Douglas County residents who suffered damage in the September 20-23 flooding have only a week remaining to file claims for FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) assistance. The deadline is Nov. 23.

Once the Nov. 23 deadline passes, no more flood damage applications will be accepted, FEMA officials emphasize.

The correct form to apply for FEMA assistance is the SBA (Small Business Administration) application.

“Complete the SBA application and return it, even if you don’t want an SBA loan,” Wes Tallon, county communications and community relations director, emphasized. “It may help kick in additional FEMA assistance. You can turn down the loan offer later. An application doesn’t obligate you to accept a loan.”

Tallon noted that assistance is not automatic even though the county was designated under a Federal Disaster Declaration.

“You must apply for assistance,” he said. “If you wait until after Nov. 23, it will be too late.”

Applications may be made by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by going online to the FEMA Internet site at www.fema.gov.

The 17 Georgia counties included in the federal disaster declaration included Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker.