UPDATE 4/30/21:
Due to the recent resurgence of COVID-19, FEMA has decided— with an abundance of safety in mind—to update the applicant engagements scheduled for May 1 through 4 and May 7 through 10, 2021 to remote engagements.
Since the engagements were originally set to be in-person, FEMA will contact each survivor who requested an appointment to inform them of the changes and conduct the engagement via phone, email or text to ensure survivors receive the immediate help they need.
HELP IS STILL AVAILABLE!
Applicants with questions about their federal disaster assistance application or appeal can contact:
FEMA Helpline–800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585.)
Press 2 for a Spanish-speaking operator.
Lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST daily.
Due to the announcement yesterday that Jackson County will move back to Extreme Risk levels for COVID19, FEMA has decided the reengagement work scheduled for May has been postponed. These meetings, originally scheduled for May 1-4 in Talent or May 7-10 in Phoenix, were expected to provide a second look at the FEMA applications previously filed where survivors have concerns or were denied benefits.
“This is not what any of us wanted to see, but given the Governors orders and the potential for this event to provide an opportunity for virus spread between staff and survivors, FEMA made the difficult decision to postpone,” shares Jackson County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Director John Vial. “I want to emphasize that this a postponement, not a cancellation. “
The Extreme Risk level becomes effective Friday, April 30, and will be in place through at least May 6 and could extend further. FEMA staff will be personally calling all the 69 families that signed up to let them know that their appointments will be rescheduled to a time when meetings can be conducted safely.