Federal Funds Made Available for Irene Damages

The Bloomfield Office of Emergency Management has announced Bloomfield residents who sustained flood or other damages inflicted by Hurricane Irene are now eligible to receive assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency after President Barack Obama officially declared Essex County a disaster area Wednesday.

Residents and business owners can begin the disaster application process by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-(800) 621-FEMA (3362). Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.

The toll-free telephone numbers are available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday until further notice. Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.

Residents who need assistance should file with FEMA as soon as possible to insure quick resolution to your problem.