Residents with Storm Damage Expenses Can Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance

Deadline for homeowners and renters to apply is March 16, 2023

Homeowners and renters in San Mateo County with damage or losses due to the series of New Year’s storms can apply for federal disaster assistance.

Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing and essential home repairs as well as other serious disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses, transportation, childcare and moving and storage expenses. The deadline to apply to FEMA is March 16, 2023. Read more in the County's News Release.

Disaster-related assistance may include: 

• Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable;
• Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items;
• Unemployment payments for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and do not qualify for state benefits (self-employed);
• Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance;
• Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; or
• Advisory assistance for legal veterans’ benefits and social security matters.

To apply, FEMA provides the following guidance for homeowners and renters:

If you have insurance, first file a claim with your insurance provider. FEMA provides assistance to applicants for your uninsured or underinsured disaster-caused expenses and serious needs. FEMA assistance cannot aid with losses already covered by insurance.

There are several ways that you can apply for FEMA assistance:

• Visit DisasterAssistance.gov
• Download the FEMA mobile app
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in many languages. If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Helpline operators speak many languages and lines are open daily. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for an interpreter who speaks your language.
• For an accessible video on how to apply, go tohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU7wzRjByhI

Due to the amount of local damage, San Mateo County has been added to the major disaster declaration for California’s severe storms and flooding. 

The declaration allows FEMA to provide direct support to individuals and households in nine counties: Calaveras, Merced, Monterey, Sacramento, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz.

Business can also apply now, and if in the future FEMA includes businesses in its disaster declaration, businesses may be eligible for some assistance.