Deadline Extended
The deadline to apply for federal disaster assistance has been extended another 30 days to Dec. 11 for homeowners and renters with uninsured or underinsured damage to their properties from the Maui wildfires, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Wednesday.
The deadline is the same for Maui homeowners, renters and businesses to apply to the U.S. Small Business Administration for a low-interest disaster loan for physical property damage.
“Registering with FEMA for Individual Assistance is the key that opens the door to many kinds of additional federal help, and we want to make sure everyone who is eligible for that aid has an opportunity to receive it,” James Barros, administrator of the Hawai’i Emergency Management Agency, said in a news release.
“The complexity of this event and the diversity of the Maui community created some obstacles to getting all of the people who need help signed up for federal assistance,” he added. “So we’re grateful that FEMA extended the registration deadline.”
FEMA provides funds that are paid directly to eligible individuals and households. The agency offers different types of aid, including:
Rental assistance, which offers financial aid for temporary housing for homeowners and renters displaced from their primary residence by the wildfires.
Lodging expense reimbursement, which covers out-of-pocket temporary lodging expenses resulting from damage that made a person’s primary residence unlivable. Eligible expenses may include the cost of the room and associated taxes.
Home repair assistance, which helps homeowners repair their primary residences, utilities servicing that home and residential infrastructure leading to their fire-damaged property.
Replacement assistance, which provides financial aid for homeowners whose primary home was destroyed by the fires. It can be applied to the purchase of a new permanent residence.
Other needs assistance for other disaster-caused expenses and immediate essential needs. Assistance may include funds to replace personal property, moving and storage expenses, transportation assistance, funeral, medical, dental, child care and miscellaneous disaster-related items.
To apply for FEMA aid, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA mobile app or call the FEMA Helpline at (800) 621-3362. Those who use a video relay service, captioned telephone service or another service should give FEMA that number when they apply. Helpline operators are available from 1 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week, with multiple languages available. For an American Sign Language video on how to apply, visit youtube.com/watch?v=LU7wzRjByhI.
Get Support
Disaster Recovery Center at the Lahaina Civic Center
Open: Monday through Saturdays at 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Phone: (808) 661-4685CNHA's Kākoʻo Maui Relief & Aid Services Center
Open Daily at 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Phone: 808-204-2722
Email: kakoomaui@hawaiiancouncil.org
Get Directions to the Kākoʻo Maui Relief & Aid Services Center
For more information on applying for SBA assistance, visit sba.gov/hawaii-wildfires or contact the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability should dial 711 for telecommunications relay services. Completed applications may also be mailed to the SBA Processing and Disbursement Center at 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
Applicants can also visit Disaster Recovery Centers at UH-Maui and the Lahaina Civic Center or Business Recovery Centers at the Maui Research Technology Center in Kihei.