Recent storm damage? Apply for disaster assistance

Published on February 06, 2023

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Homeowners and renters in San Mateo County with damage or losses due to the series of New Year’s storms can apply for federal disaster assistance. Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing and essential home repairs, as well as other serious disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses, transportation, child care, and moving and storage expenses. The application period is open until March 16, 2023.

Disaster-related assistance may include:

  • Rental payments for temporary housing, for those whose homes are uninhabitable
  • Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items
  • Unemployment payments for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and do not qualify for State benefits (self-employed)
  • Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully covered by insurance
  • Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster
  • Advisory assistance for legal, veterans’ benefits and Social Security matters

If you have insurance, first file a claim with your insurance provider. FEMA provides assistance to applicants for uninsured or underinsured disaster-caused expenses and serious needs. FEMA assistance cannot aid those with losses already covered by insurance.

There are several ways that you can apply for FEMA assistance:

  • Visit disasterassistance.gov
  • Download the FEMA mobile app 
  • Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Helpline operators speak many languages and lines are open daily. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for an interpreter who speaks your language.

San Mateo County will be opening a Disaster Recovery Center to help residents affected by recent storms learn about available assistance from local, state and federal agencies. The center will operate daily from Thursday, Feb. 9, through Thursday, Feb. 16, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Cypress Hall, at the San Mateo County Event Center at 1346 Saratoga Drive. 

Businesses

The Small Business Administration offers disaster assistance in the form of low interest loans to businesses, nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters located in regions affected by declared disasters. The Small Business Administration also provides eligible small businesses and nonprofit organizations with working capital to help overcome the economic injury of a declared disaster. For help with Small Business Administration disaster loan applications, residents and business owners can contact their local Small Business Center or call 800-659-2955. The Small Business Administration will also be opening Local Assistance Centers in all primary counties. 

The San Mateo Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will be hosting an informational webinar to discuss the Small Business Administration (SBA)’s disaster relief loans for businesses impacted by the recent storms. 

Webinar: 3 Steps to SBA Disaster Assistance Loans
Join Thursday, Feb. 9, at noon
Online via zoom
Interpretation will be available in Spanish and Mandarin

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