Barnwell County tornado victims eligible for FEMA aid

May 21--Barnwell County residents who were impacted by April's tornadoes are now eligible to apply for federal aid funds.

At the request of Governor Henry McMaster, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has amended its disaster declaration for the April 13 severe storm to make residents in Barnwell and Berkeley counties eligible to apply for the Individual Assistance program. Aiken, Colleton, Hampton, Marlboro, Oconee, Orangeburg and Pickens counties were previously declared.

"FEMA Disaster Assistance can include money for temporary rental assistance and essential home repairs for primary homes, low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help survivors recover from the effects of the disaster," states a press release from the S.C. Emergency Management Division.

Residents can register for FEMA assistance in one of three ways:

* Online by logging onto DisasterAssistance.gov

* Online by downloading the FEMA app, available for Apple and Android mobile devices. To download the app, visit: fema.gov/mobile-app or your phone's app store.

* Call 800-621-3362. Residents who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. Language translators also are available. Toll-free numbers are open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

"SCEMD, FEMA and county emergency managers continue to assist residents in areas hardest hit by the April 13 severe storm. Residents can visit scemd.org or call 2-1-1 to be connected to locally sourced, volunteer help if they have unmet needs not covered by insurance, FEMA assistance or other relief programs," states the press release.

LEGAL HELP

A toll-free legal aid hotline is also available to callers to request the assistance of a lawyer to aid in storm-related matters.

The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, the S.C. Bar, the S.C. Bar Young Lawyers Division, and South Carolina Legal Services partnered to provide the hotline assistance to victims of storm-related damage in Aiken, Barnwell, Berkeley, Colleton, Hampton, Marlboro, Oconee, Orangeburg, and Pickens counties.

Storm victims facing legal issues who are unable to afford a lawyer may call 1-877-797-2227 ext. 120 (toll-free) or (803) 576-3815 to request assistance.

"When connected to the hotline, callers should identify that they are seeking disaster-related legal assistance, brief details of the assistance needed and in which disaster-declared county they are located. Individuals who qualify for assistance will be matched with South Carolina lawyers who have volunteered to provide free legal assistance. This hotline is separate from the COVID-19 pro bono hotline," states a press release from the South Carolina Bar.

Storm victims may also request assistance online by emailing [email protected] or submitting disaster-related questions to sc.freelegalanswers.org.

The type of legal assistance available includes:

--Assistance with securing FEMA and other government benefits available to disaster victims;

--Assistance with life, medical and property insurance claims;

--Help with home repair contracts and contractors;

--Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster;

--Assistance in consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures;

--Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems; and

--Counseling on landlord-tenant problems.

Low-income residents may also contact South Carolina Legal Services at 1-888-346-5592 between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays for free legal representation, advocacy and information. They may also submit a request for free services at www.lawhelp.org/sc/online-intake.

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