobility and will have capability to interact with those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

FEMA assistance can help pay for temporary housing, displacement, home repair costs, personal property loss and other disaster-caused expenses. Even if someone has applied with the state, they must also apply with FEMA to receive federal assistance. The deadline to apply for assistance is June 10.

Apply for FEMA assistance:

• Online at disasterassistance.gov
• Phone: 800-621-3362
• Download and use the FEMA app
• Visit a Disaster Assistance Center

Those in the following areas who experienced disaster-related damage may be eligible for assistance from FEMA: Chelan, Grays Harbor, King, Lewis, Pacific, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, and Whatcom counties - including the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, Lummi Nation, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Nisqually Indian Tribe, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Puyallup Tribe, Quinault Indian Nation, Samish Indian Nation, Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe, Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe, Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, Squaxin Island Tribe, Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Tulalip Tribes, and the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe.