UPDATE: On Saturday (the previous deadline), FEMA announced that the new deadline to apply for wildfire aid for those effected by the August wildfires has been extended to Friday, December 11. Specific areas include Santa Cruz County, along with Butte, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Trinity, Tulare and Yolo counties.
The deadline for Santa Cruz County survivors of August wildfires to register with FEMA for individual disaster assistance and apply for a low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration has been extended to Dec. 11.
Federal disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property losses and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.
Residents who lost access to water through their private well — if the well was physically damaged, collapsed and/or is no longer producing potable water as a direct result of the disaster — could also be considered for financial assistance under FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program.
Apply with the Federal Emergency Management Agency at www.disasterassistance.gov; by downloading the FEMA mobile app to a smartphone or tablet; or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585) between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. To apply for an SBA disaster loan for a small business, call the Virtual Business Recovery Center and Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center (800) 659-2955 from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. For questions, email [email protected].