FEMA Officials Extend Stay In Manatee County

BRADENTON, FL – The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced it will stay in Manatee County longer to help residents apply for assistance following Hurricane Irma.

FEMA will continue its assistance sessions for Manatee County residents for another week, the county announced on Sept. 26. Federal officials have been assisting Manatee County residents who have suffered property damage or losses directly caused by Hurricane Irma since Sept. 20.

During these sessions, FEMA assists residents, both homeowners and renters, apply for federal aid. Assistance includes grants that cover rent, temporary housing, home repairs to primary residences, medical, dental or funeral costs.

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The new sessions announced are:

• Manatee County Central Library, 1301 Barcarrota Blvd. W., Bradenton: Monday, Oct. 2 and Tuesday, Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• South Manatee Library, 6081 26th St. W., Bradenton: Wednesday, Oct. 4 from noon to 8 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Island Library, 5701 Mariana Drive, Holmes Beach: Friday, Oct. 6 and Saturday, Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sessions that were previously announced and still scheduled are:

• Rocky Bluff Library, 6750 U.S. Highway 301 N., Ellenton: Wednesday, Sept. 27 from noon to 8 p.m.
• Manatee County Central Library: Thursday, Sept. 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• South Manatee Library: Friday, Sept. 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Braden River Library, 4915 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton: Saturday, Sept. 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Residents who attend one of the assistance dates should bring the following:

• One Social Security number per household
• The address of the damaged home or apartment
• A description of the damage
• Information about insurance coverage
• A telephone number
• A mailing address
• Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds

Once an application is filed, a FEMA inspector will schedule an inspection appointment with the applicant. Inspections include verification of disaster-related losses and a review of ownership or residency records. There is no cost for an inspection. Residents should ask for a FEMA housing inspector’s ID before an inspection begins to avoid scams.

To register for disaster assistance online, visit www.disasterassistance.gov. To register by phone, call (800) 621-FEMA.

If a resident is in doubt that a worker is an official government representative or contractor, call local law enforcement or the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721.

Patch Editor Don Johnson contributed to this article

Caption: FEMA representatives anchor a sign to the side of Overseas Highway in an effort to guide Hurricane Irma survivors in need of help to the new FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Big Pine Key on Monday, Sept. 25.

Photo by J.T. Blatty/FEMA