Lane County is opening its Recovery Assistance Services, or RAS, at the old McKenzie Fish Hatchery at 44643 Highway 126 this Friday.
The county says the RAS is designed to help residents affected by the Holiday Farm Fire connect to available services and plan their next steps with an emphasis on resilience and mental health.
The RAS will be open from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. this Friday and following Fridays. The county also has the service available at the Lane Events Center Monday through Thursday from 1- 5 p.m.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, is encouraging people who were affected by the Oregon wildfires to apply for federal assistance even if they are covered by insurance or have registered with other agencies. FEMA says while it can’t duplicate insurance settlements or other benefits, insured survivors may still be eligible for FEMA help in some cases. FEMA recommends filing insurance claims as soon as possible and applying with FEMA for assistance even if you’re still waiting for insurance settlements.
The website is disasterassistance.gov and the phone number is 800-621-FEMA.
The Oregon Public Utility Commission is encouraging residents affected by recent wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic to look into Oregon Lifeline. It offers discounted phone or high-speed internet service to qualifying low-income households. It’s currently offering a monthly discount through December.
Oregonians receiving benefits from public assistance programs such as Medicaid or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may qualify for Oregon Lifeline, which is limited to one person per household for either the discounted or free service.
For additional information about the Oregon Lifeline program, call 1-800-848-4442, weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., or view details online.
