SLO County now qualifies for FEMA aid following winter storms. Here’s how to apply
San Luis Obispo County has been added to a list of counties that can receive aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to a news release from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, giving residents access to a variety of assistance programs.
The additional aid comes in the wake of several winter storms that swept through the state in January and March, the release stated.
President Joe Biden originally approved the Presidential Major Disaster Declaration on April 3.
“San Luis Obispo County joins the list of counties that qualify for individual assistance, meant for people and households to repair or replace damaged property,” the release stated. “Other counties that currently qualify for individual assistance include Butte, Kern, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Mono, Monterey, San Benito, San Bernardino, Santa Cruz, Tulare and Tuolumne.”
The declaration helps Californians in impacted counties by opening eligibility for several aid programs, including housing assistance, food aid, counseling, and medical and legal services, the release stated.
Cal OES also expanded public assistance, which applies to emergency work and repairs or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities, to Plumas, Solano and Sonoma counties, the release said.
Public assistance is intended to help state, tribal and local governments with ongoing emergency response and recovery costs, and hazard mitigation, the release stated.
As further damage assessments are conducted, particularly in areas where record snowpack makes it difficult to accurately assess the full extent of damages, additional counties may be added to the FEMA assistance and Public Assistance programs, the release said.
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585 TTY.
This story was originally published June 9, 2023 at 12:21 PM.
