FEMA Reaches Out to South Carolina Survivors with Access and Functional Needs

COLUMBIA, S.C.—The State of South Carolina and FEMA are committed to ensuring that services and assistance are available for survivors of the April 13 storms who have access and functional needs.

It’s important for survivors to notify FEMA when they register for federal disaster help if they have any access and functional needs. This can help FEMA accommodate them and deliver eligible assistance as quickly as possible.

FEMA has many ways to register for federal disaster assistance. Survivors in Aiken, Barnwell, Berkeley, Colleton, Hampton, Marlboro, Oconee, Orangeburg and Pickens counties who have access and functional needs should choose the option that best accommodates them.

Options include going to DisasterAssistance.gov, downloading the FEMA app or calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585.

Those who have already registered may contact the phone numbers above if they have questions or want to update information. Multilingual operators are available 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

The registration process includes providing FEMA a phone number so it can contact survivors and set up home inspections. Those who use a relay service such as a videophone, Innocaption or CapTel should provide FEMA their specific number assigned to that service.

Survivors should be aware phone calls from FEMA may come from an unidentified number.

Federal disaster assistance grants are not taxable and do not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, medical waiver programs, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance.