An emergency major disaster declaration for communities affected by the remnants of Hurricane Ida on Sept. 1 was recently approved by President Joe Biden. Montgomery County, being one of the counties covered in the disaster declaration, became available for federal aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Persons who have damaged property have 60 days from the Sept. 10 declaration to apply for federal disaster assistance, even if you previously submitted an online damage assessment. Assistance can range from grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses.
Residents can apply for federal disaster assistance through a number of ways:
Applying online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov;
Applying by phone at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585);
In-person at a Disaster Recovery Center (location in Montgomery County TBA).
With only a two-month window open to apply for assistance, it is important to apply as soon as you can. Please be sure to take pictures of the damage, have a list of damaged items and file a claim with your insurance company.
The county’s Property Damage Assessment Form has been a critical tool since the storms subsided on Sept. 2. This form will register your damaged property with the county and help you with your cleanup efforts. In order to have municipal permit fees waived for Ida-related cleanup, your property must be registered with county through this form (available at both Norristown.org and montcopa.org/ida). Permits are still required for building cleanup (electrical, plumping, mechanical, etc.) even though the fees are waived.
Additionally, individuals and families who are currently experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness due to the impacts of Hurricane Ida can contact Your Way Home by dialing 2-1-1 or texting their zip code to 898-211. Assistance may include short-term hotel housing in certain cases.
More information regarding IDA cleanup and resources can be found at at Norristown.org and at Montcopa.org/ida.