FEMA Assistance

Governor Gavin Newsom announced on October 22, that Sonoma County is among three additional counties to be added to the current Major Disaster Declaration, initially approved by the President on Oct. 16, to bolster the state’s emergency response to wildfires across the state and support impacted residents.

For individuals who lost their home or sustained other losses due to the Glass Fire, this means you may be able to apply for federal assistance. FEMA gives eligible survivors financial awards to help them pay for such needs as rent, home repair or replacement, and other serious disaster-related expenses.

How do I register for FEMA Assistance?

There are three ways to register for Federal assistance. When applying use the reference number DR-4569-CA:

• Register online on the FEMA website for this incident: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4569
  • Deadline to register is December 16, 2020
• Register by downloading and using the FEMA app on your smartphone or tablet
• Register by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 between 7 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. PDT.

FEMA Assistance for Fire Damaged Septic Systems and Wells

Residents may be eligible for repairs not usually covered by insurance: those for septic systems and wells damaged by wildfires

Settlement of a homeowners insurance policy is the primary source of money to pay for home repairs following a major disaster. FEMA assistance cannot duplicate insurance coverage; however, households that don't have insurance or have received an insurance settlement less than the cost to repair serious damages may apply to FEMA for help with costs that are necessary to have a functioning home, including repair or replacement of private wells and septic systems. 

Survivors who reported they had major home damage at the time they registered with FEMA (see registration above) will receive a call from a FEMA inspector to conduct a remote inspection by telephone. At the time, they should tell the inspector about damage to their private well or septic system. If a resident has NOT already reported well or septic system damage, they should do so NOW by calling the FEMA helpline – (800) 621-3362 – or by using your personal online disaster assistance account.

Creating a FEMA account can be a separate process than applying for assistance. To create an account:

1. Go to disasterassistance.gov and click on the green Check Status button
2. Click the blue Create Account button (bottom of page)
3. Enter date of birth and social security number
4. Answer four security questions to verity your data
5. Create a user ID and password
6. Enter an email address.
   • FEMA will send you a temporary PIN within 24 hours. Follow the instructions in that email to finish creating your account