Evacuees Located in Michigan Should Apply for Disaster Assistance
Through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); through Michigan Department of Human Services

For Immediate Release:
Sept. 8, 2005

Contact: Dana Wolverton 517/333-5032
             Jackie Hampton 517/333-5051
EMD NR-09

LANSING – The following information is provided to assist evacuees of Hurricane Katrina currently located in Michigan and local communities who have taken evacuees into their communities. Evacuees are urged to contact FEMA to establish their claim and determine the federal assistance they may be entitled to. All persons filing claims MUST contact the FEMA hotline each time they move to keep current address information on file.

ALL Persons Displaced by Hurricane Katrina from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana & Mississippi
TOLL FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
TTY FOR HEARING/SPEECH IMPAIRED: 1-800-462-7585

Please be prepared to give your Social Security number and describe your losses.

To register on-line or to check on your application, refer to   http://www.fema.gov/register.shtm. "We want to assist those coming into Michigan by any avenue" said Capt. Kriste Etue, Deputy State Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. "Regardless of their entry method into Michigan, we will provide the needed assistance in getting them settled into a clean, safe environment."

In addition to contacting the FEMA hotline at 1-800-621-FEMA to begin their federal benefit assistance evacuees should be referred to their local Michigan Department of Human Services Office for immediate assistance. To locate their local Human Services Office, evacuees should check the government pages of their phone book or see their website at  http://www.michigan.gov/dhs. Contacting the local Human Services Office ensures that evacuees will be connected with state housing, medical assistance, and community support services.

As a result of Hurricane Katrina, thousands of people within the United States and abroad have lost contact with their loved ones. In an effort to help restore family connections, FEMA is referring evacuees to  http://www.firstgov.gov for resources in locating missing family and friends. Evacuees can also contactthe Family Links Registry at 1-877-568-3317. Michigan residents have been generous in their offers and hotlines continue to be available by calling 1-888-535-6136.