Deadline Extends for Hurricane Aid Registration

Families and businesses battered by Hurricane Irene have more time to apply for federal aid to cover their losses.

The deadline to register for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance has been extended to Nov. 30.

Disaster aid can include grants for temporary housing or essential home repairs and other disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance. Low-interest disaster loans are also available to homeowners, renters and business owners to replace personal property.

FEMA has approved $138 million in post-hurricane aid so far. SBA has approved $46 million in disaster loans.

There are three ways to register: go to the web sites www.disasterassistance.gov or m.fema.gov, or call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362. Telephone lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. with multilingual operators available.