The Department of Emergency Management reminds Cowlitz County residents affected by the recent flooding, to be careful of scams and other fraud during recovery efforts. To safeguard against disaster-related fraud, officials from the Department of Homeland Security recommend taking the following precautions:
- Ask for proper identification. A FEMA or SBA shirt or jacket is not absolute proof of someones affiliation with an agency. Always ask to see the official photo identification card that all federal employees are required to carry. If they don't have it, they are not official representatives of that agency. Applicants should be aware that they may receive visits from more than one official inspector or representative.
- Under NO circumstances are FEMA representatives allowed to accept money. FEMA does not charge for any programs or services. While FEMA inspectors assess damage, the agency does not hire or endorse specific contractors.
- Safeguard your personal information. If someone requests personal information outside of the official registration process, do not provide it.
To officially register for FEMA assistance, you can call 1-800-621-FEMA, online at http://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or in person at the local Disaster Recovery Center. The Disaster Recovery Center is located at 1942 1st Avenue in Longview, between the old Charlie's Restaurant and the Hall of Justice. They are open Monday-Saturday, 9:00am-7:00pm and on Sunday, 9:00am-6:00pm.
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