“With the deadline only three weeks away,” said Easley. “residents who had uninsured hurricane or storm damage from Isabel should call 1-800-621-FEMA quickly and apply for disaster assistance.

“Do not assume that you do not qualify for assistance. By calling this number, a trained specialist can evaluate your situation.”

November 17 is also the deadline for submitting loan applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration for disaster-related losses to real and personal property. Even those who do not want an SBA loan should complete and return the application if they get one, according to disaster officials. No one has to accept a loan if it is offered, and if the information shows the applicants are unable to repay an SBA loan they may be eligible for a grant.

Counties declared eligible for federal/state disaster aid as a result of the hurricane or other storms from Sept. 18 through 26 are Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Davidson, Duplin, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Granville, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Person, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson, Tyrrell, Vance, Wake, Warren, Washington, Wayne and Wilson.

“We want people to understand that this is merely an application deadline,” said Gracia Szczech, federal coordinating officer for FEMA. “For individuals who have already applied, their cases will continue to be processed, but we will not be accepting any new applications after Nov. 17.”

Federal and state disaster recovery officials strongly urge those who have not done so to apply as soon as possible by calling FEMA’s toll-free application line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Hearing or speech-impaired individuals may call the TTY application number at 1-800-462-7585. The registration numbers are available from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

###