County Officials Encourage FEMA Aid Registration

Morris County officials urge anyone thinking about registering for FEMA assistance following Superstorm Sandy to do so as soon as possible.

Frank Pinto, director of the Morris County Department of Human Services, said the sooner residents seek assistance, the sooner they will have money in hand for their needs.

“The FEMA representatives who are staffing the Disaster Recovery Centers can provide technical assistance at the centers themselves or through other means,” Pinto said. “There is a 60-day deadline for registering and we want everyone who is eligible to receive assistance.”

Morris County’s Disaster Recovery Center, operated by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management is at the Morris Plains Community Center, 51 Jim Fear Drive in Morris Plains. To date, more than 5,100 people in Morris County have registered with FEMA for assistance, according to Pinto.

However, he noted there are other steps individuals must take to access additional aid. “For example, after registering, there is a need to complete a Small Business Administration loan application,” he said. “It’s not required that a person take a SBA loan, but the process is required. Once that is done, the applicant may get a loan for assistance or if qualified, they may be eligible for additional assistance, which is the ultimate goal of most applicants.”

The Morris Plains DRC will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6; Friday, Dec. 7; and Saturday, Dec. 8.

Anyone affected by Sandy is encouraged to apply for assistance before going to a DRC. Individuals can register for assistance and follow up on previous applications by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by web-enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov. People also can call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585.