Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), whose district was affected by the Eaton Fire, criticized FEMA for reportedly denying applications for disaster assistance due to lack of insurance information.
“We're hearing complaints about FEMA because FEMA did what we asked them to do, which was register on the disasterassistance.gov site, and some of them were denied approval or disapproved. “Because they've done that,” Chu said of the voters. Interview on NewsNation's “The Hill” on Tuesday.
In an interview, Chu sought to reassure voters that, in fact, FEMA does have the resources to help residents, and encouraged residents to continue trying to get the help they need.
“What we want to say to them is that FEMA has the resources to help them and they may not have all the insurance information so they will get that message, but moving forward. We want them to continue to do so,” Chu said.
Chu encouraged voters to call FEMA directly if their application is denied or visit the new Disaster Resource Center at Pasadena City College to “ask what's going on with their application.”
Voters can also go to the center to pick up their documents, she added. “Because so many people ran out of their homes with the clothes on their backs, lost all their papers, and then they were all burned.”
When asked why FEMA is denying applications due to lack of information, Chu said, “I think FEMA has come to some conclusion that it's better to actively say not approved than to say pending. “Isn't it?” he said.
“In fact, I'm urging them to change that,” Chu said, noting that he spoke with FEMA administrators about the issue Monday night.
“I think it should change, because there's nothing worse than that, when your life is devastated and you're not at home and you're trying to recover and you accidentally get a disapproval message.” Mr Chu said. “That's not true.”
The Hill has reached out to FEMA for comment.
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