From Jay.Inslee@mail.house.gov Fri Mar 16 12:54:37 2001
From: Congressman Jay Inslee <Jay.Inslee@mail.house.gov>

Dear Mr. Meister:

If you or anyone you know had any damage as a result of the Nisqually
earthquake, the federal government might be able to help. The Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has put together a top-notch team from
around the country to help with disaster relief.  To assist in their
efforts, I wanted to make sure you know what actions you should be taking
and what kind of assistance you can expect if your home or business has been
damaged by the earthquake.

First and foremost, immediately call FEMA's registration line at (800)
462-9029 to apply for aid.  When you call this number, be prepared to give
your personal information (including social security number and income) and
your property information (including a description of the loss and insurance
information).  FEMA will move quickly to send an inspector to your home or
business to assess the damage.  A reminder: ALWAYS ask for identification
from the inspectors.

Depending on your situation and if you qualify, FEMA will likely refer your
application to the Small Business Administration (SBA).  SBA is offering low
interest loans (3.5% for homeowners; 4% for businesses) with the first
payment not due for five months.  Additionally, under federal tax law,
individuals and businesses that suffer casualty losses because of a federal
disaster can claim the losses on their tax returns either for the year of
the loss (2001), or for the prior year (2000). If you have already filed
your federal income tax return, claiming a loss against 2000 taxes by filing
an amended return will normally result in a refund (if all taxes have been
paid). This option enables you to obtain more immediate financial relief.
 
If you would like more information you can call the IRS toll-free line,
1-800-829-1040 (available 24 hours a day, seven days a week), with questions
about casualty losses. You can also download publications and forms free of
charge from the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov.

Again, I want to remind you to call FEMA to report any damage you have to
your home, regardless of how trivial you may think it is.  A crack in the
ceiling might just need minor repair or, it may be indicative of a more
serious structural problem.  The FEMA inspectors can determine the extent of
the damage.  You have until April 29, 2001 to register with FEMA.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if there is anything
we can do for you.  You may call Kimberly Nunes in my Mountlake Terrace
office at (425) 640-0233 or toll free at (800) 226-7144 or email her at
kim.nunes@mail.house.gov, and she will be happy to help you. 

Very Truly Yours,

JAY INSLEE
Member of Congress


JRI/hs

Confirmation # 1166286 


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