Kentucky Disaster Recovery Update -- $1.3 Million Provided To Date
Release Date: September 6, 2001
Release Number: 1388-08
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Langley, KY -- A total of $1.3 million has been provided thus far to residents and municipalities by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Commonwealth for flooding damages that occurred in August throughout 20 Kentucky counties, according to Michael Bolch, federal coordinating officer.
For individuals and families, Bolch said, financial assistance, totaling $1,143,205 was provided to 513 families to pay for temporary housing and repairs to homes that were damaged or destroyed by flooding. Types of aid include grants for alternate rental housing and emergency repairs needed to make a residence habitable.
So far, 949 registrations have been received. The registration count by county is as follows: Floyd, 533; Knott, 90; Letcher, 49; Perry, 51; and Pike, 226. These counties were designated for Individual Assistance on Aug. 23. Homeowners, renters and businesses in those counties may be eligible for assistance, which includes temporary housing, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loans for individuals and businesses to repair or replace damaged property, and grants for serious needs and necessary expenses not met by other programs.
"The only way to register for assistance is through the toll-free registration number, 1-800-462-9029(or 1-800-462-7585for speech and hearing impaired)," Bolch explained. Calls may be made every day between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
A total of $164,800 in U.S. Small Business Administration loans has been approved for seven applicants. SBA officials, who opened a temporary disaster loan office in Floyd County (Left Beaver Creek Fire Station in McDowell) said that the loans might be used for restoring or replacing underinsured or uninsured disaster-damaged real and personal property.
Kentucky's Individual and Family Grant Program (IFG) will soon begin generating additional disaster funding for affected families, according to Cash Centers, state coordinating officer. "This program," he explained, "provides grants to individuals and families to meet serious disaster-related needs and necessary expenses not covered by insurance or voluntary agency disaster assistance programs."
"It is vitally important," he stated, "that applicants complete an SBA loan application when they register. Otherwise they will not be considered for any other assistance programs, such as IFG."
Centers said the SBA loan application must be completed, even if individuals do not want or need a loan. "This is our way to determine if applicants could qualify for a loan. If they do not, they may be entered into the IFG program."
In addition, Centers stated, President Bush has designated 20 Kentucky counties eligible for Public Assistance. This includes reimbursements for flooding damages to roads and bridges. FEMA is providing 75 percent of the eligible costs for debris removal, emergency services related to the disaster, and repairing or replacing damaged public facilities.
The counties named for public assistance are Bath, Clay, Elliott, Estill, Floyd, Harrison, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Letcher, Lewis, Livingston, Mason, Menifee, Perry, Pike, Powell, Rockcastle, Rowan and Whitley.
Last Modified: Thursday, 09-Oct-2003 13:50:30