6 Percent of Milford Residents Hit by Irene Register with FEMA [Updated]

Update as of 5:30 a.m. on Sept. 20:

Of the 542 houses in Milford that were found to be damaged by Tropical Storm Irene, only 34 have registered with FEMA.

Milford's Recovery Coordinator, Bill Richards, reported the news late Monday afternoon. He said residents have until Nov. 3 to register with the federal agency, to make a claim for property damaged by the Aug. 28 storm.

Richards, along with representatives from FEMA, have gone door-to-door to 1,844 houses in the city since Sept. 9, distributing flyers that detail the process to put in a claim.

"The FEMA people have been phenomenal," Richards said. "They have been in town since the ninth, working 12 hour days, seven days a week."

He said even those residents who are working through insurance companies should put in a claim with FEMA.

"We urge as many residents of the affected area to register as soon as possible," Richards said. "Every single one of the 542 should absolutely register. If they're not sure, then they should register anway."

If a homeowner's insurance doesn't cover damage and the resident doesn't register with FEMA before the Nov. 3 deadline, there's really no other options, Richards said. But if that same homeowner registers, he or she can contact FEMA and pursue a claim.

"It’s a backup," Richards added. "At least to have some kind of option open."

The original report follows:

Milford residents are likely to return home tonight to find a flyer in their mailbox or their front porch. Don't throw it out -- it's not junk mail!

The two-page flyer contains valuable information about how to register with FEMA to claim damage from Tropical Storm Irene. FEMA officials and Bill Richards, Milford's Recovery Coordinator, were walking around the Laurel Beach neighborhood this afternoon dropping off the flyers.

Richards said it's in residents' best interest to register with FEMA. If your insurance company will only cover 80 percent of losses from Irene, there's a chance FEMA could cover the difference, he said.

There's a few ways to register:

• Call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7587
• Log onto www.disasterassistance.gov
• Drop by a Disaster Recovery Center. There's two locations in New Haven County:

1. High Plains Community Center, 525 Orange Center Road, Orange.
2. Gateway Community College, 88 Bassett Road, North Haven.

According to the flyer, you'll be asked for the following information:

• Disaster Recovery ID. It's DR-4023-CT
• Phone Number
• Social Security Number
• Current Mailing Address
• Address of Damaged Property
• Brief Description of Damages
• Insurance Information (if insured)

You will then recieve a FEMA application ID, and a FEMA disaster housing inspector will call to set up an appointment to view damages, according to the flyer.

Assistance may include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help recover from the effects of the disaster, the flyer states.

For more information, call 203-874-6782.