Help is being rolled out into local neighborhoods nine days after Typhoon Mawar devastated the island. The Joint Information Center announced that residents will finally begin seeing FEMA’s disaster survivor assistance crews today to help survivors apply for relief and to identify other needs in the communities.

Officials said the crews will primarily focus on helping "underrepresented populations" that may have trouble getting in contact with them, along with the mission to assess and report critical and emerging disaster needs.

Additional responsibilities of the disaster relief crews include:

• Provide on-site guidance to survivors about the application process, and an overview of FEMA disaster assistance.

• Review survivors’ applications, providing basic information about application status and other eligible assistance, and collecting new information or documents for case files.

• Engage disaster survivors and local officials in identifying immediate unmet needs for a quick resolution via FEMA and/or its partners including voluntary agencies.

• Support community outreach and partnerships with the local, state, tribal or territorial emergency managers, disability partners, private sector, voluntary agencies and faith- and community-based organizations to foster a culture of strengthened alliances to support the delivery of inclusive, equitable services to survivors.

Those affected by Typhoon Mawar can contact FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 or at https://www.disasterassistance.gov.