If you live in Goochland County and your home or business suffered damage from the Aug. 23, 2011, earthquake, you can still register for financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

In order to register for a FEMA grant, property must have been damaged in the initial earthquake Aug. 23, 2011, or in one of the subsequent aftershocks through Oct. 25, 2011.

The deadline for registering is March 5, 2012. To register, call 800-621-FEMA (3362).  If you use a TTY, call 1-800-462-7585, and if you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362 or go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov. Phone lines are open 7 a.m.-10 p.m. EST, seven days a week. Online registration is available at any time. Those with smart phones or other mobile devices can register at m.fema.gov.

FEMA, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the Small Business Administration (SBA) held an information and registration meeting Jan. 26 in the Board of Supervisors Room at the Goochland County Administration Building.

“A total of 44 residents attended the meeting,” said Fire and EMS Chief William D. MacKay. “Of that total, 17 had not registered before the meeting. At the meeting, 11 registered and six took registration information with them.”

Goochland County residents seeking assistance must also register with MacKay’s office.

“People can call me at 804-556-5304 to register,” Mackay said. “It can be done over the phone in less than two minutes.”

Through FEMA, a grant for damage can be up to $31,400, and since it is a grant, it doesn’t have to be paid back. Since Goochland County was added to the counties that qualify for FEMA assistance, just over $500,000 in grant money has been awarded.

“We award grants for work that needs to be done, and also some of the money already dispersed was for completed work,” said FEMA Public Information Officer Art Alejandre. “So whether someone is seeking assistance to get work done or reimbursement for work completed, they should register.”

Loans are also available through the SBA for individuals denied by FEMA for home owners, renters and business owners.

A home owner can apply for a loan for up to $200,000 through the SBA for structural damage, and home owners and renters can also seek loans for up to $40,000 for personal property losses. A business owner can apply for an SBA loan for property damage and lost earnings of up to $2 million.

Two Shannon Hill residents, Mary Blewett and Don Empson, came to register and get information.

“According to FEMA, I have a house that needs leveling,” said Blewett. “I don’t know how to get a contractor or what kind of loan might be available if what FEMA might give me doesn’t cover expenses. So that’s why I’m here.”

Empson also wanted information.

“We wanted to check out and see what we can get,” Empson said, “We only have a little damage; some dry wall damage.”

As the FEMA officials kept stressing at the meeting, March 5, 2012, is the deadline for registering. On March 6, 2012, you’ll be a day late and dollar short.