NEW ORLEANS — The deadlines to register for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individuals and Households Program are quickly approaching. There is just over one week left to register for Hurricane Gustav; the deadline is Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008. Right on the heels of that deadline is the Friday, Dec. 26, 2008 deadline to register for Hurricane Ike.

Any resident who suffered damage from either Hurricane Gustav or Ike but has not yet registered for assistance is urged to do so right away. Those residents who suffered damage from both disasters will need to register twice-once for each disaster.

Aid for eligible applicants may come in the form of temporary rental assistance or hotel stays and grants or loans to repair or replace damaged property and belongings. The Federal assistance program will not cover all losses, but is designed to help people return to livable housing.

Residents can register for assistance by going online to www.fema.gov, or by calling FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585. If you have already registered with FEMA, and have questions about your disaster assistance application, you can also call 1-888-294-2822.

Those who register are asked to have pen and paper ready to take down their case number. The toll-free call takes about 20 minutes, and can be taken in any language.

The call goes more quickly if residents have the following:

• Social Security number (including spouse’s)

• Address and zip code of the damaged property

• Directions to the damaged home or property

• Telephone numbers where FEMA can reach applicant

• Private insurance policy, if any

• Bank information to enable direct deposit

• Current mailing address

River Parishes residents are only eligible for assistance for expenses incurred from Hurricane Gustav.