SIOUX FALLS – Residents of South Dakota counties affected by September severe storms, tornadoes and flooding may soon see FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams and home inspectors in their neighborhoods.
Teams will be going door-to-door in Brookings County starting Saturday, Dec. 7, in areas affected by storms, FEMA Assistant External Affairs Officer Debra Young said.
DSA teams come to local areas to offer survivors registration assistance, up-to-date information on their application status, on-the-spot needs assessments and referrals to help fill any outstanding needs. FEMA provides this mobile resource to help connect homeowners, renters, business owners, and faith-based and community organizations with the necessary resources to start the recovery process following an individual assistance disaster declaration.
Home inspectors will also be in the field verifying damage for those who have applied for federal assistance. Inspectors will contact homeowners and renters to schedule a time to meet to validate storm, flood and tornado damage that occurred Sept. 9-26.
Inspectors will display official photo identification. If the photo identification is not visible, it is important to ask to see it before starting the inspection.
Business owners and individuals who apply for a disaster loan with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) may also be contacted by a loss verifier who will inspect the damaged property.
Representatives will be visiting Brookings, Charles Mix, Davison, Hanson, Hutchinson, Lake, Lincoln, McCook, Minnehaha, Moody, and Yankton counties and the Flandreau and Yankton Indian Reservations.
Residents and businesses in these areas can register for federal disaster assistance.
There are several ways to register:
• Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or DisasterAssistance.gov/es (for Spanish).
• Use the FEMA mobile app in English or Spanish.
• Call the disaster assistance helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362) (v/VRS/711) or 800-462-7585 (TTY). Lines are open daily from 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Help is available in most languages.
