November 5, 2020 10:20 a.m.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency continues with its increase in the Fair Market Rental Rate to 125 percent for Douglas and six other counties, where residents have been impacted by the recent wildfires.

Nate Custer of FEMA said the increase enables applicants to rent alternate housing accommodations while they are displaced from their disaster-damaged primary residence. Custer said a survivor should contact their insurance company as soon as possible to report losses, file claims and access benefits.

Custer said the American Red Cross has hotel stays available for survivors. Those who need shelter can call them at 800-RED-CROSS or go to: https://www.redcross.org/local/oregon/get-help.html

The FEMA External Outreach Site remains open at the old Glide Middle School gym. Staff are available to help Mondays through Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. to accommodate survivors as they seek information about their applications, ask questions and have their documents scanned into a case file. Custer said survivors have until November 16th to apply for FEMA disaster assistance.