Disaster Assistance Teams Meeting Survivors Where They Are

OKLAHOMA CITY - After a disaster, recovering from and dealing with loss can be overwhelming. To ensure survivors can apply for assistance, FEMA sends teams of Disaster Survivor Assistants (DSA) into disaster-affected neighborhoods, often going door-to-door to assist survivors. Teams began visiting neighborhoods in Sulphur on Wednesday.

Assistance teams may help survivors apply for federal assistance, identify potential needs and help make connections with local, state, federal and voluntary agencies.

These teams will be easily recognizable by their official photo identification (ID). If you meet people offering assistance, first ask to see their ID before giving any personal information. They may have FEMA clothing, but that can be easily imitated.

These teams can help survivors in many ways including:

• Checking the status of an application already in the system and making minor changes to applications.
• Making callouts to faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, private sector (businesses) and public libraries that may have the capability to distribute disaster-related information to survivors in the impacted counties.
• Identifying organizations providing disaster-related services and/or resources to the public for immediate and long-term recovery.
• Gathering situational awareness about impacts to communities.
• Providing flyers explaining how to apply for disaster assistance.
• Providing civil rights and disability integration assistance information to ensure equal access.

If residents have not already done so and they live in Hughes, Love or Murray counties, they are encouraged to apply for assistance. There are several ways to apply:

• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. The Helpline is available daily from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. (midnight) CDT. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service.
• Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov (also in Spanish).
• Download the FEMA mobile app (also in Spanish), available at Google Play or the Apple App Store.

Team members will continue visiting neighborhoods damaged by the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that began April 25. Representatives may also attend community events or meetings upon request.

For the latest information visit fema.gov/disaster/4776. Follow FEMA Region 6 at twitter.com/FEMARegion6 or at facebook.com/FEMARegion6/.