Deadline to register with FEMA for disaster assistance extended

The deadline to register with FEMA for disaster assistance after the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in September has been extended now to January 31st.

Federal disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs, clean up expense, personal property loss and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

Even though the deadline to register for assistance has been extended, Disaster Recovery Centers in Madison, Mitchell, and Alexandria will close this Friday, January 17th.  

After the centers close, homeowners and renters with disaster-related damage in designated counties can still register with FEMA, or get other help, by visiting us online at DisasterAssistance.gov or calling the disaster assistance helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY: 800-462-7585. Lines are open daily from 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Help is available in most languages.

FEMA assistance is accessible to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation (e.g., sign language interpreter, Braille, CART, etc.), please make your request as soon as possible. Call or text 605-400-8878. Last minute requests will be considered but may not be possible to fill.

Businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters are also able to apply for low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

SBA applications are available at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Residents and businesses can apply in person at any Disaster Recovery Center while open in South Dakota. For questions or center locations, call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or 800-877-8339 (TTY), or email [email protected], or visit the SBA’s disaster assistance website at sba.gov/disaster.